We’ve received feedback from both food-grade customers and drivers about the importance of keeping trailers clean. Sweeping out trailers is not only a customer requirement, but it also prevents rejected equipment, frustration, and unnecessary costs.
Please keep the following in mind:
Always sweep out trailers when dropping them. Many rejections occur simply because trailers are left dirty. A rejected trailer creates frustration for customers and adds unnecessary expense when another driver has to bring a clean one.
Helpful tools for cleaning trailers (shared by Bobby Miller):
Leaf blower
Broom
5-gallon bucket (for collecting and disposing of debris)
Flashlight (to spot glass or dirt at the front of the trailer)
Crowbar/hammer (to pull up nails)
Keeping trailers clean is a small step that makes a big impact on our reputation, customer satisfaction, and overall efficiency. Thank you for doing your part!
End-of-Rotation Reminder
Before heading home on your last day of rotation, please check in with Dispatch. Don’t assume you’re automatically done for the week—sometimes last-minute needs come up that require a hand. A quick check-in helps prevent miscommunication and keeps things running smoothly for the whole team.
In short, swept trailers and a quick check with Dispatch = happy customers, smoother operations, and less stress for everyone. Thanks for helping us keep things running smoothly
Please join us in welcoming James Trump – the newest member of our team!
“Hello, My name is James Trump. No, I am not related. I do have the same birthday as Donald, and I think I have better hair. I am joining the Marvin Keller team as a Driver Manager. I started in transportation at UPS as a package handler before becoming a supervisor. I then went to LTL, where I was an outbound supervisor before becoming a Terminal Manager. I have also worked in sales and customer service at ADM Logistics. I am married with 4 kids. I am the President of Mt Zion youth sports and run both the Winter Warm-Up basketball tournament and the Mash Up baseball and softball tournaments. I am also currently an assistant coach for Mt Zion HS boys’ track. I am looking forward to getting to know all of you. Please feel free to stop by and say hello.”
One of the five personality traits, Conscientiousness, has been shown to be a predictor of physical and mental well-being. Studies have linked this trait to lower stress levels, longer lifespan, career success, and overall happiness. Here’s an overview of what this trait entails.
Traits of Conscientious People
Organized, mindful of details. Pay attention to your dispatch information and make sure you plan ahead. Ensure everything on your truck and trailer is in good order and your paperwork matches your load.
Plan ahead, consider how their behavior affects others, mindful of deadlines. Do you share a truck with someone? Have you ever dropped a load that someone else was going to finish? Think about how you would want to find your equipment and make sure that’s how you leave it for someone else. If you have a partner, keep in mind that they are counting on you to do your part to maintain your regular schedule so they can do the same.
Punctuality, reliability, industriousness (diligence, devoted effort). Can MK count on you to be where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there? Late pickups and deliveries do matter as they erode the trust we’ve built with our customers. You should always work to make sure you are leaving with enough time to make pickups and deliveries on time and are accounting for potential delays along the way.
Short-term sacrifices for long-term gains – Those who postpone immediate gratification and employ self-discipline and control to achieve goals. They use rational, well-thought-out decision-making, have good impulse control, and avoid making spontaneous, rash decisions.
Traits of unconscientious people
Impulsive, casual, careless, don’t plan ahead or follow schedules, miss deadlines. Drivers with these traits are frequently late to pickups or deliveries, don’t plan their trips ahead of time or account for potential delays, overbreak, don’t do proper pre- and post-trip inspections, or frequently lose paperwork. In sum, they don’t take their job very seriously.
Conscientiousness is an important trait for a professional truck driver. While we’re always here to help you along our path, trucking requires a self-starter, someone who doesn’t need a boss constantly standing over their shoulder making sure they get all their tasks done. Managers can’t be in the truck with you, and we have to be able to rely on you to do your job without micromanagement. If you find yourself in the unconscientiousness category, fear not. Here are some ways you can be a more conscientious person and reap the benefits in your professional (and personal) lives.
Set clear priorities and goals
If a large goal seems out of reach, break out the steps needed to reach that goal. When you achieve each step, you’ll feel more motivated to continue.
Prioritize your tasks based on importance and urgency. When you have a large task list, it may seem overwhelming, but if you write down your tasks in a prioritized order, it helps you stay focused.
Set consistent daily routines
Building a daily routine can help you with self-discipline and help you feel less overwhelmed by the day’s tasks, and give you more time for things you enjoy.
When you set your routine, always make punctuality a priority.
Hold yourself accountable
Conscientious people have a strong sense of personal accountability, and they learn from their mistakes and grow.
Every journey begins with a single step, and it’s never too late to change your habits and improve. Reach out to your manager if you need help.
Keeping a clean truck is essential for safety and efficiency. A dirty truck can harbor bacteria, mold, and mildew, posing health risks to the driver. A dirty, cluttered truck can also lead to decreased fuel efficiency, increased maintenance costs, and reduced productivity. Here are some reasons why you should always keep your truck clean and organized.
Shows Professionalism – Keeping your truck clean, neat, and tidy shows that you take pride in your work and yourself and that you care about how Marvin Keller Trucking is represented.
Better Preparation for DOT Inspections – Anecdotal evidence suggests DOT officers are less likely to perform lengthy inspections on trucks that appear clean and well-maintained. If you’re more likely to keep your truck clean, you’re also more likely to make the effort to ensure everything is in good working order.
Better Maintenance Means Fewer Expensive Repairs – Dirt, grease, and grime can cover up small problems that can turn into big problems later on. Ensuring your mechanical devices are clean and working can prevent expensive repairs down the line. Road salt is a big contributor to rust and corrosion and should be cleaned early to avoid premature metal wear. Well-maintained trucks will naturally have a better resale value as well.
