Safety News

Hi Everyone,
At the Evans corporate office we are very excited that spring is finally here! The winter coats have been put up for good and the shorts have been dusted off. The improving weather can mean only one thing. More people on the roads and more family trips. More cars, more vacations, more problems. Please drive defensively out there and remember the E.V.A.N.S. Keys (Eliminate Distractions, Vehicle Fitness, Always Buckle Up, Never Speed, Secure Your Freight).
Cheers,
Brent in Safety

Clean Roadside Inspections play a direct roll in both your personal CSA score & Evans’ CSA score too. For every clean level one, two, or three roadside inspection, a contractor’s and company’s Department of Transportation ranking will be be improved in any category that is inspected.

Besides the Benefits of lowering your CSA, we wanted to give our contractors an extra $10 Pilot/Flying J gift Card! Every clean roadside this month.

UNSAFE DRIVING – A YEAR IN REVIEW

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Over the last three months, we have had our ups and our downs when it comes to unsafe
driving. In March of this year, we had our lowest violation total (5 violations) dating back to June of 2011. In April, we had our violations total increase to eight. In May, they increased again to 12. The trend looks very negative until you put the numbers into perspective. This time last year we had more than double the violations in each month from March – May. So although 12 violations in May of 2013 does not seem like progress, it is a marked improvement from the 24 we received in 2012.

The hard work we all have been putting into getting the word out about Unsafe Driving Violations is paying off dividends in Evans’ CSA Score. Our percentile ranking has dropped in each of the past three months from 82.4% to 75%.

Even though our percentile rankings are dropping, we could be improving at an even greater rate.  We are still being hurt by the easiest violations to avoid. Speeding and seatbelt violations still dominate our Unsafe Driving violations. Over the last three months, speeding and seatbelt violations made up 80% of our Unsafe Driving violations.

By getting every contractor to follow the E.V.A.N.S. Keys we can make our alert status unsafe driving score a thing of the past. Wearing a safety belt and not speeding doesn’t cost anything. It will save a life and prevent an unexpected roadside inspection with Unsafe Driving violations.  Please continue to remind your drivers to Always Buckle Up and to Never Speed.

Walk In Art Center 5k Run/Walk Set for June 1st! Part of Rock the Block!

5K Run or Walk for the Walk In Art Center

Saturday June 1st, 2013: Race check in from 8-8:50am and race start at 9am

Race details: Special medals are given by age group, and each age group is split male/female. Race course starts in the Walk In Art Center/ Evans Delivery parking lot and progresses into downtown Schuylkill Haven onto the “Island”. The run/walk is part trail and part street. Participants will be able to watch the Sojourners take off in the Schuylkill County River Sojorn as they run/walk the course! A separate parking lot will be available for all participants. Enter 220 Parkway, Schuylkill Haven, PA

17972 into GPS or MapQuest to locate exact entrance to the Walk In Art Center.

► Check in: 8:00 – 8:50 a.m.                                   ► Start Time: 9:00 a.m.

• Pre-registered Participants receive a T- shirt (race day while supplies last)
• Beverages and snacks provided after race –   ALL AGES welcome

Contact (s): Nena Mazzei Schmidt  570-732-3728, ext. 301, nena@walkinartcenter.com or

Kim Lorimer 570-385-9048, ext. 3031,  kim-lorimer@evansdelivery.com

Proceeds will benefit Walk In Art Center…  REGISTRATION FORM FEE$20IN ADVANCE (POST MARKED BY

5/20/13 OR ONLINE) OR $25 AFTER/$18 IF SHIRTS RUN OUT.

Optional Online Registration available at: www.pretzelcitysports.com

Thoughts on Entrepreneurs and Success from Bo Bates

Hello everyone,

I was recently asked to speak to a group of business folks about Entrepreneurial Success.  We often think of entrepreneurs as being in the right place at the right time with the right big idea.  So of course they will be successful!  But as I prepared my remarks I realized that a key component of entrepreneurial success draws upon the success of others.  By that I mean we observe what other successful people do; see to understand how they think and interact with people; and what kind of attitude they bring to the game every day.   Over the years I have observed a number of incredibly intelligent and talented men and women.  Many of these people have a number of things in common that I would like to share with you.

Each of them surrounded themselves with good people.  Henry Ford said – “Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success.”  Building a cohesive team doesn’t mean everyone agrees all the time, in fact each team member will (and should) bring a different opinion to the group.  The team feeds off of varying perspectives and the debate that ensues.  As Ken Blanchard says “None of us is as smart as all of us.”

Clearly define where you are going and share that vision with everyone.  For years I was in awe of Bert and his ability to “crystal ball” the company’s future.  Did he spend hours doing historical analysis or reviewing business trends?  Of course he is on top of those things, but in the end he simply envisioned the future he wanted for our company in clear and quantifiable terms which were easy to communicate.  The vision itself is what is important.  I have learned that lesson from Bert, one of the most successful people I know.

