7300 Clyde Park, S.W., Byron Center, MI 49315 www.mtstrans.com Phone (616) 455-8850 Fax (616) 281-7553 Breakdown 24/7 (800) 968-3188

Digest2017 Issue 3

MTS Expansion Are CB radios a thing of the past?Ask A Michigan Motor Carrier OfficerBay Logistics Update Drivers of the Month5 Minutes With...Important Benefits InformationWelcome New EmployeesSocial BuzzClean Inspection Bonus TipsGetting ready for SummerLen’s Compliance CornerTips for Healthy Living

12345-6678 89101112

INSIDE THIS ISSUEMTS expands corporate headquarters.

If you’ve been to the MTS corporate headquarters in Byron Center, MI, recently, you may have noticed some changes. We’ve been doing quite a bit of construction which includes a brand new 10,000 sq. foot building. The new building features a bright, open style working environment. It will house Accounting, Benefits, Payroll, I.T., Billing, Accounts Payable, and Claims Management.

The Owners, Bay Logistics, HR, Recruiting, Compliance, and Risk will all move to the middle build-ing (the old main building).

The South building will become Dispatch, Customer Service, Shop, Breakdown, Fuel, and Driver Orientation/Training.

The original South building and 15-year-old north building are getting some remodeling and refreshing of carpet and paint so all three buildings will match perfectly.

So, if things look a little different to you, now you know why.

MTS received the following email from the Ryder Systems logistics division that handles GM’s Corvette Plant in Bowling Green in May:

“It is with great pleasure, we want to recognize your driver, James Hubbard. He was the subject of a random dock audit yesterday, and he was respectful, knew all the answers of questions in which he was asked, and had followed all GM Dock Safety Standards. Please communicate our appreciation to this driver.”

James runs freight to the ‘Vette plant out of the Indy Terminal. James is no stranger to “high performance” customer service, as he was also the MTS Corporate Driver of the Month in March. James has been hauling freight accident-free with MTS since 2009. Nice work James!

Corvette Plant Impressed with Indy Driver James Hubbard

MTS Digest Page 2

Do drivers run a CB radio anymore?

When I was on the road 30 years ago (talking like my grandpa now), a CB radio was as common a trucking tool as a pair of gloves, a flashlight and a big hammer.

For many drivers, that mic was welded to their hand for the entire tour of duty. And somehow, they managed to operate the truck without ending up 1,000 yards in a corn field. Multi-tasking, before the term was popular.

I remember one driver in my fleet showed up with headphones and a mic attached that looked like he was chatting with someone on Mars. Way ahead of his time for distraction-free driving.

“Big 10-4 good buddy, we got us a convoy” 1970s nonsenses aside, the tiny, mighty citizen’s band (CB) radio served us well in so many respects.

No GPS maps. We were all analog, all the time. Rand McNally, dog-eared and coffee stained. If you needed to find your way into a customer in Philly, you shouted for local information and picked up your route from a city driver.

No Accuweather.com. You got the report of what was happening on top of Snowshoe Mountain from the truck going the other way, ‘cause he topped it 20 minutes ago.

No Garmin to warn about an accident and offer a detour. Traffic heading the other way warned of trouble ahead and advised as to what lane was open and if you needed to detour.

No radar detectors. You figured out where the speed traps were by getting a “bear report” from someone going the other way. The information was considered stale after about 20 miles. But there was always that one guy who could recite the mile marker of every cop he saw across the entire Ohio Turnpike.

No cell phones. When you spotted someone from your company, you jumped to the company channel on the CB and caught up on all the gossip.

No electronic sensors. Back when the height of technology in the truck was your solar calculator, drivers gave each other feedback on mission-critical information. “All right big KW, you missed me” was the surest way to know you could reacquire the right lane without tearing off the front end of the truck you just passed. “Hey Company X, you left your right turn signal on when you changed lanes.”

No satellite radios. But we had 40 channels of 24-hour entertainment on the CB. Drivers talking politics on one channel, religion on another, hunting and fishing on still another. By the time you and another company driver chased each other from Holland, MI, to Foxboro, MA, you knew a lot about the person, their family, their hobbies and their beliefs. Lot of good friendships started with a couple drivers just chatting to stay awake on an all-night run.

