for the really long haul
Transcription
for the really long haul
2016 • Issue 1 Road to success the W H E R E T H E B E S T I N T R A N S P O RTAT I O N G E T T H E I R I N F O R M AT I O N for the really Long Haul 199 Foot Windmill Trailers Expand Landstar’s Capacity to Haul Going the Extra Mile Landstar BCOs Going the Extra Distance Make a Difference FROM THE CEO Jim Gattoni Landstar President & Chief Executive Officer In this edition of The Road to Success magazine, we highlight those who provide much needed services for customers, those who volunteer to help others in need and those who are teaching the next generation about trucking. Our industry is looking to both the younger generation and women to help fill the drivers’ seats that were vacated when the economy took a dip several years ago. We asked a few of our own female owner-operators for their perspective on this issue, which you can read about on page 13. Keep reading to find out how the Girl Scouts are supporting transportation, women and the next generation with a new initiative. Don’t stop there. On page 17 is the story of a Landstar agent who gets her entire team involved in teaching students about transportation. BCOs who get involved in the education of students worldwide through the Trucker Buddy program are featured on page 30. There are plenty of BCOs who go that extra mile for a good cause – whether it’s transporting a dog that needs to go home, clean water for classrooms or a military veteran who needs a little assistance to visit a war memorial. These stories, starting on page 19, will warm your heart. Of course, going the distance doesn’t have to be a grand gesture, it can be as simple as a job well done. The feature on page 22 details how a few Landstar agents have collaborated with customers to meet a particular challenge. Find out how Landstar is helping the wind energy industry meet its latest challenge transporting longer blades to harness the sustainable energy source – check out the story page 24. We hope all of these stories help expand your knowledge of what’s going on in our industry and, at the same time, help make the public aware of the many positive things you, as transportation professionals, make happen. Southeast Trailer Service is your one-stop shop for expert semi-trailer repair and maintenance services. • 18 repair bays, paint & paint prep bays • Fully trained professional technicians • On-site DOT inspection • Authorized Wabash (Aurora) parts distributor • Complete parts accessibility for all manufacturers • Trailer pick-up and delivery • Emergency road service • Used trailer sales 3368 Moreland Ave. I-285, exit 53 Editor Patty McMenamin Managing Editor Ginger Jewell Staff Writer Beth Milograno Berry Contributing Writer Joe Beacom Design Natalie Wolf-Saggese Advertising Debbie Templeton The Road to Success magazine is published by Landstar System, Inc. The Road to Success is written and published for Landstar contractors, agents and employees. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of Landstar System, Inc. ©2016 Landstar System, Inc. Conley, GA 30288 404-361-9777 2 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 www.landstar.com www.landstar.com 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 3 departments 7 In the News 32 Word Search Puzzle 13 43 In the Spotlight 45 Safety Thursday 45 Upcoming Events 46 Landstars inside 18 19 12 Throw Away Your Notes! Tips on Giving Confident Presentations 13 The New Face of Trucking - Women in Trucking - Girl Scout Transportation Patch - Teaching the Next Generation 18 A Royal Delivery A Kansas City Fan and Landstar BCO, Scotty Broom Delivers a Winning Load 19 Going the Extra Mile These Landstar BCOs Go the Extra Mile to Help Others 22 Above and Beyond for the Customer Collaborating with Customers 24 For the Really Long Haul 24 Landstar’s New 199 Foot Windmill Blade Trailers 27 Transporting Skycams Providing College Football Fans a Bird’s-Eye View 28 Twitter Tips Marketing Your Agency One Tweet at a Time 29 A Riding Star Pets to Show the Human Side of Trucking 30 Trucker Buddy Landstar BCOs Teach From the Road 34 Writing From the Road The Lost Treasure of the Silk Road 38 The Road to Good Health 29 4 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 38 These BCOs are Working on Healthy Habits One Step at a Time www.landstar.com www.landstar.com 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 5 in the news Landstar Scores Win in Super Bowl 50 OUR MODEL Landstar System, Inc. Landstar is a worldwide, asset-light provider of integrated transportation management solutions delivering safe, specialized transportation services to a broad range of customers utilizing a network of independent sales agents, third-party capacity owners and employees. To find out more about Landstar and how we can put you on the road to success, visit www.landstar.com 6 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 The Road to Success The Road to Success magazine is published by Landstar System, Inc., a worldwide, asset-light provider of integrated transportation management solutions delivering safe, specialized transportation services to a broad range of customers utilizing a network of more than 1,100 independent sales agents, more than 53,000 available third-party capacity owners, and employees. All Landstar transportation services companies are certified to ISO 9001:2008 quality management system standards and RC14001:2013 environmental, health, safety and security management system standards. Landstar has been a SmartWay Transport Partner since April 2005. Landstar System, Inc. is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. Its common stock trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market® under the symbol LSTR. The Entrepreneurial Spirit Landstar’s road to success is paved with the entrepreneurial spirit. Built on solid, long-term relationships, the company enables thousands to turn their dreams of owning their own business into reality. Those operating under the Landstar umbrella enjoy the strength and support of one of the industry’s most stable companies. This relationship enables independent small business owners to compete with the largest carriers in the industry. CEOs on Wheels Landstar considers its business capacity owners “CEOs on Wheels.” Unlike other owner-operators, Landstar BCOs receive a percentage of the revenue paid for each load they haul. With no forced dispatch, Landstar BCOs enjoy the freedom to choose their own freight and to run where they want to go, when they want to go there. www.landstar.com No matter who you were rooting for in Super Bowl 50, Team Landstar scored a big win. The Wilson factory in Ada, Ohio, has made every Super Bowl football for the last 50 years, and this year, Landstar delivered the 400 handmade footballs to California in time for Super Bowl kickoff. Wilson in Ada is one of Landstar Agent John Palasics’ loyal customers. Palasics says he was honored to transport the crucial load. “We needed an expedite team because we had such a short amount of time to get the footballs to California,” said Palasics. Landstar BCOs Robert Burrow and Eliza Zepeda not only carried the precious Super Bowl cargo with care, the team drivers dropped the balls in California a day early. The early arrival meant there was plenty of time to add the team logos - the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos. “It was a great opportunity to be part of this,” said Palasics. “Our BCOs did a fantastic job and Wilson was pleased.” On average, 120 game balls are used during the Super Bowl, 12 of those footballs are kicker balls. Each team then gets 108 of the footballs Landstar delivered – 54 of the “We needed an expedite footballs are team because we had such used by the teams a short amount of time to get for practice the footballs to California” and the second 54 are considered game balls. The remaining 184 footballs are split up among the teams or put up for sale. On February 7, 2016 the Denver Broncos took home their third Super Bowl title, defeating the Carolina Panthers 24-10. McDonald Awarded Military Order of St. Christopher Captain Melvin McDonald III was presented with the Military Order of St. Christopher during a short ceremony at Landstar’s headquarters in January. Captain McDonald is Landstar’s Training with Industry Officer. He was selected by the United States Army to work with Landstar for one year to study Landstar’s transportation logistics system and best business practices. McDonald was nominated and selected by the Army for induction into the Honorable Order of Saint Christopher – an order approved by the Army Chief of Transportation which recognizes transporters who have demonstrated the highest standards of integrity and moral character, have displayed an outstanding degree of professional competence and served the Army Transportation Corps with selflessness. Presenting the medal were Lieutenant Colonel Ben Walters and Command Sergeant Major Coy Wyche from the 832nd Transportation Battalion at Blount Island. www.landstar.com 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 7 in the news Cargo Ship El Faro Lost at Sea Agency Works with Community During Hurricane Joaquin Recovery customer, Softdocs Inc., to hold a supply drive for “Catastrophic Flooding,” was the headline on residents impacted by the storm. October 3, 2015 as rains flooded South Carolina, “We collected food, water, blankets, clothing and causing death and destruction. The rain came from personal hygiene items,” said Brannon. “We also Hurricane Joaquin. Even though the storm didn’t received a lot of donations in the form of gift cards. make a direct hit on the United States, Joaquin In total, we raised $1,400 and filled half of a trailer stayed just offshore and a stalled frontal system from the storm brought rain into South Carolina – rain that with supplies.” After just two weeks of collection, all of the goods lasted for days. were donated to the local chapter of the Salvation As the rain fell, a state of emergency was put into Army and The Oliver Gospel Mission, a Christianplace, I-95 was shut down throughout the state, cities based charitable organization in Columbia. were evacuated and residents were forced to leave “We received overwhelming support. So much their homes. In total, eighteen dams breached or support, in fact, that it became difficult to find failed during the storm. groups to take it,” said Brannon who has repeatedly One of the dam failures sent floodwaters expressed his gratitude – in person, via phone calls downstream, forcing evacuations near Columbia, and emails and on social media. South Carolina, where Landstar Agent Dennis Months later, parts of South Carolina are Brannon is located. Brannon and his agency, continuing to recover and rebuild. And while the rain Artisan Logistics Worldwide, saw the impact of has cleared, the event remains on the minds of many. the storm first hand. Researchers say the historic rainfall in South Carolina “It got real for me. I came into work right after qualified as a 1,000-year rain event, which means the storm and there were roads washed out and a in any given year there’s a 1 in 1,000 chance of an giant sinkhole in front of our office,” said Brannon. area seeing rainfall totals of the magnitude that hit “For a couple of weeks, everywhere you turned South Carolina in 2015. there was a flooded road.” The devastation was real: 15 people died in weather-related incidents, responders made 175 water rescues and more than 800 people had to be temporarily housed during the storm. The impacts of the storm lingered with residents; more than 400,000 people were put under a boil water advisory, as 16 of South Carolina’s water systems were in jeopardy of contamination after the flooding. “We had three days of rain that just wouldn’t let up. We decided we needed to do something, to give back to our community. We all knew there was a need, so we sprang into action,” explained Brannon. A levee breach at the