November 20, 2017
Today and every day, we are thankful for our customers, associates and partners. Happy Thanksgiving from Penske!
Penske News
Planning to travel over the river and through the woods on your cross-country move this Thanksgiving?
When you load up your Penske rental truck, make sure to pack a heaping helping of patience.
AAA expects more than 50 million holiday travelers – the highest amount since 2005 – to travel from Wednesday, Nov. 22, to Sunday, Nov. 26, by train, plane and automobile to holiday destinations.
“Thanksgiving kicks off the start of a busy holiday season, and more thankful Americans will travel to spend time with friends and family this year,” said Bill Sutherland, AAA senior vice president, travel and publishing.
For consumer renters as well as professional truck drivers, that means sharing already-congested roadways with more motorists than usual.
Key Factors Driving Holiday Travel
Source: AAA
AAA estimates that 50.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more, representing a 3.3 percent increase over last year. Overall, AAA expects 1.6 million more travelers during the Thanksgiving holiday period.
What is driving the increase?
“Right now, we are in a strong economy and labor market, which is generating higher incomes and more disposable incomes,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson.
Of those travelers, the majority – 89 percent or 45.5 million – are planning to travel to their holiday destination by roadway. Another eight percent are expected to travel by airplane, with the rest taking another mode of transportation such as trains and buses, according to AAA.
The increase in holiday road trips – 3.2 percent – is despite the rise in the national average for gasoline prices when compared to this time last year. “We had some pretty low prices early on in 2017, and then the hurricane hit and prices have remained unseasonably high for the fall,” Casselano said.
Although gas prices during the Thanksgiving travel period are up 40 cents over last year – the highest they have been since 2014 – AAA does not expect the price to deter holiday travelers.
“When it comes to the holidays, people want to spend it with families and friends and looking forward to the time off and seeing what they can afford and how far they can go when taking their cars,” Casselano said.
Survival Tips for Holiday Travelers
AAA offered some tips for anyone traveling the roadways this Thanksgiving.
“We want to make sure everyone is safe on road, so definitely pack your patience. We know that from Thanksgiving to the end of the year we see increased travel volumes on the roads, so the number one trip is to pack your patience,” Casselano said.
Before you begin traveling to your destination, remember to pack an emergency kit to include a snow shovel, flashlight, ice scraper and jumper cables. “Even consider warm clothes and food just in case you get stuck on the side of the road,” she said.
Make sure to get plenty of sleep before hitting the road. “If it is a longer trip, make sure to pull over every two hours or 100 miles to take a little rest and recharge,” Casselano said.
The roadways will be filled with more than just cars over the extended holiday travel period with commercial vehicles, vans and buses sharing the road.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has developed the “Our Roads, Our Responsibility” program featuring road sharing tips for passenger and commercial vehicle drivers.
Penske’s 24/7 Roadside Assistance will be here throughout the Thanksgiving holiday travel period to provide assistance for consumer renters and our professional truck drivers in the unlikely event your Penske truck experiences mechanical difficulties.
Do you have a favorite holiday travel memory? Share it with us in the comment section below.
Are you planning an end-of-the-year move? Penske Truck Rental offers free unlimited miles on all one-way truck rentals, discounts for AAA members, college students and members of the military as well as packing supplies and 24/7 roadside assistance. Are you ready to make a reservation? Visit the Penske Truck Rental website for more information.
By Bernie Mixon
Ready. Get Set. Go.
You get off to a great start in the middle of what looks to be a stampede of people. The first obstacle is ahead – a steep, 15-foot skateboard quarter-pipe that’s waiting to be climbed.
You struggle to get to the top. After you finally make it over the wall, you immediately drop to all fours and alligator crawl through mushy, cold mud, as the mud’s powerful suction slows you down.
After rushing from obstacle to obstacle, you can feel the aches and pains throughout your body. Completely covered in mud, you notice one more thing separating you from the finish line and from catching your breath: You have to carry heavy tree logs across a sun-beaming field.
When you finish, you ask yourself, “How could anyone have done this without a team to support you?”
Fortunately, there was a team that conquered these obstacles. Dozens of Penske associates participated in this challenge as part of a team-building exercise, and it proved to be a little messier – and more rewarding – than even they expected.
“It’s called a Tough Mudder for a reason,” said Steven Ryan, service manager of the South Chicago District.
A Tough Mudder isn’t as much of a race as it is a 5-mile obstacle course completely covered in mud. Bragging rights don’t necessarily go to the one who finishes first -- just finishing the course is the real accomplishment.
“We were covered from head to toe in mud,” Ryan said. “It wasn’t that watery mud, either. It was like a soupy kind of mud, like guacamole.”
