We would like to present the MK Elites for October to December 2024! Congratulations to the following drivers! Your dedication to prioritizing safety and upholding these high standards is deeply valued.
Terry Branham
Jessica Branham
Dave Bruchman
Junrey Montejo
The Pro-Formance Scorecard is designed to evaluate your driving skills based on 12 different risk factors. Breaking down your performance into specific categories helps you identify the areas you need to improve. These factors are divided into these sub-categories: Safety, Compliance, and Performance, each rated out of 100. The goal is to score green in all three categories to achieve MK Elite Status!
A driver can earn 1,000 Pro-Points for each green score in Safety, Compliance, Performance, and MK Elite (green in all three categories). This means you can get up to 4,000 Pro-Points!
You can find the Safety Scorecard in the Resource Library.
Keep up the great work and strive to improve your driving performance! We’re here to help in any way we can!
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.
Each quarter, the Producer Badge is awarded to drivers who are in the Top 10% of the fleet in which they exceed the quarterly productivity goals. This badge symbolizes the driver’s hard work and success within Marvin Keller.
Congratulations to the following drivers who earned the Producer Badge for 2024 – Quarter 4!!
Owner Operators – Top 10% Total Revenue for the Quarter
Miller Team
George Robinson
Terry Hodge
Kyle Luesmann
Company Drivers, OTR – Top 10% Fleet in Total Miles
Branham Team – 48,623
Richard Merrill – 38,287
Bruchman Team – 36,516
John Kledzinksi – 33,855
Anthony Collins – 33,758
Company Drivers, 4 On/4 Off – Top 10% Fleet in Total Miles
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.
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.
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!
Snow, ice, and sleet can pose a serious challenge. To ensure safe and efficient travel in winter weather conditions, here are some safe truck driving practices from Ryan, an experienced driver trainer, to use:
1. Be Prepared
In case of an emergency or breakdown, keep a winter survival kit that should include:
Shovel & ice scraper
Bag of sand, salt, or litter
Jumper cables
Flashlight
A high-visibility jacket
Warm blankets, extra clothing, hat and gloves
Extra food and water
Stay updated on weather/road conditions
2. Inspect your Truck
Perform a visual, hands-on inspection. Make sure to check:
Tires – wear, pressure, & balance
Batter power & the charging system
Wiper Blades
Fluids
Lights
Your exhaust pipe to ensure it’s clear of snow
You have sufficient fuel
Defrosters are functional
3. Idle Free Heater
Our trucks have shore power to charge the batteries and run the Idle Free Heater, keeping the coolant warm and providing heat during idle times. With a full charge, the heater can run for about a week. If you can’t plug in, turn on the heater without the fan to use it as a block heater.
The main disconnect switch is by the driver’s seat. If you’ll be away for more than a few days, turn off the switch to cut power, but the heater will still run. For best performance, turn on the Idle Free at least once a month.
4. Slow & Steady Wins the Race
Let’s face it, driving through the snow is stressful no matter the vehicle, and while getting to one’s destination (on-time) is the goal, it’s true what the adage says. “Slow and steady wins the race.” Do not feel the need to hurry.
Maintain a safe distance & avoid tailgating
Trucks need 7-14 seconds of following distance and about 40% more stopping time compared to cars
Slow down – Do not speed or slam on brakes when driving through heaving snow or ice.
As Ryan advises:
Overall, driving in winter weather requires careful preparation, inspection, and caution to ensure your safety. By equipping your truck with the proper survival kit and regularly checking your truck you’re better prepared for any challenges. Prioritize safe driving practices, such as maintaining a safe following distance and avoiding sudden maneuvers. Always remember, no load is more important than your safety. If the weather conditions are too severe, don’t hesitate to shut it down.
Our Winter Referral Campaign is live, and we’re excited to announce that the referral bonus has doubled! Embrace the opportunity to share the joy of MK today!
How to Participate:
To participate, refer a driver to join our Santa Sleigh Building Contest. The driver who creates the most Santa Sleighs by the end of the contest will win the grand prize: a brand-new truck seat! Plus, second and third-place winners will receive festive holiday gift baskets. Be a top referrer this holiday season and reap the rewards!
Steps to Build Your Santa Sleighs:
Application: Hitch a Sleigh
Applicant Interview: Meet the Reindeer
Applicant Hired: Receive Presents
Applicant Seated: Santa Arrives
Referral Period:
Referrals are good now through December 31st, 2024. Don’t miss out on your chance to win big this holiday season– start referring drivers today!
As we approach 2025, we’re excited to gather new ideas for our referral program. We’d appreciate it if you could take a few moments to complete our brief survey. We look forward to hearing your thoughts!
Please submit your feedback by December 20, 2024, and you will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate!
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.
