WE the People - Winter 2021 Issue #9

hank You

FOR 10+ YEARS!

Without the hard work and dedication of our employees, our success at Worldwide Equipment would not be possible. Day in and day out, our employees remain committed to the highest standard of excellence. We extend our greatest appreciation to those who have been with us through it all.

JANUARY

MARY M ADKINS 44

LLOYD R OSLONIAN 37

SAMUEL D HUFFMAN 33

TAMMY G HOLT 27

MICHAEL J JULIAN 25

RANDALL A RYALS 22

ROBIN R FOULK 22

WILLIAM D SIMPSON 22

DONALD R FOX 20

RANDALL L HULL 17

CHARLES A JOHNSON 17

JACOB C NORRIS 16

BARRY D HOLMAN 15

MICHAEL H WINES 14

RALPH L EDISON 11

SCOTT A SHARP 11

PHILLIP W CRAIG 10

GARY W JACOBS 10

RONNIE E PRICE 9

FEBRUARY

ELIZABETH J SPARKMAN 41

DANIEL J KOLDE 37

TIMOTHY R MARTIN 36

MICHELLE D EVANS 31

WADE E LIVELY 29

MICHAEL W COATNEY 29

THERON H LINVILLE 26

JACKIE W FLEENOR 26

ROBERT W GRIFFIN 24

KEVIN J ARMOLD 22

MARCH

CHARLES E BRADLEY 44

MAGGIE R BRYANT 37

SHELVA N MARSEE 34

JAMES K O DONNELL 31

ROBERT L BROWN 29

DAVID W DAVIS 26

PAUL R FLOWERS 26

BILLY J JETT 24

SCOTT C WOOTEN 24

LANVAL E GUMBS 21

DONNIE J PYLE 9

LUCINDA A HUTTON 22

ROBERT T CALVERT 22

JAMES L BENSON 19

GEORGE D JONES 18

KENNETH C GILLIAM JR 18

WILLIAM E PARRISH 17

JOSEPH E WOODY 16

PHILLIP D ALLEN 16

ROBBIE D BLEVINS 16

DANNY MCKNIGHT 16

GARY J SAMONS 16

SHAWN E STANTON 11

JENNIFER L ASBURY 11

JAMES E PRAETER 17

JAMES A MOSS 16

DANIEL M TAYLOR 15

RYAN L OSBORN 15

DANIEL E CROWE 14

LEE BOND 12

BRYAN C SHAVER 10

This cover is perforated for easy removal. Collect them for a wall display or personal collection!

SCOTT BLEVINS President/COO

As the new calendar year starts, people tend to look toward the future. What lies just ahead, the plan to get there, and the results of their actions.

Who could have imagined what the year 2020 would bring? Our experience for year 2020 was like something from a fiction writer, a novel made into a disaster movie, yet WE all experienced it firsthand. Our lives are not in the novel or on the movie screen. WE live it and see it every day.

How many things have changed in our daily life?

How many things will never be the same again?

Will movie theaters return, or moving forward will movies be streamed onto your favorite tablet, phone or internet enabled device?

Will there be a need for 100,000 seat stadium or arena for fans to watch their favorite sports team or music artist perform?

Will in store shopping be something WE look back on fondly?

Doctor or Dentist visits? Work from home?

Despite all those things, with your efforts, WE managed to grow our company successfully and profitably. Was it easy NO! but WE did it!

In January 2020, WE opened a parts only store in Conway SC.

In August 2020 WE welcomed the employees of three locations of Trans Power Inc. in Southern GA to our family and team.

In December 2020 WE added the Auto Car model ACTT yard tractor to our product offering.

WE were awarded additional business from many of our valued customers. Our people found a way.

Found a way to accept the things they could not control and focus on the things WE could.

Our people found a way. WE made the changes required to be successful.

Will WE purchase more locations this year? Will WE increase the number of employees this year?

Will there be opportunity for employees to gain more or new responsibilities this year?

Perhaps. What I do know with certainty is the things our people can control WE will find a way.

Our company was successful during a turbulent year. WE found a way to grow, add products, develop people, and make money.

WE added systems, platforms, programs, and processes to take us into the future, while holding the things that are most valuable to us safe and secure.

Your efforts in reducing waste while taking full advantage of the company offerings helped manage our expenses and costs. Your efforts made a difference.

This past year I grew tired, fatigued even of all the P’s. Political Parties, Politics, Pandemic, and a Plethora of Policy. Everything from the ever-changing guidance from the CDC to when and where to wear a mask. I am ready to focus on the things WE can control and limit the distractions from outside.