No fake news on TV. Walter Cronkite and Huntley/Brinkley were still striving to keep it real. But Channel 19 on the CB was your source for all sorts of sensational headlines. Most were prefaced with “you ain’t gonna believe this, but I heard (or saw, or did) …” We referred to Channel 19 as Sesame Street for a good reason.

By the mid-90s, CB radios were already starting to lose their luster in the industry, as other ways to communicate were on the rise. I remember pulling into a rest area and telling another driver “hey man, I was hollering at you on the radio”.“I don’t run a radio,” he said, as if I just offered him a dog poo sandwich. And that would explain why he just drove the last 20 miles with his right blinker on.

Breaker 1-9, is Anyone Still Out There?

By Jeff Wood - Director of Risk

MTS Digest Page 3Ask A Michigan Motor Carrier Officer

MCO Daniel Priebe of the Michigan State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division responds to driver questions in this column. This Issues’ question digs a little deeper into MCO Priebe’s job. We’ll also start sharing some good statistics provided to us about accidents.

Q: What the most common factor(s) that contribute to the truck accidents you investigate? Where does fault typically lie - On the part of the truck driver, and/or the automobile?

A: Speed and following too closely are the top two crash causes. The ones I investigate are approximately 50/50 the fault of the truck driver. I have attached West Michigan crash data that shows the 50/50 split.

Q: Do you work in any of the scale houses, and if so, how much? Or is it all dedicated mobile patrol?

A: I work out of the Lakeview Post, so I do not work a scale location. The scale locations are staffed by officers that work half in the scale and half mobile patrol.

Q: Is the State short on Motor Carrier Officers like the trucking industry is short on drivers? Do you see many young folks wanting to get into Motor Carrier Enforcement?

A: Yes, we are short of officers. As I also work as a Recruiter, I can tell you it is hard to find potential candidates to fill our openings to become officers.

MTS Digest Page 4

Bay Logistics recently acquired a new warehouse / distribution center located at 35660 Clinton Street in Wayne, Michigan.

This property consists of a 132,000-square foot building, 4 acres of protected trailer parking, and 12,000 square feet of available office space. The facility features 14 truck dock doors, 2 grade level doors, 28’ clear ceilings, T-8 lighting with motion sensors, and a sophisticated fire suppression system.

The Bay Logistics Wayne Operations site is minutes from Detroit Metro Airport, and 5 miles from I-275 corridor.

Bay Logistics Expands to New Location

Congratulations to all our drivers who had one (or more) clean inspections during the 72-hour CVSA Truck Inspection Blitz in early June. Each driver collected $150 for each clean inspection. GP terminal definitely had it all figured out!

Cunningham, Stevie BertrandMoran, Jorge Kansas CityDavis, Ronald WindsorMitchell, Elliot WindsorSmith, Edward Grand PrairieSallee, Francis Grand PrairieMorales, Luis Grand PrairieMorales, Luis Grand PrairieMorales, Luis Grand PrairieMorales, Luis Grand PrairieDulz, Micah ToledoPearson, Timothy LansingSublette, Bruce Grand PrairieSublette, Bruce Grand PrairieCortes, Maria Grand Prairie

MTS Drivers Pocket Cash During CVSA

By Kurt Cuncannan - Bay Logistics CEO

MTS Digest Page 5

Drivers of the Month!

February

Martin Transportation Systems wishes to congratulate Jorge Sanchez Zamora from our Kansas City, KS terminal as Corporate Driver of the Month for February 2017!

In his nomination, Bryon Stoner, Kansas City Terminal Manager, stated that “Jorge is considered a local shuttle driver but when I’m in a pinch he’ll jump in and help. He has covered OTR runs and as well Home Daily runs. I can always count on him to help me out wherever he’s needed and he’s never missed a day of work.

Congrats Jorge, keep up the good work!

