🚨 Severe winds are expected this weekend! 03/15/25 🚨 If you’re traveling through the affected areas, please stay alert and shut it down, especially if you’re hauling an empty trailer! Stay safe out there!
Category: Announcement & Hot Topics
In today’s competitive job market, attracting and retaining top talent is more important than ever. As we are almost one quarter into the year, our recruiting goals are clear: we aim to retain our current drivers and hire at least two new drivers per week. Expanding our fleet benefits not just our business, but everyone involved, creating a stronger and more reliable team. But recruiting isn’t just about placing ads—it’s about building relationships, creating an environment where drivers want to stay, and empowering our current team to be our best recruiters.
Recruiting Goals for This Year
One of our main objectives for the year is to retain our talented team while also expanding our fleet. We are aiming to hire two new drivers each week. Our recruiting team has grown, and having more eyes on potential applicants, we have had back-to-back successful weeks and have multiple drivers in orientation lined up. Our team is working hard to achieve these goals.
However, simply growing in numbers isn’t enough—we need to ensure that our drivers are satisfied, engaged, and committed to their roles. By retaining our experienced team members and recruiting new drivers, we can achieve long-term growth that benefits everyone in the company.
Advertising Efforts: Where and How We Are Looking for Talent
To meet our recruiting goals, we are actively advertising in a range of locations, casting a wide net for qualified drivers. Our efforts span several states, reaching talent in areas where there is volume of freight and where we need it most. Here are the regions where we are currently focusing our recruitment efforts:
- Sullivan, IL
- Memphis, TN
- Effingham, IL
- Clarksville, TN
- DeKalb, IL
- Nashville, TN
- Kankakee, IL
- Paducah, KY
- Springfield, IL
- Glasgow, KY
- Olney, IL
- Louisville, KY
- Rantoul, IL
- Rantoul, IL
- Columbia, SC
- Benton, IL
- Greensboro, NC
- Evansville, IN
- Charlotte, NC
- Terre Haute, IN
- Spartanburg, NC
- St. Louis, MO
- Birmingham, AL
- Bloomfield, MO
Flexible Schedules: Catering to the Needs of Our Drivers
One of the key factors in attracting top talent is offering a variety of schedules to meet drivers’ needs and preferences. We understand that flexibility is essential to many drivers, so we offer the following schedule options:
- 4/4 Schedule: Drivers work for four days and have four days off, providing a balance between work and personal time.
- 5 ½ Days Schedule: A slightly longer work schedule, but still offering a good work-life balance for those looking to maximize their time on the road.
- Extended 14-Day & 21-Day Tours: A great options for those who prefer to work for longer stretches and earn more.
- Team Drivers: Pairing up with another driver to share the workload and increase earning potential.
- Lease Purchase Program: For those looking to own their own truck, start their own business, and work with greater independence.
Referrals – Why Your Efforts Matter:
Last year, we spent a little over $165,000 on advertising dollars. While traditional advertising is our leading recruitment strategy, we’ve discovered referrals are much more effective and cost-efficient. Instead of spending large sums on recruitment agencies, we prefer to reward our current drivers for bringing in candidates. Not only does this approach save us money, but it also brings in more reliable and committed drivers. We believe that our drivers make excellent recruiters and we want to reward you for your efforts.
Your past contributions in referring drivers have been a great driving force in growing our fleet. Driver testimonials have proven more effective than traditional advertisements because they bring a personal touch. Your recommendations and experiences resonate more deeply with potential drivers than a generic job ad ever could.
Note – When you refer a potential candidate to us, it is not a reflection of you as a driver. We conduct an extensive interview process to determine if your driver lead is a good fit for our company. All leads are good leads.
Conclusion:
For 2025, our recruiting and advertising efforts are focused on expanding our fleet, retaining drivers, and utilizing the power of referrals to build a strong, reliable team. Through strategic advertising in key regions and offering flexible schedules, we are attracting top talent. However, you have the opportunity to be the driving force to our growth and earn big rewards. Your referrals and testimonials help us find the best candidates and build a successful team. We are grateful for your ongoing efforts, and we look forward to another successful year together.
We would like to feature Marvin Keller’s Top 10 Inspectors who demonstrated exceptional attention to detail and dedication to safety last week! These individuals consistently set the standard with their thorough pre-trip inspections, ensuring that every tractor-trailer they check remains safe and reliable. Keep up the great work!
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Spring Forward
Clocks will spring forward at 2 a.m. Sunday, March, 9. Make sure you change your clocks before you go to bed Saturday evening!
CSA stands for Compliance, Safety, Accountability. It is the safety compliance and enforcement program of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that holds motor carriers and drivers accountable for their role in safety. Below are Marvin Keller’s current CSA metrics:
How are CSA scores calculated?