What does trucking, or better yet the heavy duty truck dealership business look like this coming year?

Regardless of who is occupying 1600 Pennsylvania Ave this year, trucking will be solid. Everything gets put on a truck at some point. The vegetables you grew out back in the garden, I know they did not get in a trailer or on a truck. I know the cattle, chickens, goats, rabbits, deer, and squirrel. Not on a truck.

Coffee from Brazil or Sumatra? On a truck. Gasoline, Blue Jeans, Tires for the Jeep. Ice Cream, Jellybeans, the medicine that makes you sleep.

Think about it. It was on a truck; a commercial vehicle delivered these items and more to a store or perhaps YOUR door.

Trucks and Trucking will be solid for a long time. As long as there are trucks, someone will need to fix them. Someone will need interchangeable parts. Someone will need to purchase them. That will provide jobs for many people like you and me. Directly and indirectly.

What about alternative fuels, electric, battery powered, hydrogen, natural gas. Yes, all of these power options are available today. But so is diesel fuel. What about trucks that drive themselves. Everyday there is a new break through in autonomy. The is a place at the table for all those different options.

However, today and for the foreseeable future internal combustion engines are still the most efficient, low lifecycle cost option available. That will remain for a long time.

During the Pandemic, the public learned what WE already knew. WE are essential. Our products and services are important, are needed, are vital to the OUR country. WE are necessary to keep America moving.

This year can be our best year yet. I believe it. It will be when WE stop offering excuses why WE cannot and start believing WE can. When WE look at what it should be, not what is in our way.

This year WE added so many wonderful people to our great company. I am excited to see what they build.

Several years ago, WE were purchasing another dealership. I was meeting with the new employees. One of the technicians asked WHY?

Why did WE want to purchase this dealership? What was our decision for this location? I answered because of people just like you. People that care, People that work hard, People that take pride in their job, their product, their work, and their word. People that want to be a part of something, something fun, something more, something to be proud of. The people that make up WE today. People just like us.

Time is too precious to wish away, So, after all the things WE went through together this past year I never once wished a day away. I am however looking forward to when WE can have handshakes and hugs, sing in the choir without a mask, attend a hot crowded high school gym or cold open air football field and watch our kids, grandkids, family, and friends play their game, sing their song, perform in the play. Be special, in some outstanding way.

I want to attend in person a high school or college graduation, a celebration of life for someone I respect, admire, or love when the time comes.

I believe this year has a lot of good things in store for our company. This could be our best year yet. I believe your efforts make a difference every day. I believe when WE focus on what it should be, it will be. I believe!

I hope you will believe too! Thank you for all you do!

#WEGOTTHIS!

Scott Blevins

“Time is too precious to wish away, So, after all the things WE went through together this past year I never once wished a day away. ”

By the People, For the People

WE asked you to submit to us your success stories, events, and family updates, and your response was astounding! See what the rest of your WE family has been up to.

PERFECT HARMONY

The WE family in Spartanburg is happy to announce the arrival of Greg (truck salesman) and Stacy (office manager) Evans’ beautiful granddaughter Harmony Marie. She was born 12/4/20 weighing in at 7.01 lbs and 19 inches long. What a Christmas present!

JUST MARRIED

Congratulations to Princeton’s accounting clerk, Jessica Jones (now Jessica Reed), on her marriage to Greg Reed on October 22nd, 2020! Breathe easy; you’ll never have to hear another Marvel’s Jessica Jones joke ever again.

BEEN MARRIED

Congratulations to Princeton’s parts inventory clerk, Margarette Dickerson, on 25 years of marriage to her husband, Shawn! The two have been together for 30 years and celebrated their anniversary on December 2nd, 2020.

SOMETHING BLUE

Congratulations to Ross Moran, who got engaged to Meghan Smith on December 12th, 2020!

Spartanburg

Summerville

Columbia Dayton

JUST MARRIED

Congratulations

JUST MARRIED

Congratulations to Tabitha Backman, now Tabitha Siede, who married Brad Siede on November 21st, 2020!

LIKE A BOSS

October 16th was National Boss’s Day, so our WE Columbia family organized a cookout to show their appreciation for Chris Davis. WE are glad to have you back on our team!

