Welcome to the Midwest Transport Inc. field office in Memphis Tennessee

I am James A. Rhodes Jr the Manager of the Memphis office.

 The Office Manager is Rita K. McAdams.

 The maintenance staff is comprised of Charles E. Martin who serves as head mechanic and James Ellingburg who is our associate and trailer mechanic.

The Memphis office directs 46 drivers to utilize 28 tractors to transport mail to five points on the East coast of the U.S. We drive over 13,000 miles a day to facilitate our contract with the Postal Service.

The largest contingent of our drivers is in the Memphis area. We have also have relay drivers in Newport TN, Abingdon VA and Roanoke VA. 

While, compared to other mail carriers, we presently have a modest stance within the Mid South, we are awaiting the development of the Memphis Networks Distribution Center to a full scale tier three facility. This will allow us the opportunity to obtain more routes in our present region and expand our reach into other parts of the country. It gives us great pleasure to be employed with Midwest Transport Inc. and to be serving the U.S. Postal Service at this time in History!! 

MTI MILEAGE STUDY

MTI is pleased to announce its first test to determine the affect on fuel economy based on the type of equipment utilized! For a number of months MTI has been purchasing only ISX engines that are designed to allow us to reduce the number of parts needed in inventory by having only one engine to work on. In addition based on studies the ISX engine appears to allow us to drive more miles on the engine without completing an expensive overhaul. This allows us to drive the tractor longer at a reduced price per mile. In addition to this development, we are ready to test the various use of aerodynamics in the equipment. For example, we have read that having trailers that are more aerodynamic will increase fuel economy. We have utilized wind fairings on the tractors and we have found there is a correlation between the use of a top cab air faring and fuel economy.  So we are introducing these into the mix of tractors both fully aerodynamic as well as trailers that have been “skirted” to make them as fuel efficient as possible!

Our new test will include the use of a route between Orlando and Atlanta. The units will run the same route and interchange drivers to account for various driving habits. By using tractors with the same engines, transmissions, and gear ratios we should take these variables out of the test.

The test will include the following combinations:

1)      A fully aerodynamic tractor (see pictures) and a “skirted “ trailer (see pictures).

2)      A fully aerodynamic tractor and a regular trailer.

3)      A regular tractor (with top wind faring) and a “skirted” trailer.

4)      A normal unit that we currently run of a top fared tractor and a regular trailer.

The only other variables are that we have moved the trailer as close to the cab as physically possible by placement of the 5^th wheel and the professional alignment of the tractor/trailer.

Our results will be measured by analyzing the data from the “black box” ECM that will tell us the fuel efficiency, the amount of idle time, the percent of time the cruise is used, as well as other info we deem useful.

Why are we doing this? We bid competitively with other suppliers for routes with the USPS. If we can be more fuel efficient than our competitors we can gain more routes and gain share making MTI more financially stable going forward. Obviously, the downside is the cost of the equipment as more aerodynamic tractors are more expensive to purchase, due to the fairings below the tanks, etc we will damage some of those on various road conditions as well as ice and snow! Skirting trailers is an additional cost and since we have no experience with the use of these trailers we do not know what can happen to the “skirts”! However, we do know anytime incidental equipment is added there is an opportunity for it to be damaged.

We will begin the test approximately July 1^st and results will begin to filter in soon after that date. We will publish the results for those of you interested.

Fuel costs are MTI second biggest cost item in our contract (after salaries) so any effect we can have on this issue will help MTI be more competitive. For those of you (drivers) not involved in the test you can have a dramatic effect on fuel and maintenance costs by the way you drive and look after the equipment. With the economic situation MTI needs everyone becoming more cost control conscious than ever before! Only those companies that can find ways to reduce costs will survive the current and projected economic situations.

Thanks to all of you for your help and assistance in this matter. I hope you are as excited as I am about MTI attempting to gain a competitive advantage. However, our most important advantage is the way all MTI employees react every day in their own responsibilities.

We will update you as we receive more information.

Don Harmon and Debi Johnson welcome you to Stillwater OK.  Don has more than 20 years of service at MTI and is at your service to expedite the freight.  Debi works as our dispatcher and assists Don in freight operations. We run our loads through all of the continental United States.  Even though, working in the freight division is somewhat different from the rest of the company, we are glad that we have a great team of managers in the different terminals who are so helpful.  We in Stillwater believe that we are working with a great company.  Our favorite motto is “You call we haul.”

Here are a few of drivers who make it all possible.

Gary Sanders

David Grant

Tim Gambill

Now we are ready to hit the road and as we say,  ”We love the smell of freight in the morning.”

 

Hello, my name is Jim Halloran.  I am the regional manager for the eastern region and the Barkeyville Pennsylvania terminal.  I am new to the Midwest Transport family.  I come with 26 years in the transportation industry with a strong background in driver training and safety management. I am looking forward to working with the drivers and the safety department to build a stronger safer fleet for Midwest Transport.

Our shop is off interstate 80 at exit 29 in Pennsylvania.  We have a full service repair shop and hope to add a trailer repair shop in the near future.  We currently do minor trailer repairs along with tractor repairs and services.  We have great success at relaying equipment from outlying parking areas into our shop for service.  Without the great team of drivers we currently staff this would not be possible.

