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!
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:
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.
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.
Honestly reflect and assess your safety behaviors:
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:
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.
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!
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:
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:
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.
Our team would like to acknowledge a few of our drivers who have demonstrated exceptional levels of dedication, positivity, professionalism, and hard work. These drivers have been chosen for their remarkable contributions and commitment to excellence.
“Tina Barlow is one hard worker and a great driver. She is always willing to help out and go that extra mile! Tina really cares about her job and strives to do a great job every single day. I have come to learn this about her in the time I have been her DM. She has a lot of knowledge and experience in the field and Tina is someone I know we can count on to get the job done. Not only that, but Tina is a great person all around. She has an amazing personality and a joy to work with. Tina is a great asset to our team!!”
– Jon-Michael, Driver Manager
“Anthony ‘Antman’ Collins is quite simply the man out there. He transitioned to an OTR driver from 4 on 4 off, around the time I first started here and he has continually done a great job. I can rely on Anthony to pay attention to detail, and do the right thing every single time. He communicates very well every step of the way, and has a positive attitude the whole time. Anthony is never afraid to help us out and he stays out on the road for two weeks at a time for us which is not easy to do. As a matter of fact, this week Anthony is helping out by staying out an extra day, when he could go home. A testament to his exemplary effort. Thank you for all you do Anthony!”
– Kanen, Driver Manager
“Chris has been an Owner Operator with Marvin Keller since May of 2017. Chris is a hard worker and runs a consistent schedule which makes him reliable for us. I always know when he is going to be leaving out each week. Chris is a problem solver and anything he can take care of on his own he will. He will arrive early at locations and with his downtime; he looks over his truck and makes sure everything is in good working order. He can also take care of some of the repairs himself which helps with the repair cost. Overall, Chris does a great job for us, and that great job was recently noticed by one of our brokers Transloop. Matt said Chris has been on several of his loads and he has done a great job for him. This just goes to show that Chris is a professional handles himself in a professional manner in all he does.”
– Amy, Owner Operator Manager
“I want to give a huge shoutout to Travis Bartles for their exceptional dedication and passion for the job! Not only does he consistently deliver on time, but his attention to detail and genuine care for every load and customer is evident. It’s clear that Travis takes pride in what he does, bringing a positive attitude and a strong work ethic to every journey. We truly appreciate your commitment and the energy you bring to the road every day.”
– Andrew, Driver Manager
A huge thanks goes out to these drivers for their outstanding work. We appreciate all that you have done and continue to do to help us be the best carrier we can be. Keep up the great work!
Our elite fleet is recognized as one of the best in the industry, thanks to our commitment to high performance standards. Every quarter, we assess individual driver performance through what we call Driver Scorecards. The scorecard helps us identify both strengths and areas for improvement. With these results, our team is able to give the proper tools and resources that are needed to help every driver perform at the highest level.
Driver time:
Safety:
We closely monitor several key safety metrics to ensure safe driving practices:
The goal of the quarterly scorecard is to provide actionable insights for both the driver and the company. Here’s why we invest in this process:
The Driver Scorecard is more than just a report—it’s a tool for growth, accountability, and continuous improvement. Our goal is to help every driver achieve elite-fleet status, where safety, efficiency, and performance are fully optimized. By collaborating closely, we ensure that each driver remains safe, efficient, and consistently performs at their best, setting the bar for excellence and leading the way in the industry.
We know how important it is to find great talent, and we appreciate the effort it takes. That’s why, for this special campaign, we’re doubling our Referral Bonus from $1,000 to $2,000!
Refer a driver and help your team win the jackpot! The team with the most referrals wins limited-edition MK apparel!
