The Scoop 4/12/16

Company News

Staff News

• Summer positions - just wanted to remind you to let any college friends you have that we have a couple of positions available.

• Eric Johnson was the employee we spotlighted last week on our facebook page.  We had great feedback from several people.    Click here to read post.

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Policy & Procedures

Communication Issues
​As we focus on having good communication between the office and you as foreman and crewman I want to emphasize a few points.

1. Texting the schedule/assignments - texts will be out by 6pm on Sunday night and 8pm during the week.  If you are full time and haven't received a by these times make sure to call Roger.  We occasionally have issues where a text may not go through.
2. Respond with timeliness - when the office connects with you via text or phone call and you are unable to answer make sure to respond at your earliest convenience.  We understand that you are in situations that don't allow you to always respond right away (driving, poor reception, in the middle of carrying items).  Make sure you consider safety first and then connect as soon as you can.    
3. When connecting with the office we will do our best to serve you.  However as call volume increases it can become more challenging for us to handle everyone - so we appreciate your patience.  It is also more difficult to meet your needs over the the lunch hour so consider calling before or after that time to get your shipments rated.    

Employee Recognition

• Josh Weinberg - earned the Atlas Customer Service Award.  He hauled over 300K and kept a 4.5 customer service rating with customers.
• Eric Johnson - earned the Atlas Customer Service Award for the 3rd year in a row.  He hauled over 300K and kept a 4.5 customer service rating with customers.
• Chris Rivas - won the Tip Award
• Sam Lanka - won the Tip Award
• Chris Brown - won the People's Choice Award

Customer Comments

"The guys were easy to talk to and did a good job loading things how we wanted so when we got to our new place the unload went easier." - Jordan Streeter (Nice job Jones & Brown)

"The whole crew was very courteous, conceintious and so hard working.  Great group!!! - Greg Viergutz  (Nice job Sam, Bill, Rivas, Jones, and Adam)

"We were very pleased with everything" - Jay Hinrichsen  (Nice job Weinberg, Jones, Zach)

Safety - 

GENERAL SAFETY - BACKING INTO TROUBLE
When we are walking around on the job, particularly when handling material, we are subject to many dangers.  Walking backwards is obviously an essential part of our job but consider the following scenarios that can take place while walking backwards.

• Backing off the ramp and falling
• Backing off the back of the truck and falling
• Backing down a flight of stairs and falling
• Backing into a furniture item and damaging it
• Backing into stacked cartons and knocking them over.

Being sure footed is critical to our work this summer.  I have personally fallen backwards out of the back of the quad cab onto pavement, fallen out of a semi cab because I didn't check my footing, and fallen off of set of split ramps.  All of them painful!!  We have had several work comp claims over similar issues.  As we enter into our busy season keep the following points in mind..

• When you team carry make sure the person going backwards is not going faster than they can safely handle.  Coach them on how to become more efficient but don't push them beyond their capabilities.
• Ramps can always be a concern.  Make sure that you double check your footing all the way up the ramp.  It's possible to start at the right place as you start up the ramp but then drift off course (a recipe for disaster).
• Always check the route you are traveling before walking backwards.  Make sure you are aware of all stairs, ramps, or objects in the way.

I know this subject is kind of a "no brainer" but we have accidents every year with this so please be as careful as you can.  Just being aware can go a long way in avoiding an injury or a damage claim to a piece of furniture.

I realize I have shown this several weeks ago but it illustrates my point.  Let's not do this:)

Notes from the boss
Leadership - Not being envious

     Do you struggle with envy?  I know I have.  Over the years there have been many times that I have been envious over someone else's success, or position, or talent.  Sometimes we can laugh about the things we have been jealous about.  But when it comes to leadership - envy is no laughing matter.  It's the root cause for unhealthy comparison, unnecessary attacks, and wasted energy in a business or a family.
     Envy is something we need to be constantly on the lookout for and ready to root out.  If we allow it to take root in our hearts and minds, it will make us - and the people we influence - unhealthy and unfocused.  It's easy to become so envious of what weems to be going well for others that we lose sight of how much we have to be thankful for in our own situations.  The following points are good things to keep in mind on the subject of envy as we lead others.
1.  Envy stifles celebration.  
When it comes to the success of the people we work with or lead, we have a choice:  we can criticize them because we're jealous of their accomplishments, or we can celebrate alongside them.  We can't do both.  It's only when leaders learn to celebrate the success of others that they can lead in the best way.
2.  Envy promotes the lie that life is fair.
We all have an innate desire for justice, which is a good thing, but real justice doesn't mean that everyone gets treated exactly the same.    I f you spend all your effort trying to make sure everything is completely fair you are setting yourself up for disappointment.  As a leader if your priority is to try to keep everyone happy instead of doing the right thing, you'll bend over backward trying to accommodate the people who are making accusations against you.  As a leader it is important that you seek to do what is good and right but it doesn't mean it will be fair to everyone involved.  Learning to be okay with this not easy but it is necessary.
3.  Envy drags others down
Envy causes us to drag others down.  If we get hung up on comparing our success (or lack of success)  to the success of others, we tend to pull people down to our level instead of being encouraged by what they're doing and allowing it to produce a healthy drive in us.

Conclusion
Envy can lead people to play political games, embrace mediocrity, make excuses, and become known for what they're against rather than what they stand for.  Not only does envy hold leaders back, it paralyzes the entire organization.  If we can learn to celebrate the success of others, keep our eyes on the unique calling we've been given, and replace envy with gratitude, we'll be one step close to leading in the most excellent way.  

Fun & Interesting

​Sam & Rivas working hard loading a shipment last week.

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Eric Johnson getting Atlas Van Lines' attention by winning the Customer Service Award and helping Kearney Moving win the Hauling Excellence Award!

​Coming soon!! - the overhaul is almost done on Jimmy 3

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​On the road with Bill - handling a shipment in New Mexico last week

I always appreciate a guy who knows how to use his equipment.