MESILLA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION
MAY-JUNE
VOLUME 17. ISSUE 4.
2017
www.m-v-t.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 Audriana Rodriguez 6 Hector Mendoza 8 Driver Appreciation Day 10 Mac & Cheese 14 Need a laugh?
Audriana C. Rodriguez For those of you who aren’t familiar with who I am, my name is Audriana Rodriguez, or most people know me as Audrey, a small-town girl from the heart of Pecos, Texas. I have played a couple of roles at MVT, beginning as an ECT CSR and then transitioned into my current role as a fuel coordinator. My job usually involves issuing fuel and routing drivers, as well as ensuring that they are never without fuel and in the process avoiding more severe issues. I believe in completing this very important job with promptness, diligence and professionalism. While taking a moment to reflect on my professional and personal growth I feel that despite my life feeling ordinary I have been able to collect extraordinary perspectives. Our drivers come from all walks of life and in the process of helping our drivers I can also express my belief of fairness to all drivers. Promoting intolerance of discrimination for the most basic of reasons, we all have the ability to learn something from every culture and collect more life experiences that add to my ever-changing personality. Helping our drivers especially when they find themselves in a rut gives me a great feeling, since this is a constant reminder that our drivers are the reason why we sit down to a daily meal. In my life I identify two people, one as my idol, and the other as my motivator. Elon Musk, a South African entrepreneur and environmental activist through technology is my idol. He is someone that I glorify, such as a celebrity. He is a selfless individual that wants to get humanity to the best place possible, creating a global evolution. On the other hand, my mother; a schoolteacher and the breadwinner of my family has an amazing strength of someone who I aspire to be. She may not be famous but she gives me the motivation to wake up in the morning. I think to myself “how can I put my best foot forward and bring on the day on with positivity?” That small-town lady that worked all her life is famous in my eyes. I always wonder if I could do half of the things that she has done, maybe I too could do great things in life.
On my off-time I enjoy hiking, camping, video games, baking, astronomy, researching wildlife, and caring for animals. On weekends, you can find me at the local zoo, volunteering or creating new forms of art at The Woodworkers Club. These are only naming a few of my past times, in addition, I have taken interest in the latest advances in technology and collecting E-waste (which is not recyclable) and turning it into artwork. My style is unexplainable, but the fact that I am myself is something that holds true in my unorthodox appearance. Clothing and hairstyle change just as constantly as the seasons, even looking like someone that is out of this world stems from my abnormal style inspired by my extensive music choices and videos. I enjoy what I wear because it is fun and I don’t care what people think because I feel comfortable in everything I wear and that is all that matters. Recently, we have acquired a new MVT friend. Iron Fist; is my female bearded dragon, native to Australia, she has been making visits to the office. My male bearded dragon, Master Kahn, bit her hand over dominance of a rock. Therefore, regular visits to the vet were needed. She has peaked my interest in reptiles and one of the many reasons I have a vast collection of animals that I care for every day. Life has introduced me to variety of unexpected twists and turns, although one thing will always remain certain about me, I am always looking forward to the next adventure.
Sincerely,
Audriana C. Rodriguez
Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough. -Elon Musk
Hector Mendoza By: Alex Valenzuela
Hector Mendoza has 23 years of driving experience. Hector Mendoza has 23 years of driving experience. While driving in Juarez, MX for five years Hector imagined his life working for Mesilla Valley Transportation admiring the Royal Blue trucks with MVT written in bold red lettering from across the border. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” -Shakespeare Today, Hector is driving and gaining experience being a part of our MVT family for a strong 18 years. He has successfully earned himself $100,000 in total by maintaining a 12.01 MPG average. The yearly prize money was never an incentive Hector payed much attention to, until a training manager brought it to his attention. This encouraged him to put in the effort and make small adjustments in his driving habits. His Miles Per Gallon (MPG) scores became consistent, motivating Hector to push harder and now he says: “I fight for the $25,000, all year.”
“I fight for the $25,000 all year.”
Learning how to drive through the wind currents can really make a difference in your MPG average. If you have a tail wind, you can get away with higher speeds. When you feel a head wind, or heavy side winds, you need to run slower, as it takes more fuel to push through wind. “If a driver wants to make money they can, they just need patience” Mendoza has been driving the same truck for 2 years straight now. Which is unheard of for many drivers. Treating your truck as if it were about to break down is key to success. He is passionate about taking care of the truck and treating it as a second home.
