2021 Issue 2 Digest
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
. We're rolling out the Good News! 1 . Love's race car wins Daytona 500 1 . Dayton driver finds her peace on the road 2 . Dedication brings success on the road 3 . Indy Terminal driver pens children's book 4 . Annual 72-hour DOT Blitz May 4-6 4 . Log Exemptions explained by Compliance 5 . January Drivers of the Month 6 . Bay helps pack lunches for children in need 7 . MTS EAP Program 8
With this issue of The Digest we say welcome to Spring, and with it we celebrate with some Good News stories about our employees! We feature two of our drivers who were honored nationally via multiple news Michael McDowell's Love's-sponsored Mustang flew the MTS livery at a platforms during Black History Month. NASCAR race at Michigan International Speedway last summer. Plus, one of our Indy Terminal drivers has published a children's book. And, we Love's Car Wins Daytona 500 celebrate a long-term MTS husband-wife In a stunning upset at the end of an action-filled, rain- team as Corporate Drivers of the Month. interrupted Daytona 500, Front Row Motorsports driver Michael McDowell claimed his first NASCAR Cup Series The Love's Travel Stops race car wins victory after charging into the lead during a brutal multi-car NASCAR's season-opening Daytona 500. wreck in Turn 3 on the final lap. Also, the Bay employee team volunteers to “I can’t believe it,” McDowell said. “I’ve got to thank God. pack lunches for school children. So many years of just grinding it out, hoping for an opportunity like this. What a great way to get a first victory!
We round out this edition with helpful hints Love's Travel Stops and Country Stores are the preferred from Compliance, and some other stories fuel stop partner with MTS. The Love's car ran the MTS of interest to keep you up-to-date. logo at a race last summer at Michigan International Speedway. 7300 Clyde Park, S.W., Byron Center, MI 49315 www.mtstrans.com Phone (616) 455-8850 Fax (616) 281-7553 Breakdown 24/7 (800) 968-3188 MTS Digest Page 2
Ericka Rountree, a driver for MTS' Dayton Terminal, has been recognized as one of this year’s Black History Month Leaders who are helping to move America forward every day. (Photo Courtesy: Trucking Moves America Forward) Dayton Driver Finds Her Peace on the Road
Story courtesy of The Trucker News
During Black History Month, Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF) recognizied the achievements of professional truck drivers for their modern-day successes in the trucking industry. Ericka Rountree, a driver for MTS out of our Dayton Terminal, was recognized in February as one of this year’s Black History Month Leaders who are helping to move America forward every day. Ericka joined the trucking industry nearly seven years ago after coming across an ad for a truck-driving school. The decision to join the trucking industry was life-changing — and one of the best decisions she has ever made, she said. She has been with MTS more than 3 years with zero safety issues. A great, consistent professional driver. When describing her love for her job, Ericka spoke about how she enjoys driving — a trait she picked up from her dad, who was also a truck driver. Her father first drove trucks in the military; then later joined the U.S. trucking industry and started team driving with his wife. She fondly remembers getting to ride along in the truck with her father on trips from Ohio to other states, including California and Florida. One of the reasons Ericka was drawn to trucking was because it allows for travel and can take you to almost any state. “You get to travel and meet different people from every ethnic background,” she said. Patience and safety while driving are important priorities for Ericka. “My biggest thing is safety first,” she said. “Take your time and pay attention. I’m a very cautious driver. I always give myself enough time, enough distance.” While making her daily round-trip deliveries from Ohio to Kentucky, Ericka said she enjoys the quiet of the open road.
