THE SAFETY MESSAGE
Well, summer is upon us once again! In some ways, January seems like it was just a few weeks ago, and in other ways, it seems like it was years ago. We are all seeing more traffic on the road as well as more road construction. With summer well underway, I want to remind you to manage your speed and following distance. This time of year, there are more people traveling on the roads and going on vacation. Do not allow yourself to get frustrated while driving. Many times that will lead to you being an aggressive driver. Do not risk your safety or someone else’s safety for a couple of miles per hour or just to get ahead by one or two car lengths. A safe and consistent approach will get the job done right every time. Folks, I am seeing articles and comments in the media relating to marijuana and CBD products. I want you all to make sure you understand the potential risk. Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance by the DEA and, as described in 49 CFR 392.4, “No driver shall be on duty and possess, be under the influence of, or use, any of the following drugs or other substances: 1) Any 21 CFR 1308.011 Schedule I substance.” Then 392.4 goes on to describe the other drugs that are prohibited. The FMCSA regulations trump all other state and local laws. No form of marijuana is allowed while you are performing a safety sensitive function. In a similar manner, the CBD products you can buy over the counter, no matter how they are labeled, may have some form of THC and could possibly show up on a
DOT drug test. This is your livelihood and your career, so don’t put it in jeopardy by making a poor decision.
As you have probably heard, and some may have a truck already equipped with one, we have changed our telematics and ELD provider to Transflo. They utilize a portable tablet, and you can use the tablet or the Transflo app on your phone. We tested it extensively and think you all will be pleased with it. Once you are accustomed to it, we feel it will be easier to use and offer you more options than the former device.
Folks, you are appreciated more than you realize. Please continue to operate safely and adopt safety as a culture, not just something you do to stay out of trouble.
Until next time, –Tim Clark VP of Safety
SHOP TIPPS
We will be making another change this summer as we introduce the Transflo mobile telematics device to the Big G fleet. As many of you may know, the Omnitracs MCP200 units will become ineffective with the 3G sunset coming next year. Now that all phones and mobile devices are LTE or 4G capable, we are looking to improve the driver experience by offering a more robust tablet-based product. Most of you already use the Transflo application to do your scanning; now you will be able to unleash the power of the Transflo driver services application. We think you will enjoy the experience and the power available through the new telematics solution. I also want to let you know we are now open in Deason 24 hours from Sunday through Thursday a.m. to service your needs. Keep this in mind when you are coming through as we want to be the one to service your vehicles. Keep up the great work, and as always, thanks for what you do! –Tim Tipps VP of Maintenance
Drivers,
New trucks are coming! Kenworth Trucks will release the new body style in June this year. Big G Express will receive the first trucks to arrive in middle Tennessee, and we are looking forward to getting the new body style in our fleet. The new model will
still be called a T680, but the refreshed model will have different lines, a smaller grill, and a sleek new aerodynamics package. The dash will be updated with some new features, and the interior has been redesigned to add more comfort. Big G Express has a great working relationship with Kenworth, and we look forward to seeing this new body style with orange stripes!
2 WWW.BIGGEXPRESS.COM
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