Thank you to everyone who participated. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s questions – there will be 4 total!
Tuesday Question #1:
Question: Which U.S. interstate highway is the longest?
Answer: I-90
Total Submissions: 39
Randomly Drawn Winner: Jason Grigsby
Tuesday Question #2:
Question: What percentage of U.S. communities rely exclusively on trucks to deliver their goods?
Answer: 80%
Total Submissions: 31
Randomly Drawn Winner: Terry Hodge
Tuesday Question #3:
Question: What three trucks does Marvin Keller run?
Answer: Mack, Kenworth, and Freightliner
Total Submissions: 38
Randomly Drawn Winner: Will Caldwell
We have many prizes to give away, including gift cards, flashlights, leaf blowers, TVs, and a brand-new truck seat. Participate in the questions this week for a chance to win these items!
To enter the drawing, you must answer the question.There will be a prize giveaway for each question. We will announce the winners at the end of the day. Please click the link below to participate in the last trivia question for today.
To enter the drawing, you must answer the question correctly.There will be a prize giveaway for each question. We will announce the winners at the end of the day. Please click the link below to participate in the second trivia question.
During Driver Appreciation Week, there will be three trivia questions posted throughout today. To enter the drawing, you must answer the question.There will be a prize giveaway for each question. We will announce the winners at the end of the day. Please click the link below to participate in the first trivia question today.
During Driver Appreciation Week, there will be mulitple trivia questions posted throughout day from Monday to Friday. To enter the drawing, you must answer the question.There will be a prize giveaway for each question. We will announce the winners at the end of the day. Please click the link below to participate in the first trivia question.
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.
