Category: Announcement & Hot Topics

Categories
Announcement & Hot Topics

Personal and Professional Benefits of Good Time Management

Truck Driving in September 2023: What Drivers Need to Know

How many times have you sat around idly while worrying about all the things you need to get done instead of just doing them? I think we’ve all had times when we felt overwhelmed by our workload and weren’t sure how to get started. Proper time management is essential in any profession. Professional truck driving is no exception and probably requires more attention than other fields. Because the nature of the job involves a lot of unknown variables, it’s incredibly important to have a plan of action each day and learn how to manage the short amount of time in which to complete the necessary tasks.

When you effectively manage your work time, the benefits will carry over to your personal life as well. It goes without saying that those who have good time-management skills are more productive as they have more time to devote to tasks. This also results in higher-quality work and greater overall profitability. An integral part of time management is knowing how to appropriately allocate your time. Here are some tips:

  • Learn what tasks take the most time and allocate your time to leave the most for the most important activities
  • Set priorities based on urgency and importance of tasks, avoiding non-important tasks.
  • Get organized! Clutter has a negative impact on well-being and productivity
  • Avoid multi-tasking; studies show it doesn’t save time because when you have to switch from one task to another your focus and concentration is broken and you lose productivity
  • Avoid procrastinating
  • It’s often hard to remember everything you have to do, so use planning tools if you need to. Make notes; use a notebook, planner, or phone apps to keep track of your priorities.

As a driver, the best way for you to make good use of your time is to trip plan. Plan a routine and follow it every day, writing down all your steps if that helps you follow it. The effects of good-time management are not just related to productivity. It also benefits your personal well-being. When you’re not worried about having to cram in all your work duties, you have more free time to do the things you want. You also have more energy and less stress.

The most successful and resilient companies foster a culture of discipline and responsibility. A company is only as successful as its team members. If you need help forming a routine or are struggling to maintain productivity, please reach out to your driver manager as they can help with trip planning and anything else to help you perform at your best.

Categories
Announcement & Hot Topics

Winner of $50 gift certificate – Referral Survey

As the new year is approaching, we’re always looking for new ways to improve as a company. We recently reached out for your thoughts on our referral program through a survey, and we’ve received a total of 23 responses.

A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to share their insights. To show our appreciation, we’re giving away a $50 gift certificate to one lucky winner! 

And the winner is…Jessica Branham! Congratulations!

Thank you again to those who participated. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Categories
Announcement & Hot Topics

Big Benefits come from Self-Improvement Mindset

Albert Einstein Quote: “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”

The most successful people are constantly improving. Having a self-improvement mindset involves being willing to learn and being open to new ideas and ways of thinking. This mindset is necessary for effective problem-solving and personal and professional growth.

Albert Einstein said, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” Those with a self-improvement mindset see failure as a learning opportunity. These individuals understand that learning new skills requires practice and failure. Don’t fear failure; learn from it. We learn from our mistakes because it forces us to question our methods and try something new. Effort and resilience are keys to growth.

Conversely, people with a fixed mindset believe they have a fixed set of skills that cannot be changed. Therefore, any attempt to learn anything new is futile. They avoid challenges for fear of failure and see any failure as evidence of their lack of abilities and potential and they settle for “good enough.” But we should never settle because we can always do better; accept nothing less than greatness.

We live in a world that values immediate results and this can contribute to our unwillingness to keep trying when we don’t get them. We have to shift our focus to the effort and process and value that growth more than a quick outcome. While unproductive effort is never helpful, most growth happens incrementally. Here are some ways to achieve this mindset.

  • Learn from your mistakes.
    • Seek feedback from your supervisor, team, and others and use the feedback to improve. Accept constructive criticism without becoming defensive or taking things personally and be willing to put forth the effort to improve.
    • Adopt an attitude of genuine humility: a modesty that comes from understanding our place in the greater scheme of things. Having a servant mindset increases our ability to learn and be good leaders.
    • Avoid arrogance as it leads to overconfidence and complacency. These have detrimental effects on safety and our ability to adapt and grow.
  • Practice mindfulness and self-reflection. Maintain awareness of your feelings and thoughts when you get carried away by negative or defeatist thought patterns. Make an honest assessment of your traits, attributes, and performance and adopt and attitude that is accepting of change.
  • Be adaptable. Always be willing to change your approach to problems to meet ever-changing needs.

