GPTNEWSDRIVINGPERFORMANCE Issue2

GPT News Driving

Performance

Quarter 2 2016

STATEOFTHEINDUSTRY INTHISISSUE

Findoutallaboutthelatestequipmentupgradeswe’vemade!GPTisimplementinganewaerodynamicssystem,andmadeabigchangewithequipment!

Page3

We’vecreatedafitnessroutinejustforourdrivers!Findouthowyoucanimproveyourphysicalwellnessin20minutesaday!

Page5

State of the Industry byMikeHolland

Wearefinallyinthefullswingofsummerandthemileskeeprolling!GreatPlainsisaddingcustomers,addingtrucks,andourlanesandfreightareexpanding.Weareworkinghardtogethertogrowandimproveasacompany.Aswesucceedinbetteringourcommunication,ourperformancealsoimproves.

Thestateoftheindustryisstillamajortopicofdiscussion.Lastquarterthearticlediscussedperformance,higherstandards,andself-policing.ThesewillcontinuetobeafocusforeveryoneatGPT,aswemustalwaysstrivetoimprove.Thismustbeacollectiveeffort,fromBob’sofficetoeveryoneacrossthecompany.

AsthebackboneoftheAmericaneconomy,thetruckingindustryisalsoanaccuratemeasureofitsstate.Thisindustryaccountsfor70%ofthefreightshippedintheUnitedStates.Ibelievetheindustryrightnowisatalowpoint.Despiteacautiousoutlookbysomefortherestof2016,otherexpertshaveamoreoptimisticviewofthingstocome.

Freightwashardertofindinthefirstfewmonthsoftheyearandtherearemany

statisticstobackthis.Manycompaniesstruggledtostayafloat.Weweresuccessfulbecauseouroperationsteamhasagreatassortmentofcustomersandbrokers.Theyfilledthegapsthattheslowerindustrycreated.

Slowornot,wewereabletoadd10truckstothefleetthroughthesecondquarter,andturnoverhasloweredwhilemilespertruckremainsteady.Weaccomplishedthisbecauseeveryonehasmadeastrongefforttoimprovecommunication.

Wealsoaddedarockstarrecruiter,Kevin.Heenjoysspeakingwiththedriversyourefer,sosendthemhisway.Someofyouhavemethimalready.Ifyouhaven't,youcanreadabouthimonpage4.

Thetruckingindustryisbothuniqueandchallenging.Wemustalwaysrememberthatpropercommunication,afocusonsafety,andapositiveattitudewillwineverytime!

Thankyouforallyoursupport.Wecouldn’tdoitwithoutyou.

GPTNEWSDRIVINGPERFORMANCE|Issue2 2

FASTFACTS

Driver Spotlight byChristieMoe

8.38mpg

$775/quarter

Fuelmileageisanimportantaspectofthetransportationindustry.Weconsultedwithourmostfuelefficientdriver,BrianDavis,togetsometips.Briandrivestruck6017(a2016Freightliner).Heaveraged8.38mpgfortheentire2ndquarter.Incomparison,theaverageacrosstheGPTfleetis7.15mpg.

Hisnumber1tipistoalwaysbelegalonweights.Makesureyouarescalingeverytimebeforeleavingashipper.Forbestresults,theloadneedsevendistributionaswell.Alwayscheckallyourtiresforproperinflationduringyourpretripinspection.Thecrossfiresshouldalwaysbeintheclear/yellow.

Brianalsorecommendsrunningthetruckat57mphasoftenasyoucan.Irealizethismaysoundcrazy,andyoumaywonderifyoucanmakeanymoneyrunningatthatspeed.I’dsayitdependsonhowmuchtimeyourloadhasandifyouhaveplannedwell.

BrianDavisintruck6017averaged8.38mpgfortheentire2ndquarter.Followhistipstoimproveyourmpg!

AtGPT,wevalueourdriversandappreciatewhattheydotohelpfosterourteamatmosphere.Ourindividualperformanceisanimportantaspectofwhatwedo,butourteamperformanceiswhatmakesourcompanygreat.