Great job Hector!
Congratulations Mark! Driver Appreciation Day At Mesilla Valley Transportation, Fuel Efficiency Equals BIG Rewards for Drivers
I
f you asked Mark Waegner about his chances of winning a brand-new car a couple months ago, he’d probably tell you there wasn’t one. But that wasn’t the case this time. He drove away from MVT’s quarterly driver appreciation day in a 2017 Nissan Versa.
“I was quite surprised, to tell you the truth, that I had won the car. I didn’t realize that I was doing that good on my miles per gallon”, recalls Mr. Waegner. Mark, who has been a solo driver for MVT for the last two years and two months, drives out of the Nashville, TN terminal. Last quarter he clocked 37,735 miles with 10.30 MPG and 0.32% idle time. Numbers this impressive deserve recognition and that’s why Mesilla Valley started its fuel-efficiency giveaway in 2011. It started with a Harley Davidson, but since then has grown into quarterly car giveaways every three months in February, May, August and November. Of course the biggest bonus, $25,000, comes at the end of the year and can be won multiple times. So how do the drivers feel about this kind of recognition? Kenneth Vigil says, “I believe these types of events at Mesilla Valley are really encouraging to drivers. It helps them keep a positive attitude, knowing that the company is behind them.” And our winner, Mark, thinks “drivers are in a good mood because Mesilla Valley tries really hard to meet the needs of their drivers. I think it’s a very rewarding place to work.” So why so much attention on fuel efficiency? Since 1982, MVT has had a reputation for being the most fuelefficient fleet in the nation. They understand that saving money on fuel equals more savings and less negative impacts on our environment. To maintain a sustainable operation, they are always seeking innovative ways to help their equipment cut through the wind; from low-rolling resistance tires to reducing parasitic drag to being the first to apply trailer skirts to their entire fleet. In fact, they’ve earned the EPA SmartWay Excellence Award recognition multiple times. What really sets MVT apart is how they make the most of these savings and how they give back to their drivers. When asked about what it’s like to drive for them, Scott Mann said, “They make it very easy. From the time I came in here, everyone knew my name. I wasn’t just a truck number. They always ask me ‘Are you happy? Are you getting the miles you want? Is your truck running well?’ You don’t get that at other companies. It makes you feel like you are family.” To learn more about Mesilla Valley, visit www.driveformvt.com.
Crockpot Mac & Cheese Ingredients • • • • • • • • • •
2 cups uncooked macaroni 4 tbls butter 2 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese 3 eggs 1/2 cup sour cream 1 (10 ounce) can condensed cheddar cheese soup 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup whole milk 1/2 tsp dry mustard 1/2 tsp black pepper
Directions
1. Boil macaroni in water for 6 minutes and then drain. 2. In medium saucepan, mix butter and cheese over medium heat. Stir until cheese melts. 3. In slow cooker combine all remaining ingredients, cheese mixture, and macaroni. stir everything together. 4. Cook on low for 2 1/2 hours.
Need A Laugh? How do you organize a party in space? ...they planet...
Why did the can-crusher quit his job? ...because it was soda pressing...
Letter from the Editor Hello MVT, W
elcome summer and 100+ degree days! For those of you who live in El Paso, TX and Las Cruces, NM you know what I am talking about. Even though the sizzling summer days can make me tired there is no resting in the MVT Marketing Department! We have been unbelievably busy as we begin working on more and more projects, and I must admit I love every second of it. I would rather have a busy day that flies by over a slow day that drags. In fact, we have almost finished planning the El Paso and Nashville Company Christmas Parties which I am unbelievably excited about! We plan on releasing more details in the next few months. I would like to once again thank everyone in all the different companies that have been so helpful and friendly to me! It is the people like you that make this company so great to work for! Until the next newsletter…have a great couple of months and make sure to drink lots of water on these hot summer days!
Sincerely,
Cassidy Lee Why did the bicycle fall over? ...because it was two tired...
“You
ARE ONLY
Why didn’t the toilet paper cross the road? ...it got stuck in a crack...
CONFINED
by the walls you build YOURSELF”
The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today. -ELBERT HUBBARD