Category: Announcement & Hot Topics

In a busy world, it’s often difficult to do the right thing. Every day we have opportunities to make bad decisions for immediate personal gain or convenience, whether it’s telling that little white lie to get out of trouble or slacking on the job and letting someone else deal with the problem later. It all comes down to integrity, our moral and ethical standards for ourselves.

When people have strong personal integrity, it blends into their professional careers. The good habits and behaviors help to build a good reputation for the companies they work for. Those with integrity are gracious and helpful, and they are respectful of others and their time. They are trustworthy and hard-working, realizing that everything they do impacts the company’s, and their own, reputations. Drivers who demonstrate integrity do thorough inspections and arrive on time and ready to work. They make sure their equipment is clean and in good working order and they are able to deal with conflicts that arise while remaining positive.

People lacking in integrity are often unreliable, showing inconsistency in their work habits. They frequently lack accountability, blaming others for failures and not accepting consequences. They lie and take shortcuts for personal gain without regard to the impact it will make on the companies they work for. They may leave trailers dirty, or tires or other equipment in bad condition for the next driver to deal with. They fly off the handle when issues occur and have a bad attitude or are unwilling to help. They
frequently neglect to make timely pickups and deliveries or make excuses for their performance.

Integrity is a value at Marvin Keller. Follow through on your promises, admit when you’ve made a mistake, and be honest with people. Humbleness is the key, and you will be rewarded with miles of goodness.

According to recent data released by the Women in Trucking Association, the number of female drivers in the trucking industry is climbing. An average of 12.1% of overall professional drivers who hold commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and drive heavy-duty trucks are female. 

24% of Marvin Keller’s fleet consists of female drivers, which is above average for most carriers!

By creating a more inclusive environment and promoting opportunities for everyone, we can continue to break down barriers and inspire more women to pursue careers in traditionally male-dominated fields like trucking. This shift not only benefits individuals by providing more diverse job opportunities but also contributes to a more dynamic and inclusive industry as a whole. #SupportWomeninTrucking

We have sent all Drivers a link to this survey to determine what we can improve and the effectiveness and performance of our Driver Training, Operations, and Driver Management Team. We care about your thoughts and opinions and really want your detailed feedback. Our simple goal is improvement.

Fill out as many questions as you can. View the form by clicking on the link below. Once your survey is complete, your driver manager schedules a time to talk about your response.

Annual Driver Survey Link

Thank you to those who took the time to complete the survey! Your feedback is very valuable to us!

Insurance Open Enrollment will be held January 15^th through Friday, January 29^th for a February 1st, 2024 effective date.

If you do not wish to make any changes to your current coverage, no action is needed.

Attached is the information regarding the open enrollment. You will also receive a packet with the attached in the mail.

All paperwork must be turned in to me by 1/29/24. You can send via mobile capture under Safety Misc.

Medical Benefits:

• There will be no changes to employee contributions and health plan design in 2024.
• If you are making changes to your coverage or adding dependents, please contact HR and request a new enrollment form which must be completed and returned to Amanda.
• To see what benefits you are currently enrolled in, please review your profile in Paycor or contact HR.

Non-Medical Benefits:

• The vision plan will see a slight increase in employee contributions for this year’s renewal (see page 2 for new rate information).
• There will be no changes to employee contributions and plan design for the Dental, Voluntary Life, Short-Term Disability or Long-Term Disability.
• If you choose to keep your current non-medical elections the same, no action is needed.
• If you would like to make an adjustment to your non-medical benefits (Ameritas, VSP, & Unum benefits), please contact HR for enrollment forms and additional information.

A common rule of thumb for dressing for work is to dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Even if you have the job you want, it’s necessary to make sure you are dressed appropriately for work. What constitutes appropriate dress attire depends on the work you do. As truck drivers, wearing a suit and tie is certainly not expected, but you are still the face of the company that is being represented to customers, so it’s necessary that you maintain a neat appearance.

Dressing well helps to project a positive and professional impression to customers. When you spend time on your appearance, it shows that you take your job seriously and that you care about how you represent yourself and your company. Dressing professionally also improves your credibility with others. They are more likely to trust you and take you seriously.

Dressing appropriately includes wearing clean, well-fitting clothes without tears or stains. Ensuring you maintain good hygiene and keep yourself presentable helps to project an image of confidence and success to our customers. Small things like this can add up to more business and more money in your pocket.

Find something you can wear that will not only feel comfortable but also look presentable. 🦺👕👚👖

If you are unsure of how you should be presenting yourself, check with HR or your driver manager for the Marvin Keller rules of conduct.

Our team would like to acknowledge a few of our drivers who have demonstrated exceptional levels of dedication, positivity, professionalism, and hard work. These drivers have been chosen for their remarkable contributions and commitment to excellence.

“It’s difficult to summarize Ken’s contributions in just a few sentences. Ken has been driving for 56 years starting at the age of 19. He drove for his uncle for 2 years and then bought his own truck. In 1989, his business grew to a 38-truck fleet running for ADM. He continued with them until Sept of 2001 when he came to Marvin Keller. Ken continued with MK until 2013 when he left to try his hand at running a body shop with his son. In 2018 Ken came back to MK and remains here today. Ken helps the shop by assisting with DOT Inspections on trailers, installing Samsara units on trailers, and identifying and repairing minor maintenance issues. Ken is also a part of our training program primarily working with students on backing skills, using and updating Samsara and Drive MK, or any additional training they may need. We’re incredibly fortunate to have Ken as a member of the MK Family.” – Amy, Owner Operator Program Manager

“Since Rick joined Marvin Keller in August, he has consistently ran 3000+ miles a week as a company driver. He is always timely and always provides the MK team with updates. His work ethic is second to none, and he is a great asset to have on the team.” – Lucas, Driver Manager

“The Branham Team recently paired up and they’ve been awesome since the start. They are consistently accurate with times and updates they send to us for ETAs. They stay on top of all their paperwork and turn in anything we ask timely. They go above and beyond when the company needs help with a load. The Branhams are true examples of our culture and the level of professionalism we strive for at MK.” – Alex, Driver Manager

“Robert started at Marvin Keller in September as a driver in our 4 on 4 off program. Since he started he has always been willing to work extra days and stay out to help make deliveries. Robert is always on time and is excellent at communicating with the MK team. He has been a great asset and is always willing to go the extra mile.” – Lucas, Driver Manager

“Charity has recently become a trainer here at Marvin Keller. Some of her strengths are attention to detail, a positive attitude, and of course, is always a hard worker. She is a perfect fit to teach new drivers and help them achieve success here at Marvin Keller.” – Andrew, Driver Manager

“Jerry is always willing to help out wherever he can. When we need a load delivered Jerry is always there to assist. His recent accomplishment is transitioning from a company driver to a lease purchase operator. Jerry always maintains a positive attitude, even when things are not going their way. We appreciate all that he does to help out Marvin Keller.” – Tom, Driver Manager

Thank you for all that you do and continue to do to help us be the best carrier out there! Keep up the great work!

Recognizing the Role of Truck Drivers

As we continue to navigate through the new year, the role of truck drivers has become even more critical in keeping the supply chain moving smoothly. Last year presented many difficulties, and we would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to every one of you who worked tirelessly to deliver essential goods and resources to communities across the nation.

“As more than 80% of U.S. communities rely exclusively on trucks to meet their freight transportation needs, the impact of truck drivers is felt in every corner of the country.” The things that fill our lives and power our economy are made available thanks to a truck and a driver behind the wheel. We truly appreciate YOU and all the hard work and dedication that goes into being a professional driver. Thank you, MK Drivers.