Publication - Kenan Advantage Group

FALL 2014
Truly North America’s
largest transporter…
With the formation of KAG Canada
Group through our new flagship
company, RTL–Westcan, we truly are
the premier transportation and logistics
provider in ALL of North America. To
see our vision of revolutionizing the
transportation industry “though our
geographic scale” become reality is
extremely exciting.
Not only are there tremendous growth
opportunities in Canada, but it made
sense to fulfill the needs of customers
who have asked us to expand across
the northern border. It also provides
all of our employees one more layer of
security in an industry that fluctuates
based on seasons, products and various
economies. You’ve heard me discuss
many times our strategy of diversifying
our business so that we can capitalize
on the highs while insulating us from
the lows. In other words, smoothing
O Canada
Extending our footprint
in North America
with RTL–Westcan
On Nov. 15, 2013, KAG acquired
RTL–Westcan Group, a leading
hauler of bulk commodities in western
and northern Canada. Patty Harcourt,
Vice President of Corporate
Communications, recently spoke with
Continued on page 2
out the peaks and valleys in order to
provide stable and steady growth for our
business.
In this issue of Highway Connections,
we talk with Grant Mitchell, CEO of
RTL–Westcan and our new Canada Group
platform. When we met Grant and his
team of professionals, we knew early on
that RTL–Westcan was the perfect fit for
our company. They have an impeccable
safety culture, a strong management
team led by Grant, and a professional
staff that includes exceptional Drivers,
Dispatchers, Mechanics, Managers
and Administration Personnel. We are
pleased to have RTL–Westcan and
the newly formed KAG Canada Group
leading at every turn in Canada.
VISION
STATEMENT:
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.
Continued from page 1
Making an impact up north
Grant Mitchell, President and CEO of
RTL–Westcan, about the new venture
and how the company will help KAG
make a new impact up north.
Patty: As the flagship company
for the newly established KAG
Canada Group, what’s the past
year been like for you and the
RTL–Westcan team?
Grant: I’ve yet to talk to a single
person who isn’t proud to be
associated with KAG. It’s gratifying
to be part of an extremely successful
organization that understands our
business and what we do. Everyone
has been great to work with. We’re
very much looking forward to the
future with KAG.
Patty: RTL–Westcan is one of
the largest, most geographically
diverse bulk transportation
providers in western Canada.
How large is the territory you
serve?
Grant: We have more than 500 energy,
mining, agriculture and construction
customers in Alberta, British Columbia
and Saskatchewan (western provinces),
as well as Yukon and the Northwest
Territories. In February, we also started
an operation in Ontario throughout the
greater Toronto area.
Patty: Does your team operate
primarily out of one province?
Grant: While our headquarters are
in Edmonton, Alberta, we truly have
a presence wherever our customers
are located. We have 22 locations—
including shops, warehouses and
transload facilities—in Alberta, British
Columbia, Saskatchewan and the
Northwest Territories. We have a
team of approximately 1,000 people,
including more than 600 Drivers and
250 field employees, with a fleet of
about 480 tractors and 2,000 trailers
that operate out of 16 Terminals
throughout western Canada.
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Fall 2014 • Kenan Advantage Group
Patty: In what ways are KAG and
RTL–Westcan similar?
Grant: We’re both very diversified,
which gives us a broad level of
combined expertise. We also share a
focus on safety and customer service.
Our approach to safety is unrelenting,
just like KAG has an uncompromising
commitment to the safety and security
of its people.
Patty: We’ve heard a lot about
the oil and gas boom in western
Canada. How has that impacted
your business?
Grant: Our region is experiencing
tremendous growth right now in the
oil and gas industry. Our book of
business is divided into two services—
Bulk Hauling and Construction—and
we do a lot of work in both of these
services for this growing industry. We
haul both heavy and light crude oils,
as well as produced water. Plus, any
work in the oil and gas industry creates
opportunity for our other product lines
and construction services. Oil and
gas, along with infrastructure growth
and agriculture, are probably the most
robust pieces of the economy and will
be for the foreseeable future.
Patty: RTL–Westcan is gaining a
large footprint throughout your
region with your Bulk Hauling
services. What kinds of materials
do you haul for this group?
Grant: They really run the gamut.
We haul retail, industrial and
commercial petroleum products,
as well as dry fertilizer and grains,
dry freight and construction materials,
liquid asphalt, molten sulfur and coal.
In other business, we transport
primarily dry cement and lime, and
our pressure vessel fleet hauls propane
and anhydrous ammonia. We’re also
the largest carrier of road salt in
western Canada.
Patty: In many ways your
capabilities are similar to KAG’s.
But could you explain some of
the differences between the two
organizations?
Grant: Our construction services are
definitely a differentiating factor for us.
We have a staff that specializes in civil
and industrial construction and offers
services for water and sewer installation
and repair, road building, winter road
construction, rock crushing, mine-site
remediation, quarry work and more.