“It’s my peace,” she explained. “I really enjoy my career. I love what I do.” MTS Digest Page 3
Image courtesy of Trucking Moves America Forward Blog. Herbert Holmes' Success Recipe: Dedication Story Courtesy of Trucking Moves America Forward Blog Herbert Holmes, a professional truck driver based at the MTS Dayton, OH, Terminal, first started driving in 1999 after coming across an ad for trucking in the Sunday paper. “Having the freedom on the open road, seeing different things, going different places, meeting new people,” are just some of the reasons why Herbert said he loves trucking. Herbert also enjoys being able to travel and get paid for it as part of his job. During his work week, depending on what needs to be delivered, Herbert usually drives to either Cleveland or Louisville. While on the road, Herbert is committed to safety. He always stays alert and drives defensively. Herbert has been with MTS since 2018, with a spotless safety record and great customer service track record. Herbert, along with Ericka Rountree on the previous page, were honored as part of Black History Month in February. Articles on Herbert and Ericka appeared in the Trucking Moves America Forward Blog, as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and in The Trucker News print and electronic versions. When asked what Herbert would say to someone who is considering joining the trucking industry, he said, “It’s a great career,” and spoke about the opportunities that trucking can provide for an individual and their family. Herbert recommended that after learning more about the industry and what the day-to- day job of a truck driver looks like, to “Jump in wholeheartedly” and give it “110 percent.” Herbert also discussed the truck driver shortage and the need for more Black drivers, including Black female drivers, and mentioned the need for more recruitment at Black high schools and colleges. He said, “A lot of young Black people don’t know about the industry…there’s trucking jobs all over.” MTS Digest Page 4
Indy Driver Honors Family Publishing Children's Book By Jeff Wood Director of Risk A desire to honor cherished family members led MTS Indy truck driver Richard Colton to put pen to paper one evening in a coffee shop, just before his run. The result was the children's book "Let's Bother Father". "I carried the final two lines of the book in my brain for a couple of years," Richard said. "Finally I was sitting in the coffee shop one night before work - I figured I better get it done. I wrote it in about 45 minutes." Richard was then able to attract the interest of Xlibris, a publisher that took care of getting the book illustrated and into print. The book went on sale last year. "I wrote the book to say thank-you to my own father, who is 89 years old now," Richard said. "My middle brother, who is also a character in the book, is suffering from lung cancer. I wanted to honor him, too. It's a sweet story about positive, loving family relationships." Some folks at MTS have already found the book and purchased it for their children and grandchildren. Richard enjoys hearing from folks who bought the book and enjoyed it. Richard, who has been with MTS since 2015, said writing is pretty much a daily habit for him. "I do keep a journal," he said. "I write in a notebook. I'm old school that way. I sit in the coffee shop before work and write poetry, thoughts, current events." "Let's Bother Father" is not going to be a one-off project for Richard. "I'm writing a new book," Richard said. "It's a collection of stories about my 30 years in the transportation industry. The thing I'm finding out is it's never going to end. Every week something lands in my lap to add to it. I know at some point I'm going to have to cut if off and get it done. "Trucking seems to be a mystery to people, and that's why I wanted to write this new book," he continued. "I used to watch those big trucks go by. The people in them - and what they were doing - was always a mystery to me. I want to try to demystify that for the general public." "Let's Bother Father" is available on Amazon, in both print and electronic book formats.
Annual 72-hour DOT Blitz Set for May 4-6 This year, inspectors will capture data on two categories, corresponding to the two main inspection categories of the North American Standard Level I Inspection – driver operating requirements and vehicle mechanical fitness. For the driver category, hours of service will be highlighted, and for the vehicle category, inspectors will give special attention to lighting. MTS Digest Page 5
When Is An Elog Exception Not a Legal Exception?
By Jennifer Deaton Compliance Supervisor
There seems to be some confusion about selecting the correct FMCSA HOS Exceptions, so I am hoping this will clear up some of the questions.
As you know, if you are a US-based driver for MTS, we run under the US 8-Day Property Carrying cycle. This means in any 8-day period, you cannot run more than 70 hours of On Duty and Drive time combined.
You cannot run a “shift” that is more than 14 hours from the time it starts, and not drive more than 11 hours in a shift. There are, in certain qualifying cases, exceptions to these regulations. The problem with these exceptions is figuring out when and how to properly use them. These are the exceptions available to MTS drivers in the US:
CDL Short Haul: If you drive less than a 150-air-mile radius, do not exceed a 14-hour work shift, and start and stop at the same location, you can claim the CDL Short Haul and are not legally required to take a 30-Minute Break.
Adverse Driving Exception: The Adverse Driving Exception was changed September 2020 to increase both driving time and on-duty time. When you meet the following conditions, you can drive up to 13 hours, and be on duty 16 hours. Adverse conditions mean weather conditions - or unusual road or traffic conditions - that were not known or could not reasonably be known to a driver prior to beginning their duty day, or after a qualifying rest break or sleeper berth period, or by the motor carrier immediately prior to dispatching the driver.
While we’re on the subject, there is no such thing as Adverse Weather Exception! If you live or drive somewhere where winter conditions or heavy rain are possible, they do not qualify you for an Adverse Driving Exception. Think something like a tornado for a possible exception. Additionally, the “road or traffic conditions” typically means an accident or other event that completely shuts down the road and causes a long delay or detour. Rush hour, heavy traffic, getting lost, or construction do not qualify you for an Adverse Exception.
