KAG Newsletter Spring 164999.indd
Transcription
KAG Newsletter Spring 164999.indd
Where Pride and Teamwork Fuel Growth and Success Spring/Summer 2010 Direct from Dennis KAG TEAM MAKES THE DIFFERENCE IN DIFFICULT TIMES As we begin to see some improvement in the economy across the country, I want to thank you for helping us successfully manage our business during one of the most difficult times since the Great Depression. We couldn’t have done it without the dedication and support of each KAG team member. You’ve proven time and time again that KAG has the best employees in the industry. From our professional drivers to our talented dispatchers, managers, mechanics, technical personnel and administrative staff, we outshine our competitors. We know the key ingredient to survive tough economic conditions and thrive during upturns: passion. We are passionate about the transportation business and take pride in being the best. Without your commitment to our organization and passion for our business, we would not be able to talk about our bright future. Many of our competitors and our customers are no longer in business b or are struggling to survive by dramatically reducing their VISION STATEMENT: workforce. Thanks to your hard work, along with following our strategic vision, we’ve been able to avoid such drastic measures. We try our best to communicate our strategy – even during uncertain times. One of the most common questions I receive is, “Why do we continue to buy companies and assets when we’re told we need to tighten our belts and watch expenses?” I can see how these two actions appear to be at odds. Let me try to clear up the confusion. Many factors influence our decision process when purchasing assets. First and foremost, any decision we make has to benefit our employees, customers and investors. Sometimes these benefits aren’t realized immediately, but take place in the future. It’s all about our vision and our strategy. We believe that by taking the necessary steps today, not only do we secure our jobs in the future – but most importantly – we improve the standard of living for all of our employees. Part of that strategy Continued on page 2 We know the key ingredient to survive tough economic conditions and thrive during upturns: passion. KAG will revolutionize transportation and logistics within the liquid bulk industry through its national scale, advanced technology and an uncompromising commitment to be the employer of choice. MISSION STATEMENT: Our mission is to take every load, deliver it on time, without incident. STATEMENT OF VALUES: Safety and Security – Our uncompromising commitment for the safety and security of our employees, customers and general public will always come first. Customers – Our customers are the primary focus of everything we do as a company. We will master execution of ALL internal processes so we deliver total service excellence. Employees – Equally important as all customers are our valued employees who continually work to make KAG the most efficient company in the industry. We are committed to providing exceptional training, development and inspiration to all employees. Competitiveness – We will operate efficiently by aggressively managing costs in all areas of our organization in order to be the market leader. Integrity – At all times, we will conduct ourselves in a responsible manner to maintain the highest standard of ethics. Highway Connections • Spring/Summer 2010 1 Continued from cover is to improve our market share, even during a down economy. By improving our market presence and investing in the future, we can capitalize on this growth once the economy turns around. Some other points to consider include focusing on our customers’ needs for ongoing success. Some of our largest customers have asked us to expand into regions where we currently do not have a base of operations. It is more economical for us to purchase “best in class” carriers or assets in these locations than to begin from scratch. These are excellent opportunities for us to continue growing with current customers and establish a new customer base in a new region. For example, we have always felt that Canada is a land of opportunity for our company. Our acquisition of Reinhard Transportation has extended our presence into the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Part of our strategic vision also has been to build a company that has enough service lines and diversity (chemicals, ethanol, asphalt, food oils, etc.) so we do not experience the ups and downs that affect many other carriers. Our diversity tends to flatten out our peaks and valleys. Our model has become very, very predictable, which makes the business much more manageable. It all comes down to making the right choices at the right time to improve the future for all of us. We want to be prepared for when the market rebounds, which we believe is starting to take place. As I mentioned in previous newsletters, transportation serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy. Along with all other modes of transportation, we are beginning to see improvements in volume over the last couple of months. We survived an extremely difficult economic period, and we positioned ourselves for continued success. Thank you again for your many contributions and for being a part of the Kenan Advantage Group. Dennis Nash President and CEO ABOVE AND BEYOND: DAVE FRENCH SHOWS YOU ‘HOW TO GET THERE’ Take a desire to do the job right, add some empathy for rookie drivers and mix in some computer