Mile Marker Monthly

WELCOME MESSAGE

Let’s make it a ‘ fun February! ’ Coming Soon : Valentine’s Day, Super Bowl Sunday, President’s Day What are your plans this month to ‘bring the fun’?

EXCELLENCE & SAFETY

LETTER FROM LEADERSHIP

BIRTHDAY MONTH MUSINGS

February is my birthday month.

My parents, Mike and Keta, launched Free Enterprise in 1976. In February of 1977, I was born.

Free Enterprise and I debuted together : )

I’ve seen many ‘eras’ and iterations of Free Enterprise and Free Enterprise has seen mine

I’m grateful for the legacy of this business. It’s been one of the many things that have helped inform who I am and what I value, along the way.

Free Enterprise continues to go places and to take others along for the ride. I’m only one of the many who have taken the Free Enterprise journey

KeeshaMcCue Shareholder & Chief Marketing Officer Sodrel Holding Co. and subsidiaries

In this newsletter you can expect:

Industry News Seasonal Safety

Dates To Remember Health & Wellbeing

Community Building Company Creatures

SODREL HOLDING COMPANY 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

No matter which branch of Sodrel’s transportation business ‘spokes’ you come from, we value you, your contributions of time and talent. Transportation is a necessary community service, whether we are moving mail, freight, students or various groups. People need safe and reliable transportation and we gladly provide it.

During the Pandemic, the world learned a lesson in the blessing of personal autonomy, the freedom to gather, the ability to go and the privilege of health We learned again what is essential and what is often taken for granted

We’ve closed out the first month of 2025 February presents us fresh opportunity to take more inventory of our lives and refocus where the focus is needed

Let's Go!

Corporate Goals :

Build more connection and community amongst team members across all regions and businesses

Improve the onboarding experience

Implement new operating systems that will take the guesswork out of day to day operations and tasks.

Plan and announce a new incentive program that will bring added value to team members and the organization as a whole.

SODREL TRUCK LINES

N E W S W O R T H Y

NEW U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY

The American Trucking Association (ATA) and National Star Route (NSRMCA) welcomed Sean Duffy after the Senate’s vote, instating him as the Secretary of the U S Department of Transportation on January 28th ATA President and CEO Chris Spear issued this statement:

“On behalf of the trucking industry, it is a pleasure to congratulate Sean Duffy on his confirmation to lead the Department of Transportation as the 20th Secretary of Transportation Today’s strong, bipartisan vote in favor of his nomination is an endorsement of his qualifications and experience for this position It also reflects his commitment to unite stakeholders around commonsense policies to make our transportation network safer and more efficient

“Transportation is an issue that affects every American, and it is the key to a thriving economy, social and economic mobility, and job creation Throughout his congressional service, Secretary Duffy was a steadfast supporter of hardworking truckers and the work that they do to deliver the nation’s

freight. We look forward to building on our partnership with Secretary Duffy in the years ahead to modernize our infrastructure and increase the resiliency of our supply chain ”

Source: ATA website and NSRMCA website

Duffy is a politician, lawyer, and former reality TV personality He served as the U S representative for Wisconsin’s 7th congressional district from 2011 to 2019, after which he became a Fox Business television co-host alongside Dagen McDowell on The Bottom Line.

Source: Wikipedia

Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of Transportation

Slick road safety tips :

SEASONAL SAFETY

Distracted driving awareness : It is unsafe and unlawful to text and drive. Don’t text and drive. Stay alive!

While not specifically related to winter, February can be a good time to be reminded of the dangers of distracted driving Also, when having conversations with passengers when driving, keep your eyes on the road ahead

Super Bowl safety :

Around the Super Bowl, the Department of Transportation often campaigns against drunk driving and encourages designated drivers This is due to the prevalance of drinking and driving and distracted driving leading to traffic incidents.

Oftentimes, it’s human instinct to do exactly the wrong things when you start to unexpectedly slide on a wet road Remember that it can be dangerous to slam on the brakes and to try and overcorrect your steering if you lose control of your vehicle. Instead, take your foot off the accelerator and steer gently in the direction of the skid. Thinking about this before it actually happens can help you stay calm and react more safely in an emergency situation.

DISCLAIMER : Winter vehicle safety recommendations and guidelines may be different for commercial vehicles. When driving school bus, motorcoach or semi tractor trailers, adhere to safety guidelines outlined by the the Department of Transportation, or our Sodrel Holding Company’s safety staff.

VALENTINE ACTIVITIES

FOR THE FAMILY:

Create hand-written cards to show your appreciation to friends, family or co-workers ( Hobby Lobby or Michael’s are great craft supply resource spots )

Host a movie night with everyone’s favorite valentine themed snacks, food and treats ( Search Netflix for a family friendly Rom Com )

FOR DATE NIGHT:

Make a reservation at your favorite restaurant, or plan a home-cooked meal with your loved one. ( Search Yelp for romantic restaurant suggestions )

Find a unique experience near you and make a new memory with your partner! ( Check your local Groupon listings for ideas )

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

chocolate covered fruit

Ingredients:

Your preferred fruit strawberries, raspberries, pineapple, bananas, etc. Melting chocolate. The higher the quality, the easier it melts! Parchment paper & a baking tray. (optional) Toppings such as crushed nuts, coconut flakes, sprinkles, etc.