Other finalists who are named Terminal Driver of the Month for February include:

• Andres Del Valle – Anderson, SC• Shannon Bradley – Bean Station, TN• Tammy Allen – Bertrand, MO• Ryan Fry – Coldwater, MI• Chris Petitti – Flint, MI• Steven Hufford – Grand Prairie, TX• Robert Gould – Grand Rapids, MI• Christopher Hatton – Indianapolis, IN• Matthew Jamieson – Lansing, MI• David Moreno – Laredo, TX• Jacob Clark – Lima, OH• Troy Brown – Louisville, KY• Jennifer Marrero – Marshall, MI• Calvin Naylor – Port Huron, MI• Jimmy Vick – Spring Hill, TN• Casey Hobbs – Springfield, IL• Michael Globensky – Toledo, OH• Robert Fennema – Windsor, ON

March

Martin Transportation Systems wishes to congratulate James Hubbard from our Indianapolis, IN terminal as Corporate Driver of the Month for March 2017!

In his nomination, Eric Brown, Indianapolis Terminal Manager, stated that “James has been with MTS for 7 years. He does not call off and is never late getting his critical Bowling Green, KY load delivered. He does one of the most thorough pre-trips you will ever see and is well respected by his peers. James has helped me out on some last minute weekend work and gives really good feedback to our staff that helps us constantly improve.”

Congrats James, keep up the good work!

Other finalists who are named Terminal Driver of the Month for March include:

• Andres Del Valle – Anderson, SC• Ronald Honaker – Bean Station, TN• Roger Schniedermeyer – Bertrand, MO• Gamal Ahmed – Coldwater, MI• Stephen Johnson – Flint, MI• Melvin Heard – Grand Prairie, TX• Frank Jando – Grand Rapids, MI• Leslie Howell – Kansas City, KS• Kevin Hunter – Lansing, MI• Alberto Dominguez – Laredo, TX• Robert Shelton – Lima, OH• Troy Brown – Louisville, KY• Roy Ernest Flaaen – Marshall, MI• Duane Wahl – Port Huron, MI• Jimmy Vick – Spring Hill, TN• Roy Sumwalt – Springfield, IL• Robert Hinton – Toledo, OH• Daniel Coatsworth – Windsor, ON

These drivers will receive a Driver of the Month certificate, and will still be eligible in the coming months to win Corporate Driver of the Month, as long as they continue to meet the criteria. Criteria for Driver of the Month includes fuel mileage, truck operation statistics, no CSA points, no tickets, no accidents, no log issues, no injuries, no customer complaints, no SpeedGauge issues, attitude, truck upkeep, and no at-fault late loads.

MTS Digest Page 6

Driver of the Month!

April

Martin Transportation Systems wishes to congratulate Jacob Clark from our Grand Rapids, MI terminal as Corporate Driver of the Month for April 2017!

In his nomination, Chad Bultema, MTS Operations Manager, stated that “Jacob is a hard working, dedicated employee that steps up at a moment’s notice. Jacob has been with the MTS team since September 2015 and we look forward to many years to come.”

Congrats Jacob, keep up the good work!

Other finalists who are named Terminal Driver of the Month for April include:

• Jerry Sanford – Anderson, SC• Ronald Honaker – Bean Station, TN• George Gentles Jr.– Bertrand, MO• Gamal Ahmed – Coldwater, MI• Nathanael Lange – Flint, MI• Melvin Dowless – Grand Prairie, TX• Daniel Peeler – Indianapolis, IN• Kevin Greer – Kansas City, KS• Jeffery Farrell – Lansing, MI• Alberto Dominguez – Laredo, TX• Brian Greer – Lima, OH• Troy Brown – Louisville, KY• Donald Anderson – Marshall, MI• Frank Fischer – Port Huron, MI• Steven Baker – Spring Hill, TN• Christopher Gebhardt – Springfield, IL• Bruce Helppie – Toledo, OH• Rance Magee – Windsor, ON

Almost all of the MTS employees have dealt with Meghan Bultema at one point or another. She’s a seasoned veteran of the MTS team and has been vital part for the overall success and growth of the Company. Many of us only get to deal with her over the phone or e-mail so we thought it would be fun to learn a little bit more about her.

Q: Meghan, what year did you start working at MTS?

A: I started at MTS in 2001 through a co-op class offered by my high school, East Kentwood. Co-op lets high school students spend part of the day in the classroom and part of the day in a workplace environment. This allowed me to gain realistic work experience while still in school.

Q: What titles have you held at MTS?

A: Benefits Assistant 2001-2009, Benefits Administrator 2009-current

Q: What is your primary job responsibility at MTS?

A: I’m responsible for planning, implementing and administering the Employee and Retiree Benefit Programs for MTS and Bay Logistics. Benefit Programs include medical, dental, vision, flexible spending, short and long term disability, basic/optional group life and 401(k). In 2016, we successfully went from paper benefits administration to paperless through BeneTrac. BeneTrac is a web-based electronic enrollment platform that easily automates the management of employee benefits for both the employee and employer.

Q: What are some fun facts about you?

A: I have 2 children, ages 2 and 4. They keep me busy! I enjoy spending time with my family, cooking and practicing yoga!

Meghan is enjoying the brand new offices at our Corporate Headquarters in Byron Center. Next time you’re in the area, stop by and say hello!

5 minutes with...MEGHAN BULTEMA!

MTS Digest Page 7

Are you currently participating in the MTS 401(k) Plan through American Funds? If not, why NOT? MTS matches 25% of your weekly deferral up to 15% of your gross pay! You must be employed for 6 months to be eligible. You are 100% vested upon entry and have 14 mutual funds to invest in. Contact Meghan in Benefits at (616) 432-5516 to sign up or for more information.

We understand you’re busy. You have a lot to do and little time to do it. So, when it comes to your health insurance, you can count on bcbsm.com for easy-to-understand information about your health benefits anytime, anywhere.

In today’s world, accessibility and convenience are essential. When you create an account at bcbsm.com, you’ll enjoy the benefits of being able to easily access your health information to make more informed health decisions. Once you’re logged in, Blue Cross have made it easy for you to manage your plan. Easy-to-understand and time-saving charts show how close you are to meeting your deductible and coinsurance, recent claims activity and other important cost information related to your plan. In addition, the Find a Doctor feature at the site can help you locate a nearby doctor, hospital or urgent care center wherever you are. Plus, when you’re on the go, you’re good to go with the mobile version of bcbsm.com. With your mobile device, you can check the status of your claims, find a doctor or urgent care center nearby and access your virtual ID card 24/7.

Getting started is simple:1. Visit bcbsm.com.2. Click on LOGIN at the upper right hand corner of the home page.3. At the bottom of the login box, click Register Now.

You’ll need your Blue Cross ID card and a few minutes to complete the process. Once you’ve set up your account, you’ll have instant access to your personal health information.

Managing your health plan online is easier than ever at bcbsm.com

MTS Digest Page 8

Employee Name Title Hire Date TerminalBernard Langerak Jr Logistics

Coordinator4/24/17 Byron Center,

MIReid Hansen Intern Driver

Manager5/15/17 Byron Center,

MIScott Stimetz Intern Driver

Manager5/1/17 Byron Center,

MIJohn Tremonti Intern Driver

Manager5/1/17 Byron Center,

MIJustin Halm Driver Manager 4/18/17 Byron Center,

MICynthia Adams Dispatcher 4/24/17 Burton, MIBryan Tietz Dispatcher 4/24/17 Burton, MIDavid Smith Mechanic 5/15/17 Burton, MIBrandan Adams Mechanic 5/8/17 Burton, MINicolas Howard Mechanic 5/8/17 Burton, MILori Iten Dispatcher 4/19/17 Lima, OHNoah Lowery Dispatcher 3/23/17 Lima, OHMichael Hatfield Dispatcher 5/8/17 Morristown, TNKathleen Parks Terminal Rep

Dispatcher4/17/17 Springfield, IL

Joseph Thompson Dispatcher 4/24/17 Toledo, OHSorsor Jallah Mechanic 5/8/17 Grand Prairie,

