Nextran Truck Centers Presents Open Road Winter 2023

THE FUTURE IS

ELECTRIC

WORDS FROM OUR

FOUNDER A BOLD NEW ERA

2022 was quite a year, highlighted by our first in-person Nextran Sales and Management Conference in three years. Not only was it special to be face-to-face again after all the virtual gatherings caused by the pandemic, but it marked the first time several folks from our new dealerships in the West and Midwest could join the rest of Nextran’s leadership team live in one room. In this issue of Open Road, we will give you the full story behind the day-long event and what it means for Nextran going forward. We will also touch upon trucking’s future in an article devoted to electric vehicles. Both Mack and Volvo, two of our longstanding brand partners,

have made great strides in this area, and we are proud to share it with you.

Of course, our greatest source of pride is our employees. Their customer dedication and commitment to one another are second to none. In addition to our regular feature on two outstanding Nextran employees, we are also taking you on a trip to Six Flags Over Georgia for our Family Day outing with 300 workers and their families from our Atlanta area dealerships.

It is hard to believe, but 2023 is here, which marks our 30th anniversary as a company. You can bet a future issue will be devoted to celebrating that incredible milestone. But for now, I hope you enjoy this edition. We are so glad to have you with us on the Open Road.

Sincerely,

Jon W. Pritchett President and CEO Nextran Truck Centers

Sales and Management CONFERENCE

Nextran sets the course toward a customer-dedicated future

pg. 6

Employee Spotlight MATT LENHART

Parts Manager for Nextran Truck Centers Orlando

pg. 22

Family Day at SIX FLAGS

Employees and their families enjoy the day at Six Flags

pg. 12

New Location OCALA,

FL

Get a quick preview of Nextran’s 26th location, coming in 2024

pg. 14

Rental & Leasing

WEBSITE

All-new and more customerfriendly than ever

pg. 16

The Future is

ELECTRIC

Making great strides toward a future for electric trucks

pg. 18

Employee Spotlight CHAD CLANCY

Director of Operations for Nextran Truck Centers in Kansas City

pg. 22

Kevin Westmoreland TRUCKING CO,

INC.

One of Nextran’s biggest Mack customers and home to the Dog Pound

pg. 24

Human RESOURCES

pg. 26

A look inside our HR Department at Nextran CONTENTS

Trucker RESOURCES

We have compiled our top go-to resources for trucking

pg. 30

GOT SOMETHING TO SHARE?

Find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

SALES & MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE

MISSION: 25

President and CEO, Jon W. Pritchett shares his excitement to kick off the Sales and Management Conference in Gainesville, Florida.

PG. 6

Every spring, we hold our annual Nextran Sales and Management Conference, where the sales and leadership team come together to set goals, outline the organization’s direction and celebrate the accomplishments of the previous 12 months. In 2022, there was a lot to celebrate, starting with the fact that everyone could attend in person after three years of virtual meetings during the pandemic. And with the acquisition of new dealerships in the west and midwest, there were more people than ever at the big event held in Gainesville, Florida.

GOING FORWARD WITH PURPOSE

At the 2022 Sales and Management Conference, Nextran sets the course toward a customer-dedicated future.

The theme of this year’s gathering was titled Mission 25, a look towards 2025 and envisioning what Nextran’s future looks like. According to President and CEO, Jon W. Pritchett, Nextran is on a mission to take care of our customers.

“With so many new faces, along with new OEMs and resources, it’s an exciting time for us. But we aren’t here to rest on past success. We have a responsibility to our customers to provide the best possible experience for them,” Pritchett said. “That’s at the heart of our conference. How do we shape our accomplishments into a better customer outcome? We’re fortunate to have new folks with great ideas to help make that happen.”

Setting and achieving lofty goals has helped us become one of the most respected dealer groups in the world. Over the next few years, we are committed to continuing that momentum by increasing our number of service bays, giving our best-in-the-business technicians more space and resources. We are also striving not to just be #1 in Mack Truck Heavy Duty sales, but also in Medium Duty sales, and Volvo Truck sales.

