CMAC Transportation | July 2020 Newsletter

NEWS & UPDATES

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REMEMBERING DAVID GUDNASON

On May 18, CMAC Driver David Gudnason passed away. David was 57 years old, from Romulus, MI. He was the beloved husband of the late Sherri Gudnason, loving father of Brandi Ladanyi and Ashley Williams, and dearest grandfather of Allie, Alexis, Alissa, David, James, Brooklynn and Elijah. He is also survived by his sister Jodi Stempien, nieces Kayla Stempien and Cassie Stempien. He is preceded in death by his parents Kermit and Johanna Sexton.

03

SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION ZONES

DRIVER OF THE QUARTER

Poor road conditions, rapidly changing

Congratulations to CMAC Transportation Driver of the Quarter Ivica “Steve” Trajlov!

traffic flows, and frustrated, impatient motorists combine to make construction zones one of the most hazardous environments you will encounter on the road

“David was an outstanding driver and cherished Team Member for 15 years.

We were so fortunate to have him on our team and I will personally miss him and his do whatever needs to be done attitude. Great work ethic and 100 percent what you want a Professional Driver to be. My continued thoughts and prayers go out to his family as he missed dearly,” says Scott Christie, CMAC President.

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JULY 2020

the latest

VETERAN PROFILE

Curt Cole, Safety Supervisor

CMAC Safety Supervisor, Curt Cole, has been a member of the CMAC Team since June 2011. As Safety Supervisor, Curt is responsible for investigating traffic accidents, reviewing dash cam video, setting up Vertical Alliance monthly training, assisting with training on Hours of Service, monitoring SpeedGauge for speeding violations, assisting with road tests, supervising the driver trainers, and counseling drivers on violations as it relates to the FMCSR or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Curt is also one of the many veterans employed by CMAC.

He served in the United State Air Force from 1984 to 1992, reaching the rank of SSGT Staff Sargent.

Curt was a member of the REDHORSE unit of the Air Force. REDHORSE Squadrons are the USAF’s heavy construction units. With combat engineering capabilities similar to Navy Seabees and Army heavy construction organizations, REDHORSE provides the Air Force with a highly-mobile civil engineering response force to support contingency and special ops worldwide.

Wartime Responsibilities:

REDHORSE: Rapid Engineering Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer.

REDHORSE Units provide the Air Force with a highly-mobile civil engineering response force to support contingency and special ops worldwide. They provide heavy repair capability and construction support when requirements exceed normal base civil engineering capabilities and where US Army support is not readily available.

Special Capabilities:

• Provide highly-mobile, rapidly deployable civil engineering response • Water-well drilling force that is self-sufficient to perform heavy damage repair required for • Explosive demorecovery of Air Force facilities and utility systems, and aircraft launch lition recovery • Aircraft arresting system installation • Accomplishes engineer support for bed down of weapon systems • Quarry Operations required to initiate and sustain operations in an austere bare-base environment including remote hostile locations or locations in a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives (CBRNE) prone environment

Peacetime Responsibilities: • Train for contingency and wartime operations • Participate regularly in Joint Chiefs of Staff and major command exercises • Military Operations other than war • Civic Action Programs • Perform training projects that assist base construction efforts while honing wartime skills 2

CMAC TRANSPORTATION

• Concrete mobile operations • Material Testing • Expedient facility erection • Concrete and asphalt paving

HOW TO EAT HEALTHY

WITHOUT PAYING A FORTUNE The fact is, if you aren’t looking to increase your grocery budget, it is hard to choose healthy options over processed food. Making a plan and a food budget, and sticking to it can help you implement a healthy diet and lifestyle, without burning a hole in your wallet:

In memory of

David Gudnason

Make a shopping list and stick to it

This will help you avoid impulse choices and allow you to stay within your budget and make healthy decisions.

shop around the outer aisles

Outer aisle tend to contain fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meat while inner aisles contain more processed food, snacks, sugary cereal and the like.

shop in-season produce

Higher prices on fruits and vegetables often mean an item is out of season, rather than indicating anything about quality.

Consider Store Brands

Many generic brand products are the same quality, and even the same formula, as brand name goods, at a lower price.

On May 18, CMAC Driver David Gudnason passed away. David was 57 years old, from Romulus, MI. He was the beloved husband of the late Sherri Gudnason, loving father of Brandi Ladanyi and Ashley Williams, and dearest grandfather of Allie, Alexis, Alissa, David, James, Brooklynn and Elijah. He is also survived by his sister Jodi Stempien, nieces Kayla Stempien and Cassie Stempien. He is preceded in death by his parents Kermit and Johanna Sexton.

