Drivers Archives | Page 8 of 18 | Centerline Drivers

Respect the Drive April Spotlight: David Myers

Posted on April 25, 2023October 3, 2024 by Jaimie Williams

At Centerline, we want to honor our drivers and the work you do day in and day out.

Through our Respect the Drive program, our team picks a driver to spotlight for going above and beyond in some way.

We have received so many outstanding submissions this month that we will be nominating three drivers in the month of April.

Our first driver monthly spotlight this month is David Myers, a local driver in Cleveland, Ohio at Centerline.

Within the 4 months working for Centerline in the Cleveland, Ohio region, Myers has “not had any violations, tickets, or accidents. And I have NEVER had any complaints from the client, nor have they had any from their own customers,” says Recruiting Manager Nicole Hammond, who nominated Myers.

As many of us face uncertainty within the industry, this has not faltered Myers unwavering determination, and he truly is an asset to our company.

Thank you David, for all your hard work and for Respecting the Drive!

Learn more about our Respect the Drive program here.

Respect the Drive April Spotlight: Charles Spurlock

Posted on April 25, 2023October 3, 2024 by Jaimie Williams

We received multiple outstanding submissions for our Respect the Drive Monthly Spotlight that we will be nominating three drivers in the month of April.

Our second driver monthly spotlight this month is Charles Spurlock, a localdriver in Ontario, California at Centerline.

“Charles has been with us so long that he went through a lot of changes right along with us,” stated Recruiting Manger Naomi Vasquez who nominated Spurlock.

Charles has stayed with Centerline through those years and more. With nine years of being with Centerline, Spurlock “is not only amazing at communication but is always safe, and reliable.”

In the Ontario, California region Vasquez along with her team, like to show our drivers appreciation by always staying in contact with them. The team visits drivers at their job site, brings food or gifts them with Centerline gear.

“If anyone deserves a gift it will be Charles,” stated Vasquez.

Thank you Charles, for all your hard work and for Respecting the Drive!

Learn more about our Respect the Drive program here.

State of Trucking 2023: Top 5 takeaways for drivers [Infographic]

Posted on April 25, 2023September 13, 2024 by Casey Nighbor

While it seems like the challenges in the industry are never ending after the pandemic, there is still more ahead.

Our fourth annual State of Trucking survey hoped to gather how drivers are feeling before we head into uncertain times ahead.

Here are the top 5 takeaways.

State of Trucking 2023: A driver’s guide

Posted on April 14, 2023August 21, 2024 by Casey Nighbor

Those who have been in the industry a long time have weathered many storms of the past. And many will tell you that trucking is often a barometer for the state of our economy.

Because transportation is such a critical piece of our country’s infrastructure — when transportation thrives, so does the U.S. While it seems like the challenges in the industry are never ending after the pandemic, there is still more ahead.

Our fourth annual State of Trucking survey hoped to gather how drivers are feeling before we head into turbulent times ahead.

See how you measure up against your peers, where the industry stands as a whole and what the future may bring.

Tips to stay safe when on the loading dock

Posted on March 27, 2023August 8, 2024 by Christina DeBusk

One-quarter of all industrial accidents occur at the loading dock according to Industrial Safety & Hygiene News. If this seems like a lot, here’s another statistic that highlights the huge safety risks associated with being in the area where goods are loaded and unloaded: for every accident that does occur, there are roughly 600 that came close to happening but for whatever reason didn’t.

As a driver in the transportation industry, you’re bound to spend at least some of your time on the loading dock. Here are a few tips that can help you stay safe when in this area.

Be aware of potential hazards

The first step to avoiding a potential hazard is recognizing when one exists. Some of the hazards that can make a loading dock unsafe include surfaces that are wet from rain or other slippery substances, as well as unlevel surfaces. Both of these issues can increase your risk of slipping or tripping.

If you notice a wet spot, clean it up. If there is garbage on the dock, discard it. Report uneven dock surfaces to management and, until they’re fixed, ask that the crack or opening be marked with colored tape to make it more noticeable.

Also be aware of the dock edges so you don’t accidentally fall off. This can easily happen if you aren’t paying attention while taking care of your load.

Look out for other people

A loading dock can get busy when trying to load or unload goods. The more people involved in this process, the greater the likelihood that you’ll run into one another, potentially knocking one of you off the loading dock or pushing you into some of the goods or equipment.

At a minimum, this can lead to cuts and bruises, with more serious injuries being broken bones, concussions, or worse. So, take the time to notice where others are on the loading dock. This helps prevent these types of injuries.

Watch for equipment

People aren’t the only things on loading docks. You’ll also find various pieces of equipment. When on the loading dock, watch for common equipment like forklifts and dollies.

The operators of this type of equipment may not see you due to their vision being obstructed or they might be distracted. Either way, if you’re watching for them, you’re able to move out of the way quickly enough to avoid an incident.

Double-check the dock plates or boards

Dock plates and boards are used to help bridge the gap between the dock and the delivery truck. This makes it possible to move goods easily from one spot to the other.

Before stepping on one of these bridges, make sure it is locked into place. If you have a heavy load, it’s also important to make sure the dock plate or board is strong enough to handle it. This can be ascertained by checking its load capacity.

Practice good truck safety protocol

When loading or unloading, your wheels should be chocked or wedged firmly to keep the rig from moving unexpectedly. Also, shut off your truck when in the loading area to keep everyone safe from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Idling trucks can fill the air with this poisonous gas, leading to flu-like symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and upset stomach. If you take in enough, it may even cause death.

Some docks are equipped with sensors that will go off if carbon monoxide levels get too high. For those that aren’t, pay attention to how you feel and leave the area if you start to feel sick.

Follow safe loading practices

The way you load and unload your truck can also either enhance or reduce your injury risk. If at all possible, use equipment to move heavy items. This keeps you from potentially damaging your body.

But if you must physically move items, lift with your legs versus your back. And wear gloves that grip so the goods don’t slip when handling them.

Additional steps to reduce injury risks

While loading dock hazards can’t be eliminated, there are a few more steps you can take to reduce your risk of injury when in this area. This includes:

Never running while on a loading dock
Avoiding rough playing with other employees, which can result in one of you falling off the loading dock
Wearing nonslip shoes in case you don’t see a slippery area
Wearing protective gear, such as hard hats and hearing protection, whenever you’re in the loading dock area

More safety tips are available on Centerline’s app. Or, if you’re a driver who is currently looking for work or in search of a new job, we can help with that too.

Respect the Drive March Spotlight: Randall Edwards

Posted on March 22, 2023October 3, 2024 by Jaimie Williams

At Centerline, our drivers are like our family and the focus of everything we do.

Our program, Respect the Drive, was built to celebrate our amazing drivers. It’s all about you and honoring the work you do day in and day out.

Each month, our team picks a driver to spotlight for going above and beyond in some way. In addition to a spotlight, they receive an exclusive Respect the Drive jacket.

We have had so many outstanding submissions, that this month we will be nominating three drivers in the month of March. One of our Respect the Drive Drivers of the Month is Randall Edwards, a local driver in Spokane, Washington at Centerline.

There is no doubt that being a driver brings on tough labor. But Edwards “has maintained a high-performance level since being with us, with it being a very physical job that requires a lot of work hours,” states Michael Turner a Recruiting Manager in the Washington region.

We are encouraged and motivated by our drivers and no matter what region we’re located in, we always like to give back. “We hear what drivers have to say and show that via follow-up in regard to any and all issues that affect their well-being,” states Turner. “Drivers in our area are highly in tune with their value so we prioritize their desire for shifts, pay and job location.””

With Edwards starting with Centerline back in June of 2022 and already receiving praise, Turner further acknowledges that “Randall currently is running OTR/team runs with our client Coremark in Spokane WA. And has been a model driver since he joined us.””

Thank you Randall, for all your hard work and for Respecting the Drive!

Learn more about our Respect the Drive program here.

Respect the Drive March Spotlight: Mark Myjak

Posted on March 22, 2023October 3, 2024 by Jaimie Williams

At Centerline, our drivers are like our family and the focus of everything we do.

Our program, Respect the Drive, was built to celebrate our amazing drivers. It’s all about you and honoring the work you do day in and day out.

Each month, our team picks a driver to spotlight for going above and beyond in some way. In addition to a spotlight, they receive an exclusive Respect the Drive jacket.

We have had so many outstanding submissions, that this month we will be nominating three drivers in the month of March. One of our Respect the Drive Drivers of the Month is Mark Myjak, a local driver in Rockfall, Connecticut at Centerline.

Mark has been with the Centerline team for over three years and has worked on several accounts. Within that time, he has received notable feedback of great reviews from clients.

“Even when he is released due to payroll from the client releasing temp drivers, Mark is always willing to jump onto the next job with a positive attitude,” states Alyssa Rounbehler, a Recruiting Manager here at Centerline, who nominated Myjak.

Rounbehler alongside Estella Herrera, and Jaime Gonzalez like to show further appreciation towards their drivers in the Rockfall, Connecticut area. “I created retention boxes where I sent boxes full of Centerline Merch to show we are here supporting those drivers. There is also stock for merch in our local office to bring on client visits for our working drivers.”

Thank you Mark, for all your hard work and for Respecting the Drive!

Learn more about our Respect the Drive program here.

Respect the Drive March Spotlight: James Wood

Posted on March 22, 2023October 3, 2024 by Jaimie Williams

At Centerline, our drivers are like our family and the focus of everything we do.

Our program, Respect the Drive, was built to celebrate our amazing drivers. It’s all about you and honoring the work you do day in and day out.

Each month, our team picks a driver to spotlight for going above and beyond in some way. In addition to a spotlight, they receive an exclusive Respect the Drive jacket.

We have had so many outstanding submissions, that this month we will be nominating three drivers in the month of March. One of our Respect the Drive Drivers of the Month is James Wood, a local driver in Portland, Oregon at Centerline.

Being with Centerline for just a year, Wood is already making a name for himself within the Centerline team.

Andrew Mechow, a Recruiting Manager within the Oregon region, who nominated Wood states, “James is a driver that models exactly what companies want in their CDL drivers. Hard-working, timely, accountable but most of all dedicated to the company that he is employed by.”

With the Oregon team along with Service Manager, Erika Esquivel and Account Manager Alex Matey, Mechow says, “from going to our drivers kids’ sports events to grabbing coffee or lunch we like our drivers to feel like family here at Centerline.”

With Wood being a part of the Centerline family, it’s meaningful of Mechow further noting that, “James always comes to work with a smile and a great can-do attitude.”

Thank you James, for all your hard work and for Respecting the Drive!

Learn more about our Respect the Drive programhere.

Emergency truck kit essentials: how to pack a great kit

Posted on March 14, 2023August 8, 2024 by Christina DeBusk

You can face any number of emergencies as a truck driver. You could be involved in an accident or witness a serious collision between other vehicles. You might even be going about your day, as usual, and have someone in your path have an emergency.

Having the right tools can help you respond to all these types of situations. This is where an emergency truck kit comes into play, and here are some essentials for packing a great kit.

First aid supplies

Rendering first aid in emergencies can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. And if you’re the one who needs first aid, having the right supplies in your truck can give someone else the ability to help you when you need it most.

The American Red Cross has a variety of first aid kits you can buy, and some are designed specifically for keeping in your truck. You can also make your own. Items to include in your first aid kit include:

plastic gloves
hand sanitizer
bandages of varying sizes
gauze dressing pads and tape
antibiotic ointment
antiseptic wipes
alcohol pads
emergency blanket
eye drops and a sterile eye pad

If you know how to do CPR, keeping a mask in your kit helps you perform mouth-to-mouth safely. Though, now this lifesaving action is also taught with just chest compressions, making this another option if you either aren’t comfortable with giving breaths or don’t have a mask available.

Items to protect against the weather

In a perfect world, emergencies wouldn’t happen in the middle of blizzards, ice storms, rainstorms or heat waves. But this is not reality. In fact, more than one in five vehicle crashes are weather-related according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration. Most of them (70%) occur on wet pavement, with just under half (46%) taking place during active rainfall.