Our driver force covers the following outlying areas.  Warrendale PA, Dubois PA, Cleveland OH, Kearney NJ, Chicopee MA, Harrisburg PA, Detroit MI, and Bluefield WV.

If you are ever in the area, please stop by and say “Hi”.      We always have the coffee on.

Here is our team at Barkeyville.

Michele Schwartz

Dale Wilhoite - Parts

David Kline - Parts  

Dustin Lind - 3rd Shift Supervisor

Adam Jacobs - Service Truck

Our mechanics have a vast amount of knowledge with all our equipment.  We continue to add staffing to our crew to keep us up to date with the equipment and technology.  Our mechanics are very driver orientated with respect for drivers and the job they do. 

Boyd Richey - Mechanic

Frank Filippone - Mechanic

Geoffrey Gander - Mechanic

Russ Davis - Foreman

Shawn Aikins - Mechanic

Shawn Lind - Night Foreman

Mark Chalmers - Mechanic / Tow Truck Driver

TO: All employeesSubject: CSA2010

 Much has been written about CSA 2010 and there is as much misinformation as there is good information. Basically, this procedure will be a new rating system for EVERY company involved in operating tractors and it will for the first time measure the performance of EVERY CDL driver in the United States. A company can be placed out of business for non-performance and a driver can be disqualified. However, typically a driver will lose his/her ability to drive as EVERY company will have access to the driving record, etc. of every driver that applies to their company. Therefore, since the company will receive a rating based on the composite of all its drivers there will be rationale for companies to dismiss drivers with bad records. It would be unlikely that another company would hire that driver as their record would become a part of the new company’s rating!  My point is both the company and the driver will receive ratings so it is in EVERYONE’S best interest not to have DOT issues. To help everyone understand and be aware of what is going on we will begin publishing on this site articles that will assist everyone in understanding this issue.MTI needs drivers to deliver the mail and freight! Drivers need employment. Therefore, we have a common interest to do pre-trips, have our paperwork up to date and generally do everything possible to obtain clean DOT checks!The last issue is accidents. In the past only chargeable accidents have gone on the record. However, now EVERY accident regardless of who was at fault goes on the record of both the company and the driver. Please ALWAYS leave yourself an out to avoid accidents!!!Hopefully, this site will help you understand CSA2010.

I’ve been conducting CSA 2010 workshops throughout North America since October 2009.  As a result I’ve identified and addressed numerous misunderstandings, misinformation, and misconceptions. I’ve decided to produce a series of e-mails aimed to replace fiction with fact. Kelly Anderson, President - Impact

FICTION Many carriers believe once CSA 2010 is rolled out they will be able to see the BASIC scores of their current drivers and they’ll be able to order a report showing the BASIC scores of potential drivers.  FACT Neither drivers nor employing motor carriers will have access to the drivers BASIC scores.  At present, only enforcement personnel will have access.  Generally, it will be used to identify and focus on drivers of carriers that are undergoing an investigation. However, drivers and carriers will have access to driver data through the Driver Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP).  The PSP provides a list of crash and inspection activity associated with the driver over the previous 3 years of inspections and 5 years of crashes. PSP only provides a list, it does not compare or assess driver inspection/crash performance. This fact is substantiated by FAQ #27 of the CSA 2010 website. Have a Question? If you have a CSA 2010 question or concern please feel free to e-mail them to kelly@impacttrans.com or call Kelly at 417-451-0853 I’ve been conducting CSA 2010 workshops throughout North America since October 2009.  As a result I’ve identified and addressed numerous misunderstandings, misinformation, and misconceptions. I’ve decided to produce a series of e-mails aimed to replace fiction with fact. Kelly Anderson, President - Impact FICTION Many carriers, drivers, and insurance companies believe that once CSA 2010 is implemented that around 200,000 drivers will be dis-qualified by the FMCSA due to their compliance record and/or medical qualification. FACT CSA 2010 does not assign Safety Ratings to drivers like it does carriers.  Drivers will receive BASIC scores that will be accessible to DOT investigators during a carrier intervention.  The current driver intervention tools include a “notice of violation” and a “notice of claim.”  The notice of claim is used when the driver will receive a fine.  The CSA 2010 driver intervention process does not include dis-qualifying the driver. CSA 2010 does not set medical requirements.  It does, however, measure compliance within the Driver Fitness BASIC.  Kelly’s opinion - I believe 200,000 drivers could lose their job as part of CSA 2010.  Not because the FMCSA dis-qualified them but because Safety Directors, armed with the drivers’ last 5-years of crash data and 3 years of inspections, will not hire a driver with a poor safety record.  I expect some Safety Directors to set some very stringent hiring standards with regard to Accidents and Inspection Violations.  This will take a lot of drivers out of the industry; it will also result in empty trucks.  I think that, once carriers and drivers become more familiar with CSA 2010, hiring standards will be adjusted appropriately.  This fact is substantiated by FAQ #7, 18, 27 of the CSA 2010 website. Have a Question? If you have a CSA 2010 question or concern please feel free to e-mail them to kelly@impacttrans.com or call Kelly at 417-451-0853

6-4-10.pdf Drivers = The Key to Success

5-28-10.pdf Don’t be a Roadcheck 2010 Statistic!