skills – what do you get? A handy, employee-created reference guide that is appreciated by everyone at Dave French’s terminal. Dave’s brainchild is a neat compilation of complete driving directions to nearly every Chevron®, Circle K® and 7-Eleven® location in Arizona. Dave mapped out clear directions in Microsoft® Access™. He originally made a binder to keep in his truck, which he pulled out to assist other drivers when they needed directions. “A couple people asked for copies, and they made their way around the office,” 2 Spring/Summer 2010 says Dave. Eventually he e-mailed the files to a dispatcher, who made copies for everyone. His project includes phone numbers and tank charts. A separate file houses “odd ball” jobs, as Boyd calls them. “This is something he did on his own personal time – a perfect example of going ‘above and beyond,’” says Phoenix Operations Manager Boyd Brown. “I update as needed,” says Dave. “The goal is to get drivers where they need to go … quickly.” Dave’s directions are simple, using the freeway closest to the terminal. He covered both the Tucson and Phoenix terminals, and added shortcuts or cross-street information as necessary. Dave says he remembers the struggles of being a rookie driver, so he is happy to help others who are new. • Kenan Advantage Group KAG VALUES: CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SAFETY IN ACTION DELIVERING TOTAL SERVICE EXCELLENCE IS MORE THAN A STATEMENT OF OUR VALUES AT KAG. IT’S A WAY OF LIFE HERE. WHEN A CUSTOMER RECOGNIZES OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE EXCELLENCE, WE’RE REMINDED OF WHY WE PURSUE THE HIGHEST SAFETY STANDARDS, THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE AND UTMOST INTEGRITY. IT ALSO IS A REMINDER OF HOW VALUABLE OUR EMPLOYEES ARE TO OUR OPERATIONS. BP DRIVING SAFETY STANDARDS COMPLIANCE AKZO NOBEL RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING TSC SAFETY RECORD Dave Scherer, Road Safety Compliance Manager for BP Lubricants USA Inc., sent a note to KAG West: TSC customer Ed Stec, General Manager of Akzo Nobel Chemicals, sent a congratulatory letter to TSC drivers for their safe-driving performance, which had been highlighted in a recent issue of TSC’s “Tank Line” newsletter. “Thank you for your cooperation and ongoing efforts to meet BP’s Driving Safety Standards. These ‘above and beyond’ standards were developed because BP recognizes that driving is one of the biggest risks we face in our daily lives. Your commitment to meeting these standards and to driving safely are accomplishments worthy of recognition.” PINCH-HITTING FOR COAST OIL Mark Mitchell, President of Coast Oil Company, sent a letter to Dennis Nash, thanking him for KAG’s employees going “above and beyond” in providing customer service. His letter states: “Coast Oil ... had some challenges this week within our dispatch department. We have been short staffed, and as a result, I have been filling in as a dispatcher. Steve Yeager, Doug Allen and Bill Nelson recognized the constraints on my time caused by this, and Bill Nelson stepped in to relieve the burden and dispatch for us. This type of customer service demonstrates that KAG stands by its Statement of Values.” HAULING THE LOAD FOR COSTCO Donovan Hamilton, Assistant Buyer – Gasoline for Costco, offered the following compliments via e-mail to Mark Lloyd, Customer Logistics Manager for KAG Logistics: “I wanted to give some feedback on your group who handles our account. All of the dispatchers here at Costco are very pleased with the level of service we receive every day. The early notifications of storms and being able to take on additional loads has made our jobs easier. I don’t think we have ever been turned down on an add-on delivery. Being able to add loads on and know they will be delivered gives us time to work on areas where we don’t have this level of comfort. Great job!” “I am extremely impressed with the Wall of Fame listings … almost 130 million miles driven without an incident for the listed drivers. This is an unfathomable number and shouldn’t go unnoticed. With an average of 1.5 million miles per driver, it demonstrates the dedication the TSC drivers have to safe operations. There is a very strong safety culture within TSC, and these drivers show how it makes a difference. This really sets the Responsible Care® partners apart from others. Good work by all. Responsible Care is a voluntary set of initiatives within the global chemical industry that companies adhere to for the safe handling of chemical products. TSC has been a Responsible Care Partner since 1997. According to the American Chemistry Council, over the next couple of years some chemical manufacturers plan to only use Responsible Care partners to transport their products. Highway Connections • Spring/Summer 2010 3 REINHARD ‘JET-FUELS’ WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES By delivering just shy of 1 million gallons of jet fuel to Vancouver International Airport, Reinhard helped the 2010 Olympic Winter Games go off without a hitch. Tony Reinhard, President of Reinhard, reported that everything went as planned with the fuel delivery. Even with the increased air travel, the airport ran smoothly. There was a lot of planning necessary ure the deliveries. Each day, for to ensure ys, Reinhard delivered four loads 16 days, 0,500 gallons of fuel per load. with 10,500 The No. 1 goal was to keep the airport’s fuel supply high. This meant contingency plans if trucks had trouble crossing the border. It meant determining the