Great News Drivers! Marvin Keller has switched to a much better ELD system called Samsara. It uses a very simple App to track your Hours of Service and Safety Scorecards. We have a few drivers testing it now who have had a lot of positive feedback. We are looking forward to switching everyone very quickly. Your Driver Manager will schedule you through the shop to have it installed in your truck soon!
It’s no secret that the demand for skilled truck drivers is on the rise. As a result, it has become increasingly difficult to recruit new talent and retain existing drivers.
To stay competitive with other trucking companies in recruiting, Marvin Keller spends around $7,000 per month on job advertising sites to attract top talent. However, finding new candidates isn’t the only goal – we also prioritize retaining them. Our goal is to ensure that all new drivers joining the team have the tools and resources needed to succeed and grow within the company.
Beyond job sites, there are many other ways to attract quality candidates, improve retention, and manage recruitment costs. Referral programs are often the most effective recruiting channel in this regard. Here’s why:
To find new driving talent, word-of-mouth is the most effective. To refer someone to Marvin Keller, we suggest getting to know them personally, explaining your work experiences, and directing them to the company website and social media to get a sense of our culture. Once you’ve done this, encourage them to apply using your name as a reference.
Please inform us if you want any materials to be handed out to potential candidates, such as business cards, flyers, and so on. We will be happy to provide them to you.
For your referrals, Marvin Keller has a referral campaign to recognize and reward you for referring potential candidates. Here is MK’s current referral campaign.
Please make sure you scan in all your paper logs! We need this information not only for compliance, but also in order to figure out our IFTA taxes.
From ORBCOMM, attached is a Malfunction Extension given by the FMCSA.
This extension allows drivers using ORBCOMM’s BT 504 platform to continue utilizing a Paper Record of Duty Status beyond the normal 8-day malfunction period specified in 49 CFR 395.8. This extension allows drivers to legally maintain a Paper Record of Duty Status through September 29, 2023, which is when we are aiming to have drivers switched back on to their ELD.
To utilize the extension and remain compliant, please ensure your drivers adhere to the following conditions:
ORBCOMM Malfunction Extension Letter.pdf
As you may have noticed, our Orbcomm/Bluetree systems have been down for a while now, and we are unsure when they will be restored. We have received an update from Orbcomm, and right now, if you are to log out of your Orbcomm device, you will be unable to log back in. Please document your last 7 days of logs somewhere safe in order to remain in compliance.
Stay logged in when possible, and if you do not have access to your E-Log, please switch to paper logs. If you need any assistance, please get in touch with someone here in the office.
If you’re in an event where you get stopped, please show them these letters.
ORBCOMM Malfunction Extension.pdf
ORBCOMM Roadside Outage Communication.pdf
You will start your order by pressing the blue play button on the right of the stop. Then a “Stop Confirmation” will pop up and ask, “Is the stop trailer number correct?” Your choices are “I don’t have a trailer,” “No,” or “Yes.” Choose what applies to the stop. Then it will ask, “Are you sure you want to start the timer?” If you’re sure, you will press “Okay,” and your timer will be started. You can see it at the bottom of the screen. When the timer starts, it updates the arrival time in our system. Leave the timer on until the stop is complete. For instance, if you are live loading leave the timer on until your trailer is loaded and you are leaving the shipper. This updates your departure time in our system. You simply do the same thing for all the stops on your order.
For last week’s driver spotlights, we recognized the following drivers who went above and beyond! We appreciate you going the extra mile!
First we would like to shout out Charity Battley. She traveled from Memphis to Texas to pick up her truck after a breakdown. Thank you for the extra effort and for staying positive throughout the hassle.
A huge shout out to Molly Gribler. We received a call from one of our Customers with lots of nice things to say about Molly. Thanks for showing respect and impressing our Customers!
Thank you to Darius Kerr for he had to take a train to get into another truck due to a breakdown. We appreciate you keeping a good attitude through the moves.
Shoutout to Jerry Frost for he helped us out with a Customer delivery on his day off – thanks for being so flexible!
We would like to acknowlged Aaron Williams. While he was waiting for his truck to be serviced, he delivered a truck to one of our team drivers because their truck was down at a repair shop. Thank you for being so willing to help out!
A huge shoutout to Marc Bear. He divided up a box of anti-skid plates between himself and two other city drivers to help us keep our supply costs down. Thank you for being someone we can rely on!
Lastly, we would like to thank Kaleb Green, Travis Palmer, Michael Bodine, Joe Aiello, Chris Pearce, & Allen Fitzgerald have all worked extra days in the past few weeks to help us make on-time delivery and keep our Customers happy. We appreciate it!
We know you guys have a lot of experience on the road and have gained valuable knowledge to improve everyone’s performance. We believe that your knowledge and personal experiences can be of great use to other fellow MK Drivers, which is why we would like you to share some of your driving tips and tricks.
Please share your ideas by clicking the link below. We’ve only received a few responses so far!
Once we have some feedback, we will compile all of your responses and display them in the “Did You Know?” series for all to see!
Help us spread your trucking knowledge with fellow MK Drivers! Any feedback is appreciated.
Did you know that as an Owner Operator, filling out a maintenance report each month is not only MK’s policy but a requirement by the DOT as well?
As per the DOT and MK’s policy, Owner Operators and Lease Purchase Drivers must fill out a detailed monthly maintenance report. The requirement to fill out a maintenance report each month is a measure put in place to encourage truck owners to keep their trucks in top-notch condition. Here are a few benefits of filling out the monthly maintenance report:
There are two ways to fill out the report:
Overall, keeping detailed records of your vehicle’s maintenance and repairs is an important part of being a responsible owner operator or lease purchase driver. By taking the time to fill out the maintenance report each month, you can ensure that your truck is safe and compliant with DOT regulations.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Amy or Marla.
Did you know that our Netradyne Dashcam comes with an app called ‘Driveri’ that gives feedback on your driving performance?
As more drivers and trucking companies are turning to technology for safer and more efficient driving, the Netradyne App is a great option. Not only does it offer real-time feedback on driving habits, but it also improves safety for drivers.
Real-time Access: With the app, drivers can now stay up to date on their driving performance and take proactive measures immediately. The app provides personalized feedback that helps you make better decisions while behind the wheel – improving overall driver score & ranking in real time.
Automated Driver Safety Coaching: Let drivers take control of their career with Virtual Coaching, a self-directed weekly safety review of their top opportunities for improvement. Virtual Coaching includes video examples so your drivers can contextualize the feedback.
Did you know that filling out a passenger authorization form isn’t just an MK policy, but it’s also a requirement mandated by the FMCSA?
As per Marvin Keller’s policy and the FMCSA, anytime you take a passenger with you they must complete a passenger authorization form. This form must be signed by the passenger as well as your DM and must be carried in the truck when the passenger is with you. Failure to do so may result in a DOT violation, so make sure there is always a signed copy in the driver’s truck.
If you have any questions about this policy or would like to fill out a form, please reach out to your DM!
Don’t forget to share your driving tips n tricks with us!
Our drivers have a lot of experience on the road and have gained valuable knowledge to improve their performance. We believe that your knowledge and personal experiences can be of great use to other fellow MK Drivers, which is why we would like you to share some of your driving tips and tricks.
Please share your ideas by clicking the link below.
Once we have some feedback, we will compile all of your responses and display them in the next “Did You Know?” series for all to see!