Of course, by 2025, we see Nextran having a larger footprint with more dealerships in new regions.

Expanding to locations in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado and Wyoming has provided us an opportunity to demonstrate a level of customer support and culture that continues to provide an outstanding experience for both our external and internal customers. Because of these expanded resources, we’re also able to provide our customers in the Southeast with an even greater level of support.”

Jim Ussery, Executive Vice President of Operations

Location of the Year Winner: ORLANDO

Southside Station plays for the attendees of the annual Sales and Management Conference reception to close out the day of activities.

In addition to charting the course forward, the 2022 Sales and Management Conference gave attendees the chance to unwind and have some fun during an awards ceremony hosted at Regal Cinema at Celebration Pointe. As guests walked into the theater, they passed a wall with movie posters for Rudy, Mission: Impossible, Top Gun and Happy Gilmore, reimagined with our leadership team members in starring roles. Then, during the show, those same “movie stars” handed out some trophies recognizing Nextran’s finest, including salespeople of the year, dealership of the year and other operational excellence awards.

By the end of the 2022 Sales and Management Conference, the pathway forward was clearly defined.

“Our commitment to the success of our customers, the satisfaction of our employees, our approach to innovation and offering the best dealer support in trucking must be unwavering,” Pritchett stated. “Anything we have achieved as a company comes from those tenets, and I know by continuing to stay true to them going forward, there are some exciting things in store.”

We haven’t been able to get together in person like this in over three years,” said Charlie Brown, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing. “Shaking hands on stage and watching some extremely dedicated folks get the recognition they deserve was really special.”

Charlie Brown, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing

Nextran Brings Our Popular Rental & Leasing Services to the Midwest

Many customers enjoy the flexibility and financial freedom that renting and leasing affords their business. We’re proud to now offer Rental & Leasing services in Kansas City and look to expand to other Midwest and West locations in the near future.

For further assistance, please contact Kelsey Trimarchi, Nextran Western Regional Sales Manager at ktrimarchi@nextranusa.com

NextranRentalandLeasing.com

A DAY JUST FOR

Employees and their families from our Atlanta, Duluth and Kennesaw locations enjoy the day at Six Flags Over Georgia

It was a day of thrill rides, comfort food, and family fun. On June 12, 2022, Nextran hosted a Family Day outing for over 300 employees and their families from our dealerships in Atlanta, Duluth and Kennesaw at Six Flags Over Georgia. Jon, Kelly, Alexandra and Christina Pritchett also joined the group to partake in the fun and thank everyone for making the Nextran family stronger.

“It’s a blessing to work with people who care so much for each other,” said Kelly Pritchett, Vice President of Facility Design and Development. “Enjoying time outside of the dealership is key, and we are so glad to be here. Seeing everyone come together is special.”

The support for one another was evident in the purple shirts worn by the employees and family members. It was in honor of Atlanta General Manager Terry Barrows’ wife, Cathy,

who passed away from COVID-19 at the outset of the pandemic. The day was about remembering, healing and reconnecting as events such as this have been postponed for the last few years.

“It feels good to be out here with friends and family again,” Terry Barrows said. “I’m really looking forward to enjoying outings like this more often.”

At 2:00pm, everyone took a break from the roller coasters to gather at the Peachtree Pavilion for a catered lunch of baked chicken, hot dogs, potato salad, green salad and all the fixings. To finish it off, ice cream was passed around, which was a perfect choice on a very hot day. When lunch was over, Nextran President

THE FAMILY

and CEO Jon W. Pritchett reflected on all that has been accomplished recently and thanked everyone for their tremendous contributions. Then, he, along with Terry Barrows and Sales Manager Cameron Freeman, recognized JR Bias as the Nextran Mack Salesperson of the Year for 2021. “There’s nothing more important than family,” Kelly Pritchett said. “And it’s just as important to let them

know what they mean to you. That’s what today is all about.”