course of action if the Department of Homeland Security’s terror alert level was raised or if there was a bomb threat. Luckily, none of those situations happened. Surprisingly, the trucks were able to enter Canada with a full tank easier than they were able to return to the States empty. “Truck traffic going across border into Canada diminished because truck access to the city of Vancouver was limited during the Games,” says Tony. This meant less waiting than expected at border crossings – a plus for the tanker drivers. While Reinhard was pleased to play a role in supporting the Olympics, they have to share “Olympic glory” with another resident of their hometown,, Federal Way, WA: speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, who made history at the Winter Games. CIRCLE K BID PAVES THE WAY KAG MAKING INROADS IN STRATEGIC LOCATION Kenan Advantage Group is open for business in Louisiana. After successfully participating in a nationwide bidding process, KAG is handling all Circle K business in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. A newly opened terminal in Baton Rouge is up and running. The next step, according to Stan Tedder, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for KAG, will be to market our services to all other customers in Louisiana. The Circle K business paves the way by establishing a fixed-based operation in this strategic market. “KAG hopes to grow new business in Louisiana, and this makes it possible,” says Stan. “We are fully committed to our presence in this marketplace.” 4 Spring/Summer 2010 • Kenan Advantage Group Wayne Jackson, who worked for KAG in Chattanooga, TN, is the Terminal Manager for the new Baton Rouge facility. In addition to shepherding the operations, he will help promote KAG’s presence in this area. “Wayne has many years of experience in transportation management and safety. He is a veteran of the industry,” says Stan. Circle K wanted KAG to start operations as quickly as possible. Even with short notice, KAG was able to move in drivers and equipment and start to work. Jeff King, Regional Manager, is in charge of startup operations, which Stan reports have gone smoothly. “It really is a success story,” says Stan. “Circle K has been very pleased with our performance.” KLEMM DRIVER JIM MAGNIN RECEIVES ‘DRIVER OF THE YEAR’ HONORS They say if you find a job you enjoy, you’ll never work a day in your life. Jim Magnin has found that job. Having grown up on a farm, Jim understood the challenges of working for yourself. After truck driving for 61 years and covering about 6 million miles, he still loves his work. “There is a real incentive in that type of work,” says Jim. “My family was my motivation.” “Every day is a challenge, and I like a challenge,” says Jim, a Klemm driver based out of Green Bay who was recently named Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association (WMCA) Driver of the Year. He and his wife Delores have been married 55 years. They have eight children, 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Through his work in the trucking industry, and his wife’s work both at home and as a physical therapist, the family was able to have a nice home and a good family life. Jim began his career at age 14, when he obtained a temporary permit to drive truckloads of cucumbers from his family farm to a local pickle factory. After he married, he began driving a milk truck. He joined Klemm Tank Lines in 1975, and was an owner/operator for the company for 24 years. KLEMM DRIVERS GARNER ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION FROM WMCA Klemm’s Green Bay-area driver Erich Bork is a new member of the Wisconsin Road Team. The Road Team travels throughout the state, teaching safety to driver’s education classes. Ron Maki, who works for Klemm in Field Operations and Sales in the Milwaukee area, has just completed his year as a member of the Road Team. Both were honored at the annual Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association (WMCA) Awards Banquet. “My wife was always there for me,” said Jim, who recalls busy days when the children were younger. The Magnins were very involved in the kids’ activities, something they look back on fondly. After a day’s work, he would head to the school to watch his children compete in sporting events. Over the years, the trucking industry has changed. He remembers driving trucks that only averaged two miles per gallon. Early in his trucking career, his routes took him through little towns on mostly two-lane roads. “When I went to California, the Hollywood freeway was the only road with three lanes of traffic,” he says. Jim spent the past two years recovering from a back injury. When he recovered, Klemm asked if he would return on a part-time basis. Jim, who will be 75 in June, was happy to. When he is not driving, Jim enjoys spending time with his family and hunting. SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER ON THE ROAD Klemm Tank Line trucks are a familiar sight around the Green Bay, Wis., area. To thank the local communities for sharing the road, Klemm Tank Lines participated in the annual Howard-Suamico Christmas parade. The parade has been a tradition in the Green Bay area for 41 years. Highway Connections • Spring/Summer 2010 5 KENAN ADVANTAGE GROUP DRAWING CONTEST WINNERS CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ARTISTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR DRAWING CONTEST. WE ASKED CHILDREN TO DRAW A PICTURE OF THEIR PARENT OR GRANDPARENT AT WORK AT KAG. THIS WAS NO EASY ASSIGNMENT, AND WE HAD SOME VERY IMPRESSIVE ENTRIES. The entries were judged in the following age groups: 3 to 5, 6 to 9 and 10 to 12. The winners received a gift certificate from Toys “R” Us®. 