Charging through guacamole-like mud is no easy task, but Ryan was not alone in this challenge. Sixty other associates from the North and South Chicago districts joined him on that hot August day. However, they didn’t wake up one morning deciding to do this. That day of trudging through mud originated from a new philosophy that began months earlier.
Last year, the two districts initiated an ideology that would bring them closer together, called the One Chicago Concept.
“The One Chicago Concept aims to unite two districts within the same market in sharing ideas, people and resources,” said Mike Pritchard, area vice president of the North Central region. “We believe that One Chicago helps promote a strong team atmosphere that enhances the overall employee and customer experience.”
Both districts wanted to improve on their relationship and collaboration between each other. Ryan emphasized that as opposed to Cubs and White Sox fans, these two districts aren’t rivals working in the same city.
“We noticed that there wasn’t that one common goal,” Ryan said. “We felt more separated than we did close. Therefore, we got a team of 61 people, ranging from sales, technicians and rental to compete in this event.”
“Going into it, there was definitely a handful of people who were a little nervous,” said Allison Lewis, a lease sales representative of the South Chicago District. “There was a quarter-pipe that we had to run up, and the entire team had to get to the top. While each person runs up, the person sitting at the top tries to pull each person up one at a time. Did I mention you’re all covered in mud doing this?”
Both Ryan and Lewis admit that the Tough Mudder was challenging, but that didn’t stop anybody on their team from overcoming each obstacle.
“The Tough Mudder allows you to go around an obstacle if you feel uncomfortable,” said Ryan. “Not a single person on our team skipped an obstacle, and some of us weren’t as athletic as others. Everybody was cheering for each other.”
Another thing that made this challenge unique was that each person couldn’t conquer an obstacle on their own. All the obstacles were designed to be conquered by a team.
“Everyone had to come together. If you finished something first, you had to wait for your teammates to finish in order to complete the challenge,” said Ryan.
Ryan and Lewis agree that this event was a huge success for their team. They said that this team-building opportunity had a bigger impact back in the office than it did in the mud.
“That next Monday in the office, I had become closer to people who I didn’t know very well prior to the Tough Mudder,” said Lewis. “That’s important to me. Our work environment is built off knowing each other and helping each other out. Now we’re laughing and bonding.”
When asked if they think more team-building opportunities will come out of the Tough Mudder experience, Lewis and Ryan agreed that it might be the first of many.
“Two or three days following the event, we were all saying that we should definitely compete again,” Lewis said.
“We’re always looking for new ways to build comradery among the team,” said Ryan. “I have not found one person say they’re not doing this again. My goal is to get 100 people next year.”
Start a career at Penske and see firsthand how much we value a strong workplace culture and a supportive team atmosphere. If you’re interested in joining our great team, visit our careers website. Who knows what kind of team-building exercise you’ll do?
By Chris Abruzzo
Growing up in Arkansas, a 10-year-old Louis Patton III would be mesmerized as he watched professional truck drivers navigate tractor-trailers on the open road.
“I would watch them drive on the interstate. It was really exciting,” said Patton. “I always thought you had to be a special person to drive one.”
Years later as a Penske Logistics driver, it was Patton's turn to be celebrated as he and 25 of the company's elite professional truck drivers were honored at the company's headquarters in Reading, Pennsylvania, for achieving 20 consecutive years of accident-free driving.
The recognition was part of the company's Premier Driver Recognition Program, created to recognize the company's elite professional truck drivers and celebrate their safety milestones.
“You are the best of the best, and we couldn't operate our business without you,” said Marc Althen, President of Penske Logistics.
Safe driving is not only a key component to the success of Penske Logistics, but it ensures the safety of other drivers as well as the company’s nearly 4,500 professional drivers.
Members of this unique group have demonstrated the safest operation of Penske vehicles while operating in the challenges of everyday driving.
This was the inaugural year for the recognition program, which celebrated the Diamond class of drivers, those with 20 or more consecutive years of accident-and injury-free driving.
The Driver Wall of Fame recognizes drivers with 20 or more consecutive years of accident-free driving.
It also marked the dedication of the “Driver Wall of Fame,” which is inscribed with the name of each member of the Diamond class as a permanent tribute to the extraordinary safety achievement of each driver.
The wall is located at Penske Logistics' corporate headquarters, allowing passers-by, including associates and customers, to view the drivers' achievements. As part of the dedication, each driver was invited to view his name on the wall.
John Haworth, a driver for more than 28 years, spotted his name – just eight or nine down on the left. As he made his way from the wall to reception area for drivers and guests, Haworth said he felt very blessed. “It is a real achievement,” he said.
