We’re officially on the most trending social media platform, TikTok! Follow us @marvinkellertrucking for more exclusive videos and share them with your family and friends!
Click on the image to be directed to our TikTok page!
Author: T. Ellis
Below is an important audio clip from Joe Keller, President & CEO of Marvin Keller.
We’re here to protect our company and you guys! We want to ensure you guys that nothing has changed and we will continue to operate as normal.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask your DM!
You should always take an empty trailer with you even if the load is a drop and hook. If an empty trailer cannot be found and you are on a drop and hook, you may bobtail after confirming there are not any empty trailers at the locations below. If you are on a live load, please check the following locations below:
Empty Trailer Locations for After Hours
If in Effingham IL, check the following locations:
- Banker Street Drop Lot
- Sherwin Williams
- Koerner Distribution
If in Mattoon IL, check the following locations:
- Hydro Gear
- Rural King
- Justrite
- Mars – last resort
If in Sullivan IL, check the following locations:
- MK Terminal Lot
- Agri Fab
If in Decatur IL, check the following locations:
- 27th Street drop lot
- Stratas
Drop and hook locations that require an empty – must not bobtail
- Edwardsville
- Flora
- Gibson City
- Jacksonville
IF YOU MUST HAVE AN EMPTY TRAILER TO LOAD, CHECK THE OTHER LOCATIONS ENROUTE TO TRY AND LOCATE A TRAILER.
All this information will be located in the resource library for when you may need it!
A huge shoutout to our friends at Truck Centers, Decatur Trailer, and Fleet Masters. All shops and their team members go above and beyond with the services they provide for us.
To show our appreciation, we decided to provide lunches to each repair shop! We can’t thank these companies enough for all they do and for keeping our trucks moving. Thank you Fleetmasters, Decatur Trailer, and Truck Centers!
Truck Centers Appreciation Lunch:
Decatur Trailer Appreciation Lunch:
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Why Choose Love’s?
Due to the chaotic increases in the price of fuel the past few weeks, our team members Kassie, Tiffany, and MK Driver Harold C. recently met with our Love’s Representative to learn more about our discount program and the Company itself.
Love’s started in 1964 by Tom and Judy Love when they bought an abandoned service station in Watonga, OK. It was originally named Musket Corporation and within 8 years they added 40 gas stations. In the early 1970s, they launched a new concept by adding a Mini Stop Country Store to their gas stations. By 1973, they began using their family name and became Loves Country Stores.
Marvin Keller partners with Love’s for a discounted fuel rate because of the number of gallons we purchase. Our Love’s discount rates are as follows:
- OPIS cost minus 0.02
- Retail minus 0.08
- OPIS cost minus 0.16 in Illinois.
Love’s offers us a better discount than the other competing fuel companies so we ask our drivers to fill up at Love’s stops when possible. In addition, they have a very nice Rewards Program that allows drivers to earn points which can be redeemed for free showers, drinks, and other merchandise. Click this link to see more information about Love’s Reward Program.
Today they have over 500 Loves Travel Stop locations across the US and they take pride in the cleanliness of their Truck Stops. They continue to offer new amenities to help professional truck drivers like dog parks, laundry facilities, and lots of parking spaces. Loves remains a family-owned company. Tom, Judy, and 3 of their 4 children still work for the company and make a commitment to visit each store at least one time per year.
With that being said, we’ve made the decision to change our fuel limit from 50 gallons to 25 gallons at Pilot and Flying J Centers. Please call your DM if you have any questions and choose Love’s!
How can I see these fuel discounts?
In order to see these discounted prices, download the Comdata FleetAdvance App. It’s the only app that connects to your Comdata card, allowing you to find the best fuel prices and manage your Express Cash balance directly from your phone. It’s free to download, easy to use, and the features are designed to help you save time and money Below are a few features that the FleetAdvance App has to offer:
- Find fueling locations with the lowest diesel and gas prices near you or other destination.
- Get quick recommendations on where to stop based on the best price available.
- Rate your favorite locations using a scale of one to five stars and see how other drivers have ranked the location.
- Monitor the Express Cash balance on your Comdata card. Transfer available funds to your primary bank account.
Reach out to your Driver Manager if you are interested in downloading the Comdata FleetAdvance App!
In honor of our new 68 mph program, MK came out with our first-ever music video. We hope you enjoy it! And remember, strive to be great and increase to 68!
You may have noticed a life-sized astronaut appear in our last company video and there is a very good reason as to why!
We have a new mission plan this year so you and Marvin Keller as a whole can be even more successful. This year, we’re focused on expanding our fleet!
What is our mission?
Mission 2022 “To the Moon”
Our focus is on recruiting! The main goal is to add more drivers to our team. We will achieve this by implementing new recruiting techniques.
Goal: expand our fleet to 140 drivers and above
How can we achieve our goal and reach the Moon?
We want to reach our goal to the moon and there are many ways we accomplish this! At MK we’re beginning to implement different techniques to recruit drivers, such as better advertising, updating our website, and so on. Furthermore, there are ways you can help MK reach its goal too.
You can refer drivers to Marvin Keller! Not only will you be helping MK reach its goal to the moon, but you will also receive a cash bonus for your referral. What an easy way to earn some extra cash! Contact your DM if you have a referral.
Any referrals will help with expanding our fleet and reaching our mission to the moon!
Increased demand and reduced supply are quickly driving gas prices higher. As fuel prices continue to skyrocket, below are a few tips from team members Travis and Greg S. on how you can improve your fuel performance!
- LOVES is MK’s preferred fuel station: We recieve the best discounts!
- Drive at or under the posted speed limit: faster speeds encounter more air resistance, requiring the engine to work harder and compensate with more fuel.
- Each MPH over 60 mph equals a 1/10 decrease in MPG
- Set a speed that is responsible.
- Aviod hard braking and sudden stops by maintaining a proper following distance of 6-7 seconds.
- Coast as often as practical: Loaded trucks can coast long distances. For example, when approaching a stop sign, ramps, speed zone, or construction zones, use momentum of truck instead od the accelerator.
- Accelerate in a relaxed, measured, and deliberate manner.
- Shift smoothly and at lower rpms.
- Check tire pressure daily using a calibrated tire gauge on both trucks and trailers.
- Shut the truck off: turning the truck off even if its for a few minutres or short period of time helps with fuel performance.
- Tractors burn up to one gallon of fuel per hour while idling.
- Track your weekly fuel economy.
Spread your knowledge and practice these habits every day to see improvements!
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IL Road Condition Link
Below is a website that shows Illinois’s current road conditions. It is a web-based interactive mapping site that provides the ability to search and display several sources of transportation data.
If there is unexpected weather coming your way, you can check this site to see up-to-date and accurate road conditions. This tool can help you if roads suddenly get worse while over the road. Your safety is important to us. Check out the link below!
IL – https://www.gettingaroundillinois.com/winterconditions/
Below is an image as to what the site should look like:
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User Guide for Samsung Tablet
Below is a driver guide for navigating through the hardware and features of the tablet. If you want a hard copy just ask! And please if you have any questions give us a call. We’re here to help!
Samsung Galaxy Tab: User Manual
This document will also be put in the resource library so you can access it whenever you may need it!
