 All seasons have their own challenges, even summer. The heatwave days and vacationers on the roads often get overlooked during the June-August timeframe. To help you beat the heat and stay safe on the road, we’ve put together some helpful tips and tricks of which you should be aware.
Hydration is Key Staying hydrated during the summer is important. Always keep a few extra bottles of water with you in your cab or a cooler so you never have to worry about running out. If you want to track how much water you’re drinking a day and make sure you’re getting enough, we recommend downloading the My Water Balance - Intake Drink app. Watch for Weather Unexpected weather, such as severe thunderstorms and heavy rain, is very common during the summer months. Check the weather radar before you leave for your trip and listen to weather forecasts so you can prepare for what’s to come and practice safe driving. Take Breaks While it is always important to take breaks during your drive to keep you alert, it is especially important during the summer months. It is easy to get dehydrated and sluggish. Next time you are at a rest stop, take some time to go inside, walk around in the air conditioning, and get yourself a cold drink. Check Your Emergency Kit Always be prepared for a scenario where your truck breaks down and you’re stuck on the side of the road. Will you be ready? If you’re unsure of what to have in your emergency kit, click here. Before leaving, check the condition of your brakes, tires and vehicle engine fluid levels to help avoid breaking down and having to use your emergency kit. Construction Zones With asphalt plants operating during the summer, you might notice some more construction zones. Check each state’s Department Of Transportation website and plan your trip accordingly so you aren’t driving through these areas during rush hour.
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 Did you know June is National Safety month? Because truck driving is regarded as a hazardous job, hiring safe professionals at Dillon Logistics is one of our top priorities. Becoming a sound driver requires skills and concentration and always being prepared for the unexpected while on the road. One great example of a dependable driver is Dillon Logistic’s David Stone, who is celebrating his 25th Anniversary with our team as a safe driver. He shared some helpful advice for staying safe while on the road. David believes distracted driving is a huge problem. “Most experienced drivers are safe drivers, until distracted,” he says. It can happen in a split second and is the cause behind many truck accidents. A ringing phone is a prime example of how attention can be diverted away from the road. As a result, all drivers must be disciplined behind the wheel or else risk accidents and close calls. While David has had his own share of close calls over the years, his dedication to safe driving has helped him maintain a clean driving record.  David’s Tip #1 — Always be aware of your surroundings, especially at highway speeds. Drivers must always watch out for oncoming traffic, following traffic, intersection traffic and so on.
David’s Tip #2 -- Have your trip planned ahead of time. Many unexpected events can occur on the road, but having a plan makes you prepared. Check weather forecasts, various driving routes and driving hours to make your trip as safe as possible. David’s Tip #3 — Slow down for turns and curves. Be extra careful on winding roads or at an off-ramp. Reduce speed accordingly to adjust for lane changes and other vehicles and always be aware of the speed limit. David’s Tip #4 — Enter your truck with a good mindset. Emotional distractions at home or work can translate to distractions on the road. A mental distraction is just as dangerous as a physical one. Learning how to become a safe driver comes with practice and time on the road. But if you remember these tips before you get behind the wheel, you’ll put yourself en route to becoming a great driver like David. And let’s not think about being safe just for National Safety Month, but for the entire year. Stay safe out there, drivers!  Hey Dillon team. We know that times are tough and more trying than normal, but know that our team and our nation appreciations your hard, serious work behind the wheel. And while the economy shutdown has caused numerous businesses to close their doors, there are also many who are going out of their way to show their appreciation for the trucking industry. Read more to see how you can benefit!
FOOD Numerous restaurants are finding unique ways to help out the trucking industry. Check out the discounts and helpful services that some of your favorites are offering.
ELECTRONICS & RADIO There’s nothing better than listening to your favorite radio show or jamming out to a great song to pass the time on the road. It’s also nice to have good internet access at truck stops. Check out a couple some discount options below.
HOTELS & STAY Finding a nice, clean spot to stay during long hauls is a game changer. These common rest stops are going out of their way to make sure you can recharge properly.
FACEBOOK HELP GROUPS People are rallying around truckers to make sure they get what they need to be successful on the road. These Facebook groups provide updates and, through the help of volunteers, bring food to truckers. Click the links below to join them.
