Sept/Oct 2019
BE AN OWNER October kicks off Employee Ownership Month, and we will celebrate the fact that Big G Express is 100% employee-owned through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). We want to introduce our “Be an Owner” campaign that will focus on how we can make a difference in OUR company and increase Big G Express’ stock value! The ESOP gives employees of Big G Express a beneficial ownership of our stock without any money out of their pocket — a FREE RETIREMENT! The value of our stock depends on the success of Big G Express, particularly our profitability and growth. To be successful over the long term, each employee must take ownership of their job by being responsible, acting with empowerment, and fully investing in the mission of Big G Express. • Take care of our drivers. As internal support, office and maintenance employees ensure our drivers have mechanically sound trucks, the information they need for pickups and deliveries, and the time to make deliveries legally and safely. We support our drivers so they can provide excellent service to our customers. • Take care of our customers. Provide on-time deliveries and treat our customers with respect. Customer service is a team effort that begins with the customer order being accepted and lasts throughout planning, dispatch, and ultimately, our professional drivers who make the final delivery. At every level of the customer journey, we can provide respect and attention to detail. Communication is critical when issues arise. We should always be proactive and not reactive if we are unable to meet customer expectations. Just imagine the results we could accomplish if we were able to establish a stronger culture of ownership at Big G Express! Let’s look at a few ways employee-owners can “Be an Owner.”
• Represent Big G as an owner. As an employee, you are the face of Big G Express to our customers and the general public. Remember to look and act the part as the professional you are! Our trucks are a moving billboard for Big G Express, and any unsafe driving habits or illegal actions taken will be a reflection on our company. Social media gives the general public a way to share what they see with everyone. • Drive safe and obey the law. Unsafe driving can increase our CSA violations, leading to alerts on Big G, which causes a loss of PrePass access and decreases HOS productivity. Furthermore, this increases the chance of multiple violations, costing the driver and Big G money and reducing our profitability (which has a negative impact on our ESOP value). • Take care of your equipment. Keep it clean and make sure you address any mechanical issues when you do your pre-trip inspection. A clean truck in good order will decrease the chances of inspection violations. • Maintain a professional appearance. While we do not require a uniform, we do provide Big G logo T-shirts and polos for you to wear. Please take care of your hygiene and wear clean, neat clothing avoiding offensive graphics or language. We are challenging everyone to “Be an Owner,” and we welcome your feedback on how you think employees can take ownership of their job. Also, we encourage you to share how you or someone you know has shown a great example of ownership behavior. Please reach out to us at ESOP@biggexpress.com.
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EARN UP TO $750 $250 THE WEEK THE REFERRAL IS HIRED $500 AFTER SIX MONTHS OF SERVICE (as long as they are actively working)
EMPLOYEE REFERRALS
WE NEED MORE GREAT EMPLOYEES LIKE YOU! YOU ARE OUR BEST ADVERTISING SOURCE!
DO YOU KNOW A GOOD MECHANIC? DO YOU NEED EXTRA CASH?
Earn a total of $750 for every mechanic you refer who is HIRED. Drivers (Big G and IKE) and mechanics are eligible for this mechanic referral bonus.
HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED REFERRAL CARDS? CALL 931-680-3193 OR EMAIL CORPRECRUITING@BIGGEXPRESS.COM
SHOP TIPPS
We celebrated Driver Appreciation Week in September, and it was a great opportunity to shake hands and thank as many drivers as possible in person! Great American drivers, like yourself, keep this country moving forward. It is also, without a doubt, one of the toughest jobs to perform, and my hat is off to each and every one of you. We have seen many changes over the years with this profession. We experienced the government’s addition of catalytic converters to trucks. We fought through hours of service rules and now have electronic logs. The equipment keeps getting better and better, engines are pulling again, and trucks are seeing the best fuel mileage in history. Change, no matter how hard we fight it, does happen, and in the end, we are usually better off. One area I will argue technology has not improved is in the driver habits surrounding pre-trip and post-trip inspections. We can now sit in the truck and fill out a driver vehicle inspection report without looking at anything. Is there anyone who would argue this is good? Each of us has the best tools in the world: a good set of eyes, a big nose, and a good set of ears. Some of us old people, like me, have hearing aids that help us perform daily tasks, but in the end, you have to use these tools if you expect any benefit from them.
Pre-trip inspections are where these tools are best used and applied to help keep you and Big G Express employees safe. Stopping at each axle position and looking at lug nuts is where your eyes benefit us all. Sniffing for the smell of 90-weight oil and listening for air leaks or the clunk of wheels and tires are another way these tools can help save lives. Pre-trip inspections are the only ways you can ensure you are protecting the people around you. Listening for sounds that are not normal and looking for things out of the ordinary are ways of keeping us all safe. We all make choices every day that affect others, and drivers face this daily or even hourly. Choosing not to do pre-trips is a bad choice, one that will get someone hurt. Please don’t be ordinary, be extraordinary and do a walk around every time you stop.
