Royal Trucking Company
9/20/2013 ???????????????? Volume 001, Issue 1 Newsletter Subtitle
Articles in this Issue Driver Appreciation Week Driver Appreciation Week Greetings Royal Trucking Team, What’s so special about a truck driver? The time has come again to celebrate Driver Appreciation week. I look forward to this time of year because I personally get to thank Understanding the all of you for making Royal Trucking Company a success. During mandatory 30-minute break this time of celebration I hope each member of our Royal Trucking Listen to make customers Company team understand the importance of your role with the happy company. Royal has grown and that is, in part, due to your hard work and dedication, combined with your unselfish teamwork and Stay calm during your energy. Without you, raw materials and finished products could not commute reach the consumer. As our company continues to grow and A cell phone can be a change, you will see new faces and some new ways of doing dangerous thing things; not that the past ways are bad, but change is a part of growth and Royal Trucking Company has positioned itself for growth. One of the new things we are launching is a company newsletter. Please take some time to read this edition; I know you Quote of the Day will find some interesting information and topics covered in this issue. Newsletters are a great way to keep your fellow team Success is dependent on members up to date on company happenings and a very effort. informative source to include much needed information. ~Sophocles Our newsletter needs a name so we are having a “Name The Newsletter” contest. The instructions to enter the contest are on the cover, so give it a shot; you just may win the prize. I look forward to seeing news and events concerning each of you in future issues. Editor Information This is not only a time of celebration; it is also a time of Michele Galloway appreciation. I want each of you to know how vital you are to this HR company and how much your efforts are appreciated. I don’t get a chance to tell you all enough how much you mean to the Royal Contributing Editors: Trucking Company; but without you, a big piece of the company Billy Milican - Company puzzle would be missing. I thank each of you. President Carl Henson - Safety Billy Milican President Royal Trucking Company
What’s so special about a truck driver? Name Our Company Newsletter Turn your ideas into your It’s hard for those outside of trucking to appreciate what they’ve diapatcher by Sept. 20th. never experienced, or even seen. There are books featuring show Winner will be revealed in the trucks or antique trucks. There are movies that glamourize or next quarterly issue. demonize trucking. But rarely is there an accurate, in-depth view of what it’s like to earn a living by driving over-the-road. It's easy to
forget that America runs on trucks in this age of instant electronic communication. Yet everything we have, including the food, clothes and goods we buy online, has at one point traveled through the country in the back of an 18-wheeler."The only thing that's not delivered by trucks is babies." There are over 3.1 million professional men and women who not only deliver our goods safely, securely and on time, but they also keep our highways safe. They log close to 398 billion miles each year and in 2012 delivered 68.5 percent of the U.S. freight tonnage – or over 9.4 billion tons of freight. Professional truck drivers are more essential to the national economy than ever before, and they’re delivering their loads safely and professionally. Across the nation many companies, including Royal Trucking Company, will be honoring drivers for their hard work, customer service, and commitment to safety. Our Company drivers perform one of our economy’s most vital and demanding jobs and your efforts are greatly appreciated. We value your contributions. As we continue our journey in adapting progressive safety principles, it is imperative we put our Drivers and their safety foremost. During Driver Appreciation Week, Royal announces the implementation of a new Quarterly Safety and Performance Bonus Program that recognizes Drivers who exceed the minimum safety standers for their performance and safety accomplishments. We hope each Driver will not only exceed the minimum but create a scenario where we raise the bar…Making our Drivers THE BEST on the open road. Again, we thank each of you for help to move America. We appreciate the work you do.
Carl Henson Director Safety/Compliance
Understanding the mandatory 30-minute break
Drivers of property-carrying vehicles must complete a mandatory rest break based on current Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).
The rest-break requirement simply says: “After June 30, 2013, driving is not permitted if more than 8 hours have passed since the end of the driver’s last off-duty or sleeper-berth period of at least 30 minutes.”
In simple terms, this means that at any given point in a driver’s workday, if he or she wants to continue driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), the driver must look back at the past 8 consecutive hours and see if the last off-duty and/ or sleeper-berth period of at least 30 minutes ended within that time. If it did not, then a 30-
minute break is required before any more CMV driving can be done.
A few things to note about the break requirement:
1. The 8-hour period includes all consecutive time, not just driving time. On-duty time, driving time, and short rest breaks of less than 30 minutes are all counted against the 8-hour limit.