JimStovallhasbeenwithGreatPlainssince2010.Heisarealassettousasheisalwaysateamplayer.Therearemanyqualitiesthatmakesomeoneateamplayer.Jimexhibitsallthesequalities.

Heisreliableandcanbecountedontomakeontimedeliveryandpickup.ReliabilitymakesJimaconsistenttopperformeratGPT.Partofhiskeyisconstructivecommunication.Heisclear,direct,honest,andrespectful.Heisanactivelistener.Jimmakestheefforttounderstandandconsiderothers’ideasandpointsofview.

BeingateamplayermeansthatJimisanactiveparticipant.He’sengagedinwhat’sgoingonandtakesinitiative.Healsomakessuretoinformhisteammates.Heisprompt

It’scrucialthatyouuseyourcruisecontrolasoftenaspossible;90%shouldbethegoal.AccordingtoBrian,“nooverspeedoridling…EVER!”

Brianalsosuggeststurningthe“A/Coffwhenclimbinghills,evenonhotdays”.Itmightbeinconvenientanduncomfortable,butusingtheA/Cdoesconsumemorefuel.Theengineworkshardergoinguphill;turningofftheA/Ccancompensateforthat.Andofcourse,youshouldalwayshavethetrailertailsdeployed,andshiftthetruckat1300rpm. ThatisacliffnoteversionofMr.Davis’waystoget8mpg.PleaseletCaseyorBobknowwhenyoutrysomeofthesetipsandhowtheyimproveyourmpg!

FuelBonus:At8mpg,Brianearnstwocentspermileeachquarter;thisisabout$775inhispocketeverythreemonths.

Brianearnsabout$775quarterlyasafuelbonusforrunning8mpg!

tocalldispatchandcommunicateanyissuesorpotentialissues.Heworkswithotherdriversanddispatchtomakeeachloadasuccess.

JimiscommittedtotheGPTteam.Hetakesagenuineinterestinhisteammembers.Whenhe’sattheyard,heofferstotakeothersouttolunchordinner.Healsocaresabouttheworkwedo.Heisalwayspleasantandamiablewithcustomers,shippers,andreceiversbecauseitreflectswellonGPTasawhole.

Animportantpartofbeingateamplayeristreatingothersinarespectfulandsupportivemanner.Jimsupportshisteammatesandtreatseveryonethewayhewantstobetreated.

Jim,wevalueyourgreatattitudeanddedicationtoourteam.Bybeingateamplayer,youhelpourcompanysucceed.ThankyouforallyourhardworkandcongratulationsonearningourDriverSpotlight!

JimhasbeenwithGPTsince2010.Heisthedefinitionofateamplayer.HisamazingteamworkisthereasonhemadeourDriverSpotlightforquarter2!

Good to Know: Fuel Mileage ByMikeHolland

GPTNEWSDRIVINGPERFORMANCE|Issue2 3

NEWEQUIPMENT

Recently,wedecidedtoequipourtrucksandtrailerswithThermoKingreefersandAPU's.Severalfactorsdroveourswitch,butthebiggestreasonwasourneedforamorereliableAPU.TherewereseveralrecurringissueswiththeCarrierAPU’s,causingexcessivedowntime.WehadgoodluckwiththeCarrierreeferunits,butwecanstreamlinerepairswithThermoKing.AdriveronlyneedstostopatonelocationforrepairstoboththereeferandAPU.

TheserviceintervalsonourcurrentAPU’sareevery1,000hours.TheTKmodelsonlyneedserviceevery3,000andusea7,500BTUfuelpoweredheater.Thismeansmoreheatinthewinter,andaquietnight’ssleepastheunitdoesnotneedtorunwhileheating.Thestand-aloneheaterreducesidletime,andthusreduceshoursontheunit.Thisextendsthewarrantypackage.Also,mostThermoKingservicelocationsonlyworkonThermoKing’s.ThedriverwillnotneedtowaitbehindmajorenginerepairstohaveaminorAPUorreeferissueresolved.

