The Bridge Newsletter - March 2023

THE BRIDGE

IN THIS ISSUE: Shugart Bridge Christening | February Onboarding Team Spotlight: Employee Services | Tax Tips from Employee Services

The Shugart Bridge LoLo Named in Honor of Kerry Shugart

Trailer Bridge recently celebrated the christening of the Shugart Bridge, formerly the Chicago Bridge. The LoLo barge is named after Kerry Shugart who served as the Director of Terminal Operations in Jacksonville for more than 18 years leaving a lasting impact on our business, our people and those on the waterfront both here in Northeast Florida and in Puerto Rico.

The barge not only carries his name but also his iconic mustache and will serve as a daily reminder of his spirit of love and joy. Its recent visit to drydock ensures the barge is ready to continue serving the Puerto Rican trade lane for years to come.

The christening celebration was an opportunity for all of us to celebrate and honor Kerry – the life he lived and the legacy he leaves behind.

Trailer Bridge Hosts First In-Person New Employee Onboarding

There was a lot to be excited about at this month’s New Employee Onboarding! Not only was this Training and Development’s FIRST in-person onboarding event since pre-Covid, but it was also the first time implementing the extended 2 ½ day schedule, packing in even more TB culture, education, and fun.

This round of onboarding hosted 24 of Trailer Bridge’s newest team members, including several from across the country who flew in to join in-person at our corporate headquarters. In addition to learning from leaders across the company, the group toured multiple TB facilities including the maintenance shop, our Blount Island port terminal, and the Jacksonville brokerage office.

“I loved how people-centered the entire event was. We met the PEOPLE who lead and make up each facet of our business.”

“The entire event was FABULOUSLY constructed and executed. Great energy and great people.”

“I thought the whole onboarding experience was interesting, entertaining, and …*drumroll*…audacious.”

How Trailer Bridge Uses the 5 Languages of Appreciation to Boost Company Culture

Most people have heard of Gary Chapman’s 5 Love Languages. But did you know they can be applied to the workplace as well?

The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace - receiving gifts, words of affirmation, acts of service, appropriate physical touch, and quality time - is a framework that outlines the ways people like to give and receive appreciation at work.

Some benefits of showing appreciation include greater motivation and engagement, improved

mental health, and increased job satisfaction.

By taking the time to learn each other’s preferred language, we can create a more positive and productive work environment for everybody.

In our blog, we explore how Trailer Bridge incorporates these languages of appreciation to create a culture where our team feels valued, motivated, and supported. Read here.

Stay tuned for our upcoming Smart Meeting on March 21st about this topic, led by Director of Employee Services, Kacy Swanson!

Indie B. Bollman Empowers Women in Business

Chief People Officer Indie B. Bollman recently participated in Jacksonville Business Journal’s virtual Bizwomen Mentoring Monday event, where she served as a mentor and provided coaching to local female professionals.

This is the third year that Indie has mentored in this event, and it is something that is close to her heart.

“I am passionate about teaching and mentoring and believe it’s the obligation of leaders to provide that to their teams – to help them grow. Bizwomen Mentoring Monday does this on a broader scale by allowing area women professionals to connect, share, and receive mentoring advice from other women,” says Indie. “I am so honored and excited to participate as a mentor alongside women who teach me so much every year. That, and it’s a lot of fun.”

Women from all industries and backgrounds participated in the event, but they all shared questions about how to grow, develop, and move the needle in their careers.

When it comes to leadership, Indie’s advice is simple: “Pay attention” – to your team, your own development, and to the people you admire that you want to learn from. And know that developing yourself never ends. Read the full blog here.

Interested in Upcoming Events?

Valentine’s Day Blanket Drive 107

BLANKETS DONATED

Get Involved at Your Branch

We want to spread the love across TB Nation! If your branch wants to participate in TBGives and has ideas for ways to give back to your local community, let us know so we can make it happen. Contact Ashley Waugh or Cici Sanchez and they will get you set up!

