Big G Express - Winter 2020

Big G Express - Winter 2020

Winter 2020

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO RANDY VERNON

SAFETY We talk constantly about safety . There is no bigger threat to our very existence. Dozens of companies have closed their doors in the last 12 months because of monstrous judgments resulting from accidents or increased liability insurance rates that drove them over the brink. Safety is not just an issue on the road. We need a safety focus in our shops and in our offices too. Safety is not a “some of the time” thing. It is an “all the time” thing. As I have said a hundred times, the quickest way to the poor house for a company is to lose focus on safety , and I hope you know that is true! SECURITY It is incredible how many people in this world make their living by stealing. My tolerance for a thief is zero, and I hope yours is as well. We need to do everything we can to make it as hard as possible to steal from us. Seals and locks on trailers will never stop theft, but they will make it harder. If you see something questionable, report it. This is everyone’s job, and we need to take security seriously. SERVICE We have one product to sell to our customers, and that is service . Big G Express and Ike Transportation were both founded with the commitment of providing top-quality service . We have grown to where we are today because we provide that service . Look at the customers who we serve. Our top customers have been with us for years — not because we are the cheapest carrier but because they know what they are getting when it comes to service . I’m proud of that, and you should be too! Let’s make sure we keep that good name when it comes to our service because it means something in our business.

Let’s all keep taking care of each other by keeping our focus on our SAFETY , SECURITY , and SERVICE . Thank you, all, for everything you do to make the Big G family of companies great! –Randy Vernon, CEO

As we head into the third month of 2020, we have a lot to be thankful for here at the Big G family of companies. We had a very successful 2019 — especially compared to our industry as a whole — and we are positioned to do the same this year. However, we need to be aware of some challenges that could turn the sweet success we have experienced the last couple years to disaster in the blink of an eye.

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to what your body is telling you. We want you — and those we share the road with — to arrive at your destinations safely. Let’s also talk about load securement. As a professional driver, it is your responsibility to make sure the load you are pulling has been properly secured. If possible, always check your load to make sure it is properly loaded, blocked, or braced before heading out. We furnish you with load

A MESSAGE FROM OUR VICE PRESIDENT OF SAFETY

TIM CLARK

Hello, everyone. I hope that each of you is doing well. We have nearly made it out of winter and into spring, which is good. But along with spring come a few obstacles I would like to talk about. We will all be experiencing daylight saving time soon, which means longer days, and longer days mean changes in your circadian clock and sleep patterns. Studies show that light stimulates our body to stay awake, so longer days can negatively impact your ability to get quality sleep. Here are a few good steps for staying rested through the time change. Try to go to sleep around the same time each night, don’t drink caffeine before going to bed, and reduce or eliminate the use of electronics an hour or so before going to sleep. Maintaining as regular of a schedule as possible will keep your circadian clock on track. Always be mindful and monitor yourself for fatigue. We can all work if we are tired, but we can’t work when we are fatigued, so pay attention

straps, so use them to ensure your load will not shift during transit. Do not break the seal on a trailer without getting permission from the shipper and/or operations first! Folks, we haul a lot of food stuffs and products that are used in the food industry. Seal integrity is of the

utmost importance. A broken seal on a food stuff load will result in the entire load being rejected. We also provide padlocks, so use them on every load that you pull.

Thank you for what you do. Be safe out there!

–Tim Clark

SHOP TIPPS

Hello, drivers! Another year is gone, and here we are stepping into 2020 and celebrating 25 years in business. What a ride it has been, which would not have been possible without quality drivers like the group we have here today at Big G Express. Drivers are the backbone of our company, and it is your hard work that has made Big G Express successful. Thank you, all!

at the Mount Juliet facility and get put on a waiting list. Please keep our East Tennessee Shop on your radar when you need something repaired, as there is usually NO wait time. Speaking of the maintenance team, I would like to introduce our newest member, Paul McNeely. Paul has come to us after 22 years in the Navy as a senior chief petty officer and joined our management team to help us service the increasing demands put on the maintenance team. Please welcome Paul when you see him at our maintenance facilities or reach out to him by email at [email protected]. Let him know your thoughts about our maintenance policies and how we can service you better. Again, thanks for all you do, and let’s make 2020 the best year yet! –Tim Tipps

Welcoming Paul McNeely

The maintenance team would like to extend an invitation to all of our drivers to come and visit any of our maintenance facilities, especially East Tennessee, when you have a problem. Larry and his team in East Tennessee can offer you uptime at a moment’s notice if you would just stop by and see them. We need more maintenance work in our East Tennessee location, and many times, people drive right past to arrive

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500,000 Accident-Free Miles Buford Dooley James Thompson November/December/January ELITE FLEET 250,000 Accident-Free Miles James Bellavia Joshua Jordan Robert Young Christopher Vanover David Wolfenbarger David Hert Harry Eller 125,000 Accident-Free Miles James Bradshaw Jimmy Ganus Jackie Glaser Timothy Renfroe Randall Howard Steven Grim Robert Goodwin

