driver newsletter
Transcription
driver newsletter
DRIVER NEWSLETTER Spring 2012 Table of Contents From the Desk of Pat Gallagher…. Pg. 2 New Million Mile Drivers …..……….Pg. 2 From the Desk of Gregg Troian …..Pg. 3 Marcellus Shale Update .…………….Pg. 3 From the Desk of Joe Vargo …..…..Pg. 4 Hours of Service .………………………..Pg. 4 Safety Update …….…….. ……………..Pg. 4 Drivers of the Quarter …………….….Pg. 5 Cell Phone Reminder ………………….Pg. 5 Recruiting Referral Information ....Pg. 6 Medical Certification Reminder ….Pg. 6 New Safety Lane in Monaca ……….Pg. 7 Mat Foster Profile ………………………Pg. 7 Send us your stories Since this newsletter is for you, we are encouraging you to e-mail stories and news about anything you would like considered to be included in this newsletter publication to Scott Monit, Director Community Relations and Government Affairs at smonit@pgttrucking.com. We are looking for stories about you families, driving, achievements, etc. Also, if you have photos to include with your story, please e-mail those as well. Riding the Wave of the Driver Shortage By Rhonda Yost, Director of Driver Resources The trucking industry is facing a shortage of drivers. Economists forecast trucking growth of four to six percent over the next three years. The demand for drivers is growing and there simply are not enough drivers available. The growth of work has outstripped the capacity. The American Truck Association has begun a national driver recruitment campaign to promote positive images of truck driving and to recruit truck drivers for motor carriers and truck driving schools. The overall goal is to increase the base of drivers, and to include previously untapped labor pools. The advertising program is designed to raise the image and esteem of trucking so that prospective drivers see it as an employment option that stands out among the rest. At PGT Trucking, we are fortunate to have a nice mix of employed drivers and independent contractors. But like many others, we are also feeling the pinch of the driver shortage. “On any given day, we could easily add 35% more capacity,” said Rich Casoli, Executive Director of Operations at PGT Trucking. “Unfortunately we do not have enough drivers to accommodate that capacity at present.” The driver shortage affects everyone. Manufacturers are experiencing backups on their docks and late or canceled appointments due to the hard time they are having finding a trucking company with the capacity to move their freight. Trucking companies have to turn down load requests due to unavailability. By next year, the US Department of Transportation predicts the driver shortage is expected to hit 200,000, this number increasing to nearly two million by 2018. The average age of drivers is 51 and there are not enough young workers to replace those retiring. More concerning is the fact that of those that do enter the industry, only about 10 percent stay. If you know of anyone looking to join the industry, PGT Trucking wants to speak to you. Did you know that PGT offers two different Recruiting Referral Bonuses? Recruit a company driver and you will receive $500.00 after your recruit has completed 90 days. Recruit an Owner Operator, and receive $1,000.00 after your recruit has been leased with the company for 90 days. Contact the Recruiting Department at 800-824-0723 for some literature or tips to help you recruit and put more money into your pocket! 1 PGT TRUCKING From the Desk of Pat Gallagher, CEO As we begin a new year, allow me a moment to reflect on the year we just ended. PGT Trucking had a very good 2011 and a good bit of that success was due to all of you. No matter whether you are a driver, a mechanic or a staff accountant, PGT’s success would not happen if your dedication was not evident. I am blessed to work with such a talented group of individuals on a daily basis. Our mutual trust and respect are what allows PGT to continue to grow and evolve. From the moment I started this business, I have always believed that everything depends on the relationships we create, whether it is with our customers or with each other. I look forward to 2012 and the opportunities that await us. Between the revival of manufacturing in this country and the Marcellus Shale industry, PGT is poised to take that next step up the ladder of success. Congratulations New Million Mile Drivers SAMMY ADAMS JERRY ARMSTRONG RICKY BAHNSEN CHUCK BEDISION JIMMIE BOLSTON DOUGLAS BRAYSHAW JAMES CODNER LARRY DWOREK JR MARK ELLER PGT is excited to announce the purchase of 130 new trucks! Last month they started coming in and will continue throughout the first half