4th Quarter 2015

ATS News
2016 United Way Campaign ISSUE 2
In this issue of
The Herald
The 2016 United Way Campaign
was in full force at ATS
Headquarters during the last week in
October. From October 26th to the
30th ATS employees raised money
for the United Way of Central
Minnesota.
ATS set a company goal for $12,500.
To reach the goal daily donations
were made by employees, along with
activities to promote charitable
donations.
United Way of Central Minnesota
works to advance the common good
by focusing on Education and Basic
Needs such as homeless housing
and assistance programs, child
literacy programs, and quality out of
school time.
Kicking off the week was the annual
bus pull challenge.
United Way Bus Pull Challenge
On Monday October 26th, ATS
competed in the 3rd annual United
Way Bus Pull Challenge, hosted by
New Flyer Industries of St. Cloud,
MN. Defending their 2013 and 2014
titles against six local companies, the
group of 12 participants banded
together on a damp, chilly morning to
bring the United Way trophy back to
ATS headquarters.
Features
As returning champions, ATS was
called for the final pull. ATS’ first
attempt was stopped for safety
concerns, on account of a fallen
participant. For its second pull, the
team banded together to pull out a
fourth place finish with a time of
11.28 seconds against a strong pool
of competition. ATS’ participants
were a true display of ATS’
determination and hope to return
next year to bring the trophy back to
ATS.
ATS was honored to be a part of this
community event and contribute
alongside teams from local
companies, including New Flyer
Industries, Aubright, Carlson
Engineered Composites, Grede
Holdings LLC, Marco Inc. and the
United Way of St. Cloud to benefit a
great cause.
With the tone set for the campaign
week, ATS was able to raise
$15,655.00 for the United Way of
Central Minnesota.
Christmas Letter
2
What’s New at the Shop
4
Reflections
5
Rolling Along
6
Anniversary Events
7-8
Anniversary Special
9-12
Q&A with Rollie Anderson
13
Spotlight on Safety
16
Dining, Drivers & Dialogue
17
Photo Contest Rules
17
Read Me & Win
17
Recruiting Focus
18
Million Milestones
18
Photo Contest Winners
19-22
ATS News
United Way Campaign
1
Vestas Recognition
3
Maintenance Shop Update
3
St. Jude Theatre of Dreams
5
Day for Charity
6
th
60 Anniversary Gala
6, 13
2015 Quest for Quality
13
Top Pay Carrier
14
Season of Giving
14
Veterans Day
14
Young Professionals of St. Cloud
15
SC&RA Scholarships
15
The Herald is published for the
associates of ATS. To submit articles
for future issues or to make comments,
please E-mail: TheHerald@atsinc.com
L-R: Jamie Torborg, Eric Metso, Zachary Dunlop, Riley Brunner, Jason
Watercott, Jordan Hansen, Wes Kemper, Cory Verkinnes, Brooks Anderson,
Rich Phillips, Mark Andres, Keenan Schuldt, Adam Koopmeiners, Jon Helm
1
Copyright © 2014, Anderson Trucking
Service, Inc. All rights reserved.
2015 Christmas Letter
Dear ATS Employees, Drivers & Contractors,
2015 was a year of celebration for ATS. We turned 60 this year. In our business, sticking around for that
long doesn’t just happen by chance. Only the strong, the stable and the most capable survive. What
makes ATS strong, stable and capable? As we reflect back upon our 60 years, there is no question in our
minds that it is you – our dedicated people – that got us where we are today. As the holidays approach,
we want to take this opportunity to recognize and extend our sincerest gratitude to each and every one of
you, and your families, for the part you played in helping us achieve our mission – this year, and always.
We, along with the management team here at ATS, want you to know that your efforts and your sacrifices
on behalf of ATS have not gone unnoticed. For our drivers and our contractors, we know that being on
the road and away from your families for a good portion of the year is not easy. For our office, sales and
shop staff, being “on-call” 24 x 7 with long days and late hours requires a major commitment. Together,
we represent one united front in pursuing our vision to be the most sought-after transportation provider in
the world. That’s what makes us great. Your efforts, are what makes us a global contender. While the
holidays provide a perfect backdrop for us to voice our appreciation, please know that your efforts are
appreciated every day.
We hope that the holiday season is joyous for you and your family. There simply isn’t a way we can fully
convey our appreciation for your commitment to ATS, but in the spirit of giving back, we hope that you and
your family will accept the enclosed gift as a gesture of our thanks. As you celebrate with your friends and
family this Christmas, we hope you take the time to celebrate the occasion of Christ’s birth and the
promise of salvation for everyone. 2016 holds a new promise of growth for ATS and we look forward to
stepping forward into the next 60 years with you by our side.
Sincerely,
Anderson Trucking Service, Inc.
Rollie Anderson,
CEO
Brent Anderson,
COO
Jim Anderson,
Relationship Consultant
2
Scott Anderson,
EVP/Treasurer
ATS News
ATS Honored by Vestas Wind Systems
Vestas Wind Systems A/S of Aarhus,
Denmark honored ATS Projects with
its 2015 top Supplier Award for
contribution at the Vestas
Headquarters in Aarhus, Denmark
on October 8, 2015. The Global
Gold Contribution Award recognizes
vendors across all service and
commodity vendor categories, not
just transportation. The award was
presented to Alan Redding, ATS
Projects Director of Sales/Business
Development, by Vestas Group
Senior VP, Global Sourcing, Albie
van Buel and Torben Andersen, VP
Construction and Service Sourcing
This award is given to the company
that best provides commercial and
operational contributions in a
collaborative approach. The criteria
to determine the recipient was based
on an overall assessment of the
following parameters:
implementation of innovative
solutions, showing extraordinary
effort, and excellent delivery
performance. “Through our mutual
collaboration we were able to create
a flexible and optimized delivery
fulfillment strategy,” said Redding.