“David was an outstanding driver and cherished Team Member for 15 years. We were so fortunate to have him on our team and I will personally miss him and his do whatever needs to be done attitude. Great work ethic and 100 percent what you want a Professional Driver to be. My continued thoughts and prayers go out to his family as he missed dearly,” says Scott Christie, CMAC President.

David joined the CMAC Team on July 17, 2005 and was a true driving professional, loved by his friends and colleagues. David was an integral part of CMAC’s success and truly loved his work.

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3

navigating safely through construction Zones Poor road conditions, rapidly changing traffic flows, and frustrated, impatient motorists combine to make construction zones one of the most hazardous environments you will encounter on the road. Annually, over 95,000 work zone crashes are estimated to occur, resulting in 40,000 injuries and 754 fatalities.

Staying alert and aware of your surroundings keeps you safe, in addition to other motorists.

STAY SAFE IN WORK ZONES PRECAUTIONS YOU CAN TAKE

Expect the unexpected • •

Normal speed limits may be reduced, traffic lanes may be changed, and people may be working near the road Anticipate unusual behavior from motorists

Slow down • •

Speeding is one of the major causes of construction zone crashes Don’t race for position when approaching a construction zone and don’t speed up after in attempt to make up for lost time

Never tailgate • • • • •

Keep a safe following distance between yourself and the vehicle ahead; use the 4-second rule.

The most common crash in a construction zone is a rear-end collision Double-check mirrors to be aware of traffic around you and always keep track of what’s happening directly in front of your truck Expect sudden stops and slow downs Be on alert for motorists making rapid lane changes

Pay attention to the signs •

Rear-end and side-swipe crashes are two of the most common truck-involved work zone accidents. Truck-involved rear-end crashes can be caused by unexpected queues (temporary lane closures, mobile operations, incidents - no shoulders) and/or unexpected speed differentials (work space access, egress / u-turns, driver distraction). Truck-involved side-swipe crashes are commonly caused by lane drop/closure, abrupt lane shift, rear-end crash avoidance, and poor/confusing centerline stripping. Fatal Work Zone Crashes are most common in the summer and fall.

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CMAC TRANSPORTATION

• •

Warning signs are there to help you move safely through the construction zone, observe and pay attention to them until you are out Orange Signs signal work zones Obey road crew flag persons - The road crew has the same authority as work zone signage

Keep up with traffic flow • • • • •

Merge as soon as possible once you know a lane is ending Be patient and stay calm Do not lane hop - Second most prevalent type of crashes (side swipes) Be patient, pick a lane and stay in it.

Be on alert for motorists driving on the shoulder and/or speeding down the ending right lane right up at the barricades to cut in

Expect Delays • • •

Schedule enough time to drive safely Research your route to prepare for work zones - check local traffic information before starting your route Use marked detours when possible

Stay alert • • • • •

31% of crashes in work zones involved at least one large vehicle Alertness directly affects your stopping distance Watch out for slow moving vehicles and conditions Watch out for workers Maintain margin of safety

IMPORTANCE OF 4 THE TOTAL STOPPING DISTANCE An 80,000 pound, fully-loaded semi can weigh 20 times more than an average car or truck. Even with terrific braking systems, trucks simply

PERCEPTION DISTANCE

can’t stop as quickly as passenger vehicles.

The distance your vehicle travels from the time you see a hazard until your brain recognizes the hazard. For an alert driver, this is about 3/4 second. At 55 mph, a driver will travel 60 ft in that amount of time

reaction distance A vast majority of the information you gather while driving is received through your vision, such as the cars around you, traffic signals, street signs, road construction, pedestrians and much more. While your sense of sight is crucial, it’s also important to rely on your driver training. Do you know how to come to a complete stop safely and swiftly to avoid injury? Do you recall what contributes to Total Stopping Distance?

The large nature of commercial vehicles makes them a potentially dangerous object on the roadway, and drivers much take stopping distance into consideration. A normal

passenger vehicle will take approximately 316 ft. to come to a complete stop after recognizing the need to stop, versus a semi-truck that takes around 525 ft; about two football fields.

Total Stopping Distance is the sum of Perception Distance, Reaction Distance, and Braking Distance.

Total Stopping Distance is the distance your vehicle travels from the time your brain recognizes the need to stop until your vehicle comes to a complete stop.

Although it is primarily made up of the three tangible factors above, there are additional variables and factors that impact the

time it takes for a truck to come to a complete stop.

Due to the height drivers sit in a truck, there is a potential for faster recognition of hazards that a passenger vehicle driver has not yet seen. Commercial Drivers should look about 12-15 seconds ahead for upcoming hazards and other needs to stop.

