Category: Announcement & Hot Topics

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The Hidden Cost of Damaged Equipment and How It Can Affect YOUR Bottom Line

Have you ever loaned someone something, like a tool or yard equipment, and had it returned in considerably worse condition than you loaned it? It can be pretty frustrating, especially when you treat your things well and expect the same level of care from others.  Imagine if what you loaned cost around $200,000, and imagine if that replacement/repair cost was all on you. It’s pretty sobering, but anyone who is using expensive company equipment should understand the level of responsibility involved. While, fortunately, total losses of fleet vehicles are not common, smaller damages and problems can accumulate to a significant amount. Those damages, interior and exterior, can take a major toll on resale value as well.

Treat Company Property Like It’s Your Own

Because fleet managers can’t keep constant track of the condition of trucks when they are out for weeks at a time, it’s up to drivers to maintain them. It’s tempting to get lazy with cleanliness and maintenance, especially with an older truck, but the best way to stay motivated to keep your truck in peak condition is to treat it the way you would treat your own property. Would you allow your house or your personal vehicle to become neglected and require major costs to repair? When you are responsible for something, it motivates you to take care of it.

Take Ownership

If you don’t want to take literal ownership of your truck, take metaphorical ownership. Say your truck is so cluttered that you lose paperwork and we can’t get paid for a load, a can or bottle runs under your pedals and causes you to crash, or your pet destroys the truck interior. Are you willing to take the financial hits personally? Taking ownership means accepting responsibility and behaving as if everything is riding on your performance.

Policy Enforcement

It’s necessary for fleets to be explicit and transparent regarding truck maintenance and cleanliness expectations and to follow through on that policy. Drivers should be aware of everything that is expected of them and the consequences of non-compliance.

How It Affects You

Repair and maintenance costs are a large part of a fleet’s budget. When equipment isn’t kept in good order, the costs for that eat into other areas of the company where it could be used, including new equipment and even pay and bonuses. The next time you’re tempted to misuse or neglect your equipment, keep in mind that it will affect you down the line. Reach out to the shop crew or your driver manager if you need help maintaining your truck or need advice or supplies to keep it clean.

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Announcement & Hot Topics

Christmas Trivia – Friday Question 2

From Wednesday, December 17th, to Wednesday, December 24th (excluding Saturday and Sunday), we will post two trivia questions each day.

To enter the drawing, simply answer the questions. We will randomly select a winner from the answers and announce the winners at the end of each day.

Click the link below to participate in today’s first trivia question:

Christmas Trivia – Friday Question 2

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Announcement & Hot Topics

Christmas Trivia – Thursday Question #2

From Wednesday, December 17th, to Wednesday, December 24th (excluding Saturday and Sunday), we will post two trivia questions each day.

To enter the drawing, simply answer the questions. We will randomly select a winner from the answers and announce the winners at the end of each day.

Click the link below to participate in today’s first trivia question:

Christmas Trivia – Thursday Question #2

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Announcement & Hot Topics

Christmas Trivia – Thursday Question #1

From Wednesday, December 17th, to Wednesday, December 24th (excluding Saturday and Sunday), we will post two trivia questions each day.

To enter the drawing, simply answer the questions. We will randomly select a winner from the answers and announce the winners at the end of each day.

Click the link below to participate in today’s first trivia question:

Christmas Trivia – Thursday Question #1

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Announcement & Hot Topics

Christmas Trivia – Wednesday Question #2

From Wednesday, December 17th, to Wednesday, December 24th (excluding Saturday and Sunday), we will post two trivia questions each day.

To enter the drawing, simply answer the questions. We will randomly select a winner from the answers and announce the winners at the end of each day.

Click the link below to participate in the Wednesday, December 17th, second trivia question:

Christmas Trivia – Wednesday Question #2

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Announcement & Hot Topics

Christmas Trivia – Wednesday Question #1

Christmas Trivia is here! From Wednesday, December 17th, to Wednesday, December 24th (excluding Saturday and Sunday), we will post two trivia questions each day.

To enter the drawing, simply answer the questions. We will randomly select a winner from the answers and announce the winners at the end of each day.