of 2012! All new trucks are equipped with Qualcomm electronic logging mobile communications. We also ordered an additional 50 new trailers. ROB ESTERLE JIM FERRARO RICK FRANKLIN DONNY GALLAGHER BRUCE GOCHENOUR GLENN GRAY DAVID GROSS JAY GROSSIC JIM HAAS JERRY HENRY RICH HOON ROBERT JANSEN ROGER KALE KEVIN KEETON RANDY KELLY STANLEY KOZLOWSKI BARRY LATHAM JEREMY LAUBER ROBERT LYNCH 2 LARRY LEUPP MICHAEL MALSON MICHAEL MARTIN JERRY MATHES CARL MINEHART KEN MONTGOMERY GUY MUSSORI SCOTT NEILL RICH POWERS SCOTT ROWLEY RICHARD RUBECK JAMES SAVANT LORENZO SMITH DENNIS STOCK DAVE STOKES TIM SULLIVAN BILLY THOMPSON JEFF TOWNSEND JEFF TRENKAMP LONNIE LEE TUCKER BILL NEAL VANCE JR GREG WALTERS MILFORD WATKINS TOM YOUNG DONALD BATTLEDAY JOHN CANTWELL JIMMIE DAVIS MIKE KERKMAN RANDALL OWNBEY JOE ROWLEY JR PGT TRUCKING Moore’s Law, named after Intel co-founder Gordon Moore, suggests that the power of computing technology doubles every 18 months. The evidence of Moore’s Law is everywhere, embedded in devices millions of people use every day, such as laptops, and mobile phones,—as well as inspiring, important technological innovations in automobiles, and life-saving medical devices. The trucking industry is also affected as new software enhances our ability to gauge time, distance, fuel consumption, track vehicles and materials. We just purchased 130 new trucks that are all outfitted with the latest QUALCOMM technology. QUALCOMM’s equipment allows the drivers to use truck routing navigation, text to speech, and electronic logging. The QUALCOMM Hours of Service unit is an electronic on-board recording system (EOBR) that automatically creates driver logs that are fully compliant with the latest rules of the FMCSA. From the Desk of Gregg Troian, President I also would like to reinforce the importance of the CSA scores. CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve safety and reduce commercial motor vehicle (CMV)-related crashes, injuries and fatalities. These scores affect not only the driver, but the company as well. Our customers look at these scores and determine whether they will do business with us based on how we score as an organization. If there is anything you need from us at PGT regarding these scores, please contact our safety department immediately. Remember, at PGT Trucking, safety is everyone’s job – all the time. Marcellus Shale Opportunity by Chad Marsilio, Sales Manager, Oil and Gas/Heavy Haul Over the past year, PGT has benefited from the increased gas and oil exploration initiatives by energy companies. Historically, PGT has been a steel, aluminum, and building materials flatbed hauler. However, with the advancements in technology that have allowed the energy companies to drill horizontally, PGT has witnessed a substantial increase in flatbed shipments to support the drilling operations. PGT is now hauling casing onto the well pads across the US and line pipe to the new right-of-ways being constructed to transport the oil and gas to the market place. Energy companies such as Shell, Exxon, and Chevron have spent billions of dollars to purchase smaller energy companies who have held large acreage positions in the Marcellus region of NY, PA, OH and WV. We view that as evidence that these energy companies are committed to developing clean domestic energy sources within the United States. To support the drilling operations, PGT has added 30 new drivers in the Marcellus region whose sole responsibility is transporting pipe each day. Our presence in the Marcellus has led PGT into new markets supporting the Oil & Gas Industries in Texas, North Dakota, and Louisiana. Our drivers now have 25 to 75 long haul opportunities per week to transport oilfield materials. 3 PGT TRUCKING From the Desk of Joseph Vargo, Executive Vice President As we begin 2012, we are rolling out some new processes to help further identify and index scanned paperwork. We have updated our trip sheets to include bubble markings for truck number, allowing us to use an extra identifier in the process to link the paperwork scanned in to the correct manifest and driver. This will help to further ensure our driver’s paperwork is received and processed accurately. We also are implementing new billing software which will allow paperwork to be processed around the clock. This software will automatically recognize the scanned paperwork, index it, and bill it when all parameters are met. If an error is identified in the paperwork, it will be routed to a workflow queue for our Billing Specialists to review and address the issue. This new process will help to streamline