Columbia Riverfront Canal, Brannon’s agency teamed up with a local Columbia, SC In the wrath of Hurricane in October near the Bahamas. Joaquin, a Jacksonville, Florida Debris from El Faro was found based cargo ship, El Faro, in a 225 square mile debris field, was lost at sea. El Faro left but there were no survivors. It was Jacksonville on September 29, a tragedy that was felt throughout 2015 bound for San Juan, the entire maritime community. Puerto Rico. In November, using a remote The captain of the 790-foot controlled submersible three miles ship had real-time weather below the ocean’s surface, the The container ship El Faro information when he left the port U.S. Navy was able to identify of Jacksonville and he reported conditions as well the cargo ship. The National Transportation Safety as a plan to steer away from the storm. Board confirmed the identification and in December The vessel remained on its path through hurricane they held a webinar for the families of the victims to advisories over the next 21 hours. On October 1, see the ship’s wreckage for the first time. El Faro was unable to avoid Joaquin as it grew into An NTSB spokesperson said the board is still a Category 4 hurricane with winds topping 130 investigating the tragedy and that it will be months miles per hour. before they have any answers about how and why The Coast Guard later determined that the ship El Faro sank. carrying 28 Americans and 5 Polish nationals sank Winter Whiteout Satellite image of Winter Storm Jonas 8 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 www.landstar.com www.landstar.com Winter Storm Jonas made history in January 2016 as being one of the biggest storms to impact the East Coast. The storm produced huge amounts of snow with totals that topped 42 inches in West Virginia. At least six states saw more than 2 feet of snow and 14 states reported more than a foot of snow from Jonas. Truckers hunkered down at truck stops up and down the East Coast to wait out the storm as travel bans were put in place in New York City, Pennsylvania and Maryland during the storm. Jonas practically shut down the transportation industry in the Northeast, forcing six states to issue emergency Hours-of-Service exemptions to relieve drivers in the wake of the historic storm. At least 48 people died during the storm, a quarter of a million people lost power, and hundreds of crashes were reported. Experts estimate the economic impact of Winter Storm Jonas could top $850 million and reach close to $1 billion. 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 9 in the news Exclusive LANDSTAR BCO Fleet Workers Compensation Plan. We’ve got you covered For The long haul. Landstar Receives Top Recognitions From Truckload Carriers Association Insurance office of America ∙ Pay as you go through weekly settlement deductions ∙ Weekly rates based on number of drivers ∙ Coverage for mechanics, sales and clerical personnel ∙ Coverage through State National Ins. Co. (AM Best Rated A) ∙ 24 hour toll free claim reporting through GAB Robins, Inc. ∙ Program sold and administered through Insurance Office of America TCA and CarriersEdge interviewed nominees’ representatives and executives about their company’s direction, policies and programs. Those comments were compared to a selection of each fleet’s drivers or owner-operators surveyed and then incorporated into the fleet’s final score. “Landstar’s owner-operators help make Landstar an industry leader by providing excellence in safety and service. We are proud that the owner-operators leased to Landstar feel they have the freedom, opportunity and the support services they need to successfully run their own businesses,” said Landstar Executive Vice President of Capacity Development Rocco Davanzo. This is the eighth year of the survey which is open to all U.S. and Canadian fleets that operate 10 or more trucks. To be considered, fleets must be nominated by one of their drivers, either a company driver or an owner-operator. The 20 finalists will be divided by size and two overall winners will be announced during TCA’s Annual Convention, March 6-9 in Las Vegas, Nevada. ∙ No Deposit/No Audits ∙ No Down Payment ∙ Superior Service www.ioausa.com An enrollment form is required to initiate coverage. You may obtain the applicant enrollment form from Landstar’s qualification centers or from the IOA web site, which is a hyperlink on www.LandstarOnline.com. Complete, sign and date the enrollment form and forward it to your qualification center. If you have any questions about this program please contact Dan Robertson or Tom Scalise at Insurance Office of America. [email protected] Phone: 1-800-243-6899 Dan ext. 4268, Tom ext. 4112 ∙ Fax 1-800-788-2324 ∙ E-mail: [email protected] Road to Success the For the fifth consecutive year, Landstar is among the “Top 20 Best Fleets to Drive For” according to the latest survey conducted by Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and CarriersEdge. Landstar is also honored in two divisions of TCA’s National Fleet Safety Awards. Among 17 trucking companies to earn National Fleet Safety Awards, Landstar was recognized in the Division II 5-14.99 million miles and the Division VI 100+ million miles categories. Division winners were selected based on their accident frequency per million miles as verified by an independent audit committee. TCA will select two National Fleet Safety grand prize winners later this year. “Landstar is honored to receive TCA’s National Fleet Safety Awards again this year. We are pleased to be listed as one of the safest fleets throughout the U.S. and Canada and proud that Landstar’s owner-operators and carriers are known as being among the safest in the industry,” said Landstar Vice President of Safety and Compliance Mike Cobb. The nomination process for the “Top 20 Best Fleets to Drive For” began in 2015 with transportation companies evaluated in a variety of categories including professional development opportunities, career path/advancement opportunities, annual turnover rate and their fleet safety record. Easy to enroll! Easy to maintain! www.lease2landstar.com 1-800-435-4010 • Earn a share of the revenue for every load hauled. • 100% of all billed fuel surcharges paid straight to you. • Big fuel discounts at the point-of-sale. VAN•REEFER•FLATBED•expedited•hot shot •STEPDECK•HEAVY/SPECIALIZED • More home time. landstar load board webex demonstrations contact us to sign up: [email protected] or 1-800-435-4010 10 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 www.landstar.com www.landstar.com 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 11 Landstar BCO and team driver Jackie Wallace sits behind the wheel. throw away your notes! tips on giving confident presentations For some, just the thought of speaking in public brings on sweaty palms, a racing heart and a shaky voice. Speech anxiety can range from a slight nervousness to incapacitating fear, and while there’s really no way to completely rid yourself of speech anxiety, there are ways to lessen the nervous feelings before giving a public presentation. Here are some tips from author and speech professional Christine Clapp. Memorization One of the ways to feel more comfortable before you stand up to present, believe it or not, starts with throwing away your notes! If even the thought of throwing away those notes is a scary one, just think about how much more confident and knowledgeable about your topic you’ll appear. A presenter who is constantly checking his or her notes doesn’t look prepared and it damages any credibility with the audience, according to Clapp. She suggests becoming an expert on the topic you are speaking about and knowing the information inside and out. Tell stories Some speakers find that incorporating personal stories into their speech not only helps with delivery, but helps ease the speaker’s nerves. When you know what you are talking about and the story you are telling is personal, the audience is more comfortable and more receptive to what the speaker is saying. “Stories provide powerful data, and more important, they are much easier to remember and share than facts and figures,” wrote Clapp in a recent blog. Visual aids and props Incorporating props and visual aids is important, as props can easily replace notes and serve as 12 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 a visual cue as you present. Plus, according to Clapp, visual aids help convey facts and other specific information in your presentation. Props can be anything from handouts or products to gadgets or even toys. Take it slow The single biggest mistake presenters make is going too fast. Slow down! Nerves often make us feel like speeding through the material and getting it done. Slowing down not only benefits your audience, it will make your presentation easier to follow and more effective. Remember the old saying, “slow and steady wins the race.” Practice, practice, practice It will likely take at least six times, if not more, using a detailed outline to feel in control of your material. Then, once you have your presentation glued to memory, it’s time to practice. According to Clapp, for most speakers, it takes dozens of rehearsals to master the content and delivery of their presentation. Practice your presentation in front of the mirror, in front of your colleagues, even in front of a video camera. Presenters will often record their practice sessions and then review the footage to ensure they are delivering the presentation accurately. Go time! On the day of your presentation, make sure to relax. Review your notes, but don’t take them with you on stage. Some people say exercise is a good way to start the day of the presentation, it will help reduce stress and anxiety. Remember, confidence is key – if you look like you can present and act like you can, chances are you’ll give a good presentation. Sources: Christine Clapp is the author of “Presenting at Work: A Guide to Public Speaking in Professional Contexts” and the president of Spoken with Authority. www.landstar.com the new face of trucking women in trucking Expect to see more want ads recruiting women drivers in the future. In an industry traditionally dominated by men, experts are suggesting a change is needed to fill the empty drivers’ seats – with more women. According to the American Trucking Association, the transportation industry is short about 40,000 drivers nationwide, and new ways to fill that void are needed to prevent that www.landstar.com number from rising, or to reduce the number all together. Many believe the solution to the growing capacity shortage is women. Industry experts say women can not only fill empty seats but are more likely to stick with the profession, and encourage other women to find a successful career in the trucking industry. 