“This award speaks very highly about
our collaborative relationship with
Vestas and all ATS and Vestas
stakeholders share in this award.”
L-R: Betty Thain, Marcelo Vellozo dos Santos, Matt Fourre, Gene Lemke, Don
Strong, Volker Sieben, Kevin Donck, Alan Redding
St. Cloud Maintenance Shop Update
The hard work continues on the new St. Cloud Maintenance Shop.
On Thursday, November 5th, a member of our Specialized fleet delivered
ventilation units to the worksite. Thank you to our drivers that have been
involved with its construction. Their diligent efforts are greatly appreciated!
ATS Projects Director, Gene Lemke
expressed his appreciation for the
award, “On behalf of ATS, I am
pleased to accept this Award.
Receiving this prestigious award is a
tremendous honor and is reflection of
the partnership Vestas and ATS
have built.”
Every single day, Vestas wind
turbines deliver clean energy that
supports the global fight against
climate change. Wind power from
Vestas’ more than 55,000 wind
turbines currently reduces carbon
emissions by over 60 million tons of
carbon dioxide every year, while at
the same time building energy
security and independence. Vestas
has delivered wind energy in 74
countries, providing jobs for around
18,800 passionate people at its
service and project sites, research
facilities, factories and offices all over
the world. With 52 percent more
megawatts installed than anyone
else in the industry and more than 70
GW of cumulative installed capacity
worldwide, Vestas is the world leader
in wind energy.
3
What’s New at The Shop
Winterization Techniques
By Bob Bednarek
Carry basic hand tools in your truck.
Drain air tanks daily.
Drain your fuel-water separator
whenever needed. Only drain out
the water.
Plug the engine heater in while the
engine is still warm and keep it
plugged in until you start your truck.
You should plug your truck in when
the temperature is below 30 degrees.
A warm engine produces less drag
and will start easier.
Dry your brakes off before parking
for an extended period to prevent the
shoes from freezing to the drums.
Used blended fuel rather than fuel
treatments.
Check the color of the fuel you are
pumping. If the fuel is black that is a
sign of bacteria in blended fuel.
Discontinue pumping if the fuel is
black and purchase your fuel
elsewhere. Major fuel system
failures can occur if you use this fuel.
Do not run your fuel tank below ¼
tank.
If you start to spin or get stuck, stop
and lock in your power divider, this
gives you 4 wheel drive capability.
Make sure the wheels are stopped
before locking in the power divider.
Locking in a power divider while the
wheels are moving will cause
catastrophic damage. Your truck is
not meant to run all of the time with
the power divider locked in. It can be
damaged by driving with it locked in.
If you are spinning and the wheels
suddenly catch traction the shock
load can cause damage to the power
divider.
Original Equipment Manufacturers
discourage the use of winter fronts
on trucks.
If you are equipped with tire cables,
use them when appropriate.
Carry brake line antifreeze with you
to free up frozen trailer brakes. If
you use brake line antifreeze on your
trailer be sure to purge the air tanks
once the brakes are freed up.
If you need to idle your truck aim for
between 600 and 900 RPM but keep
in mind that idling is very hard on the
Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). Any
idling will shorten the life of the DPF.
The reserve capacity in your
batteries is less in cold weather so
you won’t be able to operate your
key off loads as long as you would
be able to in warmer weather.
As always, a good Pre-Trip and
Post-Trip inspection is crucial to
preventing breakdowns.
4
Reflections
What’s Left to Celebrate?
Read Me & Win
By Jim Anderson
Pfannenstein (September 4, 1925February 12, 2015), one of the most
enduring drivers in our 60-year
history (March 1, 1955-November
14, 2002). Norm passed away this
year. Perhaps you said “good-bye” to
a loved one this year. Whoever they
were, celebrate their life and the
memories you now cherish!
Many babies were born to ATS
employees in 2015. These new lives
are certainly something special to
celebrate. The future belongs to
them. Who knows, some of them
may be future employees of
Anderson Trucking Service.
Speaking of babies, our youngest
grandchild, Maren (below) recently
celebrated her first birthday.
Let’s celebrate the lives of those
employees who passed away in
2015. Perhaps you sat near an office
employee who left an empty desk. Or
perhaps you are a fleet manager,
and one of your drivers is no longer
assigned to you because he or she
passed away. You spoke with that
driver weekly and sometimes daily.
You came to respect them for the
determination displayed as well as
the exchange of kind words from
time to time. In other words, you
miss them! That reminds me of Norm
Thank you and please continue
reading “The Herald!” Contestants are
only eligible to win once every six (6)
months.
And the winners are...
Andrew H, ATS Specialized 11385
Michael R, ATS Heavy Haul 16260
Carl H, ATS Inc. 84158
Russ Berg, ATS Specialized 72254
Matthew O, ATS Specialized 82346
Allen C, ATS Specialized 11390
Scott A, Specialized 82673
Todd Williams
Nettie O’Neil
Kim Denny
Eraine Bieniek
New questions on page 17
This has been quite a year to
remember. Why? Because 2015 was
more than “business as usual.” Much
time, effort and energy went into
celebrating our history as a trucking
company. After our 60th Anniversary
Gala event on Saturday, November
21, one might ask, “Is there anything
left to celebrate?”
While many years may pass before
we enjoy a year like this one, there is
much to celebrate every year, every
week and every moment. There are
smaller victories happening every
week in every division of ATS.
Furthermore, there is something
called “life” that eagerly waits to be
celebrated at the dawning of every
new day.
The "Read Me and Win" Contest is
open to ATS Employees and
Contractors. Correct entries will
receive one of the new ATS Logo caps
(pictured) or a similar style hat.
