Happy Peak
It’s that time, peak has arrived! Officially starting 10/31 – January 13th!
The MOST important thing to remember is to stay safe! Below are a few things to help.
- Be vigilant of your surroundings.
- Check your route for inclement weather.
- Wear your seatbelt.
- Keep your phone down.
- Make sure you have plenty of washer fluid.
- Make sure you pack accordingly in case of inclement weather.
What is expected of you during peak?
- Be available 24/7.
- Dedicated and Solo teams you are expected to pick up extra miles.
- Each day when you return to Denver go into linehaul and ask if there is an extra you can do, same in the mornings before departing, they might have an RSF, or an Aurora run available while they finish your trailer.
- Be on time, have no logbook violations, no failed inspections, and no damage to your tractor or any FedEx Equipment.
- No decline of any run.
Don’t forget that peak bonus is on the table!
Let’s talk parking …
Tractor parking: please make every attempt to double up your personal vehicles if you are a team. If the vehicle is too large please park in the extra parking North of the entrance.
Parking in the yard: We do a lot of waiting- but please make sure you are parking in parking spots. Do not park in an area where other trucks have to maneuver around you. If you can not locate a spot near linehaul check for a spot in OB or behind the HUB (back west lot)
Truck stops, convenience stores, etc.: Please do not block other vehicles or fuel pumps. Park in undesignated parking areas, and make sure you are parked in a lighted safe spot.
Defensive Driving
Driving defensively is your best option for protecting yourself because you have no control over other drivers on the road and you can’t assume they are driving with safety in mind. In fact, many truck drivers will agree that most motorists do not know how to drive safely around a big truck. 81 – 91% of crashes involving a commercial vehicle are caused by cars, not the trucks. To stay on point with your defensive driving, here are some defensive driving tips:
- Stay aware of your blind spots: 10-15 feet in front of you, directly behind your trailer, on the passenger side from the door to the back of your sleeper unit, and on the driver side from the front bumper to the nose of the trailer. Checking your mirrors every 3-5 seconds can help you always maintain 360 degrees of awareness.
- Maintain a safe following distance. The FMCSA recommends 1 second for every 10 feet of vehicle length at 40 mph. If you are traveling over 40 mph add an additional one second.
- In just a second or two an emergency can develop, especially at high speeds on the interstate highways so remain alert at all times for emergencies. Remain calm. If you’re in an agitated state because of a close call with a motorist find a safe place to park and calm down before continuing your trip. Pay attention to what’s going on a quarter of a mile or more ahead of you and slow down if you observe unsafe traffic behavior, road construction, or other potential hazards.
Even the most well-trained, safety-conscious professional truck driver is at risk of engaging in driving behaviors that could lead to a crash on today’s crowded highways. Weather conditions or road conditions change and suddenly “driving too fast for the conditions” becomes a risk factor. Failing to look – or looking and not seeing – impaired performance because of fatigue, inattention or daydreaming or an unexpected external distraction can all lead to a truck crash.
Fun Fact:
In 1898, Alexander Winton (a vehicle maker) invented the first semi-truck as a solution to transport his cars to customers.
October Stats
Most Miles Driven:
- Mark @ 14,283 miles
- JJ @ 13,760 miles
- Joy @13,415 miles
Best Fuel Economy
- Melinda @ 8.31 MPG
- JJ @ 8.23 MPG
- Sergio @ 8.14 MPG
Happy November Anniversary!
- Santos 11/2/2019
- Mark 11/4/2019
- Dave 11/22/2021
- Paul 11/22/2021
- Columbus 11/22/2021
Happy November Birthday!
- Mark 11/7
- Zack 11/28
