For the past couple of weeks of driver spotlights, we recognized the following drivers who went above and beyond! We appreciate you going the extra mile!
We would like to shoutout Molly Gribler. She noticed her copy of a BOL was missing a page and made sure she got it from the Shipper. This saved us from headaches trying to bill the Customer for the shipment. Thank you!
Thank you to Ed Hrezo. He headed out really early in the morning so we could make an on-time delivery. Thank you for helping to keep our Customers happy.
Kim Kuffel & Gifford Libby and Jessica Branham & Will Caldwell did Meet and Greets to help us get drivers home on time. Thank you for being so willing to help out.
Kim KuffelJessica Branham
Gifford LibbyWill Caldwell
Alvin Jordan, Sean Johnson, Dan Schmitt, and Ed Hrezo have all worked extra days in the past few weeks to help us make on time delivery. Thank you for being someone we can rely on.
We’ve all had those days – drooping eyelids, endless yawns, and a wandering mind. We can often push through with caffeine, music, or podcasts, but this puts us at risk and endangers others on the road. This is called driver fatigue, and it can be difficult to recognize when we’re too tired to drive safely.
Driver fatigue causes slower reaction times, decreased awareness of surroundings, and impaired judgment. Studies show it can be just as dangerous as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Catastrophic accidents, such as a driver veering into oncoming traffic or forgetting to check their blind spots before changing lanes, can result from driver fatigue.
As a driver of a large vehicle, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are driving safely. Listening to your body and not pushing beyond your limits is crucial. Taking breaks and resting when necessary can help prevent fatigue. Remember, sleep is the best medicine for combating fatigue. If you feel tired or drowsy while driving, always pull over to a safe location and take a nap. Your safety and the safety of others on the road is our top priority!
Other tips to help manage Fatigue:
Know your body’s sleep needs and limitations
Plan your trips to include regular times of rest
Get the amount of sleep you require in one stretch if at all possible
Take a short nap between 10 – 45 minutes when feeling the onset of fatigue
Understand the effects of caffeine and stay away from stimulants stronger than a cup of coffee
Do not accept loads that will require you to exceed hours-of-service limitations
Eat healthy meals
Exercise regularly
Drink plenty of water
Watch out for the warning signs of fatigue, and if you experience a combination of any of the symptoms, DO NOT DRIVE. Always pull over to a safe location and take a nap.
Did you know you can earn 200 Pro-Points by identifying maintenance issues and scheduling inspections for trailers?
Annual vehicle inspection reports (AVIRs) are mandatory for tractor-trailer safety, and there are many reasons why they are important to complete, such as:
Identifying unsafe conditions before they cause accidents
Pinpointing mechanical problems before costly breakdowns occur
Preventing DOT roadside inspections from placing you out of service or issuing infractions and fines.
We currently have some overdue AVIRs for our trailers, and we could use your assistance! Check out the list below to see which trailers require inspection or need paperwork scanned in. *Note that this list is constantly being updated daily so, PLEASE check for the trailer’s paperwork first. If the AVIR has already been completed, but the trailer still appears on the due list, please scan in the paperwork.
How to scan in AVIR paperwork:
In mobile capture, scan in the paperwork under maintenance, then AVIR
Then, you will need to enter the unit # and date
Once we’ve received the paperwork, we will reward you with 200 Pro-Points as a token of gratitude for your hard work. These are very important to complete, and we appreciate those who identify trailer AVIR dues and take the time to get them inspected. Thank you!
In order for all business to succeed, they must always be creating a culture of constant improvement. Marvin Keller is no exception. Understanding that adaptation and improvement is necessary to survive and thrive is important for everyone, no matter their role.
Associates must keep in mind that there is ALWAYS room for improvement, no matter how well things are going in the present. Those who have the improvement mindset understand that the purpose of improving is to constantly bring value to their company and customers in order to stay ahead of the rest.
These team members are focused on the company goals and shape their behavior and actions to align with those goals. All members of a team bring a set of skills and experience and contribute, but no one will ever know everything. There is always room to improve, and it’s important to note that major changes for the better can happen incrementally. Minor improvements over time can make a big difference.
Team players avoid casting blame on others and making excuses. They accept responsibility and learn from their mistakes. They also share knowledge with others.
One way Marvin Keller drivers show their constant-improvement mindset is by adding information to the MK Drive app so other drivers can take advantage of the shared knowledge. They are also open to learning new technologies to improve the logistics process. Small things like that go a long way.
Marvin Keller Implements New Tablets to Enhance Your On-Road Experience
We’re thrilled to announce that our brand-new tablets have arrived! These tablets are designed to improve your driving experience and provide a seamless location for all your needs while on the road. We utilized the ELD system switch to introduce a new set of tablets and after thorough research, we selected the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 with Verizon as the perfect fit.
Some features include:
Unlimited Data – the freedom to use as little or as much data as you would like
A wide range of apps such as navigation, trucker apps, and DriveMK to provide you with more information at your fingertips.
Our tablets come with a variety of apps, including streaming services, music, and audio entertainment, all of which can be accessed through your own personal account information. We will continue to explore additional apps and functionality with the tablets on an ongoing basis. If you have any recommendations for apps you’d like us to include, please inform your driver manager.
The tablets are designed as a one-stop shop for all the information and tools drivers need to complete their trips with ease. We are confident that these tablets will make our industry safer, our driver’s lives easier, and our company stronger.
Most companies want employees that are good team players. But what exactly does being a team player entail?
You hold yourself accountable; you take personal responsibility for your mistakes and work to improve. You understand that your actions impact the entire group/company. For example, if you neglect to clean out or do a post-trip inspection on a trailer, the next driver is stuck dealing with it and may be held up on their next load. That impacts the driver and the customer.
You have a positive attitude and a willingness to help others in the team/company. Good team players are willing to help even when it doesn’t benefit them. They understand what’s best for the company IS in their best interest and they will go above and beyond to invest in the team. Positivity increases productivity.
Ways you can be a better team player:
Offer help to others. Team players always support each other; they all have a common goal.
Problem Solve. If you see a problem, offer a solution. If you don’t know the solution, reach out to others to see if they can help solve it.
Actively listen and respect others. Understand that others have ideas as well. Be considerate and open to their ideas as you would have them be open to yours.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity! Take advantage of our new maintenance campaign to expand your knowledge and earn Pro-Points! This campaign focuses on the importance of tire inspections from a maintenance and safety standpoint.
Those who complete the campaign activities by October 20th, 2023, will receive 200 Pro-Points!
Thank you to those who have already completed the campaign. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Do you ever pause to consider the impact of your emotions before you start driving? We might occasionally overlook that driving involves more than just technical skills. Our emotional state is crucial in our performance, reactions, and engagement with other road users.
Whether it’s a rush of excitement on an open highway, anger at being cut up at an intersection, or frustration in gridlocked traffic, we might be unable to turn our feelings off. However, we can learn to recognize what’s happening inside us to navigate our inner world to a safer and more enjoyable driving experience. We can also prepare before our journeys to create conditions and environments conducive to greater calmness on the road.
With cold weather approaching, we would like to remind everyone to start your truck heater at least once a month to make sure it is properly working. Some trucks may require multiple attempts, so we want to ensure your heater is working properly before it’s too late. If you have any problems, please call the shop.