Click the link below to participate in the first trivia question:

Christmas Trivia – Wednesday Question #1

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Announcement & Hot Topics Safety

Winter Truck Maintenance: Keeping Drivers Safe When Temperatures Drop

Winter brings some of the most challenging conditions truck drivers face all year, including icy roads, freezing temperatures, reduced visibility, and increased wear and tear on equipment. Proper winter truck maintenance isn’t just good practice; it’s essential for safety, reliability, and preventing costly downtime. Whether you’re an experienced driver or new to winter driving, preparing your truck before the cold hits can make all the difference

Winter Survival Kit

In case of an emergency or breakdown, keep a winter survival kit that should include:

  •  Shovel & ice scraper
  •  Bag of sand, salt, or litter
  •  Jumper cables
  •  Flashlight
  •  A high-visibility jacket
  •  Winter gloves & boots
  •  Warm blankets & extra clothing
  •  Extra food & water

Winter Truck Inspections: What to Watch Closely

Thorough pre and post-trip inspections matter year-round, but they’re critical during winter.

Cold weather affects nearly every part of your equipment, so pay extra attention to:

  1. Tires – Check wear, pressure, & balance. Cold air causes pressure drops; monitor closely.
  2. Wiper Blades – replace worn blades and make sure wipers can clear heavy slush and ice.
  3. Fluids – Check coolant, oil, windshield fluid, and fuel levels often.
  4. Defrosters – Confirm your defrosters are functioning properly for safe visibility.
  5. Keep equipment clear – remove snow from lights, mirrors, windshields, and steps. Buildup affects visibility, traction, and safe vehicle operation.

Idle-Free Heater

Our trucks are equipped with shore power, which charges the batteries and powers the Idle-Free Heater. This helps to keep the coolant warm and provides warmth during idle times. With a fully charged battery, our Idle-Free Heater can run for about a week.

If you cannot plug in, turn the Idle-Free heater on but leave the fan off; it will serve as a block heater.

Trucks have a main disconnect switch located by the driver’s seat. If you plan to be away from the truck for more than a couple of days, turn off the switch to shut off all power. The Idle-Free heater will still run to keep the coolant warm.

Preventing Frozen Brakes

Frozen brakes are a common winter issue, but are preventable with the right steps:

  • Before parking, lightly drag your brakes to build heat and evaporate moisture. This helps prevent freezing.
  • If brakes are already frozen:
    • Tap the brake drums with a heavy hammer to break up ice.
    • Rock the trailer gently, if possible, to free stuck components.

Winter weather doesn’t wait, and it doesn’t forgive unprepared equipment. Taking a few extra minutes to inspect, clear, and prepare your equipment can prevent breakdowns, protect your load, and keep you safe on the road.

If you ever have questions or notice issues with your equipment, please contact your DM right away. Your safety always comes first.

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Announcement & Hot Topics

Want to Change the Culture?  Here’s How.

In this increasingly digital, impersonal world, it often seems that no one knows how, or cares, to make human connections anymore. Seemingly gone are the days of a friendly wave to a fellow driver or an offer of help without being asked. Here are some reasons for the decline in common courtesy we see today.

The Rise of Digital Communications –

  • Social media and other online platforms, often touted as great ways to interact with others, have paradoxically created a generation of people who have no idea how to interact face-to-face with others. Online anonymity can lead to the airing of ideas that some would never say in person. Becoming accustomed to this kind of unrestrained speech can lead to some to be impersonal, impolite, or even rude when dealing with others in in-person interactions. The digital world has also lowered our attention spans. Think of a time you were having a conversation and felt the need to tune out and check your device. It happens more often than you might think.

Fast-Paced Lifestyles

  • It’s easy to get caught up focusing only on your next task at hand, running through everything you have to do next and just focusing on getting to that point. This isn’t Mayberry, after all. Business must move quickly to survive, but constantly focusing on your busy schedule can lead to neglect of those around you and diminish your personal connections. Studies have shown that taking time to smell the proverbial roses can benefit you by lowering stress and increasing happiness.

Cultural Changes

  • Evolving cultural norms and expectation have placed more emphasis on the individual and self-esteem at the expense of traditional communal values. This can lead to self-absorption and a lack of consideration for others, as well as social ineptitude and impoliteness.