1st 1s st Place, Plac Pl ace ac e, 3 to e, to 5 Year Year Age Age Group Gro roup up 1stt Place, 1 Pl 6 to t 9 Year Y Age A Group G 1stt Place, 1 Pl 10 to t 12 Year Y Age A Group G Isabellia Moyers-Chavez Teagan McNemar Gabriela Kalita Parent: Lupe Moyers-Chavez Work Location: North Canton, Ohio. Parent: Jennifer McNemar Work Location: North Canton, Ohio. Parent: Ireneusz Kalita Work Location: Chicago, Ill. 6 Spring/Summer 2010 • Kenan Advantage Group WE WANT YOUR FUNNIEST FAMILY VACATION PHOTOS Do you have a funny vacation photo that is good for a laugh at family gatherings? Let’s see ‘em! Maybe it is Grandpa wearing those horribly patterned swim trunks, or that picture you took just as the wave knocked everyone over. We will share the best entries for all to enjoy. The winning entry will receive a Diamond DTE award. Choose from a variety of great KAG-branded items, including some vacation-themed items like a portable grill or Coleman® travel bag. Send digital photos via e-mail to [email protected]. Please do not send photos that are larger than 5 MBs. To send a hard copy of your photo, mail your entry to KAG headquarters at the following address: Kenan Advantage Group Attn: Human Resources 4366 Mt. Pleasant Street, NW North Canton, OH 44720 Please do not send the original photograph, as photos will not be returned. Highway Connections • Spring/Summer 2010 7 COUPLE OFFERS TEMPORARY HOME; LASTING LOVE ADVANTAGE DRIVER AND WIFE MAKE FOSTERING COUNT FOSTER PARENTING MAY SEEM LIKE A TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENT AND A TEMPORARY BOND. AFTER FOSTERING MORE THAN 20 CHILDREN, BOB AND LISA LYNN CONDON KNOW THE CONNECTION THEY FORM IS LASTING – AND THE INFLUENCE IS PERMANENT. The Condons didn’t get involved in foster parenting to adopt. Although they have taken permanent custody of two children, they embrace their role as foster parents. Many foster children are in the process of reuniting with their biological parents or awaiting adoption by others. The living arrangement may be transitory; the love is not. “It’s a good feeling knowing you helped someone turn their life around …” “It tears our heart out when they leave,” admits Lisa Lynn. Finding adults to trust can curb negative behavior. They have no doubts about their choice to foster, though. Lisa Lynn spent the majority of her childhood in the foster system. Often placed in very rough homes, it wasn’t until she was adopted at age 17 that she realized “there are good people in the world.” She doesn’t want other children to have to wait that long to know. “As you build a relationship, they see you are not giving up on them,” explains Bob. “We tell them we may not be your real mom and dad, but when you are here, this is your home.” Lisa Lynn’s personal experience also builds understanding with the kids. Bob, a driver for Advantage Tank Lines in Erie, Penn., admits foster parenting can be tough, especially at the beginning. But he and his wife are no longer fazed by the challenges. “Sometimes you have children who steal or who are destructive,” says Bob. “But we focus on helping them and letting them know they can depend upon someone.” 8 Spring/Summer 2010 The couple has inspired others to become foster parents. Bob’s dad revealed he spent time in foster care as a child, something Bob did not know. Bob says that a big part of the job of a foster parent is to show kids they do have control over their future. Children often believe they are destined to repeat the poor choices or destructive patterns of their parents. Bob and Lisa Lynn show them they can choose something different. • Kenan Advantage Group BOB AND LISA LYNN CONDON WITH THEIR SONS ANTONIO AND AUSTIN. “We want them to consider their next step,” says Bob, who adds that foster children often have good options available to them, including help with college tuition. Military service is another option they endorse. Bob, a veteran of both Gulf Wars, met Lisa Lynn while both were serving in the Navy. The couple loves hearing from former foster children. Bob fondly recalls hearing from a family that adopted one of their foster children. “They told us the work we had done with him was still evident. We feel good to know the child is happy and has a loving family,” says Bob. Lisa Lynn is working on a degree in psychology, hoping to work with foster children in a different capacity. The Condons are now involved with therapeutic foster care, helping kids with more severe problems and those who have been in juvenile detention facilities. “It’s a good feeling knowing you helped someone turn their life around and grow up to be a decent, productive person,” says Bob. RYDER CITES PROFESSIONALISM, THOROUGHNESS IN DRIVER OF THE MONTH Scott Heifetz keeps an eye on the details and puts a premium on efficiency. For these reasons, Scott, of Petro Chemical Transport (PCT) Bensenville, was awarded “Driver of the Month” by Ryder Truck Rental and Leasing. Ryder handles service and maintenance of PCT’s fleet. Dave Bruckman, Service Manager with Bensenville Ryder said, “We see a lot of drivers, and Scott is courteous, friendly and thorough – everything you want to see in a professional driver.” As a lead driver, Scott has taken the extra step to ensure that PCT’s PMs (preventative maintenance) are taken care of in a timely and efficient manner. Scott