As Americans prepare to ride out home quarantines, our drivers are out on the front lines helping keep shelves stocked and meet everyday consumer needs. The new normal may look much different in your everyday life, but here at Dillon Logistics, no deadline - even during a pandemic - is is too tough for our crew of serious drivers. What we’re hauling has a direct impact on our everyday lives. From the fertilizer that nourishes the vegetables in the produce isles, to the box of cereal you just picked up and the asphalt that paves the roads connecting you to the grocery stores, our drivers are helping deliver the essential products we need.  There are sure to be a ton of unexpected and trying times in the coming weeks as America navigates what is happening, but when we come out on the other side and the year 2020 is noted in history books, we’ll be proud to say Dillon Logistics drivers were standing beside the the thousands of fleets on the fight to move America forward.
 When most people think of distracted driving, they picture texting behind the wheel. While cell phone use is one of the most common driver diversions, there are a host of other actions people take that put them and others in danger on the road.
According to EndDD.org, a distracted driving organization, there are three types of distracted driving: manual (moving hands away from the wheel), visual (taking eyes off the road), and cognitive (mind wandering away from the task of driving). Texting involves all three, and according to FMCSA, drivers who text are 23% more likely to cause an accident. But it’s not just texting that poses a risk. Other electronic devices, like tablets, laptops and GPS systems can be a distraction. Yet, technology isn’t the only culprit. Eating and drinking, reaching for another object in your truck, smoking and looking at surroundings can all cause drivers to release their attention from the road. So what precautions can you take to minimize distractions while you are behind the wheel? An article from Work Truck Online offers some good tips.
Drivers, always taking your hauling seriously, and hauling seriously means upholding safety behind the wheel. Minimizing distractions could mean your life and the lives of others on the road around you.  By now, most everyone in the transportation industry has heard of the FMCSA Clearinghouse, but some are still unsure of exactly what it is. If you haven’t heard of the FMCSA Clearinghouse before and are looking for new opportunities with the Dillon Logistics team, make sure to keep reading in order for your application and onboarding process to be smooth and seamless.
In a layman’s terms, the Clearinghouse is used to promote highway safety by making sure that drivers who have a drug or alcohol offense are evaluated and/or treated before they operate a CMV on public road. It is every trucking company’s responsibility to check the Clearinghouse for current and prospective employees to identify drivers who are prohibited from operating a CMV based on U.S. Department of Transportation drug and alcohol program violations, and ensure that such drivers receive the required evaluation and treatment before operating a CMV on public roads. Here is how our future Dillon drivers can prepare. Complete the two step FMCSA Clearinghouse registration process before you apply for a driving job(www.clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov). Next, complete our application (https://intelliapp.driverapponline.com/c/dillonlogistics). Once the application is completed and you’ve spoken with our recruiters, you must log back into the Clearinghouse portal to release our query request. This not only helps expedite your application process but also does not delay us getting you in the truck. Tenstreet, an integrated driver recruiting software and one of our partners, acts as our third-party administrator (TPA) to help us expedite this process as well. If you have more questions, leave a comment below with your phone number and we’ll have a Dillon Logistics recruiter reach out to answer your questions with further information.  Human trafficking is not a topic to take lightly, but it is a topic that we should engage in and fight against. This year, we are proud to be partnering with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), an organization that educates truck drivers on how to identify and report instances of trafficking, to help defeat the stifling amount of traffickers that exploit our nations highways.
According to TAT, human trafficking can be found in all 50 states, “and victims are often reported in locations frequented by truckers.” Because we have a thumbprint in these areas, we at Dillon Logistics feel it is part of our duty to help take a stand against these heinous crimes. “Truckers are one of the most motivated and well-organized industry groups on this issue,” the TAT website states. “[We are] raising up a mobile army of transportation professionals to assist law enforcement in the recognition and reporting of human trafficking, in order to aid in the recovery of victims and the arrest of their perpetrators.” Since its launch in 2009, the organization’s impact has been monumental: 2,496 people have contacted the trafficking hotline, 663 cases have been generated, 1,230 victims have been identified, and 845,115 people have registered as TAT trained. The numbers continue to grow. We look forward to becoming a corporate sponsor this year and have begun pushing out the TAT training companywide to become certified partners. At Dillon Logistics, serious hauling is about more than what we do behind the wheel. It involves serious commitment to our industry and those involved in it.  In an industry where safety is key all year round, there’s no better time than now to put your best safety methods into practice. Slick roads, harsh storms and extra traffic are inevitable during the holiday season and can challenge any driver’s capabilities. While we are proud to have some of the best professionals out there, it never hurts to freshen up on some critical safety practices to help face the frigid months.
