2015
Employee News MESILLA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION V O L U M E
8 . I S S U E
9525 Escobar Dr. 3590 West Picacho Ave. El Paso, TX 79907 Las Cruces, NM. 88007 T- 915-872-2250 T-575- 524-2835
8 .
3750 Stewarts Lane Nashville, TN 37218 T-615 627-5117
S E P T E M B E R - O C T O B E R
901 Carriers Dr. Laredo, TX 78045 T 956 717-9849
10210 N Vancouver Portland, OR 97217 T 503 286-6110
www.m-v-t.com
Employee News
S E P T - O C T .
Newest member of our MVT TEAM
V O L U M E
8 .
I S S U E 5 . 8
For those of you who haven’t met me yet, I’m Erik Williams. I joined MVT in May of this year. I had no idea at the time what I was getting into but I’m glad I took the leap. From my very first day I came to the realization how much MVT’s “Family Feel” reputation holds true. Time and time again I have heard our company associates refer to us as family and I couldn't be prouder to say I am now part of the great MVT family. A little bit about myself: I began my career in transportation during college. I worked during winter and summer breaks for a small trucking company in Stuart, VA. I worked aimlessly loading and unloading trucks, servicing tractors and trailers until I moved on to management after graduation. Thus beginning my sales career! I was shortly promoted into Outside Sales and I moved into truckload sales with CFI. I came to MVT from Interstate Distributor Company and am very excited about being the General Manager of Sales.
Erik Williams INSIDE Insider Letter
2
Driving Habits
3
Flick of a Switch
4
WWP Golf
7
NEW MVT APP
9
Extreme Weather 10 Health Tips
12
Driver Day
14
As for my personal life, I have a beautiful wife named Dajen, and a very energetic 3 year old son, Hudson. He makes sure to keep me on my toes at all times. Someone once told me that children are by far the best sales people. When they want something they ask over and over again for it until they get it, and if they don’t… well they throw a fit until they DO get it. I don’t throw a fit, but I certainly go after customers in the same way. My favorite saying is “Good things may come to those who wait, but great things come to those who Hustle!” You just have to put in the work! I am a huge sports fan and follow the NY Yankees, Virginia Tech Hokies. I love watching college and NFL football. When I can find the time I enjoy golfing, running, hunting, and fishing. This is such a great company and I appreciate the warm welcome and all your hard work thus far. I look forward to being part of this family and working with you all more in the future!
Sincerely, Erik. Williams General Manager of Sales
Dajen (Wife) and Hudson(Son) And Myself
THE DREAM IS FREE.. HUSTLE SOLD SEPERATLEY.
PAGE
3
Todd McCann started driving big rigs in 1997 and covers about 125,000 miles a year wearing down tire rubber on America's highways. In other words, he knows driving. (He also runs the hilarious Trucker Dump podcast.) It's hard to imagine anyone with a better perspective on the best and worst of highway driving than a guy who spends every day, week after week, sitting high up behind the wheel of his rig, watching cars ahead, behind, and alongside. We asked him to tell us what mistakes he sees again and again, and how we can all be better drivers. Spoiler alert: Put down your freaking cell phone. This should be obvious: Pay attention. People don't pay attention. They are in their own worlds because of cellphones. That's why they get caught riding on the right side of the road. That's why at the last-second they realize they are about to miss their turn. About 75 percent of the time when they are trying to merge onto the highway and are trying to push me over—which is ridiculous in itself— it's because they are looking up at the last second from their cell phone. They realize that they should worry about merging and you see the cell phone vanish. They put the phone down and look up at you like, "You didn't see that." I'm not one of these guys who thinks that if you're texting going down the road, you're a danger to everybody. If it's a quick text, I don't see it as being much more dangerous than fiddling with your radio station, as long as there isn't a bunch of traffic around. But I'm in Jersey right now and I see it on I-95 all the time where there's a ton of traffic and there are people cruising by on their phones. That's just amazing[ly dumb]. Stop hanging out along my side. Have you ever seen the signs on the back of trucks that say, "If you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you?" I get what they are trying to do with that, but that rule is not entirely true. It's true that you shouldn't tailgate a truck but the sides are just as bad. I had a car riding on my right side the other day, just hanging out. That's the worst thing any driver can do. We have a huge blindspot over there. I almost ran this guy off the road because I couldn't see him. He was riding right in my tractor tires. According to that rule, he was okay because he could look up and see my mirror. But I couldn't see him. He was nowhere to be found. I didn't see the car until he popped up in another mirror as he was going off on the shoulder. He was right along my right-hand side. What can I do? Personally, I don't understand why anyone would want to ride beside a truck at all. When I'm in my car, even before I was a trucker, I would get around those trucks as soon as possible. The tires are almost as tall as your car. If there's a blowout, it'll tear your car up. It just makes no sense to me. The old three-lane pass is a big problem. That's when a car is way over in the left-hand lane and passes right in front of you at the last second to hit an exit ramp. You just dove over three lanes! And you have no idea what's over there on the other side of me. A crotch rocket could have been whipping by me at 90mph and you would have just killed him dead. It blows my mind, especially when you see it's a soccer mom with a van full of kids. At least if they are doing that around a car, it makes more sense. At least you can see around a car. You can't see around a truck. That's just insane. Continue page 4 http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/a-trucker-explains-your-worst-highway-driving-habits/ar-AAeMDiT?i=AA8mH2&ocid=iehp#page=1 EMPLOYEE
NEWS
VOLUME
8
ISSUE
PAGE
8
Stupid is everywhere.
