Stevens Dispatch

Spring 2000 - STEVENS DISPATCH

Proper Reefer Management

This is the time of the year that 70% of our loads are going to require refrigeration. The following is a reminder that I hope will avoid potential problems and ultimately claims against Stevens Transport.

Always check your bill of lading to determine the proper temperature requirements. If no temperature is listed, have the shipper note the correct temperature. If this temperature differs from the dispatch instructions, call operations to clarify. If the trailer is already sealed check the temperature through the vent door. Never move a temperature controlled load without first checking the actual temperature of the product by the use of a hand thermometer placed directly into the product. If the temperature varies more than 5% from what is listed on the bill of lading call dispatch immediately. Also, if you are picking up a live load, make sure the product is not obstructing the air circulation in the trailer. It is essential to maintain temperature surveillance on your load at least 5 times a day. Any time you have been away from your load for any period of time, lift the cover to the thermostat control and check the temperature setting.

At least one hour prior to your delivery appointment stop and check the temperature. If the temperature is not within 3 degrees of what is called for on the bill of lading, do not attempt to deliver without first contacting dispatch.

Since different cargo requires different temperature setting, make sure when you reset your reefer that you push ENTER or it will revert back to the previous setting. The following categories always require special attention:

ICE CREAM LOADS
Ice cream is an extremely temperature sensitive product. It starts breaking down at 0 degrees. It melts at 10-15 degrees. When this happens the product is a total loss and we have to buy a truckload of melted ice cream.

To prevent this from happening, please take the following steps:

• Plug drain holes in the four corners of your trailer floor.
• Keep space between the product and the walls, nose and tail. Air movement is the key to keeping the product cold.
• If you should have a mechanical failure, keep your doors closed. Your trailers insulation should protect the ice cream for 8 hours.

PRODUCE LOADS

Perform both visual and temperature checks on the product:

• Visually inspect the product quality. Load only the product you feel is good quality.

• Pulp at least one case on each pallet prior to loading to ensure warm product is not being loaded.

• Make sure you stop at all of the checkpoints provided to you by dispatch. They will check the product temperature, air temperature and make sure the unit is working properly.

All of the above is important since most shippers install a Ryan Recorder with each load. This tracks the temperature through the entire trip. The receiver will check this when you arrive.

PLANT LOADS
On these loads monitor your temperature as previously mentioned the important thing to remember is to open your trailer doors for 1/2 hour twice a day to allow fresh air to circulate in the trailer.

Precautions and communication are the key to avoiding problems.

Stevens Transport Scholarship Program for Employees

Last year Stevens Transport and Eastfield College entered into a partnership for the purpose of expanding opportunities that would be of benefit to both organizations. As part of this cooperative effort, Stevens Transport has established a scholarship fund for company employees and their families interested in furthering their education at Eastfield. The College provides a full range of academic transfer programs and technical/occupational programs designed to equip students for exciting careers in business and industry within the metroplex. The scholarship program is available for the 2001 academic year starting in January.

Two full scholarships of $2500 each will be awarded annually to two potential students who are interested in earning an Associate's Degree at Eastfield College within three years. As a Stevens Transport employee benefit, full-time and part-time employees with one year of service or more and their immediate family members will be eligible to apply. Applicants must have maintained a 2.5 GPA in high school/college courses. Preference will be given based on merit and financial need. The application deadline is October 1, 2000. Applications and program guidelines can be obtained from Kaye in Administration, extension 178.

Stevens Installs Document Imaging

On February 1st Stevens successfully installed "Transflo Document Management Solution" a document imaging solution provided by Pegasus TransTech Corporation out of Tampa, Fl.

As the cost of manually generating, organizing, printing, distributing, and storing paper based information continued to increase, we wanted to find an economic method of managing these documents, which Document Imaging provides.

Document Imaging is the storage, retrieval and workflow of documents electronically. Incorporating workflow as part of our solution decreased the time for billing by reducing the inefficiencies of hand sorting and manual delivery. By having our billing process built into the TRANSFLO solution, we now have a fully documented process that is consistently followed every time. Workflow allows us to monitor processes and assess problem areas that slow our business transactions down. This information is used to modify our process, further streamlining our operations. As we grow and our business changes, graphical administration tools allow an administrator to make changes to the process using a simple graphical interface.

HOW IT WORKS

Workflow electronically routes images to the person, or persons, who need them, automatically. All documents within the trip envelopes are scanned into the system and are delivered electronically to the correct billing and/or payroll clerk immediately and made available for processing. Workflow also allows prioritization at a functional level, ensuring that we complete the work most critical to your business.

RETRIEVAL OF STORED DOCUMENTS

No more hunting through the file cabinets. All documents can be called up to our computer monitors for review and or printing or faxing if necessary. This has virtually wiped out all misplaced documents, which has increased the efficiencies for both the Accounts Receivable and Proof of Delivery Departments.

Pallet Cost Rising

Stevens is on pace to spend a record amount of money on pallets for calendar year 2000. We need the help of everyone to make sure we ask for our pallets back at each and every stop and then, when you are empty, note you have pallets you need to get rid of on your Empty Call. This way your Dispatcher is aware that you have pallets so they may send you proper disposition instructions. The preferred order of disposition is as follows:

1. Reuse pallets on next load.
2. Drop pallets at nearby customer where we have a pallet exchange program established.
3. Drop pallets at an authorized pallet company we have an account with for credit.

Always ask for a receipt and turn in that receipt with your trip paperwork. If you have trouble getting your pallets back from a receiver, or they exchange a poor quality of wood, please call in for assistance.

As a reminder, it is important to follow Dispatch's instructions and then send Message #18 over the Qualcomm indicating you completed those instructions.

If you have any questions, call Pallet Control at 1-800-233-9369 ext. 473 or 232.