Please join us in welcoming Dan, the newest member of our Customer Team!
“Hello, my name is Dan Fultz. I am joining the Marvin Keller team as an Account Representative, and I am excited to take on a new challenge in the transportation industry. I have 5 years in a sales background as a Financial Advisor and almost 20 years in various ministry leadership roles. I look forward to using this skill set to develop MK’s line network and supplier partnerships. My wife and I will soon be celebrating 17 years of marriage, and we have two children Alex (13) and Aubrey (11). I stay active with running, biking, and swimming while spending as much family time as possible. Growing up in Pennsylvania, we have made our kids Philadelphia Eagles fans but we’ve managed to survive 10 years in Bears country. I look forward to building relationships, growing with the company, and being part of a great team here at Marvin Keller!”
Introducing the newest member of MK, Jon-Michael Winans. Jon works in our Operations Team as a Driver Manager.
“Hello, my name is Jon Winans. I am joining the Marvin Keller team as a Driver Manager and I am excited to learn something a little new! I come from the LTL world. I was a forklift operator for 6 years before becoming an operations supervisor and dispatcher for almost 10 years. I have enjoyed working in the transportation industry and look forward to growing more knowledge now with truckload. Prior to that I worked at a local pizza joint through high school and college and also dabbled in sales. I have been married just over 13 years now and have two children. My son is 13 and my daughter is 8. Outside of work I enjoy the outdoors, love to fish, and will never pass up watching a good baseball game! With that said, GO CUBS! At the end of the day, nothing beats kicking your feet up by a nice fire and roasting some marshmallows with the wife and kids. I look forward to my new role as Driver Manager and I am excited to get to know everyone especially the drivers!”
Our fleet has taken a significant step forward by integrating 410 trailers and 100 trucks with Samsara’s Tracking System. This technological upgrade offers real-time visibility of our equipment, boosting fleet efficiency and theft prevention through tracking devices.
Initially, we used Sky Bitz for tracking before switching to Orbcomm’s system. However, challenges with parts and installation delays prompted us to bring in Lonestar, a third-party tracking service. However, managing equipment across three software platforms posed monitoring challenges.
In September 2023, Orbcomm suffered a cyberattack lasting 22 days, resulting in a loss of visibility on our equipment, leading drivers to resort to paper logs. This Orbcomm security malfunction prompted a swift software deployment on our end. By the end of September, we started implementing a new ELD System called Samsara, which also included tracking devices. The MK team made it a priority for prompt installation to get us out of the dark. We worked closely with our reliable maintenance vendors to conduct routine lot checks and enlisted their help in the installation process. Furthermore, company drivers, Jimmy Hendrix, and Ken Newby installed many of the new trackers to our equipment in our local regions whenever possible, contributing significantly to the initiative.
We installed the final trailer tracker last week, wrapping up the project in just 8 months! This success was thanks to the collaborative work of our MK Team and Maintenance Network, ensuring a smooth installation process and progress towards our fleet’s high-performance objectives.
Spring Referral Contest has come to an end with a total of 10 referral applications! We appreciate everyone’s effort in referring and helping MK blossom!
With that being said, we would like to congratulate our referral winner, Merkeresseria!
Thank you to everyone who participated. Stay tuned for the next referral campaign!
Situational awareness is a crucial skill for truck drivers, as it impacts safety, efficiency, and overall performance on the road. At its core, situational awareness involves looking ahead and being fully conscious of your surrounding environment, understanding how various factors interact, and anticipating potential hazards before they become imminent threats. For professional drivers, this means constantly monitoring traffic patterns, road conditions, weather changes, and the behavior of other drivers to make informed decisions that ensure safe and smooth travel.
Knowing and implementing the Smith5Keys provides more space for the vehicle, visibility for the driver, and time to make and act on decisions.
Key 1: Aim High In Steering
Learning to look farther down the road (at least 15 seconds minimum) to see what’s ahead gives you the advantage of planning your next move rather than just reacting to situations around you.
Key 2: Get The Big Picture
Staying alert to relevant information, such as what the vehicles around you are doing, gives you the ability to make safe, well-informed decisions. By checking at least one mirror every 5 to 8 seconds helps create a circle of awareness around your vehicle.
Key 3: Keep Your Eyes Moving
Not only is an active mind less likely to become fatigued, but it is better able to process information. As you are looking farther down the road and using your mirrors to monitor what’s going on around you, you’ll see changes as they happen and be able to adjust your driving plan accordingly.
Key 4: Leave Yourself An Out
By surrounding your vehicle with the most space possible, you’re leaving “yourself an out” to change lanes and change your driving position, as the traffic around you shifts. Avoid traveling in traffic clusters. The safest position in traffic is the one with the fewest vehicles around you.
Key 5: Make Sure They See You
Make eye contact with other drivers and pedestrians. Make sure they know you’re there, and watch what they do so you can avoid sudden, unplanned movements that could turn into a crash. Your ability to keep an eye on how they’re reacting to conditions, and to make sure they know you’re there, can help keep everyone safer.