Our construction services are focused
in northern Canada. From a hauling
perspective, we are differentiated with
our hopper fleet that transports dry
fertilizers, grains and road salt. We also
have a fleet that serves the diamond
mines in Canada’s north and operates
on an ice road for eight weeks every
year. We support both fleets through
storage facilities that we own and
operate. They’re strategically located
across the region to help us better
serve our customers’ needs.
Patty: You’ve really set yourself
apart by the types of products
you transport and the services
you provide. Another critical
service you offer is through
your state-of-the-art tank farm
that you operate in Yellowknife,
Northwest Territories. How does
this facility play a crucial role in
industries in the north?
Grant: We’re the only trucking
company in Canada that has an
operation like this. It’s unique and a
critical resource for diamond mining
operations in the north. There are mines
located throughout the Northwest
Territories that are only accessible on
the ice roads. They need millions of
gallons of diesel fuel a year to keep
their operations running. But because
of weather conditions, there’s a very
small window of time when we are able
to make the trip from Yellowknife or
the south to get fuel to these mines.
That’s where our tank farm comes in. It
houses four fuel tanks that collectively
hold more than 42 million gallons (160
million liters) of diesel fuel. For eight
months, we fill those tanks with product
from Edmonton, Alberta, and Hay River,
Northwest Territories. When the road
has at least 30 inches of ice or more
and is groomed and ready for heavy
truck traffic, our tanks are emptied in a
matter of eight weeks, and we start the
filling process over again. Once the ice
thickness gets to 41 inches or more,
we are able to haul full Super B loads of
fuel with 140,000 pound GVW!
Patty: How has joining the KAG
team benefitted your company
and customers?
Patty: Looking to the future,
what do you hope to see
as RTL–Westcan moves forward
as a part of KAG?
Grant: As our integration
continues, I think that we’re going to
be really powerful in the market.
We’re all expecting to see
profitable growth individually
and collectively. It’s an exciting
time, and we’re proud to be
with KAG every step of
the way.
Grant: There’s a great group of people
at KAG. They’re knowledgeable and
more than willing to talk through things
with you and offer appropriate insight.
It’s an additional support system that
we didn’t have before. And with that
support system comes added help.
It’s really nice.
For our customers, we’re a more
diverse company, and we’re now
better able to serve customers that
operate both in the U.S. and Canada.
We’ve been able to provide
additional customer
support in the U.S.,
both in changing
operations and KAG
Logistics. And KAG
Logistics has, in turn,
been able to
provide us with
additional business
here in Canada. Being a
part of a larger entity,
we’re also able to have better
resources when it makes sense to
grow our business.
RTL–Westcan recently received six awards at Imperial Oil’s Hauler of the
Year Awards Ceremony. In attendance were: (from left to right) Alan Iafrate,
Americas and Asia Pacific Fleet Manager for Imperial Oil; Dan Columbus,
VP Health, Safety and Environment for RTL–Westcan Group of Companies;
Howard August, VP Operations, AB & NT for Westcan Bulk Transport;
Mike Tarapacki, Fleet Supervisor West Imperial Oil; Grant Mitchell, President
& CEO for RTL–Westcan Group of Companies and Rick Quillin, Canada Fleet
Manager for Imperial Oil.
Highway Connections • Fall 2014
3
Awards and Kudos
From left to right: Ed Miller, Charlie
Miller, Troy Donner, and Ned Tyler. Not
pictured: Leroy Killion
CTI Drivers honored
for safe operations
Keith Herron enjoys contributing to
DistTech’s Friday potlucks in the yard.
Keith Herron marks
40 years with KAG
This year marks the 40th anniversary
of Keith Herron’s employment with
KAG. Hired in 1974 (on his birthday),
Keith started his career under
supervisor James Greco, who taught
him about the mechanic trade. He
currently works as a Fabricator and
Mechanic for DistTech’s Cleveland,
Ohio, Terminal. His veteran talents have
made him a master of all electronic
and mechanical systems and trailer
fabrication within DistTech.
Keith’s co-worker and friend, John
Manfredi, Regional Manager, reflects
on his lively personality, “You could
recognize Keith even if you never met
him. He’s the one with a big smile on
his face.”
When he isn’t dedicating his time
to his career, Keith loves to fish,
hunt and spend time at his cabin in
Pennsylvania. Best wishes to Keith
on a milestone achievement and our
gratitude for always being a valuable
contributor to the company.
4
Fall 2014 • Kenan Advantage Group
Cryogenic Transportation (CTI)
honored Drivers Troy Donner, Leroy
Killion, Ed Miller, Charlie Miller, and
Ned Tyler for operating an entire year
(2013) with no accidents or personal
injuries. These Drivers are dedicated to
Airgas Dry Ice for CTI’s Creston, Iowa,
Terminal.
Tim Cooper, Terminal Manager at
Creston, commends them on their
commitment to the company.