is quick to let Ryder know if a truck is sitting overnight, so PMs, whenever possible, can be done without affecting uptime. As a professional driver for 18 years, Scott has the experience and KAG ON THE WEB... BEATING THE DRUM In a previous Highway Connections interview, CEO and President Dennis Nash emphasized how important it is for us to focus on the exceptional value-added services we provide our customers. He referred to this practice as constantly “beating the drum.” To help carry that beat to customers, we’ve developed two new videos for our Web site. You can find these videos by selecting the “About Us” tab and then by scrolling down to the “Value-Added Features” page. The first video, titled knowledge to serve as the contact person for Ryder. Dave Russo, Area Operations Manager for PCT in Chicago, was more than happy to fill out the paperwork so Ryder could bestow the “Driver of the Month” award. “Scott not only has an excellent driving record, he has really stepped up and taken care of things in relation to our work with Ryder,” said Dave Russo. Scott said he was “very honored” Ryder selected him for this award. He received a plaque, a couple small gifts from Ryder and enjoyed a dinner out with the Ryder representatives. Scott says he enjoys trucking and also working with Ryder. “Ryder does a great job. It is like having a personal mechanic,” says Scott. “I am happy to do anything I can to help maintain the safety of the truck that brings me home every night.” “View the Kenan Advantage,” promotes our overall business package and reinforces why KAG is North America’s largest transportation and logistics provider to the petroleum and specialty products industries. To view this video on our site, click on the driver graphic on the left. The second video showcases our suite on. of technology services called Horizon. he Click on the animated graphic of the United States to view the video. at www.inboundlogistics.com on the 2010 Planner tab. Daily, you continue to “beat the drum” about KAG’s exceptional customer service by building strong relationships with our customers. Promoting our services is a team effort that travels through every link of the organization, which now includes our online connections. d in KAG Logistics services are covered tics the online version of Inbound Logistics magazine’s 2010 Logistics Planner. led The Planner gives customers detailed information on market leaders in uest logistics and allows readers to request online quotes and information from the rofile service providers. View the KAG profi Highway Connections • Spring/Summer 2010 9 ROB WENGERTER PROVIDES UPDATE FROM AFGHANISTAN DEPLOYMENT KAG transportation services are a vital component to America’s energy infrastructure. Our employees also “Keep America Going” by serving in our country’s military. deployment, providing us with a look into a world that is hard for many of us stateside to comprehend. In the 2009 Winter Issue of Highway Connections, we featured an article about Rob Wengerter, Air Force officer and KAG employee. Rob commissioned Samantha Simpson, daughter of KAG employee Blake Simpson, into the military. Shortly before that interview, Rob was notified of his deployment to Afghanistan as part of his commitment to the reserves. “I flew in on a C-17 (cargo plane) with six military pallets of cargo and 95 Marines. I was one of only two Air Force personnel on the plane. We were required to wear our full “battle rattle” as we call it...flak vest with individual body armor and Kevlar ® helmet, about 70 pounds total. It was quite sobering to see Marines with an intense, determined look on their faces. It made the war even more real seeing all these guys with their M-16s wearing their “battle rattle” as well. Rob is known by many of our drivers and schedulers based on his work as Horizon Project Process and Compliance Coordinator. Rob has agreed to send periodic updates on his Here’s his latest update: designed for about 8,000 people, but there are about 25,000 here. It is a NATO base so there are lots of troops from other countries: Germany, France, Bulgaria, Australia, Austria, Great Britain, Canada, and Dutch and Slovakian troops. I’m sure there are more. I have 58 Airmen working for me, including a large group from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Kandahar is one of the busiest airports in the theater right now with all the equipment transitioning through to the FOB’s (forward operating bases). I’m working 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. right now, but we don’t look at a clock here; we stay until the work is done.” It has been an interesting transition. The base is really crowded. It was HIGHWAY CONNECTIONS GOES PAPERLESS We Keep America Going by delivering petroleum products crucial to our country’s energy infrastructure. You can now help us Keep America Green. By choosing to receive an e-mail version of Highway Connections, you’ll reduce the number of copies we print. To sign up, go to www.thekag.com and follow the sign-up instructions under the “About Us/Newsletters” tab. Make sure you select the “Employee Newsletter Sign Up.” 10 Spring/Summer 2010 • Kenan Advantage Group TARGET MATURITY FUNDS HELP MAKE RETIREMENT INVESTMENT EASIER More Growth-Oriented More Conservative Now John is 30+ years from retirement. He invests in the Target Maturity 2040 Fund, currently a more growth-oriented investment. Over time The Target Maturity 2040 Fund automatically shifts from Stocks a more growth-oriented Bonds allocation to a