At Shark Trucking we believe communication is key to driver satisfaction.
below you can Read Articles From our monthly newsletters and see our commitment to safety and driver appreciation. These articles are all about Driver's Health and family well Being. We are a team and we care.
February 2012
We hope you all take advantage of the new Team Shark Driver Center and its many amenities and we hope this major investment further proves our commitment to you and our continuing efforts to promote TEAM SHARK unity and helping your driving career and promote team work. We want to explain the basic criteria we use in determining driver of month.
- Attitude. A positive attitude helps to promote customer service. A Positive attitude helps you dealing with DOT. And most importantly a positive attitude reportedly makes you healthier and even live longer.
- Fuel Mileage. Obviously fuel savings helps save money and operate more efficiently. It shows the guys putting extra effort to save money and put more money in their pockets.
- Miles Ran. The more miles you run makes you and the company more money and allows us to service and take care of more customers. This provides you with more freight.
- Safety This is the most important of all statistics. Without safety, money does not matter. This includes speeding violations, DOT write-ups, etc.
- Customer Satisfaction. Customer complaints and more so customer compliments. When a customer takes time out of their day to compliment a driver, that driver—you—must have done something above and beyond to help Team Shark not just meet, but exceed their expectations.
We realize that sometimes you may meet many or even all these criteria and not get driver of the month. We want to say that we appreciate all of you all of the time. We know we have the best group of drivers around—bar none. We make an honest effort each month to highlight and reward special effort as best we can. We know that sometimes your hard work may seem overlooked—but it is not. We appreciate drivers and need YOU to join us.
January 2012
We are proud to open up the new Team Shark Driver Center. I am sure that you have noticed the new Mobile Home placed next to the old break room. This new area will be for you to relax, take a break, and get refreshments. We hope that you utilize the Driver Center, but please do not abuse or make messes. We hope this area shows our continued commitment to doing everything we can to help make your work life a little easier and more enjoyable and promote Driver Appreciation and complete the best driving job in the industry.
For your relaxation this will provide a comfortable, clean area to take a break and get some rest. We will—with your help—maintain clean bathrooms and showers. This will provide a safe place to park the truck and clean place for you to shower, rest, and get ready for your next trip.
For your entertainment there will be DirecTV service. We will continue to provide hi-speed WIFI internet service.
For your refreshment we will offer an ice machine for a cold drink or to fill your ice chest, a coffee machine so you can get a fresh cup of coffee while you wait or even fill up your thermos for your trip.
For your convenience we will continue to provide the washer and dryer in the old break room to do your laundry while you relax.
Few rules: NO SMOKING in the Team Shark Driver Center. Please clean up after yourself.
Again we want to show our appreciation for all that you do—we know that you do a hard job and hope you enjoy the many amenities— clean showers, fresh coffee, free ice, High Definition DirecTV, and a nice place to rest and relax. And again help Team Shark be one of the best places to be a company driver. Thanks Team Shark Management.
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December 2011
Here are a few important reminders that with our busy lives can get overlooked until it’s too late. We understand that if an emergency happens while you are out on the road--you can feel helpless. We will try to help you avoid this as much as we can by providing some reminders and tips. We pray no one ever needs any of these tips but we know that some may and with some planning and organization beforehand you can feel more confident that even if you are not there, you can still help your family through the emergency,
Change batteries in Fire Alarms. Check batteries in flashlights at home and in the car, and in your truck. When you need them it’s too late.
Review with your family all emergency numbers—especially young kids. Remember that with cell phones they may not be able to track you so kids need to know the their address.
Again if you have kids talk to neighbors that you trust and exchange emergency contact information and review this safe place your kids can go in an emergency situation.
Be careful of Christmas lights being too close to dry limbs, leaves or pine needles as this may cause a potential fire risk.
Check important documents for safe keeping. This can include lease agreements, auto insurance, life insurance policy, emergency contacts, birth certificates, Passports, Social Security Cards, wills and any other important information.
Review your medicine cabinet and you may need to secure meds that may be abused.
Here are some important numbers that you may need:
National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255
Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222
Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD
Domestic Abuse Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE
If you see suspected activity and would like to request increased patrols of your neighborhood follow this link to fill out a Alert Slip for HPD. https://ehpd.houstontx.gov/citizenalert/
November 2011
With the Holiday’s coming up there can be some Family Issues.
The holidays present many opportunities to bond with family, but this time of year can also present significant stress, particularly when family conflict arises. Some conflict can come from having to decide which relatives to see—if any.
Take Turns with Relatives. If you and your spouse both want to celebrate with your families of origin, if you're dealing with a divorce situation where not everybody wants to celebrate together or if you just have a lot of family, it can be stressful deciding who to see, and when. Taking turns is an easy solution. If you see one group in November, see the other in December, or alternate years. Then you can eventually see everybody.
