A NEW YEAR IN SAFETY
It has been a busy few months in the Safety Department. Both the new Hours of Service and the Load Securement Regulations went into effect with the beginning of the New Year. These changes followed, back-to-back, with the Security Plan, which was implemented in September of 2003.

Classes for the Hours of Service changes were held at several terminal locations for drivers, fleet managers and anyone else interested in learning the regulations, prior to the end of the year. Training also took place as the ATS Fourth Quarter Training. The HOS Quarterly Training was extended through the first quarter of 2004, to make it available to anyone who had not had an opportunity to see it, and to let anyone who wished, view it again. There have been many questions from drivers and fleet managers on specific situations pertaining to the 11, 14, and 70-hour rules and how they interact together. Application of the split sleeper berth rule is the primary culprit creating questions. However, it appears that everyone is becoming more comfortable with the new Hours of Service requirements. Last week’s Transport Topics had an article stating that the “Soft Enforcement” time is over, and that the state agencies will be enforcing the regulations to their full extent. With that in mind, please contact your Fleet Manager or the Safety Department with any questions or problems you may be experiencing. The Fleet Managers have been trained in this area and should be able to answer most of your HOS questions. Please feel free to contact Arlen Holzheimer or Frank Presfield in St. Cloud, or Will Long or Darlene Lenz in Gary, IN, if you have questions or problems.

The Second Quarter Training Videos are now out and available at all the training locations, which are at St. Cloud, MN; Gary, IN; Dallas, TX; Jacksonville, FL; Manitowoc, WI; Fontana, CA; Elberton, GA and Laredo, TX. This training covers the new Securement Regulations, which went into effect on January 1, 2004. There is a separate training video for vans and for flats. We have been seeing strict enforcement of these rules, so please make a point of doing this training as soon as possible. If you have questions, please contact Will Long at Building One in Gary, or Ken Held, Frank Presfield or myself in St. Cloud.

Basic training for our Security Plan took place during the 4th Quarter of 2003. Our intentions are to provide more comprehensive training on the Security Plan later this year. In the meantime, please contact the Safety Department with any questions you may have regarding Hazardous Materials.

Please remember to drive safely!

Scott Anderson, Director of Safety, Anderson Trucking Service, Inc.

MAINTENANCE & EQUIPMENT UPDATE
The last details of the 2004 equipment orders are being put into place. In the second, third and fourth quarters of 2004, ATS will be taking delivery on some Freightliner Columbia’s, Volvo VN780’s and Peterbilt model 387’s. A selection of engine mixes will come from Caterpillar, Detroit Diesel, Mercedes Benz and Volvo. The final quantities, divisional distribution and exact delivery dates are currently being determined.

Looking out on the horizon, we will purchase some dry van trailers from Great Dane and 53’ step deck trailers from both Trailking and Transcraft. The shop recently added some decks to the open jeeps and dollies to create some additional heavy haul trailers.

We continue to have trailers that are dropped in poor condition, or needing inspection. Please advise road service and your fleet manager if a trailer needs attention. If everyone does this, it will help ensure that the next time YOU pick up a trailer, it will be in good condition and ready to go.