more conservative Cash Equivalent allocation as John’s retirement Year 2040 and beyond year approaches. John reaches his retirement years. The Target Maturity 2040 Fund will eventually evolve into the more conservative allocation of the Target Maturity Income Fund. The example above should not be considered as financial advice. Please consult a financial advisor for advice on your specific facts and circumstances. The asset allocation pie charts are for illustration purposes only. Kenan Advantage Group employees now have the opportunity to select Target Maturity Funds, one of the easiest ways to invest for retirement. Target Maturity Funds offer a practical, straightforward approach to investing retirement savings. Each Target Maturity Fund is a diversified range of stocks, bonds and cash equivalents based on the fund’s target retirement date and using the Plan’s core investment options. As your retirement date draws closer, a Target Maturity Fund automatically becomes more conservative. The allocation of assets shifts. You don’t need to switch from growth funds to conservative funds as your retirement date approaches. It’s all done for you. If you are unsure about choosing among the Plan’s core investment options, Target Maturity Funds might be right for you. There are two ways to access and make changes to your account. You can access via the Internet at wellsfargo.com/401k or call the Retirement Resource Center at (800) 377-9188. The Retirement Resource Center offers 24-hour automated access through a touch-tone phone. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. E.S.T. FUEL FACTS DID YOU KNOW KAG DELIVERS 793 3 GALLONS OF FUEL EVERY SECOND? ND?? Highway Connections • Spring/Summer 2010 11 THE WAIT IS OVER. NEW PAYCHECK OPTIONS INTRODUCED NO MORE WAITING AT THE MAILBOX FOR YOUR PAYCHECK. MANY OF YOU ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL PAYCHECK METHODS AND WE LISTENED. THE NEW OPTIONS INCLUDE: DIRECT DEPOSIT – When you opt for Direct Deposit, your pay is transferred to your bank on pay day. Are you tired of waiting by the mailbox or going to the terminal to pick up your paycheck? If the answer is “YES,” Direct Deposit may be right for you. iPAY – This new service from ADP, our payroll vendor, is available to all employees who use Direct Deposit. With iPay, you can view your pay stub online the day before pay day. It also conveniently provides you with secure, historical pay records, W-2s and W-4 information 24/7. Eighty-five percent of identity theft occurs through lost or stolen financial information, including payroll checks. Through iPay you can go “paperless,” if you prefer. You can also use iPay to test changes to your W-4 and view the impact on your paycheck before you make a final change. TOTALPAY CARD – The ADP TotalPay Card is a VISA® debit card that is automatically loaded with your money each payday. Your pay is ready to use the moment you are paid, no matter where you are, and you avoid the risk of a lost or stolen paycheck or cash. You will not need to cash or deposit a check. REGARDLESS OF THE PAY OPTION YOU CHOOSE, PLEASE MAKE SURE THE PAYROLL DEPARTMENT HAS YOUR CORRECT MAILING ADDRESS. TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION OR TO SIGN UP FOR ONE OF THESE CONVENIENT PROGRAMS, CONTACT YOUR TERMINAL MANAGER. KAG’S STORM STORIES AT KAG, WE WORK HARD TO MAKE DELIVERIES ON TIME AND WITHOUT INCIDENT. BUT WE CAN’T CONTROL MOTHER NATURE. THIS PAST WINTER, SOME OF OUR WARMER CLIMATES FOUND THEMSELVES AT THE MERCY OF UNCHARACTERISTICALLY BAD WEATHER. WHAT FOLLOWS ARE TWO “STORM STORIES” FROM THE FRONT LINES. WEST VIRGINIA If Bruce Thomas of Advantage Tank Lines had sent a postcard from his “stay” in West Virginia, it might have said “Wishing I Was Not Here.” It’s no joke – he spent two nights sleeping in a guard shack at a strip mine, after 30 inches of snow put the locale into a state of emergency. Butch Vaughn, the Terminal Manager in Kentucky, sent help via a fourwheel drive vehicle, but to no avail. The state had the highway shut down. Only emergency vehicles were allowed on the road. 12 Spring/Summer 2010 Bruce was actually lucky to have his “guard shack” accommodations. The National Guard had to be called in to rescue motorists who were stranded on the interstate. down was there was no one to clear the roads. Because of massive amounts of snow in northern Richmond and DC, all snow-removal equipment in the area was sent north. VIRGINIA Brian Turner, Norfolk Terminal Manager for Kenan Transport, is not familiar with crippling winter storms – hurricanes, yes, but snow storms, no. This year, snow shut down his operations for a day and a half. “We were stuck,” says Brian. When a disappointed customer called, Brian e-mailed him images of the highway exit ramps as proof of the reason for the delayed shipment. The snowfall came fast and furious, but the real reason operations shut • Kenan Advantage Group DRIVER MAKES KLEMM TANK LINES PROUD When first on the scene of a horrible traffic accident, Klemm Tank Lines driver Paul Lechtenberg stopped his truck and ran to assist. A semi-truck was on the side of the road, black smoke billowing out. Paul, based in Dubuque, IA, was hauling an empty gas tanker, so he knew he posed no danger risk. He rushed over to help the truck driver, who was climbing out of the passenger side. Flames were spreading quickly. The driver attempted to put out the fire with his extinguisher but it was not enough. about 10 degrees, and the driver had no protection from the bitter cold. Dazed