FATHER’S DAY by Lisa Ludwikowski

VOL IV No. 2 June 2010 / July 2010

Maintenance Dept 2 June 14th - Flag Day 4

Green & HR Corner 5

Fill In… 6

Fill in… 7

MVP’s 2009 8

CSA 2010 9

Woods & Water 10

Sports Corner 12

What’s up Dock 13

Holidays/Recipes 14

The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com

Did You Know???

The Liberty Bell rang on every 4th of July from 1778 until it cracked in 1835. It has been quiet ever since.

More babies are born in July, August and September than any other time of the year.

In July 1776, the estimated population of this new nation was 2.5 million. Approxi‐mately 304 million people live here now.

The Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key was offi‐cially made the national an‐them on March 3, 1931.

The first 4th of July fireworks display occurred in Charles‐ton, SC in 1805.

Fireworks were invented in ancient China in the 7th cen‐tury to scare away evil spirits.

The Walt Disney Company is the largest consumer of fire‐works in the United States.

Hello Readers, We hope everyone enjoys this issue because we have added another new feature – Restaurant Reviews! If you have a favorite eating establishment and want to recommend it to your co‐workers, read all the details regarding this on page 14. We also wish to encourage each and every one of you to offer suggestions for items you would like to see covered in the Newsletter. Just send an email or speak with any committee member, and we’ll take care of the rest. And please don’t forget to find “Perry’s Moustache” and submit your chance to Tom Mroz by the end of day Monday June 7th for a chance to win a fifty dollar gift card! Sincerely, THE NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE

FATHER’S DAY by Lisa Ludwikowski

This year marks the 100th Anniversary of the day we commemorate and celebrate the Father figure in our lives. This holiday falls on the third Sunday of June each year which means it will be ob-served on June 20th this year. Although it is not celebrated on the same day, Father’s Day is considered a holiday in 52 countries. Father’s Day was first observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane, Washington. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge made Father’s Day a national event. It was, however, not until 1966 that President Lyndon Johnson signed a proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday in June as Father’s Day, and in 1972 Richard Nixon signed a law making Father’s Day a holiday. Since then it has become a day to not only honor your father but all men who may act as a father figure. Stepfathers, uncles and grandfathers are all honored on Father’s Day. When Father’s Day first became a holiday people showed their love for fathers by wearing either a rose or lilac on their lapels on the day of honoring. Now Father’s Day has become a holiday focused on showering Dad with gifts and showing him he is special and appreciated. All in all, even if it is only a phone call make sure to tell the father figure in your life how special they are.

We may not shower him with praise Nor mention his name in song,

And sometimes it seems that we forget The joy he spreads as he goes along

But it doesn’t mean that we don’t know The wonderful role that he has.

And away down deep in every heart There’s a place that is just for Dad.



NEW HIRES

Albert Gjata Samantha Lawrence Ezequiel Ortega Al Rubio Edison Sharaxhija Anthony Trzos

Congratulations go out to Jason Esser and his

wife Tiffany on the birth of their baby boy, Dylan Michael. Little

Dylan was born Wednesday, May 5th

weighing in at 8 lbs, 2 oz., 20 inches long!

MAINTENANCE – THE UNSUNG HEROES OF OUR COMPANY by George Smith as Related by: Tim Sienko and Jeff Howard

Fifty two weeks a year, through rain, sleet, hail, snow, below zero temperatures, the mechanics of our Maintenance Department are entrusted with some of the most important responsibilities that our company has: the roadworthi-ness and safety of our fleets, both local and over the road. Our drivers, both company and independent operators, completely rely on their expertise to insure that the load they are taking on our company’s equipment can be trans-ported safely, securely, and on time to its destination. Truly, even one major traffic accident with injuries has caused the premature closing of a number of our competitors, once it was demonstrated that an unsafe tractor/trailer was allowed to leave a facility for the open road.

When asked about the most important matter that Maintenance requests of our company’s personnel and the inde-pendent operators that are our Business Partners both Tim Sienko and Jeff Howard, Managers of The Custom Com-panies, Inc. and CDN Logistics Maintenance Departments respectively, answered in unison: TAKING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR TRAILERS THROUGH THE INSPECTION LANE, EACH TIME THE TRAILER ARRIVES AND BEFORE EACH DEPARTS TO AND FROM OUR TERMINAL.

In the prior thirty month period CDN Logistics, Inc. had no less than 863 roadside inspections by law enforcement, country-wide. Each inspection was one of five separate inspections that law enforcement may, at their discretion, make, anytime, anywhere along our nation’s highways and byways. The levels vary in both their complexity and completeness. They can be summarized as:

Level I – North American Standard Inspection Level II – Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle Inspection Level III – Driver Only Inspection Level IV – Special Inspection Level V – Vehicle-Only Inspection

The Level I inspection is the most comprehensive of the five levels. It includes police examination of compliance with the critical elements of both the driver and the vehicle in following all Federal, State, and Local Regulations. This inspection traditionally takes from 45 to 60 minutes of the driver’s time.

Closely following is Level II in completeness, with the exception that the police official/inspector will not check for items that require physically getting under the vehicle. This level of examination usually takes about 30 minutes.

In a Level III inspection, which is the most common one faced by drivers on the open road, only the driver and his records, including personal log book, are examined, including any hazardous materials cargo. In this inspection items such as a driver’s license, medical certificate, logbook (and hours of service status), and documentation of the last annual inspection of the vehicle will be examined.

Level IV is a Special Inspection that focuses on a single, one time examination of a particular item. These examina-tions are usually made in furtherance of a particular road use study or to refute or verify an emerging trend.

Level V is a Vehicle Only inspection. This is an inspection that follows the individual vehicle or the vehicle portion of a Level I inspection. It quite often takes place without a driver present. The location of this inspection is usually the owning carrier’s place of business during a specific compliance review.

A vehicle that “passes” a Level I or Level V is usually awarded a CVSA decal. The “Pass Inspection” decal means that the law enforcement officer/inspector found no violations during the particular inspection, and it is affixed to the vehicle by the individual completing the examination. The duration for this decal is usually three months.

Individual inspection reports by law enforcement/inspectors MUST BE TURNED IN TO OUR COMPANY, AS THE CAR-RIER. Significant fines may be levied if they are not. If law enforcement FINDS VIOLATIONS THAT “SLIPPED THROUGH” OUR MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT’S IN-SPECTION LANE, both the driver and our company may share in the liability. If the violation places the vehicle Out of Service on the road, many times our company must repower the load, and a delivery timeliness failure will have occurred.

If violations are found that do not require the vehicle being placed out of service, the driver and load will be released, and are sent to complete their delivery; HOW-EVER, violations that are found must be CORRECTED within fifteen days of the inspection.

If the violation is so severe or unsafe that immediate repair or correction is necessary, the vehicle, and possi-bly the cargo vehicle are placed Out Of Service and the inspector will inform the driver what has to be done at the site of the stop before the load may be allowed to continue.

Even if the law enforcement official or inspector de-parts, if the driver leaves the site before satisfying ALL of the conditions noted, this is a Violation of an Out of Service Order. Continued on page 3...

Pictured from left to right: TIM SIENKO, PAUL TRIPPETT, ERIC GOFF, MARTY LENZ (IN FRONT), JEFF HOWARD, BRENT RICH-TER, TOM DUNAJ, JOSE ESPINOSA, and DAVID SMITH. (ARMANDO RAMERIZ, AN ADDITIONAL MEMBER OF THE TEAM WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE PHOTO)



CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Tomasz Biskup (CDN) and his wife Katarzyna as they tied the knot on April 10th, 2010.

Congratulations to Drew

Wright (CHI City Dispatch) and his wife Margaret as

they entered marital bliss on May 1st, 2010.

Juneteenth by Matt Foley

Juneteenth is an American holiday honoring African American heritage and celebrated by people of all ethnic and racial back-grounds. It commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas in 1865. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebra-tion commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States and has actually been an African American tradition since the late 19th century. Celebrated on June 19, Juneteenth is recognized as a state holiday in 35 states of the United States, including both California and Illinois. The holiday originated in Galveston, Texas. For more than a century, the state of Texas was the primary home of Juneteenth celebrations and since 1980 Juneteenth has been an official state holiday in Texas. Juneteenth has an interesting background in that the holiday's name is derived from the little known fact that slaves in Texas did not know they were free. Though Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, with an effec-tive date of January 1, 1863, it had minimal immediate effect on most slaves’ day-to-day lives, particularly in Texas, which was almost entirely under Confederate control. Texas was resistant to the Emancipation Proclamation, and though slavery was very prevalent in East Texas, it was not as common in the Western areas of Texas. The significance of the name can be traced back to the word of mouth announcement of people's freedom and so is the reason for the generalized date, due to historically not being always on the 19th of June as to a particular person's freedom. On June 18, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 fed-eral troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves. General Granger then traveled around Texas to inform the African-Americans, still being held as slaves, that they were in fact free. Former slaves in Galveston rejoiced in the streets with jubilant celebrations. Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas the following year. Across many parts of Texas, freed people pooled their funds to purchase land specifically for their communities’ increasingly large Juneteenth gatherings. Economic and cultural forces caused a decline in Juneteenth celebrations beginning in the early 20th century. The Depression forced many blacks off of farms and into the cities to find work. In these urban environments, employers were less eager to grant leaves to celebrate this date. The Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s yielded both positive and negative results for the Juneteenth celebrations. July 4 was the already established Independence holiday, and a rise in patriotism among black Americans steered more toward this celebration. Most recently in 1994, the era of the "Modern Juneteenth Movement" began when a group of Juneteenth leaders from across the country gathered in New Orleans, Louisiana. With five states recognizing Juneteenth as a state holiday in the past two years alone, bringing the national total to 35 states, it seems imminent Congress will enact legislation that will make Juneteenth a national day of observance in America, similar to Flag Day or Patriot’s Day.

MAINTENANCE – THE UNSUNG HEROES OF OUR COMPANY continued.

Penalties for the violation of an Out of Service Order are: 1st Violation – Disqualification for 90 days to 1 year 2nd Violation (in a 10 year period) – Disqualification for 1 to 5 years 3rd Violation (in a 10 year period) – Disqualification for 3 to 5 years Fines for each level of violation may range from $1,000.00 to $2,500.00.

Our Maintenance Supervisors and Staff recommend that ALL of our Drivers, both Company and Independent Operators: Prepare and organize yourself and your vehicle, before the trip. Always be courteous and professional in representing our company. Insure that all equipment is clean and in good repair (BY A TRIP THROUGH OUR COMPANY’S INSPECTION LANE). REMEMBER, THE MORE VIOLATIONS WE GET, THE MORE INSPECTIONS WE GET, LEADING TO MORE VIOLA-TIONS.

Some of the more common reasons for a stop by Law Enforcement or an Inspector have been: *A driver who goes through the stop sign or is speeding in the scale area. *A missing mudflap. *Equipment that appears either dirty or in poor repair. *A cracked windshield. *A driver who fails to comprehend basic instructions. *A visibly flat or worn tire. *A missing, dirty, or burnt out light.

Traffic violations in which the inspection is done as part of the traffic stop, such as: *Unsafe or unnecessary lane changes or wrong lane usage *Something visibly wrong with the equipment. *Following too close *Speeding

Some of the things which may happen to a driver who fails to go through our company’s Inspection Lane and brings in a subsequent unsatisfactory Inspection Report: *Possibly being placed OOS by either our Maintenance or Safety Department. *Selection for audit during a DOT Compliance Review. *Mandatory retraining and documentation. *Fines up to $500 per log by DOT. *Possible termination of contract. *Possible fines by our company.

June Anniversaries



June 14, 2010 Flag Day by George Smith Before 1776, the various 13 States and Commonwealths fighting for Independence and freedom from Great Britain carried their own respective flag into battle. The very first flag that could be designated as a “National Emblem” was called, by the Rebels of the Revolution, the “Grand Union Flag”. It made its debut on New Year’s Day, 1776 to commemorate and celebrate the formation of the official Continental Army of The United States. It had 13 stripes, of red and white that represented the original 13 colonies involved in the struggle against England. It also had a square with crosses of St. George (no relation) and St. Andrew to represent, believe it or not, Great Britain, for at that time there was still a great hope among the Colonists that reconciliation with England might be possible. The actual design of what would be our first national flag emblem would not actually be approved by Con-gress until 14 June 1777, about a full 11 months after our founding fathers pledged their lives, fortunes, and futures to the enterprise of freedom by signing our Declaration of Independence. While folklore main-tains that Betsy Ross conceived and made the very first 13 stars and 13 stripes banner, the truth, in fact, may be quite different. There are many American Historians that believe it was actually John Paul Jones of “I have not yet begun to fight” fame and Francis Hopkinson (a signatory of the original Declaration) that created the original design. By the time Kentucky and Vermont joined our Nation in 1794 the flag had changed to 15 stars and 15 stripes. This lasted until 1818, when Congress voted to restore the flag to its original 13 stripe design, and merely add a star for each new state. (Could anyone imagine an American Flag with 50 stripes?). By 1959, Alaska and Hawaii became our 49th and 50th star in our National Banner. No matter its origin, it would not be until 14 June 1861, almost an even 100 years after its original design and implementation, before a very first Flag Day celebration would occur. A Pennsylvanian named William T. Kerr is credited as the citizen who created Flag Day. He started in his efforts when he was only a young school-boy and continued his fight for the recognition of our flag long into his adulthood. He lobbied con-gress, publicized the need for our National Symbol’s recognition among the various states and did all in his imagination and industry to bring the need for Flag Day to the attention of America’s public. American Presidential proclamations had to wait until 1916, during the term of Woodrow Wilson, before the White House saw the need to recognize “What So Proudly We Hail” on the 14th of June each year. The next similar proclamation of the event did not happen until Calvin Coolidge occupied the White House as Presi-dent in 1927. However, the very creaking wheels of freedom did not come to the full declaration of Flag Day as a national holiday until “Give em Hell” Harry Truman did so in 1949. Today, Pennsylvania (probably thanks to the memory of its native son, William T. Kerr), is the only state of the fifty that really observes “Flag Day” as an official state holiday. The remaining states tend to acknowl-edge the importance of our National Symbol of Unity by advocating the display of our flag on homes, and public places; with businesses and churches being an encouraged option. Historically, the stars on our banner represent the rise and acceptance of a new state to our “More Perfect Union”, the blue background was to exemplify the American virtues of Vigilance, Perseverance, and Justice. Initially, the stars were formed in a circle to represent a Union which would exist in perpetuity, with the 13 stripes commemorating the original 13 colonies. Red was held to represent our newly formed Country’s defiance and daring on the world’s stage, and white was the symbolism for purity of our purpose and liberty. Flag Day gives a great opportunity to us, as Americans, to teach our young, neighbors, and recent arrivals about flag etiquette. The flag should only be allowed to fly after sunrise and taken down before sundown, unless it is bathed in light 24/7/365. It must not touch the ground (or the deck of a ship) both upon raising or lowering. The flag, when it is raised or lowered, is to be saluted by all present; for civilians, by placing the right hand over the heart; and by Military, Police, Fire or other uni-formed personnel of our Country by a hand salute of the right hand to the right bill of a uniform cap. When the flag is raised to com-memorate our dead, it is raised to the top of its staff and then low-ered to half mast. During parades, as the flag passes by, spectators should rise to their feet if seated, stop if they are walking, and remove head cov-erings (if wearing them), giving the flag their full attention. God Bless America…