HAPPY VETERANS DAY

Veterans Day 2020 was on Wednesday, November 11th. From lower-left to upper-right, Dayton’s veterans: Mark Meyer (Air Force - 22 years), Monty Harrison (Navy - 3 1/2 years), Larry Tourney (Army - 2 years), Ronald Bishop (Air Force - 26 years), and Mike Brumfield (Marines - 5 years)

JENNIFER YATES

Our newly added Valdosta family would like to acknowledge the accomplishments of Service Advisor, Jennifer Yates. Jennifer completed her Kenworth Master Service Advisor training, and can be seen featured here in Issue 133 of Kenworth Professional Service Newsletter!

Brian Schwalm - Parts Counter Derek Freeman - Service Writer

Zack Jacobs -Service Tech

Matt Modrowski - Service Tech

Zach Bailey - Outside Parts Sales

to Dayton’s service manager, Charlie Overbee, on his marriage to new wife Elissa!

Parts Yard Sale - November 13th

Valdosta

UPDATES

Whenever an employee is injured, it is essential that the proper process be followed in order to protect both the injured worker and the employer. If you know what to do prior to an injury happening, you will be better prepared to file the necessary paperwork and get your employee the treatment he or she needs.

Here are some examples of the types of injuries WE reported in 2020 with everyone’s help we can focus on lowering our injuries in 2021:

• Hand/Finger

• Back

• Leg/Foot

• Knee

• Shoulder

• Eye

• Head

• Neck

Let’s keep safety top of mind in our workplace daily and in all the different tasks that we do. I would like to hear from anyone that has ideas on safety topics that you would like to have covered in 2021. Please feel free to email with your ideas.

lorrie.pecoraro@thetruckpeople.com

FROM THE DESK OF CARLA

Happy New Year!!!

As we face a new year, would like to reflect on the past year and how it has shaped us as a company. While COVID-19 presented with its own challenges, WE as a company met those challenges head on and stepped up to the plate. This was evident not only in our day-to-day business, but in our personal lives as well. WE should be proud of the commitments and sacrifices we each made and continue to make during the pandemic. Rising to the challenges of COVID-19 forced us to work together, as one unit. We no longer saw ourselves as individual divisions, but as one. We shared ideas, communicated weekly, and sometimes daily, and hourly, more so than in previous years. During a time when other companies saw a decline in communication and teamwork, WE excelled at both. During a time when the country was shut down, WE pushed forward as essential

leaders. witnessed managers from different divisions connecting and coming together to help one another and without being prompted. WE depended on each other to get through 2020, and hope that momentum carries us through 2021.

The typical saying hear around every new year is, ‘out with the old, in the new’, which simply means to move forward. This saying almost suggests that one would need to let go of something they currently have possession of (old) before they can gain or expect something better (new). As thankful as am to see 2020 out the door and ring in the new year of 2021, I hope the ‘old’ lessons of 2020 stay with us throughout this new year: the communication, the delivery of ideas and shared expectations, the teamwork that we developed, and allow these assets to be our ‘new’.

I hope 2021 finds you and your family healthy, safe, full of blessings, and grace.

2020 SAFETY TOPIC REVIEW

January - Winter Workplace Accidents

February - PPE: Personal Protection Equipment

March - Effects of Sleepiness

April - Hand Safety

May - Lift Truck Safety

2021 SAFETY GOALS

• Hold regular safety meetings

• Deliver engaging safety training to all staff

• Improve accident investigations

WORKER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Know and follow Health & Safety policies & procedures affecting your job.

• Make yourself aware of all the hazards associated with your job and how they are controlled.

• Don’t do a task or use equipment you haven’t been trained for. (If you don’t know somthing, ask.)

• Do your job safely - Don’t put yourself or others at risk.

• Fix and/or report anything you see which is unsafe.

• Keep an eye out for the safety of workmates.

• Immediately report injuries.

• Take the initiative - make suggestions to improve health & safety at your workplace!

SAFETY RULES

• You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of others.

• Wear personal protective equipment necessary for the job.

• Always use equipment/tools/machinery safety and properly

• Lift properly using your legs and not your back.

• Keep your work area clean.

• Wear appropriate and safe work clothing and footwear.

• Report any unsafe conditions.

• Clean up spills immediately.

• Report all injuries.

• No alcohol or drugs to be used or allowed on company property.

June - Ladder Safety

July - Back Safety

August - Heat Related Illness

September - Electrical Safety

October - Fire Safety

November - Tire and Wheel Safety Awareness

DID YOU KNOW?

1. VSP is our Vision carrier and they DO NOT send insurance cards to participants. You can register your account at vsp.com and use GROUP ID 30086628 to create your account. Once you have created an account, you can print off an insurance card. Please note, a card

• Front-line managers engage in daily safety talks

• Revamp safety committee

• CPR and First Aid Training

is NOT necessary. Simply tell your provider that you are covered under VSP and they will do the rest.