The wall dedication was followed by a recognition dinner a few hours later at the DoubleTree By Hilton Hotel Reading, where the names and safety milestones of each driver were celebrated.
Drivers Gary Graf (left) and Jaime Rios chat at evening recognition event.
“What is certain is luck did not get you here,” said Jeff Stoicheff, senior vice president of Human Resources for Penske Logistics. “It requires preparation. It requires situational awareness. It requires focus. It takes the desire to be the best.”
The following drivers were inducted into the 2017 Diamond class:
- Steven Bowman, Michigan
- Ernest Cobb, Michigan
- Steven Cole, Ohio
- Raymond Coletta, Michigan
- Pete Dahmer, Ontario, Canada
- Rene Garcia, Florida
- Humberto Garza, Texas
- Gary Graf, Michigan
- Tim Hauck. Michigan
- John Haworth, Ohio
- Kevin Johnson, Florida
- Greg Kent, Ontario, Canada
- Mike Kinnard, Missouri
- John Merritts, Ohio
- Joe Miller, Pennsylvania
- Louis Patton III, Kansas
- Allen Pingel, Michigan
- Bob Poore, Indiana
- Jaime Rios, Florida
- Pat Schott, Missouri
- Donald Shuster, Michigan
- Ted Welbaum, Ohio
- Larry Woodruff, Ohio
- Dan Worden, Michigan
- Brad Wright, Ohio
- Don Yonkman, Michigan
“You are the beginning of the experience with the Diamond class. No one will ever be able to take away from the fact that you were the first,” said Dennis Abruzzi, senior vice president of enterprise solutions for Penske Logistics, and a former professional truck driver. “Understand that this is the beginning of what Penske will continue to do to recognize the best of the best.”
In addition recognizing a new Diamond class of drivers, the program will expand in 2018 to include the Gold and Platinum classes – drivers achieving 10 and 15 years consecutive years of accident-and injury-free performance, respectively.
Pictured (left to right): John Haworth, Raymond Coletta, Ernest Cobb, Steven Bowman, Brad Wright, Kevin Johnson, Tim Hauck, Jaime Rios, Pat Schott, Allen Pingel, Donald Shuster, Steven Cole, Mike Kinnard, Louis Patton III, Humberto Garza, John Merritts, Greg Kent, Dan Worden and Peter Dahmer.
Not Pictured: Rene Garcia, Gary Graf, Joe Miller, Bob Poore, Ted Welbaum, Larry Woodruff and Don Yonkman.
Interested in a driving career with Penske? Visit gopenske.com/drivers for employment opportunities. The company offers competitive wages and a wide range of benefits. Penske is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
By Bernie Mixon
Honor, respect and gratitude were all seen on the faces of those in attendance at Penske’s annual Veterans Day Recognition Program in Reading, Pennsylvania, to honor the hundreds of associates who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Members of the Penske workforce and senior leadership recognized more than 60 associates from our Reading, Pennsylvania, and Allentown, Pennsylvania, locations who served.
“The 63 associates from these locations are among the more than 1,700 veterans who work at Penske locations across the U.S.,” said Penske’s senior vice president of government relations, chief compliance officer and emcee for the event, Mike Duff.
“From the Vietnam War to the Global War on Terrorism, these veterans have served on the front lines to some of the most significant changes in world history,” Duff said.
To kick off the program, the Alvernia University Chorus Ensemble, led by Dr. Deborah Greenawald, sang the National Anthem.
Afterward, several people took to the microphone, including Mark Gillen of the Berks Military History Museum, to share what Veterans Day means to them, as well as tell a few stories and messages that inspired the crowd.
“Sacrifice is the character of the veteran,” said Gillen. “The patriot is a risk taker. Taking risks is not a bad thing. We have many men and women in this room who put their lives at risk. Many of our grandparents and ancestors took risks.”
General Manager of the Northeast Area Corey New also addressed the crowd. He served over 26 years as a soldier in the Army and spent the majority of his career in transportation, warehousing and distribution, with duty in multiple logistics units in the U.S., Germany, Afghanistan and Iraq.
To begin his speech, New opened up with a short video and spoke highly of what great additions veterans make to the Penske workforce.
“I applaud the continued commitment of our Penske leadership to recruit invested and retained veterans to make our team the very best,” said New. “I know our veterans will continue to make a difference and make Team Penske stronger now and into the future.”
Veterans continue to be a big part of helping the company continue its efforts in moving customers and the world forward. Over the last three years, veterans represented 9 percent of all Penske new hires.