Preparation

Clean and dry (if applicable) your fruits of choice. Melt preferred chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, deep enough to easily dip your fruit Take your prepared fruit and dip them in the melted chocolate, allowing excess chocolate to drip off Cover the fruit in your prepared topping Place dipped and decorated fruits on a parchment-lined baking tray, and allow them to rest until the chocolate sets Enjoy!

HEALTH & HEADSPACE

ISSUE 3 : SELF LOVE COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY BASICS

The three basic principles of CBT are:

1. Core beliefs

Informed by childhood experiences, core beliefs are deeply rooted in how we view ourselves, our environment, and the future.

2. Dysfunctional assumptions

Human beings tend to hold onto the negative more easily than the positive Negative distortions can alter our perceptions of reality

3. Automatic negative thoughts

These are involuntary negative perceptions of reality that occur out of habit. We all have these thoughts at times, but learning to recognize them can help you change how you think, and feel, and respond situations. Examples: Severe, ‘all-or-nothing’ thinking and overgeneralization, which is the belief that you’ll *always get it wrong or that things will *never improve.

It’s important to understand that we can filter and redirect our thoughts We have a choice in how we respond to them, and with practice, we can learn to challenge negative thoughts and exchange them for kinder, more realistic, and more helpful ones! One way you can start building awareness is by recognizing when your brain is ‘catastrophizing’ ( when your brain believes the worst possible outcome will happen, no matter how unlikely ) and asking yourself these questions :

What am I worried about?

How likely is it that my worry will come true?

If my worry comes true, what’s the worst that could happen?

If my worry comes true, what *can I do ( take action )

HEALTH & HEADSPACE cont.

until age 65

Low-risk women may be able to stop getting pap smears at age 66 or older.

February is National Cancer Prevention Month

KNOW YOUR FAMILY HISTORY FOR RISK ASSESSMENT DISCUSS BEING SCREENED WITH YOUR DOCTOR WEAR SKIN PROTECTION WHEN HAVING SUN EXPOSURE EXERCISE REGULARLY, EAT HEALTHY, MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT, AVOID SECOND HAND SMOKE AND REFRAIN FROM SMOKING, DRINK IN MODERATION SCHEDULE MAMMOGRAMS, PROSTATE EXAMS, COLONOSCOPY, PAP SMEARS, DERMATOLOGY EXAMS

F E B R U A R Y D A T E S

February 2nd

Groundhog Day

February 14th

Valentine’s Day

February 9th

Super Bowl Sunday

February 17th

President’s Day

TEAM UP!

COMMUNITY BUILDING

We need team members in every region from all Sodrel company locations to embrace this opportun to build community in the workplace.

Be a ‘Sodrel Social Coordinator’! It’s easy to start! Jus send an email to Olivia at omccue@sodreltruckl and she’ll help you get you started!

LET’S GET SOCIAL!

Socializing outside of the workplace with team members builds stronger relationships, fosters trust, improves communication, enhances collaboration, boosts morale, and creates a more positive work environment

Group sports, gatherings, and outings are perfect for connecting with the team! There are many ways you can connect with fellow team members outside the workplace Here are some ideas: form a Bible Study, a Book Club, an indoor Pickleball Team, a Scrapbooking or Crafting Club, to name a few!

Email omccue@sodreltrucklines.com if you’re interested in hosting or organizing an activity and we’ll assist you with forming a group!

PRESENTS:

This is Shoogie She is the youngest of Olivia McCue's two cats and has a very quirky personality While slow to warm up to new people, Shoogie can be coaxed with her favorite treats and loves to be scratched under her chin and behind her ears once comfortable with someone. Russian Blues are known to pick a favorite person out of their household, and gie!

Meet Guru, Shoogie's older sister! She's a Siberian and stays true to her breed's reputation of loving water she prefers drinking directly from the faucet and will scream until someone turns it on for her. Despite being a long-haired cat, Guru loves it when her mom takes her to get shaved every summer, and is sure to ask for even more pets and scratches once she comes back home

Nicknames: Goobie, Goober, Gooberoonie

*We’d love to see pics of your animal family member(s)! Send snapshots to omccue@sodreltrucklines com

SHOOGIE

GURU

Send your prayer request to omccue@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.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.

~ BILLY GRAHAM

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 omccue@sodreltrucklines com, and we’ll include it in our next issue.

You have our heartfelt condolences.

WHEN YOU START ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, YOU START FINDING THE RIGHT ANSWERS. –

JESSE COLE

OWNER OF THE SAVANNAH BANANAS & FANS FIRST ENTERTAINMENT KNOWN AS THE ‘PT BARNUM OF BASEBALL’

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