This suggests that if you face an emergency on the road, you’re likely to also be dealing with adverse weather conditions. Having the following items available in your emergency truck kit can help protect you against them:

raincoat or poncho
umbrella
hand and feet warmers
pair of warm, dry socks
hat and gloves
winter boots
warm face mask
blanket

You might also keep a snow shovel and extra ice scraper in your truck. The shovel can be helpful if you or another driver happens to slide in a ditch, or if you face large snow drifts and need to dig your way out. The extra ice scraper can be invaluable if yours breaks, allowing you to clean your windshield once again.

Food and drink

Some emergencies are longer lasting than others. If you go in the ditch in the middle of a snow whiteout, for instance, you could be there a while before someone can reach you, pull you out and get you moving down the road again.

That’s why it’s important to have food and drink in your emergency kit. You’re able to keep your body fed and hydrated until the situation is over. Items to put in your kit include:

bottled water (or even gallon jugs)
energy bars or granola bars
trail mix
nuts and seeds
dried fruit
beef jerky
any other nonperishable foods

Swap out these items regularly so you’re not in the middle of an emergency with food that is beyond its expiration date, making it potentially unsafe to consume.

Items for use at night

Should an emergency occur while driving at night, you’ll want a few items that not only help you see but also make you more visible to other drivers around you. Items to include in your kit for this purpose are:

flashlight and extra batteries
warning flags, cones, or triangles
light sticks or flares
reflective safety vest

Emergency items for your truck

Some items to put in your emergency kit are more for your truck than for you. Having these things accessible enables you to respond to a situation swiftly, which can help either get you back on the road more quickly or—at a minimum—reduce further damage to your delivery vehicle.

Items in this category include:

fire extinguisher
jumper cables
extra tarp
tire pressure gauge

Miscellaneous other emergency items

There are a few other items that, while they don’t fall into one of the other categories, could still be helpful in an emergency. Some to consider adding to your kit are:

any medications you take, in case you run out while on the road
extra set of eyeglasses or contact lenses
whistle, to get other people’s attention, if needed
“HELP” banner that you can affix to your truck
printed map or atlas, in the event you don’t have a good connection and are lost
portable phone charger, for when your battery is low or if you’re in a longer-term emergency and using your phone heavily

Including these items in your kit can help ensure that you are prepared for an emergency, should one arise. In some instances, it might even turn the emergency into more of an inconvenience—all because you had the foresight to pack a great emergency truck kit.

Want more safety tips? Download our free driver safety guide here.

Centerline Drivers Names Joel Lawson as the 2022 Driver of the Year

Posted on March 1, 2023September 15, 2024 by Casey Nighbor

Joel Lawson is Centerline Drivers’ 2022 Driver of the Year. This is the second year Centerline has awarded the honor as part of its Respect the Drive program, which celebrates the incredible work truck drivers do every day.

Joel is a Baltimore native who has driven over 3 million miles in his 20 years as a truck driver, with no DOT accidents or incidents.

He is a proud Army veteran who served our country in Desert Storm and began serving with the National Guard after his discharge.

Joel is a hard-working person who describes himself as a “family man” spending most of his free time “being a husband and father.“

His dedication to his family is evident most when he recalls an accident that occurred right before he became a truck driver. A fire broke out in their apartment and Joel was able to quickly get his wife and family to safety. However, due to the amount of times Joel re-entered the burning building, he suffered from smoke inhalation and severe burns on his hand. He says the scars are a “life-long reminder of how precious his family is to him.”

He drives for Standard Logistics in Baltimore and has done so for almost 15 years. He enjoys working with his team and often mentors newer drivers.

The award comes with a trophy, Respect the Drive gear and a $5000 bonus as well as recognition from both Centerline and Standard Logistics.

Throughout 2023, Centerline will continue to encourage people to Respect the Drive by illustrating the positive things truck drivers do every day and celebrating our drivers and the industry.

“Joel embodies what it means to be an outstanding Centerline Driver,’” said Centerline Drivers President Jill Quinn. “Not only has he driven over 3 million miles safely, but he’s a hero in multiple respects. I’m so proud that he’s our 2022 Driver of the Year”

Filiberto Balan and Steven Jankovskyearned runner-up stats and will also receive Respect the Drive Gear.

To learn more about our Respect the Drive program, click here.