The Increasing Ubiquity of AI

  • AI is everywhere now, and it’s replacing people in many situations. As a planner, I’ve recently booked loads with AI robots over the phone. They sound much like humans and can do almost anything a human can over the phone, minus the humanity and grammatical errors. While we can see the value they bring to a company, dealing with robots can certainly diminish one’s ability to interact with actual humans in the real world.

When everyone else seems to have their eyes glued to their devices, here are some ways you can bring some humanity and common nicety back to your world.

Practice Active Listening

  • This involves ignoring distractions and paying undivided attention to someone when they are speaking, actively absorbing what they are saying, acknowledging their input and providing feedback.

Use Basic Manners

  • Simply being polite by saying “please” and “thank you” can make a big difference in showing appreciation. Maintain situational/social awareness by thinking about how your actions affect others in public spaces. You can also show courtesy by respecting others’ personal spaces.

Practice Patience and Understanding

  • Sometimes it’s difficult to be patient, especially in stressful situations, but having control over your emotions and behavior and being considerate to others during trying times can go a long way to diffusing anger and handling tough situations. Anger and impatience don’t solve problems, they just exacerbate them.

Perform Random Acts of Kindness

  • Offering support to another driver struggling to get hooked or get backed into a dock or giving directions or suggestions can have a big impact on someone else’s day, and it will increase your own happiness and wellbeing.

Small action and positive interactions will strengthen company culture if they are turned into daily habits. These actions are contagious; if you want to change the culture, lead by example.

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Announcement & Hot Topics Performance

Can MK Count On You?

It goes without saying that skills and expertise are important to your employer. Every company wants to ensure employees have the knowledge and skills to effectively do their jobs. But following through on your commitments, meeting deadlines, and being consistent is just as important. Both reliable and unreliable employees create ripple effects within their companies. One leads to effective customer management, growth, and success, with the other leads to lost opportunities, high turnover, and a damaged reputation. Here are some of the behaviors of reliable employees and tips on how to be more dependable at work.

Traits of Reliable Employees:

Punctuality/Time Management – This is absolutely essential in trucking. If you can’t (or won’t) trip plan or make your appointment times, this is an indication that you aren’t managing your time well. We understand that some trips are tightly planned and things happen on the road, but regular patterns of tardiness or bad time management are a concern.

Accountability/Ownership – Own your mistakes, back up your decisions, and accept the results. When problems arise, ask yourself “Was there something I could have done to prevent this?” Taking accountability builds trust.

Performance Consistency – Predictability HELPS US PLAN. We can better keep drivers moving when we can rely on the drivers to be where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be there. Those who are consistently on time, provide good ETAs, and run without overbreaking or constantly stopping are the ones who get more miles and make more money. In short, if you prove yourself to be unreliable, we can’t count on you and we can’t plan ahead.

Effective Communication – Let us know what’s going on, especially if you know ahead of time that there will be issues. The sooner we know about a potential problem, the sooner we can fix it before it becomes a major issue.

Following Company Policy – if you are unsure of company policy, consult your company handbook or ask your manager; ignorance is not a good excuse.

How to Show Dependability:

Meet deadlines WITHOUT reminders – Aside from appointments, this can include expirations: medical card, license, endorsements, etc.

Take initiative/problem solve on your own first – Show that you don’t need constant supervision. Dependable employees don’t need micromanagement. Don’t just point out problems, introduce solutions! This shows you care about the company’s success beyond just everyday transactions.

Support your team – Putting team success ahead of personal successes shows reliability and helps build trust. It shows you are committed to the success of the company, which benefits everyone.

Stay organized and focused – Staying organized will help you maintain reliability; keeping track of all your tasks and ensuring they are completed timely is a major indication of your reliability.

Adapt to changes and maintain a positive attitude while doing so.

Dependable employees become irreplaceable employees – Building reliability and trust is how you become indispensable, an employee your company can’t afford to lose. Being an employee that doesn’t need to be micromanaged frees up time for companies to focus on growth and expansion, leading to greater overall success.

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Announcement & Hot Topics Performance Technology

Video – Creating DVIRs in Samsara

In this video, we show step-by-step how to create DVIRs for the truck and trailer in the Samsara app, including how to mark and resolve defects.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your DM!