St. Jude Theatre of
Dreams
Let’s celebrate life every day for the
rest of our lives!
Now for the greatest celebrations of
life – eternal life! There is one final
celebration of the year. Christmas is
the celebration of the One who came
to give each and every one of us
eternal life. Jesus Christ said, “Truly,
truly, I say to you, whoever believes
has eternal life.” (John 6:47)
So be sure to save plenty celebration
energy for Christmas!
God Bless,
Jim Anderson
5
ATS was proud to receive a plaque
of thanks from the St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital for its
June fundraising event. The St. Jude
Theatre of Dreams celebrates
families, Stages Theatre Company (a
non-profit children’s theatre) and the
lifesaving mission of St. Jude.
Rolling Along
ATS News
Looking Back
Casual Day for
Charity
By Rollie Anderson
By Kelly Kohls
in running condition. Norm could give
you a better description of those
trucks than I could. We soon parked
them and bought new ones. Getting
ATS going from that beginning was
difficult to say the least. None of us
had any experience. Donna took on
the challenge of the accounting and
ICC reports. I learned to make tariffs,
ICC applications and attend hearings
and all that good stuff, but little by
little we put it together.
With 2015 coming to an end I felt it
was important to reflect on the
incredible milestone ATS reached
this year; 60 years of business. This
landmark could not be done without
dedicated drivers, contractors, and
employees. It’s amazing to see
where we are and look back on all of
the hard work it took to get here. I’d
like to share my father’s Christmas
letter from ATS’ 25th Anniversary in
1980. What I hope you see, is that
you and all those who came before
you, had the determination to meet
numerous challenges which have
built ATS into a driven company with
integrity.
Christmas is usually a time to
“remember” and since this is also the
25th Anniversary of ATS – let us look
back for a moment.
To say the least, our beginning in
1955 was a meager one - a 12’x 12’
tar paper office, dirt floor in the shop
with enough room for two tractors.
Art Duke was the granite loader,
trailer mechanic, salesman,
dispatcher, billing clerk and terminal
manager.
Norm Pfannenstein was one of the
drivers that first year. Of the six
trucks we received in the purchase of
Granite City Transfer, only two were
Each month ATS corporate holds a
casual day for charity. The charity
selected for October was the
Thomas G. Labrecque Foundation.
Like many of our casual day
charities, the foundation was
submitted by an employee. The
employee portion raised was
$842.00. Funds raised for this effort
will go directly to supporting lung
cancer research.
In 1957 we built a small office and a
40’x 60” shop section. In the early
‘60s Gene Cannon and Dick Rennie
joined ATS as well as more drivers,
mechanics and office personnel and
since then many of you here tonight
have become a part of Anderson.
Today, in 1980, “Anderson does as
much business each calendar day as
the total business in the first year.
How did all this come to be? Hard
work, yes – planning, yes – good
advice, yes – but most of all, it is
people working together. There is
very little that can equal the result of
employees and management
working together – each doing their
best to help the other. I enjoy the
business because I enjoy all of you
who are ATS and together we can do
much more.
1981 – Let us look ahead for a
moment. 1981 will be a year of hills
and mountains; deep valleys too. But
we are optimistic and see many new
and exciting challenges.
Deregulation is the big reason for
many of the changes, in what we
haul, between what points and
territories. These changes will be a
big challenge for the drivers as well
as for traffic and management.
An additional day for charity was
added in late October to assist with
the United Way Campaign.
Employees raised $857.00 for the
single day event.
60th Anniversary Gala
ATS would like to thank all who were
able to attend the 60th Anniversary at
the River’s Edge Convention Center in
St. Cloud, MN on November 21, 2015.
Throughout the year many events
carried out in honor of the
anniversary. Yet, it was the
Anniversary Gala that served as a true
capstone to honor this incredible
milestone. Thank you to all the
determined drivers, contractors,
employees, and staff that made this
possible!
We have confidence that the people
of ATS will meet this challenge and
we can go forward.
- Harold Anderson, December 1980
Photos from the event displayed on
page 13.
6
ATS
Anniversary Events
ATS celebrated 60 years in business with a variety of events, including decade dress up days. Here are some photos from
the events.
Logo Day
Flashback to the Fifties
Fireworks Dinner
Flashback to the Sixties
7
ATS Anniversary Events
Flashback to the Seventies
Summer Picnic and Outdoor Movie Night
Flashback to the Eighties
Flashback to the Nineties
8
Anniversary Special
Foreword: The growth of ATS was established through the determination of multifaceted people throughout all sectors of the business.
To commemorate their years of service I spoke with 6 long-term employees of ATS. Each of these individuals were dedicated to
developing the foundation that Harold Anderson built, and shared their story of their contributions to ATS .
– Alex Knochenmus
Charlie Tiegen
Parts Manager
In 1965 Charlie Teigen was busy
working for International Harvester’s
Implement Dealer in Staples, MN.
Staples was Charlie’s home town. It
was where he married his High
School sweetheart, Leatrice. He was
contently employed as a decal artist
and parts associate and planned to
stay there for his career. Then one
day, Charlie began receiving phone
calls from a business owner in St
Cloud who was offering him a new
job. The man on the other line was
Harold Anderson. Harold heard of
Charlie’s parts expertise from the IH
traveling salesman, Joe Dean, and
Harold knew that Charlie could be a
key piece for his growing company
that desperately needed someone to
manage the parts inventory. Charlie
ignored phone call after phone call
because the job didn’t entail
decaling. As an Art and History major
from Concordia University, Charlie
was set on maintaining his position
with IH so he could use his full set of
skills. As for Harold, he kept calling.