PERFECT INSPECTIONS FOR NOVEMBER/DECEMBER/JANUARY

AARON PETTIGREW AKEEM HARRIS ALVIN COTHAM ANDREW HATFIELD ANTHONY TAYLOR ARTHUR BINGHAM III

JAMES SCHOENFELD JR. JAMES CULBERTSON

MICHAEL THOMAS MIKE MCCAULEY PAUL RAYNER REBECCA EATON ROBERT MCGUIRE ROBERT YOUNG ROY QUALLS SCOTT RODENBAUGH SEAN S. HARVEY SHARLA OWENS STEPHEN RICHARDSON

JASON GERARDO JAWAN BURTON JERRY MOORE JERRY RIFE

CARL DAVIS III CHRIS EVANS CHRISTOPHER ADOMYETZ

JERRY RILEY JOEL GIBBS JOHN MILLER JOHN EASTERLING JOHN MURPHY JON WICKER JOSEPH SHIRLEY LEE STARR MARION FLINT SR. MARK RODEN MARVIN PHILEMON MICHAEL ARCHAMBEAULT MICHAEL BRETT MICHAEL DAWSON JR.

CURTIS BLACK DANNY SMITH DARRELL ROBINS DAVID E HERT DAVID KINSLER

STEVEN CAUDLE TERRY CREECH THOMAS JOHNSON TIM TUCKER TIMOTHY RENFROE TOMMY BORDEN WILLIAM GALE WILLIAM SABO YANSEL ALONSO

Irvin Morrow Joel Gibbs Robert Jones Raymond Vaughn Amadou Diop William Beeler Joe Thomas Yansel Alonso James Culbertson

Jeffery Duncan Randall Clover Michael Peace Dwayne McCoy Michael Radcliffe Christopher Durham

DONALD MALONE EDWARD GAMMON FRANKLIN TANKERSLEY GERALD GREENOUGH

David McKinnon Mamadou Diop Marvin Philemon Brandon Traywick

HERBERT GREEN HORACE PRUITT

A CLEAN CAB CAN MEAN A FREE PASS! Inspectors assume that if the cab and dashboard are clean and well cared for, then most of the time, the rest of the truck will be well cared for too. CLEANLINESS COUNTS.

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU to each driver for receiving a PERFECT INSPECTION. THANK YOU to our Elite Fleet drivers — you represent over 8.5 million Safe Miles. We appreciate your dedication to SAFETY and to protecting our employee-owned company! Greg Thompson, president Kristi McFarland, executive vice president

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DRIVERS MONTH of the DECEMBER

MARK LEGG Mark joined Big G in March 2019 and has been in the trucking industry since 1992. He started out hauling milk from dairy farms. When asked what makes Big G stand out from other carriers, Mark says, “Big G has good freight and works with each driver on home time without any fuss.” He usually stays out for two weeks and goes home for a few days, and this works well for him. ROBERT KORSMEYER Robert began his career with Big G in June 2015, and he started trucking by driving a water truck on a ranch in New Mexico in 1992. When asked what makes Big G stand out from other carriers, Robert says, “I am treated like family, and the atmosphere is great.” CLINTON ‘CLINT’ SANSBURY Clint joined Big G in October 2019 and started trucking in 1984 after he left the Air Force. When asked what makes Big G stand out from other carriers, Clint says, “Big G has the best attitude of any company I have worked for, and I wish I had joined 25 years ago. The benefits, pay, and miles are top-notch.” SUZI WEETER Suzi joined Big G in July 2019 but started trucking on her birthday in 1995 with a small company. When asked what makes Big G stand out from other carriers, Suzi says, “The ability to talk with dispatch and the amount of freight keep me moving.” LARRY POWELL Larry started driving for Big G in November 2015, but he started his trucking career in 2000 with Werner Enterprises. When asked what makes Big G stand out from other carriers, Larry says, “They get me home when I need to be home, and the pay is good.” JAMES VAUGHN James started driving with Big G in January 2012, and he started his trucking career with H.O. Wolding in 2001. When asked what makes Big G stand out from other carriers, James says, “It’s like a family here. The people make the difference.”

His advice for new drivers is, “Just be patient and hang in there; give everyone a chance to learn each other and figure things out.” Mark lives in Limestone, Tennessee, and on his days out of the truck, he likes to spend time with his family and ride four-wheelers

His advice for new drivers is, “Look, listen, and learn.”

Robert lives in Douglasville, Georgia. When he is home, he likes to relax and take it easy, and he enjoys playing with his grandson, Sebastian.

JANUARY

His advice for new drivers is, “Be thankful that you’re here and do not look back.” Clint lives in Lexington, South Carolina. He likes to fish and be a beach bum when he has time off.

His advice to new drivers is, “Take your time and make sure to do a thorough pre-trip and always get out and look.” He lives in Fayetteville, Tennessee, and when he is not trucking, he likes to spend time with the family and work around the house. Her advice for new drivers is, “Realize that everyone has to adjust to any new company and give it some time before any decision is made.” She lives in McMinnville, Tennessee, and on her time off, she enjoys taking care of her family and preparing homemade, healthy food to take back out on the truck.

