May
2008
"STORIES"

By Steve Pollock

April finally brought Spring-like weather to the Northeast and along with it, the completion of American Bulk Commodities' Safety Banquets.  Each year the company holds a series of safety and awards banquets for their drivers.  Eight separate events are held near company terminals, permitting all American Bulk Commodity drivers the opportunity to attend.

This year over 300 drivers were recognized for their safety efforts and awarded a variety of premiums that get larger with each consecutive year of safe driving.  Three drivers from each terminal were also recognized for exemplary efforts with The New Guy Award, Call of Duty Award, and The Grand Guy Award.

An additional 100 drivers were recognized for 10 years or more of service to the company, including Ed Nelson, who has been with the company for 38 years.

 Members of American Bulk Commodities, including the company's owners, The Carrocce family were on hand for the presentations.  A moment of silence was observed in memory of driver David Haynie who had recently passed away.   Director of Safety Danny Fire then opened the meeting, reviewing the company’s safety statistics for the past year.  Mr. Fire commented on what a pleasure it is to work with such a fine group of drivers, as well as the Carrocce family, making American Bulk Commodities a great place to work.  Drivers were commended for their ongoing safety efforts and congratulated for contributing to a 23% reduction in major accidents for the company in 2007.  American Bulk Commodities drivers were also responsible in reducing out of service incidents in 2007 as well.  The company was less than half the national average for out of service equipment and substantially lower than average for driver out of service violations.  The company had no out of service on any Hazmat load hauled in 2007.

Each year the highlight of the safety awards banquet is the presentation of three special awards.  The Grand Guy Award is given for overall excellence by an individual, including safety, work ethic and attitude.  The Call of Duty Award goes to the driver going the extra distance for the company and The New Guy award is presented to new employees exhibiting good work ethics, a positive attitude and a good safety record.

The award recipients included:

From the Youngstown (Boardman) terminal: Grand Guy – Tom Knight; Call of Duty-John Pollander and New Guy-Matt Craig.  The following Million Milers were also recognized: Jeffery Pezzuto, Robert Polas, Victor Johngrass, James Johngrass, Carl Buhn, Chad Krenn, James Tulip, David Veon, Martin Dansereau, Robert Young, and Timothy Ponsaa.

The John Brown Trucking terminal in Portersville, PA honored: Grand Guy-Dennis Faith; Call of Duty-Terry Scheidemantle and New Guy-Matt Book.  Million Milers were Kenneth Kelly, James Pennington and Shane Terracio.

The Marietta terminal had the following award winners:  Grand Guy-John Shenkenberger; Call of Duty-Bill Miller; and New Guys-Larry Moody and Charles Fought.  Million Milers were Dennis Sarver and Cliff Wood.

At the Canton terminal the Grand Guy was Jerry Simon, Call of Duty-Scott Paul and New Guy Patrick Fulp.

Middletown terminal's award winners were: Grand Guy-Robert Wheeler; Call of Duty-David Miller and New Guy-James Wagner.  Dan Koenig was the Million Mile award winner.

The Toledo, Lorain and Mansfield terminals had a single banquet recognizing Grand Guys-Michael Moore from Lorain and Mike Kuron from Toledo.  The Call of Duty went to Scott Smith from Lorain and Jason Berger from Toledo.  The New Guys were Mike Chapman from Lorain and Tim Abrams from Mansfield.  Million Milers included Don Buckles, Charles Hamilton, Larry Harqis, Robert Jennings, and Darrick Stallard.

Drivers recognized at Southern Haulers Brewton, AL terminal included: Grand Guy-Ernest Ambrose; Call of Duty-Ed Miller and New Guy-Billy Carroll.

Award Winners from the Calera and Decatur, AL terminals were: Grand Guy-Mark Verbitski; Call of Duty-William J. Johnson and New Guy-Doug Kitchen.

American Bulk Commodities and its subsidiaries, R & J Trucking, Inc.; John Brown Trucking, Inc. and Southern Haulers, LLC salute all the safe drivers employed by the company and thank them for a job well done.  American Bulk Commodities operates over 450 company owned power units and has another 50 contractors leased to the company.  They are bulk haulers with tri-axles, frameless dumps, pneumatics, roll-offs, straight trucks, tippers and walking floors.  Commodities hauled range from plastics, aggregates, coal, coke, and MSW.  The company's operational area is primarily east of the Mississippi.