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Announcement & Hot Topics Safety

Key Road Preparedness Tips from a Seasoned Trucker

Life on the open road can be full of surprises, and for truckers, these surprises can sometimes lead to challenges and uncertainties. From sudden weather changes to unexpected mechanical issues, staying prepared for emergencies is crucial for ensuring both your safety and a successful journey. Here are some tips from Ryan, our most tenured driver with 22 years on the road, to help you be prepared:

Stock Up on Essentials:

  • Food and water. Always carry ample food and water. You might find yourself stranded away from stores or restaurants due to breakdowns or severe weather.
  • Clothing:  Pack extra clothing suitable for various weather conditions, such as raincoats, waterproof boots, and work gloves. In winter, include additional winter coats, overalls, or bibs. Layering with hoodies and long-sleeve shirts is also a good idea.
  • Cash: Keep some cash on hand; you never know when it might come in handy.
  • Electronics: With our reliance on electronics, carrying a power bank is a good idea for emergencies.

Items to Keep in Your Truck:                                                                         

  • Oil, Coolant, & Washer Fluid: Carry a gallon of oil, washer fluid, and a couple of gallons of extra coolant to address minor issues or top-ups.
  • Winter Gear: For winter driving, bring salt and/or cat litter, a small shovel, and a bottle of rubbing alcohol to prevent frozen air lines. Before winter arrives, make sure your truck is equipped with new wiper blades.
  • Tool Kit: Keep a basic tool kit with wrenches, screwdrivers, and pliers for minor repairs. Including duct tape and a flashlight can also be very helpful.

Pre-Trip Inspections:

  • Conduct thorough pre-trip inspections to ensure your equipment is in working order, minimizing the risk of roadside issues.

These are just a few tips and tricks to keep in mind. No matter if you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, it’s always good to be prepared for any type of emergency.  By staying proactive and ready, you’ll navigate the road with greater confidence and safety.

Categories
Announcement & Hot Topics

Core Principles of Successful Teamwork in the Trucking Industry

In the trucking industry, teamwork is more than a concept—it’s a necessity for success. The foundations of great teamwork are built on personal responsibility, selflessness, and effective collaboration. These principles not only enhance operational efficiency but also ensure safety and reliability on the road.

Personal Responsibility is crucial for any team member, be it a driver, dispatcher, or support staff. Each person must diligently manage their responsibilities—drivers ensuring their vehicle’s condition and adhering to schedules, and dispatchers efficiently planning routes and managing communication. When everyone upholds their individual duties with care, the entire team functions smoothly.

Selflessness In the world of trucking, teamwork extends beyond individual roles. Drivers must be willing to assist one another, share vital information, and collaborate on problem-solving. Selflessness might mean offering help during a breakdown, sharing insights on traffic conditions, or stepping in to cover a load when needed. This mutual support not only helps navigate the challenges of long-haul trips but also ensures customer satisfaction and promotes a safer, more efficient operation.

Collaboration Effective teamwork goes beyond just drivers. It includes coordinating with dispatchers, maintenance crews, and other team members. By communicating openly, sharing updates, and working together on route planning and problem-solving, you help ensure that operations run smoothly and efficiently. Collaboration leads to fewer delays and a safer working environment for everyone.

By focusing on these principles, truck drivers can contribute to a more cohesive and effective team. Start applying these principles today—reach out to a colleague, offer support, and share your ideas for better collaboration. Teamwork in trucking not only enhances operational efficiency but also promotes safety and reliability on the road.

Categories
Announcement & Hot Topics

Central IL Truck Convoy

The Central IL Truck Convy is taking place on August 24, 2024, at the Effingham County Fairgrounds. All proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish.