Celebrating the men and women of Nextran and their loved ones is a big part of our culture, and we cannot wait to bring our Family Day events to other locations across the network.

THERE’S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN FAMILY

Kelly Pritchett, Vice President of Facility Design and Development

NEXT STOP: OCALA

Nextran announces its 26th dealership will open in Ocala, Florida in 2024

In 2021, Nextran opened seven new locations across Kansas, Missouri, Colorado and Wyoming, which expanded our reach beyond the Southeastern U.S. But for our newest dealership, we’re getting back to our roots. We’re proud to announce that Ocala, Florida will be the home for Nextran’s 26th location with an anticipated opening in late 2024.

Known for its many horse farms, Ocala has experienced significant growth in just the last five years, with major organizations such as FedEx and Amazon bringing their warehouses to town. It’s also perfectly positioned between three other Nextran locations.

Ocala sits between our Tampa, Orlando and Lake City dealerships and gives our customers yet another resource along I-75,” said Nextran President Jon W. Pritchett. “With traffic increasing on that vital north/ south corridor, the new location will definitely ease congestion across the other area dealerships.”

Groundbreaking is expected in early 2023, and once opened, Ocala will feature Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks, as well as used vehicle sales, a parts department with 8,500 sq ft of space, and a service department with 21 state-of-the-art service bays. Customer comfort will be at the heart of the Ocala facility with a spacious reception area, inviting lounge and service write-up area.

With a network soon to be 26 dealerships strong, we’re more excited than ever to keep our customers moving forward.

Florida is where it all began for Nextran. And to be opening a dealership to better serve the businesses in the state and provide opportunities for employment is pretty special.”

Don Cox, Nextran Vice President and General Manager of Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Lake City, and Ocala.

TAKING THE SITE TO

In our ever-changing world, where your digital presence becomes more and more important, your website has to work harder to make your customers’ lives easier. At the same time, it needs to give them a sense of what your brand is all about and what your mission is. When we looked at our rental and leasing website, we decided to give it a good overhaul in order to tell our story a little better and create a more meaningful connection with our customers.

On September 1, 2022, NextranRentalAndLeasing.com went live, and it was amazing to see the evolution of our site. The look and feel are cleaner and more streamlined to help the user quickly grasp information and navigate the site faster than before.

We’re really proud of the new website. It reflects our dedication to the customer.”

Jon W. Pritchett, President and CEO of Nextran Truck Centers

In the first week alone, we saw a substantial increase in inquiries coming directly from the website.

NEW HEIGHTS

Being there for our customers at every mile, is something we at Nextran pride ourselves on. Thanks to the launch of our new site, which provides an in-depth look at the benefits of renting and leasing, that commitment extends to the digital world. But you can see that for yourself. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to check out NextranRentalAndLeasing.com.

We want to put customers in the right truck that fits their needs.”

Helping to educate a customer on how renting or leasing can benefit them is a big part of the site,” said Bill Bradshaw, Vice President and General Manager of Rental and Leasing.“We’re hoping people will have a better understanding of how it works, so when we sit down to go through the options, we’re a little further along, and we can get them into the vehicle and plan that makes sense even faster.”

Charlie Brown, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing

THE FUTURE IS

EVERYONE WONDERS, WHAT’S NEXT?

WHERE WILL TECHNOLOGY TAKE US?

HOW CAN WE IMPROVE OUR TRUCKS?

AND HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT THE FUTURE IS MORE SUSTAINABLE?

Mack and Volvo are already making great strides toward a future where electric trucks are a reality. They’re leading the way with multiple initiatives. They’re implementing the total infrastructure needed to keep electric vehicles on the road by increasing the number of charging locations. They’re working toward zero emissions. They’re making the trucks safer with more advanced technology.

This is no longer a question of IF electric trucks are the future. It’s just a matter of WHEN you’ll see one in your own city.

WATT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

A truck. A driver. A fuel station. Operations seem to look the same, so why switch to electric? To start, it’s an easy change. Mack and Volvo have prioritized round-the-clock customer service programs. They are working hard to make adoption easy and the transition seamless by offering complete service packages. Mack’s Vehicle-as-a-Service (Vaas) package includes all maintenance needs, an option to bundle all costs into one monthly payment, and GuardDog Connect, which monitors and protects the battery’s health. Volvo sells their electric trucks along with their Volvo Gold Contract. This service contract ensures all maintenance, towing, unplanned repair

and uptime services are taken care of. When it comes to the trucks themselves, drivers are noticing a world of difference. Thanks to the absence of a diesel engine, the cabins are much quieter and impose less fatigue on drivers. The drive is more enjoyable without the constant vibration and noise of the engine. That’s a huge benefit to all of our drivers.

But, let’s go back to where this all started. The move to electric has become more of a need as we look at our environment. These electric trucks from Mack and Volvo have zero exhaust emissions. Cleaner air, anyone? The improved air quality also gives our

drivers a better work environment. Electric options help to make our cities cleaner - not to mention quieter. Electric vehicles are much quieter than diesel engines, which will allow trucks to perform more assignments during off-peak hours. Another added benefit.

Along with all the benefits of electric, the newer trucks also include the latest advancements in technology. They have more safety features integrated into their operations. The design is intuitive, so it’s easy to adopt, with features such as driver assist and lane departure warning that will help keep everyone safe on the road.

LEADING THE CHARGE

“At Nextran, we’re constantly working to move you and the trucking industry forward. We’re glad to partner with brands like Mack and Volvo, who are already leading us into the electric frontier.”

It’s an exciting time. Technology continues to advance the benefits for our environment, our drivers, and our cities. As we progress, we will be there to help everyone move into a new era of trucking.

“Nextran will have a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) certified location in all of the regions that we cover for Mack and Volvo.”

- Ryan Bennett, Corporate Service Product Support Manager at Nextran Tampa

Jon W. Pritchett, President and CEO of Nextran Truck Centers

MACK LR ELECTRIC

CHARGING SYSTEM

Up to 150kW charge power with a max current of 200A, 550-750 volts, compliant with SAE J1772

BRAKES

Two-stage regenerative

POWER SOURCE

2 AC motors with 400kW Peak (536 hp) and 334 kW (448 hp) continuous power

AUXILIARY POWER

Circuits: 12, 24, and 600V, 260

Amp. Powering PTO, steering assist, pneumatic, and climate systems

TOTAL BATTERY CAPACITY

4 NMC lithium-ion batteries (Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide), 600V, fast charge capability

TRANSMISSION

2-speed Mack Powershift 4,051 lb.-ft. peak output torque

WEIGHT RATING (GVWR)

66,000 lbs.

CHARGING TIME

About 120 minutes @ 150kW

OPERATING RANGE

Up to 100 on-the-job miles

VOLVO VNR ELECTRIC

CHARGING SYSTEM

Up to 250kW DC charge rate with CCS1 or CCS2

BRAKING ENERGY

Between 5-15% of brake energy is regenerated back into the Energy Storage System, depending on the cycle

POWER

340kW

455hp

4,051 lb-ft peak output torque

TOTAL BATTERY CAPACITY

4 Batteries: 375kWh

6 Batteries: 565kWh

TRANSMISSION

Two-speed I-Shift Automated

WEIGHT RATING

Up to 82,000 GCW

CHARGING TIME

4 Batteries: 60 min (80% charging at 250kW)

6 Batteries: 90 min (80% charging at 250kW)

OPERATING RANGE

Up to275 miles

*With 6-battery configuration

RIGHT PARTS FINDING THE

Meet Matt Lenhart, Parts Manager for Nextran Truck Centers in Orlando

Things were different in 1984. Phones were attached to walls. TVs had 13 channels. And semi-trucks were a heck of a lot less complicated. Matt Lenhart, Nextran Orlando’s Parts Department Manager, remembers because that’s when he started his career working on Mack Trucks.

“Every interior was beige. All of them. One color. And across all Macks, there were only two different types of transmissions and three different types of engines,” Matt recalls. “Things have definitely changed.”

They’ve also changed for Matt since that first job. After growing up in Michigan, Matt joined the Coast Guard and received training as a machinery technician, which helped him land in the trucking industry when his service was complete. He focused his career on truck parts, first in outside sales, then behind the front counter, and eventually as Parts Manager.

“We didn’t have computers back when I started,” Matt said. “Everything was on microfiche. Of course, there weren’t as many parts as we have now.”

The increase in parts is tied to innovation within the industry. Making exhaust systems more eco-friendly, making braking systems safer, allowing drivers to see directly behind the truck all require new parts to be created and kept in stock. Matt has seen plenty of innovation since Nextran brought him over to help open and run the parts department in Auburndale in 2000. And even more following his promotion

to Parts Manager of the Orlando location, the position he holds today.

“In every way a truck adapts or changes, a part is involved,” Matt said. “And if your truck doesn’t have the right part to be compliant, you can’t operate it. It’s red-tagged. So we have to make sure we have the parts to keep the customers on the road. Their business can’t survive without having those parts.”

With thousands of parts, 45 employees and 15 delivery trucks in his care, Matt takes his responsibility very seriously. He also understands the importance Nextran places on providing opportunities to its people.

“I usually promote people from within. We’re always nurturing people and moving them up. The leadership team at Nextan has been very good to me, and they’ve helped me grow, so I want to do the same for my staff.”

Having access to the best parts is what keeps trucks up and running. For our company, the best parts are our employees. And with folks like Matt Lenhart aboard, we’ll be going strong for a long time.

Matt Lenhart, Parts Manager

DRIVEN TO BE

THE BEST

Meet Chad Clancy, Race Car Driver and Director of Operations for Nextran Truck Centers in Kansas City

Spend a day with Chad Clancy, and you will no doubt ask yourself, “How the heck does he do it?” You see, Chad is a man who wears many hats. In addition to his role as Nextran’s Director of Operations in our Kansas City dealership, he’s an auto mechanic, championshipwinning race car driver, devoted husband to his wife Tracy, and father to Brandon, Kirsten, Lucas and Kaylee.

Chad can do so much for two reasons. First, he has surrounded himself with a great group of people, especially his co-workers at Nextran. Second, he expects a lot of himself. That’s how he was when he started working in the trucking industry back in 1998, fresh out of high school.

“I applied to Westfall-O’Dell to be an Apprentice Technician. The Service Manager asked if I’d rather be a Service Advisor,” Chad recalls. “Within four years, I became a Shop Foreman, then Body Shop Manager. I did a little bit of everything and learned fast.”

In 2014, he was elevated to Service Manager, overseeing a whole department of people dedicated to getting Mack, Volvo and Kalmar Ottawa trucks back on the road. When it was announced that Nextran had acquired Westfall-O’Dell in 2021, he remembers what the transition was like.

“People were a little nervous, but it went really well. It could not have gone better. A very smooth transition,” Chad said. “The parts department has benefited from Nextran’s resources. And so has the customer. Morale is great around here, which makes my job easier.”

But that doesn’t mean Chad is taking it easy. Especially outside of work, where he is either shuttling kids around to various sports activities, helping his family raise show pigs and competing at local fairs, or working on his race car in the garage late into the evening getting it ready for a weekend at the track. He’s been racing competitively since the age of 15. And he’s pretty good. Actually, he’s great. Chad won the 2014 USRA national championship, beating out 900 other drivers for the title. He also considers the track to be a great

place to recruit talent for Nextran and connect with local customers, as many of them are part of the racing community.

“You have to be an extremely motivated person to be in racing. I’ve found lots of people for all sorts of positions, from technicians to drivers to people in the accounting department.”

Well, saying Chad is motivated is an understatement. In fact, his enthusiastic attitude recently earned him a promotion to Director of Operations for Kansas City, a position that allows him to have a big impact on the parts and service teams. We already know he’ll be great because Chad’s a winner. And we are so glad to have him on the team.

Chad Clancy and his family Tracy, Brandon, Kirsten, Lucas, and Kaylee

POUND THE

Whether you’re building a skyscraper in Atlanta, clearing the land for 200 new homes, or just putting a pool in your backyard, the dump truck is your MVP. And a guy like Kevin Westmoreland, owner of Kevin Westmoreland Trucking Co, Inc., is your best friend. Kevin’s trucks, which are all Mack dump trucks and affectionately called the Dog Pound, are ready to deliver the materials and haul away the debris so contractors and homeowners alike can move their projects forward.

“There’s no job that’s too big or too small,” Kevin Westmoreland said. “We can work with you to get the number of trucks and budget all figured out.”

Making it happen for customers is something he’s been doing since high school, when he would work in his dad’s truck shop in Kennesaw, Georgia. When he was 18, he got his CDL and soon after took over the dispatching position, helping his father, Kenneth R. Westmoreland, Sr., run the fleet. Kevin considered it his college education as it taught him several aspects of the business. It also brought him closer to the world of Mack Trucks.

“We’re die-hard Mack Truck fans. I mean, you can’t beat a Mack,” Kevin said. “The height off the ground gives great visibility, and it’s just the best-looking truck. It’s all we have in our fleet. Because they’re

all the same, it helps the mechanics with repairs and for getting parts.”

When it comes to parts and maintenance, Kevin counts on Nextran to make sure everything is tip-top. He credits our Atlanta General Manager, Terry Barrows, and Sales Manager, Cameron Freeman with going beyond the call of duty.

“Sometimes, we’re in a bind, and Terry and Cameron will step up to get our trucks in and out of the shop. They understand it needs to get back out on the road. They do an amazing job.”

Since 2015, Kevin has purchased new Mack vehicles from us. Currently, there

are 16 in the stable, one of which, a black Mack Granite Multi-Axle Dump, appeared in the Nextran 2022 calendar in the month of January.

“I heard it was one of Jon Pritchett’s favorite shots,” Kevin said with a laugh.

With plans to add four more Macks to the Dog Pound, Kevin Westmoreland Trucking Co, Inc., is growing to meet the demands of its customers. And we’re excited to work with them and help out in any way we can so they’re able to get the job done.

With a fleet that’s 100% Mack Trucks, Kevin Westmoreland Trucking Co, Inc., can handle any job of any size.

IN TODAY’S WORLD

WHY THE JOURNEY

MATTERS

The focus of Human Resources (HR) has changed a lot in the last 30 years. When Nextran Truck Centers purchased its first dealership in 1993, HR Departments were largely focused on administrative duties, hiring and keeping the order within a company. In today’s world, HR’s role has grown far beyond that. A successful HR department enables employees to do their best, excel in their roles, and grow in their careers. There’s an element of aligning employee potential with the organization’s business objectives so that everyone can thrive and continue to move the company forward.

For Nextran, we are always looking for ways to add value for our employees. We have put a lot of focus on our HR practices. We are shifting our focus in two distinct directions: 1) work with business leaders and employees to provide the tools, insights, and support needed to further our employees’ success through a meaningful Employee Experience, and 2) reduce the amount of time spent on administrative tasks.

Let’s start with the “Employee Experience”. This can best be described as the journey employees take with an employer. A journey that starts before Day One on the job. Everything can influence whether or not someone may be interested in interviewing with your company. For Nextran, our branding, community efforts, or where we choose to post job openings can all factor into someone’s perception of Nextran as an employer. Some qualities can never be quantified, but it doesn’t mean future candidates aren’t keeping track.

