Features
- Contractor of the Month Louis Botelho is recognized for his kindness and generosity.
» read more
- Showusyourtruck.com March Winners
Mercer: Curtis & Donna O'Farrell's "Miss Maggie May"
"Best of the Rest": Charles Gale's "Old School" cabover
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HIGHLIGHTS
Independence Day/Independents Day
Jim Reeves suggests ways to help Mercer contractors be more successful.
July 4th Weekend
Office/Shippers Closings
Event Schedule
Mercer's next event:
Walcott Truckers Jamboree
July 9-10, 2009
Walcott, IA @ Iowa 80 Truck Stop
This year's how will feature a few beautiful Mercer trucks! Please stop by and say Hello.
In The Headlights: Tammy Wilcoxson
Q: What do you do at Mercer? What is a typical workday like for you?
A: Well, I am in the Safety Department. I review the new recruits' references, MVR's, physicals. ect. ... and decide whether or not they are Mercer material. Once they are here for orientation, I prepare the driver files and go over all paperwork with them that is required to be signed. I also keep track of who is on warning, probation, and restricted status. When not doing that, I do references-out and terminations.
Q: How long have you worked at Mercer?
A: I began here in June of 2000, after I graduated from high school. In 2001, I had the absolutely insane idea that I wanted to be a nurse. I somehow had forgotten that the sight of needles made me queasy, and bodily fluids grossed me out. Yup, I am pleading temporary insanity. So, after a month or two of my CNA career, I decided Mercer was my home, not the nursing homes. And here I am 7 years or so later.
Q: What do you like to do on the weekends?
A: I absolutely love the weekends! I love waking up with my daughter and not having to run and take her to daycare. She is my little princess. And every other weekend we get my stepson, which is my lil' man. Between my husband (child #3) and two children, I am pretty busy. But I would not change a thing for the world. Kendyl is 1 and Gavin will be 5 this July. I love just hanging out with them and my husband.
Q: Name 5 items we'd most likely always find in your fridge. A: Ummm...milk, juice, Pepsi, ketchup (ughhh, totally my husbands) and that monster from Ghostbusters! Yup, gotta love the 80's movies!
Q: Name three simple things that make you happy.
A: 1. My daughters smile. 2. My family. 3. Sleeping In.
Q. Do you have plans for 4th of July weekend?
A: Yes. Last year Kendyl was just a few weeks old. Slept through the whole thing. I'm so excited to see her face! I hope she won't be scared. I doubt it though, she is my little wild child. We are going to my parents for a cook out and fireworks.
Q:What did you want to be when you grew up?
A: A K-Mart cashier. I use to always pretend with my Mom's stuff that I was scanning it and putting it into old grocery bags. My poor brother always had to be the customer. Luckily, I grew out of that by about the 4th grade. My brother was starting to refuse to play along.
Q: If a mouse crawled across your office floor, how are you most likely to react?
A: I would probably try to feed it. And then of course it would get a name. Something like Mickey or Fivel.
Q: What's your favorite song (or book, or movie)?
A: Hmmm....way to many favorite songs. Favorite book is the Twilight Series. And movies are Twilight and Poltergeist. Love the scary movies!
Q: What was the last book you read?
A: Twilight.
Q: Where is your favorite place in the world?
A: Disneyworld of course!
Q: What are you most proud of? A: My daughter.
Q: Which celebrity did you have a crush on when you were a teenager?
A: Johnny Depp and Janie Lane from Warrant.
Q:What do you like most about working at Mercer?
A: The laid back atmosphere. And the people that work here.
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Hello once again from sunny Mercertown!
Summer is finally here, and with the humidity in the Ohio Valley, I find myself wondering why I was so anxious for summer to arrive. At any rate, I guess a little sweat is still better than frostbite. Aside from heat and humidity, summer brings something else that affects our industry - more traffic! That's right, now that summer is here, more people will be vacationing, which means more people out on the highways to cut in front of you, get in your blind spots, and test your driving skills. Another thing that you'll see more often during the summer are work zones - you know, the areas along the highway with the big orange signs that somehow make 75% of the population completely forget how to drive.
Obviously there isn't much we can do to remove these hazards (people) from the road, but there are some things that you can do to help get that load moved from point A to B safely.
* Be sure that you are getting enough rest and are eating properly. When that guy in front of you that is talking on his cell phone, searching for something good on the radio and eating his lunch suddenly decides to jam on the brakes, you need to be alert. Fatigue is definitely a major contributor to highway accidents. The best way to prevent this is to not let your body run out of fuel and make sure you are well rested. If you are tired, DON'T DRIVE.
* Always drive defensively and stay away from aggressive drivers. Always maintain a safe following distance and be aware of the vehicles around you. If you see someone driving aggressively, get some distance between you.
* Maintain a safe speed. Speeding is only going to increase your chances of being involved in an accident. (It also increases the chances of you visiting your friendly neighborhood fuel stops more often.)
* Be sure you are slowing down in those work zones. We have already covered that most drivers on the road lose their mind after entering work zones. But you also have to be on the lookout for workers and vehicles entering and exiting the work areas. Slowing down in these zones will definitely give you a little more time to react should something unexpected happen.
* Most importantly, BUCKLE UP! Our good friend and Safety Director/used car salesman/surgeon Len Dunman would reprimand me if I didn't mention this. If everything above fails to keep you accident free, your seatbelt is your last line of defense. So please, for your safety, buckle that seat belt.
Well that's enough from me for one letter (I know most people can only take me in small doses). Until next time, be safe out there on the road, watch out for one another and have a great summer.
Brian Helton
Director of Recruiting
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Driver Appreciation Events
Mercer's Fall 2009 Driver Appreciation dates have been posted.
Go here and mark your calendars!
Trailers for sale!
Flatbeds and step decks are available.
For price quotes or more information,
call Gerald Garrison.
800-626-5375 Ext. 3321
Keep an eyes on your email in-box for our Walcott Wrap-up Newsletter. We'll deliver interviews, photos and news from the big show!
The next newsletter should arrive in your in-box July 15th! |
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