Big G Express - November/ December 2019

Big G Express - November/ December 2019

Nov/Dec 2019

BIG G EXPRESS’ NEW AND IMPROVED WEBSITE

There are several helpful links for current Big G drivers on our website, including:

• Big G Company Store

• Employee Paycom Login

• Big G Calendar

• Blog/News

• Refer a Driver

If you haven’t had a chance to view our new and improved website, check it out at BigGExpress.com. The redesigned site has enhanced mobile capability, highlights why a driver would want to drive for Big G, and makes it easy to apply for a position or contact us. ESOP Highlighting our employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) was a priority for the new content. We mention employee ownership throughout the website and even have an entire page with graphics and videos to explain this great benefit that sets us apart from others in the trucking industry. DRIVER REFERRALS The best hires come from word of mouth and referrals from our current drivers. The redesigned website is an excellent tool to use when you are referring a driver to Big G. Our generous referral bonus pays up to $2,500 for each referral hired. Also, we have an EXTRA $1,000 bonus offered for referred drivers hired before Dec. 11, 2019. We have added a link to “Refer a Driver” in the footer of the website. Using the driver referral link to enter contact information for the referral will enable our recruiters to contact the driver, qualify them, and get them hired!

• Driver FAQ (work in progress)

Please let us know your feedback on the website and if there is anything we could add to help our current drivers. You can send your feedback to [email protected].

ANNUAL SAFETY AND BIANNUAL FUEL AND PERFORMANCE BONUSES WILL BE DIRECT DEPOSITED ON TUESDAY, DEC. 17, 2019.

1

855-698-7130

SAY HELLO TO OUR VICE PRESIDENT OF SAFETY

TIM CLARK

I have been in the trucking industry for 35 years. Over those years, I have worked in operations, holding numerous positions including dispatch, customer service, implementation specialist, and director of operations. I have also worked in sales and safety as a training manager, director of safety, and vice president of safety. I have enjoyed every step of my journey in transportation. Still, I found my passion when I entered the safety field. I want every one of our professional drivers to perform their jobs safely and return home to enjoy time with their family and friends. I have been married for 35 years, and I have two daughters and three grandchildren. I am originally from Auburn, Alabama, but have spent the past 25 years in the Chattanooga, Tennessee, area. My wife and I are in the process of transitioning to the Shelbyville area. I enjoy

spending time with my family, hunting, and watching sports. I am excited about joining the excellent team at Big G and look forward to working with each of you. –Tim Clark

SHOP TIPPS

• Be careful where you park. Try to park out of the wind if possible, and stay away from parking near entrances or places that might leave you exposed to moving traffic. • Use fuel treatment when temperatures are in the teens, and idle your truck when the temp is in the single digits and below. Remember, our policy is always to turn off the engine, but in single-digit overnight parking, it may be smart to keep the main engine running. Please remember, this is only for single-digit and below temperatures. • Please pay attention to the fleet messages we send warning you of polar vortexes that come down from Canada. We try to be proactive in giving you plenty of warning, so please be looking for these messages. All the preparation in the world is sometimes not enough. Things happen that are out of our control, but the effort will be worth it 99% of the time. Please stay safe, do those pretrips, and let’s make this winter the safest ever. Thanks for what you do, and, remember, the maintenance team is always here to help when you need us.

Winter brings on new challenges for the industry and for drivers in particular. Winter driving in ice and snow with locked brakes and frozen everything can be a real challenge, but remember, we are always here to help. Here are some tips to help get you through the winter.

• Plan ahead, look at the weather forecast, and be prepared for changes in driving conditions.

• Keep extra clothing, water, and food rations in your truck. Getting stuck out in the cold can be dangerous if you are not prepared.

–Tim Tipps

• Do proper pretrip inspections, and, when pulling away with a parked vehicle, use your mirrors to verify all tires are turning.

2 WWW.BIGGEXPRESS.COM

1,000,000 Accident-Free Miles Michael Fontenot Michael Lobsiger 500,000 Accident-Free Miles Patricia Norris Jere Hodges Paul Schwartz James Sweat Aaron Brooks 250,000 Accident-Free Miles Andrew Tyler Gregory Dixon Frederick Hill Stanley Aldridge Ted Williams September/October ELITE FLEET

PERFECT INSPECTIONS FOR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

THOMAS MUNCY PERRY POPE JOHN FORD EVERETT LEE ALLAN MONROE RUSTY WHITE GREGORY TILLER DONALD MALONE TIMOTHY SIMPSON PAUL SCHWARTZ

JEFFERY DUNCAN JOE HATCHER GEORGE JENKINS RANDY MOODY MICHAEL STEWART WILLIAM SLOCUM CARLIN HICKS YANSEL ALONSO MARK KRIEGER JR HARVEY DIVEN JR GLEN GRABKOWITZ ROBIN CARILLO

DAVID HAMILTON ROBERT KINNAN JAMES BLANKENSHIP RUSSEL MEEKS CASEY PATRICK RICKY REED JAMES PARKER ALICE RICHARDS JAMES SWEAT STEVEN THOMPSON

125,000 Accident-Free Miles Jeremy Souza

Robin Carrillo Antonjoseph Lednicky Sammie Amos Sean Hunt

Samuel McDow Tyrecas Bradley Charles Jones David Drury

ALF PEDERSEN GARY RICHARD

P hysician N ow PhysicianNow, powered by MDLIVE, lets you speak with a doctor from your home, office, or while traveling for a $0 copay. All you need is a telephone, smartphone, tablet, or computer. As your partner in health, we want to make sure you can get convenient, affordable care. PhysicianNow connects you with doctors 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at no cost to you. And it’s a benefit you have through your Big G Express BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee health plan.

GET YOUR FLU SHOT! Flu shots fall under preventive benefits and are covered at 100% for employees with coverage.

U se P hysician N ow :

• If your primary care doctor or pediatrician is unavailable • When it’s not convenient to leave your home or work • When you’re traveling and need minor medical care

• For nonemergency medical issues, like allergies, colds, the flu, and sinus infections • On nights, weekends, and even holidays

REGISTER 1 OF 3 WAYS: Visit BCBST.com/blueaccess, sign in, and select the “Managing Your Health” tab. Click on the PhysicianNow tile. OR call 1-888-283-6691 OR download the PhysicianNow app on Apple’s App Store or on Google Play.

3

855-698-7130

DRIVERS MONTH of the OCTOBER

ED DUNCAN Ed Duncan has been part of the Big G family since February 2014 and a professional driver for over 43 years. When asked what makes Big G stand out from other carriers, Ed says, “Big G is a family-oriented company. When you call in, they know you by name. I love my dispatcher — he is understanding, and he listens. Big G has been there for my family during times of loss and JEFF BAKER Jeff Baker joined the Big G family in April 2019 and has been a professional driver for over 40 years. When asked what makes Big G stand out from other carriers, Jeff says, “Big G is driver-oriented. Some companies treat drivers like a dime a dozen. At Big G, you are more than just a driver; MARK RODEN Mark Roden joined the Big G Express family in March 2016 and has been a professional driver for the past five years. Mark’s father drove a truck for 38 years, but Mark started his career in trucking later in life. When asked what makes Big G stand out from other carriers, Mark says, “The honest 100% truth is THE PEOPLE. DAVID HERT David Hert has been part of the Big G family for two years and began his professional driving career in 2006. When asked what makes Big G stand out from other carriers, David says,

other issues that arose. I was with a larger carrier for over 16 years, and they never even called to check on me when something happened. Big G has sent sympathy cards and plants to the funeral home and, most importantly, they have called to check on me and my family.” Ed’s advice for new drivers is this: “Be patient. You have to give your driver supervisor time to get to know you and how you run. You have to get to know them and how Big G operates. You can’t come in from day one and expect to send a rocket to the moon.” Ed lives in Dalton, Georgia, and when he isn’t out on the road, he and his wife enjoy going out to eat, going to the movies, and just relaxing when they aren’t working around the house. you are a person. Other companies say they are driver-oriented as a hiring tactic, but Big G Express stands behind it! Jeff’s advice for new drivers is to hang in there. He says, “You have to give it time and give your driver supervisor and load planners time to learn how you run. Sometimes drivers quit if things don’t go as expected right away.” Jeff lives in Stone Mountain, Georgia, and when he isn’t out on the road, he enjoys horseback riding, boating, and golf.

NOVEMBER

“Everybody treats you like family at Big G Express. Big G also has great equipment, pay, and communication.” Mark’s advice to new drivers is, “Be patient, open-minded, and willing to learn.” Mark lives in Albertville, Alabama, and when he isn’t out on the road, he enjoys spending time with his family (and his little dog), fishing, and racing.

“The driver supervisors are really easy to work with, and they get me home when I need to be home.” David’s advice for new drivers is to be patient. He says, “Trucking is not an industry where you can be in a hurry all the time.” David lives in Dandridge, Tennessee, and when he is not out on the road, he enjoys fishing, hiking, skiing, and doing anything outdoors.

ANNOUNCING: BIG G EXPRESS’ EXECUTIVE PROMOTIONS

We are excited to announce executive promotions at Big G Express!

promotion recognizes his importance to our history as well as his value to our future.”

Randy Vernon has assumed the post of chief executive officer. He has been in the transportation industry for over 35 years and has been with Big G Express since 1996. Vernon has served in several roles at Big G, including president since 2009, when the company became an ESOP through the creation of an employee stock ownership plan. He will continue

Kristi McFarland has been promoted to executive vice president of Big G Express from her current position of vice president of safety and human resources. She also has 23 years of experience with the company.

“Kristi brings a wealth of knowledge about so much of our company to her new position. That knowledge, coupled with the respect of people within our organization and the trucking industry, makes her a great choice for this position,” Vernon states.

to be involved in the operation of the companies but will have a more concentrated focus on overall business strategy and long-range planning going forward.

Deanna Phelps, currently corporate secretary, has been promoted to the position of vice president of human resources. She has almost 20 years with the organization.

Greg Thompson, previously executive vice president, has been promoted to president and chief operating officer for all companies. Greg has 20 years of experience with the Big G companies, including two years as vice president of the Ike Transportation division.

“It’s a great comfort to have Deanna, who has led our human resources department before, returning to the job she did so well,” Vernon adds.

“Greg has been vital to the growth and success that our employee- owned company has achieved over the years,” Vernon says. “His

GOT QUESTIONS?

WE HAVE ANSWERS!

Have questions about your payroll, benefits, or scanned paperwork?

You can get the answers you need through the “Ask Here” feature on Paycom! We will be adding more “categories” and improving the flow of questions, but we want to address the top three issues to start. The feature allows you to submit your question to the designated department through the Paycom app without having to call in or send an email. The departments are notified, and someone will answer your question. A notification is sent to you when the answer is submitted. You have the opportunity to respond. Be sure to try this feature next time you have a question! We are here to serve you, and we hope this feature will help you get your questions answered quickly and with less hassle.

5

855-698-7130

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

190 Hawkins Dr. Shelbyville, TN 37160 855-698-7130 www.biggexpress.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1 2

CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE! MEET YOUR NEW VP OF SAFETY SHOP TIPPS EXECUTIVE PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCEMENT GOT QUESTIONS?

5

6

THE 2 MOST IMPORTANT DATES AT BIG G

A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

DEC. 5 AND JAN. 2 Those two dates are just around the corner, and they both hold a considerable amount of significance for the employee-owners of the Big G family of companies. Let me tell you why! Dec. 5, 2019, is the 10th anniversary of the meeting where the previous owners (Pat, Jack, Patty, and David) announced the creation of our employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Jan. 2, 2020, marks the 25th anniversary of Pat and Jack’s founding of Big G Express. For me, Jan. 2 is the 24th anniversary of my start here at Big G. It’s hard to believe Big G has come so far from a five-truck startup at a single desk in the back corner of an LTL terminal here in Shelbyville, Tennessee. A lot has changed in almost 25 years. As of this writing, we

are an employee-owned family of companies operating over 600 trucks and nearly 1,700 trailers. We should be proud of what we are and look forward to the future with much excitement. The success we have had over the years came as a result of many people committing themselves to doing things right. The two main things that we have done right over the years are providing quality service and doing it safely. Doing those two things well in the future will be even more vital if we are to thrive as an organization.

I’m proud to be a part of this organization, and I hope that you are too.

I hope you all have a great Christmas and a happy new year!

–Randy Vernon, CEO

6 WWW.BIGGEXPRESS.COM