Harold’s persistence put faith in
Leatrice, and after numerous calls
she insisted Charlie answer the
phone and take the job. “With all of
the phone calls we received I felt that
it would really be worth it,” said
Leatrice. When they spoke Harold
agreed that Charlie would be able to
decal along with his responsibilities
in the parts department. Charlie
accepted the job offer, getting to
work soon after he moved to St.
Cloud. Along with managing the
parts for the fleet, he hand stenciled
the original ATS script logo and ATS’
operating authority number on to
each truck.
Not long after Tiegen was hired he
gave a recommendation to Harold
regarding their logo. “I told Harold
that we needed something more
from our logo. What we had wasn’t
doing enough.” Harold thought it over
and gave Charlie the go ahead to
create a new logo for ATS. Charlie
didn’t have a concept for a new logo
at the time of their discussion, so he
spent several days thinking it over.
Finally, it came to him. Tiegen
remembers the day like it was
yesterday. “I was sitting at my dinner
table and it came to me - a bullseye!”
This second ATS logo was created in
late 1965 and appeared as the
company logo until 1983.
During Charlie’s tenure with ATS he
wasn’t only a parts manager and
decal artist. Along with those
responsibilities he assisted with truck
warranty claims and helped establish
the Road Service department.
“Shortly after I came in, the business
exploded. It really exploded.” The
equipment was starting to get bigger
and ATS was hauling more
commodities than ever before.
Everyone did whatever could be
done to make sure that ATS was
successful. Charlie’s favorite part
about the business was the family
atmosphere. He worked closely with
a group that became tightly knit over
time. He had deep appreciation for
Harold’s contribution to the family
atmosphere as well as Harold’s
willingness to use his time for others.
For a man who almost didn’t work for
Harold, ATS and the Anderson family
left a lasting impression on Charlie
and his family. And Charlie made
sure to leave his own mark at ATS
with a logo that would last for two
decades - and stories to last a
lifetime.
9
Dale Roeder
Billing Manager
Dale Roeder worked in many
capacities at ATS, most recently as
Billing Manager for ATS Specialized,
until his retirement in 1998.
When Dale joined ATS in 1966 as a
Check-In Clerk the company was
much smaller than it is today with
only 110 employees and contractors,
120 trailers and only $2 million in
revenue. According to Roeder, “The
department was stationed on a large
table, with no high speed internet,
high definition monitor or computers,
simply a phone that would ring nonstop and an adherence to tariffs, due
to the regulated industry. “
Anniversary Special
A Check-In Clerk would receive
driver paperwork and sort through it,
making sure the appropriate
documents were present. Since this
was before photocopiers, all the
documents were carbon forms with
several copies of each which allowed
copies of the delivery receipt and bill
of lading to be provided to all
interested parties.
Dale’s next task was to send all of
the documents to the Driver
Settlement Department so the driver
could be paid. Paperwork would be
forwarded to the Billing Department
where someone would “rate” the
load.
The rating process included looking
up the correct rates for that load in a
tariff and hand writing those charges
on the billing of lading. Next an
individual would take those
documents and type a freight bill
(invoice) on a typewriter. After the
freight bill was completed it was
returned, with the original paperwork,
to the person who rated the load to
verify that the freight bill was correct.
the company progressed, he not only
established friendships with his
coworkers, but also the electricians
and construction workers that were
continually adding on to the Cooper
Avenue building.
One of Dale’s most vivid memories
was when deregulation came about.
The days of fixed rates provided by
tariffs were long gone and both
Roeder and ATS had to adjust to a
period of inconsistency as ATS
became acquainted with a less
structured industry.
Dale smiles as he notes that ATS
made it through this challenging
period and became what it is today.
According to Roeder, “ATS grew
through all of this. Back then it was
the dedicated drivers that kept the
foundation intact and Harold
Anderson’s will that drove
everything.”
Peggy Turch
Pricing Analyst
Dale Roeder quickly noticed the
company was undergoing a period of
expansion which continued
throughout most of his career.
Roeder’s responsibilities in the
company expanded through his
support to the billing department.
Roeder noticed an ever-changing
growth in the number of employees,
the business that was being
conducted, as well as the building
itself. While his years with
Before deregulation, trucking outfits
were not permitted to haul freight
without an operating authority. An
authority disclosed the specific
vehicle, commodity, route and rate,
which was documented through a
tariff. A court hearing was held to
determine the need for the authority
that was being requested. One of
Turch’s responsibilities as Secretary
was to do the preliminary work for
authorities. Peggy had a lot on her
plate, but felt she could accomplish
the work because she never felt
pressured. Turch’s work for Harold
eventually allowed her an opportunity
to fly with Harold to Chicago for an
authority hearing.
Harold then asked Peggy to work
with Customer Service as a Sales
Coordinator. She fulfilled this role
until she was asked to help integrate
a newly purchased business
acquisition of ATS. Peggy’s career
continued to evolve over the years.
Turch played a fundamental role in
starting ATS’ Van division. Her
responsibilities were pricing, training,
and helping with the general
oversight of the division as it began
to function as a business.
After approval the all of the copies of
the freight bill and documentation
were separated with the original
freight bill and copies of the other
documents being sent to the
customer. Documents were sent to
the Accounting Department where
the amount due was entered on a
ledger card for that customer.
One set of documents was filed in
Pro (invoice) number order and a
second set was filed in Consignee
order so a copy could be easily
found based on limited information in
the future.
learned precision and quality of work.
After an employee departure her
responsibilities grew. While
maintaining her responsibilities as
Accounts Payable Clerk, Turch
moved into Reception. The five years
she spent in this position played an
immense role in her career
development. Later, Peggy was
promoted to Harold Anderson’s
secretary.
It can take many individuals years to
find an occupation and company that
offers them not only a job, but a
career. That wasn’t the case for
Peggy Turch. She found hers the
Saturday after graduating from High
School. During ATS’ early years they
made an effort to recruit at Cathedral
High School in St. Cloud, MN. Peggy
was referred by her book keeping
teacher to a recruiter and was hired
on as an Accounts Payable Clerk.