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 13 The first female driver to earn her Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), according to TruckersReport.com, was Lillie McGee Drennan in 1929. As time went on, women, although few and far between, proved their worth in the trucking industry, showing many who initially doubted a woman’s ability that they could perform the duties of their male counterparts without fail. Right now, just 6 percent of drivers in the trucking industry are women and the industry goal is to double that percentage, according to the Women in Trucking (WIT) Association. National statistics show that 8 percent of women have completed federally approved driving programs, but still haven’t made the move to start driving. That’s another figure the WIT Association would like to see change. The transportation industry has struggled with filling its ranks since losing tens of thousands of jobs during the recession of 2008-2009. The recession caused a dramatic drop in demand for freight services, which ultimately resulted in big losses for thousands of owner-operators. Once the economy turned Landstar BCO and around, many BCOs Million Mile Safe Driver had found employment Kuljit Rajania elsewhere, never to return to the trucking industry. The industry is responding by welcoming women with open arms to the open road. “It was a lot harder to establish yourself “it’s getting in this industry as better and a woman when women just I started, but it’s getting better and have to prove women just have to we can do it.” prove we can do it,” says Landstar Million Mile Safe Driver Kuljit Rajania. “I started as a company driver – and now I own my own truck. I have independence and I am very successful with Landstar.” When Rajania leased on with Landstar 13 years 14 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 ago, she was a rarity in the industry. Today, Landstar’s female BCOs are seeing adjustments that are boosting the number of women in the industry, including truck cab design, changes at truck stops across the United States, and the overall acceptance of women driving big rigs. “The truck stops are Landstar BCO and more tailored toward Million Mile Safe Driver women. Stopping stations Rose Ruch offer more luxuries for women in a man’s world,” says Landstar owneroperator Rose Ruch. Ruch started as a team driver with her husband, William, 20 years ago, and was recently inducted as a Million Mile Safe Driver during Landstar’s 2015 BCO All-Star Celebration. A successful female owner-operator, Ruch says she’s not only found opportunity as a female driver, but she enjoys the road and the freedom that leasing to Landstar gives her. Ruch’s sentiments are echoed by many of Landstar’s female owner-operators. BCO Michelle Bump leased on to Landstar with her husband, Austin, in 1998. Bump feels that she is the definition of a woman who has it all – raising four children while driving professionally. She says she’s never felt that she didn’t have time for her family or that she’s ever had to put “being mom” on hold to haul a load. “I work when I want, I have financial freedom, I have time for my family – it’s a great career for women,” says Bump. “It’s a great adventure and a great opportunity.” Bump has also noticed the trucking industry supporting women more than ever before. “The truck stops are nicer, cleaner and they Landstar BCO are safer,” says Bump. Michelle Bump www.landstar.com “I see more women at the stops and more in the driver’s seat – something you didn’t see just a few years ago.” Still, critics say the trucking culture needs to evolve even more if women are to be attracted to and stay with a career in trucking – calling on companies to be more aware of who their female drivers are, support them and “The truck encourage them doesn’t care to continue in who is the field. “The truck driving it.” doesn’t care who is driving it,” says Landstar BCO Linda Caffee, a WIT board member. Caffee believes attracting women to the industry is an obvious answer to capacity shortage concerns. The team driver says she’s never felt discouraged about being a female owner-operator, despite a few bumps in the road. “I used to drive propped up on a pillow,” says Caffee, adding that design changes to improve safety and cab comfort for female drivers are outstanding. “It’s easier for women to drive professionally now. Bob and I switch within a minute. I can adjust everything to where everything is perfect for me to drive. I actually feel a lot safer driving in my big truck than I do my personal vehicle.” And knowing that Landstar BCO they are safer makes Linda Caffee “women feel more confident,” she says. As efforts are made industry-wide to attract more female owner-operators, Landstar is working with the Women in Trucking Association to help redefine the road for women - offering programs to educate the younger female generation about the industry. www.landstar.com Landstar sponsors Women in Trucking In 2016, Landstar became a corporate sponsor of Women In Trucking (WIT), an organization created for both men and women who are involved in the transportation industry or are interested in a career in the industry. “Landstar strongly supports women’s roles in the trucking industry Landstar Vice President and understands of Capacity Qualifications how vital Women in Sandi Edwards Trucking is to industry progress as the number of female owner-operators and logistics professionals continues to grow,” says Landstar Vice President “Landstar of Capacity strongly Qualifications, Sandi Edwards, supports who is also a women’s roles WIT member. in the trucking Women in industry.” Trucking, founded in 2007 by Ellen Voie, now has over 4,500 members which include corporate entities, industry professionals, drivers and students. Landstar BCO Linda Caffee is among nine transportation industry professionals on WIT’s Board of Directors. The organization’s mission is to encourage the employment of women in the industry and promote their accomplishments. WIT is described as a place where women can find the best career opportunities and minimize the obstacles and challenges women face on the road and within the transportation industry. 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 15 Girl Scout Transportation Patch One goal of the Women in Trucking Association is to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry. Their new program called “Trucks are for Girls” is set up in collaboration with the Girl Scouts of America and geared toward putting females in the driver’s seat. “Trucks are for Girls” is designed to teach young ladies about the career opportunities available for women in the transportation industry. Girl Scouts who participate in the event get a hands on experience while learning about the transportation industry and its importance to the world’s economy. Each Girl Scout who completes the program receives a custom Women in Trucking Association transportation patch. “There are so many opportunities for women in this industry,” said Landstar’s Vice President of Capacity Qualifications Sandi Edwards. “Landstar is so pleased to be part of this fun and educational event and hopes that the transportation patch inspires young women to pursue a career in this industry.” A “Trucks are for Girls” event took place at Landstar headquarters in January. During the event, the Girl Scouts, ages 7-12, heard from speakers about Landstar and the transportation industry, worked on a trucking-related craft project and got a chance to climb inside and look around a big truck. Drivers interested in becoming owner-operators with Landstar should contact recruiting by calling 1-877-237-3442 or emailing [email protected]. Teaching the next generation Landstar Agent and dedicated fleet owner, Sandy Ambrose-Clark has her own ideas about how to fill the driver’s seat – she’s on a mission to educate the transportation industry’s next generation. “I’ve always tried to teach young people about safety when driving around semi-trucks. And now my community has this great program to teach the younger generation about transportation as a whole,” said Ambrose-Clark. The agent and her team at Without-A-Doubt Specialized Haulers frequently visits 10th, 11th and 12th graders at Butler Tech in Fairfield, Ohio, one of the state’s largest career technical schools. “These students are learning about the career possibilities in transportation. It’s exciting for me to see young people being interested in what we do, and it’s exciting for us as a Landstar agency to teach them about the industry.” The agent and her staff work with students of all ages, from elementary to high school, like the junior achievement students who are in 9th, 10th and 11th grade and still another program for 4th, 5th and 6th graders. “We realize that we need to be teaching these kids a lot more at a younger age,” said Ambrose- Clark. She says she’s noticed that at any age, the students all have one thing in common. “The younger generation is more into computers and are tech savvy. So the trades are dying out. Many kids didn’t even know what the trades were, let alone have an interest in pursuing a career using those trades,” said Ambrose-Clark. She discusses every aspect of the transportation industry with the students, from driving trucks to running an independent agency. “We talk about driving safely around big trucks and the role that safety plays in our agency,” said Ambrose-Clark. She’s noticed that often times just talking about big trucks and moving freight, gets students interested in related career opportunities. “We work with kids in 4H who come into the agency and learn about different positions in the agency,” said Ambrose-Clark. “They also want to know about money; they want to know how much they can make doing this kind of work and how successful they can be in this industry.” Throughout the years, Ambrose-Clark has also helped local Boy Scouts earn their Truck Transportation Merit badge. Scouts who earn the transportation badge are required to have more than a basic knowledge of the industry. They not only learn the role the transportation industry plays in their community, but what it takes to maintain a truck, the different kinds of trucks on the road, how to prepare for shipments, configure rates and how to insure shipments. The scouts must also have a good understanding of the five governmental agencies that work closely with the trucking industry. “This year, we’re excited to also start working with Girl Scouts to help them receive Women in Trucking’s new transportation badge,” said Ambrose-Clark. With each year, there seems to be a new opportunity for Ambrose-Clark to inspire the younger generations, but she’d like to do even more. The agent hopes that the programs they’ve established will not only pique the students’ interest, but also pave the way for others to educate the next generation about the transportation industry. 2016 “Trucks are for Girls” event held at Landstar Headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida. 16 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 www.landstar.com www.landstar.com 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 17 Crowd of over 800,000 fans gathered at Union Station in Kansas City, MO to celebrate the Kansas City Royals winning the World Series. When Landstar BCO Rich Rukstalis a royal delivery Expediting a winning load An avid baseball fan, Landstar BCO and Million Mile Safe Driver Scotty Broom watched the Kansas City Royals win the 2015 World Series against the New York Mets. When the game was over, almost immediately, he got a call about a very important load. “The game had just finished, I mean just finished and they called me and said, ‘We need you in Cape Girardeau, Missouri tonight’,” explained Broom. The call was about a load that Broom said he was honored to haul - the t-shirts the Royals would wear during their celebration parade in Kansas City. 18 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 “900 shirts, 75 boxes,” said Broom. “I arrived at Cape Girardeau at 3 that morning and had to be in Kansas City by 11 a.m.” Broom said he was happy to make the trip and that he delivered the load on time. He never expected that while he was rooting for his home team, he’d get a call to be part of team history. Scotty Broom leased on to Landstar in 1996, was named a Landstar Million Mile Safe Driver in 2009 and made his first Royal delivery in 2015. joined the Chi-town Large Cars club, he did it because he wanted to help make a difference in other people’s lives. The group, perfectly described as “ordinary people doing extraordinary things,” started 11 years ago when two best friends from the Chicago area (aka “Chi-town”) got together to discuss a way to change the image of the trucking industry. The group started with just a handful of members and soon grew with more truckers who “took pride in their rides,” and wanted to make a difference in their communities. Today Chi-town Large Cars has more than 160 members and Rukstalis is the only Landstar BCO in the group. Each year the club selects and sponsors a family in need. This year they chose the Wonders family - Juan, Valarie and the