Waugh

Sanchez

Quick Poll:

Thanks to the internet, there is a whole world of learning at our fingertips. Want to cook a new meal for your dinner party? Or figure out how to transfer photos to that electronic picture frame you got for Christmas? There’s a class for that!

These are the places TB Nation is most likely to go in search of a new skill:

59% YOUTUBE

17% SOCIAL MEDIA

17% ONLINE CLASS

07% OTHER

Thank you to everyone who donated to our Valentine’s Day blanket drive! Due to your generosity, TBGives had a blanket for every resident at the Clyde E. Lassen Veteran’s Nursing Home and then some!

Roll out the Welcome Mat!

We were thrilled to welcome our Ocean customer, Reckitt, to our corporate office last month - all the way from the UK! Members of our Ocean team gathered to extend a warm hello, including Ann Phelps, Seleatha Carter, and Justin Marques.

Reckitt produces health, hygiene and nutrition products for consumers around the world.

Cool Cargo: PR Emergency Vehicle

Trailer Bridge is dedicated to serving our neighbors in Puerto Rico, so we were happy to lend a helping hand when we were contacted about a first response vehicle that needed transport to the island. At the end of January, the vehicle sailed on our RoRo barge from Jacksonville, FL to San Juan where it will be supporting public health and safety efforts.

T & D Team Attends 2023 Training Conference

Alex Damske and Becky Simon from our Training and Development team attended the 2023 Training Conference and Expo in Orlando, FL. They attended sessions to help expand their knowledge about internal training topics like: upskilling, soft skills, maximizing the learning management system, conducting a training needs analysis, blended learning, team building and more.

Justin Myatt named a 2023 Rockstar of the Supply Chain

Congratulations to TB’s Nashville branch manager and produce pro, Justin Myatt, for being featured as one of Food Logistics 2023 Rockstars of the Supply Chain! Not only does he lead a team of 5 at his branch, but he has also provided training and expertise on cold chain transport to people across Trailer Bridge so we can better serve our customers. Read more about Justin’s award here.

Ann Phelps Profiled by the Jacksonville Business Journal

Our Vice President of Customer Experience for the Ocean Division, Ann Phelps, was recently featured in the Jacksonville Business Journal as part of the publication’s Strategic Voices series.

In the article Ann shares insights from her two-plus decades in the transportation and logistics industry. Read the article here.

7 Things Every International Freight Shipper Needs to Know

If you’ve ever thought that international shipping seems complicated, you aren’t alone. There are a lot of factors that go into moving freight globally including customs, documentation, country restrictions, and more.

To ease the burden of getting started, we have written a guide sharing 7 things that are helpful to know when shipping cargo around the world, along with links to industry resources. So if you have a client that could benefit from knowing the basics, or you just want to learn more yourself, check out our blog here!

SALES TIP OF THE

MONTH:

On the hunt for new clients? Don’t be afraid to visit prospects in person. Why? It lets you:

• Develop trust faster

• Meet with multiple decision makers

• Drop off marketing materials

• Disqualify opportunities sooner

Team Spotlight: Employee Services

Meet Employee Services! This dedicated group is here to offer support and guidance to every member of the TB family. Their job includes all things essential to keeping TB running like human resources, payroll, and employee benefits. So, these ladies are good to know!

We caught up with Director of Employee Services Kacy Swanson to learn more about the team:

What is unique about the Employee Services team?

We are a new-ish team, with most of us having joined TB within the last year. And we intentionally call our team “Employee Services” vs. the standard Human Resources; TB is different and unique, and we wanted our team name to reflect that. We are employee-centric and want the message to be crystal clear all the way down to our team name. We will always remain focused on supporting employees and consistently offer a top-notch level of service to them, because that’s what they deserve.

What is the most rewarding part of your work?

We get the opportunity to work with people throughout the entire company- from brand-new

employees to our most tenured, in every single location. And we get to help them with things that heavily impact their life, from their paychecks to insurance that protects their families as well as adding new benefits that enrich their lives and wellness initiatives that keep them healthy . Simply put, we just love helping our TB family.