“This group of Drivers takes ownership
in the local operation and their
equipment, and strives to provide
quality service to Airgas and to perform
safely.”
Drivers Darren Goolsby (left) and David
Campbell (right) have been honored by
Phillips 66 for outstanding service.
KAG West Drivers
honored for
outstanding service
KAG West Drivers David Campbell
and Darren Goolsby were honored by
Phillips 66’s Tacoma, Wash., Terminal
for operating an entire year with
outstanding service. This award also
recognizes KAG West PNW for loading
7,058 loads incident-free for the year,
the most of any carrier participating in
the program. David Campbell loaded
370 loads followed by Darren’s 351
loads. This was more than 10 percent
of the total loads from all KAG West
Washington drivers.
David is a senior Driver who has
worked for the company since 1995
and has mentored many Drivers,
including Darren. Darren has been
with the company since 2009 and has
become one of our outstanding Driver
Trainers.
“Both of these Drivers remain incidentfree into 2014 and are continuing
to support our company mission
statement by taking every load,
delivering it on time without incident,”
says Jessieka Nelson, PNW Office
Manager at KAG West.
Paul received best wishes from coworkers Vern Ingham, President of
CTI (left) and Matt Chasky, Director of
Logistics and Business Development.
Paul Stacoffe retires
after nearly three
decades with CTI
Cryogenic Transportation (CTI) wishes
a fond farewell to Paul Stacoffe as he
begins his retirement. Throughout his
28 years with CTI, Paul watched the
company grow from 30 Drivers to 280
Drivers. He handled responsibilities
ranging from settlement accounting
to implementing a billing system,
eventually becoming assistant controller
for the company. He relocated
numerous times, from Nebraska to
Texas and, most recently, Pennsylvania.
JBK receives fifth
supplier excellence
award from Eastman
Chemical
For the fifth consecutive year, Jack
B. Kelley (JBK) was honored with the
Eastman Chemical Company’s Supplier
Excellence Award. Eastman Chemical
selected JBK for their superior ability to
conform to order specifications, meet
on-time delivery requirements, and
exhibit continual improvement through
significant, documented value-add
projects.
Dan Wright, SPG Vice President
of Safety, Security and Regulatory
Compliance for KAG (second from
the left), receives the Dow award
from Rob Kiefer, Brenda Baker and
Regina Scarborough.
TSC receives 2013
Dow Core Carrier
Silver Award
Transport Service (TSC) is proud
to be recognized by Dow Chemical
with a Silver Core Carrier award.
The award is in recognition to their
commitment to service excellence.
“This award is a great
accomplishment,” says Dan Wright,
SPG Vice President of Safety,
Security and Regulatory Compliance
for KAG.
“Paul was a dedicated and loyal
employee, willing to wear different hats
within CTI as required throughout his
career,” says Matt Chasky, Director of
Logistics and Business Development
at CTI. “His work ethic and wit will be
missed here, but we all wish him well
and thank him for the 28-plus years of
service.”
Dow uses a scorecard for all of its
carriers and logistics partners.
Dow selects award recipients based
on their performance on
the scorecards.
“I want to thank all of our Drivers,
Dispatchers and management team
for the outstanding work they do for
Dow,” says Dan. “Their dedication
and hard work make us the great
company that we are!”
“CTI appreciates Paul for all he has
done for the company in the past three
decades and wishes him a happy
retirement,” echoes Vern Ingham,
President of CTI.
Highway Connections • Fall 2014
5
Advocating for
common-sense
safety rules
Taking it to the streets
Bill Downey,
Executive Vice
President of
Corporate
Affairs and
Chief Security
Officer.
Bill Downey represents
trucking industry before
Congress
In April, Bill Downey, Executive Vice
President of Corporate Affairs and Chief
Security Officer at KAG, testified before
the U.S. House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee. He suggested
changes to improve the safety and
security of hazardous materials, or
“hazmat” shipments.
Four Solutions Are Proposed
“I want to propose four common-sense
solutions that will improve safety, security
and efficient operations of transporting
hazardous materials,” Bill told the panel’s
subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines
and Hazardous Materials on behalf of the
American Trucking Associations (ATA)
and National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC).
The proposals were:
• Limit the requirement for
fingerprint-based background checks
to Drivers transporting securitysensitive hazardous materials. Bill said
this move would “save commercial
Drivers and the federal government
both time and money without
compromising security.”
• Block proposed “wetlines” regulations.
Bill referred to a report by the
Government Accountability Office
finding there would be few benefits
to such a rule and that its costs were
underestimated.
• Clarify accountability in hazmat
transportation by distinguishing the
functions performed by shippers
versus those performed by carriers.
• Reform the state hazmat
transportation permitting process.
6
Fall 2014 • Kenan Advantage Group
Rob Wengerter documents the start of his solo marathon run in Afghanistan.
