Werner Enterprises has established the Werner Road Team in an effort to build better communication between its drivers and office personnel.
The Road Team will consist of 12 drivers that were selected after an interview process. There will be representatives from vans, flatbeds and reefers. Each nominated driver had three years’ tenure with the company and an excellent safety record including no preventable accidents, cargo claims or logs violations. The drivers were nominated by their dispatchers and reviewed by their supervisors.
The Road Team captains received a week-long educational tour of Werner’s Omaha, Neb., terminal in early November, and will use the information they learned.
“We want the captains to not only receive information from drivers, but also generate information,” said Ron DeBord, Werner’s director of driver relations. “We really do want to use our Road Team to plug into the drivers; what are their questions and concerns? Whatever it is they want to know, we have instilled a standard communication process to ensure that the drivers always get an answer.”
The Werner Road Team captains are: Jeff Stack (vans); Herbert McArthur (vans/ trainer); Dudley Welsh (vans); Dennis and Janet Lass (Team Werner); John Ritzie (dedicated); Gary Dugger (dedicated); Les Peterson (reefer/ trainer); Sam Veland (SE regional); Bob Gould (Western regional); Larry Derr (Midwest regional); and James Tower (flatbeds/trainer).
Prime Incentives
Jeff and Jean Bender of Inverness, Fla., contractors for Prime Inc., earned the use a new truck for one year through the company’s recruiting program. The Benders were handed the keys to a 2002 Freightliner at Prime’s annual holiday party in November.
They earned use of the truck by recruiting more than 20 drivers for Prime within a year. Between free use of the truck – valued at $35,000 – and recruiting bonuses, they have earned more than $55,000 through the recruiting program.
Prime also awarded cash incentives to operators who completed leases with the company. Freddie Bingley of Stockton, Calif., received $16,419 upon completion of a 142-week lease. The team driver has been with Prime for three years and received a Prime Time Certified award for continuous on-time performance.
Homer Marllow of Milltown, Ky., received $5,879 for completing a 154-week lease. The solo driver joined Prime more than three years ago. He has driven accident-free for two years and is a three-time PTC winner.
Darold Brown of Overton, Neb., received $7,796 upon completion of a 155-week lease. Brown, a solo driver, has been with Prime for 10 years. He has driven accident-free for seven years and has received nine PTC awards.
KLLM CEO Jack Liles (upper right) helps unload the trailer full of Christmas goodies collected by KLLM employees.
Christmas Spirit
KLLM Transport Services and Stewpot Community Services again teamed up to make Christmas brighter for some people in Jackson, Miss. KLLM employees collected and donated gifts and food, loading them aboard an 18-wheeler for the charity organization. While Santa visited children in Stewpot’s neighborhood tutoring program, KLLM and Stewpot representatives unloaded food, toys and winter coats.
“This is what Christmas is all about,” said Jim Richards, KLLM senior vice president for operations and sales.
KLLM employees kicked off the project at their annual family day event in October. They invited customers and vendors to join in the effort. “It’s really exciting to see what we can do when we pool our efforts on a project like this,” Richards said.
Nancy Dennis, food services director for Stewpot, said KLLM donated enough food to supply 400 holiday meal baskets to help feed Jackson’s homeless and hungry. “Each year when the KLLM truck shows up, we breathe a sigh of relief,” Dennis said.
CFI Drivers of the Month
Contract Freighters Inc. recently honored its November 2001 drivers of the month.
Company Driver of the Month was Don Williams of Carl Junction, Mo., who has driven for CFI for eight years. Company Team Driver of the Month was awarded to Butch and Dora Colvin of Udall, Kan. The Colvins joined CFI five years ago.
Contractor of the Month was Leonard Domina Sr., who lives in Sparta, Mich., and has been with CFI for 10 years. Contractor Team of the Month was Leo and Sharon Voyles of Whitesboro, Texas. They joined CFI in 1999.
Winners are automatically nominated for the 2001 year-end award in their respective category.