Stretch your people.  We all have it in us to do our best, but sometimes we have to be encouraged.  We’ve probably all had someone in our lives – a teacher, a coach, a mentor – who understood our potential and pushed us to use it!  When we stop striving, we stop learning, which can be a roadblock to our own and our company’s success.

Finally, every one of the successful entrepreneurs I have known has constantly questioned everything. They seek input from sources outside their own industry and examine processes that would seem to have very little to do with their own company.  Ask why? Ask why not?  Change course when it’s the right thing to do, create a new niche, offer a new product.  There is a saying – “The only person who likes change is a wet baby.”  I would offer that successful people not only embrace change, but see it as a means to explore new opportunities and continue their success.

I welcome your thoughts.

Bo

Congratulations to the 2012 Safety Drawing Winners!

Harley Davidson Winner –

Jeff Woodall
West  – Florida

Laptop or Tablet Winners

Ricardo Portuondo  – All Points, New Jersey

Charlie Draper  – All Points, Michagan

James McCurdy – Evans, South Carolina

Dwayne Dodson  – Evans, Georgia

James Duffy  – Hale, New Jersey

I-Touch Winners

Terry Lanier  – Evans, Georgia

Wayne Pine – Evans, Pennsylvania

Robert Cannon – Evans, Georgia

Frankie Rodriguez – Evans, Pennsylvania

Adrian Martinez – Evans, Pennsylvania

Daniel Mendoza – Land, Massachusetts

Robert Camarote – Evans, Pennsylvania

Robert Morris – Evans, Georgia

Alan Berry   – Evans, Virginia

Misael Santiago – Evans, Pennsylvania

Larry Burnsed  – Evans, Florida

Mr. Tom Sansevere  of Evans, New Jersey is the winner of the Agent drawing.

Congrats to all and please thank all your drivers each and every day for being safe!

Upcoming Evans University Workshops

 

 

 

 

 

Recruiting & Retention
Tentative Date – Feb 23^rd & 24^th
SE Office in Atlanta

Sales at the Terminal Level
April 13^th & 14^th
Schuylkill Haven Corporate Office

Contact Kim for more information – Kim.Lorimer@evansdelivery.com

Check out the Mini Workshops On Friday of the Agents Meeting!

Since you’ll already be there it may be a great way to brush up on some things or learn something new!

Apply for a Scholarship! Deadline is January 31, 2013

Is your son or daughter a senior in high school with plans to attend college or trade school?  Could you use an extra $1000 per year (up to $4,000 total) to help pay the cost of tuition? Apply today for  the Albert L. Evans Sr., Scholarship Certificate!   Here is a link to the details and  a little more about Mr. Evans, Sr.

Contact Sam Bates at 800-456-7885 ext 3214 or by email at sam-bates@westmotor.com  to learn more and apply for the scholarship. Evans awards 4 scholarships to children of drivers, independent contractors, agents and administrative staff.   DON”T DELAY  – the deadline for applications is January 31, 2013!

Scholarship Info 2013

A Holiday Mesage

Hello everyone,

I had planned on taking this space to talk to you about the impact several mentors have had on my life and how thankful I am to have been able to learn from their entrepreneurial spirit and success.  I will save those thoughts for another day.

Right now, I would like to comment on recent events that have affected Evans directly and our entire country.   A little over a month ago, Hurricane Sandy roared up the east coast leaving a path of devastation and destruction.  We all saw the impact of Mother Nature as the waters rose, beaches were breached and entire sections of Staten Island and New York City were flooded.  Many areas are still making a slow recovery today.

Several of our agents were impacted by the storm including Ken Moore in Elizabeth, Tom Sansevere in Kearny, Joe Fiorica in Newark and Gill Mayol, Wally Ramirez, Giovanni Garcia and Victor Quinones in Jersey City.  Each dealt with the wrath of the storm on their business, their independent contractors, their families, neighbors and friends.  All of them are terrific people as well as business men who worked diligently to assist their communities and get their companies back up and running.

The tragedy in Sandy Hook, Connecticut is almost unfathomable.  Innocent children.  Courageous teachers.  Lives lost and families shattered.  The “why” will likely never be answered.  We are all grieving with the Sandy Hook community wondering what we would do in their shoes.  And we watch as people from all over the country are finding ways to reach out to offer support.  The therapy dogs who arrived from Virginia with their calming influence and wagging tails; the man from Los Angeles who called the local coffee shop to pay for anyone who stopped by for a cup; the school children sending their letters; and the folks just offering hugs.  This community will never be the same, but, with time and support, it will begin to heal.