You’re a grand old flag. You’re a high flying flag.

And forever in peace may you wave. You’re the emblem of

The land I love The home of the free and the brave.

Ev’ry heart beats true ‘neath the Red, White and Blue,

Where there’s never a boast or brag. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

(Music and Lyrics by George M. Cohan)

Miguel Escobedo 10 Charles Cecconi 9 Craig Evans 6 Brent Richter 4 Jason Vasquez 4 Marco Solorio 4 Aroldo Velazquez 4 Gregorio Montoya 4 Frank Folisi 3 Al Mendoza 3 Michael Shipinski 3 Larry Fried 2 Ricardo Oyervidez 2 Jose Palacios 2 Jeffrey Stewart 2 Michael Catania 1 Percy Lopez 1 John Pecnick 1 Dean Pilafas 1 David Smith 1 Drew Wright 1

July Anniversaries


Black, Gold, and Green by Tom Kennedy, Bruce Lenau and Carol Guarino

Kermit says being green isn’t easy but when you realize just how much waste is produced, you can’t help but want to reduce, re-use and recycle. Here are some facts regarding waste production in the United States:

California recycles and composts the most materials Commercial and residential paper waste accounts for more than 40% of waste going to landfills 52 million tons of recyclable paper was recovered in 2008 (57% of all paper) The average American consumes 120 pounds of energy per day By recycling just one aluminum can, you can save enough energy to run a television for 3 hours. Americans use 80,000,000,000 aluminum cans per year (we’re still calculating how much of the 80

billion cans Clete has recovered himself!) Americans use 2,500,000 plastic bottles each hour 18,000,000,000 disposable diapers enter our landfills each year Ford Motor Company indicates that 75% of every vehicle is recyclable Each American normally uses about 70 gallons of water each day Americans throw away enough aluminum every month to rebuild our entire commercial air fleet When you toss out an aluminum can, you waste as much energy as if you filled the can half-full of

gasoline and then just poured it out Glass and aluminum never wear out – they can be recycled forever Every year America makes enough plastic film to shrink wrap Texas If only 100,000 Americans stopped their junk mail, we could save up to 150,000 trees annually 500,000 trees must be cut down to produce each week’s Sunday newspapers The average American uses seven trees per year The junk mail Americans receive in one day could produce enough energy to heat 250,000 homes One in every six U.S. trucks is a garbage truck It takes half a barrel of crude oil to produce the rubber for just one truck tire Motor oil never wears out, it just gets dirty. Oil can be recycled, re-fined and used again $1.00 out of every $11.00 Americans spend on food goes towards packaging Almost 4,000,000 computer diskettes are thrown away every day, which equals over 1.5 billion

disks per year. If you were to stack these disks, they would be as tall as Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower) in Chicago every 20 seconds Americans throw away 25,000,000,000 Styrofoam cups every year. It is not a recyclable product so

please try not to use it!


WORLD CLASS SERVICE by Thomas Kennedy In today’s troubled economy with thousands of competitors in the transportation indus-try, the secret to The Custom Companies, Inc. success and growth is attributed to its em-ployee/workers and World Class Customer Service. World Class Customer Service is the attitude and follow through that allows us to retain our current cus-tomers and gives us the ability to attract new customers over our competitors. It sets us apart and enables us to remain a leader in our industry. Providing World Class Customer Service, our “Customer First” program and advances in our technological systems drives the future growth of The Custom Companies, Inc. by meeting and exceeding our customer’s expectations. Providing World Class Customer Service is part of every team member’s responsibility no matter what department they work in. Our “Customer First” program delivers on time with the highest degree of care. This professionalism and MAKE IT HAPPEN ATTITUDE of every team member is the main part of our Company’s Culture. A cheerful voice and a dedicated commitment to solve any customer’s problem or request with a quick and informative response is part of every team member’s commitment. Every team member has made a commitment and a pledge to provide World Class Customer Service and the “Customer First” program by immediately responding and addressing all e-mails and phone calls they receive and never sending a blind transfer call. Delivering shipments on time with the highest degree of care along with a dedicated team providing extraordinary ser-vices coupled with a MAKE IT HAPPEN ATTITUDE will help us remain a leader in the transportation industry.

Mary Reich 20 Grazyna Ujas 20 George Wiszowaty 18 Marie Podolak 17 Dale Majcina 14 Carol Guarino 11 Bart Jasiewicz 8 Sharon Zych 8 Jose Pinto 7 Raul Gallardo 5 Jose Gonzalez 5 Martin Ramirez 5 Ivan Velez 5 John Laciak 4 Franklin Ibarra 3 Michael Duncan 3 Christopher Moran 3 Christina Paramo 3 Tina Petrovic 3 Fausto Rodriguez 3 Dubravko Stiplosek 3 Manuel Vega 2 Jason Narancich 1


June Birthdays

FILLING IN THE BLANKS with Jay Blumenthal


Daniel Craig 6/1 Alex De Leon 6/3 Miguel Escobedo 6/3 Brent Richter 6/4 Victor Sanchez 6/5 Mircea Dulgheriu 6/6 Tomasz Biskup 6/8 Larry Fried 6/8 Jeffrey Howard 6/8 Larry Charnot 6/9 T. J. Jaworowski 6/9 Percy Lopez 6/10 Ramon Ramos 6/11 Juan Espinoza 6/12 Robert Caballero 6/17 John Dembowski 6/17 Frank Funari 6/17 Mateusz Kuczek 6/17 Ryan Kocourek 6/18 John Valente 6/18 Luis Macias 6/19 Odeta Aleski 6/20 Erik Goff 6/20 Tom Kolzow 6/21 Oscar Aceves 6/23 George Barney 6/27 Tim Sienko 6/27

I love The Custom Companies because… IT HAS GIVEN ME A CAREER

I have a feeling the future of transportation will… BE EVEN BETTER THAT IT IS TODAY

The hardest thing about working at night... IS NOT WATCHING MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

The best thing about working at night... GETTING A SUN TAN DURING THE DAY AND GOING TO THE CASINO

In the next year I anticipate learning more about… GROWTH AND INCREASED TECHNOLOGY

As you get older things look different… WHEN YOU WEAR YOUR SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT

Even in grammar school I learned… EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT

The funniest thing that has happened at Custom is… GETTING STUCK IN A TRAILER BETWEEN SKIDS