and in disbelief about what had just happened, the driver first declined the offer of the coat. But Paul insisted – he could tell the driver was in a state of shock. The cold weather did have a benefit: the snow on the side of the highway kept the semi from rolling over. With the intensity of the fire, a rollover would have likely pinned the driver in the cab. “I have never seen anything go up that fast,” Paul recalls. “It was such a helpless feeling.” The accident was the result of a pickup truck crossing the center line, directly into the path of the semi. The pickup-truck driver, who unfortunately did not survive, had apparently fallen asleep. The impact split the fuel tank on the semi truck and spilled diesel fuel all over the road. The only assistance Paul could lend was his heavy parka. It was only After the ambulance arrived, the semitruck driver returned Paul’s coat. Paul Paul and the other driver watched the semi become engulfed in flames. PAUL LECHTENBERG, DRIVER AT KLEMM TANK LINES gave him a Kenan Advantage Group/ Klemm Tank Lines jacket. Little did he know he was also giving him a small piece of information. Weeks later, the semi driver contacted Klemm Tank Lines to thank Paul for his help. The driver, Dan Carl, wrote a letter: “…I want to say ‘thank you’ to one of your drivers… (who) stopped to help and gave me a coat. Things were happening so fast I did not get his name and was wondering if you could find out and let him know how much I appreciated his act of kindness.” “I didn’t do anything anyone else would not have done,” says Paul. But to this trucker, on that awful day, his kindness meant the world. KAG GOES HOLLYWOOD It sounds like something out of a science-fiction drama, and it is: someone mistakenly believes spaceships have landed in the desert. What they are actually seeing is two shiny tanker trucks. This is the premise behind “The X in the File,” an episode of the Fox TV show “Bones.” The tanker trucks used in this popular episode are from the KAG West fleet. Craig Moore, KAG West Southern Division General Manager, arranged for the trucks’ appearance after being contacted by Dave West of 20th Century Fox. West, who is in charge of transportation for Fox, reviews each episode and determines what vehicles are needed for filming. for still photos of the tankers to be sent so Fox executives could see what was available. This particular episode required two tanker trucks to be positioned in such a way that they looked, from a distance, like a spaceship pod. Once the deal was arranged, KAG drivers took the tankers to the location, north of Los Angeles. This is not the first time KAG has been contacted to provide vehicles for such use. Moore notes that a KAG truck appeared in the 1987 movie “Throw Momma from the Train.” “There is a ranch in the foothills that the studio owns, where they do a lot of off-site filming,” says Moore. “They made it look like desert, but it’s actually located in a rather hilly area.” The episode ran January 14, 2010. “This request was a little unusual because they wanted two units rather than one,” says Moore, who arranged Highway Connections • Spring/Summer 2010 13 WHEN DRIVERS ASSIST, KAG SCORES In basketball, assists are crucial to the outcome of the game. At KAGW, driver assistance makes all the difference in whether we win with our customers. business. This is a perfect example of a concerned driver helping improve the security of his fellow drivers by looking for additional business that in turn means job security for all of us.” Drivers may be aware of information that could spur a sale. Dan Lambert, a driver out of Fresno, Calif., acted upon what he heard, passing along some good sales leads for KAG West. This “assist” was greatly appreciated by Doug Allen, vice president and general manager of KAG West. Successful companies need everyone to keep their eyes and ears open for opportunities. “Leave no stone unturned” was the request made to KAG West drivers. Fresno Terminal Manger Gary Alexander says, “We want drivers to look for business.” Dan, described as a “go-getter,” did as he was asked. “Dan let me know about business he heard was possibly looking for a new carrier and a great propane lead that could turn into a huge opportunity,” says Doug. “We are pursuing those leads, which could turn into additional “Dan is a team player. He saw the opportunity, looked into it and passed on the information,” says Gary. “Now it’s our turn, the ball is in our court, and we have to score.” STEVE KENNEDY, DRIVER AT KLEMM TANK LINES EXPERT DRIVING AVERTS A TRAGEDY TRAGE Steve Kennedy, an Illinois-based driver for Klemm Tank Lines, received high praise from the family of a girl who was injured when her vehicle crossed into the path of his truck. Steve’s expert handling of his truck prevented a tragedy. In a letter to Steve, the father of the girl expressed his thankfulness. Here is an excerpt. “Your supervisor called my office today asking about the condition of 14 Spring/Summer 2010 my daughter. He said you had asked several times about her condition. She is progressing well and we have hopes of her being released home this weekend. …we are so thankful for your alertness and skillful driving ability that averted a major disaster. We have listened to many eyewitness testimonies expressing amazement of how you were able to keep your rig under control. In this day and age we have very few heroes, but you, sir, • Kenan Advantage Group are our hero. Your modest comments in the paper, your witness to your faith in