couple’s 2-year-old son, Seth. Nicknamed “Super Seth” by the club, Seth was born 4 months premature, weighing just 1 pound, 6 ounces. Baby Seth had to spend the first year of his life in the hospital, enduring multiple surgeries and hospital stays which left his family facing more than $2 million in medical bills. In August, Chi-town Large Cars held a fundraiser for the Wonders in Linwood, Illinois. The group held a truck beauty contest, raffles, games, a driver dunk tank and a silent auction to raise money for the family. Eighty-two trucks and 160 members of the Chi-town Large Cars group attended the event. In the end, $10,500 went to the Wonders to help with Seth’s expenses. In return, the Wonders had their own award to hand out during the fundraiser and picked one driver to honor with the “Family Choice” award. They chose Rukstalis. “I didn’t win the award for the best truck, but I won it for just being me and taking the time to spend with this wonderful family. I am humbled by this and they will always top to bottom Rukstalis Landstar BCO Rich Rukstalis, Team Drivers the Parkers and the Liegels, and BCO David Ingersoll all took time to make a difference. Liegel Ingersoll Going the Extra Mile These Landstar BCOs go the extra mile to help others www.landstar.com www.landstar.com 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 19 and forever be in my heart,” said Rukstalis. While “Super Seth” still has a long journey ahead, his health continues to improve. Rukstalis continues to get updates from Seth’s parents and says he’ll never forget how the Wonders honored him. “I love that family. Seth has beat all odds. He is doing so well and I am so pleased the Chi-town group could help the Wonders as much as we did,” said Rukstalis. For more information about the Chi-town Large Cars group, visit their website at www.chi-townlargecars.org. BCOs transport luggage for Bike MS Participants say Bike MS isn’t just a bike ride, it’s an experience that’s fueled by passion, inspiration and determination. To date, Bike MS cyclists, volunteers and donors have raised over $1 billion to help people affected by Multiple Sclerosis. Landstar BCOs and team drivers, George and Wendy Parker, and Thomas and Billie Liegel, took time out of their schedules to support the 2015 Bike MS participants in Florida. Hundreds of riders from all over the U.S. cycled during the 2015 PGA Tour Cycle to the Shore. During the event, bikers choose to ride anywhere from 15 to 150 miles. The Parkers and the Liegels donated their time and trucks to haul all the biker’s luggage. In their respective trucks, the Parkers and the Liegels picked up the luggage in Ponte Vedra and dropped it off nearly 100 miles later in Daytona Beach. The event raised more than $1 million for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. For more information on future rides, or how you can help make a difference, head to www.nationalmssociety.org. Pallets of water headed for Flint, MI 20 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 Water for Flint A public health emergency was declared in Flint, Michigan, last fall after tests showed the city’s water supply could be the cause of elevated lead levels seen in children living in the area. Problems started in April of 2014 when the City of Flint decided to break away from Detroit’s water system and began drawing water from the Flint River to save money, pending the completion of a new pipeline in 2016. After residents started complaining of hair loss, rashes and sickness from the water, the state recommended testing water at home, but said residents shouldn’t be concerned about lead levels in the water. Months later, researchers from Virginia Tech traveled to Flint to do their own testing and found there was a health threat in the city’s older homes with lead pipes or pipes fused with lead solder. By October 2015, the Genesee County Health Department declared a public health emergency in Flint and warned residents that infants, children and pregnant women should not drink any water that comes from a tap in Flint. Enter Landstar BCO, husband and father, Chad Luce, who lives just outside of Flint and has five children who attend school within the district. After hearing about the public health emergency, he decided to take action. “I contacted Nestle Waters in Stanwood, Michigan, a local company, to see if they’d be willing to donate any water,” said Luce. And they were willing. After Luce’s Landstar BCO Chad Luce call, Nestle agreed to and family donate 38,000 bottles of water for schools in Flint. The next step was getting the water to Flint, so the BCO volunteered his truck and his time to haul the water from Stanwood to Flint. On October 10, Luce pulled into the Flint Community School warehouse with 20 pallets of bottled water. “I couldn’t imagine my kids not being able to drink out of their drinking fountains. It’s not just something I did for my kids, but for all the kids in Flint,” said Luce. Since the water emergency was declared, the City of Flint signed papers to switch their drinking water source back to Detroit water. People in the city are also receiving water filters for their homes. www.landstar.com The Environmental Protection Agency announced in November 2015 that they will conduct an audit on the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s “implementation of Safe Drinking Water Act and related rules on lead and copper, total coliform, nitrates and ground water.” Bringing Maggie Home Landstar BCO David Ingersoll made headlines in 2015 for making a very special delivery to Waupaca, Wisconsin. In October, David Fadness, a company driver for another carrier, was found dead inside the cab of his truck at a parking lot in Idaho. Maggie on her way home. Fadness, who died of natural causes, wasn’t alone in his cab when he passed - his dog Maggie was there and once she was found, the mission began to get Maggie home to her remaining family. Fadness’ employer got word out to the trucking community that help was needed and Landstar BCO David Ingersoll says he was just in the right place and headed in the right direction to help. He drove Maggie back home to Waupaca, Idaho, where Maggie was reunited with her family. “They were terribly appreciative of my efforts Landstar BCO David to bring her home,” said Ingersoll delivers his Ingersoll. “It was no “special cargo.” trouble for me at all.” During the trip that took several days, Facebook fans followed the pair’s progress and when they reached Waupaca, Ingersoll was interviewed by the local television station about volunteering to bring the dog home. Landstar honored Ingersoll in November 2015 with a Star of Quality award for his efforts. Landstar’s Star of Quality recognition honors BCOs and agents for going above and beyond the call of duty. www.landstar.com Honoring a veteran It was the opportunity of a lifetime for Landstar BCO Robert Olson to escort his 87-year-old neighbor and friend, Carl Matuszeski, on an Honor Flight. The flights, arranged by the nonprofit organization, Honor Flight Network, are dedicated to flying veterans to Washington D.C. to visit and reflect at veterans’ memorials. “This was a real honor for me, as Carl is always there for anyone who needs help, and he never expects anything in return. He served this country as a young man in the same vein and it’s really nice that he was recognized for his contributions,” said Olson. Matuszeski, a Korean War veteran, applied to be selected to fly on the Badger Honor flight from Wisconsin to Washington D.C. When Matuszeski received word that he was accepted, he was told that WWII and terminally ill veterans would have first priority, but that his turn would come, and it did, in October 2015. “As the guardian, I was briefed on the proper technique for transporting and assisting people using wheelchairs and walkers,” said Olson. “At the end of the trip, I told Carl now that I was educated, I’d have no problem showing him how he was going to wheel me around Washington, D.C.” The Honor Flight was established in 2005 by physician assistant and retired Air Force Captain Earl Morse, who saw a need to recognize the sacrifices of a diminishing population: World War II veterans. Since its establishment, Honor Flight has helped almost 900 WWII veterans visit the World War II National Memorial in Washington, D.C. Today, more than 132 regional hubs exist, with a current count of 43 states registered in the Honor Flight network. Each flight takes about 150 volunteers and 1,350 man-hours, but the toughest part of putting the flights together, according to the organization, is finding the veterans, then convincing them to actually take the flight. Matuszeski initially told Olson that he didn’t deserve to go to the memorial, a sentiment that he repeated throughout the trip’s planning process. “People need to encourage and help these guys through the process,” said Olson. “It is important they be made aware of this opportunity before it’s too late.” For more information about the Honor Flight Network, head to www.honorflight.org. The 2016 Honor Flight season begins in March. 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 21 above and beyond for the Customer Collaborating with Customers “The Do-It-Yourself method has a much broader appeal these days than just a handy guy who shops at a hardware store for supplies for some home improvement project. Today, DIY applies to arts and crafts, publishing, even music and videos. But most do-it-yourselfers understand that projects turn out the best when you have a little professional guidance – whether that’s a howto video on YouTube or the specialist at your neighborhood home improvement store. Even the professionals who offer DIY assistance could use a little collaboration from time to time. Critical, Coordinated, Collaboration Some years ago, a big-box retailer of home improvement and construction products began collaborating with a select group of agents and executives to improve transport of the retailer’s products during peak seasons. “This business required a lot of coordination between planners, the agents and our trailer management team,” said Landstar Vice President of Sales Development,” David Carpenter. Since the initial meetings, Landstar Agents Jeff Baker, Kathy Bostedo, Chris Coston and Mary Montz, along with the support of Landstar’s trailer management team, have become the go-to source for many of the retailer’s shipping needs. “The agents pull it off every time and Landstar continues to earn high praise from the customer,” says Carpenter. 