Driver Newsletter
 

JIMMY'S VIEW

We would like to congratulate all of our drivers and thank you for a job well done. We received some of the lowest SafeStat numbers this month that we have ever received. For example:

Our DOT audit has fallen off and our Driver number is a 42.36, where last month, it was a 99.46. (The lower the number the better). The accident number is also the lowest we've ever seen it at a 46.42, and our vehicle number is a 6.83, which can’t get much better.

Thanks again, and keep up the great work.

      Jimmy Davis

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

• For all drivers servicing the new Publix in Gulf Breeze FL, be sure to use the side entrance and not the front, as there have been complaints of damaged landscaping at that location.
• Roadcheck 2008 Will Occur June 3-5. See article below for more information.
• Don't forget about the on-going Driver Referral program. This is a chance for you to make some extra cash. Contact Recruiting for more information.
• The Shop would like to remind you of the importance of bringing your truck in for servicing. Remembering to do this on a regular basis could save you considerable down time.
• Be sure to turn in your trip envelopes each time that you come through Starke.
• Safety would also like to remind all drivers to please park your personal vehicles in the grass in front of the old office when you are on duty.

DRIVER OF THE QUARTER

Last month, we introduced the brand-new Driver of the Quarter program, and would now like to take this opertunity to announce the three winners for the first quarter of 2008. Congratulations to:

• Ron Soper
• Rasheem Gibson 
• Josh Winningham

• Must have reached your 1-year anniversary.
• Cannot have any preventable accidents/incidents.
• Must not have any moving violations.
• Cannot have any service failures due to driver control.
• Must not have received any DOT violations/citations due to driver control.
• Must attend safety meeting or complete paperwork.
• Must not have any disciplinary or paperwork issues.

• Number of in-house log violations.
• Attendance.
• Miles.
• Clean DOT inspections.
• Call-in complaints.
• Condition of equipment.

ROADCHECK 2008 - June 3-5

Starting June 3, approximately 10,000 trained and certified motor carrier enforcement inspectors will blanket North America's roadways to prevent truck and bus crashes and save lives. For the past 21 years, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) Annual Roadcheck event dispatches federal, state, provincial, and local inspectors to conduct North American standard inspections around the clock for 72 hours. These inspections involve a comprehensive 37-step procedure, which includes items related to vehicle, driver, and cargo safety. Last year's Roadcheck included 62,370 inspections conducted, with 6.2% of drivers inspected being placed out-of-service and a 21.5% vehicle out-of-service rate.

Be sure to have your log books in good order, CDLs and physicals current, FMCSA vehicle inspections up-to-date, and that your equipment is in great condition. This is an excellent opportunity for us to reduce our SEA values and out-of-service rates by obtaining several violation-free inspections within a short period of time.

SAFETY SPOTLIGHT

A truck driver spends less than one percent of driving time going in reverse, yet backing accidents account for 22.4% of all accidents. Although these accidents often aren’t serious in nature, they can result in repair costs, lost driver time, and failure to deliver freight.

The length and width of a commercial vehicle make it difficult for the driver to see what is behind it. Even if an area is viewed as clear, other vehicles or pedestrians can move into the driver’s path by the time the truck begins moving.

In almost all cases of backing accidents, the truck driver will be found at fault. It is a driver’s responsibility to be aware of what is around and behind the vehicle. Awareness and training can drastically reduce backing accidents.