2. The 1st page in the 2021 Benefit Guide is where you will find a list of all benefit providers and their contact information and Group IDs for each carrier.

3. True Advocate is a dedicated support team just for Worldwide Employees. The True Advocate can help answer questions concerning your copay., medical claim processing, life events and changes, and how to order replacement ID cards. You can reach them at 888-655-9980

TOP 10 INJURIES IN OFFICE WORK

1. Falling when standing on chairs and tables

2. Slipping on paper or water on floors.

3. Tripping over open drawers, cables, and objects on floor around workstation

4. Stress and fatigue from unrealistic deadlines and excessive workloads.

5. Physical weakness and damage caused by sedentary

behavior

6. Bullying and physical threats

7. Physical injuries from poor ergonomics

8. Sprains and strains from moving furniture and deliveries, and lifting and lowering heavy items in shelving.

9. Colds and viruses.

10. Injuries due to not knowing emergency procedures

GIVE THANKS RESPONSIBLY

Kevin Muncy - Service Tech Patrick Young - Service Driver

Happy Veterans Day to Josh Lewis and Jerry Wallace!

Welcome aboard, Mike Bussman (left) and Caleb Dunn (right)! Mike is 67’s new shop foreman, and previously a technician, until his role in the Marines required him to take military leave in 2017 to go to Germany. Caleb is a service technician. He started in November and has already been an excellent fit.

Hair - Truck Sales Rusty Blevins

Andrew Roland and family, Chuck Goff and family, and Kim Cox and her husband are shown here enjoying a snowy Jeep riding day.

by the NUMBERS

January 4th, 1967

First dealer agreement signed appointing East KY Mack in Prestonsburg, KY

June 15th, 1972

October 4th, 1972

November 15th, 1973

January 5th, 1977

March 7th, 1977

WHAT DO OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE TO SAY?

Terry Dotson joins WE

Mary Hall joins WE

Randy

The folks above are our longest serving team members!

27 employees joined WE in the 1980s and are still working 87 employees joined WE in the 1990s and are still working

joins WE

Our most popular last name is... not Oslonian, but Martin!

Currently there are 14 people that share the last name Martin on our payroll!

QUESTIONS for the BOSS

Q: What is this?

A: This new section of WE the People, “Questions for the Boss”, is where the executive team at Worldwide Equipment will answer you frequently asked questions.

Q: What kinds of questions do I ask?

A: Anything! When is open enrollment? How do I get paperless pay stubs? How do I request paid time off? What is our inclement weather policy? Any question you may have and want answered is a valid question for this section!

Q: How do I ask a question?

A: Submit a question through the WE The People Submissions form (located on the Marketing page of the WE Portal).

Q: Is it guaranteed that my question will be featured in WE The People?

A: No, we will select up to ten of the most commonly asked questions and answer them in WE The People. However, all questions will be addressed with the person asking via email or phone.

Q: Should I only ask questions for Mr. Dotson or Mr. Blevins?

A: No! Any questions you may have are appropriate to ask.

Q: Shouldn’t I just call the person I have a question for?

A: Well... you could, but chances are if you have the question, someone else does, too! It will help spread the word and keep us all better connected.

Where would WE be without our customers?

We always strive for excellence in customer service and want to make sure that each customer has the easiest, most enjoyable experience possible. When performance is especially stellar, WE always appreciate it when our customers drop us a 5-star review!

“Charlie the service manager and Ashley the service advisor were awesome! In fact, everyone I came in contact with was friendly and helpful. I was on a time crunch and they got me in and out in less than a couple hours. Made my delivery on time thanks to their efforts.

Thank you, Worldwide Equipment!”

AREK WHITMYER Dayton, OH

“Last night, my Mack got a problem and shut down on Lonnie in Jasper, FL. It was too late to try to find a repair shop, so I started the task early this morning. I looked up semi repairs on google. Called the number and was pleasantly surprised to find WE’s answering machine. They were not open yet, so I just hung up, planning to call them again @ 08:00 edt. I was so surprised to receive a call from Bryan. He had seen that I had called and was checking to see if he could help me. I asked him if his was the same WE that is in Somerset, KY-he told me yes. I told him I was a customer of WE Somerset.

