IN THIS ISSUE
THE VIEW FROM HERE
SCHOLARSHIP
WORD? WORD. WORD!
FIND MCCONNELL TRANSPORT
CHEERS TO YOU!
GREENER, RIGHT HERE
LIGHTER SIDE OF THE ROAD
Visit WWW.MCCONNELLTRANSPORT.COM and sign up to have the
newsletter sent directly to you. It’s a great way to keep up with the
company’s progress and service.
Lisa White, Building
Services. Where’s your view from these
At the McConnell Transport
Facilities; everywhere there is a need.
days?
How long have you been with McConnell
Transport? Soon to be eleven years.
What do you like about working at McConnell
Transport? I love my job, that may
sound crazy but I do, I love what I do.
I get to see different things and
different people every day. My
EQUIPMENT
opinion is that I have the best job in
THE SUPPORTING GROUP
the building!
Tell us about yourself. I grew up in this
GROUP INSURANCE NOTE
community and I’m happy to be here
DID YOU SEE THAT SIGN?
at home. My pride is my family; two
grown children and two
CUSTOMER SERVICE
grandchildren. My support at home
FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK
gives me strength to help others as I
go about my duties.
Phone: 506-325-2211
What did you do before you came here? I
Email:
[email protected]
worked everywhere from the farm I
grew up on to a greenhouse
supervisor and now this building, and the people in it, are my responsibility. What do you want to say about the
time Kyle was in our Newsletter? I’m always looking over my shoulder because of the possibility of some of my coworkers startling me – I really get into my tasks and don’t always hear what’s happening around me. Kyle,
in particular, takes advantage of this concentration and loves to tease me once and awhile.
CELEBRATE!
It’s coming……
We are excited to announce that McConnell Transport is offering an opportunity for the children of
our Employees to obtain an Annual Scholarship.
All children of a Parent or Guardian employed with McConnell Transport are eligible to apply.
The management team will review all applications and announce the successful recipients on or
before June 1st. In order to receive the scholarship, the student must be in good standing and
enrolled in the second term of the post-secondary institution when the scholarship is administered
in the Fall.
Deadline to apply is May 15, 2015.
Please email [email protected] for application forms.
Anticipate (an-tic-i-pate) verb. Synonyms: expect, await, hope (for), watch (for).
1. To think of (something that will or might happen in the future)
2. To expect or look ahead to (something) with pleasure – to look forward to (something)
3. To do something before someone else
Origin: Latin. First Known Use: 1532.
~merriam-webster.com
McConnell Transport is accessible from Google Maps. Type in the company name and it will bring up the
maps and street view – come visit us.
Remember to relax - There are always going to be moments when you feel
overwhelmed, frustrated, or tense. During these times, it’s helpful to clear your head
with just a few minutes of deep breathing. Slowly take a deep breath and exhale—and
do this several times. You should feel calmer after a few minutes. In addition to breathing exercises, you can
also take a quick walk outside to clear your head. Think of short walks as moments of recovery time, when you
can let go of stress and rebuild focus. While physical activities can help you relax, so can the mental activity of
listening to music. A playlist of favorite songs can help you focus, reduce stress, and improve happiness.
Accelerate smoothly. The more quickly you accelerate the more fuel you use. Modern
truck engines are designed to let the torque move the load. Keep the engine revolutions
down.
Maintain a steady speed. Drivers who constantly speed up and slow down burn more
fuel. Try to drive at a steady speed. It doesn’t make much sense to speed up close to the
vehicle in front of you, and then have to brake because you’re getting too close. Using
cruise control on the highway means your right foot doesn’t have to be continually
applying and reducing pressure on the accelerator. After a long drive, your right leg will
thank you.
Avoid high speeds. Slowing down to the speed limit will improve your fuel efficiency
and reduce wear and tear on your engine, driveline and tires. Generally, for every
10 km/h above 90 km/h, you burn about 10 percent more fuel.
