FUELING SOLUTIONS AND NEW TRUCKS
Where has the time gone? Big G acquired IKE Transportation 6 years ago on June 1. We continue to build on the foundation laid by the previous owners by providing first-class service to our customers and taking care of our employee-shareholders. I am happy to report that IKE has had a good year due to our hard-working professional drivers and the office support team. There are a couple of items I would like to discuss. Fueling solutions — Something new we recently introduced on the IKE side. When the truck’s fuel level drops below half a tank, the fuel optimizer searches the dispatch route for the cheapest fuel option. Then the computer sends a message to the truck about where to purchase fuel. Based on the pump price minus our discount, it could be a Loves or Pilot. With fuel prices north of $5 per gallon, following the fuel solution will save us money. Trailers — Recently, I have received many complaints about trailers dropped on the yard without drivers reporting the items that need
repair. Please let us know before dropping a trailer if anything needs to be repaired or replaced. This will help us avoid service failures and downtime for the next driver. The first group of new trucks has arrived. We’re adding 20 replacement trucks this year — some added options on the new unit’s refrigerators, inventors, and APU units. Using the APU will reduce our fuel consumption and engine idle time. You will see the new trucks on the road in July. Finally, drivers, I know the summer heat is unbearable some days loading and unloading in the steel plants. Please make sure that you stay hydrated. Your health and safety are our top priority. Thank you for all you do. We could not do it without you. –Ron Moulden IKE Transportation, Executive Vice President
LET’S TALK ABOUT DOT INSPECTIONS
Well, summer weather is officially here! With the extremely hot temperatures outside, please make sure you are taking proper precautions to prevent dehydration. Drink lots of fluids, especially water or Gatorade. Stay away from caffeine, tea, and sugary liquids such as soft drinks and energy drinks. Eat foods with high amounts of water, like fruits and vegetables. Get plenty of rest. Slow down so you don’t overdo it. Take a break when needed. Listen to your body. If you begin to feel dizzy or lightheaded, STOP, take a break, and catch your breath so your body can cool down. Let’s talk about DOT inspections. IKE has had an excessive amount of out of service DOT inspections for tires. You MUST do a proper pre- and post-trip daily on your truck and trailer. Not performing inspections can lead to essential issues going unnoticed. Please check the wheel, rims, hubs, and tires THOROUGHLY. Wheel end components support heavy loads, maintain vehicle stability and control, and are critical for effective braking. Without proper care and maintenance of these areas, you have an increased chance of wheel off conditions. Drivers should check for damage, leaks, or improper installation on all wheel end components pre- and post-trip. Let operations know if tires look defective, have any cuts, worn tread, and/or need to be replaced. As always, please verify your logs daily, and make sure your freight is secure to prevent a load shift. Performing good pre- and post-trip inspections on your truck and trailer will help cut down on the amount of failed DOT inspections IKE receives.
Operation Safe Driver Week was July 10-16, 2022. THE CVSA focused on any risky behaviors on the road such as speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, and failure to wear a seat belt. As a driver, how can you continue to drive safely, no matter if it’s Safe Driver Week or not? Watch your speed. Speeding largely increases your chances of being in an accident. Speeding also increases your chances of getting pulled over by an officer and possibly being issued a citation/ticket. Put away all distractions. Do not engage in other activities while driving. Activities such as using cellphones, eating, or even just reaching for an item takes your eyes and focus off the road. Wear your seat belt. Make it a habit to put your seat belt on every time you are driving. Avoid substances that can impair your driving ability. Pay attention to all traffic laws and traffic signs. Increase your following distance to appropriately match weather conditions, road conditions, visibility, and traffic. In emergency conditions, maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you will allow you to stop safely and/or take necessary evasive action to prevent an accident. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication to IKE. We couldn’t do this without you. Be safe out there and let us know if we can do anything to help you! –April Harris IKE Transportation, Safety and HR Coordinator
ALWAYS CHECK LOAD SECUREMENT
Here at IKE Transportation, our No. 1 priority is load securement and should also be each and every driver’s top priority. Always secure your loads as if a family member is riding in your passenger seat or asleep in your bunk. Never assume when picking up a pre-loaded trailer that the load is properly secured. Always climb in your trailer and double-check the previous driver’s securement. When done securing your loads, ask yourself this question: If for some reason I have to perform a hard braking while traveling down the highway, is my load going to move? If there is any doubt in your mind that your load is
not properly secured, place another chain or two on your load. You will feel better traveling down the highway knowing your load is properly secured. Remember this, there are no timeouts or do-overs while in the middle of hard breaking. Keep your guard up and be safe. Don’t get caught slipping on load securement. You never know what’s ahead of you down the road.
–Robert Lane IKE Transportation, Load Planner
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931-684-9140
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