“Inside the Mountain”: Driving the truck, making the sale

Our Mountaineers are always looking out for our customers, even in ways that aren’t “part of the job.”

When driver Lemont Brunson went to pick up 150 boxes of documents from a customer for secure storage, he noticed two things: They weren’t Iron Mountain boxes, and they didn’t look very sturdy.

“Some were already bent or leaning over,” he said. “The customer was probably saving a few cents per box, but if any of the boxes didn’t hold up, we’d have to charge them to rebox them in Iron Mountain boxes. And there goes the money they thought they would save.”

“Plus,” he added, “I want their important information to be as secure as possible.”

Never afraid to play salesman, Lemont pulled a few new Iron Mountain boxes from his truck, gave the customer a live demonstration of how sturdy our boxes are, and left the boxes with the customer to try out.

The next time Lemont went to the customer’s office, they had a request for him: “Give us two pallets of those Iron Mountain boxes.”

“It was just that simple,” Lemont said. “I kept my eyes open, and I saw how we could be an even better partner for them.”

Meet Lemont Brunson, Transportation Coordinator, Texas

“I was driving in jobs before, but it was just a way better environment here,” said Lemont, who joined Iron Mountain in 2021. “I have to be honest with you, this is the first job I really, really like.” When a transportation coordinator role opened a year later, he decided to “take a shot.” That shot has paid off, both for him and the company. "Lemont is a rockstar who always steps up when we need him most,” said his manager, Transportation Supervisor Tracy Marsh. “His growth here has been fantastic to watch."

Question: What part of the job gives you the most pride?

Answer: Solving customers’ problems by talking to them. People can take emails the wrong way. I want you to hear my octave and my vernacular. “Hey, how are you doing, man? Can we make it happen this way for you? Great, no problem, we’ll be there, then!” That's what I take pride in. I’d rather get on the phone.

Question: How do you ensure your team is focused on safety, even when things get busy?

Answer: You’ve got to be annoying sometimes, but in a fun way. If I’m walking by and someone forgot their steel toed shoes, I’ll step on their toes lightly and go “That didn’t hurt, did it? Now, think about if something fell on it.”

Also, this is Texas. It's hot out there. I want to make sure they don't forget hydration, a sun hat, breathable shirts, coolers, cool rags, anything to make them more comfortable out there in those elements.

Question: What’s your favorite moment so far as a Mountaineer?

Answer: It's crazy you ask that, because it's going to happen tomorrow. I love going to towns I’ve never been to before. We're in Dallas, so sometimes we'll have pickups in Lubbock, Abilene, four, fix, six hours away. Tomorrow I’m going to Odessa-Midland. I won't say it’s a mini vacation, but it's good scenery, I get to meet new people – it’s cool to see what's going on out there. Plus, some of my drivers have family obligations or young kids, so it’s harder for them, but it’s not a problem for me. It's a beautiful thing.