“I’m called to teach,” Tallman Equipment trainer Doug Kirk said as he opened up his most recent class here at our Columbus, IN headquarters. “I used to think I was supposed to teach high school. I went to college for it, but when I got into my first student teaching role, I realized I couldn’t stand trying to teach people who didn’t want to work. Now I have the best job in the world. I get to go around the country training people who want to work.” 

The lesson this time was an introduction to utility grips and their various styles and uses, and it gave team members a chance to see Doug in his element. In attendance were members of the inside sales, rental, and marketing teams, all eager to learn from the best in the business.

Doug has been with Tallman Equipment for over 16 years and is a familiar face to many linemen around the Midwest. Whether he’s in a hard hat and hooks demonstrating pole climbing techniques to a class of future linemen, or he’s in his cowboy hat and cowboy boots chatting with journeymen about the latest innovations in lineman gear, he exudes a passion for the utility industry. 

It’s Doug’s experience combined with his love for teaching that made the transition from an outside sales role to a training role a natural move. For a company dedicated to doing the right thing, it only made sense to ensure the entire team benefited from Doug’s knowledge.  

With a variety of grips spread out in front of him, Doug introduced the class to the terms and lineman slang for each kind. As he demonstrated how each grip functioned, he explained the pros and cons of the different styles as well as his own philosophy when it comes to selling tools to linemen. 

“Linemen supply 60% of the information. It’s our job to figure out the remaining 40%.” Doug said as he laid out questions to ask. What kind of wire are you pulling? What is the diameter? What is the tension? Is it a hot line? 

“My favorite thing is hearing from a guy that I got him the right tool for the job. I don’t want to sell a guy something he doesn’t need. I want him to be successful the first time.” As Doug discussed the reasons linemen might experience grip slippage and the basic questions to ask when someone calls in requesting a grip, it became abundantly clear he meant what he said and that he would be just as happy if all a guy needed to do was clean the jaw on his grip rather than buy a new grip he didn’t need. 

As the class progressed, members of the team asked questions and exchanged information about their own conversations with linemen. Doug and others compared notes on which grips and brands were being requested. Were guys showing a preference for Little Mule or Klein grips? Were utilities asking for more Chicago grips or bull dogs? 

The class was as much a lesson in grips as it was in customer care. Tallman Equipment has always been about helping linemen, and Doug made sure to highlight two main points: help guys find the right tool for the job and don’t ever tell someone it will “probably” work. 

“Sometimes a guy calls in asking for a specific grip that he needs the next day, but it’s out of stock. If you ask the right questions, you can often find a different grip that will cover the same specs and will get the job done.” Doug said as he pointed out some of the crossover between grip ranges and capacities. A 12,000 lb grip might not be ideal if the job is only pulling to 5,000 lbs of tension, but in a pinch, it will safely do the job within specifications. 

The important thing to remember is to never suggest a grip in the other direction. As Doug pointed out, “this isn’t a forgiving industry.” It is never worth the risk to tell someone a grip rated for 8,000 lbs will “probably” work to tension to 9,000 lbs or that a smooth jaw will “probably” work for EHS Guy Wire when it really needs an aggressive jaw. The highest priority is the safety of Tallman’s customers. That’s what it means to serve linemen well.

By the end of the class, it was clear: Doug’s knowledge goes far beyond utility grips. His experience, honesty, and commitment to helping linemen work safely reflect the values Tallman Equipment was built on. Whether he’s teaching the differences between grip styles or reminding the team that “probably” is never good enough in this industry, Doug’s focus is always on doing the right thing for the customer. It’s that dedication to safety, service, and education that continues to make Tallman Equipment a trusted partner for linemen across the country.