Once someone has applied, the experience continues across all phases of employment, from hiring, onboarding, training and development, to retirement. HR has to take great care with every step of the process, even if an applicant isn’t moving forward for consideration. Word-of-mouth is a powerful tool, and if your company starts to build a reputation for failing to communicate with applicants, this could hurt the turnout for future postings.

HOW IS THE “EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE” CREATED?

It is influenced by such things as the day-to-day interactions with managers, coworkers, technology, the physical work environment – and even how communication occurs. In today’s world, many individuals are seeking places to work that fulfill a purpose

beyond a paycheck. Research has already demonstrated that enhancing an Employee’s Experience results in greater employee satisfaction and engagement and strengthens an organization’s ability to provide a better customer experience.

MAKING MOVES

As the Employee Experience is a journey, so is the process needed to continually elevate that experience. Our Nextran HR department has been working on several initiatives over the past year to improve the technology we use for administrative purposes.

ADVANCING

TECHNOLOGY JOB FAIRS HIRING & ONBOARDING

In March 2022, the Nextran HR team rolled out our new Applicant Tracking System (ATS) using Clear Company technologies. By doing so, Nextran can more efficiently provide a consistent, professional branded image for job postings while reaching broader audiences through a combination of social media and job boards. In the first six months, there have been over 21,000 “clicks” on jobs posted through our system, with nearly 2,500 applicants. The system provides greater visibility of candidates to our Hiring Managers and allows those interested in applying to do so by finding more ways than ever to connect with our Nextran team.

To showcase what Nextran has to offer those individuals interested in entering our industry, Nextran has reinvigorated its efforts with technical school partnerships. Job fair materials have been provided to all regions of our business, and dealerships can coordinate job fair planning and attendance with a centralized calendar available through the Employee Portal.

An employee’s first day on the job is a chance to make a lasting impression. At Nextran, we strive to create a “Best Day Ever” Day One experience for our employees. This includes a combination of technological enhancements and other tools that help provide a memorable first day while helping to reduce the workload managers have when bringing on new hires.

YOUR GREATEST RESOURCE

Human Resource departments may be a company’s best partner in promoting the wellbeing and potential of your employees. Administrative technology, career training, hiring processes and more can all add to an employee’s experience with the company. Every day we have a chance to communicate the value and respect we hold for the people we work with. We know that when our employees are taken care of, our customers will be too.

Vickie Coy vcoy@nextranusa.com

Carri Sessoms csessoms@nextranusa.com

Damaris Ceren dceren@nextranusa.com

Lauren McDonald lmcdonald@nextranusa.com

Lorie Flaris lflaris@nextranusa.com

Nicole Kingsbury nkingsbury@nextranusa.com

Cynthia Polaco cpolaco@nextranusa.com

Sherry Kiesling skiesling@nextranusa.com

Yvonne Fort yfort@nextranusa.com

Zinnia Sanchez zsanchez@nextranusa.com

Sandra Smith sandrasmith@nextranusa.com

THE BEST RESOURCES

TO HELP KEEP TRUCKERS MOVING

NOWADAYS, BEST TRUCKING INDUSTRY PODCASTS

the trucking industry is constantly changing. Regulations are introduced and updated, new products are always being launched, and truckers need to stay on top of their own health and well-being. With so much information out there, it is vital that truckers have reliable sources that can provide them with news and updates quickly and accurately. To help, we have compiled a list of our top go-to resources for trucking industry news and information. We have boiled them down to podcasts, blogs, mobile apps, and online newsletters — all easy-to-digest formats you can easily access during your hard-earned breaks.

And do not forget to check out the news section of NextranUSA.com the next time you are looking for a new truck for your fleet. Our staff offers the latest news on the trucking industry, from tips to training to new product launches.

