Returning Users:
Published Friday, 12 September 2025
At Texas First Rentals, our drivers are more than just the people behind the wheel — they are dedicated professionals who represent our company values every day. During National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, we’re proud to recognize Phil Russ, whose journey, hard work, and commitment to integrity make him a valued part of our team.
For Phil, values like ethics and integrity are more than just words — they guide how he approaches both life and work. He believes it’s important to look beyond yourself and focus on how you can make a difference in someone else’s day. Living out the company’s core values has been central to his success, and he says he sees the proof of that commitment every day at work.
Phil’s proudest career accomplishment has been moving from the rollback to the haul truck — a goal he set for himself early on. Achieving it gave him not only a sense of personal accomplishment but also a reminder of what persistence and hard work can achieve.
Driving and operating equipment is something Phil never gets tired of. In fact, hauling equipment feels more like a hobby than a job to him. He loves the variety of the role, the opportunity to learn something new, and the excitement that comes with each day being different from the last.
Values-Based Leadership is at the heart of how Phil works with his team. He believes that working together and helping one another is the key to building morale and creating a strong community environment. Whether it’s lending a hand to another driver while loading or unloading, or simply taking the time to make a colleague’s day a little easier, Phil knows the little things can make a big difference.
Outside of work, Phil has plenty of passions that keep him active and inspired. He enjoys golfing, riding motorcycles with friends, working out at the gym, and traveling. One of his favorite things is visiting family in Europe. Born in Germany to a German father and Canadian mother, Phil moved to Canada at age seven and later to the United States at age 20 with his dad. Chasing opportunity, longer summers, and the American dream has been part of his journey — and today, he carries that spirit of optimism and drive into everything he does.
At Texas First Rentals, we’re proud to celebrate Phil Russ and all of our drivers who embody professionalism, teamwork, and integrity. This National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, we thank them for their dedication to our customers and their commitment to keeping Texas First Rentals moving forward.