Categories
Announcement & Hot Topics

Moving Forward Together

Over the past few weeks, MK has had some stellar weekly performances. We have had record-breaking weekly gross margins and some of the lowest percentages of broker freight. To add to the hype, the entire fleet has been on a steady incline since this time last year. Things are on the upswing here at MK and we couldn’t do this without all of you.

What factors are behind the increased performance? Is the performance spike due to a strongly knit customer base or a hardworking, dedicated fleet? The answer should come as no surprise; it’s both!

With the recent announcement of the Mars PetCare return accompanied by the increase of load offers across the board, we have more than enough freight to go around.  In fact, we are in a great position to be selective with our freight that caters to our fleet. We are motivated to benefit from the increased offers from our network.

How can you help? This is where we see the benefit of having such a strong, dedicated fleet working with us. One way you can help us is by keeping us in the know with your availability and schedules. Communicating changes in ETAs and delays is also exceptionally helpful in keeping our fleet running smoothly. As Henry Ford said, “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” Keeping us informed is the power that keeps us moving forward.

What are other ways you can think of to help keep your driver manager informed?

Categories
Safety

TCA’s 40th Annual Safety & Security Division Meeting

Author: Amanda McKee

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the TCA’s (Truckload Carriers Association) 40th Annual Safety & Security Division Meeting in St. Louis, MO.

The event brings truckload safety professionals together to discuss problems, share ideas and seek solutions to make our businesses better and our roads safer.

During the conference, I had the opportunity to hear several great presenters including Drivers, Trainers, Safety Professionals and Industry Attorneys.

In addition to the educational sessions, I was able to meet with several vendors and learn about the latest products and services for our industry.

I was able to take away several ideas on how to continue to develop our safety program.

I met with a technology company that offers a service that identifies where our greatest risks are and assists with developing training plans to prevent accidents. There are so many aspects of safety, and being able to identify the highest risks allows us to focus our time in those areas.

One Trainer shared his experiences training Drivers on the new safety features that many trucks are equipped with today. This provided insight on how we can better prepare Marvin Keller Drivers for their experience in a new truck. During his presentation, the Trainer stressed how important it is to understand how the safety systems work and to strive to stay one step ahead of them so the technology doesn’t have to be used. He did admit that learning the new features took some time to get used to, however, he stated it has made him a safer driver.

I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to connect with so many people who have been in the industry for years and are so passionate about safety. There are many great trucking companies committed to the safety and security of everyone on the roadway.

Categories
Safety

Marvin Keller CSA Monthly Update

Check Out Our Current CSA Scores

Click here to see our CSA trend over the last 12 months

Click here to see our current fleet CSA Violations

Last month we saw a 1% increase in our Unsafe Driving score due to a speeding violation. We also saw a 1% increase in our HOS Score. We received three hours of service violations in May including general form and manner – failing to enter load information and update trailer numbers in BlueTree as well as certifying logs.

Our Vehicle Maintenance score decreased by 7% and is currently the lowest I have seen at 11%! This is a reflection of the professionalism and dedication to safety by the entire Marvin Keller Team. Our commitment shows through conducting thorough inspections on the equipment, reporting any defects and resolving issues before heading out on the road.

Keep up the great work and stay safe!

Categories
Customer News

Mars PetCare is Back!

On May 21, 2020, right in the middle of the country’s COVID shut down, we received the news that we lost one of our biggest customer accounts, Mars Petcare.  I just remember feeling completely shocked – we were hauling 40 or more shipments a week for them!  It was a giant blow for our Customer Team because we had spent so much time building our entire network around the lanes we hauled for Mars.  We signed up for all kinds of freight coming out of areas where we were not going to have trucks.  So, like so many other companies that go through adversity, we had to adapt and overcome. 

The Customer Team worked hard to sign new customers as well as increase the number of shipments with our existing customers.  We not only survived but ended up coming out of the past year stronger than when we started.   In addition, we made sure to stay in contact with Mars Corporate and the Mattoon plant all year long to remind them that we are still here if they needed help.  About 5 months ago, they finally reached out and had us help haul some lanes that their new carriers were falling behind on.  They realized that they had made a mistake contracting with carriers who were not providing the same type of service that Marvin Keller provided them.  We were invited back to bid this year and we were awarded lanes out of Mattoon and Gibson City again! 

This says a couple different things:

1. We have the best fleet of drivers on the road.

2. Our customer service is top notch.

We are so happy to have Mars back.  The freight is very carrier friendly – most of it is drop and hook on both sides.   We will be delivering to Lancaster, TX, Columbia, SC, West Jefferson, OH and a few other locations.  I look forward to continuing to prove ourselves as a true asset to Mars Petcare. 