FEBRUARY

His advice to new drivers is, “Take every load that you are given and manage your clock to keep making money.” He lives in Waynesville, North Carolina, and he enjoys spending time with his wife, cooking, and trout fishing.

MONEY MATTERS FROM THE DESK OF STEPHEN VOORHEES

primarily to the value our customers placed on the service that we provide and the importance to their supply chain that we represent.

With all that being said, we had a good year in 2019, which again is an anomaly in the industry because most carriers struggled due to the pressure on rates and a difficult insurance market. Other companies saw an increase in insurance costs up to 60%. While many of our competitors continue to struggle and some even no longer operate, Big G is as financially secure as it has ever been with a strong customer base who are very loyal to us and continue to put faith in us because of the service we provide.

Heading into 2020, I thought I would take this opportunity to share information with everyone.

Let’s each and every one of us go out and make 2020 even better! –Stephen

Looking back a couple years, 2018 was an excellent year for the industry as whole. Availability of trucks was at a very low level, which drove rates up dramatically. As we went into 2019, we saw the availability of trucks increase, as well as overall tonnage shipped decrease, which drove rates down for most companies, but NOT for Big G. Here at Big G, we were an anomaly. In 2019, we saw a small increase in overall rates due

THE SCOOP

PUZZLE TIME!

“I have enjoyed meeting our drivers, who are a very professional group of folks, and I look forward to saying hello to any driver I see as I travel the Carolinas and Virginia.” –John, sales, national account executive “Our drivers say goodbye to their families to supply the needs for ours — thank you, highway heroes!” –Erin, director of customer service “Thank you to everyone in planning, customer service, and dispatch for your daily efforts to take care of our drivers and the customers. I feel very fortunate to be part of this team.” –Shawn, operations “Thank you to our drivers for always securing loads, placing locks, checking seals, and making sure BOLS match the load information” –Bernie, planning TESTIMONIALS

“We thank every driver who properly doc types their paperwork. Spending that little extra time to choose the right document type for the paperwork streamlines all back-end processes, and we thank you.” –Ryan, vice president of IT “I can’t say thank you enough for being the reason Big G continues to be successful. Extra effort from you makes Big G the company it is today and the company it will continue to be tomorrow.” –Kayla, administration manager “The future at Big G shines bright because of our drivers. You are the face our customers see every day, and we all appreciate the professional impression you leave with them during each pickup and delivery.” –Gary, sales, director of national accounts

AWARE CHALLENGES COMMITMENT CUSTOMERS GREAT INSURANCE

RANDY SAFETY SEALS

SECURITY SERVICES SUCCESS SUCCESSFUL THANKFUL

LOCKS LOYAL

ESOP HOTLINE ext. 8132 USE THIS LINE TO SHARE IDEAS, CONCERNS, AND QUESTIONS … Your message will be forwarded to the appropriate department.

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

190 Hawkins Dr. Shelbyville, TN 37160 931-684-9140 www.biggexpress.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO, RANDY VERNON A MESSAGE FROM OUR VP OF SAFETY SHOP TIPPS

FROM THE DESK OF STEPHEN VOORHEES TESTIMONIALS

NEWS FROM THE RECRUITING DEPARTMENT FOR 2019/2020 First, we would like to THANK EVERYONE who took advantage and participated in all of the Driver Referral Programs we had in 2019. We are excited to announce that for our year-end count, Big G Express paid our drivers a total of $132,446.91.

April–June 2020 – HealthCheck360 Wellness Screenings April 25, 2020 – TTA Trucking Rodeo

Bill Hillin will have the Big G grill fired up for this fun family event. Come on out and support the Big G drivers who are testing their skills at the FedEx facility at 960 Logistics Way, Antioch, Tennessee. Competition starts at 7:30 a.m. May 30, 2020 – Big G Motorcycle Ride for St. Jude Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. at 840 Yard, 193 Aldi Blvd., Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Come out and support the riders for a great cause! July 25, 2020 – Annual Employee Owner ESOP Meeting Jack Daniel’s BBQ Hill August 2020 – Benefits Open Enrollment Sept. 13–19, 2020 – Driver Appreciation Week October 2020 – Employee Ownership Month Oct. 24, 2020 – Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk Nissan Stadium Fall 2020 – Family Event Celebrating 25 Years in Business Watch Paycom and your email for more details on each event as details are finalized. Thanks!

What a great accomplishment, and these dollars were well earned by all who participated.

For our current program, $2,500 is paid out in the first 180 days your referral is here. We are thankful for each of you and look forward to seeing what everyone does this year in 2020. As always, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about the Driver Referral Contest, please do not hesitate to call me at ext. 3197, or you can email me at terryconquest@ biggexpress.com.

Many thanks again,

Big G Recruiting and Driver Services: Terry, Karla, Bill, Rachel, Sheri, Anthony, Lisa, Kim, and Tina

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