Stevens Dispatch

Spring 2000 - STEVENS DISPATCH

Update:
Training
Department

We have lots of "GOOD STUFF" going on in the Training Department.

Student Driver Training has improved due to using "live" equipment vs. barrels and cones on the skills course.

We have completed our Trainer Re-Certification program with all trainers and will institute a new ANNUAL Re-Certification program in the next few weeks.

We presently have on board including local, dedicated and OTR a total of 285 trainers.

In my opinion we have an outstanding group of trainers and I would not trade them for any other group of trainers. Keep up the good work "TRAINERS".

We currently have four full time Resident Instructors who work both long and odd hours, yet keep great attitudes when dealing with students and drivers in for re-training. My thanks and appreciation to:

Keith Davis, Arlene Dodds, John Zimmerman, and Luz Ortega

Student Driver Retention is up which means the number of student drivers going SOLO has increased.

This is due to a tremendous effort from everyone involved in driver support, which, if you think about it, would be everyone that is not a driver and you are to be commended for your efforts.

I want to thank the following people who work in training for giving 110% each and every day.

Beth Austerberry
Shannon Smith
Stephanie Starkes
Misty Reese
Janice Campbell

Diane Powers
Diana Fancher
Bill Cheney
Kathy Favel

Thank you again and "PATS" on the back to each of you.

One more thing: Everyone is invited to attend any of our orientation classes and spend time any evening on the skills course observing or participating.

My thanks and appreciation also goes to Bill Tallent for his guidance in training and re-training of drivers.

MOST OF ALL THANK YOU MR. AARON for providing the tools and resources needed to have a successful Training Program.

Director of Training
Richard W. Moore

Accident Reporting

1. NOTIFY INSURANCE DEPT IMMEDIATELY!!!
First send Accident Message over Qualcomm system. We will be able to handle the accident and give you instructions this way. It is imperative that we get an exact location (hwy, mm, streets, etc.) so that we will know where to send assistance to you. An adjuster may be assigned to assist you depending on the severity and type of accident.

2. SECURE THE SCENE.
Turn on your flashers and put out triangles to properly warn other vehicles of the situation.

3. TAKE PHOTOS OF ALL DAMAGE.
Good photos can make a huge difference in the investigation of accidents, not to mention the money it can save when we are paying claims. Also be sure to take photos of the vehicle responsible for hitting you. Having these can be instrumental in recovering our money from the party that hit you.

4. GET ACCIDENT PACKET FILLED OUT.
There should be at least 3 accident packets in your permit book at all times. Extra packets can be found in Central Clearance. This will

give you a place to put all of the information of the other party/parties involved in the accident. This includes all insurance information on other party as well.

5. GET YELLOW ACCIDENT CARD FILLED OUT BY ALL PARTIES IN OTHER VEHICLE.
The infamous "Yellow Card" is also in the accident packet. It asks questions that are crucial to our investigation.

6. DO NOT DISCUSS THE ACCIDENT WITH ANYONE EXCEPT POLICE OR COMPANY ADJUSTER (if adjuster assigned)! Does the saying "Anything you say can be used against youÉ"sound familiar?

7. CALL INSURANCE AT FIRST AVAILABLE PHONE.
There will be a need to get some additional information from you.

Just a few other reminders:
If someone is accusing you of causing damage to their vehicle, yard, fence, CALL US!! If you pick up a trailer that has damage, fill out trailer inspection sheet, and CALL US!!

Help Us Help You

As a lot of you are aware, compliance and the hours of service regulations have always been an extremely high priority for Stevens Transport. If you always "log it like you drive it", you will find that your logs will stay current with less of the mistakes that could be made. To clarify some of the more common mistakes, here is a short review of how to show fueling, random drug tests, etc. on your log.

All time spent providing a breath sample or urine specimen, including travel time to and from the collection site must be logged as on duty not driving. If a driver is notified in Laredo to take a random alcohol test at 1400 he takes the company car to the collection site, arrives at 1415, completes the test at 1500, and arrives back at the Laredo yard at 1515. Then he would log from 1400 to 1515 as on duty not driving. Keep in mind that the most critical point is the actual time of collection that the clinic shows.

As long as we are in review, donÕt forget: 1. 10 hour rule
After 8 hours straight off duty or in sleeper berth, you can drive up to 10 hours. After driving a total of 10 hours, you cannot drive again until you have had 8 continuous hours off consisting of either sleeper berth or off duty time.

2. 15 hour rule
After you have been on duty (including on duty not driving and/or driving) for a total of 15 hours, you cannot drive again until you have had 8 continuous hours off duty consisting of either off duty time or sleeper berth time.

3. 70 hour rule
A driver cannot drive after having been on-duty for 70 hours in any 8 consecutive days. A driver can do non-driving work after reaching the limit and not be in violation, but those hours must be added to the total.

4. Split sleeper berth
You may accumulate your 8 hours rest by breaking it into 2 periods in the sleeper berth. The 2 periods must total 8 hours (only time in the sleeper berth counts). The 2 rest periods must total 8 hours and 2 driving times can total no more than 10 hours. The sleeper berth period cannot be less than 2 hours. To change back to driving 10 hours after using the split sleeper berth you must take a full 8 hour break.

      Example:
      1. 5 hours driving - 3 hours sleep -
      5 hours driving - 5 hours sleep
      2. 4 hours driving - 2 hours sleep -
      6 hours driving - 6 hours sleep
      3. 5 hours driving - 4 hours sleep -
      5 hours driving - 4 hours sleep

We enjoy having you visit while on the yard, but would much rather spend the time catching up on the fun things rather than addressing errors you have in your logs.

Always remember we are here to help you from getting fatigued, and finding yourself in a situation that could have been easily avoided if we had only followed the rules. There is not one person in this office or in a truck with "Stevens Transport" on the side that wants to injure, mame, or kill anyone on the road. There has to be a conscious effort to keep this from happening. We all have to make sure that we get the rest we need to stay alert to the constant changing environment that each of our drivers are subjected to on a daily basis. Plan each trip you run and make allowance for those changes whether it be breakdowns, mother nature, or the ignorance of others, so that you can do your job in a safe and effective manner.