Author: T. Ellis

Professionalism is one of the eight core values that shape our culture and success at MK. It encompasses more than transporting goods from point A to point B.  Professionalism embodies key attributes such as knowledge, skill, experience, and character – elements that lay the groundwork for a successful career. Let’s explore these attributes in detail:

Key Attributes of Professionalism:

1. Knowledge: Professionalism starts with a solid foundation of knowledge. It goes beyond knowing road rules; it involves staying updated on industry regulations, safety standards, and best practices. This also includes understanding your vehicle’s mechanics, effective trip planning, and grasping route logistics. At MK, we believe in the power of continuous learning. Through training, coaching, and mentorship, we empower you to become better drivers and enhance overall safety and efficiency.
2. Skills: As professional drivers, you are equipped with various skills. From mastering tractor-trailer maneuvers and navigation to effective time management, your expertise is crucial. In addition, soft skills like communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution are also important. Your ability to apply these skills in challenging situations can significantly impact your success on the road.
3. Experience: Experience is gained over time and through the lessons learned on the road. Each mile enhances your ability to handle diverse scenarios, from bad weather to complex urban driving. We value your experiences and encourage you to share your stories with fellow drivers – hence the “add notes” feature in our app! This not only fosters team growth but reinforces our commitment to safety and professionalism.
4. Character: Good character is the backbone of professionalism, incorporating all of our values such as integrity, honesty, and respect–qualities that are essential in every aspect of a driver’s role. For instance, a driver who demonstrates good character follows safety regulations, has respect for others on the road, and takes responsibility for their actions. Upholding the value of professionalism means obtaining good character and applying these principles in your daily responsibilities.

Why Professionalism Matters

Professionalism sets the standard for conduct and performance within our team. Regularly evaluating your performance is key, as it identifies both your strengths and areas for growth. Our quarterly scorecards, supported by Driver Managers, highlight where you excel and where you can improve. Each individual’s goal is to continually develop and reach your full potential, which in turn boosts the team’s performance. When one member underperforms, it can negatively affect the entire team. When every team member commits to professionalism and self-improvement, it cultivates a culture of accountability and excellence.

Another reason why being professional matters is that it fuels our financial success. We’re all aligned with a common goal: to maximize our earnings. For drivers, this translates to every punctual delivery, safe driving record, and well-maintained truck contributing to the company’s profitability. By working together with a professional mindset, we create a network of reliability that attracts more opportunities and higher-paying loads. On the other hand, unprofessional behavior – such as poor trip planning or distracted driving – can lead to missed opportunities and lost income. When each of us brings our best to the table, we elevate the entire team’s performance and profitability.

Commitment to Growth & High Performance

As drivers, you have a responsibility to uphold the value of professionalism in everything you do. By continually expanding your knowledge, refining your skills, gaining experience, and demonstrating strong character, you contribute not only to your individual success but to the success of the company. Let’s make a pledge today to support one another in our journey of growth and professionalism—share your goals and progress with the team, and let’s drive toward excellence together!

A friendly reminder that Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 3rd, 2024 at 2:00 a.m. On Saturday night, make sure to set your clocks back one hour to “fall back.”

Just a couple weeks after Hurricane Helene passed through the Southeast US, leaving a vast swath of damage across multiple states with people still currently stranded and in danger, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida. If you’ve been to Florida or the Southeast in the past couple of weeks, you’ve undoubtedly noticed the disruptions: shippers and receivers closed or behind schedule, road closings and the traffic backups that result, or lack of truck parking due to all the evacuation vehicles. Unfortunately, there isn’t much good news on the horizon as Milton threatens to disrupt supply chains even more.

While Milton didn’t create as much trouble for Tampa as originally feared, it still dumped around 18 inches of water and left millions without power. The wind has whipped up a path of tornados and there is still the possibility of storm surges in the aftermath. Major distributors in the storm’s path such as Walmart, Sam’s Club, and other food distributors moved their products to distribution centers outside of the impact zone and will move everything back in as the storm passes and power is restored. Economic losses due to the storms are likely to be in the billions of dollars. The loss of products, buildings, and equipment in the storm area will likely add to inflation as exports will be more expensive due to the shortages, especially in Florida’s citrus trade and tourism markets.

In addition to the national disasters wreaking havoc on the supply chain, recently the contract negotiations for the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), the port workers union, reached an impasse in September, the union boss threatened to cripple the economy if their demands weren’t met. While the strike only lasted three days, workers are still behind as the strike affected 14 ports along the East Coast, including three of the busiest ports in the US. Any rerouting of freight bound for the Tampa Bay port might put additional strain on those ports.

At Marvin Keller, we’re adjusting our normal network to avoid the hard-hit areas, but considering a lot of our business is in Georgia, South, and North Carolina, and some in Florida, it will be difficult for a while. At this time there are still road closures from Helene that are projected to take a year or longer to reopen, causing considerable rerouting and probable traffic congestion. If you are heading into the impacted areas, you are advised to give yourself extra time for likely delays. Always reach out to your driver manager if you need help with routing or reserving parking for the night. We’re here to assist you and make sure you safely get where you need to be.

Did you know that 25% of Marvin Keller’s total maintenance costs stem from physical damage repairs on our tractor-trailers? This includes collisions from third parties and single-vehicle accidents. This eye-opening statistic emphasizes the critical importance of properly maintaining our tractor-trailers. As responsible operators, it’s imperative that we prioritize the maintenance of our tractor-trailers—not just to protect our investments but to uphold the integrity of our industry.