At a time when your work was
performed in journals and ledgers,
rather than computers, Peggy
10
Peggy remained with ATS until 2013,
but she feels it was what she
accomplished during her early years
with ATS that left such a profound
mark. As she looks back on her
fondest memories, it was the trip she
took with Harold to Chicago for an
ICC hearing that stands out. Turch
had never been in a plane before so
it really meant something to her to
take a plane ride for business
purposes. She has many memories
of Harold and attributes the growth of
ATS to him, “He was a smart, good
man that took chances- the right
chances.”
Anniversary Special
Denny Gaarsland
Director of Equipment Sales
While ATS was a young, thriving
company, Denny Gaarsland was
serving in the military during the
Vietnam War. Upon his return he
found work as a driver for a local
trucking outfit. Recognizing his
ability, the company owner made a
suggestion to apply with Anderson
Trucking Service. Luckily for Denny,
he had a cousin who drove for ATS
and referred him. In February of
1972, Denny had a meeting with
Harold for a position with ATS.
The meeting lasted ten minutes and
Denny was hired.
Gaarsland’s opening assignment
was hauling Granite outbound from
Minnesota, bringing back steel from
Texas. This dedicated route with
deliveries to monument dealers
throughout the Central United States
gave Denny a deep appreciation for
these customers because it allowed
him to connect, and build
relationships with the customers.
With each stop, the customer gave a
warm welcome and a helping hand
to Gaarsland.
Conversations with Harold were held
dear to Denny. One conversation
always sticks out to Denny because
of the question Harold posed. He
asked, “Did you ever wonder why I
hired you with so little experience
Denny?” Gaarsland respectfully
replied “he had not,” and with that
Harold stated, “It’s because of where
you came from. With your
background of growing up on a farm
I knew you could do it.” Denny’s
initiative and growing experience
furthered his career. He began to
transport over dimensional loads.
With the construction of the Alaskan
Pipeline, ATS began hauling pipe for
the enormous project. Denny’s next
assignment was to haul pipe to
Seattle for barge transport to Alaska.
While Denny grew as a driver,
Harold sensed a keen ability in fleet
management. It was in 1986,
Gaarsland began managing the
Seattle terminal and dispatching. In
1990, he began dispatching from
ATS headquarters. His additional
responsibility was overseeing the
Midwest terminals. His strength of
oversight promoted him to
Operations Manager in 1998.
Gaarsland contributed to overlooking
company operations until 2006.
Once again his abilities promoted
him to another leadership position as
Gaarsland directed operations of the
Heavy Haul Division. It was here that
Gaarsland worked alongside Brent
Anderson. From there he moved to
Director of Equipment Sales.
Gaarsland never stopped moving
during his tenure with ATS. His
intuition provided great upward
mobility and reflected in the
company’s growth during his time;
time he was happy to spend working
for the Andersons. Looking back
Gaarsland clearly understood what
made ATS grow, “the family, their
values and how their values relate to
the business equated to their
success.” Some of his fondest
memories were spent with the
Anderson family. During his tenure
he had the privilege to be hired by
Harold, work for Rollie and work
alongside Brent, a privilege he
considers to be quite an honor.
11
Lee Justin
Director of M.I.S.
Graduating with a Computer Science
degree in 1972, Lee Justin was
simply looking for a job fresh out of
college. He found that opportunity
with ATS. Interviewed by Rollie
Anderson and Oscar Kleman, he
took the position with their M.I.S.
department. ATS was a different
environment at the time. The fleet
consisted of 150 tractors compared
to the 2500 we have out on the
highway today. What was also
considerably different was the
technology supporting business
operations.
The IBM card system that Justin
installed supported numerous
functions within the administrative
department. The programming Justin
instituted assisted with tax mileage
information, billing, accounts
receivable, age trial balances,
monthly summary reports and driver
settlements. Not one of these
projects was completed with a simple
click of the button. Completing these
functions involved key punching
cards that were run through a
computerized sorter that would allow
the transactions to occur. After a
couple of years ATS upgraded their
technology department with a
Burroughs 1710, with a drive that
was comparable in size to a two
drawer file cabinet and a console
Anniversary Special
the size of two 4 drawer file cabinets.
The computer had far less
processing power than a modern cell
phone.
Justin worked diligently in those early
years, putting countless hours into
programming the Burroughs
computer system so the company
could reap the benefits of
technology’s support. However,
when it came time to use the
programming it had to be done
wisely. “Resources were limited back
then. You literally had to count
memory because the system had
limitations,” said Justin, who was
working with 16k of memory. As the
company grew locally and nationally,
quick communication became a
distinct priority. Dedicated lines were
added for terminal communication.
Communication with the fleet was
furthered enhanced in 1973 when
Justin assisted with rolling out the
new computer assisted dispatch
system.
Justin and the team of ATS
programmers carried on their
process of instituting new financial
software over the years; grounded in
a continual process of improvement,
to complete work in a higher and
more efficient manner, while adding
features for administrative programs
allowed the business to function
smoothly. Prior to the move ATS
made to its new headquarters, ATS
made the leap to purchase the
McLeod software and an IBM
infrastructure of computers.
Although, computer infrastructure
has upgraded over the years,
McLeod software remains a staple
for ATS with its Load Management
Enterprise system.
As new languages came into the
software scene, it was Lee’s job to
study and institute each one. With
new software, came department
integration. Working with the
employees who would be using the
software, helped to define the M.I.S.
department’s programming. With a
revolving company learning curve
due to software progression it was
important for Justin to bring everyone
up to speed in an appropriate
manner as advances came about.
His leadership brought about growth.
As he looks back it was leadership
that allowed the company to grow.