Anticipate traffic. Look ahead down the road. Anticipate changing conditions, traffic
lights and road congestion and adjust your driving style to suit. Consider coasting your
vehicle (always in gear) to decelerate and save the brakes. Remember, you are one of the
biggest vehicles on the road and a professional driver. Don’t let congestion and
unforeseen delays get you down. A positive attitude is what separates a professional
driver from other drivers.
Plan your trip. Remember that the most efficient route may not be the shortest route.
Plan for rush hour delays, bad weather and road construction, etc. Listen to the radio to
find out about local construction, accidents and other trouble spots. Route planning
software can help find the most efficient route to your destination – McConnell
Transport’s drivers have GPS systems and must follow the specified route.
Be A Lean Driver:
Accelerate smoothly
Maintain a steady speed
Avoid high speeds
Anticipate traffic
Plan your trip
SmartWay in Canada ~ SmartWay.NRCan.gc.ca
“Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.”
~Bruce Lee
Do something today that your future self will thank you for.
1.
1.
Knock, Knock
Who's there?
•Stan
•Stan who?
•Stan back, I think I'm going to sneeze.
Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from
now and make a brand new ending.
~Carl Bard
During the 2014 Annual Holiday Season, a different event each week took place in the Training Room (on the
first level). This Every Tuesday event kicked off with
a coffee/muffin break and ended on December 30th
with a noon hour, full course meal including
dessert! There were different events, games and
donations for local food bank but there was always
food or snacks for staff that were on-site the day of
the event. Chris, our Maintenance Manager, used
the food bank donations to create the means of all
food movements. The month long activities were a
great hit.
McConnell Transport has recently commenced utilization of additional equipment with
technology to improve a trailer’s fuel efficiency by over 5% without hindering cargo
capacity, loading or unloading. McConnell Transport is very
excited to be able to continue with the fuel efficiency
improvements we have set as a continuous goal.
The technology to streamline the airflow around a semitrailer will reduce the low pressure suction drag that occurs
at the back of the trailer which acts as a vacuum pulling the
trailer backward and reducing its fuel efficiency.
This technology saves an average of 8 gallons of diesel fuel
for every 1,000 miles a truck drives and every gallon of fuel
not burned reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emitted
into the air, keeping our air cleaner and reducing our
dependence on fossil fuels.
As we all know, the lifestyle of the professional driver is not an easy one, for the driver or the
family.
Drivers are delivering the goods to the consumers; and that takes time. Time on the road,
time away, that can compound even the smallest situation when drivers are not physically
able to be there face-to-face to help work out any problems or emergencies at home.
Trucking is a career that has an impact on the family that sometimes cannot be understood by
conventional families. It’s easy to blame the company or the job or the entire trucking
industry when things fall apart but it is the individual family that needs to work around the
time and space that they have to work with. The family unit has to learn to flex and carry out
the tasks with imagination and planning. The truckers of years gone by did not have the
technology tools that the professional driver has now.
A listening ear and an investment of time can do wonders in providing the positive
encouragement and emotional support that the driver needs and wants. And the reverse as
well – the driver needs to support and encourage the family at home. Perhaps a different
perspective can make all the difference. What driver wouldn't want a sounding board who
listens without criticism? And what family wouldn’t want that sounding board when the driver
can listen?
Every driver has an entirely different group of people who they "come home to" after having
been out on the road for a while. The support group may consist of his or her spouse or the
entire family back home is the support group. Yes, even the driver's children can be valuable
team members. Young drivers who have not yet married may think of their parents as their
team members.
No matter who is on your home support team, that's who we're talking about. What a lot of
pressure for the family support group! To be a positive sounding board, to work through
issues without that driver physically at home, to know the driver counts on them to be that
support. Hats off to the Support Group at home!
Want to look at what’s covered? Your group insurance contact for McConnell Transport Ltd. employees is
MW @ extension 202. Ensure you set up your login for personal information about the Plan; what’s coverage,
where you can find assistance or where to call for the Work-Life Employee Assistance Program.
If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.
-Milton Berle
"Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths.
When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi
HURRY UP AND WAIT.