Cluttered Cabs are Dangerous and Distracting – Cluttered space, cluttered mind. Studies show that better organized trucks lead to better driving performance. Clutter can also roll around on your floors and interfere with pedals or cause distractions, so it’s best to keep everything organized and out of the way. If your mirrors or windows are dirty or blocked that also hampers your ability to drive safely.
Personal Hygiene and Safety – Falls are all too common in this industry. Keeping your steps, handrails, and thresholds free of dirt and grease will help prevent slips and falls. It’s understandable that it’s not as easy to perform the same personal hygiene routines in a truck than it is at home, but doing a 30-minute cleaning once a week can prevent downtime from sickness. Wipe down all your surfaces, wash bedding, and remove any food or packaging waste. Do a more thorough cleaning once a month, cleaning upholstery and floors.
With so many people sharing a truck now, it’s important that you take your truck partner into consideration. Would you want to be left with a mess when you start your rotation? Take shop workers into consideration when you need to have your truck worked on. Making sure your trailer is reasonably clean and in good condition before you go to a shipper is also important. When you go into a shipper and your trailer is full of debris, or even rejected product, and you didn’t notice because you neglected to check the trailer before heading in, that reflects badly on us. Take a few minutes to make sure the trailer is in good condition for your next load, so we’re not scrambling later when the trailer is rejected.
We received the attached notice regarding the Automatic Emergency Braking System our trucks are equipped with.
Some key points the letter makes:
Modifications to an overpass on I-71 SB over Moser Farm Road near Louisville, KY, may cause the safety system to perceive a road hazard and engage the Automatic Emergency Braking.
This issue applies only to the southbound direction of the roadway
KY Transportation has been notified and asked to resolve the issue
Be aware when traveling through this area, and if you have any questions, please reach out!
While most of our drivers start their day early, there are times when driving after dark is unavoidable—whether it’s running behind schedule, weather delays, or unexpected repairs. Nighttime driving brings its own set of challenges, and being prepared can make all the difference for your safety and performance on the road.
Here are some practical tips to help you stay alert, safe, and compliant during nighttime driving:
1. Prepare Before You Roll
Rest First: Never underestimate the importance of sleep. Make sure you’re well-rested before hitting the road at night. If possible, take a 10-45 minute nap.
Pre-Trip Inspection: Pay extra attention to your lights—headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals. Visibility is everything at night.
2. Manage Fatigue
Know the Signs: Yawning, heavy eyelids, drifting in your lane, or missing exits are all signs of fatigue. If you notice them, it’s time to stop.
Plan Breaks: Use your required breaks strategically to refresh your body and mind. Take a short walk, grab a healthy snack, or stretch.
Use Caffeine Wisely: Coffee or an energy drink can provide a short-term boost, but avoid overdoing it or using caffeine as a substitute for genuine rest.
Know your Limits: Your safety and the safety of others always come first. When in doubt, shut it down because sleep is the best medicine for combating fatigue.
3. Adjust Your Driving Habits
Slow Down: Reduced visibility and unexpected hazards (like wildlife or debris) make lower speeds safer at night.
Increase Following Distance: Leave extra room between you and the vehicle ahead. Nighttime means slower reaction times.
Use Your Lights Properly: Use high beams when possible, but remember to dim them when other vehicles are near.
At MK, your safety is our top priority. Use your trip planning skills, listen to your body, and always drive defensively. If you ever have concerns, reach out. We’re here to support you. Drive smart, drive safe, and thank you for all you do.
A reminder to all drivers parking at the Richburg, SC yard to lock the gate – not “dummy” locked. They need it to be secured at all times, as they have customer equipment on the yard too.
Below is a picture of what they are seeing. Please do not do this, and lock the gate completely.
Trucks are expensive to operate. Between equipment costs, fuel, maintenance, and repairs, it can be inordinately expensive. So it should go without saying that trucks have to run to be profitable. Here’s what we are focused on to make sure all our trucks remain profitable.
Unplanned Absences
These are defined as any call-off in less than two weeks’ time. Time off must be scheduled in advance with PTO or vacation hours. The reason it’s so important that drivers work their assigned schedule is not just because the trucks have to run to be profitable, but we have made commitments to our customers, and we are expected to pick and deliver when we have committed to do so. When we have unplanned absences, we usually miss pickups and deliveries, which damages our reputation with our customers.
It’s also impossible to make up for downtime, especially when you are running on a 4 on/4 off schedule. We expect our drivers to be reliable; if we can’t depend on you to meet your commitments, we can’t meet ours.
Partnering all 4 on/4 off trucks
In order for these trucks to make money, they must be running all the time. Recruiting is working hard to try to partner up these trucks, but we welcome drivers finding and referring their own driver partners as well. That way, you make money as a recruiter as well through referral bonuses!
It’s also important to do your best to stay on schedule so your partner can as well.
Ensuring drivers are working a minimum number of hours/day and miles/week
Of course, this is all taken in the context of how you’re planning. Drivers are only expected to do what planners and customer service can accommodate, but we are taking a closer looks at overbreaks, unaccounted for on or off-duty non-driving times, and start/stop times.
When driver time isn’t being utilized to its full potential, planners don’t know when to expect you or they can’t count on you to be where/when you need to be to cover customer freight. This results in lost revenue and lower pay for you as well if you’re not maximizing your time.
We also want to utilize spare trucks in cases of breakdowns. This will prevent you from sitting for long periods of time if your regular truck needs repaired.
Making small changes to efficiency and truck utilization can add up to big savings, which will trickle down to you. When the company is successful, you are successful. Help us make 2025 the year we make a great comeback.
