Mar 10, 2022
This month's featured member:
Gene Parker
Federal News
CVSA is now accepting nominations for the 2022 International Driver Excellence Award.
This annual award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond the performance of their duties as a commercial vehicle driver, distinguishing themselves conspicuously and beyond the call of duty through the achievement of safe operation and compliance carried out with evident distinction for an extended period of time. The nominated individual must be of personal character beyond reproach with no disqualifying past behavior, as indicated in the IDEA award criteria.
Nominees must have:
- At least 25 cumulative years of crash-free driving in a commercial motor vehicle with a clean driving record for the past three years.
- No felony convictions.
- No safety-related driving suspensions in the past three years.
- No driver violations in the past three years.
For more information and to submit a nominee please visit cvsa.org/programs/idea/
VCT – Safety Trends
Days Since Last Unsafe Driving Violation: 81
Days Since Last Out of Service Order: 3
Days Since Last Injury: 59
Current Unsafe Driving CSA Percentile: 21%
(Best performance 0% - Most unsafe 100%)
Our team members should be proud of the fact that only seven of the twenty-three total unsafe driving violations currently on our CSA record were earned in the past twelve months.
As you continue to make good judgement calls and safe defensive driving decisions on the road we continue to stand out in the industry as the premier bulk hauler in the northwest.
VCT – Important Reminder
Preparing for a roadside inspection starts with your pre trip inspection. The more thorough your pre trip is, the less likely a violation will be found.
Please remain alert when approaching weigh stations and verify that they are open or closed as indicated either by the flashing yellow lights or reader board. Remember, even if a weigh station is closed, their transponders are still collecting information as we approach. Always remain in the right-hand lane until you have passed the last transponder or the weigh station itself before moving back over into the second lane if you are traveling on a freeway with three or more lanes. Failure to do so may result in being pulled over and issued a citation for failure to obey a traffic control device.
Once pulled into a weigh station, follow all signs and instructions as weigh stations may operate differently from each other.
State Patrol has asked that we cross the scale pads at idle speed to allow them to thoroughly inspect your vehicle as you pass, and to accurately read your axle weights without needing to have you come to a complete stop. Do not start to accelerate until the rear of your trailer is well past the scale house.
Based on our ISS score (36 out of 100) Veneer Chip will only be selected for a roadside inspection on a truly random basis if no obvious violations are noted. State Patrol has admitted that random inspections are generally chosen based on vehicles that stand out from the crowd. Anything you do that deviates from the norm or causes their attention to be drawn to you will increase your changes of being selected for a random roadside inspection.
As always, be respectful and professional when interacting with State Patrol. Your demeanor can be the difference between a pleasant learning experience or an expensive citation.
VCT – Helpful Tips
If you find yourself needing any assistance with filing your taxes, there is an abundance of resources at your disposal. Often forgotten is to ask the IRS directly. On the home page of their website, IRS.gov, there are options to file your taxes for free, get answers to your tax questions, or to get copies of your previous tax records.
Many tax filing services such as TurboTax, H&R Block, and Jackson Hewitt offer one on one tax advice consultations for an additional charge.
Upcoming Saturday Dispatch:
3/12 – Scott 3/19 - Wade
3/26 - Ron 4/2 - Rob
From The Team – Gene Parker
(Truck 2201pms – Spokane, WA)
Gene Parker, the second most senior driver on the East Side, was born and raised in Coeur d’Alene. Most of his life has been spent in Idaho except for the time he spent serving in the Army as an MP. After being stationed in Germany for three years he received his honorable discharge and returned home.
After working in retail for several years Gene began looking for a more lucrative career. He was encouraged to consider driving truck from some of his friends who were already in the industry. Gene then made the decision to cash out his 401K to pay for truck school in 1997 and has been driving ever since.
Gene previously worked for Walsh out of Sandpoint, ID until they lost the contract for that haul. His former supervisor suggested that he call Jon Lucich had recently began expanding into Eastern Washington and Idaho. VCT had proven themselves a more dependable carrier and secured the contract that Walsh had lost. Because of this, Gene was not required to relocate when he joined VCT.
Hauling trash from Sandpoint, ID to Arlington, OR was Gene’s primary run until he was presented the opportunity to run a belt floor. This eventually led to Gene being allowed to load himself with a CAT 966 front loader with a tip bucket and now boasts his unofficial position as the Bark Logistics Coordinator. Belt floor drivers are required to interact directly with the customer and Gene says his experience in retail has helped make him successful in this role as a representative for the company. He prefers this type of personal relationship as well as the additional responsibilities of sweeping out the trailer and ensuring his weights are accurate.
In the seven years he’s been with the company Gene says what he appreciates most about VCT is the straightforward honesty from the management team. The personal and professional relationships he has built with his teammates continues to make VCT an enjoyable place to work. He recommends that all drivers pay attention to the task at hand and to always be honest if a mistake is made. These two simple reminders have allowed Gene to be so successful at VCT. The best part of the job of course is when he is issued a new truck. Gene loves his PMS (Pump/Manual/Sleeper).
He wasn’t as excited about the dash cameras that were installed back in 2020. However, over time Gene believes they have made him a better driver both in his truck and his personal vehicle. “At first, you’re worried about the camera, then after a while you’re paying more attention to what you’re doing.” Some of his apprehension was put at ease knowing that VCT will allow him the opportunity to correct any mistakes or bad habits before being disciplined.
Gene recently reconnected with his high school sweetheart. “We were supposed to get married when we got out of high school in 1986, but it didn’t work out. We moved on, went full circle, and finally got married three years ago now.”
Gene spends his free time hunting and fishing in the peaceful wilderness of Northern Idaho.
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