Thanks for all you do! –Tim Tipps
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July/August ELITE FLEET
August
PERFECT INSPECTIONS FOR JULY/AUGUST
1,000,000 Accident-Free Miles Charles Cravens 500,000 Accident-Free Miles Larry Davis 250,000 Accident-Free Miles Jerry Rife Robert Laster Almeda Bariteau Thomas Johnson Gary Smith
THOMAS WELKER ROBERT KINNAN
ANDREW TYLER BRYAN CAIN SAMMY DEAN JACKIE GLASER STEPHEN RICHARDSON TIMOTHY SIMPSON JAMES VAUGHAN GREGORY OBRIEN JEFFREY BAKER ZACHARY BONOMO JAMES SCHOENFELD RICHARD KEITH SCOTT
MAMADOU DIOP ANDREW HATFIELD ANDREW THOMAS CHARLIE HALL RICHARD RAMOS MICHAEL STEWART BRADFORD JESSIE DONALD BURGIN JAMES BAGBY ANDREW HATFIELD JAMES BELLAVIA ROBERT MCGUIRE
ADRIAN WASHINGTON DONALD BLASSINGAME ALBERT BROWN CARL DAVIS
TODD DARNELL ROBERT YOUNG JEFFREY ROBERTS JESSE PARSONS BOBBY BOURNE ROY LOPER
125,000 Accident-Free Miles Jonathan Dalton
Grady Kimbrough Dixie Newbrey
Paul Schultz Danny Croft
July
1,000,000 Accident-Free Miles Nels Christensen 500,000 Accident-Free Miles Johnny King 250,000 Accident-Free Miles Andrew Strickland Cody Stone Edward Owen Raymond Bragg 125,000 Accident-Free Miles Thomas Welker Mark Roden Donald Hayes Daniel Dutkiewicz
INSPECTION BONUS INCREASE! We are excited to announce an increase in our inspection bonus. Currently, you receive a $15 gift card for a perfect inspection. The inspection bonus will now be added directly to your payroll, and we are increasing the amount depending on the level of inspection. Level 1 – $75 Level 2 – $50 Level 3 – $25 Be sure to log your DOT inspection on duty. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to make sure you get a clean inspection!
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DRIVERS MONTH of the AUGUST
MARSHALL LEWIS
the operations team makes every effort to solve the problem. They get me home when I need to be home.” Marshall’s advice for new drivers is, “Be patient and give things a chance to work out. Don’t be quick to quit or walk away. Like anything else in life, you have to give it time.” Marshall lives in Greensboro, North Carolina, and when he isn’t out on the road, he enjoys spending time with family, going to church, and fishing when he can!
Marshall Lewis has been part of the Big G family since October 2015 and a professional driver for over 30 years. When asked what makes Big G stand out from other carriers, Marshall says, “Big G cares, and they work with me if I have issues. I talk to my driver supervisor, and
DONALD ‘DONNY’ HAYES
Donny’s advice to new drivers is, “Wait and be patient. It took almost 6–9 months before I could see the sunshine. Give it time. It is a new job, and you are learning the system, and dispatch is learning how you run.” Donny lives in High Springs, Florida, and when he isn’t out on the road, he enjoys spending time with his family and working on his race car.
Donny Hayes joined the Big G family in May 2018 and has been a professional driver for the past 14 years. When asked what makes Big G stand out from other carriers, Donny says, “There are two main things. One, I feel like my driver supervisor really cares, and two, Big G has always done exactly what they say they are going to do.”
SEPTEMBER
THOMAS ‘TOM’ WELKER
compared to other places I’ve been. My wife really likes Big G because I am home more than I was with other companies.” Tom’s advice for new drivers is, “Pay attention to your driver supervisor and do what you can to make their job easier. If you take care of them, they will take care of you. You can’t be selfish in this industry. You have to be open to helping others.” Tom lives in New Market, Tennessee, and when he isn’t out on the road, he enjoys spending time with his wife and his grandbaby! per mile. I have only worked for three companies, and I make more money at Big G.” James’ advice for new drivers is, “Stay out at least two weeks to maximize your earning potential. I go home every other weekend and consistently run more miles.” James lives in Orlando, Florida, and when he isn’t out on the road, he enjoys just relaxing.