TXJack Morrison Mechanic 5/8/17 Grand Prairie,

TXGabriel Diaz Mechanic 5/7/17 Grand Prairie,

TXJeremiah Laakman Mechanic 5/15/17 Indianapolis, INGregg Pease Mechanic 3/31/17 Indianapolis, INStephen Wood Mechanic 4/10/17 Kansas City,

KSAndrew Powell Mechanic 4/10/17 Lima, OHBroc Herr Shift

Supervision - Maintenance

4/12/17 Marshall, MI

Matt Salmons Mechanic 5/9/17 Morristown, TNMatthew Gross Mechanic 5/15/17 Toledo, OHAndrew Swaro Mechanic 3/27/17 Toledo, OH

social buzz

MTS would like to say congratulations to Kyle Kuzma, son of Larry Smith - Driver out of the Flint, Michigan Terminal, on making it to the 2017 NBA Draft!

Kyle just finished his junior year at the University of Utah and has been projected to be a top 25 pick in the first round of the draft.

Good luck Kyle!

Share your photos @ facebook.com/mtstrans!

WELCOME NEW EMPLOYEES!

MTS Digest Page 9

We can chat all day and all night about the different ways a driver can help him/herself get a Clean Inspection Bonus. From my experience as a driver for this Company, here are my top tips:

1. A clean cab: A clean and tidy truck cab says a lot to an Officer or a CMV Inspector. It will signal to them that you pay attention to detail, and they will more than likely will find nothing wrong with your truck.

2. Have your permit book and B.O.L. accessible: Keep your permit book in the driver side door panel pocket so you can locate it quickly. (Look at your permit book before every run and make sure everything is up-to-date.) This signals that you are organized and a professional.

3. Attitude: A positive attitude will go a long way. Don’t do or say anything to volunteer yourself (for an inspection) by doing dumb stuff! No Officer care to hear the old “What did you stop me for? I did not do anything wrong.” Bad start to the inspection.

4. Personal hygiene: I know it is hard sometimes to get a shower out on the road, but please do. If you look like you have worn the same clothes for a month and smell awful, this is a signal to the Officer that you may have been running too hard, and the Officer is going to be very thorough with his/her inspection.

5. Pre-trip inspections: One of the most commonly asked questions that an officer will give you before starting the inspection is, “What did you find in your pre-trip inspection?” The answer should never be, “duh I don’t know.”

Do not be afraid to tell the officer what you found. If it is a DOT-required repairable item, it should have been fixed before you started your trip. Officers like honesty. If the Officer finds a defect that wasn’t broken at the time of your inspection, then respectfully tell him “I did not find any defects at the time of my pre-trip inspection.”

5 Easy Tips to Get a Clean Inspection Bonus

By Chris Clark - Regional Safety Manager

Summer is here, be prepared for the heat!

Safety Corner

Know the Signs of Heat Exhaustion

If you’re a Midwest truck driver, you’re quite use to extreme

temperatures. Preparing for winter travel is easy because

you’ve been doing it for a long time. Dealing with freezing

temperatures is almost second nature, seeing as we have to deal

with it for six, maybe even seven months of the year. However,

dealing with extreme heat is something you are probably not

prepared for.

It’s one thing to travel through the southern states in December

and enjoy some warmer weather, but it’s completely different

in the middle of summer.

Scorching heat can be deadly, so it’s important to know the

signs of heat exhaustion, stay cool and take preventative meas-

ures. The risk of Heat Exhaustion is more prevalent when the

relative humidity is over 60% or temperatures are above 90 de-

grees.

Take Preventative Measures

The best way to avoid heat exhaustion is to take some preventa-tive measures, especially if you’re going to be outside for pro-longed periods, or it’s just so hot the air conditioner can’t keep up.

Wear lightweight, light colored, loose-fitting clothing.

Wear sunscreen.

Drink plenty of non-caffeinated, NON-alcoholic beverages.

Know the Signs and Take Action: Heat exhaustion can quickly turn into a heat stroke,

which can cause permanent brain damage so it’s im-

portant to know the signs of heat exhaustion before it

too late.