22 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 Landstar Agent Jeff Baker is proud of the result. “We stepped up and proved ourselves to the customer. Our ability to handle multiple locations and the ability to position trailers made us stand above the competition in their eyes,” said Baker. He and Landstar Agent Kathy Bostedo handle the retailer’s domestic van FTL freight seasonal surge business. The agents did so well with the store’s spring surge a few years ago, they were then awarded a major “We proved to the part of the retail giant’s fall surge customer we had business. Baker the ability, the and Bostedo have capacity and the now become the company’s “go to” equipment to get agents for the job done.” surge carriers. “It’s been a relationship years in the making. We started a few years ago showing the customer what we could do to meet their shipping standards,” explained Landstar Agent Kathy Bostedo. “Then year after year, we improved. We proved to the customer we had the ability, the capacity and the equipment to get the job done.” Today, Landstar not only supports the retailer’s seasonal surge business, but their inbound international business and flatbed shipments as well. Landstar Agent Mary Montz and her team coordinate the inbound trans-load facility and keep all of the impacted parties updated on www.landstar.com Landstar carefully identified the flatbed truck critical shipments. “The shipments we coordinate are the ones where capacity providers who would dedicate themselves to the project. Fixed rates were negotiated with something has gone wrong. If there is a storm at the providers, which helped reduce the customer’s sea or factory problems where something hasn’t dependence on volatile spot market pricing and gone out on time, the customer contacts us to find resulted in significant savings. the solution and we fix the problem,” said Landstar “Once the training was finished and the Agent Mary Montz. organization of the project was altered to fit the Landstar Agent Chris Coston has worked with needs of the customer, we had one of the most the retailer for the last 15 years and handles all the flatbed shipments that are critical to the retail giant’s finely tuned plans and support needed to get the job done,” said Daniel Davis of JFA agency. “When new store openings and refurbishments. we hit the ground running, Landstar provided key “Just like with every customer, I never give a load support. I don’t know any other transportation back and I believe communication is key. By calling company that has the resources the shipper and helping the carriers, and capability to do what we did we fill in the gaps where they are “We set the bar for this customer.” needed for the customer,” said for what can Landstar monitored loads Coston. happen and what and shipments by implementing Landstar Connect, a mobile Capacity Increases we are willing app that allows truck capacity Customer Efficiencies to do to help providers to update load statuses When a leading automotive the customer via their smart phones. When the company realized a certain project shipments left production yards, in 2015 wasn’t a DIY, they called succeed.” they were tracked by GPS, giving the in the professionals at Landstar to customer an up-to-the-minute update on the loads. reduce costs and increase loads hauled, as well “The scale of this project beats everything as service levels. we’ve coordinated on a daily basis. We adapted The top automotive company required a new to the customer and it became a 7 days a week, transportation solution to move all the frames 24 hours a day operation. We set the bar for what for its best-selling pick-up truck from its supplier can happen and what we are willing to do to help in Kentucky to assembly plants in Michigan and the customer succeed,” said Landstar Agent Dawn Missouri. Greaney White. “Collaborating with the customer is nothing new Within ten days, as the 3PL for the project, for our agency. I’ve always been an advocate to Landstar created a new work flow, established work together, build relationships and rapport and the production and transport process and moved make a difference for the customer. In this case, it approximately 200 to 300 loads per day while was the most effective way to do the move,” said saving the customer a substantial amount of time Landstar Agent Jack Faulk. and expense in the process. Project done! He and Landstar Agents Daniel Davis, Dawn Greaney White and Buck Shrewsbury, as well as Landstar’s corporate personnel, developed a highly efficient logistics system specific to the needs of the customer. Using blended capacity to convert shipments from rail to truck transportation, the solution consisted of Landstar’s independent Business Capacity Owners and third-party carriers. “We moved anywhere from 200 to 300 loads every day, and we did it one truckload at a time. Once we got the routine down, it became a very smooth operation,” said Landstar Agent Buck Shrewsbury. www.landstar.com 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 23 New wind towers are getting biggerthey have longer and bigger blades to optimize the access to wind power for the really long Haul Hauling windmill blades across the country is a big task, even for the most experienced owner-operator. It’s a delicate practice of planning and patience. “We have to do it slow and steady. It takes a great deal of patience. If you don’t have patience, you can’t do the job,” explained Landstar BCO Jeff Kirchner, who has loads of experience hauling wind blades. When Kirchner leased on to Landstar in 2001, windmill blades were smaller than they are today. Of course, even a small windmill blade can span dozens of feet and take days or even weeks to move from one place to another. “We used to pull into any truck stop for a rest, but now these things are so big, those days are over. Some of these blades are double in size compared to the blades we hauled when I started with Landstar,” said Kirchner. And so the art of hauling wind blades is ever changing. In October 2015, Landstar unveiled its newest capacity addition - a 199 foot windmill blade trailer. The new trailer allows Landstar BCOs to haul the longest wind blades ever built. The trailers weigh in at 49,000 pounds and are able to haul a 36,000 pound windmill blade. “This gives Landstar greater flexibility in transporting longer windmill blades and enhances Landstar’s position as a key player in wind energy transportation,” said Landstar Vice President of Trailer Management Matt Miller. The extendable trailers were specifically designed and built to meet the demands of the evolving wind energy industry. Researchers have found that bigger windmill turbines are a better way to harness the wind’s power. Research continues to seek ways to improve the logistics relating to longer and larger wind turbine blades. For example, in 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announced $1.8 million in awards for the research and development of technology to improve the manufacturing, transportation and assembly of wind turbine blades longer than 196 feet. “New wind towers are getting bigger, they have longer and bigger blades to optimize the access to wind power. With these new trailers, Landstar is at the cutting edge in this area of the logistics world and is now among the premier blade haulers in the United States,” said Landstar Agent Mike Meyer who has specialized in wind transport for over a decade. “The customer came to us because of the quality, performance and safety record Landstar has to offer. We were willing to commit and accept the challenge to move these large windmill blades. This is something other companies do not have the capacity to do,” said Landstar’s Executive Vice President of Specialized Freight Services John Collins. Experienced specialized heavy haul BCOs like Kirchner started “We are hauling transporting blades that are with the new extendable close to double trailers in 2015 the size that we and Landstar will started with be bringing more years ago” BCOs into the mix to haul the new oversized blades. “We are hauling blades that are close to double the size that we started with years ago, which means transport is a lot slower paced and more planning is needed,” said Kirchner. He will use his 15 years of experience and expertise hauling oversized blades to train existing Landstar BCOs interested in the new specialized heavy haul opportunities. “It is neat to be part of the next step in hauling these blades,” said Kirchner. “A lot has changed since I started doing it. I’m glad I’ll have some input mentoring the BCOs who will pull the bigger blades.” 199 foot windmill blade trailers 24 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 www.landstar.com www.landstar.com 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 25 Iowa’s Shell Blade Tour Last August Landstar BCO Jeff Kirchner spent some time at the Iowa State Fair. He wasn’t riding the rides or eating cotton candy – Kirchner hauled the shell of a blade that was set to go on display during the fair. The 130 foot blade is a real windmill blade, but was scrapped by the American Wind Energy Association years ago and is now put on display throughout the state of Iowa. Fair goers not only got an up close look at the enormous blade over the summer, but they also had a chance to sign the blade and add their signatures right next to the signatures of some of our country’s leaders. In 2011, the same blade was actually transported to the straw poll in Ames, Iowa, where Republican Landstar BCO Jeff Kirchner’s truck displaying a 130 foot windmill blade at the 2015 Iowa Fair. Presidential Candidates Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain and Thaddeus McCotter signed the blade. After the fair, Kichner hauled the blade back to the TPI Composites plant in Newton, Iowa. You know the industry You know the people Get to know landstar Landstar agents provide sales and operations functions for their clients. Landstar provides the tools and financial backing you need to succeed. • No limits to what you can earn • Freedom to set your priorities • Support to help you succeed To learn more about becoming an independent Landstar agent, call us today. 888-949-2880 www.landstar.com Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/landstar 26 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 www.landstar.com transporting Skycams Providing college football fans a bird’s-eye view Every year just before the leaves start changing, something happens in homes across the United States - something people look forward to for months. They head to their closets, pull out their lucky alma mater gear and turn to the television to watch their favorite team kicking off the college football season. A Landstar team helped make that possible during the 2015-2016 season. Landstar Agent James Rutledge of San Diego, California, and several Landstar expedited BCOs helped give college football fans a bird’s-eye view of their favorite teams by delivering Skycams to stadiums across North America. Thanks to a partnership with Rock-it Cargo, a freight forwarding company, six Landstar BCOs made the Skycam hauls throughout the season – Rodney Griffin, Carlton Wilder, Eric Young, Thomas Krumma, John Cortez and Randall Ince. “It is really a great sensation to be watching my favorite football team, see the view from the Skycam and know that Landstar delivered those cameras and made that happen,” said Landstar Agent James Rutledge. In October, a Skycam was shipped to Everbank Field in Jacksonville, Florida, for the annual Florida vs. Georgia football battle at the border. John Cortez, a Landstar BCO of 15 years, made the delivery to Everbank that rainy October morning. “I’ve been everywhere,” said fleet owner John Cortez. “You can name a city and I’ll give you a story about my trip there.” Cortez called transporting the cameras a “good gig,” and spoke about hauling the Skycams throughout the season without his wife and team driver, Robin, by his side. www.landstar.com “This was something I could do this year that let my wife stay home and take care of our sick goddaughter. This way I could stay out on the road and provide for all of us,” said Cortez. Skycam has played a large role in changing the way sports are broadcast. The company, based out of Ft. Worth, Texas, created the flying studio camera to travel anywhere in a defined threedimensional space. The camera’s unique design and highly sophisticated fiber optic network aims to make viewers feel like they are in the game, when watching from the comfort of their couch. The Skycam games this season were broadcast on ESPN, ABC, CBS and FOX. Landstar also made camera deliveries for the Canadian Football League. Canadian BCO Randall Ince delivered a similar kind of aerial camera called Cablecam, a sister company of Skycam. Ince made the last delivery of the season to Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada for the 103rd Grey Cup Championship, which is equivalent to the NFL’s Super Bowl. Unloading the Skycams at Everbank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 27 Twitter Tips Marketing your agency one tweet at a time Marketers are ranking Twitter as the most useful social network available to boost their businesses – no matter what size the business is. According to research done with Act-On, a cloudbased integrated automation software company, Twitter has more than 271 million