"There's so much good that happens, but a lot of times we don't see that directly because we're not all sitting next to each other. Bonusly enters as one of those tools to say, 'Hey, when you see those amazing things, call each other out and celebrate them.'"
At Veriha Trucking, a family-owned transportation company founded 46 years ago, people come first, whether they’re in the office or hauling freight across the country. That commitment to connection drives the Veriha team, including Director of HR Hannah Kuehnl, as they support more than 270 team members, including 200 drivers and 70 office teammates.
With a lean HR team of just two (plus two compliance and risk team members) and a widely distributed workforce, Hannah needed a way to unify and reinforce the culture that sets Veriha apart. Bonusly has become a key part of that strategy—celebrating the behaviors that matter most and connecting teammates across the organization.
A family feel, even miles apart
"Our culture is deeply rooted in family values," Hannah says. "We've had people refer their siblings, cousins, even friends because it really does feel like family here."
That’s no small feat in a trucking environment where most of the workforce is on the road. But Veriha’s leadership intentionally nurtures that connection from day one, and recognition plays a significant role.
"We've had a brother and sister who are both drivers for us. They were referred through our academy and earned their CDL directly through Veriha," Hannah adds. "There's something powerful about building a workplace where people feel proud to bring others in."
That pride traces back to Veriha's roots. Hannah explains that the owners built everything from the ground up and remain deeply invested in maintaining a culture of hard work and strong ethics throughout the organization.
Turning everyday moments into meaningful recognition
Even across long distances, drivers find ways to build relationships, and Bonusly helps make those moments visible. Recognition reinforces the safety-first, team-oriented behaviors Veriha is known for.
Drivers use Bonusly to call out coworkers they meet at drop yards or customer sites, even if they’ve just met. "They'll recognize each other for small things like sharing routing advice that saves someone a couple of hours, or just saying, 'It was great to make a new connection and see a new face,’" Hannah explains. Truck driving can be a lonely job at times, and recognizing these small acts of kindness helps break through the isolation that comes with spending long hours on the road.
Those seemingly small gestures reinforce what matters most at Veriha. The company’s five core values are brought to life through 34 specific attributes, including “Do the Right Thing Always,” “Be Positive,” and “Be Vigilant About Safety.” Drivers and office teammates use Bonusly hashtags to highlight when someone lives these values.
"One time I saw our maintenance director recognize a driver for working through a repair over the phone to keep them moving," Hannah recalls, "and then other drivers started chiming in, saying how they appreciated other support they'd received."
Recognition helps people find deeper meaning in their work. As Hannah notes, "Sometimes it’s like, yeah, that’s my job, right? That’s what I’m here to do. But the fact that someone took the time to recognize it is really impactful."
Keeping culture strong and safety front and center
Recognition also reinforces Veriha’s safety culture by highlighting the actions that lead to better outcomes: things like calling out trailer issues, helping others avoid road hazards, or being proactive about safety equipment.
"We've had drivers who could’ve easily just driven away and said, ‘Not my problem.’ Instead, they’re getting recognized for stepping in and taking care of it."
Custom rewards—like high-visibility beanies and Veriha-branded duffel bags—make recognition tangible and personal. "Our drivers seem to love the duffel bags," Hannah laughs. "I had a driver come into the office and say, ‘I love my high-viz beanie, but it’s getting so worn out. I need to redeem it for a new one.’"
Making the invisible visible
For distributed teams, Bonusly helps make the unseen moments visible.
"There's so much good that happens, but a lot of times we don't see that directly because we're not all sitting next to each other," Hannah says.
"Bonusly enters as one of those tools that we're really leveraging to say, 'Hey, when you see those amazing things, call each other out and celebrate that.'"
In an industry where days are long and the work can be isolating, those moments of connection are deeply appreciated. "I've seen drivers respond to recognition with 'thanks so much for taking time to recognize that,'" says Hannah. Employees want to feel like their work matters. Recognition helps employees feel that their work matters, and that they matter too.
When asked to sum up Bonusly in two words, Hannah chooses: engaging and celebratory. For her, it's about reinforcing their family-forward culture and the behaviors that make it a special place to work.
Recognition has helped Veriha solve one of trucking's biggest challenges: keeping a distributed team connected and engaged. And for a company built on family values, maintaining that sense of closeness across thousands of miles is essential to its identity.