As Perry Mandera says… IT IS ALL GOOD

My father had good advice about… LIFE

My favorite vacation spot is… FLORIDA

A department I would not mind working for is/why… TRUCKLOAD, THEY HAVE ALL THE GOOD EATS

You wonder sometimes… IF YOU WILL EVER GET AHEAD

When my family/friends ask what I do, I tell them… I WORK IN OPERATIONS

I remember my first year at Custom… I HAD HAIR AND WEIGHED 170 LBS

You can’t stop… PROGRESS

To me, new technologies mean… LESS HEADACHES

Customers love… WHEN FREIGHT IS SERVICED ON TIME

The best things that children teach you are…DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE

I never did, but some day I will… BE RICH

I am most proud of… MY CHILDREN

My favorite food is… CHINESE

My favorite Web Site… MLB.COM

One Person I would like to meet/why?... BASEBALL GREAT LOU GEHRIG TO TALK BASEBALL

I wish someone would invent something that would… GROW HAIR

I would like to change… HUNGER AND POVERTY

I never thought… I WOULD MEET A PERSON LIKE RANDY DUMAS

I have been with Custom for… 14 YEARS

My favorite part of my job is… THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH (ATMOSPHERE IS EVERYTHING)

My friends/family would say that I… AM A CLOWN

Do you have a Hobby? ... SPORTS AND TRAVEL

On the weekends I enjoy… SPENDING TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY

I have a habit of… WORKING LONG HOURS

I enjoy going to the baseball game because… BECAUSE I AM A BEER VENDOR AT WRIGLEY FIELD. IT IS GREAT!!!!!!!


July Birthdays


FILLING IN THE BLANKS with German Delgado

Jaroslaw Odziemiec 7/1 John Laciak 7/2 Dianna Ryan 7/2 Jose Palacios 7/6 Juan Salazar 7/6 Edith Ron 7/9 Lisa Ludwikowski 7/10 Phyllis Wardiani 7/12 Arturo Magana 7/13 Steve Holowka 7/14 Pete Dobrzynski 7/16 Jose Pinto 7/20 Irene Goetz 7/22 Al Mendoza 7/22 Julio Renteria 7/22 Robert Heinz 7/23 Michele Marek 7/27 Victor Gurrola 7/28 Felix Torres 7/29 Roderick Bulaon 7/30 Borislav Savic 7/30

I love The Custom Companies because… it has given me the opportunity to learn a different aspect of the logistics industry that I had never been a part of.

I have a feeling the future of transportation will… not change that much, a part from new technologies that will make processes more efficient. Unless someone in-vents a particle teleportation device, the demand for goods to be transported from point A to point B will always be needed. How many different ways can you possibly come up with to do this?

The hardest thing about working at night... is coming in on Sunday night, but it makes it all worth it starting the weekend every Friday morning.

The best thing about working at night... no L.A. traffic to deal with!! And the flexibility of being able to run errands in the mornings after work.

As you get older things look different… priorities change even though I still feel like an 18 year old kid (big kid toys are getting expensive!). I guess a big kid with bigger responsibilities.

The funniest thing that has happened at Custom is… when we saw an over-the-road driver in his underwear on the yard taking a shower with the hose. Disturbing sight!!

My father had good advice about… He says for every 2 dollars spent, save one. I think I understood wrong. I’m spending 2 for every dollar I make.

My favorite vacation spot is… I’m from Miami so how can you beat that but Cabo San Lucas gets pretty crazy too. (Let’s not forget Vegas!)

You wonder sometimes… If I had four hands, would I get paid twice as much!! LOL!!

When my family/friends ask what I do, I tell them… I am Mr. Logistics, baby! I’m responsible for getting your toilet paper to your friendly local store. If it wasn’t for me, what a mess life would be!! LOL!

You can’t stop… Progress, even in failure you will find progress.

To me, new technologies mean… faster and more efficient productivity.

Customers love… to feel helped. Even if you might not have an immediate answer for them, they appreciate that the effort is being put to satisfy their needs.

The best things that children teach you are… that kids have no shame, they have no problem letting you know how thing are. I guess there’s no mind more honest than a child’s.

I am most proud of… Serving my country for 6 years and being a veteran.

My favorite food is… I love all kinds of sea food. How about fettuccini alfredo with shrimp and scallops?

My favorite Web Site… The Apple store website, I love technology, it’s got me broke!!

The funniest/weird product that was transported by us was… when I saw 2 pallets consisting of more pallets. Why would someone shrink-wrap a bundle of empty pallets and ship them cross-country. It would probably cost more to ship empty pallets than to purchase them on the other side.

My favorite thing about Los Angeles is… the size of this city is amazing and the weather is the best I have ever experienced.

One Person I would like to meet/why? ...I have to admit that nowadays I do not find anybody quite interesting but if I could go back in time, I would definitely like to meet with Winston Churchill and pick his mind.

I would like to change… the way that humans go about world hunger. There is no need for anyone to go without a meal in this world.

I never thought… I would end up living in the west coast. Life is full of surprises you never know where you will end up on a moment’s notice.

I have been with Custom for… three ½ years.

My favorite part of my job is… my co-workers, some I have grown to call friends. I feel that even though we are a small team, we have good workers that care about each other and take pride on the work we do.

My friends/family would say that I… never take life too seriously, I will always find a time to laugh and make others laugh.

My favorite hobby is... I love the outdoors, that’s the main reason I love California. You got desert, ocean, forests, mountains and if that’s not enough then you can head south to Mexico or east to Las Vegas (oh yeah!)

On the weekends I enjoy… watching sporting events and grilling. I love to BBQ.

I have a habit of… worrying too much. I know that nothing can be done to change them but I still worry.


MARCH 2010 MVP Winners

Dock Associate

Paul Trippett

Office Associate

Marie Podolak

Driver Associate

Frank Folisi


The MVP Committee is please to announce the winners of the MVP (Most Valuable Player) awards for 2009

The MVP for 2009 with outstanding attendance and obtaining the highest score in our final test is:

Pete Grau - Driver MVP of the Year for 2009

Second Place Winner for the MVP of the Year contest is: Marie Huff – Office

Third Place Winner for the MVP of the Year contest is:

Steve Coffey- Dock

The Committee extends their congratulations to the above winners and all those team members who won

the monthly MVP awards during the year.