If you are interested in participating, please let us know and we can help you register!

https://www.centralillinoistruckconvoy.com/home#register

Categories
Performance

The Power of Communication is Keeping it Professional

Statistics have overwhelmingly shown the importance of effective and plentiful communication in the workplace. According to Forbes, poor communication is expensive; it costs U.S. businesses approximately $1.2 trillion every year. It results in low productivity, greater workplace conflicts, and high turnover rates. Conversely, effective communication increases trust in the workplace by almost 75% and productivity by around 25%. To communicate more effectively remember the three C’s of communication:

  • Clarity: ensure your messages are clear and easily understood to avoid misinterpretation and include all necessary information
  • Concise: avoid adding too much or unnecessary information, which can lose the attention of the other party
  • Consistency: a regular line of communication allows for reliable and transparent information flow

You also need to be aware of the manner in which you communicate. It’s helpful to prethink what you are going to say, focusing on logic and rationality. Offer professional viewpoints, not personal or emotional ones, and express your feelings and perspectives in the context of the business environment. Be assertive with your speech. Assertiveness is the neutral middle ground between passive and aggressive; it allows you to effectively communicate your point while still being respectful.

If you’re expressing negatives, do it in a constructive way without personalizing or being petty or childish. Keep emotions out of the equation and be objective. Stay neutral, speak calmly, and avoid aggressive speech or body language. Make eye contact and remain upright to show you are friendly and approachable. Maintaining a positive attitude and tone of voice even when discussing difficulties is a trait of professionalism. Always practice active listening, which is listening to actually understand what one is saying, not just waiting so you can reply.

Clear and effective communication also improves teamwork. Positive interactions build trust by increasing transparence, honesty, and a willingness to help. When everyone on a team understands their objective and is in constant communication with each other, increased productivity and problem solving result.

For a better communication experience at work, remember to keep it clear, concise, consistent, and complete; these will help you to be the consummate professional.

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Uncategorized

Building Strong Customer Relationships: A Key to Success in Trucking

In the competitive world of trucking, success hinges not only on moving freight safely and efficiently but delivering exceptional service. At Marvin Keller, we pride ourselves on our extensive customer network and the trust we’ve built over the years. This article explores how our performance and commitment to strong customer relationships sets us apart in the industry, supported by hard data that showcases our operational excellence.

Customer Network and Relationships

We’ve cultivated relationships with a diverse range of shippers across the country, ensuring a steady flow of freight opportunities for our drivers. This network is not just about quantity but quality too; we prioritize partnerships that are built on reliability, transparency, and mutual benefit.  We have regular calls with our customers to review service levels, and potential new lane opportunities and to build relationships with their team.  Each customer has an assigned Account Representative from our office to make sure their needs are met and they are happy with our performance. 

Data-Driven Operational Excellence

80% of the loads we haul are booked directly through our customers.  We offer dropped equipment to many Customers so that our drivers can keep moving and skip lengthy live load/unloading experiences.  In addition, our Account Reps are working to fill gaps in our network with new lanes to help reduce the amount of empty miles we drive.  We bid on hundreds of new lanes each quarter with the intent of increasing the density in certain regions.  This will allow us to deliver the reliability our customers expect from Marvin Keller Trucking.   

At Marvin Keller Trucking, we go beyond logistics to deliver exceptional service that exceeds expectations. As we expand our network and refine operations, we’re committed to meeting evolving customer needs with the highest standards of performance and satisfaction.

Categories
Announcement & Hot Topics Performance

Top Producers of 2024 – Q2

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 2!!

Owner Operators – Top 10% Total Revenue for the Quarter

  • Miller Team
  • Johnathon Neumann
  • Kyle Luesmann
  • Robert Willis
  • Terry Hodge

Company Drivers, OTR – Top 10% Fleet in Total Miles

  • Bruchman Team
  • Richard Merrill
  • Branham Team
  • Wesley Ryden
  • John Kledzinski

Company Drivers, 4 On/4 Off – Top 10% Fleet in Total Miles

  • Deb Coleman
  • Gifford Libby
  • James Watson
  • Dennis Anthony
  • Terrance Parks
Categories
Recognition

Driver Spotlights

Every week, each of our driver managers takes a moment to acknowledge one of their drivers for their outstanding performance. We want to give a special thank you to the following drivers for their exceptional work, which serves as a great example of what it means to be an MK Driver.