As Justin explains, “It was shown
through Harold’s guidance and then
Rollie’s direction, leadership takes
into account everything else.”
Jerry Reischl
Company Driver
Jerry Reischl’s ties to Anderson
Trucking Service go way back. In
1962, as a driver for Cold Spring
Granite’s dedicated lanes, Reischl
transported building stone under
Harold’s management. In 1968, he
was given a new route simply
because a driver did not show up for
work. “Harold had two loads ready to
be delivered that morning. The
smaller load was chicken grit. The
larger, building and monument stone.
Harold patiently waited for the other
driver to show up. He didn’t, and
finally Harold told me this granite load
is ready and needs to go,” said
Reischl. Jerry climbed in the
International Harvester 96T, hauled
the load to Topeka, Kansas and
cemented himself as a driver for ATS.
Not long after, Reischl would return to
a dedicated trucking route. For 14
years he hauled building and
monument stone to Millbank, South
Dakota.
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“It was really great to get that
dedicated route, not just for me, but
for my family back home,” said
Reischl. “Back then, the demand to
work and the want to be back home
really played a toll on you. I like how
trucking has changed over the
years.” Jerry hauled full time under
the Anderson logo until 1998, and
often reminisces about his
experiences and situations he found
himself in. But, he always looks back
on that load to Topeka. “The truck
was loaded to the max, and back
then, trucks rode rough. I didn’t know
if I could take it anymore, but I did.”
As Jerry looks at the success ATS
achieved over time he always
attributes it to the family running a
good business. “They never tried to
beat anybody out of business.”
Today, Jerry remains a part time
driver with over 3 million safe miles
at ATS.
ATS News
Q&A with Rollie
2015 Quest for Quality Award
From January through May of this
year, Logistics Management and
Peerless Research Group surveyed
qualified buyers of logistics and
transportation services.
Transportation service providers
were rated on Logistics Management
five key criteria: on-time
performance, value, information
technology, customer service and
equipment and operations.
ATS received awards for
their Van and Heavy-Haul divisions,
as a result of the their total score
exceeding the average total
weighted score in their category.
Regional Sales Manager, Brian
Hutchinson accepted the award for
ATS. In years past the
Flatbed/Specialized, Heavy-Haul,
and Van fleet have been accredited
by Logistics Management.
Question: What does ATS’ 60 years of
business mean to you?
Left: Brian Hutchinson accepting ATS’
award for Dry Freight Carriers
60th Anniversary Gala (Continued from Page 6)
Answer:
I feel a great deal of gratitude to
everyone involved with ATS for these 60
years. I believe it is less than 25% of
businesses that survive for more than 15
years. ATS has been in business for 60
years and is about to enter its 61st year
as a strong and energetic company.
My dad always said he was “Building the
Farm.” Just as our pioneer farmers
“broke the sod” planting their fields for
little return in the first years, he felt he
was building something from the ground
up. The pioneers risked everything,
fighting weather, marauders and every
conceivable obstacle that “mother
nature” could oppose them with in order
to establish a farm. Likewise, Dad risked
everything he had to build this
organization. I believe he felt responsible
to establish a solid platform upon which
the company could be built. And he did.
More than anything, I feel strong
appreciation for those who contributed to
these 60 years of success: My Dad,
Harold Anderson for the business
platform that has acted as a springboard
for growth, My family, for their efforts and
support of ATS through the years, our
contactors and drivers – the best in the
industry – for being safe, hardworking
representatives of ATS on the road and
with our customers, The employees –
shop, office and terminals who make
ATS what it is every day of the year, and
our customers who have entrusted their
cargo to us to safely haul across the
continent and the world
I would like to express my sincere
appreciation to all of these people for
their efforts and support throughout
these 60 years. Here’s to the next 60!
13
ATS News
Season of Giving
Top Pay Carrier
The National Transportation Institute
recently distinguished ATS as a Top
Pay Carrier. After going through an
extremely detailed evaluation NTI’s
Prinicipal, Gordon V. Klemp was
pleased to award ATS with the
qualification on October 28, 2015.
The award was earned by meeting
the requirements in three critical
categories: top-tier pay, health and
retirement benefits and carrier
stability. By NTI’s standards, meeting
these metrics allow professional
driving to be a rewarding and secure
career choice.
Throughout the evaluation process
ATS’ company values were
demonstrated through its industryleading compensation program. Most
notably, through its determination to
help company drivers and
independent contractors succeed
VP of Driver Recruiting, Joe Goering
expressed his gratitude for the
award, “Thank you for this esteemed
qualification. This is an affirmation
that the efforts and work carried out
by ATS is paying off through our
placement within the top percentile of
carriers. This success is further
displayed through the satisfaction of
our company drivers and
independent contractors. A success
we look to continue.”
Veterans Day
ATS was proud to take part in this
year’s celebration of Veteran’s Day
on Wednesday, November 11.
employees in our offices who have
served in the armed forces, thank
you!
For all the drivers, contractors, and
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For the eighth year in a row, ATS will
be participating in Catholic Charities
Share The Spirit Program. Share the
Spirit allows individuals, families and
groups to “adopt a family” for
Christmas. Donors are given basic
family demographics and list of the
family’s needs and wants for each
member of their adopted family.
Donors then purchase and
wrap the presents for their family and
return them to ATS, who will deliver
the gifts to the St. Cloud Armory.
ATS will continue its long-standing
tradition of contributing to Toys for
Tots. For two decades, ATS’s
employees have shared in the spirit
of Christmas by making the season
brighter for children in the
community. Continue this wonderful
tradition by finding a child to donate
to, from the giving tree this year.
ATS News
Young Professionals of St. Cloud
For young adults, the beginning of a
career can be challenging. Making it
especially difficult is the desire to
make an impact in the early stages
of their profession, unfamiliarity of
one’s community, and the difficulty to
network with people their age.