APRIL 2010 MVP Winners

Dock Associate

Paul Trippett

Office Associate

John Dembowski

Driver Associate

Earl Hahn


CSA 2010 / ISO UPDATE by Bruce Lenau

This is my 3rd in a series of articles intended to educate everyone regarding ISO, I also wanted to re-educate everyone about the CSA 2010 Safety Initiative; which will have wide ranging effects on the entire Transportation Industry and a direct relation to ISO. For those of you that missed my previous articles (or fell asleep while reading, be honest!) CSA 2010 is a real time performance based, carrier and driver safety evaluation system. It still relies on aspects of the previous Safer System in that compliance audits, roadside inspections, and accident history have strong bearing on a companies Safety Rating. However it now includes measurements of driver fitness, traffic citations issued to drivers, drug & alcohol testing, and load securement. These measurements are called BASICS (Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories) and any type of behavior or infraction that might contribute to increased risks of accidents is now being measuerd. Carriers, and now the drivers as well, will be issued scores based on the seriousness of the activity/behavior/defect that is observed. Something like speeding that creates a higher risk of a potential acci-dent will carry a higher score than a minor moving violation. Time also affects score values, something that occurred within the last 12 months will have a higher point value today than it will 2 or 3 years from now. Values will drop as time goes on giving drivers and carriers the opportunity to improve their scores by modifying their behavior (good). Carriers and drivers who score too high will be subject to enforcement actions that could range from a warning letter from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, to a change in safety rating to conditional or unsatisfactory (bad), to a revoketion of driving or operating privileges. That’s a simplistic explanation of the initiative itself, now how does that relate to ISO here at The Custom Companies? First it’s an incentive to Continual Improvement (sound familiar?) and a requirement of ISO is not only that registrants (us) comply with ISO standards, but that they also comply with the requirements of any other industry mandated regulatory body or agency. That includes a very long list in transportation, DOT, OSHA, TSA, EPA, NMFC, IRS, Customs and Border Protection, Labor Department, etc. and that’s just a short list, let me know what others you deal with in your jobs for future articles . We currently subscribe to a service from a company called Vigillo that takes the BASICS’s information directly from the FMCSA website and provides us with graphic reports and the ability to drill down and analyze data for trends and specific vendors who are non compliant. In this instance the vendors are our owner operators who are independent contractors for CDN Logistics. In the graphic on the side they show us that observable defects resulted in 34% of the fleet inspections we were subjected to and accounted for 59% of the points assessed against us. Observable defects are defects that an inspector cued on visually (i.e. bald tires, burnt out lights, missing mud flaps). These are Driver Controllable Root Causes

The side graphic identifies that nearly all driver controllable, observ-able defects fall in the vehicle maintenance category. The one below allows me to see what drivers had the greatest impact (point score) for each category and drill down to specific details on each driver, inspec-tion, and violation type.

Obviously these reports will serve as an ideal tool for completing the ISO process and remaining compliant with one of our regula-tory agencies requirements. The challenge for you readers is this. How do I utilize this information? Do I generate a CAR, a PAR, or a Continuous Improvement? Find the form you think should be used and complete it by identifying what you think the ROOT CAUSE of the problem is? Why does the problem exist? Finish it off by putting down your thoughts regarding actions we could possibly implement to correct the issue by addressing the Root Cause. Whoever comes up with the best CAR, PAR or CI will win a prize. Please send your answer to Bruce Lenau [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]�






Boating Safety by Eric Pocius It’s summertime again and many people will flock to the waterways with their boats. Here are some recreational boating safety tips that are practical whether you are a boat owner or you like to rent a boat now and then:

1. Always wear a life jacket and insist that your crew and guests do the same. In 2007 approximately 70 percent of all fatal boating accident victims drowned. Ninety percent of those who drowned were not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) or life jacket. Always have an adequate supply of personal flotation devices aboard. Make sure that children are wearing appropriate life jack-ets that fit correctly. Drowning was the reported cause of death for approximately 50 percent of the children who perished in boating accidents in 2007. Overall, fatal accident data suggests that more than 380 lives could have been saved if boaters had worn their life jackets. 2. Never drink alcohol while boating. In 2007, alcohol was either a direct or indirect contributing factor in 30 percent of all boating fatalities. Stay sharp on the water by leaving the alcohol on dry land. 3. Take a boating safety course. More than 70 percent of all reported boating fatalities in 2007 occurred on boats where the operator had not completed a boating safety course. You may even qualify for a reduced insur-ance rate if you complete a safety course. Contact your local Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadron chapter or visit www.uscg.mil for more information on courses in your area. 4. Stay in control by taking charge of your safety and that of your passengers. Boaters between the ages of 36 and 55 accounted for the highest rate of the total boating fatalities in 2007. Don’t forget that safety begins with you. 5. Understand and obey boating safety recommendations and navigational rules. Imagine the mayhem that would result if car drivers disregarded highway traffic laws. Know and understand boating safety procedures and rules of navigation before taking to the water, and practice them without fail. 6. Operate at a safe speed and always maintain a careful lookout. Overall, operator inattention, carelessness/reckless operation, operator inexperience and excess speed were significant contributing factors in virtually all reported accidents. Know your boat’s limitations as well as your own. Take note of visibility, traffic density and the proximity of navigation hazards like shoals, rocks or floating objects. Don’t invite a collision by going faster than is prudent. 7. Check the weather forecast. A calm day can quickly turn ugly on the water. Keep an eye out for changing weather conditions and stay on top of the forecast while boating. Promptly heed all weather and storm adviso-ries. 8. Have your vessel checked for safety – for free! The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offers Vessel Safety Checks at no cost. Coast Guard Auxiliary staffers will check your boat’s equipment and provide information about its use, safety procedures and applicable regulations. Unsafe boats are a threat to all recreational boaters. Make sure your vessel is as safe as possible. Carry flares at all times. Visit the U.S. Coast Guard web site at www.uscgboating.org/safety/safety.htm for more information. 9. Use a carbon monoxide detector. All internal combustion engines emit carbon monoxide (CO), an odorless, colorless, poisonous gas that can kill in minutes. Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and avoid extended use of the transom area when engines are operating. Carbon monoxide poisoning caused six boating deaths in 2007. 10. File a float plan. The U.S. Coast Guard recommends that you always tell a friend or family member where you plan to go and when you’ll be back. Make it a habit before leaving on any boat trip. The proper officials can be notified promptly if you don’t return when expected. Continued on page 11 ...

Mark your calendars…Free fishing days!!!

IILLINOIS FREE FISH-ING DAYS During the period of June 11, 12, 13, and 14, 2010, it shall be legal for any per-son to fish in waters wholly or in part within the juris-diction of the State, includ-ing the Illinois portion of Lake Michigan, without possessing a sport fishing license, inland trout stamp, or salmon stamp. CALIFORNIA FREE FISHING DAYS The California Department of Fish and Game offers two Free Fishing Days each year. On these days, you can fish without hav-ing to buy a sport fishing license. Free Fishing Days for 2010 are July 4th and September 6th. On Free Fishing Days, every angler must have the appropriate report card if they are fish-ing fish for abalone, steel-head, sturgeon, spiny lob-ster, or salmon in the Smith and Klamath-Trinity River Systems.


ASSOCIATES AT WORK

Alberto Acedo LAX Dock Associate

Jim Schnur CHI City Dispatcher

Victor Sanchez CHI Dock Associate


THE CUSTOM SAFETY CORNER

WOW!!! What a powerful message! WOW!!!

Anyone who ever thinks of drinking and driving again should watch this film first. The Commercial is very graphic and may not be suitable for everyone, but it's the best drug, drinking and driving message I have ever seen. Thank you for watching and please pass this on to as many people as possible. Sincerely, Perry Mandera, President CLICK ON BELOW OR COPY AND PASTE INTO YOUR BROWSER: http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Z2mf8DtWWd8

BOATING SAFETY continued from page 10…. A little bit of information about Personal Flotation Devices All Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) or life jackets aboard your vessel should be in good condition and have a Coast Guard Approval Number. Sizes must correspond to the needs of intended users. Wearable PFDs must be readily accessible so they can be put on quickly if an emergency arises. They should not be stowed in plastic bags, placed in locked or closed compartments or placed beneath other gear. PFDs designed to be thrown must also be readily available. Though not always required by law, prudence dictates that a life jacket should be worn at all times when the vessel is underway. It cannot save your life if you are not wearing it. Many states now require that all children don an ap-proved life jacket and new regulations have been introduced that require all children to wear one even if the boat is tied to a dock. Type I PFD, also called an off-shore life jacket, provides the most buoyancy. It is effective in all waters, especially open, rough or remote waters where rescue may be delayed. It is designed to turn most unconscious wearers in the water to a face-up position. The Type I comes in two sizes. The adult size provides at least 22 pounds of buoyancy; the child size, at least 11 pounds. It is the only type approved for most commercial uses, such as chartering.

