By: Tim Hauck

Greetings Brothers and Sisters,

I hope all is well. Looks like we’re finally starting to turn the corner on winter. With spring on the way, the days should start getting longer and a little warmer. After turning the clocks forward for Daylight Savings Time, it’s nice to drive to work when it’s light out. Another nice thing about spring is you can enjoy the warm weather, but it’s still too wet to do yard work.

Also, remember in the spring, as it warms up, motorcycles will start hitting the roads. Make sure you look twice for a motorcycle. It may just save a life.

By now, the word should be out about the new language in the CBA, using your phone while driving. In case you missed it, there’s a large posting I put together and posted in Flint and Saginaw. It outlines what you can and cannot do while driving. Please do yourself a favor and read the posting, and keep away from the phone while operating a company vehicle.

The safety team has been working on a few issues that I thought you’d like an updated on. The first is the dirt lot at MCD. We don’t seem to be getting any help from them. With warmer weather coming, getting stuck over there is only going to get worse.

The safety team has come up with a temporary solution. This will only work if we get all our drivers to help. When you’re told to go to the dirt lot and hook a trailer, once you locate the trailer, once you locate the trailer, take a look at the area in front of it. It if looks like you can’t hook to it without the chance of getting stuck, stop and call for a switcher to pull it out.

Maybe, if we shift some of the inconvenience of having to deal with the mud and getting stuck to MCD and their switchers, they might consider fixing the lot.

Every time we get stuck over there, it cost us a wrecker bill between $200 and $400 to get pulled 30 feet.

Next, we have an agreement with Plant 1 Swartz Creek to put a stop sign and a high RR-Xing sign up at the RR Xing as you’re leaving the plant. The idea is to have everyone stop before crossing the tracks and think about if your landing gear is all the way up, to prevent hitting the tracks.

Over the last several years, we’ve had almost a dozen landing gear verses RR track strikes.

Another thing on the list and something we did accomplish is that the ACC sign up front on Bristol Rd. is up and lit up.

Lastly, on the safety team’s list is the lighting in our parking lot. Unfortunately, we are still working with the landlord to get these lights turned on.

With things that have happened recently with some of our drivers, I thought it would be a good idea to mention a benefit some drivers might not be aware of. Penske offers an Employee Assistance Program. The number is 833-427-3738 (group code: Penske).

This EAP Program is available free of charge. They offer everything from mental health assistance to childcare, and financial advice. They have a broad range of resources available to them. Please, if you’re struggling with anything in your life, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. You’re not alone, my door is always open, even just to talk.

In closing, I wish you all well, and remember… always be safe out there!