BEYOND THE RIG

If you are looking for a podcast about all things trucking, then make sure to tune in to Beyond the Rig. Hosted by Linda Dominy and Will Phipps, this podcast features industry news, tales by real drivers from the road, weekly guest speakers, and lots more. Recent episodes include the “Do’s and Dont’s of a Successful Owner Operator Trucker,” “Transitioning from Army to Truck Driver,” and “How to Survive Hurricanes, Heartbreaks & Gunshots.” Find links to all the various ways to listen to the Beyond the Rig podcast on their Facebook page, Facebook.com/BeyondTheRig

KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW

Armed with important up-to-date info (and 25 dealerships across the Southeast, Midwest and West), it is our aim to help keep you and your business rolling.

APPS TO DOWNLOAD NOW

HAMMER

Hammer is a completely free truck GPS navigation app, which means you will not be annoyed by any ads. The app features turn-by-turn navigation specially designed for trucks, offl ine truck maps, weigh station alerts, and trip planning tools such as truck parking and truck stop amenities. You can also access routes specifically tailored to your truck’s weight, dimensions, load, and number of trailers. Hammer is available for both Apple and Android devices — download it now at HammerApp.com

WEIGH MY TRUCK

We all know truck weighing can be a hassle. The Weigh My Truck mobile app from the CAT Scale Company helps to make it a little easier by allowing you to weigh your truck automatically. When launched, the app will find the CAT scale you are located in. Once your truck is weighed, you can pay through the app via a variety of options, including PayPal, ACH, and credit card. The app will email a PDF of the scale ticket or a weight information text file to up to five different email addresses. And if you need a hard copy of your scale ticket, you can print it at the fuel desk within an hour after weighing in.

The Weigh My Truck app is available for both Apple and Android devices and can be accessed at WeighMyTruck.com

ONLINE NEWSLETTERS WORTH SUBSCRIBING TO

HDT HEAVY DUTY TRUCKING

If you want the latest information on trailers and truck bodies, then make sure to subscribe to the magazine and newsletter for HDT Heavy Duty Trucking. HDT offers a variety of e-newsletters to choose from, including headline news, top news, equipment reports, fuel information, and technology updates. And you can also receive a free subscription to HDT’s four-color glossy monthly magazine, which can also be accessed and read online. And for even more current news, HDT offers a variety of blogs on its site, including Trailer Talk, Truck Tech, and Passing Zone, that discuss the latest coming out of Washington, DC affecting the trucking industry. Access it all at TruckingInfo.com

OVERDRIVE

More than 135,000 truck owners and operators subscribe to the Overdrive newsletter for the latest news and updates on the trucking industry. Known as “the voice of the American trucker,” Overdrive offers in-depth reporting on every aspect of the trucking industry, including business, regulations, equipment, gear, and even tips and stories centered on the trucker life. Subscribe for free on OverdriveOnline.com.

BLOGS TO FOLLOW

SMART TRUCKING

If you’re looking for a blog that covers just about every aspect of the trucking industry imaginable, then you will want to read Smart Trucking, available at Smart-Trucking. com. With the goal of “helping truckers survive and thrive,” this blog features tips and information from two industry veterans with a combined 75 years of trucking experience. This blog covers every category in the trucking world, from driver training programs for those looking to get started to legal advice and learning how to become an owner-operator. And the blog was rated #1 by Feedspot for the top 100 trucking blogs and websites in 2021.

ROADMASTER DRIVERS SCHOOL

Are you new to the trucking industry, or maybe you know someone interested in becoming a truck driver? In both situations, chances are good that you have lots of questions that need answering. Roadmaster Drivers School helps to provide answers to common questions about the trucking industry and much more with its blog located at Roadmaster. com/blog. From the basics on how to become a truck driver to tips on getting and keeping your CDL license, this blog is a must-read for those considering entering the industry and those who have just arrived.