Remember to use the Smith System Keys to maintain a high level of situational awareness and to execute appropriate actions to mitigate over-the-road risks. Situational awareness is not just about personal safety; it also contributes to the safety of other road users and the timely delivery of goods, which is vital to the economy and community well-being.
Honesty means much more than just telling the truth. It encompasses a range of behaviors that contribute to a person’s integrity and make them a desired and valuable associate and team member. When you are not completely forthcoming, your team members pay the price. Being dishonest even in the really small things is a terrible weakness and will end up costing you and your team in the long run.
Most importantly, being honest builds trust, which is key to creating a professional and successful work environment. Transparency and open communication are essential and this begins with top management. MK’s leadership must foster this environment and ensure everyone feels free to respectfully provide suggestions, ideas, and solutions without fear of reprisal.
Honest associates are accountable and reliable. They take ownership of their work and their mistakes and don’t try to pass the buck. Because Truckers are essentially working remotely, no one is looking over your shoulders to make sure you’re doing everything correctly. An easy way to show honesty and build trust is to report when things happen, even the mistakes; this is how we learn and improve. Remember, mistakes are to be taken in the context of a process, policy, or procedure, not in a personalized or demeaning manner.
A new initiative to improve and reduce physical damage to the equipment is underway. This requires Drivers to routinely submit inspection reports noting any damage to the tractor or trailer before heading out on your shift. For us to improve, we need to understand what happened so we can try to prevent it from recurring. Equipment damage is costly and means there is work to do to improve. The first recommendation is to be more conscientious, deliberate, and careful with tight maneuvers and backing. Get Out & Look is the tiresome old slogan, but it is time-tested and effective.
Next, we will undertake a statistical analysis of frequency and severity of the damage and then determine what is needed to reduce and improve. We will share these results and continuously update our processes. This is how we find strength in being honest.
The most successful drivers ensure they are giving themselves plenty of time to be safe, follow DOT rules, and still make pickups and deliveries on time. Marvin Keller’s veteran drivers credit good trip planning to their success. Here are some of the important things to consider when planning your trips.
Plan for 20 to 30 minutes to do proper pre and post-trip inspections. This will help prevent time-consuming and costly repairs on the road, like blown tires. Ensuring your rig is DOT-compliant will also help prevent you from being stopped for random inspections or put out of service if an inspector notices something that’s not right.
Plan your route ahead of time; know the roads you plan to take and where you might stop for breaks and fuel. You may want to call ahead to get a parking spot for the night. Your driver manager can help with that as well.
Give yourself extra time to account for any potential delays, such as traffic congestion, construction slowdowns, or inclement weather.
Check the MK Drive app. Our drivers have created a wealth of information about shippers and receivers that can help you plan ahead. And remember, if you’re having trouble with trip planning or with anything else, you can always get ahold of your Driver Manager. They’re here to help.
Make sure you’re planning ahead to arrive on time to shippers and receivers. In the current economy, many trucking companies are all fighting for a small amount of business, and service has become a priority in order to compete. Do your part to make sure we remain a professional, elite fleet.
The CVSA International Roadcheck is scheduled for May 14 – 16 and will focus on Tractor Protection Systems and Alcohol & Controlled Substance Possession.
A quick update on our driver referral contest – we have received 7 referrals so far!
Nicole Collins
Antonio Jackson
Scott Lamotte
George Robinson
Brian Doughty
Douglas McClendon
Ready, Set, Bloom:
To participate in this campaign, refer a driver and get a chance to win an additional cash bonus! Remember, ask them to enter your name in the referral section of the application, and we’ll see if they are MK material!
Application: get a flower pot
Interview: stem growth begins
Applicant Hired: the bud develops
Applicant Seated: receive a fully bloomed flower
Referrals are good now through May 31st. Don’t miss out on your chance to win big this spring – start referring drivers today!
Did you know that one-third of all fatal crashes in work zones involve large trucks? That’s a staggering statistic, and it highlights the need for increased safety measures in these areas. The main causes of these accidents are speeding, distracted driving, and aggressive driving. Rear-end collisions are the most frequent type of accident, which is why it’s so important to stay alert and focused while driving in work zones.
Prioritizing safety and implementing defensive driving in work zones is imperative due to the severe consequences that accidents can bring. These repercussions span from fatalities and injuries to significant fines, license suspension, job loss, and even imprisonment for professional drivers. Striking a worker could lead to a fine of up to $10,000 and a 14-year prison term. Therefore, it is our duty to adhere to all safety protocols and practices to prevent such accidents.
What should you do in a Work Zone?
Plan your route in advance to identify work zones and alternative paths.
Stay focused on the road, follow signs, and refrain from distractions like cell phones.
Anticipate lane closures, traffic diversions, and reduced speeds in work zones.
Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead to prevent rear-end collisions.
Leverage your training – Smith System.
Remember, it is essential not to let overconfidence or complacency take over while navigating work zones. No delivery or customer is worth compromising safety by rushing or taking unwarranted risks.