active users who are producing 500 million tweets every day. The trick is finding ways to focus usage of the social media platform in a way that targets and engages specific audiences. Much like conducting business face-to-face, first impressions through Twitter are some of the most important. And because Twitter can be a very powerful marketing tool, it’s important to know how to use it. To start, make sure your company or agency Twitter page has the following: • A catchy handle – Make your Twitter handle as short and catchy as possible. Don’t use special characters and make it something people will remember. • Company logo – A simple form of your company’s logo should be used as your Twitter profile picture. For agents, that could mean the Landstar Agent logo* or your agency logo, if you have one. • Header – A high resolution header* on Twitter makes a big difference to customers who are visiting your Twitter page. This should also incorporate your logo and the services you provide. • View – Be sure to view your Twitter page in a number of different browsers and devices. Check out how your page looks on your phone, tablet and computer to make sure your profile picture doesn’t obscure text and text is still legible. *Landstar Agent logos and headers for Twitter are available on MyLandstarAgent.com. Under the Brochures & eMarketing topic, click the eMail tab. Once your Twitter page is ready and your handle is finely tuned, you are ready to start tweeting, gaining and engaging an audience. Here are some helpful tips to help you achieve maximum reach with your Twitter audience. • Be a leader – Publish original content and tweet out links to your agency’s or company’s blog or website. Remember, tweeting about current news demonstrates that your company is well-connected to the industry and community. • Engage users – Twitter is meant to be a two-way conversation. If a business or customer mentions you in a tweet, you should respond in real time so the customer feels acknowledged and that your company cares. • Check out your competition – Know who else is on Twitter and what companies like yours are doing on the social media platform. Searching a competitor’s brand will also help you learn more about what they are doing and how they are marketing themselves on Twitter. • Remember all time-zones – All time-zones are on Twitter, whether you schedule your tweets ahead of time or have someone live tweet for your business, it’s important to schedule tweets in the time zones that are relevant to your business. Be sure to follow Landstar on Twitter! We have four handles to support various areas of the Landstar System. • @LandstarSystem is Landstar’s main Twitter handle where we publish system-wide content. • @LandstarNow is Landstar’s Agent Twitter handle. • @Lease2Landstar is Landstar’s Business Capacity Owners Twitter handle. • @LandstarLCAPP is Landstar Contractors’ Advantage Purchasing Program Twitter handle. Source: Act-On eBook: “Twitter For Business” 28 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 www.landstar.com A Riding Star Pets to show the human side of trucking Rachel Zelten is on the road to become a TV star, thanks to her humans Landstar BCOs Kenn and Beth Zelten. Rachel, a 14-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, was among seven furry and feathered friends whose humans participated in the production of the pilot episode of Paws & People TV. Paws & People TV is a new show in development, featuring drivers and their lives on the road with their pets. Beth Zelten said Rachel, who has spent her entire life in a truck, was especially excited to participate. “When we got the call to do this, we were all so excited about it, Rachel too. We were so glad to be part of an opportunity to show this side of truckers,” said Beth Zelten. She and Kenn leased on with Landstar as a team early in 2015. www.landstar.com Rachel gives a friendly greeting to her co-star Landstar Vice President of Operations Gregg Nelson. In October, video cameras rolled at the I-80 Morris, Illinois, TA Travel Center, capturing not only the Zeltens but six other truckers who make every long haul with their pets by their sides. The segment, “Truckers Companion Animals Across America,” will feature professional truck operators who travel with their pets. “Rachel had a great day, she was certainly a star. I think this show will do a great job showcasing all of these drivers and their companions as a positive part of the trucking industry,” said Beth. Landstar Vice President of Operations Gregg Nelson also had a part in the video shoot. “Pets are a widely accepted part of the trucking industry and travel centers are increasingly catering to their needs. Landstar is honored the Zeltens were selected to participate in the show,” said Nelson. Details on when and where the segment will air is, well, still up in the air. Stay tuned for more information in future articles or follow Landstar news on our Facebook page www.facebook.com /LandstarOwnerOperators. 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 29 When Landstar BCO Steve Grillo first signed up for the Trucker Buddy program, he was eager to see the students learn about the many facets of the trucking industry. More than four years later, Grillo believes the program is working and is something that’s changing the way the next generation looks at trucking. Trucker Buddy International, a nonprofit organization which started in 1992, is dedicated to helping educate and mentor K-8 students via a pen pal relationship with professional truck drivers. This school year, Grillo is working with second graders at Jim Falls Elementary School in Wisconsin. The BCO makes multiple visits to the classroom throughout the year with his tractor-trailer and, when he is on the road, Grillo writes to the students. He also participates weekly in “Trucker Buddy Tuesday” by skyping with the class to give them updates from the road. “It gives the students an introduction to geography, something which will help them as they build upon this initial knowledge in class,” says Grillo, adding, “I explain to them how I use math every day to determine things such as how many miles I can drive in a day and how many gallons of fuel I would need for a trip.” The program gives schools and students “These kids another tool for are our future learning but, Grillo says, it has also drivers; the re-energized him. more we reach “This helps rekindle the passion and joy out to them, the I feel for the trucking better drivers industry. I am so they will be cognizant that our around trucks, industry unfortunately or they may even carries with it a negative stigma want to become that’s misguided and unfounded. This professional truck drivers.” program, along with the others in the industry, can play an integral role in portraying more accurately the many positive aspects of our industry,” says Grillo. Landstar BCOs and team drivers Bob and Linda Caffee also participate in the Trucker Buddy program. During the 2015/2016 school year the Caffees have worked with a school in France and spend time each week skyping with and emailing 150 French students in grades 6-8. The kids send the Caffees post cards and the Caffees return their messages with pictures and stories from the road. “At Christmas we got a huge package full of letters, drawings and even some treats. The kids have Changing the way the next generation looks at trucking Trucker Buddy LAndstar bcos teach from the road 30 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 www.landstar.com www.landstar.com cheered us on and we cheer them on too. Their English is fantastic,” said Linda Caffee. In May, the Caffees plan to visit the school in France and meet the kids they’ve corresponded with throughout the school year. In 2015, Linda was appointed to Trucker Buddy’s Board of Directors. “These kids are our future drivers; the more we reach out to them, the better drivers they will be around trucks, or they may even want to become professional truck drivers,” said Caffee. Throughout the years, both the Caffees and Grillo have noticed a positive trend in schools involved with the Trucker Buddy program and look forward to the continued growth of the program and its impact on students around the world. “The feedback is so positive. The program is so successful. I think sometimes we might lose sight as to why we chose to become professional drivers. Seeing the kids’ smiling faces renews the love I have for this industry,” said Grillo. Owner-operators who are interested in being part of the Trucker Buddy Program should visit www.truckerbuddy.org. Outstanding Trucker Buddies Landstar BCOs Rusty and Shari Ann Fry were named Outstanding Trucker Buddies of 2015 by Trucker Buddy International. The Frys are Trucker Buddies with Jeffrey Walker’s first grade class at Verner Elementary School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Walker and his class nominated the Frys for their dedication to the Trucker Buddy program. “We signed up after reading about the program. I send them pictures of our travels, maps to see where we’ve been and I write them letters every two weeks,” said Shari Ann Fry. The Frys have worked with the school and the Trucker Buddy program for the last 6 years and have taught the students there about the transportation industry and how to practice safety around big trucks. 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 31 on the road W O R D S E A R C H Locate the hidden words from Going the Extra Mile page 19 QTROCSEZFRYACH I LDREN DMQDEL I VERYCSOFR IEND VRDOMXPSTLEGARUOCNEV SXECQWVNARUGRGVNPPCR NRTSXRUQNCSGBEEHHSLS AMEHIOKPOFRFGRTRRUXR GTRDCAJCUHA I EAJAOCEQ I RMCNTRFOMTFFTGJWCBD HUILNOVDINFLJISEOYSS CCNOOPWLN I TOATCGXTQL I KAGI PYKDUUEBENEHLGA METATOHZYRFNSIHGSGY I SR I CCR I ONEDQTT IWNCOR GSOI UTWENAN I NLNBNDKO FONHAUYMNOOOFY I ENPHM FHXCKNVPQNRRMKGUMNOE NMULT I PLESCLEROS ISMM VOLUNTEERSNUEHZDHHEX DSFM I YSLM I AMJVMAGG I E MI HOKSVLQJENA I DRAUGC AUCTION BIKE CHICAGO CHILDREN CONTEST COUNTRY DELIVERY DETERMINATION DIFFERENCE EMERGENCY ENCOURAGE ESCORT FAMILY FLIGHT FRIEND FUND RAISER GUARDIAN HEALTH HOME HONOR JOURNEY LUGGAGE MAGGIE MEMORIALS MICHIGAN MONEY MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS OPPORTUNITY RECOGNITION SACRIFICES TRUCKERS VOLUNTEERS WATER WONDERS Check your answers on page 45 32 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 www.landstar.com www.landstar.com 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 33 It was a stormy night in Michigan and Landstar BCO Saeed Derakhshani was snowed in with nowhere to go and nothing to do but sit in his truck. “My TV broke down, I had nothing to do and it just happened out of pure boredom,” explained Derakhshani, recalling the night he starting writing his first novel. Derakhshani grabbed a note pad and a pen and he did something he’d never done before - he started writing down his thoughts. The BCO said suddenly his imagination was on paper and a story started to come together. “I know a lot about the history of Persian and Iranian people. I wanted people to know what the Persians gave to this world. With that and my imagination, it became a story,” said Derakhshani. A history buff, Derakhshani knew what he wanted to do with his first novel, The Lost Treasure of the Silk Road. Derakhshani moved from Iran to the United States in 1979 when he was 22 years old and wanted to give others a story that showed ancient Persia, accurately and in a way that would make people proud of his ancestors’ history. “No one really knows the rich history that the Middle East has. All they know is what they see on mainstream media now. There is so much more behind these people and what the Persians have given us,” said Derakhshani. With the help of his wife Dorothy and daughter Shirin, six years after he started writing, Derakhshani published The Lost Treasure of the Silk Road. His tale follows the life of the main character Persicus on a quest to find a legendary treasure on what’s commonly referred to as the Silk Road. The Silk Road derives its name from the Chinese silk trade and is an ancient network of trade routes that were developed throughout the Asian continent. The Silk Road connected the West and East from China and India to the Mediterranean Sea. Persicus is persuaded by another man, Hakim, to join him on a treasure quest, and together they writing from the road face bandits, sand storms, a mystical cave with a dragon – and a lot of adventure along their journey. Each chapter of the book is packed with action and mystery. “This is his way of teaching the readers about ancient Persia and the Iranian people, along with giving them an entertaining tale,” said Derakhshani’s wife Dorothy. After Derakhshani finished the book, “Donating this he handed it over to money to the his daughter Shirin Markey Cancer to help edit and Center is our refine the story. The way of giving first edition of the book, published in back to that 2014, has sold over community” 3,000 copies. “I don’t care about making money off of the book. We really just want people to read it, enjoy it and learn a little about the history that so many don’t know,” said the BCO and author. The Derakhshanis say they are saving all the proceeds from the book for a donation to the Markey Cancer Center in Lexington, Kentucky. The donation is the family’s way of supporting those fighting ovarian cancer, which Dorothy was diagnosed with and treated for as Saeed wrote the book. After 18 rounds of chemotherapy, Dorothy’s cancer was listed as in remission. “Donating this money to the Markey Cancer Center is our way of giving back to that community,” said Dorothy Derakhshani. “It just makes sense to put that money back into our community and support cancer research.” Derakhshani, who plans to keep giving back to his community, says book number two is already in the works. The Lost Treasure of the Silk Road can be purchased and downloaded or ordered through Amazon.com or by visiting the book’s website at http://www.thelosttreasureofthesilkroad.com. The Lost Treasure of the Silk Road 34 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 www.landstar.com www.landstar.com 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 35 QUALITY BRANDS. QUALITY TIRES. truck giveaway powered by YOU COULD WIN A BEAUTIFUL BRAND NEW TRUCK! HERE’S HOW: Contest Rules & Eligibility Requirements how to enter • Complete and return your “Wild Card” entry card for one entry in the contest. • For each ten Landstar loads picked up and delivered during the contest period, a BCO will receive one entry into the drawing. If a BCO uses the LandstarConnect app to update his or her status on any load, that load will count as two loads when the loads are counted to determine the number of entries earned during the contest period. • Attend a Landstar Field Safety Meeting or participate in a Landstar Safety Thursday Conference Call, held on the third Thursday of every month. • Attend an Appreciation Days event. • Receive and notify Landstar of a clean Level 1 roadside inspection. • Review Success magazine and complete and return question/answer card. • Additional entry methods may be added from time-to-time. • BCOs who voluntarily utilize ELDs get 5 additional entries. contest periods The contest will run from January 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016, and all entries must be received by July 30, 2016. During that time, there will be six separate periods (“quarters”) for the purposes of counting loads: • January 1, 2015 – March 31, 2015 • April 1, 2015 – June 30, 2015 • July 1, 2015 – September 30, 2015 • October 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015 • January 1, 2016 – March 31, 2016 • April 1, 2016 – June 30, 2016 36 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 At the end of each of these periods, a count will be made of loads picked up and delivered during the quarter. An appropriate number of entries will be auto-generated for each BCO and the “load count” will be reset to zero to start the next quarter. There will be no contest credit or carryover for fractions of ten. For example, a BCO with fourteen loads picked up and delivered during any quarter will receive one (1) entry and will begin the next quarter at zero qualifying bcos To be eligible to win, a BCO must meet all of the following criteria: • Must be leased to Landstar continuously from January 1, 2015 through the date of the truck presentation in September 2016. • The BCO must be accident-free* and claim-free** during the period January 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016. choosing the winner Prior to Landstar’s Appreciation Days, scheduled to take place in Rockford, Illinois, September 13-14, 2016, five qualified finalists will be selected by random draw from among all entries. If necessary, the finalists will be notified in advance and transportation provided to Rockford where the Grand Prize winner will be selected by a final random drawing from among the finalists to take place on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 during Appreciation Days. Should a finalist be unable to attend, the Grand Prize winner will be chosen from among the remaining finalists in attendance. taxes The fair market value of the truck will be included on the winner’s IRS Form 1099. Landstar will assist the winner in determining 2016 income tax liability and will pay the net increase in 2016 income tax resulting from winning the truck, provided the winner retains title to the truck through the oneyear anniversary of the truck presentation. Should the winner elect to sell or trade the truck prior to the one-year anniversary, he or she forfeits this offer. Landstar, at its sole discretion and only in writing, may waive this one-year contingency. It is assumed that the manufacturer will pay the Federal Excise Taxes and the winner will be responsible for paying state sales taxes, insurance and state titling and registration fees. All Landstar BCOs are expected to operate safely and comply with all applicable traffic and safety laws and federal regulations. *Accident-free means no preventable accidents from 1/1/15 through 6/30/16. **Claim-free means no more than 2 cargo or property damage claims with an aggregate loss, collectively, of $1,000 or less from 1/1/15 through 6/30/16. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Landstar reserves the right to amend these entry rules as it may deem necessary with or without notice to the participating BCOs. Contest is not open to Landstar employees or their immediate families. www.landstar.com MICHELIN® and BFGoodrich® Brands offer tires to fit every application. Choosing the right tire allows for the best performance and durability for your specific need. For more information on selecting the right tire for fuel economy or vocational use, visit michelintruck.com or bfgoodrichtrucktires.com. www.landstar.com 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 37 “My plan is to be fit as a fiddle for the next Landstar event.” Landstar BCOs and Team Drivers David and Debra Long The Road to Good Health one step at a time 38 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 www.landstar.com When the doctor told Landstar Million Mile Safe Driver Kim Blakely that he was borderline diabetic in 2015, the BCO said he knew it was time to make big changes to his lifestyle. Blakely was nearly 50 pounds overweight, he ate poorly and he never exercised. “It was an eye-opener to change my life. I was a heart attack waiting to happen. My mission was twofold - exercise and change my eating habits,” explained Blakely. And he did just that. He started by simply walking which, he said, was no easy task. Walking just one mile took him 35 to 40 minutes, but as he went on, he noticed that walking became easier with each day. Six months after starting to change his lifestyle, Blakely was able to walk two miles in less than 30 minutes. In fact, with a fast paced walk, he can now complete a mile in 13 minutes and 22 seconds. Blakely has also added adjustable dumb bell weights to his routine, as well as arm Landstar BCO Kim Blakely resistance training. before making the “I have too much commitment to improve energy now,” said his health. Blakely. “People see me now and they say, ‘Hey, you are buffing up’ and I am, even my shoes are loose on me.” Blakely believes he found the right combination of diet and exercise to make the major advances in his health. The BCO stays away from all sugary drinks and any additional sugars in his diet. The only carbs he eats comes from the multigrain bread to make his sandwiches at lunchtime. “A lot of times I go into the stops and see what’s for dinner there. They have baked chicken sitting in grease and they have vegetables, but they are drenched in butter. So I go back to my truck and I make myself a turkey sandwich instead. I cook and slice the turkey myself so I know it’s healthy,” said Blakely. www.landstar.com Blakely after losing 50 pounds by changing his diet and adding exercise to his regular routine. Since changing his life with diet and exercise, he has seen dramatic changes in his health. Blakely is happy to report that his doctors say he is no longer pre-diabetic, his blood sugar has dropped 15 points, his cholesterol is down 60 points and the scale went from reading 243 pounds to 189! “Anybody can do this. It isn’t easy at first, but you just have to do it in order to live a healthier life. I tell the guys all the time, walking is key. Start out walking just 15 minutes at a time and eventually you’ll keep going,” said Blakely. *Remember to check with your doctor before beginning any diet and exercise routine. TEAM STEPPERS Canadian BCOs and team drivers Debra and David Long say it’s not easy, but they too have found a way to live a healthy lifestyle while they’re on the road. “We feel so much better when we are exercising,” says Debra Long. “I look forward to waking up in the morning because I am not as tired.” Like Blakely, some days the Longs will simply walk around the parking lot, but other days they 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 39 the take it one step further. Safe Driver. We caught up with them at the 2015 “I have a portable stair stepper in the truck, Landstar All-Star Celebration. I have weights, I have strength bands and I have one “My plan is to be fit as a fiddle for the next of those thigh masters. I tell myself, I am Landstar event,” explained Debra, who is already going to do it and I do it,” well on her way. “I still have 30 pounds explained Debra. She admits that to lose.” “I want to do finding the incentive to do so after Aside from fitting exercise in their it so that I can schedule and equipment in their a long day of driving is often the play, go hiking truck, Debra cooks in the truck nearly biggest hurdle. “The hardest part of exercising every day. In fact, when we interviewed and do fun in the truck is finding the motivation things with my the Longs for this article, there was to do it, but I do try,” says Debra. a healthy meal of hamburger, onions, granddaughters. “I want to do it so that I can play, cabbage, potatoes, carrots and parsnips That’s what is go hiking and do fun things with simmering in their important.” my granddaughters. That’s what slow cooker. is important.” The combo of healthy “home cooked” The Longs leased on to Landstar 18 years ago. meals and exercise in (or around) the truck appears Dave is a Landstar Roadstar and a Million Mile to be a recipe for success for these BCOs. Road to Success DEFINE SUCCESS ON YOUR TERMS, ALIGN YOUR career with LANDSTAR IA80com LS Success 021716.qxp_Layout 1 2/17/16 3:58 PM Page 1 GET YOUR FREE CATALOG! • Go online to www.iowa80.com and request your FREE CATALOG of the finest selection in Chrome and Professional Trucking Accessories! • Or Call Toll Free – 866-4-IOWA80 (866-446-9280) As an independent Landstar BCO you’ll enjoy: • Access to a large and diverse freight base • A Load Alert system that notifies