5-21-10.pdf Motorcoach Passenger Safety Awareness

5-7-10.pdf YOU have a voice in the Safety Regulation Process

4-30-10.pdf A Bit More about CSA 2010

4-23-10.pdf  Dates Announced for Roadcheck 2010

4-16-10.pdf  The Most effective Way to Get Results

4-9-10.pdf  CSA 2010 Update

1-22-10.pdf  State Laws on Distracted Driving

1-15-10.pdf  CSA 2010 It’s not just about Safety Directors

1-8-10.pdf  Notice - Hours of Service

Hello my name is Rob Straker and this is the second opportunity I get to “brag” about the Buffalo NY and Northeast Terminals.

To date I have worked with many drivers and supervisors with the safety department, I have also become a Defensive Driving Instructor with the National Safety Council.  This will help with the training and retraining of MTI’s drivers. I am very excited about the opportunity and I believe together we can become much safer.

I would also like to update all of you of some things we do here in the Northeast.  First of all we started a driver of the year program back in 2007 with the first inductee being Norman Kazmark, Norm earned the honor for his exemplary duties here as driver and leader.

Norm Kazmark

The second year of the program Mark Helinger earned top honors by handling the Syracuse NY doubles route as well as coordinating drivers for the many extra trips we run out of these areas.

Mark Helinger

The third inductee for 2009 is David Kasperek, Dave has been with MTI for 13 years and has been a huge asset to MTI, he is always available for the extra duties and shows a lot of interest in MTI.

David Kasperek

Congratulations to all three of these drivers.

Now for the Terminal operations here in Buffalo.  We have currently been updating equipment. With that said, we have been getting  “new to us” trailers and working them through the shop here for mechanical repairs and paint.  This has been an addition of 24 trailers. I have to say without all the teamwork, Buffalo and the Northeast would not be functioning to its fullest capability. Again, I would like to personally thank each and every driver and mechanic here for making the Northeast a successful operation.

Mary Straker

Rick Hawes - Assistant Manger

Scott Klein - Mechanic

Mike Eberl - Trailer Mechanic

Bruce Schwertferger - Trailer Mechanic

Don Hawes - Mechanic

Mike Igla

If you are ever in the area, please stop by and check out the facility.  I believe it’s one of the best places to be.

The Midwest Transport operation for the Southeast area of the United States is based out of Tampa Florida.   The main facility has a four truck bay shop and tire shop located at 3309 South 50^th Street in Tampa.   There are satellite locations with drivers and equipment based out of Orlando FL, Ft Myers FL, Manasota FL, Miami FL, Jacksonville FL, Lake City FL, Lakeland FL, St. Petersburg FL, Baton Rouge LA, and Atlanta GA  with a total of 96 drivers.

The Tampa area is responsible for the maintenance of 78 Tractors and 107 trailers as well as any MTI equipment that may pass thru the area needing attention. 

The shop/mechanic staff consists of Kris Lawrason parts clerk, mechanics Yeison Soto, Leonard Bryant, Dustin Sallee, and Bryant Grigsby. Tommy Braswell is Tampa’s tire man and our service truck is operated by Sam Denson.  They are supervised by Maintenance Supervisor and Assistant Terminal Manager John Bruyer.   Chris MacIver is the night supervisor and Charlotte Lurvey is the Logistics Administrator.  Terminal manger is Jim Lysinger.

Tampa is a 100% mail operation hauling mail for the USPS in the Southwestern United States.  Running approximately 6000 trips a month.

Sam Denson and John Bruyer checking service trucks tools

Yeison Soto and Dustin Sallee working on a truck

Bryant Grigsby working on a truck

My Name is James Rhodes, I am the Field Manager for the Memphis Terminal.

The Memphis area office has been in existence since 1994. At that time we had one contractual run to Philadelphia PA. Now, we have 10 runs destined to Philadelphia PA, Greensboro, NC, Charlotte NC. and Washington DC.  Memphis has 49 employees with 26 who are based in Memphis, the rest are based in Newport TN, Abingdon VA, and Roanoke VA.   We utilize 40 tractors and 50 trailers to fulfill our commitment to the postal service. 

The Memphis office staff is comprised of a great team.

Charles Martin as head mechanic, pictured here with mail driver Roland Partain.

James Ellingburg as trailer mechanic and mail hauler.

Also represented in the photographs are drivers Bruce Love

Robert Stone

and Donnie Webb as he prepares to head out on his next trip.

My name is Don Harmon and I have been with MTI since November 1989. 

I have a great team of  11 freight drivers and I am assisted by Debi Johnson who joined the team in July 2003. 

We run our loads through all of the continental United States.  Even though, working in the freight division is somewhat different from the rest of the company, we are glad that we have a great team of managers in the different terminals who are so helpful.  We in Stillwater believe that we are working with a great company.  Our favorite motto is “You call we haul.”

Here you see me giving route directions to one of my drivers, Chuck Arnett.

Now we are ready to hit the road.