MILE MARKER MONTHLY
WELCOME MESSAGE
and all you can do is adjust the plan! We hope and pray all of you are enjoying the sunny “disposition” of Summer so far!
Keesha McCue
EXCELLENCE & SAFETY PROFIT, FUN & GIVING
LETTER FROM LEADERSHIP
THE BEST HUMAN YOU CAN BE
“Perfectionism is not a quest for the best. It is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing we do will ever be good enough.” — Julia Cameron
It’s a noble thing to pursue greatness Being great makes the world a better place Especially when your greatness inspires others to persevere and give their own personal best However, greatness and perfection aren’t synonymous, in spite of what your brain tries to tell you You can be great and less than perfect at the same time.
I grew up playing violin via the ‘Suzuki Method’. I started to play at 4 yrs old and continued a very rigorous study of violin performance until I was about 18 yrs old. The Suzuki Method is a very rigid, strict and regimented way of learning an instrument by ear. The method requires extreme commitment to ‘greatness’. My Mother and I went on my musical journey together ( it’s a requirement of the Suzuki Method - that a parent is very involved ).
In this newsletter you can expect:
Industry News Seasonal Safety Health & Wellbeing
Community Building Company Creatures and more!
SODREL HOLDING COMPANY
STUDENT TRANSIT
FAMILY OF BUSINESSES
Sodrel Holding Company roots run deep. ‘Pap’ Sodrel began moving mail for the USPS as a ‘Star Route’ Mail Contractor in 1915. Since then, Sodrels have moved mail by foot, boat, horse and carriage, car and semi tractor trailer. In 1976, business diversification began when Mike and Keta Sodrel founded our motorcoach charter business, Free Enterprise. Years later, another venture emerged as yet another spoke in our wheel Student Transit.
(cont ) For 14 yrs, I practiced untold hours and became great Great enough to win our region’s Concerto Competition, a regional fiddling contest ( the other entrants were 50+ yrs old ) and become Concertmistress of the Louisville Youth Orchestra My ‘greatness’ never satisfied me I was convinced that I’d be ‘great’ when I no longer had to work so hard for it. ‘Working hard at it’ to excel, made me feel like I was falling short, no matter how many accolades or awards I got. I saw perfection as something that would be attained when being great became ‘easy’. The thing is, ‘easy’ never comes when you’re striving for excellence. Excellence requires determination and a lot of unending effort. The fine tuning ( no pun intended ) that is required to be great can be exhausting, especially if you’re on an assignment that doesn't involve a ‘finish line’. The end of one song just means that the next song needs to be learned. What is my point? The search for perfection is brutal. We were never tasked to be perfect, however many of us -for one way or another- felt that is the goal. Being great doesn’t require perfection. In your pursuit of greatness, you will fall short but imperfection and greatness can co-exist. GO, be great.
SODREL TRUCK LINES USPS CONTRACTOR / FREIGHT
N E W S W O R T H Y
SECRETARY OF DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
SEAN P. DUFFY
On July 3, 2025 - Secretary of Department of Transportation, Sean P. Duffy writes an Op Ed piece on Brietbart.com sharing the following updates in US DOT newsworthy details:
The US DOT is cracking down on illegal brokering and building more truck parking.
Primarily built in the 1950s and 1960s, these stops may not be glamorous, but they’re essential to our national supply chain and the safety of our highways. Every day, more than 3.5 million truck drivers haul the goods that keep us going -- from food to fuel to medicine These drivers need safe, reliable places to rest, refuel, and recharge Right now, there simply aren’t enough
A 2019 survey from our department found 98 percent of truckers have trouble finding safe parking In fact, there are 11 truck drivers nationwide for every 1 stop available. These shortages are estimated to cost truckers 12 percent of their pay. Inadequate parking also exists across every state and region in the country. So, we’re investing $275 million to build more truck parking.
GSean Duffy served as Congressman for Wisconsin’s 7th District in the US Congress for 10 years
Prior to this, Duffy was District Attorney of Ashland County, Wisconsin for 10 years
After leaving Congress, Duffy hosted the Fox Business show, “The Bottom Line with Dagen and Duffy.”
Duffy got his television start on MTV reality show, “The Real World”. He also starred on “Road Rules All Stars,” where he met his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy. Rachel and Sean have been married for 25 years and have nine children together
Read the full Op Ed piece here
SEASONAL SAFETY
Summer means swimming!
The Red Cross provides free water and swimming safety information on their website Here are a few key take-aways from the content they share :
Always provide close and constant attention to children you are supervising in or near water.
Always swim with a buddy. Never swim alone.
Provide close and constant attention to children you are supervising, even when a lifeguard is present, no matter how well the child can swim or how shallow the water. Avoid distractions including cell phones.
Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
Stay within an arm's reach of any weak or inexperienced swimmer who is in the water.
Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.