CSA scores are based on a carrier’s DOT Inspections. Every violation (citation or warning) noted on a DOT Inspection results in points added to the carrier’s CSA score. These violations fall into one of eight categories pictured above.
- Each violation is assigned a point value ranging from 1 – 10 with 10 being the most severe
- CSA Scores are updated every 28 days
- Points remain on a company’s CSA Score for 24 months
- Low CSA Scores = Safer Operation = Fewer Inspections
The Impact of CSA Scores: A higher CSA score indicates more violations, which can lead to more scrutiny, while a lower score signifies a safer operation.
Benefits of good CSA score:
- Strong Reputation: CSA scores are publicly accessible, meaning potential customers can view a carrier’s safety record. With a good score, they can trust that our fleet will deliver freight safely and on time. Low scores help us stand out among competitor carriers and can lead to more business opportunities.
- Fewer Inspections & Audits: The fleet will face fewer inspections and DOT audits – allowing us to spend more time on the road and less time at scales.
What can you do?
Honestly reflect and assess your safety behaviors:
- Do I skip inspections?
- Do I tailgate?
- Do I frequently pass or change lanes?
- Do IÂ engage in speeding and aggressive driving?Â
- Where can I be more cautious and careful?
- Am I managing fatigue and getting proper rest?
- What do I need to do to improve?
At Marvin Keller, we pride ourselves on having top-tier CSA scores. This is a direct reflection of the safety-conscious drivers on our team. Keep up the great work! Here are some ways you can continue contributing to our success:
- Drive safely and follow the SMITH System Principles
- Conduct thorough Pre / Post-Trip Inspections
- Report any defects or potential safety risks before you hit the road
Your commitment to safety not only contributes to our excellent CSA scores but also keeps our roads safer for everyone. Let’s continue to work together to maintain our reputation as a trusted and reliable carrier!
When you’re out on the interstate, have you ever seen those trucks that say “our most valuable asset sits up front?” While Marvin Keller may not have that decal on our trailers, we still do our best to live up to that creed. This involves investing in driver training and coaching and providing all the necessary tools, materials, and equipment needed to effectively do the job. It also includes treating our drivers like valued members of the team who have families and personal lives and who need and deserve a good work/life balance just like workers of any other profession.
We hear horror stories from new drivers who have come from other companies; they talk about being kept out for six or more weeks at a time, sitting for four or five days without a load and without pay, or low-quality “jiffy training” for rookies that only lasts a week or so before they get tossed out on the road to fend for themselves. None of these situations makes for a successful driver and we want to ensure that our drivers are prepared for being out on their own.
Training any employee is an investment. Training a professional driver takes a lot of time, effort, and money. Many trucking companies won’t hire drivers without experience because they don’t have the resources or don’t want to invest the time or money that it takes to properly train them. MK has developed a great team of driver trainers to give one-on-one instruction for up to six weeks, depending on experience level, and we’re always looking to bring on more driver trainers to ensure we can help bring in new drivers, regardless of their experience level. Our in-house CDL training program is a huge investment in our drivers. We now have a permanent in-house trainer to help prospective drivers from the very beginning, training for their CDL while being imbued with MK’s values from the start to get them prepared for their careers with MK.
MK driver managers are working on your behalf to help you in your travels. They work to make sure you have all the information you need and to help you with any issues. They are there to coach you and help you succeed and they act as an intermediator, advocating for your benefit. Your driver manager lays out the expectations for your assignments and follows up on improvement plans. Everyone is given an opportunity to improve as long as there is a good-faith effort to do so. We want drivers to succeed and are investing in the resources necessary to help facilitate that improvement. We always want to make sure drivers feel safe on the road and encourage everyone to get enough sleep and take breaks when needed. Safety is not a priority at Marvin Keller, it’s a CORE VALUE; it is not to be compromised.
While drivers who stay out weeks at a time can make the most money for themselves and for the company, today’s crop of drivers wants more home time and flexibility, so MK has become flexible as well, customizing drivers’ preferred work schedules and even accommodating driver moves to different states when possible. We also allow drivers to bring along their furry family members in order to create the most pleasant job experience possible.
At MK, we work hard every day to try to provide everything our drivers need to be successful and feel valued. Providing the best work experience possible isn’t cheap, but we think it’s an investment worth making.
possible as a professional truck driver, you’re not alone. While many drivers are completely content just enjoying the ride and having the consistency of reliable paychecks that come with a company job, some of you may have an entrepreneurial spirit and a drive to do more. At Marvin Keller, we understand the desire to grow and develop professionally, and we are committed to helping anyone in that path if they are so inclined.