Type II PFD, or Near-shore buoyant vest, is intended for calm, inland water or where there is a good chance of quick rescue. This type will turn some unconscious wearers to a face-up position in the water, but not as many as Type I under the same conditions. An adult-size device provides at least 15 1/2 pounds of buoyancy; a medium child size 11 pounds. Infant and small child sizes each provide at least seven pounds of buoyancy.

Type III PFD, or Flotation Aid, is also good for calm, inland water or where there is a good chance of quick rescue. It is designed so wearers can place themselves in a face-up position in the water, although they may have to tilt their heads back to avoid turning face-down. The Type III has the same minimum buoyancy as the Type II. It comes in many styles, colors and sizes and is generally the most comfortable type for continuous wear. Float coats, fishing vests and vests designed with features suitable for various water sport activities are examples of this type.

Type IV PFD, or Throwable Device, is designed to be thrown to a person in the water, and grasped and held by the user until rescued. It is not designed for use as a personal flotation device that can be worn with confidence. Type IV devices include buoyant cushions, ring buoys and horseshoe buoys. Ring buoys and horseshoe buoys should have a 60-foot length of 1/4 -inch polypropylene (which floats) attached for emergency use.

Type V PFD, or Special Use Device, is intended for specific activities and may be carried instead of another PFD only if used according to the approved condition designated on the label. Some Type V devices provide significant hypothermia protection. Varieties include deck suits, work vests, board sailing vests and hybrid PFDs. Type V PFDs have use restrictions marked on them that must be observed. If a Type V PFD is to be counted toward minimum carriage requirements, it must be worn. Type V Hybrid Inflatable PFD is the least bulky of all PFD types. It contains a small amount of inherent buoyancy and an inflatable chamber. Its performance is equal to Type I, II or III PFDs (as noted on the PFD label) when inflated. To be acceptable, hybrid PFDs must be worn when underway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Z2mf8DtWWd8�


SPORT’S CORNER by Jeff Guthman


Chicago is and always has been a great sports city. We support our teams to the fullest but we also demand a lot from our teams. So to see the Blackhawks brought back from the brink of destruction is extremely exciting and gratifying to watch.

The Blackhawks are a long standing National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that is one of the Original Six Teams. The Original Six is a well‐known term for the set of six teams that comprised the NHL for 25 seasons ranging between the 1942 NHL season to the 1967 NHL expansion. The six teams were: Montreal Canadians, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, and Chicago Blackhawks. All of the Original Six franchises still exist, with no major changes and no relocations to another city. In the last few years the Blackhawks have fallen on lean times missing the playoffs 7 out of the last 10 years. They have not drunk from Lord Stanley’s cup since 1961. The 1961 Stanley Cup Final was contested by the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago was making its first appearance since 1944 in the Final, and Detroit, their first appearance since 1956. The Blackhawks would win the best‐of‐seven series four games to two to win their third Stanley Cup, their first since 1938. Two of some of the most notable athletes in Chicago sports history, Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita made their first Stanley Cup appearances. Hull scored two in the first game including the winner, and Mikita scored the winner in game five.

To emphasize the accomplishments of the Blackhawks, on November 17, 1926, in front of 9,000 fans at the Chi‐cago Coliseum, the Chicago Blackhawks made their debut, defeating Toronto by a score of 4‐1. In the more than 80 years since, the Blackhawks have become a Chicago institution, winning three Stanley Cups and creating memories for countless fans. This is why in the early part of this decade it was sad to see all the empty stadium seats for the games of this once proud franchise. Well do I remember how loud the crowd was at the old sta‐dium. It’s a well honored tradition to cheer so loud that you could not hear the last line of the national anthem. This tradition originated during a 1985 Campbell Conference playoff game between the Blackhawks and the Edmonton Oilers at Chicago Stadium. Then came the long years of dreadful teams on the ice. This resulted in an owner who refused to put all of their games on TV, and a fan base which had all but given up.

But now, in their newer home in the United Center, it’s wonderful to see the fans cheering again for their hockey team. As of this writing, the Blackhawks are in the second round of the play‐offs and they look strong. Of course the key to a winning play‐off run is the play between the pipes. When you look at the Blackhawks goalie, Antti Niemi, you see a much more relaxed goalie, who just got his first taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in a quarter final‐round victory against Nashville, and posted two shutouts in the process. He also shook off a fluky goal on a bouncing puck in Game one that led to a loss. Niemi's ability to rebound from that goal wasn't a surprise to his teammates, who saw him do the same thing all season while splitting time with veteran Cristobal Huet and go‐ing 26‐7‐4 with a 2.25 goals‐against average. They were 52‐22‐8 in the regular season thanks in large part to a Chicago offense that is young, fast, and incredibly talented. The kids in the Windy City are living up to their po‐tential, with big seasons from Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane highlighting a year that could easily have been centered around big contracts. Patrick Sharp delivered another solid season to solidify his star ability as well as five other Hawks, including the expensive Marian Hossa and the improving Troy Brouwer. The Hawks were only one point out of first place in the Western Conference, and they have tangled with and defeated some of the best teams in the league. Whether it was the 2‐1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Igloo, or the team’s 1‐0 victory over Vancouver at GM Place, the Blackhawks certainly know how to win the toughest contests. With such a talented team, hopes for a Stanley Cup in Chicago are running high.

The Stanley Cup (French: La Coupe Stanley) is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously (chiefly by sportswriters) as Lord Stanley's Mug or Lord Stanley's Cup. The Stanley Cup is surrounded by numerous leg-ends and traditions, the oldest of which is the celebratory drink-ing of champagne out of the cup by the winning team. Unlike the trophies awarded by the other three major professional sports leagues of North America, a new Stanley Cup is not made each year; Cup winners keep it until a new champion is crowned. It is unusual among trophies, in that it has the name of the winning players, coaches, management, and club staff engraved on its chalice. Origi-nally called the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, the trophy was donated in 1892 by then Governor General of Can-ada Lord Stanley of Preston, as an award for Canada's top-ranking amateur ice hockey club. In 1915, the two profes-sional ice hockey organizations, the National Hockey Associa-tion (NHA) and the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA), reached a gentlemen's agreement in which their respec-tive champions would face each other for the Stanley Cup. After a series of league mergers and folds, the Cup became the de facto championship trophy of the NHL in 1926. The Cup later became the de jure NHL cham-pionship prize in 1947.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS Stanley Cup Champions: (3) 1934, 1938, 1961 Stanley Cup Finals: (10) 1931, 1934, 1938, 1944, 1961-‘62, 1965, 1971, 1973, 1992 Conference Finals (since 68): (14) 1968, 1970-‘74, 1982-‘83, 1985, 1989-‘90, 1992, 1995, 2009 Division Champions: (15) 1967, 1970-‘73, 1976, 1978-‘80, 1983, 1986, 1990-‘91, 1993, 2010 Playoff Appearances: (55) 1927, 1930-‘32, 1934-‘36, 1938, 1940-‘42, 1944, 1946, 1953, 1959-‘68, 1970-‘97, 2002, 2009-‘10