It really is. Some areas are worse than others. I think LA has taken the Fast and Furious movies seriously. They drive crazy out there, especially when the bars are getting out. It's nuts. You see crotch rockets going by you at 100 miles-per-hour, weaving in and out of traffic. The little souped-up cars do that, too. But the East Coast is bad, too. People in the Midwest seem to be more relaxed. The more crowded the area, the more stupid things you see. Construction areas are especially scary. If you get a construction area, no matter where you are, people are doing something stupid. Here's the thing that makes me the maddest during construction: I'll be cruising along in the left-hand lane of a two-lane highway going 50mph because that's what the signs say to do. I have people driving around me on the right-hand side, which is about the only time they should be doing that, but they are flipping me off. You can see the road rage because I'm in the left lane going 50. They could be doing it while they are passing the sign that says, "Trucks, left lane only. 50mph." They are just not paying attention to the signs. They think truckers are bad drivers. We are not. Two-thirds of accidents between a truck and a car are caused by the car. People think we are the safety hazards. But we're not. We know how to drive defensively. If we drove like car drivers, changing lanes as quickly and as nonnonchalantly as they do, and slamming on the brakes, there would be a lot of accidents out on the road. There would be a lot of deaths. Construction areas are especially scary. If you get a construction area, no matter where you are, people are doing something stupid. Here's the thing that makes me the maddest during construction: I'll be cruising along in the left-hand lane of a two-lane highway going 50mph because that's what the signs say to do. I have people driving around me on the right-hand side, which is about the only time they should be doing that, but they are flipping me off. You can see the road rage because I'm in the left lane going 50. They could be doing it while they are passing the sign that says, "Trucks, left lane only. 50mph." They are just not paying attention to the signs. They think truckers are bad drivers. We are not. Twothirds of accidents between a truck and a car are caused by the car. People think we are the safety hazards. But we're not. We know how to drive defensively. If we drove like car drivers, changing lanes as quickly and as non-nonchalantly as they do, and slamming on the brakes, there would be a lot of accidents out on the road. There would be a lot of deaths. Be consistent with your speed. The fluctuating speed thing causes so many problems. People just don't pay attention to how fast they are going. They take their foot off the gas and then put it back on. For a truck, that's the worst, but it causes problems for everybody. I was coming up from Richmond, Virginia yesterday. There was a small Winnebago that was going 10mph under the speed limit. It was causing all kinds of problems. One vehicle was backing up three lanes of traffic. I wish people would just pay attention. If a trucker is tailgating you, you're probably going too slow. If you see a truck in your rearview, the first thing you need to do is put down your phone. The second thing you need to do is look at your speedometer. The majority of the time, if a trucker is tailgating you, you're doing something wrong. My truck is limited at 64mph. If I'm tailgating you because you're going too slow, that's a problem. I'm not talking tailgating like getting one car length behind them and flashing my lights. I'm talking three or four car lengths. Just enough to make them want to cuss me real bad. If they scoot over and get out of the fast lane, mission accomplished. http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/a-trucker-explains-your-worst-highway-driving-habits/ar-AAeMDiT?li=AA8mH2&ocid=iehp#page=1
4
PAGE
5
EMPLOYEE
NEWS