TheserviceintervalsarealsogreaterontheC-600reefers.1,000hourshasbeenourstandard,buttheC-600intervalis3,000.Thiswillsaveusonservicesanddowntime.AllTKmodelshaveanelectronicfuelpumpthateliminatestheneedforhandprimingifrunoutoffuel.Gotothemenuscreen,scrollthroughtheoptionsandselectthe“primesystem”option.Alsowiththeelectronicfuelpump,theservicetechsnolongerneedtoinstallfullfuelfilters.Theyjustusethesameprimingmethodthedriverscanuseinan

OurtrailerswillnowbeusingtheSmartTrucksysteminsteadoftheoldaerodynamics.AsidefromnewreefersandAPU’s,GPTwillalsobeputtingbiggerlogosonourequipment!

Aerodynamics, Reefers, and APU’s; Oh my! byCaseyMittag

Thermo King Reefers & APU’s ThereareseveraladvantagestothenewThermoKingAPU’sandreefers.ReliabilityoftheAPUandstreamlinedrepairsareamongthetopreasonsGPTchoseThermoKing.

New Aerodynamics Driversdon’thavetoworryaboutdeployingthenewaerodynamics.Thenewsystemisalsonotassusceptibletodamage.

FORMOREINFORMATION

Ournewequipmentshouldprovideamarkedimprovementovertheold.ForspecificinformationonournewequipmentnotcoveredinGPTNews,contact:

CASEYcasey@greatplainstransport.com

out-of-fuelevent.

Asforthenewaerodynamicsystem,webelieveitoffersmanyadvantagesovertheoldsystem.TherearefewerconcernswiththeSmartTrucksystem.Thedrivernolongerneedstocloseordeploythetails;thesystemisalwaysreadytogo.Thereisnoneedtoworryaboutdamagetothetailswhenbackingtoacustomer’sdockorwhileparkedattrucksstops.Also,thedoorswillstayflushtothesideofthetrailerwhenopen.

TheSmartTrucksystemiscomposedofsidefairingsandanundertray.Thesidefairings,mountedattherearofthetrailer,redirecthigh-energyairflow.Theundertrayincreasesairflowthroughtheaxles,coolingthetiresandbrakesandincreasingthelifeofallcomponents.Last,theundertraysdonotshowscrapes,unlikethesideskirts.Theundertrayisdesignedtocrumpleintheeventthatadriverneedstobackintoadeeploadingdock.Thisisolatesanyscrapemarkstotheleadingedgeoftheundertray,hidinganyimperfections.

Somearguethattheskirtandtailsystemsaremorefuelefficient,butsinceit'snotalwaysinuse,itcan'tguaranteeconsistentsavings. TheSmartTrucksystemrequiresnoextraworkonthedriver'spart,andisalwaysfunctioning.Thismakesitamoredependablesystem.

Wehavehighexpectationsforournewequipment.Weoweittoourcustomersanddriverstoofferthebestequipmentintheindustry.Thismindsetwillcontinuetomotivateourmaintenanceteamforyearstocome.

GPTNEWSDRIVINGPERFORMANCE|Issue2 4

FORMOREINFORMATION

QuestionsabouttheDriverSafetyIncentiveProgram?Youcancontact:

SARAsara@greatplainstransport.com

Safety: Incentive Program bySaraEdmondson

Assomeofyouknow,inlateAprilweaddedanewmembertoourofficeteam.Forthosewhohaven’thadthepleasureyet,meetKevin!So,whoisheandwhatdoeshedo?Inshort,KevinmanagestheHumanResourcesaspectsofGreatPlainsTransport.HeconcentratesonDriverRecruitmentandRetention,butwearsmanydifferenthats.

Whenyoureferotherdrivers,referthemtoKevin.Hewillreviewcandidateapplicationsandmakedecisionsabouthiring.We’restillrunningourreferralbonusprogramthatwelistedinourfirsteditionofGPTNews.SonowwouldbeagreattimetotellyourfriendstocalltheofficeandaskforKevin!Sendasmanydriverstousaspossibleandwewilldothelegworktomakesuretheyareagoodfitforthecompany.Youalldoagreatjobofreferringdriversalready,andwethankyouforthat!Keepupthegoodwork!