KAG well represented at marathon in Canton
The inaugural Pro Football Hall of Fame
Marathon/Half Marathon was held in
Canton, Ohio, this April, and several
KAG employees from the Canton
Support Center formed a team to join
the field of runners hitting the
streets. One employee even took
his run global (more on that later)!
Held Sunday, April 27, 2014, the
event stepped off in front of the
Hall of Fame on George Halas
Drive in Canton. In all, 18 KAG
employees were among the 593
runners from around country who
ran the course.
That number increases to 19 if
you factor in Rob Wengerter,
Loss Control Manager at Canton
Support Center. Rob is also a
Major in the U.S. Air Force,
deployed before race day.
Stationed in Afghanistan at the
time of the marathon, Rob took
it upon himself to run the race
from afar. Rob sent us some
pictures of his solitary halfmarathon in the desert.
Organizers have already
planned the second annual
event for next April, with a goal
of creating a nationally
recognized event that builds
on the brand recognition of
the Pro Football Hall of Fame,
provides a personalized
running experience for its
participants, and benefits the Canton
community.
The full list of KAG participants
and their times:
Name
Time
PaceDistance
Jarod Nottingham
4:17:18
9: 4926.2
James Mayer
4: 35 :09 10 :3 0
26.2
Alex Smith
5:10 :09 11:5 0
26.2
Marty Barnes
1: 28 :056:44
13.1
David Gang
1: 38 :377:32
13.1
Kevin Sellers
1: 53 :328:40
13.1
Michelle Walker
1: 58 :399: 03
13.1
Nicole Rudd
2: 06 :599:42
13.1
Ryan Walls
2: 07:389:45
13.1
Kendall Kennedy
2:12 :5610 :09
13.1
Justin Jeffers
2: 23 :4710 :58
13.1
Rachel Trembly
2: 27:2811:15
13.1
Lori Lucius
2: 30 :2311:29
13.1
Jenny Wojtaszek
2: 31:3411:34
13.1
Alex Gamble
2: 33 :0011:41
13.1
Amanda Florian
2: 48 :2412:51
13.1
Jessica Brady
2: 53 :1213:13
13.1
Sil Hay
3: 43 :0617:02
13.1
Rob Wenger ter
n/a
n/a13.1
How about those Dodgers?
Employee
appreciation
tent:
Close to the action at
Norwalk Raceway
Faustino Serrano (left) receives a KAG DTE Award from Frank Moran for reading his
daily Driver instructions, which included a note about Los Angeles sports.
Unique contest encourages Drivers to read their
daily paperwork
“When I want to get a Driver’s
attention, I start talking sports,”
said Frank Moran, Western Area
Manager, Cryogenic Transportation
(CTI). “You usually get a reaction
– especially if you’re talking about
their favorite team.”
This logic led Moran and other leaders
to begin a unique contest among CTI
Drivers in the Los Angeles area to
encourage them to read their Driver
instruction paperwork each morning.
Important Information
“We work in collaboration with our
customers, and when there is an
important piece of information that the
Driver needs to know, the Dispatcher
puts a comment into the Driver
instructions,” says Frank. “These are
special notes that may tell the Driver
that he will need to bring a key or a
lock combination to gain access to the
customer’s facility.”
Another common Driver instruction
includes a construction update. “We
deliver to many hospitals and there
is often construction going on during
the day. Drivers need to read their
instructions so they know what time
of day they’ll have access to make
a delivery.”
During the contest, which typically
runs for several weeks each quarter,
Frank asks the Dispatcher to include
comments about sports teams in the
Driver instructions. Examples of some
typical sports comments include:
The L.A Dodgers will not be in the World
Series. Call Frank about the Dodgers.
Los Angeles will not have
an NFL football team.
Call Frank about this
football team.
The Lakers are no good.
Call Frank about the Lakers.
It’s Fun and It Works
If the Driver contacts Frank or other
supervisors within one hour after
receiving their instructions to say they
saw the comment and fully read their
Driver instructions, they’re presented
with a KAG Driving Towards Excellence
(DTE) Award.
“The Drivers absolutely love it, and we
effectively get the results we intended
by making sure our Drivers are reading
their instructions,” says Frank. “We’re
generating enthusiasm about reading
the paperwork, and we’re having some
fun, too.”
With drag racing as the backdrop, KAG
celebrated its Drivers and Mechanics,
and encouraged others to consider a
career in the transportation industry.
A Driver and Mechanic appreciation
tent was set up at the NHRA Lucas Oil
regional event at Summit Motorsports
Park in Norwalk, Ohio, May 1618. Adjacent to the pit area, it gave
employees a trackside view of the
pre- and post-race action. Local KAG
Drivers, Mechanics and their families
were invited to enjoy race day.