Wounded Warrior ProjectŽ (WWP) serves veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound, co-incident to their military service on or after September 11, 2001 and their families. On that date, America watched in horror as approximately 3,000 people died including hundreds of firefighters and rescue workers. Many warriors note a sense of duty to volunteer for the military following these tragic events. Sept. 11 also served as a stimulus for Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and New Dawn. Operation Iraqi Freedom refers to military operations in Iraq that began March 19, 2003 and officially ended August 31, 2010. Operation Enduring Freedom refers to combat operations in Afghanistan and other regions in support of the Global War on Terror. Operation New Dawn refers to the conclusion of operations in Iraq beginning September 1, 2010 and ending December 15, 2011. For WWP, there is a distinct difference between members and alumni; the term alumni indicates a mutual shared experience and denotes your place in an organization was earned. There are no dues here - those were paid by wearing the uniform and on the battlefield.With advancements in battlefield medicine and body armor, an unprecedented percentage of service members are surviving severe wounds or injuries. For every US soldier killed in World Wars I and II, there were 1.7 soldiers wounded. In Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, for every US soldier killed, seven are wounded. Combined, over 48,000 servicemen and women have been physically injured in the recent military conflicts. In addition to the physical wounds, it is estimated as many as 400,000 service members live with the invisible wounds of war including combat-related stress, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Another 320,000 are believed to have experienced a traumatic brain injury while on deployment. With the mission to honor and empower Wounded Warriors, WWP is the hand extended to encourage warriors as they adjust to their new normal and achieve new triumphs. Offering a variety of programs and services, WWP is equipped to serve warriors with every type of injury – from the physical to the invisible wounds of war. http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org
#GroupSelfie5am
PAGE
VOLUME
7
8
ISSUE
8
September 11th 2015 Mesilla Valley Transportation and Munoz Trucking put aside their pride and competitive nature and came together and put on a “Fore our Heroes Golf Tournament” at Red Hawk Golf Club. The Transportation industry is extremely harsh, not only does society and our economy depend on transportation of freight but it’s a tough industry to be in.. “It’s not all Sunshine and Rainbows” as Sylvester Stallone would put it. It takes the right kind of person to do it, just like it takes the right kind of person to enlist in the military. It’s not just a phase it’s a way of life. This country was built on blood sweat and tears of hard working American people. So when the opportunity came along to participate in an event where we could give back to our Veterans, Mesilla Valley Transportation jumped at the opportunity. With MVT’s oh so famous story to why we have the POW MIA stickers on all 3500 of our trailers you can tell there’s that spirit of pride everywhere you look. When reaching out to other vendors and customers to participate in this golf tournament it was amazing to see the quick responses to support it! Munoz Trucking being one of them paying to be the title sponsor. Thanks to Red Hawk Golf Club participates were able to play a prestige’s course. Kicking things off, the Las Cruces Fire Department was able to conduct the opening ceremony. Fireman, Cody Haver sang the National Anthem wowing the crowd. Royal Jones then got up to speak to all the participates, “It’s about more today” He said, “Taking care of our veterans is what “May we never forget freedom isn’t FREE” matters.” Because of everyone here we were able to raise $41,741.00. ALL benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project When they say, “Go BIG or go home” we go BIG! We couldn’t have done it without all of our sponsors: Munoz Trucking, Coyote logistics, Quantum, Fontaine Trailer, Yokohama, TA PETRO, TMW Systems, GHC Services, Rotella, TruckStop.com, Cummins Rocky Mountain, Comdata, Beasley Mitchell CO., Casa Nissan, Barnett Harley Davison, Michelin tire, Allison Transmission, Dela’O Septic, Hankook Tire, Border International, Bridgestone Tire, Meritor, JH Rose Logistics, PeopleNet, Continental Tire, Forrest Tire, and Hooters. And don’t forget
all of our volunteers who made this event run smooth. THANK YOU!!
MAIL TIME
MVT now has a mobile Android App you can use to submit images from your phone. You can get paid faster by submitting your documents (trip sheets, BOLs, receipts, and more) directly to us from anywhere and get receipts you can use for verification and your own records.
Step1: Go to the google play store <google store icon>
Step2: Search for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;MVTâ&#x20AC;? app with the MVT logo.
Step3: Install then open the app.
Step4: If you have not registered for a PaperSmart account, Click Create an Account.