Tom Welker has been with the Big G family since May 2018. He started his professional driving career in 2015 after a 25-year career as a computer specialist. When asked what makes Big G stand out from other carriers, Tom says, “It is the whole ‘people’ thing. The way Big G cares about me as an individual is different
JAMES BELLAVIA
James Bellavia has been a professional driver for six years and joined the Big G family in April 2017. When asked what makes Big G stand out from other carriers, James says, “The employee stock ownership plan and the fact that I get more miles and paid more
BIG G EXPRESS’ TIMOTHY CHELETTE NAMED PILOT FLYING J ROAD WARRIOR
Chelette has been part of the Big G family for 15 years and driven more than 1.9 million accident-free miles. He has served as a Tennessee Road Team Captain and currently serves as an America’s Road Team Captain, presenting programs about safety across the nation. In the last four years, Chelette has raised more than $30,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through an annual motorcycle ride he created. “It is a great honor to be named the Road Warrior winner,” Chelette said. “Thank you to Big G Express for nominating me and to Pilot Flying J for putting on this great program that recognizes drivers like me. I will be able to do more charity rides now that my motorcycle will be paid off. I appreciate everyone who voted; it really means a lot.”
Big G professional truck driver Timothy Chelette was named winner of the Pilot Flying J sixth annual Road Warrior contest as part of the company’s kickoff to National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. Chelette, who lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, won the $10,000 grand prize.
Each year, the Road Warrior program allows Pilot Flying J to honor the unsung “heroes on the road” who go above and beyond as professional drivers. This year, judges selected the three finalists from more than 7,500 online nominations for their superior efforts in the U.S. trucking industry. To honor Chelette as the grand prize winner, Big G partnered with Pilot Flying J to surprise him with the news of his win and present him with his $10,000 check.
In addition to the $10,000 grand prize, Pilot Flying J also donated $500 to a charity of choice for Big G, which, of course, was St. Jude!
MISO CARAMEL APPLES
BENEFITS REMINDER Dental, vision, and life insurance coverage is now through MetLife, and you will not have an insurance card. Your provider will verify your coverage with your Social Security number.
INGREDIENTS
• 4 Popsicle sticks • 2 tbsp light corn syrup • 1/4 cup heavy cream • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 4 Granny Smith apples • 1/2 cup raw pistachios • 1 1/2 tsp plus 1 cup sugar • 3 tbsp sesame seeds • 2 tbsp white miso, divided
You can view resources online at:
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 275 F. 2. In a food processor, pulse pistachios and 1 1/2 tsp sugar. Add sesame seeds and 1 tbsp miso, pulsing until miso is fully broken up. Spread evenly on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 15–20 minutes and let cool. 3. Meanwhile, insert a Popsicle stick into the center of each apple. 4. In a saucepan, bring corn syrup, 1 cup sugar, and 2 tbsp water to a boil. Boil for 5–7 minutes, swirling infrequently, until caramel is a light amber color. 5. Add cream and salt to caramel, whisking to combine. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and quickly whisk in remaining miso. 6. To assemble, first roll apple in caramel, then in pistachio mixture, before resting on greased baking sheet. 7. Let cool 30 minutes and serve.
MetLife.com/mybenefits
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
190 Hawkins Dr. Shelbyville, TN 37160 855-698-7130 www.biggexpress.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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BE AN OWNER
EMPLOYEE REFERRALS SHOP TIPPS
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TIMOTHY CHELETTE NAMED PILOT FLYING J ROAD WARRIOR MISO CARAMEL APPLES
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SERVICE IS OUR PRIORITY
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
has not changed is the need to provide the only product we have to sell better than any of our competitors. That product is service . Everything we have built and everything we have for our employee- owners is because we have a history of great service . Not good or good enough, but great! We talk a lot about service , but we don’t talk about it as much as we should. Let’s change that. Service is not just an operations thing, nor is it just a sales or customer service thing. We must have every employee-owner on board. It is not just picking up and delivering freight on time. It is doing everything we do for everyone, internally and externally, as well as we can do it. Outside of safety, there is no bigger priority for our company to be successful than service. Let’s all make sure we are doing everything we can to provide the great service our customers and our fellow employee-owners are accustomed to seeing.
Greetings! I’m sure that, just like me, you are all ready for the leaves to turn and the temps to drop. Driver Appreciation Week was a great success despite a little stormy weather and a whole lot of heat. It was awesome to see a lot of professional drivers in person, but I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet personally with each and every one of you. To me, the highlight of the week was seeing the time and effort all the other departments put in to recognize our drivers. The gift packages everyone put together and the time everyone put in to be at our facilities to thank our drivers were so great to see!
Thank you all for everything you do to make the Big G family of companies great!
As we are heading into the final quarter of the 25th year of existence here at Big G Express, it’s hard for me not to spend a little of my time thinking back to when I was younger and things were simpler. A lot of things have changed since January 1995, but one thing that
–Randy Vernon, President
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