workflow, manage variability in volume, and scale for future growth. Safety Update Hours of Service Reminder By Gary Dietsch, Executive Director Safety The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's new Hours Of Service (HOS) final rule limits a driver's work week to 70 hours. In addition, truck drivers cannot drive after working eight hours without first taking a break of at least 30 minutes. Drivers can take the 30minute break whenever they need rest during the eighthour window. The final rule retains the current 11-hour daily driving limit. The rule requires truck drivers who maximize their weekly work hours to take at least two nights' rest when their 24-hour body clock demands sleep the most - from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. This rest requirement is part of the rule's "34-hour restart" provision that allows drivers to restart the clock on their work week by taking at least 34 consecutive hours offduty. The final rule allows drivers to use the restart provision only once during a seven-day period. What is the Unsafe driving BASIC? This Basic specifically addresses the requirements within the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) Parts 392 and 397 and refers to the operation of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) by drivers in a dangerous or careless manner. Some examples of roadside safety violations that may cause a motor carrier to rank poorly in this BASIC include speeding, reckless driving, improper lane change, and inattention. PGT’s CSA score in the Unsafe BASIC continues to rise! Speed warnings/citations are our number one cause for this increase followed by seatbelt violations. The State of Indiana leads the pack followed closely by Texas and Ohio in writing most of these warnings/citations. Under the CSA system, a warning carries the same points as a citation. Slow down and know what the posted speed limits are where you are traveling. Wear your seatbelt at all times, it’s the law! To avoid being cited, DO NOT REMOVE YOUR SEATBELT until the inspecting officer has arrived at your door and sees you wearing it. Trucking companies that allow drivers to exceed the 11hour driving limit by three or more hours could be fined $11,000 per offense, and the drivers themselves could face civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense. Drivers and companies must comply with the HOS final rule by July 1, 2013. The rule is currently available on FMCSA's Web site at http:// www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ 4 PGT TRUCKING Meet PGT’s Drivers of the Quarter Sudbury Driver of the Quarter Independent Contractor of the Quarter Tim Inman Craig Marple Nominated by: MJ Coyle Nominated by: Frank Taormina Tim joined PGT in January of 2010. He runs out of the Rockport terminal and resides in Carleton, MI. Tim and his wife have been married just shy of 12 years, and they have two children. Prior to driving, Tim served in the USMC and was a part of Operation Desert Storm. Tim spends his off time with his family, and occasionally gets a free weekend to bow hunt. PGT Trucking is proud to announce Tim Inman as the Independent Contractor of the Quarter for the Fourth Quarter of 2011. Craig joined PGT in January of 2010. He runs out of the Monaca terminal and resides in Johnstown, PA. Craig spends his off time with his son Ian – the apple of his eye. He is a Pittsburgh Steeler and Penguin fan. He also enjoys hunting and skiing. PGT Trucking is proud to announce Craig Marple as the Sudbury Driver of the Quarter for the Fourth Quarter of 2011. Cell Phone Reminder The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration enacted the new rule banning cell phone use while driving a commercial vehicle. The final rule prohibits commercial drivers from using a hand-held mobile telephone while operating a commercial truck or bus. Drivers who violate the restriction will face federal civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense and disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle for multiple offenses. Additionally, states will suspend a driver’s commercial driver’s license (CDL) after two or more serious traffic violations. Commercial truck and bus companies that allow their drivers to use hand-held cell phones while driving will face a maximum penalty of $11,000. Approximately four million commercial drivers would be affected by this final rule. The new law is part of a push by federal transportation officials to cut down on the number of crashes caused by distracted driving, specifically those caused by drivers using cell phones. This