Long and short of it is I just wanted to let you know how

“I wanted to shoot you this quick email to let you know that I am extremely impressed with Jeff Taylor and how he runs his division in Knoxville. I’ve had trucks in there on several occasions when we’ve had issues on the road and he’s always taken care of us. I know firsthand that you typically only hear from customers when there’s a problem and they’re mad about something. It’s nice to hear when someone is actually doing it right…. In my opinion, Mr. Taylor is doing it right! ”

Knoxville, TN

nice and helpful Bryan was to me. He gave me the number of a wrecker service that they use-they were nice too and did not rip us off- which was very refreshing. Bryan also listened to my trying to tell him what had went on before the truck had shut down, told me they could work of it today-not promising to fix it today, but to try. Well he did diagnose the problem correctly and did get the alternator replace for Lonnie and I today. It was very refreshing to see that the service I have come to expect from WE Somerset is the same in Valdosta, GA. ”

Valdosta, GA

Dove joins WE Berta Adkins joins WE Chuck Bradley

What can MARKETING do for you?

The answer? A lot! From ordering merchandise to submitting to WE the People, here’s how to get the most out of your marketing department portal.

B. MERCHANDISE SHOP

1. Read ALL of the notes on the Main Screen and click “Begin Order”

2. Navigate through the pages as needed, making note of items you want to order on the form.

3. When you’ve selected everything you wish to order, click “Enter Billing Info & Complete Order”

4. Enter your Contact Information, Shipping Address, and Billing Information

5. Click “Submit Order”

C. ORDER BANNERS, FLYERS, & POSTERS

1. Read ALL of the notes on the Main Screen and click “Begin Order”

2. Navigate through the pages as needed, making note of items you want to order on the form.

3. When you’ve selected everything you wish to order, click “Enter Billing Info & Complete Order”

4. Enter your Contact Information, Shipping Address, and Billing Information

5. Click “Submit Order”

A. ORDER BUSINESS CARDS

If you don’t have an account, click “Need An Account?” and create a new one.

1. Log In

2. Click Printed Materials

3. Find Your Card (WE, WE Lease, or Corporate) *Corporate Cards are only available for Corporate Employees. If you place an order for corporate cards and you are not corporate, your order will be denied*

4. Select the desired quantity on the right

5. Scroll to top or bottom of page and click “Add Item(s) to Cart”

6. Fill out preview information and click “Update Preview”

7. If the preview looks correct, click “Add to Cart”

8. If the preview is incorrect, make changes and click “Update Preview” until you have desired information

9. In your cart, fill out your Project Information, Contact Information, Billing Information, and Shipping Address and click “Submit Order for Approval”

D. SUBMIT TO WE THE PEOPLE

You can submit to WE the People ANYTIME throughout the year. Company-wide emails will go out letting you know the deadline to make it in a specific edition, but if you miss the deadline, YOU CAN STILL SUBMIT; your submission will just be in the next edition. Magazines come out in January, April, July, and October

1. Fill out your division, name, and submission(s)

2. Include pictures when relevant and possible

THE NOTES

• Items are distributed on a first come, first served basis. If we are choosing not to restock an item, it will be removed from the shop as soon as it’s gone. For that reason, we may be able to only partially fill orders from time to time. You won’t be charged for anything that wasn’t received.

• All 3-5 business days for your order to SHIP.

• Orders may only be placed through the merchandise shop. No orders are taken via phone, email, or in-person

• Orders are billed to the division and department you reference on the form. Orders cannot be paid for personally (credit card, cash, etc.)

• If you list a non-WE address, your order will be voided.

• Currently, we don’t have the capability for “order approvals.” Therefore, you need to get approval from your supervisor BEFORE you place an order. The marketing department will not verify with your supervisor for you, so make sure the proper people know you’re placing an order.

THE NOTES

• All 5-7 business day turnaround for your items to be completed

• Orders may only be placed through the banners, flyers, posters shop. No orders are taken via phone, email, or in-person

• Orders are billed to the division and department you reference on the form. Orders cannot be paid for personally (credit card, cash, etc.)

• If you list a non-WE address, your order will be voided.

E. RESERVE TRADE SHOW DISPLAYS

1. Fill out your name (or the name of the person who is picking up the display)

2. Fill out the days and times you plan to pick up and drop off the display

3. Select which kind of event you’re attending so that proper materials can be prepared for you

NOTE If you schedule your pickup time LESS THAN 3 DAYS IN ADVANCE, your reservation will be voided.

F. HELPFUL INFORMATION

i. Brand Standards - Information on our visual identity including logos, colors and fonts, photographing, etc.

ii. Email Signatures - Download and follow the instructions in the document to ensure your email signature is correct. Please stick to the format. You may be asked to correct your signature if it’s incorrect.