** Also available in Spanish.**
PAGE
9
Snow Chains and the Law By: MVT Training and Development Department Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that time of year again! As the weather changes, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time for Commercial Vehicle Drivers to take the dangers of extreme weather into consideration. Extreme weather is a precaution that drivers in any kind of vehicle must worry about, yet becomes more of a danger with a vehicle of a bigger size. CMV drivers have seventy three feet of truck, trailer, and load to worry about. Extreme weather affects the transportation industry so much that it warrants its own set of driving styles and habits. For these reasons, snow chain laws must be used to help prevent accidents in the months that have a higher threat of producing extreme weather. Snow Chains have become a necessity for transportation companies to ensure that wheels keep turning. There are multiple types of weather elements that can be the cause of accidents. This is when CMV drivers must make the hard choice of whether or not to keep the tires rolling. Ice, snow, heavy rains, and even extreme winds can lead to companies damaging equipment or lead to drivers getting injured. Generally, the snow chain laws go into effect on September 1st and last until the 1st of May. Yet, it can vary by state. Areas in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming are mountainous and can become extremely dangerous for drivers of vehicles of large size. In order to protect the lives of the driver as well as the equipment, it is a law that snow chains must be stored in the truck during the extreme weather season. State departments of transportation ensure CONTINUED: ON PAGE 11
PAGE
11
that the laws are being followed and will notify drivers as to when the equipment must be used.
Normally, this is done by utilizing the help of State Troopers and the use of signs posted in areas that can become too treacherous to drive in without snow chains. It then becomes the responsibility of transportation companies to provide their drivers with ample amounts of chains in order to be able to drive through such rough areas. Mesilla Valley Transportation is just as diligent as any other company and therefore, must take the same proactive state in ensuring that our drivers have everything they need for times of bad weather. The fact that our company has grown so much and is so widespread requires us to have multiple snow chain banks around the nation. For the convenience of the driver, we have 4 major chain banks where they can acquire the equipment that they may need. The banks are located on Albuquerque, NM, Denver, CO, Nashville, TN, and El Paso, TX. Drivers can receive the chains by speaking to any of the shop personnel at any of these locations.
There are rules that drivers must abide by when they are issued the equipment. Shop Personnel ensure the rules are held to a standard in a number of ways. Drivers are held accountable for the equipment by signing out the equipment and returning it when the season is complete. They are permitted to transport chains to another driver that is not routed through any city with a snow chain bank. Signatures are still required when this occurs. When the driver is issued the equipment, he/she must ensure that three complete bags are issued. This must be accomplished in order to ensure that every wheel be covered appropriately. Proper storage has also become an important topic for the drivers with the equipment. Drivers at MVT must ensure that the cargo space inside the tractor is utilized for the storage of the chains. Areas like the spare tire cannot be used for this purpose due to the fact that it becomes a loose cargo issue for drivers when going through inspections. DOT officials take an active role during these critical times. However, there are other key aspects that must be taken into consideration by drivers. Common sense must prevail in situations such as these. Personal safety and the safeguarding of the equipment must share first place in the driversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lists of priorities. We at Mesilla Valley Transportation want to see our drivers come through the safety lanes in good health and the equipment in the exceptional state that it was in when first issued to the driver. If you see that road conditions are too bad, please stop, park the truck, and hunker down until it is safe to drive. If you have no other choice to but to drive through these conditions, please slow down and take your time. The load will get there, we just want to make sure that you get home safely as well.
Exercises That Truckers Can Do in Their Vehicle According to the U.S. Department of Labor, truck drivers comprise one of the largest occupations in the country with more than 3.2 million jobs. Truck drivers play an important role in just about every form of commerce, from delivering food to packages and mail, to cars and trucks. Long-haul truck drivers spend a majority of their time in their truck, spending up to 11 hours a day on the road.
Hand Stretch Truckers spend their time steering a truck around town or across the nation. As a result, fingers and hands may start to feel stiff or painful to move once you let go of the steering wheel. Hand stretches help reduce the risk of chronic illnesses such as arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome. At a red light, rotate your wrist left and right or in a circle. Stretch your wrist by placing the fingertips of one hand on top of the steering wheel. Gently press your weight into your hand and hold the stretch for 30 seconds. Repeat with the other hand.
Abdominal Crunch Strengthen your abdominals while you're on the road. Squeeze your abdominal muscles and hold it for the entire length of your favorite songs or news report. If you are unable to squeeze your abdominal muscles for long, then aim to squeeze them for at least one to two minutes. Repeat at every red light or for every favorite song that comes on the radio.