Those with the growth mindset confront chaos and turn it into order. They learn from their mistakes, use feedback to their advantage, and they consider mindset as a skill that must be practiced.

Categories
Announcement & Hot Topics Performance

Unlocking 10 MPG: Driving Strategies to Boost Fuel Efficiency

What if hitting 10 miles per gallon in your semi-truck was not just a dream, but an achievable goal? While the average semi-truck is 6.5 to 7.5 MPG, Henry Albert, owner-operator and President of Albert Transport, has shown it’s possible to push that number much higher. And no, improving fuel efficiency isn’t just about having the latest truck model –it’s about changing how you drive.

Last week, we asked the fleet to listen to the Freight Nation Podcast featuring Henry Albert and his successful career. If you haven’t already, please take some time to listen to it as this article is based on the key insights from that podcast.

Key Takeaways: Insights from MK Driver Feedback

We asked the fleet to share their thoughts after listening to the podcast, and after reviewing your feedback, several key takeaways stood out. Here’s a summary of the main insights:

  1. The Mile-a-Pint Visual: Henry’s goal back in 2008 was to aim for “a mile per pint,” striving for 8 MPG. His success shows those small, consistent changes can lead to big improvements.
  2. Comfort vs Fuel Savings: Henry emphasizes that saving fuel often means sacrificing comfort. For years, he used heating pads and a fan rather than idling the truck overnight.
  3. Minimize Idle Time: Excessive idling significantly drains fuel. Henry emphasizes turning off the engine whenever possible.
  4. Speed Control: Avoid driving faster than needed to make appointment times. Henry pointed out, “If you’re gonna get someplace and be there for 12 hours and you only need to be there for 10 hours, why are you hurrying to get there?”
  5. Consider External Factors: Be aware of external factors that have an impact on fuel performance, such as the type of truck, terrain, the weight of the trailer, the type of lanes run, medical reasons, and weather.

Why Fuel Efficiency Matters:

Fuel efficiency isn’t just about cutting fuel costs. The fleet’s feedback reflected a shared understanding that when you conserve fuel, you also reduce tire wear, minimize brake maintenance, and lower overall maintenance expenses. This leads to fewer breakdowns and less downtime, ultimately boosting revenue. These profits can then be allocated to raises, bonuses, and the opportunity to invest in better equipment. Improving fuel performance benefits everyone involved.

Top Strategies for Better Fuel Performance:

Drawing on Henry’s experience and our own, how can we apply these lessons and strive for better fuel performance in our daily routines? Here are some strategies:

  • Control your Speed: Drive at the posted speed limit; faster speeds encounter more air resistance, requiring the engine to work harder and compensate with more fuel. Each MPH over 60 mph equals a 1/10 decrease in MPG.
  • Avoid Harsh Braking: Maintain a proper following distance of 6-7 seconds.
  • Coast When Possible: Use your truck’s momentum to your advantage. Coast into stop signs, ramp speed zones, and construction areas instead of accelerating unnecessarily.
  • Avoid Rapid Acceleration: Press the accelerator in a relaxed and controlled manner.
  • Monitor Tire Pressure: Low tire pressure increases rolling resistance, which reduces fuel efficiency. Check tire pressure daily.
  • Minimize Idle Time: Tractors burn up to one gallon of fuel per hour while idling. Shut the truck off when possible –even if it’s for short periods.
  • Track your weekly fuel economy and share lessons learned with others.

Achieving better fuel performance is more than just a lofty goal; it is achievable with the right driving habits and mindset. As Henry Albert’s experiences demonstrate, small adjustments like reducing idling, controlling speed, and improving acceleration techniques can significantly improve fuel efficiency. These changes not only help save money on fuel but also contribute to lower maintenance costs, longer truck lifespan, and fewer breakdowns.

Start today—continue to track your MPG, tweak your routine, and see the difference in your fuel efficiency. By making small changes, you’re not just saving money; you’re contributing to a more sustainable, profitable future for everyone at MK.

