Drive MK

This week we are introducing Driver Trainer, Tina Barlow.

Tina has had a love for the Trucking Industry for as long as she can remember. She was introduced to trucking at the age of 3 by her father who was a driver. The first time she climbed into the seat her eyes lit up and her passion was born.

Tina has been part of the MK Fam for 6.5 years now after being recruited on a school visit by our recruiting department. She loves the family atmosphere that we provide here, which is what made MK stand out to her. In her words, “You come into the office and you are welcomed as a family member.” Tina believes MK is different from other companies in the way we teach our drivers how to believe in themselves and turn them into leaders.

Tina has many words of wisdom to share with the fleet. Starting with taking the time to pre-plan your trip. When planning, make sure to utilize many resources to ensure you have a clear picture of the route you are taking. Do not rely solely on one GPS system. Another tip she has is to give yourself space on the road. Take the initiative to slow down and distance yourself from the pack.

Tina loves to spend her time outdoors whether it be spent camping, fishing, or boating. She recently found a love for sowing and makes memory bears and pillows. Tina values her time spent with her family. She has 3 children and many grandchildren.

Tina, you are a great addition to the team and have tons of knowledge to share!

Meet Rachel Fry, one of Marvin Keller’s Operations Planners.

Hello.  My name is Rachel Fry.  I started at Marvin Keller in February of 2012 as an Operations Specialist and became a planner a year later.  Before starting at MK I worked in billing and payroll for McLeod Express in Decatur, IL.  Before that, I graduated from Millikin University with degrees in English and Psychology. 

At MK, I plan from IN to the east coast and southeast regions, including TN, KY, and MS.  What I like about planning is being able to put the puzzle pieces together to create the most efficient and productive plan for the drivers that generates revenue and gets them home when they need to be.  The MK office and driving staff have a great work ethic and are a pleasure to work with. 

I live in Sullivan with my dog, Juno.  I like to play pool and video games and listen to death metal.

Meet Donna Reed, one of Marvin Keller’s Inside Account Representatives.

I started part-time with Marvin Keller in August 2006 and went full-time a year or two after that.  During my years here I have had many different roles within the customer service arena.  I currently am the customer team representative for ADM/Stratas and Nestle accounts.  I oversee the loads from beginning to end; I’m responsible for accepting/declining load offers, order entry, scheduling appointments, tracking orders, requesting detention, and invoicing.  For ADM/Stratas loads I also add the orders to a portal so ADM will preload for us.  With both accounts, I watch for available lanes that would be a good fit for MK so we can submit rates for them.  I have experienced Marvin Keller grow from a trucking company into a family environment.

Prior to coming to Marvin Keller, I worked for Illinois Power, an electric and gas company.  Most of my years there were in Human Resources supporting Employment, Labor Relations, and Safety.  When I left I was in the Law Department working with the Employment/Labor side.  I chose to leave instead of moving to St. Louis.

I have been married for 34 years to my husband Todd.  We have two children: Michael and Tiffany.  Between them we have 3 grandchildren: Peyton, 6, Rowan, 3 and Maya, 7 months.  Oh yes, we also have 2 dogs, a 15-year-old Shih Tzu and a 1-year-old basset hound that keeps us busy.