Planks Truckers with a sleeper cabin can perform this exercise while taking a break. Plank exercises help strengthen your back, arm and leg muscles as well as your core. Wherever there is room, start off the exercise by getting on your hands and knees. Place your forearms and hands onto the ground with your palms facing downward. Kick back your legs so that you are placing your weight on your toes. Your entire body should maintain a straight line. Hold this position for 30 seconds.
Shoulder Shrugs Help relieve the stress and tension from your shoulder area by performing shoulder shrugs. Perform this exercise while stopped at a red light or on a lunch or dinner break. To perform the exercise, lift your shoulders up to your ears as if you're saying "I don't know." Hold the position for a few seconds then release. Perform 10 to 15 reps throughout the day whenever you are feeling tensed or stressed. http://www.livestrong.com/article/462361-exercises-that-truckers-can-do-in-their-vehicle/
PAGE
13
RECIEPES. Moroccan Chickpea Soup Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 cup diced onion 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 12 ounces canned chickpeas, drained 12 ounces canned whole peeled tomatoes, finely chopped 4 cups chicken stock or broth 2 cups kale chopped 1/4 cup mixed chopped cilantro
http://thelatinkitchen.com/r/recipe/michelle-bernsteins-moroccan-chickpea-soup
Directions Heat the oil in a deep skillet over medium heat, Add the onion and cook, stirring for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another 2 minutes. Add the spices, stirring until fragrant. Add the chickpeas, stirring for 1 minute. Mix in the tomatoes, stirring, add the chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add kale and herbs. Stir and remove from the heat. Season and Enjoy!
PUMPKIN Spice Latte
Ingredients 1Cup of Milk 2Tablespoon pure pumkin puree 1 Tablespoon of sugar 1.14 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/4 cup hot espresso or strong brewed coffee Sweetened whipped cream for serving
Directions Combine the milk, pumpkin puree, sugar, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla in a medium microwave safe bowl, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and vent with a small hole. Microwave until the milk is hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk vigorously until the milk mixture is foamy, about 30 seconds. Pour the espresso or coffee into a large mug and add the foamed milk. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/ pumpkin-spice-latte.html?oc=linkback
PAGE
14
9th Annual March of Dimes High Heels for High Hopes Show Hope is a powerful word. March of Dimes is the true definition of hope. There's nearly half a million babies born too soon each year. Jackie Jones and myself are asking our friends, family and loved ones to help by making a donation. The money raised supports programs in our community that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies. It funds research to find answers to the problems that threaten our babies. Please find it in your heart to help join a great cause! Please donate on our page supporting this years High Heels for High Hopes and come see our team perform Nov. 20th. Together let's spread the awareness because every child matters.
Celebrating Music and Style Join us for a one-of-a-kind tribute to Music, featuring 25 local women serving as models and styled by The Mint Hair Studio, Maxx Designs for VIP’s, Wildfire Hair Company, Simply Devine Salon, and Salon Cheveux. - VIP packages are available by calling (575)523-2627 and General Admission tickets are $40, with all proceeds benefitting the work of the March of Dimes.
November 20, 2015 At the Las Cruces Convention Center 7PM
#DoitForTheBabies #JoinOURteam
For more information or to buy tickets please go to: http://highheels.marchofdimes.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1142288
Letter from the Editor Honestly…. I meant to have to this edition published last week. Sorry? #NotSorry. There has been SO much going on that it’s really hard to keep up! Thank you to everyone who reads these newsletters. You might not know it but a lot of thought and work goes it to these. So if you ever have suggestion on what you would like to see please let me know! I’m having trouble believing it’s October. Where did this year go? Oh, right!! It went with holidays, the speedway season, the grand openings, the Truck EXPO, the 5k runs, the charity golf tournaments, the biggest concert at Red Hawk, the Driver Appreciation Days, Borders new buildings, end of the year giveaways, and Christmas party Planning??! Yikes. You all keep a girl busy! But I’m definitely not complaining. I’m always up to the challenge kind of girl. While we are at it let me clear something up, I am NOT a pumpkin spice latte kind of girl. I know it’s fall and all and I love that the weather is changing, EXPECT for that unexpected tornado warning.. (I could do without that.) I’m more of a Pepper Mint Latte girl ;) So bring on the cold weather and the rest of the year. I encourage everyone to keep pushing this remainder of 2015. This company still astonishes me. Together WE make this crazy family and I wouldn’t have it any other way. “You’re Awake, you’re Awesome. Live Like it!”
Emily K. Roof Marketing Director “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle!
V O L U M E
Making the Difference Everyday
The MVT Way
8 .
I S S U E 5 . 8