Icy, wet road conditions also dramatically impact braking stance. Also, since truck brakes are designed for a truck carrying a full load, an empty truck will take longer to stop than a full one.

The distance your vehicle travels from the time your brain orders your foot to brake until your foot is actually touching the brake.

Also 3/4 second, add 1/2 second for air brakes

braking distance The distance your vehicle travels from the time you activate your brakes to when the vehicle stops. At 55 mph, this is about 4.5 seconds or 170 ft

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MEET IESHA TATE CMAC RECRUITER

Get to know Iesha Tate, the newest member of the Safety and Human Resources Department.

Hometown: Adrian MI Favorite Movie: Pretty woman… I love Twilight series and Harry Potter Favorite TV Show: ID channel Favorite Food: Italian food..I love pasta Favorite Holiday: Christmas One Thing You Never Leave Home Without: my cell phone Favorite Dessert: Chocolate cake with a glass of milk Best Vacation You’ve Ever Taken: The Sunshine state Favorite Hobby: Netflix..if that counts..lol Favorite Song: We found love- Ed Sheeran, Just the way you are-Bruno Mars PETS: 1 dog named Bruno Dream City to Live In: San Francisco What motivates you to work hard?

How hard I work now, determines how hard I have to work in the future

What’s your favorite thing about work?

All the different personalities

Best Advice You’ve Ever Received:

• Treat others the way you want to be treated • If you can’t find the sunshine, be the sunshine

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CMAC TRANSPORTATION

Iesha Tate has been with the CMAC since September 2019 when she joined the team as a dispatcher. In a short time, Iesha proved herself to be capable, dependable, and open to learning whatever is thrown her way.

During the shutdown, operational changes created an opportunity for Iesha to join the Safety and Human Resources Department and give recruiting a try. She has quickly learned the systems, requirements, and the sign-on process for drivers.

“Iesha’s work ethic, organizational skills, and kind & delightful personality make he an incredible addition to our department,” says Michael Rushing, Director of Safety and Human Resources, “I am extremely excited to see how she grows and develops in the role.”

driver of the quarter ivica “steve” trajlov Congratulations to the first 2020 Driver of the Quarter - Ivica “Steve” Trajlov! The CMAC Team is incredibly appreciative of his efforts during the shutdown and his consistent dependability. Steve’s “how can I help” attitude makes him a great team member.

Steve has been driving since 1998 and has with CMAC since April 2017, becoming a switcher at Redford in April 2018. He has been happily married for 21 years and has two daughters, one in high school and one studying at Eastern Michigan University. He says his favorite hobby is spending time with his family.

How did Steve become a nickname for Ivica?

When he was in kindergarten, some kids were teasing Steve about his name, Ivica.

He went home and turned on his favorite show, The Six Billion Dollar Man. Inspired by the main character, Steve Austin, he told his parents from then on he wanted to be called Steve - and he’s been Steve ever since.

“Steve is constantly exceeding expectations and is a great asset to the company.”

-Craig Overaitis

DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN GET A $500 BONUS FOR REFERRING A DRIVER? Do you know any experienced drivers with at least 1 year of experience who would be a good fit for the CMAC Team? Our team is recruiting drivers on an ongoing basis, with opportunities for straight truck drivers in addition to local, dedicated routes. If you refer someone to CMAC and they are hired, you will be award a $500 recruiting bonus.

For more information, email Iesha Tate, itate@cmactrans.com.

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CMAC SCORES RECORD LOW IN MAY 2020 CRASH INDICATOR BASIC CMAC’s CSA Crash Indicator Basic Scores have been steadily decreases since 2018, hitting a record low in May and staying under 25% for June.

FMCSA defines Crash Indicator BASIC as “histories or patterns of high crash involvement such as frequency or severity”. These scores are only able to be seen by the carrier and enforcement officers. The Crash Indicator scoring doesn’t factor in accountability and is not specific to behavior, but to the consequences. It includes all accidents where police reports were made and all accidents where the other person was at fault. Higher percentile rankings indicate lower safety compliance.

In May 2020, CMAC’s Crash Indicator BASIC reached 21% - the lowest score we’ve received since 2014. It has been long, hard work to get below the 65% threshold, and our safety team, operations team, and drivers have gone above and beyond to ensure scores continue to trend downward.

There are 7 BASIC Categories of CSA Scores with scores calculated by ranking from 0-100 based on your fleet’s violation rate.

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CMAC TRANSPORTATION

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) uses seven BASIC categories to determine how a motor carrier ranks relative to other carriers with a similar number of safety events (inspections, violations, crashes). Good CSA scores result in lower annual insurance premiums, customer preference, fewer DOT roadside audits or inspections, and easier driver recruitment based on reputation.