In order to claim this exception, your logs will ask for an “Explanation for the Exception”. Regulations say this must include specific information about why you need the exception. Needs to be information that can be verified. For example, “M6 at MM 55, rollover semi – all lanes blocked”. Or “Flash Flood On 25E in the Cumberland Gap”.
16-Hour Short Haul Exception: This exception can extend a home daily driver’s on duty time up to 16 hours - as long as drive time does not exceed 11 hours - once every 70-hour cycle. Driver must have returned to home base for the previous 5 duty tours in order to qualify.
The 16 hour is often used to get drivers home after a break down or long detention at a shipper. REMINDER: The 16-hour exception does not extend drive time to 13 hours, and is not available to over the road drivers. See Log Exceptions on Page 6 ... MTS Digest Page 6 Caudill Team Honored as January Drivers of The Month The husband-wife team of Rochelle and Robert Caudill have been selected as MTS Corporate Drivers of the Month for January, 2021. This is the winning combination of two dynamite solo drivers who found happiness in life on the road as a very successful freight-hauling team. Rochelle ("Rocky") was a hard-running solo driver for MTS from 2001 to 2009. She then teamed up with her husband in 2013, and they have been running the big miles and servicing our customers safely since. Congratulations to Rochelle and Robert!
January Terminal Drivers of the Month
Michael Crawford - Bertrand Robbie Williams - Bowling Green Alan Schroeder - Cleveland Brian Johnston - Dayton Adam Keib - Flint Regina Chrisman - Grand Prairie Kirk Vail - Indianapolis Keith Story - Kansas City Alen Coric - Lansing Luis Martinez - Laredo Jimmy Gilcrease - Lima Darrell Oates - Little Rock Erick Barnett - Louisville Bryan Scott - Marion Matthew Wagster - Marshall Karen Barone - Port Huron Tony Neato - Riverton Steven Baker - Spring Hill Robert Kuntz - St. Louis Brian Sehrt - White Pine Bruce Cameron -Windsor
Log Exceptions continued from Page 5 ...
In order to claim an exception on your logs, on your PeopleNet unit, open the ELD eDriver Logs. Then: • Click on Options. • Click Take Exception. • In the pop-up screen, select an Exception, i.e. 16 Hour, CDL Short-Haul or Adverse Driving. • You must provide a reason for taking the exception, and in the case of Adverse, a detailed explanation is required. • Click OK. • Your available time with the exception shows on your ELD eDriver logs screen.
Something we get asked about frequently is using an “Emergency Exception”. This does not mean an Emergency for the driver. It refers to a Federal or State Declared State of Emergency and only allowed to be claimed under those declarations.
Always contact Compliance prior to choosing an exception to make sure that it is being used legally. MTS Digest Page 7 Bay Employees Make It Better at Local Schools Our friends at our Bay Warehousing and Logistics operation like to say "It's Better at Bay!" Well, these folks like to make it better elsewhere, too. In February, some of the Bay Team worked with the Grand Rapids Kids' Food Basket to pack after-school meals and snacks. The organization provides nourishing meals and snacks to local school age children who are at or near the poverty level.
In "normal times" the level of children needing help is critical. With COVID closing so many schools in the past year for months, that eliminated a critical food source for some children who may get all three of their meals at school during normal times.
Each sack supper provided by the Food Basket contains a serving of fruit, a serving of vegetables, a serving of protein, and a healthy snack.
There are 8,800 children being served by Food Basket daily at 52 different schools. Meanwhile, 30 other schools are on the waiting list to obtain Food Basket meal bags. Many services similar to this exist around the country. Volunteer if you can! Martin Transportation Systems, Inc. – Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Martin Transportation Systems, Inc. – Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Personal problems can affect the lives of employees both at home and at work. When life’s events become challenging, we’d like to remind all Martin Transportation Systems, Inc. employees about our Employee Assistance Program, or EAP.
The EAP will supply professional counselors to counsel employees and their families in a safe, private atmosphere—at no additional cost. All the information disclosed will remain confidential.
Martin Transportation Systems, Inc. understands that everyone experiences periods of stress and that some stress is normal, but if your feelings become persistent and overwhelming it may be an indication of a serious medical problem. That is why we want to make you aware of all the resources available to you through Martin Transportation Systems, Inc. EAP.
ComPsych
Online: www.guidanceresources.com, Company ID: DISRES
Call: 1-866-899-1343
Details
For more information regarding Martin Transportation Systems, Inc. EAP, please contact Meghan Bultema, Benefits Administrator at (616) 455-8850 option 6 or email [email protected].
Please be assured that all information provided to the EAP is confidential.