Appearing at Penske's Veterans Day event, from left: Brian Hard, president and CEO of Penske Truck Leasing; Mark Gillen, Berks Military History Museum; Mike Duff, senior vice president of government relations and chief compliance officer; and Corey New, general manager of the Northeast Area for Penske Logistics and 26-year veteran of the U.S. Army.
“We will continue our commitment and efforts to hiring veterans,” said Brian Hard, president and CEO of Penske Truck Leasing. “We appreciate the values, work ethic and leadership skills they bring to our organization. Those qualities – along with composure under pressure, strong attention to detail and a big-picture view – make veterans such a great fit for roles with Penske.”
As the event ended, the veterans stayed for a group photo and received a gift as a token of Penske’s appreciation. Veterans and other associates were also able to observe some of the military memorabilia on display from the Berks Military History Museum. Some of the items included uniforms and tools that dated as far back as the Spanish American War.
“We thank you, veterans, for answering the call to serve our country and protect our freedom,” said Duff. “With gratitude and honor, I say thank you for your sacrifice.”
By Chris Abruzzo
Just a few months into his Army enlistment, Steve Carollo watched as the Berlin Wall, an iconic Cold War symbol, was brought down in both crumbles and chunks.
A Military Police officer, Carollo, 19 at the time, was assigned to guard a checkpoint separating East and West Germany in the event of unrest. Instead, he witnessed jubilation as crowds chipped away at the wall, which would eventually fall on Nov. 9, 1989.
“As I look back on it now, I was there witnessing history,” said Carollo, now a driver for Penske Logistics . “It was the end of the Cold War. Even 28 years later, it is so surreal that I lived through a part of history.”
From the Vietnam War to the Global War on Terrorism, Penske's more than 1,700 veterans have served on the frontlines to some of the most significant changes in world history.
As Penske pauses this week to thank the more than 18 million U.S. veterans for their service and sacrifice, our associates reflected on how their time in the military helped prepare them for their current roles with Penske Truck Leasing and Penske Logistics.
It all began with a call to serve.
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Steve Carollo
Like many veterans, Carollo was first inspired to join the military by his father, a Korean War veteran.
“The Army kind of makes you who you are, and I wanted to emulate that,” Carollo said. “He went in when he was 17, and I went in when I was 18.
“He's been gone 11 years, but I still have a shadow box of all his medals,” Carollo said. “It was a proud moment for me because his name is on the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C.”
Carollo sees many similarities between his time with the military and his role with Penske. “Learning to overcome has prepared me for the always changing needs of the customer,” he said.
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Willie Reeves
Willie Reeves, a maintenance supervisor in Dallas, Texas, helped train and develop soldiers for real-world deployments during his time in the Army. Reeves, himself, would be deployed to Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq and Kuwait.
“I joined the Army so that I could serve my country,” said Reeves. “The military provides so much structure and teaches you how to prepare for day-to-day activities as well as how to cope with adversity.”
Reeves said his time in the Army also taught him about working with others among different points of diversity as well as how to maximize each person’s strengths on a team to achieve an overall goal.
“The military prepared me to get the job done on time, to standard and on budget,” Reeves said. “Safety is second nature. Veterans have an ingrained respect for policies and procedures.
“We are experts at teaching, coaching, mentoring and counseling subordinates,” he said. “We are dedicated to helping and serving others and being consummate professionals who will represent the organization in the highest esteem.”
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Stacey Swiney
Stacey D. Swiney, a technician II in North Tyler, Texas, was fresh out of high school when he enlisted in the Army. After a time in South Korea and back stateside, Swiney would serve one tour in Afghanistan and two tours in Iraq.
“You had to watch your back and others’ backs all the times,” said Swiney, who was a mechanic during his time in the Middle East. “You didn’t know when you were going to get shot at or anything. Once you were there for a while, your nerves calmed down, but you still watched your back.”
While in Afghanistan, Swiney worked on combat and supply vehicles to make sure they were ready to operate at any time. “We did complete engine swaps, changing a light bulb and anything down to changing a tire – all in the middle of the desert,” he said.
Swiney credits his time in the military for teaching him life-lessons that transfer to his current role with Penske. “The military gave me training in management and a better knowledge of vehicles that I most likely would have not received otherwise,” he said.
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Alex Shinabarger
Alex Shinabarger, a maintenance supervisor in Wixom, Michigan, served as a boat mechanic and then as a heavy equipment mechanic working on construction equipment in the Marine Corps.
“Making sure that your entire team is taken care of and has your full support is imperative to an operation like Penske,” Shinabarger said.
“From problem-solving techniques, small-unit leadership, public speaking and getting to know and understand what makes your technicians tick in order to get the most beneficial productivity out of them are all attributes that I can credit the military for,” he said.