The seven categories are scored as BASIC percentiles.

BASIC stands for Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories. When a fleet has enough safety data in BASIC, you’re given a BASIC percentile ranking from 0-100 based on your fleet’s violation rate. Percentiles rank your fleet based on others similar to your and are used to decide if you’re fleet has trouble with safety performance. If one of your BASIC percentiles reaches a predefined threshold FMCSA will send warning letter and/ or investigate. The 7 BASICS consist of 900+ violations.

In 2020 YTD, our Crash Indicator Scores are 51% less on average and decreasing at a rate of 70% per month since January. The CSA Scores for January through May 2020 were 59 times better than they were in 2018.

7 BASIC PERCENTILES 1. Unsafe Driving 2. Crash Indicator 3. Hours of Service (HOS) Compliance 4. Vehicle Maintenance 5. Controlled Substances/ Alcohol 6. Hazardous Materials Compliance 7. Driver Fitness

If you compare the last 12 month period (July 2019 - June 2020) with the same period from 2018-2019, CMAC’s average monthly score has decreased by 34.3 points or 41%.

WHAT WE DID TO IMPROVE OUR SCORES •

Implemented training and

•

communication program - reminding al drivers of speed and space management, construction awareness, focusing on foul weather driving Qualcomm messages on any impending rain or snow storm Fleet managers help by reminding drivers to slow down during inclement weather

•

From 2018 to 2020, the average monthly Crash Indicator BASIC was 24 points better than the year before. The average score YTD for 2020 is 55% less than the average score for 2019.

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HOW TO REDUCE RISK OF CSA VIOLATIONS The three main factors that determine rankings are number of violations, severity of violations, and recency of violations. CSA points are calculated in many ways, including infractions found during roadside DOT inspections, crash reports, and investigation reports. CSA points can only be assigned by people who are trained to give DOT inspections. This includes DOT inspectors and trained law enforcement officers.

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CMAC TRANSPORTATION

Unsafe Driving/Crash Indicator W

Avoid drivers with a history of speeding (7-10 pts)

W

Eliminate or try to minimize in-cab activities like texting and eating (10pts) W 70% of all large trash crashes are due to the driver doing something else while driving

W

Always wear a seatbelt (7 pts)

W

Never tailgate or change lanes without signaling (5 pts)

W

Always avoid far left lane, regardless of state law (3 pts)

Hours of Service (HOS) Compliance and Fatigued Driving W

Establish policy against driving while sick or fatigued (10 pts)

W

Use electronic logbooks to eliminate violations related to missing or incorrect driver logs (5-7 pts)

W

This accounts for 30% of all driver violations found during roadside inspections

W

Educate everyone, including dispatchers, on HOS rules

controlled substances and alcohol W

Never hire drivers without checking their PSP record.

W

Institute a zero-tolerance policy for drugs / alcohol (10 points).

W

Train supervisors to recognize drivers under the influence (10 points).

W

Make sure no one drinks alcohol within 4 hours of being on-duty (5 points).

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS COMPLIANCE W

Ensure that drivers always know how to properly secure their cargo (1-8 points).

W

Don’t shy away from adding more straps or chains – too many is safer than not enough (1-7 point).

W

Never use bungee cords by themselves to secure cargo (1-7 points).

W

Ensure drivers always stop at railroad crossings (5 points).

W

Use edge protectors when hauling cargo with sharp corners.

DRIVER FITNESS W

Drivers should always carry their commercial license (8 points).

W

6% of driver violations are due non-English speaking drivers (4 points).

W

Drivers should always carry their medical certificate and renew their DOT physical early. This issue accounts for 8% of all driver violations (1-2 points).

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE W

31% of roadside inspections are triggered by observable vehicle defects such as lights or tires

W

Use Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) with Driver Vehicle Inspection Report software - Electronic DVIRs guide drivers through pre and post trip inspections without paper forms

W

20% of vehicle violations are related to lights (2-6 pts)

W

30 of vehicle violations are related to issues with brakes (4 pts)

W

9% of vehicle violations are related to tire issues, half for tread depth (3-8 pts)

W

Drivers Should: W Understand how to properly inspect their vehicle (2- 4 pts).

W Be familiar with CSA inspection data.

W Submit DVIRs before and after every trip (required by FMCSA) to ensure there’s no issues with their vehicle.

W Make it a habit to regularly check lights, flashers, and reflectors.

W Keep equipment clean to decrease chances of inspection.

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july 2020

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20450 Sibley Road | Brownstown, MI 48193 Driver Jobs: (734) 225-9705

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