The tent also served as an area for
recruitment of prospective Drivers to
KAG. “We asked some of our Drivers
and Mechanics to speak to potential
recruits because no one knows KAG
better than the employees themselves,”
says Jessica Rauls, Communications
Coordinator. “We were pleased to
see so much company pride; the
experience was rewarding for everyone
involved.”
The event provided a relaxed forum
to speak with potential candidates
and reward deserving members of the
KAG team.
“There are so many race fans in the
logistics and transportation industry,
particularly commercial truck Drivers
and Mechanics,” says Jessica. “This
was an ideal way to say thank you
and also spread the news about job
opportunities with KAG to the racing
community.”
Highway Connections • Fall 2014
7
New DTE items available
Ladies
open-front
cardigan
Nike
Dri-Fit polo
12-can duet cooler
KAG leather padfolio
Ogio black
duffle bag
New items are available through the KAG Driving Toward Excellence (DTE) program.
To see all of the latest items, some of which are pictured here, go My KAG Home
(the company Intranet) and click on the DTE Program.
Russell Outdoors Realtree pullover hoodie
Ladies Adidas Climawarm quarter zip
Dr. Scholl’s warming
foot massager
Eddie Bauer full-zip fleece jacket
Green tumbler
Phillips soundbar
and subwoofer
Universal remote
8
Fall 2014 • Kenan Advantage Group
The KAG team enjoyed being creative with the simple materials provided.
KAG participates in event
celebrating innovation
and creativity
Kenan Advantage Group (KAG)
recently participated in the first
Genius Awards held at the Cultural
Center for the Arts in Canton, Ohio.
A task force of Stark County
businesses and Arts in Stark, a nonprofit organization supporting local
arts initiatives, developed a five-year
plan to make Stark County one of
the most innovative in the country for
its size. Stark County is the home of
KAG headquarters.
To kick off the initiative, KAG and
thirteen other local businesses
were challenged to build a robot
and maneuver it through an
obstacle course.
The goal of the event was to
encourage teamwork and innovation.
Each team received a collection of
items to make their robot and course.
A list explained some movements that
were required as part of the course,
and each team created a video to
capture elements of the robot’s
journey.
The winners received “Genius
Awards.” KAG participants were:
Martin Barnes, Kaliope Boyd, Kendall
Kennedy, Jarod Nottingham, Jessica
Putman, Renee Rauls, Blake Simpson
and Mike Zerebniak.
Highway Connections • Fall 2014
9
Random Questions
Get to know your co-workers
In her continuing quest to learn more about our employees, Jessica Rauls, Communications Coordinator at KAG’s Support
Center in North Canton, Ohio, asked Craig Brown, Jean Campanelli and Dawn Ramsey some random questions.
Craig Brown, Human Resources,
Canton Support Center, Canton, Ohio
Jean Campanelli, Mail Clerk, Canton
Support Center in Canton, Ohio
Dawn Ramsey, KAG West PNW
Dispatch Manager, Federal Way, Wash.
What was your first job?
What was your first job?
What was your first job?
In high school, I worked at Panera
Bread.
I was a soda jerk at the neighborhood
drug store. I made ice cream
cones, cherry Cokes and waited on
customers. It was a great learning
experience.
My first job was at Kmart working in the
menswear department.
Recite your favorite movie
line.
“Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”
Dirty Dancing
“Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
Gone With the Wind
What is your favorite
Halloween costume from
your childhood?
Recite your favorite movie
line.
“There’s a difference between us. You
think the people of this country exist to
provide you with position. I think your
position exists to provide those people
with freedom. And I go to make sure
that they have it.” Braveheart
What is your favorite
Halloween costume from
your childhood?
As I kid, I was never a big fan of
dressing up for Halloween.
What do you love most about
your job?
I love being a part of the ‘people’ side
of things. A company’s sustainable
competitive advantage is always its
people. The way we will stand out is by
the people that represent our company
every day to our customers and our
community. KAG team members are
who make KAG the industry leader that
we are; I love being a part of that.
10
Recite your favorite movie
line.
What is your favorite
Halloween costume from
your childhood?
It was either a princess or witch,
depending on my mood.
Probably putting on old clothes and a
funny hat.
What do you love most about
your job?
What do you love most about
your job?
I do enjoy the challenge of trying to
put the ‘puzzle’ together - making sure
everything gets done while still trying to
keep everyone happy. Lucky for me, we
have a great group of people that make
it all possible!
I like the variety of duties. I also love the
customer service and the opportunity
to keep all the spokes in the wheels
moving.
Fall 2014 • Kenan Advantage Group
Condolences
Keith Wilson, instrumental in the early development of KAG, passes away
extend our footprint across the country.
We continued working together right up
until his retirement in 2012.”
“As I reflect on our first 20-plus years as
a company, I’ve always realized Keith
played a significant role in our longterm success. He gave 110 percent to
make sure everything ran smoothly.