There are a few ways a driver can advance at MK. One is through our Lease/Purchase program. Do you want to own your own truck, decide what loads you want to run and when you want to run? The L/P program might be right for you. In order to be successful as a business owner, there are skills and qualities you must possess:
- Must have a strong work ethic and be a self-starter. Once you are in charge of your own business, you must have the motivation to do what you need to in order to be profitable and successful. Business owners understand that profitability is the ultimate goal and it requires someone willing to take on that responsibility and the risks involved in order to reap the greater rewards that come with it.
- Have a plan and be organized. Successful business owners set goals, keep lots of notes, and don’t get discouraged when things aren’t perfect. You must be able to save money to keep in escrow so you have it when truck problems arise or if you can’t work for some reason. It requires having a plan and having a backup plan if things don’t go as planned.
Some of MK’s owner/operators have even brought on their own drivers and now manage their own teams. The sky is the limit; the only question is how high you want to go.
If you do not quite want to venture out as your own boss but still want the opportunity to develop professionally, perhaps being a driver trainer is for you. MK is also always looking for all-star drivers who want to train the next generation of truckers. If you lament the state of the new crop of rookie drivers on the road, what better way to make an impact than to train those drivers to your standards and those of MK? Of course, trainers should be drivers who are committed to excellence in their own careers and should embody the traits necessary of a good driver:
- Strong work ethic and a willingness to help without being asked.
- Acts in a professional manner even when no one is watching.
- Believes that there is always something to learn and is never satisfied or complacent.
- Takes responsibility for mistakes and makes the effort to improve.
Marvin Keller is invested in your success and we want you to have the tools to succeed and help provide the opportunities for you to do so. We succeed when you do and we want our drivers to be happy and fulfilled in their careers. If you are interested in being a trainer for MK or would like more information on the Lease/Purchase program, reach out to your driver manager for more information.
If you’re asked what you do for a living, I think most of you, if not all, would respond that you are a truck driver. But that’s only partly true. In reality, you are freight movers. Driving is just the means to accomplish that and the most time-consuming and demanding part of the job. As professional freight movers, you work in the service industry. Your job is to deliver products to customers safely, on time, and in good condition.
Working with customers directly is the lifeblood of trucking operations. No trucking company can survive working solely on the spot market. In order to attract and maintain customers, companies must bring value and good service to their operations. A major part of that is ensuring that accepted loads are picked and delivered on time. This is especially important when carriers are plentiful and shippers have a lot of options; they can afford to be picky. Marvin Keller must always strive to be an elite fleet, which is one that stands out and is a go-to company for customers to move their freight. While we in the office aim for timely updates and communication and proactive problem-solving, we have to count on the drivers to execute the plans.
Everyone has heard at some point that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. This metaphor applies in business as a team is only as successful as its lowest-performing member. How you perform directly affects your team and the entire company. MK is fortunate to have a great team of professional drivers and we frequently get compliments from shippers, receivers, customers and brokers. This is one of the reasons we have been in business for 60 years. In order to maintain that level of service, we hold all employees to high standards of performance. Here are a few examples of the standards we expect from drivers.
- On-time pickup and delivery: This requires proper trip planning to know what you have time for and ensure you leave with enough time to make it. Of course, there are always unplanned issues; trucking isn’t perfect and we understand that things happen in transit. Just keep in mind that pickup and delivery times are not suggestions; these times are when the customers expect loads to pick and deliver. We must do our best to provide this service.
- Safe Transport: Most loads are required to be secured, sealed, and weighed by the driver. There are some shippers that may do all this themselves, but for the most part, it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that each load is properly secured for transport and isn’t going to shift. It also must be weight by the driver picking up to ensure it is legal. Most trailers are required to be sealed, either by shipper or driver. These three things are very important as any violations or issues that arise from a lack of diligence can be inordinately expensive. There have been innumerable instances of load shifts due to harsh brakes or quick turns that have resulted in rework charges in the thousands, often wiping all revenue from the load and even putting us at a negative on the loads. Overweight tickets and claims due to missing product on broken-sealed loads can also cause us to lose more money on a load than we’re making.
- Adherence to DOT regulations: Now that E-logs are the norm and drivers can no longer fudge their paper logs without notice, it’s important that HOS regulations are followed. If you are unsure how you should be logging your activity, or have questions about more complicated regulations like split breaks and personal conveyance, reach out to your driver manager. If we get violations, you could be put out of service, get hefty fines, and our CSA scores take a hit. Customers look at these things when considering which companies to work for.