What is the most challenging aspect of your work?

Laws are constantly evolving so we must always keep our finger on the pulse of the legislation changes and make/communicate any necessary changes as soon as possible. No one day is the same, which keeps things exciting, but we must be ready to pivot at a moment’s notice if anything comes up and not let it throw us off our game.

If you had to describe the Employee Services team in 3-5 words, what would they be?

Adaptable, Approachable, Kind, Hard-Working, Inclusive.

Employee Services is here to serve YOU! If you have questions, reach out anytime at employeeservices@trailerbridge.com.

Tax Tips from Employee Services

The deadline to file your 2022 taxes is Tuesday, April 18, 2023.

TAX EXTENSIONS

Need more time? The IRS allows you to file for an extension if you complete a form 4868 by the April 18th deadline.

Common reasons to request an extension include needing to gather additional tax documentation, an unexpected life event, or tax planning purposes.

Note: The extension does not give you more time to pay your taxes, only to file them. You will still need to pay an estimated amount by the 4/18 deadline to avoid any penalties.

If you request an extension, you have until Monday, October 16, 2023 to file.

WHAT IS A 1095-C?

This form provides information on employerprovided health insurance coverage and can be used when determining if you’re eligible for a premium tax credit. You can find a copy of your 1095-C in Paycom.

FINDING YOUR TAX FORMS IN PAYCOM

All your tax forms can be found under the Payroll tile of your Employee Self-Service Portal in Paycom. Click for additional options and choose “Year-End Tax Forms.”

CHANGING YOUR TAX SETUP

You can change your tax setup at any time by choosing “Tax Setup” under the Payroll tile. These are some reasons why you may need to update your tax setup:

• If you had a baby, you may need to adjust your claimed dependents to make sure you receive all eligible child tax credits ($2k per qualifying child under age 17).

• If your marital status has changed, you may need to change your federal filing status to “married, filing jointly” or “Single or married filing separately.” If your status is “married filing jointly” and your spouse also works, you may need to check the “multiple jobs” box.

This is not legal tax advice and has been prepared for informational purposes only. You should consult your own tax advisor before engaging in any transaction.

TB12 OF THE MONTH

Nicole

welcomed her daughter

on February 10, 2023. TB sends their warmest congratulations to the family on their newest addition!

Glossary Term of the Month

Nearshoring

The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you.

– B.B. King

When a business moves its operations to a nearby country from one that is farther away.

Crowley

Millie

Dustin Keith (Porkchop) married his girlfriend of 6 years, Elly, on 1/29/23. We wish the newlyweds a lifetime of happiness together!

WORK ANNIVERSARIES

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

Promotions and Changes

Pricing Team Lead

WANDA GORDON

National Sales Account Executive

ANDRE SANTOS

Support Services Coordinator

MONICA GRIFFITH Port Traffic Coordinator

JACKIE ALVAREZ Talent Acquisition Specialist

LAURA PEDERSEN

JERRY THOMAS

Jerry Thomas embodies a carefree and laid-back approach. He understands that delivering goods on time and in a professional manner is important. But he also knows that taking time to provide a high level of customer service can make all the difference.

Jerry is known for his kind and fair demeanor. His easy-going personality and positive attitude are contagious, making him a joy to work with.

Jerry’s “we will make it happen” attitude is a testament to his dedication and commitment to delivering outstanding customer service. Jerry is an asset to our team and is a prime example of a TB driver.

DON’T FORGET TO FOLLOW TRAILER BRIDGE!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

The Marketing Team wants your feedback, suggestions or stories for next month’s Bridge Please send to @Group–Marketing

PIC OF THE MONTH

There is a lot of visual talent at TB, and we want to showcase your skills! We would like to feature a TB “Pic of the Month” submitted by a TB rockstar. Please send to @Group–Marketing