Most importantly, he never lost his love
of the trucking business. Keith was
known for his fairness, kindness and
a genuine caring for others. Above all
else, he was known for living all aspects
of his life with dignity and class. I will
never forget his friendship and his many
contributions to this company,” says
Dennis. “He will truly be missed.”
Keith Wilson, longtime KAG
employee who retired as an AMG
Regional Manager in 2012, recently
passed away. Keith was an important
part of our early development and
growth. He also was father and mentor
to Bill Wilson, our current Regional
Manager for Kenan Transport.
Dennis Nash, CEO of KAG, worked
closely with Keith for more than 35
years.
“As young peer Operations Managers
at Leaseway, Keith and I shared many
great times together and became close
friends. I’ve known his children from
the time they were in preschool through
today, raising their own families. As
Keith and I advanced our careers
and became operating executives,
we continued to work closely through
some very challenging times in the
transportation industry. Despite the
pressure, we always managed to
enjoy our time together and remain
passionate about our business,” he
says.
“Later, shortly after I left Leaseway
to enter the entrepreneurial ranks
and start up what is today the Kenan
Advantage Group, I was able to
convince Keith to rejoin me,” he recalls.
“Because I had such high regard for
his work ethic, I knew he would be
instantly successful at helping us
Bruce Blaise, President of KAG added,
“Keith was one of the best operations
leaders I’ve ever worked with. He
possessed great knowledge, common
sense and leadership skills, while also
having big heart. He was admired
by those he worked with and will be
missed. Our thoughts and prayers go
out to his family.”
“When I met Keith, he was a Regional
Manager, and I was a young Terminal
Manager just a few years in the
business,” recalls Kevin Spencer,
Executive Vice President of Logistics for
KAG. “He mentored and coached me
for the next 30 years. I owe him a lot for
what he taught me about the industry
and relationship- building with Drivers,
Mechanics, and customers.”
Steve Welty, Executive Vice President
of the Fuels Delivery Group said, “I
had the privilege to work closely with
Keith for a good part of my career. He
was a great sounding board for me as
we both adapted to all the challenges
and opportunities we faced. I was
always impressed, but not surprised,
at the high level of respect given Keith
among customers, peers and those
that worked for him. We should all be
so lucky to be remembered that way.
He was truly a man of the people, and
it was an honor to have known and
worked with him for all those years.”
Longtime Kenan Transport Driver
Earl Frazier, who worked out of
the Spartanburg, S.C., Terminal,
passed away recently. Earl began
his career with Kenan in 1984 and
recently celebrated his 30-year
milestone. Earl loved our company
passionately and was one of our
greatest ambassadors. Our hearts
and prayers go out to his family.
Thomas Gratton, a Kenan
Transport Driver, recently passed
away. Thomas was a dedicated
Driver who joined the company 15
years ago and worked out of the
Tampa, Fla., Terminal.
Will Mays, Terminal Manager said,
“Our hearts go out to Thomas’
family during this difficult time.
Thomas came to work every day
with a smile. He was a dedicated
employee and a consummate
professional.”
Highway Connections • Fall 2014
11
Take Control of Your KAG Information in 2015
WHO: KAG – HR
WHAT: Will be implementing a new electronic record-keeping
system: Oracle Fusion Human Capital Management (HCM)
A single source of HR data on one system to reduce the amount of paperwork
and manual work for HR benefits and administration to provide real-time
access to employee data.
WHERE: KAG – HQ
WHEN: Two phases of rollout …
Phase I: HR only – sometime in the 4th Quarter
Phase II: Managers and employees – sometime in 1st or 2nd quarter of 2015
WHY:
This is an investment that we’re making in technology, but it’s also an
investment in people, because it will provide each employee better access to
their information via easier-to-use tools that we don’t currently have today.
HR Investing in
Oracle® Fusion HCM
For HR …
In 2015, there will be an easier way to
manage your personal KAG information.
It’s really an efficiency tool. For us, it’s about having all our employee
information stored electronically so that what we use on a day-to-day
basis to serve our employees is readily available.
KAG’s HR Department will roll out
a new electronic record-keeping
system: Oracle® Fusion Human
Capital Management (HCM). This new
program will store all of our company’s
HR information – including benefits
administration, reporting and employee
data – on one system, helping to
make HR operations more efficient
and providing real-time access to your
personal information.
Will standardize and consolidate employee information for a growing
employee base.
Will automate and digitize how we keep track of our 8,000 employees.
It will help us streamline any kind of information exchange we have with
employees: calling in with benefit questions, changing address, etc.
It will significantly enhance our reporting capabilities with the analytics
—we’ll have help with decision making.
For Employees …
Gives you the ability to manage your personal information.
Records
“While this is an investment we’re making
in new technology, it’s also an investment
in our people,” says Ryan Walls, Director
of Employee Relations and Benefits.
“We’re empowering everyone to take
control of their information in a way that’s
much more seamless and manageable.”
Address
Insurance (can add dependents and such) vs. having to call, leave a
message and wait for someone to call back.