Categories
Announcement & Hot Topics

A Yard Sale Stretching 100 Miles and How It May Affect You This Memorial Day

An announcement was shared from our customer, Nestle, reminding us of the 100 mile yard sale that stretches along highway 25 from Jackson, MO to Kennett, MO this weekend. The yard sale started on Tuesday, May 27th and will last through Monday, May 31st. This event is expected to bring in a large crowd and additional traffic to the area. Drivers who will be arriving to Nestle in Bloomfield, MO or Sikeston, MO should practice additional caution and be mindful of the increased foot traffic along this route. An increased following distance should also be implemented to prepare for more frequent sudden stops.

The Bloomfield and Sikeston plants will be running normal shipping hours during this holiday weekend. Bloomfield’s drop lot will be available to all drivers 24/7.

Expected Facility Closures

The following customers will be closed on Monday, May 31st for Memorial Day.

  • Rural King in Mattoon, IL
  • Sherwin Williams in Effingham, IL
  • Stratas in Decatur, IL
    • Drivers will be able to drop empties and hook preloads but no loading or reworks will be available at the Stratas plant
  • Graphic Packaging in Shelbyville, IL
    • Drivers will have access to pick up their preloads. A skeleton crew will be working to print paperwork.

We want to know

How did the tradition of wearing of a red poppy in remembrance of the fallen soldiers begin? Submit your answers through a Blue Tree message.

Categories
Safety Uncategorized

Marvin Keller CSA

Have you ever wondered why some carriers are pulled into the scales for inspections more frequently than others? The company’s CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) Score is often used to determine if a truck should receive an inspection.

Check Out Our Current CSA Scores

Click here to see our CSA trend over the last 12 months:

Click here to see our current fleet CSA violations:

What is a CSA Score?

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 8 Categories (Unsafe Driving, Crash Indicator, Hours-of-Service Compliance, Vehicle Maintenance, Controlled Substances & Alcohol, Hazmat, Driver Fitness & Insurance/Other).

  • Every violation is assigned a point value 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

What can you do?

Marvin Keller’s CSA Scores are top notch and a reflection of the safety minded Drivers on our team. Continue doing what you are doing!

  • 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
Categories
Industry News

Fuel Planning Preparedness

On Monday, the Colonial Pipeline announced a cyberattack that affected their operations for a short period. The CEO of the pipeline reported that the company has full control over the pipeline and is working with its network to prevent shortages. The pipeline also announced they expect to resume full services by the weekend.

The Colonial Pipeline supplies many customers spanning between Houston, TX and Linden, NJ. Please plan to fuel before traveling to these areas.

Categories
Maintenance & Equipment

Verticle FleetNet Benchmarking

We would like to announce our great success in being rewarded the title of Best in Class within the Vertical FleetNet Benchmarking group.   This benchmarking program gathers breakdown data from several different companies and compiles it into a ranking system.  We joined this program in April of 2020 and have been ranked Best of Class for the entirety of our involvement.

We were rewarded this title due to our drivers’ dedication to completing thorough inspections.  The attention our drivers give their equipment allows us to catch repairs before they become a breakdown.  Alongside our drivers’ dedication, we have a strong network of vendors in surrounding areas that aid in the upkeep of our equipment.  This saves driver downtime and also ensures we are satisfying our customers’ expectations by making on-time deliveries.  Since our drivers take the time to inspect their vehicles we are ranked number 1 in the fewest tire repairs amongst the benchmarking group!

We want to thank all of our drivers for putting a priority on keeping their equipment safe and free of repairs.  This is a huge accomplishment that helps us run like a well-oiled machine. 

  • This is a visual of our rankings in comparison to the benchmarking average. We are definitely leading the pack!
  • Outstanding tire life!
Categories
Announcement & Hot Topics

Promoted Parking

Truck Driver Parking is not always easy to find but is a very important part of a Driver’s day. We have all struggled to find parking in one state or another. Some of us have even had to shut down early to avoid going over on hours just to find a good place to park. MK has a plan to help our drivers find all the best places to park!

On Tuesdays, we are going to post a region where parking may be limited. All you have to do is submit a post through DriveMK adding your favorite parking spot in that area. All drivers who contribute a parking spot for that area will be given an additional 200 pro points! Bonus points if you mention what lane you used this parking spot for.

Today’s areas are Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD.

Steps to add Parking to DriveMK

  • Search
  • Search the Name, Address, and State of parking location
  • Select Add Company
Categories
Referral

Searching for MK Elites

Refer a driver and earn $3000!

Marvin Keller is a well-oiled machine that keeps on running which is why we are looking to grow our fleet! There is no better way to achieve this growth than through driver referrals. Therefore, we are excited to announce the rollout of our new Referral Bonus. Starting May 1st and running through June 30th, you will earn $3000 per referral!

Benefits of growing our fleet:

  • Stronger customer relations.
  • More opportunities for drop and hook.
  • Better lanes.
  • Less downtime.

Check the roll out: