the dispatch - Best Logistics Group

April 2015
Volume I
THE DISPATCH
Best Logistics Group’s Newsletter
In this issue:
 Best Logistics Hall of
Fame
 Welcome to the team
 Wreaths Across America
 Best Living
 Roy Cox at the TCA
Annual Convention
 Annual Employee
Appreciation Banquet
 Celebrations
Inaugural Inductees into
Best Logistics Group
Hall of Fame
During the Annual Employee Appreciation
Banquets held in February, Best Logistics Group
was proud to induct the first members into its Hall
of Fame.. These drivers were honored for
achieving over one million safe miles during their
tenure with Best, The inaugural class consisted of
In Memoriam
eight drivers among the three fleets.
It was an honor to be able to
recognize the drivers inducted
Wade Oxendine was inducted for achieving
over 2,000,000 safe miles with Best Cartage.
Wade has been an employee of Best for over 25
years.
into our inaugural Hall of Fame
class. Their accomplishment of
driving 1 or 2 million consecutive
miles without an accident is
Mike Moore also has over 2,000,000 safe miles
with Best Cartage. Mike joined the Best family in
1994.
Billy Locklear was honored for reaching the
1,000,000 safe miles plateau. Billy has been
driving with Best Cartage since 1996.
Henry Bennett was also acknowledged for
successfully driving over 1,000,000 safe miles.
Henry joined Best Cartage in 1999.
Jim Creed rounded out the group of 1,000,000
mile safe drivers for Best Cartage. Jim has been a
professional , accident free driver for nearly 50
years and joined Best Cartage in 1998.
Lionel Jarrell was one of two drivers inducted
from Best Specialized. Lionel has safely driven
over 1,000,000 miles since joining Best in 2002.
Gerry Young joins Lionel as 1,000,000 mile
honorees. Ironically, both Gerry and Lionel started
on the same date in 2002.
Mike White a Kay Chemical driver for Best
Dedicated, was the final inductee into the Hall
of Fame. Mike has over 1,000,000 safe miles
since joining Best in 2003.
Each inductee received a cash award along with a
commemorative jacket to honor their
accomplishment.
Join Best in celebrating the outstanding
accomplishments of these drivers.
remarkable. I look forward to
recognizing additional drivers as
they reach these milestones.
—Rob Treadaway
Operations Manager Best
Cartage
WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA
Best Logistics Group was proud to participate in the
annual Wreaths Across America event at Arlington
National Cemetery this past December. Started in 1992,
the goal this year was to place a wreath on every marker
at Arlington National; all 230,000 of them. Roy Cox,
Executive Vice President of Best Logistics Group, led a
team of volunteers from BLG along with their families to
assist in making that goal a reality. By the end of the
morning, every marker displayed a fresh, balsam wreath.
A special thanks to Best Cartage driver William Wooten
for delivering the wreaths into Arlington and proudly
representing Best!
“Anybody that gets
the chance to do this,
Wreaths Across
America, should
jump right on it. It’s
been a privilege to do
this.”
William Wooten
Driver Best Cartage
Wellness News
Mark your calendars!! Benefits open enrollment will be May 1st – May 31st for the 20152016 plan year which begins June 1st. You
will be able to go online to complete and
submit your benefits election form for your
convenience. Information on benefits offered
for the 2015-2016 plan year will be sent to all
employees in April.
We have several exciting wellness activities planned over the next few months!!
BEST LIVING
Events, news, and more to help
you be the BEST you possibly
can !
Buddy “Put in a Ticket” Fisher and Stacy
“Tarheel” Earnhardt compete for the crown
Jeff Sacrinty led IT to the
department crown, while
Will Reich and Josh Wall
finished at the top of the
individual leaderboard!
Rounding out the month of March,
we will be holding another basketball free
throw competition to coincide with the
NCAA Championships. It will be structured
the same way as earlier this month. Get some
practice in and come show off your skills! This
next competition will be held on Friday April
3rd, both individual and company competitions
will be held.
On April 17th from 12-1pm, we will be
offering a Lunch and Learn “Sitting with a
Stretch”. All who attend will learn very beneficial exercises specifically targeting toward
sedentary workers. It will be hosted by Lorraine Bingham and guaranteed to be a very
informative and entertaining event. She will
demonstrate different activities and exercises
that can keep everyone moving even though
they are in an office chair or cab of a truck for
most of the day. Please join us, our drivers
and office staff can absolutely utilize and
implement these activities into their daily work
routine!!
We are excited to announce that
on Saturday May 30th from 2pm – 6pm we
will be holding our 1st Annual Best Olympics!! This event will be held at Triad Park
in Kernersville and will include both group and
individual events!! We have lined up a 53”
obstacle course, jousting event, Corn Hole,
etc. as well as many fun unconventional team
relay races/events. Medals will be awarded
for individual events and trophies for group
events. Light healthy food and drink options
will be provided at the event. More information
will be forthcoming.
Please contact Shannon EllisBowman (800-849-1818 x1321) if you are
interested in signing up for any of the events
listed above or have any questions concerning these events.
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy
quarter!!
New Faces
...or New Places
ROY COX AT TCA
CONVENTION
Reception
attendees
at
the
Truckload Carriers Association
Annual Convention heard from Roy
Cox, Executive Vice President of
Best Logistics Group. As outgoing
co-chair of TCA’s Membership
Committee, Roy was presented a
plaque and honored for his service
Please welcome Curtis Messer as he
joins Best Specialized as a Driver
Manager. Curtis comes to us
bringing with him 20 plus years retail
experience, working with
several fortune 500 companies like
Wal-Mart and Lowes. With his last
position being a store manager for
Murphy USA. Curtis is a husband and
proud father of two teenage boys who
keep him busy with basketball and
football. Coaching his youngest son
and making it to his oldest sons
practices and games take up most of
his free time. Curtis is also an avid
hunter and fisherman who loves
spending time in the woods.