Symptoms include: Confusion, fainting, fatigue,

headaches, muscle cramps, nausea, perfuse sweating

and a rapid heartbeat.

If you experience any of the above symptoms you

should take immediate action:

Drink plenty of water or non-caffeinated bev-

erages.

Remove any tight or unnecessary clothing.

Take a cool shower if possible.

Get into an air conditioned area.

If these cooling measures fail to provide relief, seek

medical attention as soon as possible.

By Jeff Braden — Director of Safety

“To Train, Educate and Guide the MTS Team on FMCSA Rules and Regulations,

and Encourage and Enforce the Safe, Legal and Effective operation of the MTS fleet”

Compliance Corner

The Drive to Zero

Zero Unsafe Driving Violations

Zero At-Fault Accidents

Zero Fatalities

Zero Injuries

Safety is a culture, not a concept. Every decision that you

make out there on the road contributes to, or detracts from,

the Culture of Safety at MTS.

What can you do to contribute to the Culture of Safety?

Follow all traffic laws, including speeding, lane

restrictions, wearing your seatbelt and leaving the

phone in your pocket

Be courteous to other drivers—slow for a merging

driver to enter the traffic flow

Use your turn signals to let others know your intentions

Follow safe driving guidelines such as leaving yourself

an out, scanning the roadway farther ahead to identify

dangerous situations or obstacles, and scanning your

mirrors regularly to maintain awareness of what’s

happening around you.

A Culture of Safety starts with one……

Speed Gauge Initiative In September and October, 2016 Unsafe Driving violations

spun out of control, sending MTS into “Alert” status in CSA.

At that time the procedures for handling the daily Speed

Gauge reports was examined, and it was determined that a

change was needed in order to better track offenders and have

accountability throughout.

Since initiating these changes in October, daily Speeding

violations company wide have dropped by nearly 75%.

Unsafe Driving violations have dropped significantly as well.

The criteria for action on Speed Gauge violations is:

5 or more minor speeding violations for the day

ANY single speeding violation of more than 10 mph

Action taken for Speed Gauge violations consists of:

1st Offense—Letter of Instruction

2nd Offense—Written Reprimand—Loss of Bonus

3rd Offense—3 Day Suspension—Loss of Bonus

4th Offense—Final Warning for Termination—Loss of

Bonus

5th Offense—Termination

By Len Marchlewski—Compliance Manager

Where Safety Matters!

Safe Driving Tip of the Day

Ramp speeds are geared toward cars, not

heavy trucks. Your speed on a freeway ramp

should be at least 5 mph slower than the posted

speed for cars. If you have ever had a load shift

forward during hard braking, understand that a

load can shift from side-to-side and cause you

to roll-over on a ramp just as easily! Don’t be

Upcoming changes will make 3rd offense a Final Warning with loss of bonus.

24-Hour Nurse Line

R029450OD 12254 JUN 14

Less worry, fewer ER visits

Eighty–four percent of nurse line callers who considered going to the ER were directed to lower levels of

care or self-care options.*

Answers to health and wellness questions — day and night If your employees are unsure about a medical issue or treatment plan, the nurse line is available as a support resource. They can call 1-800-775-BLUE (2583) , 24 hours a day, seven days a week to speak with a knowledgeable registered nurse.

The nurses can help employees determine whether they should head to the emergency room or simply call their doctor. Avoiding a trip to the emergency room can result in large savings on unnecessary health care costs.

Not just for emergenciesYour employees don’t have to wait for an emergency to call the nurse line. From a cold to a chronic condition, the nurses will support them through it all: understanding health concerns, getting more information and following through on treatment.

Employees can talk to a registered nurse about:

• Symptom management — The nurses assess symptoms to determine appropriate levels of care and medical follow-up.

• Health information — The nurses talk to employees about their health care questions or concerns.

• Our audio health library — This extensive library covers topics about

minutes long. The nurses recommend appropriate topics.

healthy basics

The goal of the 24-hour nurse line is to help employees make educated decisions about their health care.

*Source: McKesson Health Solutions Proprietary Database, Aggregate Executive Summary, 2013 YTD