LA KINGS Stanley Cup Champions: None Stanley Cup Finals: (1) 1993 Conference Finals: (2) 1969, 1993 Division Champions: (1) 1991 Playoff Appearances: (23) 1968-‘69, 1974-‘82, 1985, 1987-‘93, 1998, 2000-‘02

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The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street North- lake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com

Wojciech Glowacki CHI City Driver

ASSOCIATES AT WORK

Russ Krezel CHI TL Dispatcher


06 June 2010, A Historical Perspective, Lest We Must Do It Again by George Smith

One year ago, the date of the 6th of June, 1944 was described in these very pages as the Most Important Day of the Twentieth Century. For 2010, it is the magnitude of the undertaking in “Operation Overlord” (to be later known as “D-Day”) which will be examined. Even in the 21st Century, with our current military mobilizations to combat mindless terrorism throughout the world through the usage of our technological advances in the air, on the sea and on the ground the organization and dedication of America to victory in World War II Europe is a shining example of our selflessness and generosity to the peoples of that continent.

No matter the flag of country’s designation on the vast majority of the 6,000 fighter and bomber aircraft and 6,000 naval vessels from battleships to 32 foot landing craft utilized in the initial landings at Sword, Juno, Omaha beaches in Normandy, the fabrication of the items were courtesy of our own, home grown, Rosy the Riveter.

The risks of failure in this undertaking have often been ignored or glossed over by subsequent revisionist his-torians in our modern age. The allies took the offensive in the European landings of World War II with only nine combat divisions, none of which that were either armored (tanks) or motorized. The Fascist enemy fac-ing the Allies was comprised of a full fifty-five divisions in France, nine of them armored and many more mechanized. Their commander, General Erwin Rommel , assumed the Allies would need to seize a major port in their initial assault, and accordingly, fortified and strengthened an “Atlantic Wall” around all major French ports, especially Calais with was viewed to be in the most direct line of approach via London-Dover-Calais-Belgium-Cologne-Berlin. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Allied Supreme Commander, being aware of his opponents rational thought processes, achieved the necessary surprise to make success possible by at-tacking straight south rather than east, and by going ashore in Normandy, where there were absolutely no significant ports. Making the vastly outnumbered victory possible was an elaborate and highly successful deception plan involving General George S. Patton and a phantom army, air-force, and navy in “Operation Fortitude”, which kept virtually all of the German attention focused on Calais.

Operation Overlord actually initially envisioned a beginning on the Fifth of June, but a huge storm on that date completely foreclosed the possibility of any amphibious operations or effective air support. Gambling on a solitary “weather expert” (there was no Doppler radar), who was alone in his prediction that the storm would soon ease off and conditions would be minimally acceptable for success, Eisenhower rolled the dice.

By nightfall of the Sixth of June, against overwhelming odds and due completely to the individual sacrifices of the Allied soldiers involved, the forces of freedom were ashore on a beachhead that stretched a full fifty-five miles in length. The cost, demonstrating the surprise of the operation, was 4,900 Allied casualties, fully half of them at Omaha beach. Fascist losses have never been documented or calculated, but, in the opinion of Military scholars, were significantly higher. The Atlantic Wall of Adolph Hitler had not delayed the Allied suc-cessful landings for even one day. It is with this increased knowledge we remember those brave souls on June 6, whose sacrifice allowed the freedom we, and our European neighbors, enjoy today.

Manny Contreras LAX Office Associate

“What’s Up Dock?” by Matt Foley

Senior Team Leader Eric Pocius Presents Positives of Dock Management System (DMS)

On April 22 and 23, 2010, Eric Pocius, Senior Team Leader of Dock Operations, Blake Sterling, Team Leader of Information Technology, and Robert Caballero, Senior Team Leader of Customer Service attended the annual Car-rier Logistics Inc. (CLI) User Group Conference in White Plains, New York. This year, the program featured a pres-entation by Eric Pocius about “The Benefits of a Dock Management System” with CLI senior programmer Shawn Alleyne.

Eric and Shawn shared how the Dock Management System (DMS) drives efficiencies, reducing labor cost while im-proving real time information on not only shipments but also workers. Robert expounds, “Eric was very positive and informative and showed a high level of confidence during his presenta-tion. When I looked around the room at the other attendees, it was clear that they were interested and engaged, which had a lot to do with the expertise Eric displayed.” The session, which was very well-attended, also focused on how Custom uses the system to increase productivity and highlighted the robust reporting capabilities of the system. The presentation was very highly-rated and received rave reviews from participants.

Dozens of carriers in the U.S. and Canada attended the conference and listened to the experts (including Eric) discuss not only various CLI modules but the future of trucking technology as a whole. Blake continues, “Eric’s presentation was excellent and his preparation was evident. His knowledge of the DMS system is unparalleled and having worked with him behind the scenes for several years it is clear that Eric has been a driving force in dramatically refining and improving the DMS system, not only for Custom but for all users.” Congratulations to Eric on his fine presentation and to Blake and Robert for the increased knowledge and understanding they gained from this positive experi-ence.



Good Eatin’ Restaurant Review by John Dembowski

If you like BBQ then you will love Smokin’ Woody’s. As their name suggests, they smoke their meats. They serve all the usual items: pork, beef, chicken, ribs and hot links. This is not a fancy place and it doesn’t need to be as the food takes center stage. The beef here is not your typical BBQ brisket, thin strips of sirloin. Since I had the sirloin here, I do not eat BBQ beef anywhere else. The hot links are the best I’ve ever had. They have a good mouth-feel to them leading me to believe there is not much filler in them. They are not terribly spicy but do provide a good zing. The pulled pork is delicious as well. It is hard to single any one item out as I have not eaten anything here I did not like. My favorite here is the combo meat plate. It consists of sliced beef sirloin, sliced pork loin and pulled pork for $14.95. Included are the typical sides – cole slaw, baked beans and choice of potato. You will most likely be tak-ing some home as the portions are a good size. Make sure to save some room for the cornbread with melted butter as it compliments the BBQ nicely! I would also recommend the fried green beans. They are lightly breaded, similar to tempura vegetables, and they remind me of breaded zucchini. My only complaint is not enough sauce on the meat and you have to pay extra for sauce on the side. I enjoyed the food so much here that I went back for more the very next day.

Bon appétit!

June Holidays 2010

DON’T LET THE ECNONOMY MESS US THIS SUMMER…. STAYCATION IS THE IN THING! Staycation is "stay" and "vacation" and refers to a vacation that takes place either at or near home. The phrase has gained popularity over the last couple of years as finances have become tight for many people. *Rent a movie to watch with your friends *Get together with friends and have a picnic *Go to a school sports game *Have a basketball tournament with friends at a local park or gym *Visit the public library *Go to the park, museum, zoo or lakefront. *Go swimming at a local pool *Go to the movies *Go bowling *Go rollerblading *Ride your bike and try to find new trails *Go to open gym hours at your local community center or high *Go ice skating school *Go to a school event *Take a class at a community center *Volunteer! *Read a book or a magazine *Paint a picture *Have a movie marathon night *Make a scrapbook with your friends *Have a potluck dinner with your friends

Remember to keep a camera handy! Go out and most important HAVE FUN!!!