Annual Employee Appreciation
Banquets
On consecutive Saturday nights in February, the
Best family gathered together to honor the service
and commitment of its employees, A great time was
had at both events. Many prizes were given away
and each evening culminated with the announcement of the Driver of the Year for each fleet. The
winners were:
Best Specialized:
Jamey Plants
Best Dedicated:
Kenny Miller
Best Cartage:
Mic Balas
Best Specialized Driver of the Year Jamey Plants
Kristen Meyer has rejoined the
Best Logistics Group family as our
new HR Supervisor. A native of New
York, Kristen moved to NC in 1996.
She loves to cook (one might say a
Pampered Chef addict) and spending
time with family and friends. She lives
in Lexington, NC with her boyfriend
David, dog Nugget, and two cats.
Please welcome Joan Gray as she
joins the Admin Department in the
Accounts Payable role. Joan is married, has 2 children and moved to
Kernersville in 2005. She is currently
taking night classes to continue her
love for learning. During her free time,
she enjoys spending time with her
family, bowling, traveling and going to
the aquarium.
Best Dedicated Driver of the Year Kenny Miller
Best Cartage Driver of the Year Mic Balas
Ernesto Mitchell is joining the HR/
Safety Department in the role of
Safety Supervisor. Ernesto was also
born in New York City. Ernesto is a
combat veteran with the US Army.
Ernesto drove for Best for six years
prior to moving into operations.
Ernesto served as a Driver Manager,
Account Manager and On-Site
Logistics Manager prior to moving into
his new role in Safety.
Drivers of the Month
Please congratulate Best
Dedicated driver Anthony
Cuthbertson. Anthony
has been a driver for Best
since August 2014. Bob
Bowser, Fleet Planner
for Best Dedicated stated
it best, “Anthony has excelled on two different
accounts for Best Dedicated – Kay Chemical and
Circle S. His reliability,
professionalism, and positive attitude make him a
valuable member of the
BD team.”
Calvin Van Hoose was
named as Best Specialized
Driver of the Month for
February. Calvin has been
with Best since February
2013. He is a great
example of a positive
attitude and of being a
team player. Calvin
handles the dedicated run
for CSX and has built a
great rapport with both the
CSX team and his fellow
employees.
Congratulations Calvin!!!!
Please congratulate Best
Cartage’s selection for
Driver of the Month for
February, Christopher
Mayo. Christopher is
relatively new to Best
Cartage, but has already
made his mark with his
professionalism, on time
service, and excellent
attitude. He typifies Best
Cartage’s “In a
Word...Dependable”
motto!! Join us in congratulating Christopher!!
In Memoriam
Best Logistics Group said farewell to two long time associates during the last
few months.
Brooks Butler was one of the original members of the Best Logistics
Team. Brooks began his employment with Best in 1987. From his earliest
customer Phoenix Paper, up until his retirement, Brooks singlehandedly moved
60,000 shipments for Reich Logistics/Best Logistic Services. His colleagues
would often comment on his uncanny ability to know the right carrier at the right
time or how he could rattle off any phone number or load number needed.
Brooks helped lay the foundation for our company and its success and will be
sorely missed.
Harry Umfleet joined Best Cartage in August of 2002. Always willing to
lend a hand or a word of encouragement, Harry was best known for his avid
love of the Duke Blue Devils. Harry retired from Best in June of 2013 and
moved to Myrtle Beach with his wife Ann where they resided until his passing
earlier this month.
Upcoming Birthdays
April 2015
Sun
Mon
John Cannady
Matt Williams
5
6
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Dennis Parham
Heather HerringJames Stanbery
Brandi Thomas
Gary Halstead
Gary Moore
1
2
3
4
9
10
11
Chris McCorkle
Randy Moore
Jerry Stone
16
17
18
Harold Edgerton
William Calder
Harry Hendrix
Dennis Dodson
Gerry Naylor
Joe Thompson
23
24
25
Edd Rayfield
Dwight ShepardMarquette Edwards
8
7
Wes Wise
12
13
14
15
Kenneth
McCollum
Darrell Addington
Lora Foster
19
20
21
Curtis Messer
Karen Bradshaw
26
27
22
Jerry Misenheimer
28
John Pearman
Henry Godfrey
29
30
May 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Brian Ellis
1
Clarence Pullom
David Houchins
3
4
Gary Surber
Marshall Smith
Lacy Burkhart
Constance Brown
Mark Charles
5
6
7
Mike JohnsonGreg Clay
David Dunning
Trent Caudle
Duane Haney
14
10
11
12
13
David Reich III
Tim Sechrist
Chris May
Wesley Foster
Terry Jacobs
Ed Riglioni
Travis Nelson
Jim PattersonLewis Basil
Bryan Mays
17
18
19
20
Darrell Ruff
8
9
15
16
Ceylon Kimball
21
22
23
Kerry Coleman
Scott Simmons
30
Shannon Ellis
Miranda Sigmon
Henry Keene
Michael Hall
Mike Moore
Paul MullenaxBrad Guyer
24
25
26
27
28
29
31
Sat
Randy Carter
John Short
Johnny Wellman
Ray Kime