Month: June 2021

Categories
Announcement & Hot Topics

Moving Forward Together

Over the past few weeks, MK has had some stellar weekly performances. We have had record-breaking weekly gross margins and some of the lowest percentages of broker freight. To add to the hype, the entire fleet has been on a steady incline since this time last year. Things are on the upswing here at MK and we couldn’t do this without all of you.

What factors are behind the increased performance? Is the performance spike due to a strongly knit customer base or a hardworking, dedicated fleet? The answer should come as no surprise; it’s both!

With the recent announcement of the Mars PetCare return accompanied by the increase of load offers across the board, we have more than enough freight to go around.  In fact, we are in a great position to be selective with our freight that caters to our fleet. We are motivated to benefit from the increased offers from our network.

How can you help? This is where we see the benefit of having such a strong, dedicated fleet working with us. One way you can help us is by keeping us in the know with your availability and schedules. Communicating changes in ETAs and delays is also exceptionally helpful in keeping our fleet running smoothly. As Henry Ford said, “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” Keeping us informed is the power that keeps us moving forward.

What are other ways you can think of to help keep your driver manager informed?

Categories
Safety

TCA’s 40th Annual Safety & Security Division Meeting

Author: Amanda McKee

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the TCA’s (Truckload Carriers Association) 40th Annual Safety & Security Division Meeting in St. Louis, MO.

The event brings truckload safety professionals together to discuss problems, share ideas and seek solutions to make our businesses better and our roads safer.

During the conference, I had the opportunity to hear several great presenters including Drivers, Trainers, Safety Professionals and Industry Attorneys.

In addition to the educational sessions, I was able to meet with several vendors and learn about the latest products and services for our industry.

I was able to take away several ideas on how to continue to develop our safety program.

I met with a technology company that offers a service that identifies where our greatest risks are and assists with developing training plans to prevent accidents. There are so many aspects of safety, and being able to identify the highest risks allows us to focus our time in those areas.

One Trainer shared his experiences training Drivers on the new safety features that many trucks are equipped with today. This provided insight on how we can better prepare Marvin Keller Drivers for their experience in a new truck. During his presentation, the Trainer stressed how important it is to understand how the safety systems work and to strive to stay one step ahead of them so the technology doesn’t have to be used. He did admit that learning the new features took some time to get used to, however, he stated it has made him a safer driver.

I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to connect with so many people who have been in the industry for years and are so passionate about safety. There are many great trucking companies committed to the safety and security of everyone on the roadway.

Categories
Safety

Marvin Keller CSA Monthly Update

Check Out Our Current CSA Scores

Click here to see our CSA trend over the last 12 months

Click here to see our current fleet CSA Violations

Last month we saw a 1% increase in our Unsafe Driving score due to a speeding violation. We also saw a 1% increase in our HOS Score. We received three hours of service violations in May including general form and manner – failing to enter load information and update trailer numbers in BlueTree as well as certifying logs.

Our Vehicle Maintenance score decreased by 7% and is currently the lowest I have seen at 11%! This is a reflection of the professionalism and dedication to safety by the entire Marvin Keller Team. Our commitment shows through conducting thorough inspections on the equipment, reporting any defects and resolving issues before heading out on the road.

Keep up the great work and stay safe!

Categories
Customer News

Mars PetCare is Back!

On May 21, 2020, right in the middle of the country’s COVID shut down, we received the news that we lost one of our biggest customer accounts, Mars Petcare.  I just remember feeling completely shocked – we were hauling 40 or more shipments a week for them!  It was a giant blow for our Customer Team because we had spent so much time building our entire network around the lanes we hauled for Mars.  We signed up for all kinds of freight coming out of areas where we were not going to have trucks.  So, like so many other companies that go through adversity, we had to adapt and overcome. 

The Customer Team worked hard to sign new customers as well as increase the number of shipments with our existing customers.  We not only survived but ended up coming out of the past year stronger than when we started.   In addition, we made sure to stay in contact with Mars Corporate and the Mattoon plant all year long to remind them that we are still here if they needed help.  About 5 months ago, they finally reached out and had us help haul some lanes that their new carriers were falling behind on.  They realized that they had made a mistake contracting with carriers who were not providing the same type of service that Marvin Keller provided them.  We were invited back to bid this year and we were awarded lanes out of Mattoon and Gibson City again! 

This says a couple different things:

1. We have the best fleet of drivers on the road.

2. Our customer service is top notch.

We are so happy to have Mars back.  The freight is very carrier friendly – most of it is drop and hook on both sides.   We will be delivering to Lancaster, TX, Columbia, SC, West Jefferson, OH and a few other locations.  I look forward to continuing to prove ourselves as a true asset to Mars Petcare.