Do not rely on the use of water wings, swim rings, inflatable toys or other items designed for water recreation to replace adult supervision.
If you have a pool, secure it with appropriate barriers to prevent unsupervised access to the water.
Ensure that everyone in the family learns to swim well and knows what to do in a water emergency.
Enroll in age-appropriate Red Cross water orientation and learn-to-swim courses.
Enroll in Red Cross home pool safety, water safety, first aid and CPR/AED courses to learn how to prevent and respond to emergencies.
WORKOUT OF THE MONTH
ISSUE 7 & 8 — UV SAFETY JUMPING JACKS
This simple, childhood revived workout is an easy and great, full body workout that : targets and strengthens multiple muscle groups including : hip flexors glutes quads calves
HEALTH
July is recognized as UV Safety Awareness Month Sun Safety and Skin Cancer Prevention
Sunburns are a visible sign of overexposure to UV radiation and indicate damage to the skin. Long-term effects:
TRY THIS CHALLENGE
Jumping jacks engage muscle groups, involve cardio work and are a simple, yet effective way to help to burn calories
Commit to doing 100 jumping jacks for 30 days and see the effects for yourself.
*consult with your physician if you have a medical condition that may prevent you from doing this exercise safely.
Prolonged exposure to UV radiation can lead to premature aging, wrinkles, and other skin problems. Practice consistent, sun-safe practices. Reduce the risks of skin cancer and other UV-related health problems. Here's how:
Limit exposure Wear protective clothing Seek shade during peak exposure times Wear sunscreen
HEADSPACE
Maintaining mental health is just as important as maintaining physical health Prayer and meditation can go a long way in keeping your thoughts and emotions regulated. Spending time in nature, using apps like Breethe, Headspace, and Calm, or dedicating time to a new devotional on an app like YouVersion or Hallow can help guide you towards overall health
COMMUNITY BUILDING
SEASONAL SUMMER ACTIVITIES
The Summer heat can make you want to stay inside. Opt in for some summer activities that keep you cool and make you smile.
Here are a few ideas for Summer fun!
Visit local museums, libraries and aquariums
Enjoy gardening in the cool of the evening
Stargaze and identify constellations at night
Swim safely in a pool or other body of water
Check out your state’s tourism website for recommendations for your region’s summer events!
JOIN A FITNESS GYM OR THE YMCA
Unlike Spring, in the Summer months, when temps and humidity are rising, it’s sometimes safer to exert yourself indoors
Join your local community center, a fitness gym or the YMCA to take part in group environment, physical activities in a temperature controlled setting Oftentimes there are indoor fitness activities available in your community that are FREE.
Find an activity that is suitable for your current fitness level and work your way up into more challenging work as you go.
If you’re considering adopting a pet, check your local humane society or animal shelter for a pet that will best suit your lifestyle and needs. Many animals are waiting for their ‘forever home’.
Consider rescuing one, today!
Animals are a blessing and a great responsibility. Before welcoming a pet into your home and your family, consider the cost, time and effort it takes to care for one. Sometimes the pet you want isn’t the pet best suited for your lifestyle or your budget.
There are many kinds of pets to consider, like birds, fish, hamsters, guinea pigs, reptiles, of course, the ever popular : cats and dogs.
Prioritize your pet’s safety during hot Summer months Do this by : Keeping your pet cool, hydrated and protected from heat hazards like hot pavement
Limit outdoor activity during the hotter times of the day
Provide ample shade and fresh water
Never leave a pet unattended in a parked vehicle
Be aware of signs of heat stroke
*We’d love to see pics of your animal family member(s)! Send snapshots and descriptions to kmccue@sodreltrucklines.com
SSYMPATHY YMPATHY
SSUBMISSIONS UBMISSIONS
If you’ve experienced the loss of a loved one this month and would like to honor their memory, send an email with their name, how they’re related to you, and a 200-character limit description of them to kmccue@sodreltrucklines.com, and we’ll include it in our next issue.
You have our heartfelt condolences.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“He
said “Love…as I have loved you.” We cannot love too much.”
—Amy Carmichael
PPRAYER RAYER REQUESTS REQUESTS
Send your prayer request to kmccue@sodreltrucklines com and we’ll be sure to lift it up
Please specify whether your request is private or can be shared in our monthly newsletter for others to join in praying.
"FOCUS ON BEING PRODUCTIVE INSTEAD OF BUSY. "
– TIM FERRISS
Dear Sodrel Holding Company Team,
We hope you've enjoyed this issue of Mile Marker Monthly. Take advantage of how you can connect with us through group activity outreach, prayer and sympathy requests, and Company Creatures: Mascot Mutt & Feline Friends submissions! We love learning more about our Sodrel team and hope this newsletter becomes a way for employees from all Sodrel businesses and divisions to connect.
Let’s keep going, together!
YOUR SODREL HOLDING CO. MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
Keesha, Oliviaand MakennaMcCue