law does not affect CB use. 5 PGT TRUCKING Recruiting Referral Bonus Safety is everyone’s job...all the time! We're offering a big reward for finding OwnerOperators–after all, being the best means finding the best. We're on the lookout for professional and enthusiastic Owner-Operators, and if you help us find them, there could be $1,000 in it for you. If you refer a company driver to PGT, we are offering a $500 bonus. Both referral bonuses require the new driver to be employed for at least 90 days. How's that for a reward? Contact us at 866637-5009 or find us on Facebook. Remember to wear your seatbelt at all times… Remember to drive the speed limit… Remember to only use your cell phone with a hands free device… Remember to maintain adequate tire pressure… Remember to take sufficient breaks and rest… Remember to be careful, a job injury hurts everyone... Medical Certification Reminder Effective January 30, 2012 and no later than January 30, 2014, all CDL holders must provide information to their State driver licensing agencies (SDLA) regarding the type of commercial motor vehicle operation they drive in or expect to drive in with their CDL. Drivers operating in certain types of commerce will be required to submit a current medical examiner’s certificate to their SDLA to obtain a “certified” medical status as part of their driving record. CDL holders required to have a ”certified” medical status who fail to provide and keep up-to-date their medical examiner’s certificate with their SDLA will become “not-certified” and they may lose their CDL. What does this mean? Beginning January 30, 2012 and when you go to renew, add an endorsement, or transfer your CDL to another state, you will be required to present a valid DOT medical card, and, declare your operating status of what type of commerce you operate in; interstate or intrastate and if you are “excepted” (does not require a medical card) or “non-excepted” (requires a medical card). Be advised, all drivers at PGT and Southern Pines fall into the “nonexcepted” category and are required to have a valid medical card. What you must do if; your CDL does not renew, you don’t add an endorsement, or transfer your CDL to another state – prior to January 30, 2014. You must contact your state and self-certify your operating status and you may be required to submit If you have questions or concerns you can access the FMCSA website at: www.fmcsa.dot.gov or contact the safety department. 6 PGT TRUCKING New Safety Lane in Monaca Employee Profile The terminal in Monaca, PA has added a new and unique service to all drivers. It is a Safety Lane and it is intended to help all drivers get a Level One review (brakes, tires, air, etc.) from a DOT trained inspector before they get on the road. This is a new benefit for all PGT and IC drivers and is free. The only cost would be if a repair is needed. If the repair will take less than one half hour, it will be performed immediately. If the repair will take longer, then the truck will be scheduled as a walk-in and fixed accordingly. Mat Foster Maintenance Shop Supervisor Our safety inspector is Jeff Barr. Jeff spent several years as a driver and is very mechanically inclined. The Pittsburgh Department of Transportation has trained Jeff and will continue to train him on an ongoing basis so that he is updated on the latest requirements. Jeff and the Safety Lane have been in place since November 2011. Mathieu (Mat) Foster joined the PGT Trucking family in August 2011 after a 20 year career in the Marine Corps, where he retired as a Gunnery Sergeant. Over his two decades with the Marines, he spent time in California, South Carolina, Austria and Guinea, which is located on the west coast of Africa. The goal with the Safety Lane is to have an extra set of eyes check the truck before it leaves on a trip and to help lower the CSA scores for the drivers and the company. PGT will be adding a second inspector in the near future to help improve the workflow and get drivers through faster and on the road. Mat spent most of his military career in aviation maintenance ranging from general management to working as a flight engineer, where he worked hand in hand with the pilot and co-pilot in the cockpit. Upon Mat’s discharge from the Marine Corps, the New Jersey native moved his family to Western Pennsylvania when he joined PGT Trucking. In his role as Maintenance Shop Supervisor, Mat oversees the maintenance facility in Monaca and its 35 employees including the new Safety Lane. Mat is married and has two sons. In his spare time he enjoys hunting, fishing and building models. 7