5 - World Environment Day

14 - Flag Day

19 - Juneteenth (Emancipation Day)

20 - Father’s Day

21 - 1st Day of Summer June Weeks: 6/10 – 6/13 Superman Week 6/12 – 6/12 Headache Awareness Week 6/14 – 6/19 Flag Week 6/14 – 6/20 Men’s Health Week Month: Adopt A Shelter Cat Month Aphasia Awareness Month Dairy Month Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Month Gay & Lesbian Pride Month Iced Tea Month International Men’s Month

Rose Month Smile Month Zoo & Aquarium Month

Food **** Service ****

Ambiance *** Value ****

Cleanliness **** Overall ****

Reviews are based on a five-star scale with 5 stars being the best.

Smokin’ Woody’s 4160 N. Lincoln Ave.

Chicago, IL 60618 (773) 880-1100 phone

(773) 880-1107 fax originalsmokinwoodys.com

Located on Lincoln and Berteau (about 2 blocks north of Irving Park Road.)

EAT, DRINK and REVIEW Do you like dining out? Have you ever seen the program “CHECK PLEASE” on PBS? If so, the Newsletter Committee wants to hear all about your favorite eating establishment. We are starting a new feature where you, the associate, sends us a review of a restaurant you would highly recommend to others. (See our first submission below) Briefly explain why you think the place you selected is so good and rate it accordingly. Please try to provide a menu, picture or website. We cannot guarantee that all entries will be published but if your review is used, you will receive a gift certificate for your efforts. If you are interested in participating, the deadline for the next review is July 9, 2010. Do not hesitate to con‐tact the newsletter or a committee member with any questions, suggestions or ideas. We look forward to hearing from you!

All winning reviews are chosen at the discretion of the Committee Members.



Lime‐ and Chili‐ Rubbed Chicken Breasts 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 lb) 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne) 2 teaspoons packed brown sugar 2 teaspoons olive or canola oil 2 teaspoons grated lime peel 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 2 teaspoons chili powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1. Heat gas or charcoal grill. In small bowl, mix chili powder, brown sugar, lime peel, salt, garlic powder and ground red pepper. Rub both sides of chicken with oil, then with spice mixture. 2. Place chicken on grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 10 to 15 minutes, turning once or twice, until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F).

July Holidays 2010

Grilled Rib Eye Steaks Ingredients 2 1/2 pounds beef rib eye steaks 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup sliced green onions 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1/2 cup soy sauce Directions 1.In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the soy sauce, onions, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and pepper. Add the steaks. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. 2.Drain and discard marinade. Grill steaks, uncovered, over medium-hot heat for 8-10 minutes or until the meat reaches desired doneness (for medium-rare, a meat thermometer should read 145 degrees F; medium, 160 degrees F; well-done, 170 degrees F).

BBQ NY Strip

Ingredients 4 (1/2 pound) New York strip steaks 1/4 cup minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup steak seasoning 1/2 teaspoon dried basil

Directions 1.In a bowl, mix the olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, steak seasoning, red wine vinegar, basil, and Italian seasoning. Pour into a large resealable plastic bag. Pierce steaks on all sides with a fork, and place in the bag. Gently shake to coat. Seal bag and marinate steaks a minimum of 2 hours in the refrigerator. 2.Preheat grill for high heat. 3.Lightly oil the grill grate. Discard marinade. Place steaks on the grill, and cook 7 minutes on each side, or to desired doneness.

Fathers Day Shirt and Tie

Ingredients 3 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 (10 ounce) package regular marshmallows 6 cups KELLOGG'S® RICE KRISPIES® cereal Canned frosting Directions 1.In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Re-move from heat. 2.Add KELLOGG'S® RICE KRISPIES® cereal. Stir until well coated. 3.Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Using canned frosting pipe tie and shirt collar on top. To serve cut into 2-inch squares. Best if served the same day.

TASTY BBQ CORN ON THE COB Directions 1.Preheat grill for medium-high heat. 2.In a medium bowl, mix together the chili powder, oregano, onion powder, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Blend in the softened butter. Apply this mixture to each ear of corn, and place each ear onto a piece of aluminum foil big enough to wrap the corn. Wrap like a burrito, and twist the ends to close. 3.Place wrapped corn on the preheated grill, and cook 20 to 30 minutes, until tender when poked with a fork. Turn corn occasionally during cooking.

Ingredients 1 teaspoon chili powder 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano 1 pinch onion powder cayenne pepper to taste garlic powder to taste salt and pepper to taste 1/2 cup butter, softened 6 ears corn, husked and cleaned

4 - Independ-ence Day

19 - Hug your kids Day

25 - Parents Day July Weeks: 7/1 – 7/7 Freedom Week 7/15 – 7/21 Rabbit Week 7/16 – 7/19 National Ventriloquism Week July also known as: Baked Beans Month Blueberry Month Family Reunion Month Fireworks Safety Month Grilling Month Hemochromatosis Screening Awareness Month Hot Dog Month Ice Cream Month Recreation & Parks Month Tour de France Month Women’s Motorcycle Month

Matt Foley Carol Guarino Jeff Guthman

Thomas Kennedy Bruce Lenau

Lisa Ludwikowski Claudia Molina

Tom Mroz Eric Pocius

George Smith

317 W. Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164

Phone: 708-338-8888 Fax: 708-338-9550 E-mail: [email protected]

The Custom Companies, Inc.

The Full Service Transportation Company

www.customco.com

Newsletter Committee Members

CUSTOMER SERVICE, SUPPORT AND CARE At The Custom Companies, our main objective is to deliver your goods on time and in perfect condition. We understand the importance of a great customer/vendor relationship. Our customer service center is just a phone call away to provide a rate quote, track a shipment, schedule a pickup or access accurate documentation. In today’s fast paced environment, we work to provide transportation solutions that fit every economic situation. Our “Customer First” program ensures that your shipments will be deliv-ered on time, and with the highest degree of care. In order to maintain these standards, we measure performance levels on every shipment. As a result, our internal operational systems are constantly improving to provide better, more accurate service, allowing our transportation specialists to meet your growing needs.

COUPONS AND

MORE

We are Open 7 Days a Week

11am ‘til Midnight

6 W. North Ave., Unit 200 North-

lake, Il. (On The Corner of North Avenue & Wolf Road)

Call the Wing Experts (708)531-1515

Go WingStop boneless (boneless strips and boneless wings). This 100% all-boneless white meat breaded,

sauced and tossed in your favorite wing flavor (Atomic, Cajun, Original Hot, Mild, Teriyaki, Hickory Smoked BBQ, Lemon

Pepper, Garlic Parmesan, or Hawaiian). Less mess to eat and the perfect size for dipping. Available in family packs, party

platters or combo meals.

**For a Discount Mention The Custom Companies, Inc.**

Perry Mandera John Dembowski

Jeff Howard

Craig Lis Tim Sienko

Newsletter Contributors

FATHER’S DAY by Lisa Ludwikowski

Documents

Transcript of FATHER’S DAY by Lisa Ludwikowski