Tips for Safe Backing:

• Make sure all mirrors are in place and in good condition
• If necessary, install additional mirrors to increase the field of vision
• Make sure all warning flashers and lights are installed and working properly
• Use a backing alarm or horn to alert people in the surrounding area
• Turn the radio off and roll down the windows so you can hear noise from outside (such as horns from approaching vehicles)
• If backing into a dock and the trailer doors must be open, be sure they are secure to avoid them swinging and striking an object
• Assess the area before beginning. Look for wires, overhangs, signs, and trees. Observe people both in and out of other vehicles. Make sure the path is clear.
• Avoid blind-side backing
• Never back into traffic
• If possible, use a helper to guide you as you back up
• If you need to back for a long distance, stop and get out to re-check the area half way through
• Never allow anyone to stand in the vehicle’s path or where they could get trapped

Source: Safety Management Services Company, © Copyright 2003

FOCUS ON YOUR HEALTH

The month of May is national mental health awareness month, so we wanted to touch on this subject a bit. Although mental illness can manifest itself in several different ways, including stress and depression, we will be focussing on the most common of these; depression.

We’ve all felt sad or blue on occasion, but usually these feelings are fleeting and pass within a couple of days. It’s when these feelings interfere with daily life and cause you pain that you are said to suffer “depression.” Depression is actually a common illness, but it’s also a serious illness, and most who experience it need treatment to get better. Some common signs and symptoms include:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” feelings
• Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness
• Irritability or restlessness
• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies you once found enjoyable
• Fatigue and decreased energy
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
• Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
• Overeating or appetite loss
• Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts
• Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment

Medications:
Anyone can develop a mental health problem—you, a family member, a friend, or a neighbor. Some disorders are mild; others are serious and long-lasting. However, these conditions can be diagnosed and treated, and most people can live better lives after treatment. Medications for mental health problems—called psychotherapeutic medications—are an increasingly important element in the successful treatment of these conditions. And these medications have changed the lives of people with mental health problems for the better.

Just as aspirin can reduce a fever without curing the infection that causes it, psychotherapeutic medications act by controlling symptoms. They do not cure mental health problems, but in many cases, they can help a person function despite some continuing mental disorder.

Like any medication, psychotherapeutic medications do not produce the same effect in everyone. Some people may respond better to one medication than another. Some may need larger dosages than others. Some have side effects, and others do not. However, you and your family can help your doctor find the right medications for you.

Working closely with your doctor to diagnose mental health problems, prescribe and manage medication, and explain any side effects will help ensure that you use medication most effectively with minimum risk of side effects or complications.

For more information about the different types of mental health disorders, as well as treatment options, visit the National Mental Health Association.

Source: J. J. Keller & Associates, May 2008

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

We'd like to wish all of the following Davis Express employees a happy birthday and happy anniversary, and congratulate those who received clean DOT inspections for the month of April. Thank you for your hard work and continued loyalty.

Birthdays: Joshua Davis, 5/26 Terry Bowers (#201), 5/16 Henry Burg (#2757), 5/26 John Dillon (#2707), 5/27 Glenn Guthrie (#213), 5/27 James Hogg (#2910), 5/17 John Lamprinakos (Shop), 5/3 Robert Lewis (#2902), 5/30 Kenneth Marcum (#2729), 5/1 Christopher Sene (#2828), 5/28 Harold Wheeler (#2812), 5/1 Jan Wichers (#189), 5/3 Josh Winningham (#2801), 5/23

Anniversaries: Brent Hanson (Information Technologies), 8 years Christopher Sene (#2828), 1 year Danny Norman (Shop), 1 year George Thibideau (#2804), 1 year Henry Hingson (#2830), 1 year Jan Wichers (#189), 5 years John Brim (#2829), 1 year John Oliver (#2821), 1 year Jonathan Strickland (#2762), 1 Year Kayla Thomas (Division Manager), 13 years Mearl Osborn (#2752), 1 year Ricky Ward (#2711), 1 year Ronald Soper (#2738), 2 years Stephen Loznicka (#2920), 4 years Thomas Arwine (#2912), 2 years

Clean DOT Inspections: Carl Steffanides (#166) Cliff Nestor (#2809) Daniel Watkins (#199) Glenn Merritt (#2806) Harold Wheeler (#2812) Jeffery Bowser (#2726) Michael Roach (#186) Rickey Johnson (#157) Robert Taylor (#2727) Steve Rentzell (#182)