to all of us, whether you are driving a CMV or a personal car going to the grocery store. When considering these figures, keep in mind that kids are out of school and more people are on the roads taking trips and vacations. Be mindful of this and again practice safe driving habits. Watch your speed, maintain
I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones well. We have officially eclipsed the half-year mark of 2022. Wow! From a safety standpoint, I am proud to let you know that Big G and IKE are doing well. Our CSA scores are good, which means that our ISS (Inspection Selection System) score is good as well. This is in great part due to the hard work each of you are doing while driving and performing your pre- and post-trip inspections. Keep up the good work and know that we can never lose focus on these things. If we do, we will see an increase in our scores, which is never good. I wanted to pass along some national statistics that shed some light as to what is going on along the roads throughout the United States. These statistics are from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and include all vehicles, not just CMVs. NHTSA projects an estimated 10.5% increase in fatalities due to motor vehicle accidents in 2021 from 2020. This projection is the highest number of fatalities since 2005 and the largest percentage increase in history. Fatalities in crashes involving at least one large truck are up 13%. That is just a small snippet of what is happening on our roads from a national perspective. These figures help to remind each of us to be alert and safe and to wear your seat belt properly while out on the roads. This applies FATALITIES ARE INCREASING ON OUR ROADS BE SAFE, STAY ALERT
good following distances, and don’t drive distracted or fatigued. You cover a lot of distance in a short period of time and things can happen in an instant. Make a habit of scanning your mirrors every 6–8 seconds, use those turn signals when changing lanes or making turns, and look out far enough in front of you to have time to react safely. Folks, I want to thank you all for the work you do and for being both safe and productive. Most of these tips are not just for a CMV but work for personal vehicles as well. Share these tips with your family and loved ones, as we all want them to be safe on the roadways too. Be safe and keep up the good work.
Until next time,
–Tim Clark VP of Safety
REMEMBER YOUR INSPECTIONS
Construction is continuing to press forward with the new shop in Mosheim. The ETN maintenance team is so looking forward to getting into the new facility. From increased size of the drivers lounge to a laundry mat, you are going to be impressed with the new facility. We are also working hard to find a maintenance solution for the IKE group that will give us the opportunity to better inspect, repair, and PM the IKE fleet. I am excited to let you know we have a plan to have a shop on site in Murfreesboro and we hope to open by August or September. Don’t forget we have a lot of new equipment coming, with new tractors coming in throughout the year: 50 new trailers coming in August and September, then another 50 coming in January 2023. The investment in new equipment is what has helped Big G Express survive this insane economy we are currently experiencing.
VIOLATIONS CAN BE PREVENTED
Hello, drivers! Did any of you see spring this year? I think we went straight from winter into summer as hot as it has been and there is no end in sight. Just like in winter, being prepared is essential to staying safe. Keep plenty of water in the truck and stay hydrated. With hot summer weather and temps in the triple digits, tires are put through severe stresses. If ever there was a time for pre-trips and post-trips, this is it! The state of Tennessee recently finished a study of all violations recorded in the state in a facility (weigh station) and roadside. There was something striking to me as I look at the top five violations. All of these most likely could have been avoided with a good pre-trip inspection. Are you doing good pre- and post-trip inspections?
We couldn’t do this without our hero truck drivers. Now more than ever, people are seeing the role trucking plays in keeping the shelves stocked
and the essentials we need every day on the shelves. This country doesn’t move without the contribution you make every day. Let me say THANKS!
TNDOT Q2 2022
Violation/Description/Number 1. Brakes, All Others: 1,712 2. Tires: 1,510 3. Size and Weight: 1,244 4. Lighting: 1,128 5. Brakes, Out of Adjustment: 816
–Tim Tipps VP of Maintenance
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