“Knowledge and implementation of proper, preventative safety skills for driving in poor conditions, can truly separate the professional drivers from the rest of the pack” an article from Smart-Trucking said. Before leaving the terminal, check your truck. Tanks and trailers should be in pristine condition to handle the weather. Inspect the following to verify everything is up to par:
Once you get on the road, the Smart-Trucking article said to use tail lights as a gauge for following distance. When visibility is low and you can see the tail lights of the car in front of you, you are driving too close. Because traction on icy roads is poor, staying at a safe distance from other vehicles and maintaining cautious speeds gives you a time to react if things go awry. Another tip from Smart-Trucking is to always carry a bag of kitty litter. It’s an environmentally friendly and effective method for gaining traction if you park on a patch of ice and get stuck. Also, recognize that with frozen conditions comes the infamous black ice. Deceptively similar to water, black ice is transparent and easy to miss. According to an article by Ryder Fleet Products, the best way to pinpoint black ice is to look at your truck and surrounding terrain. If ice begins to build on the outside mirror arms, the antenna, or top corners of the wind-shield, it’s possible there is black ice on the road. If water spray from vehicles tires in front of you suddenly stops, it could mean there are ice patches on the road.  “Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I., which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was ‘dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as Armistice Day.’ As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans,” said an article from www.military.com
Later, a bill was signed that created the annual observance of Veteran’s Day. With over 100 veterans as part of our team, this holiday rings close to home for us at Dillon Logistics. As a company serious about hauling, we know that our veterans are not afraid to put their all in behind the wheel. Having made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, showing true patriotism and a willingness to serve, these men deserve the ultimate honor. We extend our deepest gratitude and thanks. To celebrate the bravery of men and women around the world, we are gathering a donation for Wreaths Across America. This organization dedicates their time to honoring those who have fallen with beautiful wreaths. Their mission is to Remember our fallen U.S. Veterans, Honor those who serve, and Teach children the value of freedom. People are encouraged to sponsor a wreath, which helps pay for the supplies to construct the garlands. The wreath-laying ceremony takes place at the Arlington National Cemetery during December as well as in more than 1,600 other locations. Join us in paying our respects to our brave, fellow countrymen and women. Donate at the link below.  BURR RIDGE, ILLINOIS — Dillon Logistics, a premier leader in asphalt, chemical, and dry bulk transportation for more than 30 years, is proud to announce that they have been selected to receive the 2019 SmartWay Excellence Award for outstanding environmental efforts and leadership.
According to SmartWay Excellence Award Coordinator Joann Stephens, the accolade is reserved for the top performing SmartWay Partners and is the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) highest recognition for outstanding initiative in freight, supply chain, energy and environmental performance. “Achieving the 2019 SmartWay Excellence Award illustrates our commitment to supporting green initiatives and pioneering environmentally friendly alternatives in our industry,” Dillon Logistics President Charles Musgrove said. “Hauling for our customers is a responsibility and privilege we take seriously, and this award solidifies our pledge.” As stated on SmartWay’s website, the Excellence Award winners are selected based on their annual freight assessment and emissions tracking tool submissions. Winners will be honored Monday morning, October 7, 2019, at the American Trucking Associations (ATA) Management Conference & Exhibition in San Diego, California. ### About Dillon Logistics. Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Burr Ridge, IL. Dillon Logistics has established itself as a leader in asphalt, chemical, and dry bulk transportation. Equipped with an elite driver force and 10 facilities strategically located across the mid-west, south and southeast, Dillon Logistic’s mission is to deliver premier, reliable logistic services to customers in a safe and positive culture while exceeding the expectations of stakeholders. Hauling for customers is a responsibility and privilege Dillon Logistics takes seriously. For more information on the company and its services visit: http://www.dillonlogistics.com/ |
Serious drivers. serious hauling.A personal hub dedicated to our entire Dillon Logistics team for staying up-to-date on all things trucking related. Get a monthly dose of inspiration on how to up your serious-hauling game and have first-hand access to resources and the latest happenings out on the road. Archives
July 2020
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