For ATS Corporate Recruiter, Megan
Honstrom, joining Young
Professionals of St. Cloud helped to
alleviate these stresses. Honstrom
currently serves as the President of
the non-profit organization. YPSTC
partners with local businesses and
organizations to help introduce
young professionals to networking
opportunities, community service
projects and professional
development. Honstrom said, “The
socials help people break out of their
shells.”
L-R: Andrea Hagberg, Kelly Kohls (ATS), Alyse Siemers, Jason Neis, Megan
Honstrom (ATS), Paige Laudenbach, Britt Vander Eyk, Matt Hengel (ATS)
––
The group also focuses on
community service projects, mostly
through the United Way, and bimonthly professional development
programs.” With the help of ATS HR
Generalist, Kelly Kohls, ATS National
Sales Representative, Matt Hengel,
and other young professionals from
St. Cloud area businesses, they
have established a solid organization
serving to help young members of
the work force.
In support of YPSTC’s growth ATS
was proud to host the organization’s
first professional development event
at its corporate headquarters on
Thursday, October 22nd. ATS
Training and Development Manager,
Mandy Sweeter lead a presentation
on “building your personal brand for
success.”
SC&R Foundation
Grant and Scholarship Program
Scholarships
Grants
Deadline- February 1, 2016
Deadlines – December 31, 2015
and February 28, 2016
Open to employees of SC&RA
member companies. Full time
and part-time.
Employee spouses, children,
stepchildren, grandchildren, and
step-grandchildren.
Full and part-time students
pursuing a 4 year degree or
Masters program.
Open to all candidates in the
industry or pursuing a career in
the industry.
Candidates should be planning to
take vocational/technical courses,
certificates or classes which may
include welding, diesel
mechanics, accounting, 2 year
degrees or certificate programs.
Applications are reviewed up to 6
times per year depending on
funding.
15
Spotlight on Safety
Safe Winter Driving
By Rich Campbell
As the winter weather has now
arrived, we not only need to be very
aware of the perils associated with
winter driving, but the additional
preparation that comes with the bitter
cold and traveling in adverse
conditions. We immediately think of
our truck drivers out on the highways
battling the elements, but all of us
must be keenly aware of the hazards
that winter driving brings and realize
that no matter how short the trip may
be; we can become stranded on the
road due to an unforeseen
circumstance.
Adverse weather conditions are not a
valid excuse for being involved in an
accident. Rain, snow, fog, sleet or icy
pavements have never caused an
accident; these conditions merely
increase the hazards of driving.
The National Highway Transportation
Safety Administration (NHTSA) has
provided three simple steps to help
us all when it comes to the imminent
arrival of Old Man Winter. If you
utilize the steps below provided by
the NHTSA, you are not guaranteed
success, but you are much more
likely to arrive safely.
According to the NHTSA, the three
P’s of Safe Winter Driving:
PREPARE for the trip; PROTECT
yourself; and PREVENT crashes on
the road.
PREPARE
Maintain Your Vehicle:
Check battery, tire tread, and
windshield wipers, keep your
windows clear, put no-freeze fluid in
the washer reservoir, and check your
antifreeze. Have airline antifreeze on
hand in case your air lines freeze
due to condensation. Keep a jug of
diesel fuel additive in case your fuel
starts to gel. Untreated #2 diesel fuel
will start to gel at 0 degrees F.
Have On Hand:
Flashlight, jumper cables, abrasive
material (sand, kitty litter, even floor
mats), shovel, snow brush and ice
scraper, and blankets. Have food,
water, medication and cell phone
available.
Stopped or Stalled?
Stay in your vehicle, don’t overexert,
put bright markers on antenna or
windows and shine dome light. You
may have to run your vehicle, so
keep plenty of fuel in your tanks.
Plan Your route:
Allow plenty of time, check the
weather and leave early, be familiar
with the maps/ directions, and let
others know your route and arrival
time.
* Make sure you have spare shoes
or boots in case yours become wet
from being in the snow.
* Have the proper cold weather gear
in the truck to be ready for any
circumstance that may arise.
* Know where your emergency
equipment is, in case it is needed on
a moment’s notice.
PREVENT CRASHES
* Slow down and increase distances
between vehicles.
* Keep your eyes open for
pedestrians walking in the road, or
any disabled vehicles.
* Avoid fatigue – Get plenty of rest
before the trip, stop at least every
three hours, and rotate drivers if
possible.
* The Smith System’s 5 Keys of
Space Cushion Driving are
especially important in adverse
conditions.
- Aim high in steering.
- Get the big picture.
- Keep your eyes moving.
- Leave yourself an out.
- Make sure they see you.
PROTECT YOURSELF
* Keep your cab clear of anything
that could become a hazard in the
event of a necessary hard brake.
* Keep your cab temperature at an
appropriate level to reduce fatigue
from being too warm or too cold.
16
The threat from extreme weather
events highlights the importance of
investing in preparedness.
- Sheri Fink
Dining, Drivers & Dialogue
Answers for frequently asked questions at weekly driver lunch meetings:
Aside from Settlement information what other resources are offered
within the Driver Log-in?
Although members of our corporate
office and maintenance shops are
always willing to offer assistance, it’s
important to know there is a vast
array of information in the Driver
Log-in webpage for members of our
Specialized, Heavy-Haul and Van
fleets.
The information is available for your
use in promoting a safe and
knowledgeable work atmosphere.
Safety
Safety is top of our mind in daily
operations. As a result, there are
manuals in the Safety tab that
provide input which includes helpful
information for being a safe ATS
driver.
mileage tax statement is available
through the webpage.
