This week is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.  Many people do not know or understand the amount of time a Professional Driver invests in their profession. The demands or a Professional Driver's schedule often do not fit into the conventional 8-5 workday. It is not uncommon for a Professional Driver to begin their day between 10:00 PM and 2:00 AM. Many drivers work 11-14 hours a day and might invest as many as 60-70 hours per week in their career. FirstFleet is a carrier that is dedicated to meeting the needs of our business partners with excellence. Much...

[Read the rest of this article...]

Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. We ask you to join us in honoring the memory of the nearly 3,000 innocent people who lost their lives in those mindless attacks as well as keeping in our thoughts and prayers the countless thousands of families who mourn the loss of family, friends and loved ones. Please also take this time to reflect on the heroes who emerged that tragic day. They were everyday Americans who showed the remarkable bravery, courage and resolve that inspired our nation then and continue to inspire us now. ...

[Read the rest of this article...]

The driver record is kept with the CSA for a period of three year. Violations found on any level of DOT inspection, or being involved in a DOT recordable accident, will generate points on your CSA record. To access your personal CSA records see this link. Points are multiplied by 3 the first year on your CSA record, a minor speeding violation that may generate 4 points multiplied by 3, will result in 12 points assigned to your CSA record the first year. Points are multiplied by 2 the second year, and by 1 the third year, then fall off your CSA driver record. Warnings g...

[Read the rest of this article...]

The FMCSA Unsafe Driving Basic is impacted by moving vehicle violations. Speeding is a common violation that influences this basic ranking. One critical area we would like for you to pay special attention to is reduced speed zones - doing 35 in 25 mph zone. Violations like these give officers a reason to stop you for a more extensive inspection - which is a burden on your available time.  Please watch your speed, slow down, and pay special attention to changing speed limits.  Remember warnings count on the CSA record, just as ...

[Read the rest of this article...]

Regarding Fatigued Driving (Hours-of-Service) Basic: A commercial driver log book not being current is a reason for the DOT to look further in their roadside inspection. If you are driving a commercial vehicle you must be on line 3 of your log book, the drive line. This area has been high priority for DOT since the beginning of the CSA program. At FirstFleet our goal is to keep the roads a safe place for all motorists, and we appreciate all that you do to support this charge. Please help us better meet this goal by ensuring your logs are current before you begin any chang...

[Read the rest of this article...]

With rising temperatures of record numbers across the country, FirstFleet wants to convey the importance of knowing how to stay safe in this intense heat. According to the Centers for Disease Control, initial symptoms of a heat emergency include: hot, dry skin or profuse sweating extreme weakness or fatigue pale or flushed complexion confusion/dizziness fast, shallow breathing hallucinations clammy, moist skin elevated body temperature throbbing headache slurred speech The quickest and most effective way to treat an indiv...

[Read the rest of this article...]

CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicles. As part of the continual process of education and refinement we will be providing regular CSA tips and updates with the intent of making the roads a safer place for us all. With regard to the Unsafe Driving Basic, speeding is one of the most common violations recorded. Speeding in reduced speed zones, such as doing 35 mph in 25 mph zone, or 40 in 30 mph zone often occurs simply from ...

[Read the rest of this article...]

CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicles. As part of the continual process of education and refinement we will be providing regular CSA tips and updates with the intent of making the roads a safer place for us all. The Cargo Basic addresses our responsibility to properly secure loads and materials in transit. Through DOT enforcement we have noted activity in this basic regarding securement of the dolly crank handle. If your ...

[Read the rest of this article...]

Check out these helpful summer hints to help ensure eye health brought to you by our vision insurance provider VSP. For more information on our vision insurance provder please visit www.vsp.com.

It is my privilege to pass along to you a nationwide discount opportunity for back to school savings. As part of a customer appreciation program Staples has granted us the ability to share this discount with our employees. For the week of August 7-13, 2011 simply print the document listed below and take it to your local retail store to purchase many of the items in the store at a 10% discount. There are some exclusions that apply so make sure you read the fine print at the bottom. Click : Staples Discount Flyer

Your 401k retirement plan statement is now available online! To view or print your statement, just log into www.principal.com/retirement/statements to view account information. If you have not yet set up an online account at www.principal.com, you will need to complete the following steps first: Under Account Login, select Personal as the login type and click Go Click the Establish your new Username and Password Enter your Social Security Number and the Account/Contract Number 705090 Verify your identity, create your username and password, enter your email address, an...

[Read the rest of this article...]

In order to ease the process of employees getting connected with the proper resources for benefit management we have created a quick reference page found here (login required) to provide our employees with a listing of web based resources for benefit management and interaction. Should you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them below of use the contact us form.

New retirement mobile application - putting the future at your fingertips How do you like to stay informed about your retirement account? You now have an exciting option - with the new Principal(r) Mobile application. Introducing a new mobile application Our new mobile application allows you to access your retirement account information at your fingertips and on your smartphone. The application is: Free and secure Available for iPhone(r), AndroidTM and BlackBerry(r) phones1 Designed for you to view your retirement plans with The Principal(r) What can you do? Now i...

[Read the rest of this article...]

The FIRSTFLEET, INC. 401(K) PLAN is a great way to save for retirement.  The goal of the plan is to continue helping you build a more secure financial future by providing a wide array of investment options. All associates that have reached the age of 21 and have been employed at FirstFleet for 60 days are eligible to enroll in the 401k plan at the beginning of each month.  If you would like to enroll, you may do so online at www. Principal.com or you can enroll over the phone directly with Principal by calling 1-800-547-7754.   Your terminal manager will have enrollment...

[Read the rest of this article...]

Today FirstFleet recognized its first driver to reach three million safe driving miles. For twenty four years Dave Hall (Cleveland, TN) has driven FirstFleet trucks without so much as a single preventable accident. In 2009 Mr. Hall was elected as the Tennessee Trucking Association’s Truck Driver of the Year, and he has previously served on the Tennessee Trucking Association’s Road Team. Today at the corporate offices of FirstFleet, Inc. Mr. Hall was presented with certificates of recognition and vehicles placards to indicate this distinguished status. We wish to express our heartfelt t...

[Read the rest of this article...]