Safety First

Keeping our equipment in top condition serves multiple purposes, with safety being the foremost. Even minor damage, like a dented fender or a cracked windshield, can adversely affect visibility and aerodynamics, creating hazardous driving conditions. This is why promptly reporting any issues is crucial for timely repairs and safer journeys.

Financial Implications

Neglecting physical damage can lead to significant financial consequences. What starts as a minor repair can escalate into major problems if ignored, resulting in increased costs and potential fines for operating unsafe vehicles. By addressing damage early, we can budget more effectively for repairs and avoid larger expenses down the line.

Spotting Problems Early

Regular inspections play a key role in preventative maintenance. Conducting thorough pre-and post-trip inspections allows us to identify issues before they escalate into costly repairs, ensuring we stay on the road. For example, discovering a flat tire during a routine pre-trip inspection enables immediate repair, saving you from the complications and expenses of a blowout on the highway.

Commitment to Safety

Ultimately, maintaining our tractor-trailers isn’t just about equipment—it’s about the safety and efficiency of our operations. By embracing a culture of safety and responsibility, we can enhance the longevity of our vehicles and protect everyone on the road.

Let’s commit to conducting those essential pre and post-trip inspections and reporting any damage as soon as we see it. Together, we can build a safer, more reliable industry—because our success depends on it.

Embracing positivity is more than just putting on a happy face or being agreeable. It’s a mental and behavioral pattern that always seeks out opportunities and solutions, one that doesn’t dwell on the negative. Those who are most successful in their careers are optimistic about their prospects because they have a can-do attitude. They have opened themselves up to solving any problem that comes their way.

Studies have shown that positivity leads to greater happiness and performance in the workplace. When you employ a positive outlook, others around you are more likely to do the same, creating a positive environment and earning the trust of your coworkers. It increases productivity by opening your mind and allowing you to think logically, improving decision making and problem solving. Negative emotions create distractions that drain your energy and keep you from performing at your best. You are more open to learn from others and gain new skills and take advantage of new opportunities. Customers are also more likely to want to work with those who stay positive, which will lead to long-term working relationships.

Here are some ways to implement a positive mindset:

• Instead of complaining about problems when they arise, offer possible solutions. When you think positively, challenges and obstacles become opportunities for improvement. You build resilience and are more adaptable to change, making you stronger and more capable of growth. A positive mindset also helps you manage feedback and conflict by being open to changes and constructive criticism.
• Use introspection to analyze your mindset and thought patterns. If you find yourself in a pattern of negative thinking, challenge those negative thoughts and try to reframe them by looking at it from a different point of view.
• Focus on the big picture. If you find yourself getting worked up about a problem, ask yourself if it will matter in the long run. If the answer is no, don’t let it bother you.
• Make changes to things that are in your control. If you can solve a problem, do it. If it’s beyond your scope, ask a colleague or manager for their input.
• Consider others’ opinions and show appreciation for the contributions of others. Always be willing to listen to and respect others’ viewpoints.

Conversely, a negative mindset is focused on problems rather than solutions. Those with negative attitudes frequently complain, become defensive, and have a tendency to blame others. These behaviors are toxic and destructive to teams.

Positivity is a value at Marvin Keller. It’s part of our culture and is integral to our continued success.

If you’re like most people, the idea of an evaluation from a supervisor isn’t the most appealing activity. No one is thrilled to be told what they’re doing wrong, but if you don’t know, how will you ever improve? Those who strive for success and professionalism in their careers are open to criticism. When you do everything you can to be a reliable and high-performing employee, it follows that you believe you’re doing everything the best way possible. But sometimes it’s easy to be blind to our own
shortcomings. That’s why it’s necessary for our managers to evaluate our performance and provide constructive criticism.

When receiving criticism, it’s important to be aware of the levels of normal human reaction. On the most basic level is instinct, a gut reaction that takes no effort on our part. Emotion is a step above that, with rational thought and reason residing at the highest level. Always stop your first reaction and stay calm; avoid emotional reactions. Maintain open body posture and try to avoid negative facial expressions. Your first instinct might be to get upset, but if you remember that the whole purpose of constructive criticism is to benefit you and help you improve, it will help you stay calm. None of us are perfect and there is always room for improvement.

Before you react to criticism, always let the reviewing party finish their complete thought without interruption. That will give you time to think and not act impulsively or emotionally; emotions distort the truth and cloud our judgment. Ask for clarifying questions and, if needed, help finding solutions to the issues.

Don’t take constructive criticism personally. Avoid resentment, defensiveness, or retaliation. There are ways to tell if criticism is constructive or destructive.

• Who is providing the criticism? Is it a coworker or a supervisor?
• Is the criticism emotional or sincere? Just like it’s best to avoid emotional responses to criticism, it’s important that the reviewer also avoids personal attacks or negative emotions
• Was the criticism in a private one-on-one setting or in front of a group?
  

It’s ok to get a second opinion. Others are not necessarily correct. If you sincerely believe you have been unduly criticized, ask someone else. Just make sure you stop and reflect on the issue before reacting.

Learning and self-improvement are lifelong endeavors. Everyone wants employees in an organization to perform at the highest level they can. MK is committed to helping everyone become top performers.

Celebrating the End of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week with a Bang! We’re thrilled to announce another giveaway! Watch the video to find out who won the brand-new truck seat, generously donated by Truck Centers.

Thank you and stay safe!