New employees can enroll in benefits electronically instead of on paper.
Those who have been here a year will have access to a total
compensation statement (will share with employee complete
compensation information all at once).
For benefits—it will simplify and streamline manual enrollment.
24/7 accessibility—this is important to Drivers who work nights and weekends.
For Managers …
The self-serve system provides you with better decision-making tools,
including dashboards of real-time employee information, which helps you
do your job better.
HOW: Information maintained in the system and accessibility
for the items below:
HR benefits administration
Reporting
Employee and manager self-service online interface
Payroll interface system
12
Fall 2014 • Kenan Advantage Group
Remember
your (phone)
manners
Driver Neil Follett sees the
big picture, saves a life
It’s easy to lapse into bad habits when
answering the phone at work. You’re
busy, you have multiple things going
on, and these often-used phrases just
slip out. But every time you answer the
phone, you become a representative
of the company. At KAG, we strive to
lead at every turn, and that includes
customer service. Here are some
phrases to avoid:
“I don’t handle that.”
Take each call as if it were meant
for you. Make it obvious that you
are committed to helping them find
answers – even if it simply means
connecting them with the appropriate
person.
We’re busy right now, can I call you
later?
Make sure the caller knows we value
them. Giving them a small amount of
time to take down their information is
a reasonable compromise even at the
busiest moments.
“Hold please.”
Always ask permission
before putting someone
on hold. It only takes a
few additional seconds.
“I don’t know.”
The best response is
“I will look into that,”
or “let me find out for
you.” That puts a much more positive
spin on the fact that you cannot provide
an answer right away and lets the caller
know you intend to follow through in
helping them find their answer.
Any phrase that doesn’t take full
responsibility for returning a call.
If you didn’t return a call, acknowledge
the fact and apologize. It’s that simple.
Any excuse that brings personal
problems into the discussion.
It’s always best to keep personal
problems out of the conversation. Keep
things on a professional level.
Driver Neil Follett was able to stop an accident before it happened.
One of the Smith Keys is “See the
big picture,” or see more around you.
KAG West Driver Neil Follett recently
demonstrated the importance of that
and possibly saved a life in the process.
In July, Neil had nearly finished his shift
and was about to make a turn, headed
back to the Phoenix Terminal. Neil
realized that a car making a left-hand
turn in front of him was about to collide
with a motorcycle coming up on the
same intersection on his left. Thinking
quickly. Neil hit his air horn, hoping
to alert the drivers. As a result, the
possible accident became a near miss.
Back at the Terminal, moments later,
Neil was relating the events to KAG
West Terminal Manager Blane Moore
when the motorcycle driver, Walt
Sherwood, came walking up. Walt had
come down to the KAG West yard,
determined to find the Driver who
was responsible for saving him from a
terrible accident.
Walt was very thankful to Neil for his
quick reaction.
Says Blane Moore, KAG West
Operations Manager, “We so
often hear and deal with negative
things throughout our day. It’s
very rewarding to know that
someone like Neil can make a
positive difference in our world
and help restore our faith in
humanity.”
Merchant Gas Group to transport LNG for Shell
Jack B. Kelley (JBK) is now delivering liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Shell’s LNG
fueling lanes.
It is the latest addition to JBK’s growing LNG business, which tripled in growth
from 2011 to 2012. Growth projections for this year predict a 20-percent
increase. LNG is used in tractors and fleets equipped with natural-gas
powered engines.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for us to provide additional services to our
longtime and valued customers,” says Mark Davis, President of JBK. “KAG
has had a successful business relationship with Shell for more than 30 years.
We intend to fully utilize our North American footprint, experienced Drivers and
specialized equipment to support Shell in this exciting new venture.”
Highway Connections • Fall 2014
13
A true customer partnership
Terminal Spotlight –
TSC in Kingsport, Tennessee
Safety Training School
All newly hired employees at the
Kingsport Terminal attend a specialized
Safety Training School located onsite.
“The school has two simulator tanks
that allow employees to be trained
on our proper loading and unloading
procedures,” says Phil. “We also have
a demonstration system so employees
can get hands-on experience operating
the tanker valves in a simulated
environment before they actually start
working on the real thing.”
Fun Facts:
A Unique Customer Relationship:
Located on the grounds of an
Eastman Chemical facility.
Transport Service’s Kingsport Terminal
is located in a very convenient place—
it’s right on the grounds of the Eastman
Chemical facility, the only customer
it serves.
“We entered into a lease arrangement
with Eastman Chemical several
years ago,” says Phil Easler, Terminal
Manager. “Eastman provides a
droplet for us to manage our empty
and dirty tankers. They also accept
the wastewater from the tank wash
operation that we operate. It’s really
a great relationship for both TSC and
for Eastman.” In addition to the facility
at Eastman Chemical, the Terminal
operates two additional facilities in the
Kingsport area.