Equipment
As there is a great deal of detail
involved with maintaining your tractor
and operating the specific equipment
for each haul information and/or
training is provided for you to
sufficiently operate ATS equipment.
Comprehensive equipment manuals
can be found under the Equipment
tab. Provided are manufacturer’s
manuals, videos, and extended
documentation to ensure you are
able to operate and maintain various
equipment pertains to your specific
responsibilities.
How to
Tools
Due to the fluctuation of fuel prices,
daily reporting of fuel prices is added
during the workweek. Found under
the Tool tab the reports cover the
regional price of diesel at Loves
Travel Stops, TA/Petro Stopping
Centers, and Pilot Travel
Centers/Flying J Travel Plazas (USA
and Canada). The Tools tab also a
conversion chart to be used when
hauling commodities outside of the
United States
Reports
As you may already know from
viewing your settlement under the
Reports tab, your fuel and
Step by step procedures for trailer
operating and Best Pass activation is
located under the How To tab.
Currently, there are detailed
instructions on dropping,
disconnecting and reconnecting a
removable gooseneck
Lastly, to stay informed on Company
updates, news, forms and policies
can be found on the home page of
the Driver Log-in. If there are matters
within any feature under the Driver
Log-in you would like to discuss
further, please reach out to your
Fleet Manager.
ATS Photo Contest
We’re looking for new photos to be
used on our website and in corporate
resources and advertising.
Prizes: 1st = $150.00,
2nd = $100.00
3rd & 4th = $75.00
5th & 6th = $50.00
Photos must include the entire
ATS truck and load from any ATS
division.
High resolution digital photos are
highly preferred (mega-pixels).
Please send through an email
attachment.
All photos submitted will be
considered.
Photos may include standard
truck shots or action photos.
Rules
This contest is open to all ATS
employees and contractors. Send
your photos to:
Read Me & Win Contest Questions!
1. What was ATS’ charitable goal for the 2016 United Way Campaign?
2. Where is Vestas Wind Systems A/S headquartered?
3. What’s an indicator of bacteria in blended fuel?
Good Luck! The answers can be found within the articles of this Herald edition. Send
your answers to:
Anderson Trucking Service, Inc.
Attn: Read Me and Win Contest
PO Box 1377
St. Cloud, MN 56302-1377
OR E-Mail your answers NOW to: TheHerald@atsinc.com. Remember to include your
name, truck number, and division (If applicable) in the E-mail.
17
photos@atsinc.com.
and/or
Anderson Trucking Service, Inc.
Attn: Photo Contest
PO Box 1377
St. Cloud, MN 56302-1377
ATS will judge the photos and the
decisions will be final. All photos will be
considered. Submitted photos become
the property of ATS and will not be
returned. ATS reserves the right to
discontinue or modify the contest at any
time.
Recruiting Focus
“Getting the Miles I Need in the Equipment I Love”
Mike C. has been around the block a
few times in his 35 years as a truck
driver.
After putting in his time working both
as a company driver and owner
operator at other companies, Mike
decided to join Anderson Trucking
Service (ATS) in 2010 and return to
the life of a company driver.
When you ask this former Marine
sniper what brought him here, he’s
quick with an answer. “I make more
money with ATS than any other
company I’ve ever worked for!” Mike
explains. “ATS treats me really good.
I have a wonderful dispatcher and if I
ever have any problems, they always
handle them for me,” Mike said. “I
couldn’t ask for a better company
than that. They really do take good
care of me. They always keep me
busy and if I have to layover
somewhere, they pay me for it.”
“And I really like the way they keep
up their trucks. I’ve gotten a brand
new truck every time I’ve switched
trucks. If you’ve got anything wrong,
they don’t make you wait two or
three days, they fix it right on the
spot that day. They don’t play
around. And they don’t let you use
unsafe equipment. My wife enjoys
knowing I’m always driving in a safe
vehicle.”
“ATS is a family company and I like
that. They talk to you man to man.
Any time you go into headquarters
they treat you to lunch free,” he says.
“I tell all my friends about ATS.
They’re good people to work for and
the benefits are really good! My wife
has worked for a big credit union for
25 years and my health insurance is
better than hers, so she’s on my
policy.”
“My wife is very satisfied with the
money I’m making and I’m very
happy, too. I make a good paycheck
every week and it’s always in the
bank on time.” We’re putting our
daughter through college right now
and we’re paying cash for
everything,” Mike said. “I’ll stay with
ATS till I retire.”
Million Milestones
Every now and then something happens that truly
warrants our attention.
At ATS, it is our “Million Mile Drivers”. It is hard
enough for most of us to drive our car yearly without
getting a ticket or into an accident and these drivers
do it while hauling up to 200,000 pounds or more
behind a semi-truck.
Here are the drivers who received their Million Mile
Award during the 4th quarter.
CONGRATULATIONS!
ATS Specialized Driver, Kathy E. and COO, Brent Anderson
18
Photo Contest
4th Quarter Winners
1st Place- $150 – Mark C. – 11097
2nd Place- $100 – Mitch W. – Logistics
19
Photo Contest
4th Quarter Winners
3rd Place- $75 – Justin B. – 11384
4th Place- $75 – James C. – 16228
20
Photo Contest
4th Quarter Winners
5th Place- $50 – John F. – Logistics
6th Place- $50 – Tillman R. – 84231
21
Photo Contest
4th Quarter Honorable Mentions
Due to the large amount of high quality submissions during 2015 ATS is awarding honorable mentions for the 4th quarter.
HM- $25 – Anthony P. – 41140
HM- $25 – Steve L. – 16217
HM- $25 – Danny R. – 82272
HM- $25 – Chris P. – 41146
4th Quarter Escort Winners
2nd Place- $50 – Richard W. Robinson – Golden
Ticket Escort
1st Place- $100 – B&D Flag Car
22