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Those qualities, along with composure under pressure, strong attention to detail and a big-picture view, make veterans such a great fit for roles with Penske and Penske Logistics.
“The military does a phenomenal job of teaching skills that relate to our business,” said Ron Schwartz, director of staffing services. “Our outreach efforts to veterans continues to grow each year.”
Both Penske Truck Leasing and Penske Logistics are committed to hiring veterans and have been named 2017 Military-Friendly Employers by Victory Media, the publisher of G.I. Jobs magazine.
In addition, Penske partners and supports military-friendly organizations, including: The Paralyzed Veterans of America’s Mission: ABLE campaign, Support Military Spouses, World T.E.A.M. Sports and Toys for Tots.
Penske Truck Leasing and Penske Logistics offer a range of career opportunities, including: truck fleet maintenance technicians, truck drivers, fleet maintenance supervisors, operations management roles, logistics and supply chain operations roles and many others. Visit www.GoPenske.com/careers/veterans for more information on career opportunities.
By Bernie Mixon
When you hit the road as a professional truck driver or as a consumer with a car or Penske rental moving truck, you may encounter roadside work or emergency responders working along the way. Did you know there is a correct way to approach these situations? According to the National Safety Commission, 71 percent of Americans do not know this.
On multi-lane roadways, “move over” laws require drivers to merge away from vehicles working alongside the highway. This helps provide an empty travel lane of safety for emergency responders, tow truck drivers or other workers. In some states, this is called a “steer clear” law.
Credit: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Being alert and knowing what to do in case an emergency or stopped vehicle is parked roadside is something Penske takes very seriously.
“Penske Logistics is committed to providing safe conditions for both our drivers and the general motoring public,” said Rob Helstrom, Penske Logistics’ safety and training director.
When changing lanes is not possible, drivers must reduce their speed while they are passing the roadside workers. The American Safety Commission encourages you to slow down or merge as far away as possible from roadside work when you see flashing lights or signs.
Helstrom says that when it comes to approaching a stopped vehicle on the side of the road, Penske Logistics drivers proceed with caution and continue safe driving habits. One way they do that is by following the five-step process known as the Smith System.
“The Smith System fundamentals of space cushion must be applied by the driver, and we encourage drivers to move over safely to give the stopped vehicle room,” said Helstrom.
The five steps to the Smith System include:
- Aim high in steering. Look beyond the vehicle that is in front of you.
- Get the big picture and look for surrounding hazards.
- Keep your eyes moving and use your peripheral vision.
- Know the space around you. Leave yourself an out.
- Make sure other drivers see your signals (headlights, brake lights and directional).
In addition to knowing their surroundings, motorists driving through the U.S. and Canada should keep in mind that each state and province has different “move over” laws. They may not be consistent with another state’s or province’s law.
For example, according to Florida’s state law, drivers are required to reduce their speed to 20 mph under the speed limit. They must also move out of the lane closest to the emergency vehicles. While in West Virginia, state law requires drivers to move to the farthest lane away from the accident or slow down to 15 mph on a non-divided highway or 25 mph on a divided highway.
In Canada, only some provinces require drivers to move to the farthest lane away from the accident or emergency vehicle. British Columbia’s law requires drivers to reduce their speeds, but if traffic permits, they can drive in the lane next to the accident in order to pass.
In the Northwest Territories, drivers passing within 120 meters of a stopped emergency vehicle must reduce their speed to half the posted speed limit. In the Yukon, however, there are no “move over” laws.
Regardless of which country you’re driving in, professional truck drivers and consumers with Penske rental moving trucks should know the importance of finding a safe place to pull over if an emergency arises. Helstrom makes note of one option in particular.
“Select a location that allows the vehicle to be fully off the roadway and completely away from traffic,” said Helstrom. “The preferred option is for drivers to utilize designated areas such as rest stops, truck stops and emergency pull-off areas. This will help ensure they are free and clear of moving vehicles.”
Failure to follow each state’s or province’s procedure can result in a fine or, worse, an injury.
Remember to drive safe and know how to react when you see the flashing lights. Check out the American Safety Commission’s interactive map and AAA’s breakdown of each state’s and province’s laws to learn more.
Are you an AAA member planning a household move? Penske is AAA’s exclusive truck rental partner offering AAA members discounts on truck rentals and moving supplies. Penske Truck Rental offers free unlimited miles on all one-way truck rentals, discounts for college students and members of the military as well as packing supplies and 24/7 roadside assistance. Are you ready to make a reservation? Visit the Penske Truck Rental website for more information.
By Chris Abruzzo