Kevinalsofunctionsasadriverliaison.Youcancontacthimifyouhaveconcernsaboutmilesordispatch,orproblemswithpersonnel.Heisagreatlistenerandapro

ProgramWinnersApril2016:TimothyBarrett,MelvinLayton,DavidShort,DuaneChilders

ProgramWinnersMay2016:BurlBachtenkircher,BartCameron,DonMalone,KenParmalee

ProgramWinnersJune2016:AaronGiertz,MichaelHerman,KelvinWhittingham,DavidSpoon

KevinjoinedourteaminApril,2016.Heisournewrecruiter,andalsohandlesHumanResources.

BeginninginApril,weimplementedanewDriverSafetyIncentiveProgram.ThegoalistorewarddriverswhoprovidethesafestenvironmentforthemselvesandothersontheroadwhilerepresentingGPT.

AttheendofeachmonthGreatPlainsTransportwilldrawnames,andthosedriverswillwinthespecifiedprize.Eachmonthwillhaveadifferentprize,increasinginvalue.Foreachmonthadriverremainsinthepool,theirnameisentered1time.Example:IfJohnisasafedriverinJulyanditisnowAugust,hisnameisentered2timesfortheAugustmonthlyreward.IfhecontinuestobesafeinSeptember,he’llhavehisnameputin3timesfortheSeptemberdrawing.Cleanroadsideinspectionswillalsoberewarded.Qualifyingdriverswillhavetheirnameenteredinanextra1timeforeachcleaninspection.

Driverswillbedisqualifiedfortherestoftheprogramifthey:

•Areinvolvedinanypreventableaccident.

•Receiveapreventableviolationontheroad(driver/vehicleinspectionreportviolation,ticket,orwarning).

•Haveamajorhoursofserviceviolation(over1hourinduration).

•Getwrittenupforanyreason.

CongratulationstoallourSafeDriverwinners!Therearedifferentprizesdependingonthemonth.PleaseclaimyourprizewithSaraorChristiewhenyoucometotheyard.Remember,wewilladdyournametothedrawingagainEACHmonththatyoucontinuetobesafeforachancetowinthenextreward!Keepupthegreatwork!

Introducing Kevin byChristieMoe

athelpingfindsolutions,sopleasebringyourconcernstohim.Hewilldohisbesttogetresults.Kevinhasagenuineinterestinwhat’sworking,andwhat’snotworkingoutontheroad.

Sincestartinghere,Kevinhasalsotakenontheresponsibilityofmanagingbenefits.Hecanansweryourquestions,orhelpgetyousignedupforinsurance.WorkingwithourrepresentativefromBlueCrossBlueShield,Kevinmanagesourbenefitspackages.

KevinisalsooneofthemainmonitorsfortheGPTFacebookpage.Heworksextrahardtorespondassoonashecantomessages,andresearchesanswerstoquestions.

Kevin’sofficeislocatedattheendofthehall,nearesttothefrontdoor,inDan’soldoffice.YoucannowfindDaninthelastofficeontheleft,closesttothebackofthebuilding.Youcanemailhimat:

Kevin@greatplainstransport.com orreachhimonhiscell:320-444-7686.

GPTNEWSDRIVINGPERFORMANCE|Issue2 5

PROPERFORM

Squats,2minutes:bendatyourhipandpushyourbuttback,squatdownuntilyourhipjointislowerthanyourknees,anddrivethroughyourheelsasyoumoveup.

AlackofexerciseisanissueformostOTRdrivers,andcanleadtoserioushealthconcerns.Obesity,heartdisease,arthritis,bloodclots,anddiabetesareallpreventablewithregularexercise.However,findingtimetoexercisecanbedifficult,andgoingtoagymalmostimpossible.

Withthehelpofsomeofourdrivers,we’vecomeupwitha20-minuteroutinethatyoucandoanywhere,withoutequipment.Makesurethattheareaisclearandsafe!Besuretowearreflective,brightcoloredclothingifexercisinginlowlightconditions!Bemindfulofyoursurroundingsandpotentialhazards.

Youmaywanttouseatimeronyourphonetokeeptrackoftimeforeachexercise.Tostarttheexerciseroutine,alwaysremembertotakeacoupleofminutestostretch,topreventinjury.Afterstretching,startwitheitherajogorrun.Trytomaintainaconsistentpaceasyoujogforabout10minutesstraight.Tokeepyourheartrateup,trynottostoporchangepacewhilejogging.