RANDALL BAYLES, JOHN BERGIN, MICHAEL BOOKER, HAROLD CAIN, ANTHONY DENT, TIMOTHY GARRETT, ANTHONY GILIO, NICHOLAS HARJUNG, TERRY HODGE, CHRISTOPHER HOPPER, TIMOTHY MCBRIDE, DOUGLAS MCCLENDON, MARK MCKINLEY, BOBBY MILLER, RHONDA MILLER, CHRIS MILLER, JUNREY MONTEJO, ERIC MORAN, RANDY MURPHY, KEN NEWBY, DANIEL NUNEZ, WADE OWENS, JAMES RHEINECKER, GEORGE ROBINSON, OMER TERRY, CHRISTOPHER THOMAS, DAVID WARD, AND ROBERT WILLIS
DENNIS ANTHONY, TRAVIS BARTELS, CHARITY BATTLEY, MICHAEL BODINE, TERRANCE BOGAN, CHEYENNE CLARK, DIAMANTE COVINGTON, BRIAN DOUGHTY, JEFFREY EFIRD, BENJAMIN FOSTER, ELIJAH GREENWOOD, PHYLLIS HILL, CODY HUFFMAN, JORDAN KALE, MATTHEW MCCANTS, NADIA MCCLURE, CHARLES MCGREGOR, JLONNIE MCLEOD, DMARKIS NEAL-TAYLOR, BOBBY PALMER, TERRANCE PARKS, GEORGES ARNELD THEODORE, AND TODD WRIGHT
TINA BARLOW, LARRY BLANKENSHIP, BRENT BOEHM, JESSICA BRANHAM, TERRY BRANHAM, EMMA BRANNON, DAVID BRUCHMAN, KIM BRUCHMAN, DEBORA COLEMAN, BRIAN DISKIN, ERIC DONEY, KERRI DOSS, ALLEN FITZGERALD, KAMENN GITTINGER, MOLLY GRIBLER, JASON GRIGSBY, CIERA HAYMER, EDWARD HREZO, CHRISTIAN JOHNSON, KIMBERLY KUFFEL-GILLARD, ERIK LOY, DALTON MEDLEY, CLAYTON PATRICK, CAROLYN SHOEMAKER, AND HUGH SHOEMAKER
ROBERT BENTON, JEREMIAH BRUBAKER, WILLIAM CALDWELL, ANTHONY COLLINS, JUDY COLLINS, DEVIN DUNCAN, DAN EMEL, MARK FAVREAU, JERRY FROST, SEAN JOHNSON, MARK JORDAN, JOHN KLEDZINSKI, KYLE LUESMANN, JACOB MERCER, ORVILLE MERRILL, RICHARD MERRILL, SCOTT MILLER, JOHNATHON NEUMANN, BLAKE NORMAN, CHRISTOPHER PEARCE, FRANKIE RICH, FRANKLIN ROJAS, DANIEL SCHMITT, DARRELL SEAMAN, DAMIEN STRONG, AND WESLEY THOMAS
MARC BEAR, JASON COLEMAN, DAVE WILLIAMS
Campaigns Ends: April 30th, 2025
I’m sure we’ve all had a job where we felt like a number, a nameless cog in the machine. Is that company still around? The most successful organizations are those who have employees who are highly engaged within their companies and have good relationships with their managers. It goes without saying that people who are happy in their jobs are generally more successful and, by extension, so are the companies they work for. In a 2017 survey by a human capital management firm, 93% of respondents stated that having trust in their supervisor/boss was essential to being happy in their jobs. Good employee/manager relationships have numerous benefits:
At Marvin Keller, we strive to train driver managers to be great coaches who are responsive and helpful. We value your input as it helps us to define and solve problems. While management works hard to solve problems, they don’t have all the answers. You are out there on the frontlines every day and have more valuable information than you may realize; you have a vantage point that we in the office do not. We appreciate and welcome all input to help other drivers in their everyday routines. This makes a big difference, especially for new drivers just learning the ropes. It also helps your manager learn more about what you have to deal with so they can be prepared to help.
Here are some ways you can improve your relationship with your managers:
Your input is invaluable and we encourage everyone to put forth their ideas or suggestions. That’s why we’re bringing back the MK Connect program where we explore what new and helpful information you’ve learned to share with the office and other drivers. Everyone in an organization is responsible for the success of said organization. Your contributions make the difference between success and failure and we encourage everyone to feel comfortable sharing their input so we can continue to grow and be the company of choice for drivers. If you believe your concerns are not properly being addressed, feel free to reach out to another manager for help.