Categories
Announcement & Hot Topics

Keep up the good Work(flow)

The workflow on your tablet is a great tool to keep the operations team updated on your progress. You’ve probably heard your Driver Manager express the importance of updating your workflow, but you may not understand why it’s so important and how it will benefit you as a driver. And it’s become even easier with the ability to update everything right from the MK Drive App. Just like the urgency and care of maintaining your hours of service (HOS), it is critically important to keep your workflow accurate and up to date. Like HOS, when errors occur or you fall behind with updates, it causes enormous problems and extra work for your DM and fellow MK Drivers. Our operations run best when the workflow is humming like a well-oiled machine.

Here are some reasons why keeping the workflow updated timely and correctly benefits everyone.

Customer service and retention:

  • Customers and brokers have placed increasingly greater importance on transparency over the past few years, especially with the proliferation of GPS tracking options for trucks. Those who have access to ELD info and receive EDI updates automatically through the TMW system automatically have access to the accurate tracking information they require. When updates are accurate and timely, customers’ trust in us as a reliable carrier is increased and we become more valuable.
  • Cash flow is everything in this business. Getting your loads closed out and your bills turned in as soon as you can helps MK invoice our loads and get paid so we can pay the bills. It also allows us to immediately process your settlements so you can get paid!

Operations efficiency:

  •  TMW has systems in place to prevent time and data conflicts. When workflow information is incorrect or incomplete, it prevents the operations team from updating orders correctly and in a timely fashion. It often takes a lot of time to go back multiple loads and fix conflicts. These conflicts include incorrect times and incorrect or missing trailer numbers. We use TMW to track trailer movements as a failsafe in case the trailer GPS fails; we’re able to check the most recent locations.

Driver benefits:

  • Not only do good ETAs and in/out times help the Planning team make better decisions, it helps you when they know where you’re going to be and when so they can keep you moving.
  • When you have detention, it’s necessary to have those times in the system so the customer team knows to charge the customer and follow up with any documentation needed. In order for you to get paid for detainment, we need to know when it happens so we can make sure we can get payment from the customer or broker.

If you’re having trouble or you’re unsure of how to correctly use the workflow, reach out to your Driver Manager for help. You can always stop by the office for more instruction if needed. Help us help you by updating your workflow!

Categories
Announcement & Hot Topics

Looking for your feedback!

UPDATE: We are no longer receiving responses. We received a few responses and we will be including it in the next article! Thank you for your participation.

Each week, we post articles on various topics such as industry news, company updates, spotlights, and more in the Newsfeed section of the Drive MK App. In a few weeks, we’ll be publishing an article about fuel savings.

We would like you to listen to and provide feedback on an insightful podcast featuring Henry Albert, owner-operator and President of Albert Transport. He discusses how he consistently averages 10 miles per gallon, which can be a game-changer for anyone on the road!

Watch the podcast video here:

As you listen, consider these questions for your feedback:

  • How does Henry Albert manage to average ten miles per gallon?
  • What are the benefits of improving fuel efficiency?
  • How important is fuel efficiency to you?
  • What strategies can you use to improve your fuel efficiency?

Send in your feedback using this Google Form: Henry Albert – Podcast Feedback Form

Any feedback you provide will be greatly appreciated and will be included in our upcoming article!

Thank you for your participation!

Categories
Announcement & Hot Topics

RED TAGS: Important Message

If you encounter any trailers with a red tag, do not hook up to them. The red tag indicates that the trailer is not in service and cannot be used. We are in the process of selling our 2016 trailers, and all of these units will be marked with an out-of-service red tag.

For your safety and to maintain operational efficiency, please double-check that you are not hooked up to any red-tagged trailers. If you have any questions, please reach out to your DM.

Categories
Announcement & Hot Topics

Defining Professionalism at MK

Professionalism is one of the eight core values that shape our culture and success at MK. It encompasses more than transporting goods from point A to point B.  Professionalism embodies key attributes such as knowledge, skill, experience, and character – elements that lay the groundwork for a successful career. Let’s explore these attributes in detail:

Key Attributes of Professionalism:

  1. Knowledge: Professionalism starts with a solid foundation of knowledge. It goes beyond knowing road rules; it involves staying updated on industry regulations, safety standards, and best practices. This also includes understanding your vehicle’s mechanics, effective trip planning, and grasping route logistics. At MK, we believe in the power of continuous learning. Through training, coaching, and mentorship, we empower you to become better drivers and enhance overall safety and efficiency.
  2. Skills: As professional drivers, you are equipped with various skills. From mastering tractor-trailer maneuvers and navigation to effective time management, your expertise is crucial. In addition, soft skills like communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution are also important. Your ability to apply these skills in challenging situations can significantly impact your success on the road.
  3. Experience: Experience is gained over time and through the lessons learned on the road. Each mile enhances your ability to handle diverse scenarios, from bad weather to complex urban driving. We value your experiences and encourage you to share your stories with fellow drivers – hence the “add notes” feature in our app! This not only fosters team growth but reinforces our commitment to safety and professionalism.
  4. Character: Good character is the backbone of professionalism, incorporating all of our values such as integrity, honesty, and respect–qualities that are essential in every aspect of a driver’s role. For instance, a driver who demonstrates good character follows safety regulations, has respect for others on the road, and takes responsibility for their actions. Upholding the value of professionalism means obtaining good character and applying these principles in your daily responsibilities.

Why Professionalism Matters

Professionalism sets the standard for conduct and performance within our team. Regularly evaluating your performance is key, as it identifies both your strengths and areas for growth. Our quarterly scorecards, supported by Driver Managers, highlight where you excel and where you can improve. Each individual’s goal is to continually develop and reach your full potential, which in turn boosts the team’s performance. When one member underperforms, it can negatively affect the entire team. When every team member commits to professionalism and self-improvement, it cultivates a culture of accountability and excellence.

Another reason why being professional matters is that it fuels our financial success. We’re all aligned with a common goal: to maximize our earnings. For drivers, this translates to every punctual delivery, safe driving record, and well-maintained truck contributing to the company’s profitability. By working together with a professional mindset, we create a network of reliability that attracts more opportunities and higher-paying loads. On the other hand, unprofessional behavior – such as poor trip planning or distracted driving – can lead to missed opportunities and lost income. When each of us brings our best to the table, we elevate the entire team’s performance and profitability.

Commitment to Growth & High Performance

As drivers, you have a responsibility to uphold the value of professionalism in everything you do. By continually expanding your knowledge, refining your skills, gaining experience, and demonstrating strong character, you contribute not only to your individual success but to the success of the company. Let’s make a pledge today to support one another in our journey of growth and professionalism—share your goals and progress with the team, and let’s drive toward excellence together!

Categories
Announcement & Hot Topics

Daylight Saving Time

A friendly reminder that Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 3rd, 2024 at 2:00 a.m. On Saturday night, make sure to set your clocks back one hour to “fall back.”

Categories
Announcement & Hot Topics Industry News

Maintaining Profitability in Times of Econmic Uncertainty

If you’ve been concerned about the state of freight lately, you’re not alone. It’s been a particularly stressful couple of years, and it’s not just the little guys; no trucking company is immune to the current freight downcycle. Profit margins have been down at all of the major trucking companies and 3PLs, including Marten, Schneider, Werner, and RXO. It’s hard to say for sure when the market will turn, but most industry experts expect capacity to normalize sometime in 2025.

The current economic conditions have too many carriers chasing fewer loads, driving rates down. In order for this to normalize, carriers must exit the market, and this is happening. Larger carriers are downsizing to get by in the current economy and small mom-and-pop shops are exiting the market. While this adjustment is unpleasant, this is the normalization that is needed to bring the freight market back to equilibrium. Election uncertainty is also keeping rates static as companies and people pause spending while awaiting the results.

The right attitude to get through the downcycle is to maintain a long-term approach, focusing on good operational performance. The planning team will implement this by working to reduce downtime and minimize empty miles. As a driver, you can work on the following:

  • Practice good trip planning. You can be more efficient with your time if you know your routes and where you may need to stop for fuel or breaks.
  • Give yourself extra time to reduce the risk of delays due to unforeseen circumstances such as traffic, weather, etc.
  • If you have suggestions on how to improve, let us know. We welcome new ideas.

These are times to be innovative and cost-conscious in order to find ways to remain profitable. The market will turn, we just need to do everything we can to minimize loss and make the most of what’s out there. As always, ask your driver manager if you need help maximizing your time or need help scheduling break locations. We will get through these tough times and emerge more resilient than before.