2. Drivers can “work” as much as they want to without taking the break. The rule only limits their ability to drive a CMV after going 8 hours without a break.
3. The break must be spent “off duty” and/or in a sleeper berth. It cannot be spent “on duty” unless transporting certain explosives (see below).
4. Like other off-duty time of less than 10 hours, the break counts against the 14-hour limit.
Listen to make customers happy
Sometimes delivering great customer service involves primarily activating your ears.
When a customer is describing a problem or concern, it’s important to listen intently. Don’t try to multitask while the customer is talking — it’s disrespectful to take your attention away from what the customer is saying, even for a few seconds.
It’s especially important to resist the urge to respond to an email while the customer is on the phone. The sound of typing can often be heard on the other end of the line, and sends the signal that you don’t care about what’s being said.
It is fine to take notes while the customer is talking, as these key points can jog your memory when you’re working on a solution to the problem. If you’re typing your notes, you may want to mention this to the customer.
To let the customer know you are actively listening, respond with reassuring phrases, such as “I’m with you,” or “I see.” Don’t interrupt, however, as this can make the call seem like an argument.
Resist the urge to solve the problem before the customer is finished talking, even if similar complaints have come your way before.
After the customer has described the issue, ask clarifying questions and repeat key points to make sure that you captured the relevant information. Let the customer know you are happy that this concern was brought to your attention, and begin taking steps to resolve the problem.
Stay calm during your commute
Dealing with the actions of other drivers is part of a daily commute, but sometimes encounters between motorists escalate.
A study from CareerBuilder found that 58 percent of workers who drive to work said they experience road rage at times while traveling to and from the office, and 9 percent who drive to work have gotten into a verbal or physical fight with another commuter.
While incidents of road rage are more prevalent among those with lengthy commutes, workers with short trips aren’t immune. Thirty- seven percent of workers with commutes of less than five minutes said they experience road rage from time to time. The same goes for 54 percent of workers with commutes of less than 10 minutes.
The study found that women were more apt to feel road age; 61 percent of women said they experienced road rage, compared to 56 percent of men.
Age was also a factor. Sixty-eight percent of workers age 25 to 34 said they were the most likely to experience road rage, compared to 47 percent of workers 55 and older.
A nasty encounter with another motorist doesn’t have to be part of a driver’s day, however. Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder, offers these tips for a calmer commute:
● Give yourself extra time. Set out clothes and prepare lunches the night before. Set your alarm 15 minutes early to allow for any minor setbacks that can happen in a busy household. Avoid the stress of being in a hurry, and you’ll be better able to deal with delays.
● Request flexible work arrangements. See if you can start work at an off-peak time to avoid rush hour or explore
whether telecommuting may be an option.
● Try easy listening. Whether it means soothing music, recorded books, or your favorite morning news program, listen to something that makes the trip enjoyable.
● Consider public transportation. Taking a bus or train can free you to finish up work, read, or just relax.
● Don’t take it personally. You can’t control the actions of other drivers, but you can control your own reaction. The ability to “brush off” the frustrating habits of other drivers can help you avoid feeling angry and arrive at work (or home) in a more relaxed state.
A cell phone can be a dangerous thing
When a person sends a text message, his or her attention is typically diverted for 4.6 seconds. While this isn’t a significant amount of time if you’re standing in line in the grocery store, if you do it while driving a car at 55 mph, it’s like traveling the length of a football field without bothering to look at the road.
The dangers of texting while driving have led many municipalities to make the practice illegal, but it’s not only texting that puts lives at risk. Talking on a cell phone when you’re behind the wheel is as dangerous as driving drunk, as it delays your reaction time just as much as if you’d been drinking alcohol, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Cell phones can even be a hazard when you’re walking. According to a study from Ohio State University, more than 1,500 pedestrians were treated in emergency rooms in 2010 for injuries they received while using a cell phone when they were walking. That’s double the amount in 2005.
It’s become second nature to use cell phones for instantaneous communication and information, but they become dangerous when they distract you from your surroundings. When you need to send a message, take a call, or find information on your phone, wait until you’re finished with a task that requires concentration. Don’t assume you can multitask; being distracted for only a few seconds could be all it takes to cause a serious accident.