- Communication: This is very important. If you’re running behind, let your driver manager know so we can alert the customer/broker. If your load doesn’t match your dispatch, communicate that. If you’re overweight, broken down, having trouble with the truck, can’t get out at the expected time, or any other issue that will result in a customer failure, communicate. Customers are understanding; they all know that things happen on the road and they are forgiving as long as we let them know what’s going on and keep them in the loop.
Marvin Keller is looking forward to a prosperous 2025 with a focus on growth, performance improvement, and the employee accountability that is necessary to succeed. Always reach out to your driver manager if you want help with improving performance and providing great service to our customers. We are committed to being the fleet of choice for all our customers.
While experts don’t believe the freight market will jump dramatically early this year, all signs indicate that we’ve reached the bottom of the recession and that the market will see a gradual upturn this year.
In the beginning of January, the Outbound Tender Reject Index (OTRI) hit the highest levels since 2022. The OTRI, a statistic that simply measures the number of offered loads that carriers are declining, is considered one of the most accurate indicators of the freight market. For example, in January of 2024, the reject index hit around 1.5%. Carriers were only rejecting that much of what they were offered. This month, it reached over 10%, a dramatic increase. In addition to this, spot rates have increased an additional 10% since 2023. There are a number of factors contributing to this recovery.
- Warehouse inventories are finally decreasing from the pandemic-era glut.
- Capacity is leaving the market. Carriers popped up all over the place in 2020-2021 to cover the increase in freight during the pandemic. But due to the unusually long freight recession, many carriers without financial resiliency having exited the market. The fewer carriers competing for freight, the more freight there is for those still in the market.
- Economic optimism. The expected policies of the incoming administration have created optimism in the markets and increased consumer confidence and spending.
- Due to a number of economic and geopolitical concerns, ocean container rates have been steadily increasing. These issues involve uncertainty about potential new tariffs, rerouting vessels to stay out of the Red Sea where many ships have been attacked by terrorists, and concerns of potential port worker strikes. All this volatility has driven rates upward. Long-term ocean container rates are generally negotiated at the beginning of the year, so rates will stabilize, but only time will tell in which direction they will go.
It’s still very early in the year to have a good idea how much improvement will happen in 2025, but analysts expect slow gains of possibly 3% in contract freight in 2025 with gains picking up speed after this year. While they are not as optimistic as before about a robust recovery, they are confident of these smaller increases. Marvin Keller has been through worse, like during the Great Recession of 2008, and is much more resilient now. Rates are already going up this year and we’re gaining new customers. Things are looking up for the freight market and Marvin Keller in 2025.
Transport Topics, https://www.ttnews.com/
Freight Waves, https://www.freightwaves.com/
As we enter 2025, have you considered making your health a priority? Truck driving is a rewarding career, but the long periods away from home, living in a cramped space, and sitting for extended periods can present unique challenges to staying healthy. While it may seem difficult to stay in shape, simple changes to your daily routine can help both your physical and mental well-being while on the road.
What can you do to stay healthy?
- Eat Healthy: One of the biggest challenges for truck drivers is managing their diet, especially when fast food and truck stop meals are often the most convenient options. While eating healthy may feel like a challenge, it’s entirely possible with a bit of planning. Keep these tips in mind:
- Choose grilled, baked, or steamed options instead of fried foods.
- Pack your own healthy snacks such as fruits, nuts, and protein bars.
- Opt for water or unsweetened beverages over sugary drinks.
- Look for salads, wraps, or other lighter options available at truck stops.
- Stay Physically Active: Incorporating physical activity into your daily routine is crucial, even with a busy schedule. Walking around the truck or a truck stop a few times can help get your body moving. Start small and work your way up to 20-30 minutes most days of the week. Find a routine and you’ll start noticing the benefits of staying active, both physically and mentally.
- Sleep & Rest: Fatigue is one of the most significant risks for professional drivers. It can impair your work performance, attention, reaction times, and judgment. Listen to your body, recognize the warning signs, and avoid driving when fatigued.
- Plan your trips to include designated sleep times.
- Listen to your body: if you experience symptoms like blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, or trouble staying awake, pull over and rest.
- Take power naps (10-45 minutes) when needed; a short break can rejuvenate you and reduce the risk of accidents caused by fatigue.
- Stress Management: Just like any career, truck driving can be stressful at times. There are many ways you can help reduce stress:
- Getting outside and exercising
- Communicating with friends & family
- Making time for activities you enjoy
- Asking for help
Adopting a healthier lifestyle as a professional driver is not only achievable but essential for a long-term, successful career. By making small but impactful adjustments to your routine—such as eating clean meals, staying active, getting enough sleep, and managing stress—you’ll improve both your physical and mental well-being. Your health is invaluable – make 2025 the year you commit to a healthier lifestyle on the road.