Be Prepared For Some Conflict. If you usually have conflict when you get together with your family, it's a good idea to be prepared for it. I'm not suggesting that you go looking for trouble, but rather, approach the situation with a sense of realism. If your mother always criticizes your appearance or your brother always makes rude jokes, don't expect them to change their habits; just have a sense of humor about it and remind yourself what you love about them.
Just Say No. If seeing family causes you great amounts of stress each year, it's OK to say no sometimes. Celebrating with just your partner or kids can be a wonderful alternative to seeing people who make you feel consistently stressed.
Surround Yourself with Friends. Many a happy holiday has been formed by groups of people who have decided to celebrate with friends instead of family. Whether you're unable to travel (or have family who is), or for some other reason find yourself without kin, celebrating with other people you know who are also without family for the day can be a great way to bond with friends and enjoy the spirit of the season.
Keep It Simple Don’t get caught up in all the materialistic aspects of the holidays. I used to start my Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving and wouldn't get finished until Christmas Eve. This year, I'm already done. I kept it simple. I asked what my family wanted. If they said nothing, they get a gift card. I'm not forced to go store to store and up and down every aisle in search of something. I get home quicker. I'm less stressed. I get to spend more time with my family—which is what the holidays are all about anyway.
October 2011
Driving a truck is one of our country’s most demanding jobs. We know that you take to the roads everyday sacrificing time with loved ones to keep freight moving. You may miss birthdays, family dinners or special events with their kids… the things other people may take for granted. We want you to put family first and have no problem working with you, however we must have proper notice. We make commitments based upon available trucks. When a driver wants to take off and we already committed to a customer’s schedule it leaves us in a bad position with the customer. We want to remind you of our policy for time off, all we require is a minimum of 4 days notice. This allows us to get you home and to arrange freight for you to be off. We understand that you will have things needing taken care of and we understand family is a priority.
September 2011
DIET (five-a-day and good fats!)
Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
Replace bad fats with good fats. Avoid foods high in saturated (bad) fat on most days (eat red meat and whole milk dairy servings on 3 or fewer days per week).
Replace bad fats with unsaturated (good) fats from fish and vegetables whenever possible (examples: eat avocado instead of sour cream; eat almonds instead of packaged snacks with trans-fats).
Replace processed snacks with fruits and vegetables and natural nuts.
Replace sugar drinks and candy with sweet alternatives such as diet drinks and dried fruit. Use artificial sweeteners if it helps you cut back on sugary foods.
August 2011
Here are some recommendations to help prevent driver fatigue and road trance:
· Get regular exercise
· Plan a healthy, well-balanced diet
· Eat a light meal before driving, not a heavy one
· Keep driver’s area cool and well ventilated
· Avoid soft music, change radio stations often
· Watch for road and traffic signs
· Drive with an erect posture, with legs at a 45-degree angle
· On break, get out of the vehicle and walk, jog, or stretch
· Avoid alcohol & any medications that might cause drowsiness
· Sing, Chew gum, Stretch, vary driving speeds, and listen to the radio to keep alert.
· Wear sunglasses only during daylight hour
These suggestions will help avoid accidents that often result from driver fatigue and road time trance. An alert driver is a safe driver. Remember to practice safety. Don’t learn it by accident.
July 2011
Following up on last months talk about Obesity and the need for Exercise, we would like to offer some suggestions on diet. On the road frequently means stops for fast food. Fortunately you can find nutritious options at several fast food restaurants if you order wisely. Select fast food places like Subway or Quiznos for sandwiches made on whole grain bread with lean meat and plenty of veggies. Salads are an option at many fast food restaurants, but avoid salads covered with tortilla chips, deep fried meat, and covered in dressing. Convenience stores are not a good choice for meal times. Use convenience stores to grab a quick snack. You may even be able to find a piece of fresh fruit, a bag of nuts, or a high fiber granola bar to satisfy your hunger. Steer clear of the candy aisle, potato chips, and fountain drinks. Pack a cooler filled with healthy snacks to not only save your wallet, but also provide healthy food and drinks while on the road. Some good snack choices include fresh cut fruits/vegetables, string cheese, whole grain crackers, mixed nuts, and mini sandwiches made with peanut butter or lean meat on whole grain bread. Choose bottled water and fruit juices over soda and carbonated drinks.
June 2011
Truck drivers are at more risk than the average Americans for a number of health problems. Obesity, is easily the most commonly occurring and preventable cause of disease. Many don’t bother to wear seat belts. About one in four has sleep apnea (a disorder that interferes with breathing during sleep and can leave one groggy and exhausted). Half of them smoke, eat a lot of fast food, sit for long periods and don’t exercise. These habits can fuel high blood pressure and chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Many truckers unload the goods they carry, risking back injuries. Truck drivers also report more injuries, such as sprains, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering tightening its rules for conditions including diabetes and high blood pressure. And many companies are stepping up their own efforts at improving health.
Some tips:
Walking around your truck 32 times is about a mile.
Give up smoking—also saves you lot of money.