I am reminded that it can be the little things we do that can have the most impact.  In this holiday season especially I hope all of us will take a moment for a “random act of kindness.” Who knows what an impact we all could make?

I wish you a very happy holiday and a wonderful New Year.

See you in 2013.

Bo.

DM EVP Nicholas Isasi Article in Independent Retailer

How to Eliminate Concealed Transportation Expenses

Nick’s article appears online here: http://independentretailer.com/2012/11/05/how-to-eliminate-concealed-transportation-expenses/

For independent retailers trying to contain costs, inbound transportation is an area ripe with cost savings potential. These costs can comprise as much as 35 percent of a company’s total logistics expenses. The challenge in addressing these costs is that the majority of inbound transportation is prepaid or “delivered,” that is, the transportation is arranged and paid for by the vendor. When shipping choices, including setting rates, choosing carriers and assigning classification codes, are left to the vendor, retailers have little control over the inflow and transportation charges related to their goods. This can lead to stock shortages and late deliveries. It can also result in higher costs due to the markup for vendor prepaid transportation. This markup can be as high as 40 percent, as vendors build excess transportation and handling charges into their prices and often don’t pass on negotiated reduced transportation rates to their customers. Larger independent retailers that eliminate these hidden expenses and enact other cost-saving measures can save hundreds of thousands of dollars or more per year. Even smaller retailers can achieve significant savings.

To that end, here are seven steps retailers can take to reduce inbound transportation costs:

 

1. Conduct an audit of your inbound transportation process. Review your vendors and see from where they are shipping. Then, determine the volume in each lane, that is, the route between pickup and delivery points, and, if shipping by truck, the merchandise class being shipped. Discuss with your purchasing and receiving departments the visibility your company requires regarding shipments and transit times in each lane. Conducting a lane-by-lane benchmarking analysis will enable you to identify poor carrier service, inefficient routing and too-high rates on inbound shipments. Determine total annual cost for inbound transportation and calculate it as a percentage of gross sales. Then, take the information you’ve gathered from the audit and undertake step two.
2. Evaluate and implement appropriate transportation classifications for the items you ship. Domestically, every item has a National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) number that equates to a classification and directly correlates to the rate charged. The higher the classification number, the higher the transportation rate. Items shipped internationally have a Harmonized Tariff Code (HTC) that serves a similar function.
3. Develop and enforce a vendor routing guide. Routing guides help you control costs and improve receiving efficiency. The guide itself should be simple and on one page, and it should be included with the purchase order as a separate item. It should include proper routing instructions telling your vendors exactly which carriers to use in priority order. Use the guide to enforce vendor compliance. Clearly state the consequences, such as chargebacks, when routing instructions aren’t followed.
4. Demand that transportation be clearly identified on each vendor’s invoice. Don’t accept pre-pay and added or “free” transportation. Transportation is often buried in the price you pay. This is called free freight.
5. Create visibility. In-transit transportation tracking reduces the time buyers spend confirming shipments with vendors. It also helps to monitor individual carrier performance. Look for carriers that can supply such tracking methods and utilize these reports to file for service failures with small parcel carriers that do not live up to guaranteed services.
6. Adopt a core carrier program that identifies strong carriers in given lanes. Having several carriers backing up to your receiving dock can create continual confusion and become difficult to manage. A core carrier program helps you identify carriers’ pick-up coverage, service facility locations, financial stability, systems and technology prowess, and transit times.
7. Negotiate lower transportation rates. Leverage your volume to get better transportation discounts. In most cases, the fewer providers you utilize the more leverage you have. Negotiate with your carriers to eliminate or modify extra charges identified during step one.

One way to leverage your transportation volume is to combine the buying power of several companies. Many retailers benefit from consortium transportation rates, and some of the most cost-effective consortia are among companies in a single industry, such as retailing. Single-industry-specific consortia can be more effective than other multi-company arrangements because the pricing is geared toward a single industry’s commodities; routing guides are easier to enforce because more companies are shipping from common vendors; and core carriers are more productive and competitively priced when more freight pickups occur at common vendors. Additionally, carriers’ pricing tends to be more aggressive when bidding for multiple accounts. One way to engage in consortium rates is through an independent third party that can gather the data, negotiate pricing with a limited number of carriers and supply the software to track shipments. A third-party alliance can increase your buying power without the need to share information with competitors.

Proactively managing your inbound transportation can help you reduce costs and improve your supply chain. The keys are to take control of carrier selection and classification decisions, track all inbound transportation dollars expended and reduce the number of delivering carriers. The resulting savings will make the effort well worthwhile.

Bo Bates Featured “Thought Leader” in Inbound Logistics

Bo Bates, President of Evans Network of Companies, is a featured “Thought Leader” in this month’s issue of Inbound Logistics.  Click here to read the article.