The Drivers:
The Terminal currently employs 58
Drivers, four Dispatchers, nine Tank
Washers, eight Mechanics and four
Administrative employees. Due to
regional growth, Phil said the Terminal
has plans to increase the number of
Drivers in the coming months.
Award Winners:
Eastman presents an award annually to
their top carrier. The Kingsport Terminal
has won the Eastman Service
Award six times over the past
14 years. “It’s a prestigious
award among Eastman’s
large number of carriers
around the country. Winning
the award is something that
all of our employees are very
proud of.”
The Customers:
The Kingsport Terminal delivers
mainly liquid materials including acids,
acetates, solvents and plasticizers
from Eastman Chemical’s facilities
to locations throughout the Eastern
U.S. “We cover all areas east of the
Mississippi River and into part of
Texas,” says Phil.
14
Fall 2014 • Kenan Advantage Group
The employees at the Kingsport
Terminal are like a big family, adds Phil.
“We have picnics about twice a year at
a local lake with games, boat rides and
a big cookout for our employees and
their families. We also have a Christmas
party for employees and spouses that
is well-attended each year.” Kingsport
is part of what is commonly known as
the “Tri-Cities” area that also includes
the cities of Bristol, Tenn., Bristol, Va.
and Johnson City, Tenn.
KAG delivers anywhere!
No, this photo was not taken at historic Stonehenge, but it certainly looks like it! On his rest break, Steve Smith, a dedicated
KAG West Driver out of the Portland, Ore., Terminal and a professional photographer, snapped this scenic shot of the
Stonehenge Memorial at a Colombia River Gorge overlook. The structure, which was built to commemorate the fallen
World War I soldiers of Klickitat County, Wash., was created to beautifully align with the sunrise on the summer solstice.
Safety Day 2014: Do No Harm
KAG mascot
selection
- it’s in
your hands!
After receiving suggestions
from employees on what the
new KAG mascot should be,
we have narrowed the field to
these three selections:
Shell Oil holds a safety day each year
for employees and contractors to help
strengthen a culture of safety. KAG
representatives attended an event held
June 4, 2014, at the Apex Oil location in
Weirton, W. Va.
This year’s theme was
“Goal Zero. No Harm. No Leaks.”
Mel Kidwell, Terminal Manager, says the
theme is one that resonates through
the industry. “No Harm means do no
harm to the environment. It’s a day to
reinforce our commitment to following
proper procedures at all times so we
never have a spill or leak.”
He added, “Shell is very impressed with
our safety record and the processes we
have in place. That’s why they chose us
as a carrier.”
The APEX event was the largest in the
region, according to Michael Beaton,
Safety Advisor for Shell. “It had the
greatest number of attendees and
was also one of the best events to
demonstrate Driver appreciation,”
says Michael.
Aardvark
Tiger
Kangaroo
Help us choose the winner
by emailing your choice to
[email protected].
Representatives from Shell, KAG,
NACTS, Prop, Chesapeake Energy,
APEX, Gibsons, Oil Field Services
and Plains attended.
Highway Connections • Fall 2014
15
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE PAID
Canton, Ohio
Permit No. 149
4366 Mt. Pleasant St., NW
•
North Canton, Ohio 44720
Advantage Tank Lines
BXI
Cryogenic Transportation
DistTech
Jack B. Kelley
KAG Ethanol Logistics
KAG Logistics
KAG West
Kenan Transport
Klemm Tank Lines
North Canton Transfer
Petro Chemical Transport
Transport Service
RTL - Westcan
KAG truck and car enthusiasts
At KAG, it’s no surprise that we love
trucks. We also love cars and many
of our employees enjoy spending time
working on car and truck rebuilds
and other projects in their spare
time. Here are a few photos sent in
by KAG employees, showing us their
accomplishments.
“He has won
trophies and
plaques, but win
or lose, the best
reward is simply
the enjoyment of working on the truck and
showing it off,” says Melissa.
Bruce Conaway, Driver for Advantage
Tank Lines, out of the Leetonia, Ohio,
Terminal, started working on his
truck (above) when his wife, Melissa,
purchased it as a surprise.
Jeremy Eatmon, a Driver for
Advantage Tank Lines out of the
Toledo, Ohio, Terminal, often works on
projects with his son, Chesney.
“I felt this could be a project for him,”
says Melissa. “He started with a
professional paint job and then the
fun began – installing, adding a full
stainless steel package, a lighted sun
visor, blacked-out windows and handetched windows on each side.” More
personal touches followed, including a
350 Chevy small block.
John (Rusty) Clarke (below) is a Driver
for DistTech out of the Petersburg,
Va., Terminal. He belongs to a car club
called the Southern Knights Cruisers
(southernknightscruisers.com). The group
raises money for Wounded Warriors, Fisher
House and Military Veterans. His 2002
GMC truck, called a “yellow hot truck,” has
won many awards at car shows.