Next,doasmanysquatsasyoucanin2minutes,whilemaintaininggoodform.Forapropersquat,standwithyourfeetjustwiderthanyourhips.Pointyourtoesoutwardalittle.Lookstraightaheadandputyourarmsstraightoutinfrontofyou.Keepyourspineinaneutralposition;don’troundyourbackoroveraccentuatethenaturalarchofyourback.Yourweightshouldbeontheheelsandtheballsofyourfeet.Now,breathein,bendatyourhipandpushyourbuttback.Keepyourspineneutral,yourchestoutandshouldersup.Squatdownuntilyourhipjointislowerthanyourknees.Keepingeverythingtight,breatheoutanddrivethroughyourheelsasyoumoveup.

Afterthesquats,do2minutesofhighknees.Standstraightwithyourfeethipwidthapart,lookingstraightahead,andarmsdownbyyourside.Whilejogginginplace,liftyourlegsuphigherthannormal,bringingyourkneeasclosetohipheightaspossible.Yourarmsshouldfollowthemotion.Touchthegroundwiththeballsofyourfeet.

Followingthehighknees,do2minutesoflunges.Keepyourupperbodystraight,withyourshouldersbackandchinup(pickapoint

Jumpingjacks,2minutes:standwithyourfeettogetherandyourhandsbyyourside.Jumpyourfeetouttothesideandraiseyourarmsaboveyourhead.Jumpbacktothestartingposition.

tostareatinfrontofyousoyoudon'tkeeplookingdown).Makesuretoengageyourcore.Stepforwardwithoneleg,loweringyourhipsuntilbothkneesarebentatabouta90-degreeangle.Yourloweredkneeshouldnottouchtheground.Risebackintoastandingpositionandrepeat,steppingforwardwiththeoppositeleg.

Onceyou’vecompletedthelunges,followupwith2minutesofbutt-kickers.Forthisexercise,standwithyourlegsshoulder-widthapart.Yourarmsshouldbebentatyoursides.Flextherightkneeandkickyourrightheeluptowardyourglutes.Bringtherightfootbackdown.Astherightlegcomesdown,flexyourleftkneeandkickyourleftfootuptowardyourglutes.Repeatinrapidsuccession.

Finishtheexerciseroutinewith2minutesofjumpingjacks.Standwithyourfeettogetherandyourhandsdownbyyourside.Inonemotionjumpyourfeetouttothesideandraiseyourarmsaboveyourhead.Immediatelyreversethatmotionbyjumpingbacktothestartingposition.

Youcanadjustthisroutinetofityourneeds.Ifneedbe,juststartoutwithjoggingaroundyourtruck.About42lapsaroundyourtruckandtrailermakeupamile.Asyouprogress,youcanaddextradistanceortimetoyourrunandeachofthe5exercisesinthisarticle.Switchuptheexerciseseverynowandthenforbetterweightlossresults.Thisroutineisagreatwaytogetyourheartpumpingandburncalories,butyoucanalsofindotherexercisesonlinethatarejustasbeneficial.Thereareevenvirtualrun/walkcontests.

Cardioexercisehasmanyhealthbenefits.Ithelpsincreasethestrengthofyourheartandlungs,lowerbloodpressure,andincreasegoodHDLcholesterol.ItcanalsoreducelevelsofbadLDLcholesterolandtheriskofosteoporosis.Togetthebestresults,youneedaconsistent20minutesormoreofanelevatedpulse.It’simportanttorealizethoughthatsomethingisbetterthannothing.Even5minutesor10minutesisbetterthansittingstill!

Health and Wellness: Fitness on the Road byChristieMoeandColleenRamsey

Highknees,2minutes:Standwithfeethipwidthapart.jogginginplace,liftyourlegsuphigher.

Lunges,2minutes:stepforwardwithoneleg,loweringyourhipsuntilbothkneesarebentatabouta90-degreeangle.Risebackintoastandingposition.

GPTNEWSDRIVINGPERFORMANCE|Issue2 6

GPT News Driving

Performance

2001stAveSEMapleton,ND58059