you when loads are available • Discounts on fuel, tires and more • Support of a financially stable company CALL 800-435-4010 0r visit www.lease2landstar.com As an independent Landstar agent you’ll enjoy: • Technology you need to succeed • Unmatched access to capacity • Realizing your earnings potential • Excellent growth opportunities • Support of a financially stable company CALL 888-949-2880 0r visit www.landstar.com • Shop online today! www.iowa80.com SCAN OUR CODE to learn more Truck Accessories For The Professional Driver SCAN OUR CODE to learn more LS 2016 www.facebook.com/LandstarAgents www.facebook.com/LandstarOwnerOperators 40 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 www.landstar.com www.landstar.com 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 41 Transportation management solutions • Air • Ocean • Rail Intermodal • truckload • LTL • Heavy Haul/Specialized • expedited Environmental, Health, Safety & Security Landstar’s environmental, health, safety & security (EHS&S) program is the right thing to do. It enhances the value of the organization to Landstar customers and the environment we operate within through the supportive actions of its agents, employees and capacity providers. Landstar’s commitment is to: • Reducing, and where feasible, eliminating the generation, discharge, disposal or spilling of hazardous materials. • Train its employees on how to conduct their activities in an efficient, responsible manner, consistent with this policy. • Meet or exceed the environmental, health, safety & security requirements of regulatory agencies and strive to meet other requirements as known to Landstar. • Monitor its performance to determine progress toward the achievement of EHS&S program goals and objectives through appropriate measurements and internal audits. in the Spotlight Evolving Expectations performance with respect to EHS&S programs. • Promote and communicate its EHS&S programs to Landstar customers, agents, employees and capacity providers. • Encourage its customers, agents and capacity providers to institute sound practices consistent with these objectives. • Work to continuously improve its management practices with respect to EHS&S. Revised: 05/14 Commitment to Quality Landstar’s Commitment to Quality is the cornerstone of the planning process for its Landstar Management System. It is the basis for continuous improvement and to establishing goals and objectives that support the company’s Critical Success Factors, which then flow to all Landstar departments. This commitment starts with executive leadership and flows throughout the entire Landstar organization. Landstar expects to be recognized by its customers as the provider of superior transportation logistics services and transportation management solutions. improvement is encouraged and expected by everyone within the organization. • Involve each Landstar employee and strive to influence the actions of its third-party capacity providers, agents and key vendors in the process. • Conduct regular meetings of management to review performance of the company’s Critical Success Factors, key initiatives and improvement opportunities. Landstar Vice President and Chief Safety & Operations Officer • Conduct regular meetings of management to review Landstar’s pledge is to be a positive influence within the transportation and logistics industry and we accept the responsibility to do so. • Create and maintain an environment in which continuous Joe Beacom • Identify and understand the requirements of its customers and strive to offer innovative solutions to challenges. • Ensure that all Landstar employees fully understand the requirements of their job and the role their job plays within Landstar. • Provide transportation services and transportation management solutions that meet or exceed the requirements of its customers. Anyone who has purchased products via the Web has very likely received an update on when the product shipped and when it will arrive on their doorstep. This level of visibility was, at one time, popular within just a few niche markets – automotive production parts, expedited or LTL services and high-value shipments. The means to obtain and provide the information was typically manual and not always reliable. Today, customers across the spectrum of industries and products have come to realize the availability of technology that can provide this information. With this knowledge has come a significant increase in customer requests to provide greater visibility into the movement of their product from order to delivery, along with exception reporting, on a real time basis. Landstar has provided a means to meet customer expectations in an efficient, cost effective manner. Equipping the Landstar van fleet with a tracking and reporting capability and enhancements to our Shipment Manager application have provided improved visibility and exception management to the agent family. The implementation of ELDs and the availability of Landstar Connect as part of our mobile strategy allows BCOs and carriers to provide shipment visibility and status in real time. Further enhancements are planned throughout 2016. At many customers, the ability to consistently communicate the departure, Landstar has provided a position and means to meet customer arrival of their product equals expectations in an efficient, or exceeds the cost effective manner. importance of on-time service. Landstar remains committed to providing the means for agents, BCOs and carriers to meet these requirements in an efficient manner. To find out more, please address any questions or comments to [email protected]. To do anything less is unacceptable to Landstar and its customers. Revised: 02/14 42 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 www.landstar.com www.landstar.com 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 43 DRIVE FOR FIVE WHEN IT COMES TO SAFE DRIVING, Landstar believes it is important to expect the unexpected and always have “an out.” Maintain sufficient space around your vehicle. Check your blind spot mirrors, using the lean and look method every 3-5 seconds. Choose to drive safe and legal. Protect the zones around your truck and DRIVE FOR FIVE - yourself, the vehicle directly in front of and behind you, and to each side of you. safety thursday You’re Invited to Participate! Landstar’s monthly safety call Each month, Landstar holds a Safety Thursday Conference Call and various safety events at agencies and truck stops across the country. Every faction of On Your Side: Behind You: Help prevent rear-end collisions, by maintaining a safe speed and avoid sudden stopping. Limit changing lanes and stay in the right lane whenever possible. the Landstar family participates in the monthly safety call – including our President and CEO Jim Gattoni, BCOs, agents, employees, third-party capacity providers, state and federal DOT officials and other interested parties, like Landstar customers. Everyone is invited to participate. Landstar’s Safety Thursday Conference Call is always on the third Thursday of the month at 12 p.m. (noon) ET. On Safety Thursday, dial 877-717-5921. 2016 Dates: 1/21, 2/18, 3/17, 4/21, 5/19, 6/16, 7/21, 8/18, 9/15, 10/20, 11/17, 12/15 upcoming events 2016 March 30 - April 3: Landstar Annual Convention, Boca Raton, FL 31 - April 2: MATS, Louisville, KY April 8: BCO Appreciation Day, Ft. Worth, TX May 31: Memorial Day Observed July 1-3: BCO All-Star Celebration, Orlando, FL 4: Independence Day August 25-27: GATS, Dallas, TX September 5: Labor Day Holiday 13-14: BCO Appreciation Days, Rockford, IL November 24-25: Thanksgiving Holiday Observed December 24-25: Christmas Holiday Observed Note: Dates of events are subject to change. Visit www.landstar.com/corporate-information for up-to-the-minute information. On the Road Puzzle Answers - from page 32 On Your Side: To prevent sideswipe collisions when changing lanes, signal early, wait and look before making a move. In Front Of You: Remember safe speed and proper following distance prevent rear-end collisions and jackknife accidents. Just imagine family and friends occupying those other vehicles around you. 44 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 www.landstar.com QTROCSEZFRYACH I L DREN DMQDEL I VERYCSOFR IEND VRDOMXPSTLEGARUOCNEV SXECQWVNARUGRGVNPPCR NRTSXRUQNCSGBEEHHSLS AMEH I OKPOFRFGRTRRUXR GTRDCAJCUHA I EAJAOCEQ I RMCNTRFOMTFFTGJWCBD HUILNOVDINFLJISEOYSS CCNOOPWLN I TOATCGXTQL I KAG I PYKDUUEBENEHLGA METATOHZYRFNS I HGSGY I SR I CCR I ONEDQTT IWNCOR GSO I UTWENAN I NLNBNDKO FONHAUYMNOOOFY I E NPHM FHXCKNVPQNRRMKGUMNOE NMULT I PLESCLEROS I SMM VOLUNTEERSNUEHZDHHEX DSFM I YSLM I AMJVMAGG I E MI HOKSVLQJENA I DRAUGC www.landstar.com Advertising Index Southeast Trailer Service.......2 TA/Petro........................5, 33 IOA....................................11 Lease2Landstar.com............11 Landstar.................26, 41, 48 Smart Truck........................26 Michelin.............................37 Iowa80.com.......................40 Randall Reilly.....................47 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 45 landstars on the road with American idol America’s favorite singing competition, American Idol, is in its 15th and final season, and some lucky Landstar BCOs got to be part of all the action during the farewell season of one of the most successful reality shows on television. Landstar BCOs Tom Arnold, Milt Gernhart, Chris Grimshaw, JR Stambaugh and Gavin Tookey joined the audition tour, hauling all the equipment for the show, including audio and visual equipment and everything needed for the American Idol stage. With their trucks donning the American Idol logo, the group traveled from August through October as auditions took place in cities across the United States. 46 • The Road to Success | 2016 Issue 1 Landstar BCO Chris Grimshaw started hauling for the show during the 13th season and signed on for this year as soon as possible. “The opportunity to be part of a production like that, watched by millions and knowing ‘I was part of making that happen,’ plus the the friendships and working relationships I made, it was like a family,” said Grimshaw. After weeks of traveling through the 50 states, the Idol audition tour made its last stop in San Francisco, California. American Idol first aired on Fox in June 2002. The final season premiered in January and ends in May 2016. www.landstar.com THE VOICE OF THE AMERICAN TRUCKER Overdrive is the premier magazine for leased owneroperators and independent owner-operators. Get business and equipment features relevant to the owner-operator trucker, as well as trucking news, truck driving jobs and other trucking industry information of interest to the independent contractor delivererd to your tablet, mobile phone, and home. www.landstar.com Subscribe for free now at overdriveonline.com/subscribe 2016 Issue 1 | The Road to Success • 47 the the Road Roadtoto Success Success Ififyou profit youwant wantmore to make a in your pocket, good living,define there’ssuccess no on your own terms as a Landstar better place than landstar. - Ben Easters, Landstar BCO independent owner-operator. “ ” - Roy Butler, Landstar BCO and Million Mile Safe Driver • Earn a share of the revenue for every load hauled. As freight rates go up, your settlement check does too. • More home time: the independence to run when you want, where you want. • Big fuel discounts at the point-of-sale, no waiting for rebate checks. Big fleet National Account tire prices. Cash rebates on new tractors, factory-direct trailer pricing. • There are thousands of loads available every day. There’s • 100% of all billed fuel always something waiting surcharges paid straight to you. for you. See for yourself - landstar load board webinar demonstrations contact us: [email protected] or 1-877-472-0107 VAN•REEFER•FLATBED•STEPDECK•expedited •HEAVY/SPECIALIZED•Hot Shot www.lease2landstar.com 1-877-472-0107 Follow us on Twitter @lease2landstar www.facebook.com/LandstarOwnerOperators