God … and your concern and compassion about (our daughter’s) condition speak volumes about your character.” Incidences like this remind us that safety is paramount. Steve’s uncompromising commitment to safety and his integrity truly represent KAG’s values. DOWNEY CHAIRS HOMELAND SECURITY POLICY COMMITTEE FOR ATA DOING OUR PART TO ELIMINATE ROLLOVERS Reducing crashes, specifically rollover accidents, remains a focus for the tank-truck industry and its regulatory agencies. At KAG, one of our highest priorities is protecting both our valued drivers and the public. Bill Downey, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs for KAG, has been named Chair of the Homeland Security Policy Committee for the American Trucking Associations (ATA). The Committee, comprised of executives of member companies, meets several times a year to discuss policy and legislative matters impacting the transportation industry. “Because of KAG’s size and breadth of operations, federal and state officials are interested in discussing security issues with us,” says Bill. “The Committee creates an excellent forum for us to provide industry perspective to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and other federal agencies.” As part of the appointment, Bill also was placed on ATA’s Board of Directors. Bill continues to represent KAG very well both in our nation’s capital and in influential industry associations. Through KAG’s focus on continuous safety improvement, we have realized an 80% reduction of rollover accidents since 2004. We firmly believe we can eliminate rollover accidents. Our participation in industry prevention initiatives parallels this goal. A rolloverprevention video, featuring KAG drivers and equipment, is soon to be released. Developed by The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the video will be distributed nationwide as a training tool for carriers and drivers and streamed on the FMCSA Web site. KAG also participated in several “Rollover Summits,” sponsored by National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC) and FMCSA. The summits shared findings from the 2007 Cargo Tank Roll Stability Study, developed by the FMCSA and Battelle, which evaluated such things as equipment specification, roll-stability technology and roadway design and hazards. As part of the study, Battelle representatives attended KAG driver-orientation and training sessions. The studies showed the ultimate key to reducing crashes lies with the driver. Professional drivers must compensate daily for a variety of factors - driving a vehicle with a higher center of gravity, congested or narrow roadways, and distracted and unsafe drivers. Sudden maneuvers involving a tank truck can be disastrous. Nationwide, more than 12,000 rollovers occur each year involving commercial vehicles. Use your Smith-System keys to create a cushion for safety. Eliminate distractions, compensate for the errors of others, and travel at the safe speed. For ramps, curves or intersections in particular, the posted speed may not be the safe speed. Also take speed adaptation into consideration; the speedometer will reflect true speed reduction. We believe KAG has the best driver team in the industry. FMCSA recently recognized KAG as a partner focused on highway safety. As we work to eliminate rollover accidents and promote safe-driving techniques, we continuously strive toward our safety goals. Together, we will lead the industry. TOM BAUGHMAN’S TRAINS ARE A WORK OF ART The Repository (Canton, Ohio) ran a feature article on Tom Baughman Sr. and his gift for designing and engineering model railroads. Tom, a Regional Maintenance Supervisor for North Canton Transfer and Advantage Tank Lines, has built two scale-model railroads in his home. He finds model railroading to be a great stress reliever. Using his imagination and artistic talents, he customizes most of his railroad features so the end result is a one-of-a-kind model. To read the article, go to http://www.cantonrep.com/news/ x1409370166/Plain-Township-man-is-a-master-at-model-railroads. Highway Connections • Spring/Summer 2010 15 Presorted standard U.s. Postage PAID Canton, oH Permit no. 149 4366 Mt. Pleasant St., NW • North Canton, Ohio 44720 Advantage Tank Lines BXI, Inc. KAG Ethanol Logistics KAG Logistics KAG Tank Services KAG West Kenan Transport Klemm Tank Lines North Canton Transfer Petro Chemical Transport Transport Service Co. DON’T LEAD THIEVES TO YOUR HOME GPS DEVICES ARE INCREASINGLY POPULAR. WHILE THEY CAN BE A USEFUL TOOL, THERE ARE SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS. PROGRAMMING YOUR HOME ADDRESS IN THE GPS MAKES YOU AN EASY TARGET FOR WOULD-BE THIEVES. IF THEY BREAK INTO YOUR CAR, THEY HAVE YOUR HOME ADDRESS – AND EVEN DIRECTIONS TO GET THERE. An e-mail currently making its way around warns about this threat. The e-mail claims that thieves break into cars, take the GPS and garage door openers and then ransack the house, knowing the owners are elsewhere. This type of crime has happened. Some Web sites offering home-security tips caution that thieves target expensive vehicles in order to glean the GPS info, assuming it will lead them to other expensive items at the home. It is simply good common sense not to have your home address on your GPS. To be on the safe side, program a location near your home as your home address – perhaps a store or gas station. Don’t make yourself an easy target for thieves. 16 Spring/Summer 2010 • Kenan Advantage Group
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