Travis Bartels – While he was waiting to get a tire repaired, he moved several trailers that were finished at Fleetmaster’s in Effingham over to the drop lot.  Thanks for knowing what we needed without even being asked to do it!

Randy Murphy – Recovered a load for us that another driver had fallen off and helped us make on-time delivery.  Thanks for being so flexible!  

James Rheinecker – We had a rejected trailer at the GP Mill in Augusta, GA and Jim was able to get the tandems to slide without having to call a repair truck to fix them. 

Jimmy Hendrix – Located a trailer for us that was in the wrong location at Stratas in Decatur and moved it to the correct spot.  Thanks for being someone we can count on!

Josh Voeks – Found a trailer at Clarksville, TN that had a lighting issue and got it moved over to the nearest Loves to get it taken care of so we didn’t have to call roadside for repair.  We appreciate it!

Kamenn Gittinger – Had a really long day this week with a difficult late-night delivery.  Thank you for keeping a good attitude through it!

Wes Thomas and Joseph Bass – Recovered a truck in OH for us this week. 

Wes
Joseph

Rick Merrill and Paul Evans did a meet and greet to save a delivery on a load.  Thank you for helping us keep our customers happy!

Marc Bear – A fellow MK Driver was broke down on I-80 and Marc was able to get him unhooked from his trailer and then hooked to it safely so he could keep it moving.  Thank you for being so willing to help out.

Eric Loy, Tina Barlow, Terrance Parks, & Frank Rich have all worked extra days in the past few weeks to help us make on-time deliveries. We appreciate the extra work from all of you! 

Eric
Tina
Terrance
Frank
Categories
Performance Recognition Safety

MK Elites – Q2 2024

We would like to present the MK Elites for April to June 2024! Congratulations to the following drivers! Your dedication to prioritizing safety and upholding these high standards is deeply valued.

  • Jessica Branham
  • Terry Branham
  • Dave Bruchman
  • Rhonda Miller
  • Junrey Montejo
  • Daniel Nunez

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!

Categories
Announcement & Hot Topics Safety

Mastering Load Safety: The Crucial Role of Pre-Trip Inspections

Marvin Keller is in the business of hauling freight. In order to be profitable, freight must make it to the correct location, intact, while following industry regulations. Everything you need to make sure your load is in order before heading out can be checked during your pre-trip inspection. The safest drivers follow these pre-trip checks:

  • Scale your load. Overweight loads can cost a lot of money. Besides the cost of having to go back and get reworked, if you get pulled over and fined and/or put out of service, the costs add up. It also increases our CSA scores, making you more likely to get pulled in for inspections.
  • Visually inspect your loads. Ensure they are loaded and secured properly for transport. Just as all hazmat loads should have at least two straps on the back, every load should be checked to make sure it’s loaded and secured to prevent load shifting. Load shifts can cause product damage, or even worse, a trailer rollover. Safety is the utmost priority and must be considered before everything.
  • Check your bills before leaving the shipper. This is the simplest of activities that can prevent many problems. Make sure your bills have the correct destination, that the PO numbers, seal number, and trailer number match, and that the product on the bill is what you’re supposed to have. If your load is hazmat, ensure the bills are marked and you have the correct placards on the trailer.
  • If you’re hooking a preload, always check to make sure you have the correct trailer number. Hauling a trailer 800 miles only to find out you’ve hooked the wrong trailer because the bill wasn’t checked before leaving is a complete loss of revenue on the load.

Customers expect us to deliver freight timely and in good condition. Following the simple steps above will go a long way to making sure we deliver on those expectations. If you have issues with your load or are concerned that it isn’t loaded properly or can’t be hauled safely, reach out to your Driver Manager. Safety is a value at Marvin Keller.

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Announcement & Hot Topics Referral

Win Cool Cash this Summer!

Summer has arrived, and we are launching our referral program with an exciting offer! Spread the word and earn cash rewards!

We only have one referral on our leaderboard. Let’s start referring to building more sandcastles! The top referrers will receive the cash prizes:

  • 1st Place: $1,000
  • 2nd place: $500
  • 3rd Place: $250