NICK STRIMBU TRUCKING FALL 2017 Fall Issue

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Nick

Strimbu

Trucking

Fall 2017

NICK STRIMBU INC., REBUILDING AMERICA ONE TRUCK LOAD AT A TIME

IN THIS ISSUE

This is a limited hiring window NE Ohio/Western Pennsylvania premium carrier, Nick Strimbu Inc. is seeking qualified CDL Class A flatbed and refrigerated drivers to join our team. We have the freight if you have the skill, experience, and motivation to make the cut. We are looking to hire 10 drivers in October and November.

Tired of being a CDL driver who only makes it home one or two days a month? Nick Strimbu Inc. is a family owned, regional carrier that operates primarily East of the Mississippi. Our drivers enjoy weekly home time. There is no such thing as spending a 34 hour restart at a truckstop over a weekend here at Nick Strimbu Inc. We want you to spend your time off at home with your friends and family. Our regional shipping lanes not only allow for weekly home time, but also keep you closer to home. You have the peace of mind that if there is an emergency, you aren’t on the other side of the country days away from where you need to be.

Worried about sacrificing pay for home time?

What’s the point of paying mileage unless the miles matter? At Nick Strimbu Inc, we pay miles with a scale that understands not all runs are equal. Near or far, loaded or unloaded, experienced or entry level, we have a scale for you.

Last year, our flatbed drivers averaged $56,000, while our refrigerated drivers averaged $62,000 with income potential up to $68,000. All while getting home weekly.

A reputable company that offers both

Nick Strimbu Inc. has been in business since 1926. That’s 91 years of keeping driver’s wheels turning and delivering our customer’s freight. We offer exceptional wages, reliable home time and outstanding benefits for our drivers. Apply Online at www.nickstrimbu.com or call 330.619.5434.

How Our Sliding Pay Scale Works When drivers find out we are a mileage company, there are always two immediate questions they ask. “What is your cpm and how many miles will I get?”

The short answer is “It varies and it doesn’t matter.”

Why Our Driver Turnover Is Ultra Low 16% The American Trucking Association reports that turnover at large carriers dropped to 71% at the end of 2016. The small carrier turnover rate drop was even more dramatic, down to 64%. So why is Nick Strimbu Inc. enjoying an incredibly low 16% driver turnover rate when similar companies are nearly 50 points higher?

Regional CDL Drivers Wanted by Thomas Banks

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When drivers find out we are a mileage company, there are always two immediate questions they ask. “What is your cpm and how many miles will I get?”

The short answer is “It varies and it doesn’t matter.”

Operating on the East Coast and Northeast doesn’t give drivers much of a chance to really rack up the weekly miles. And that is just one of the reasons why drivers don’t like operating in that region for a typical (flat rate) mileage company. We understand this at Nick Strimbu Inc., and have structured our pay scale to take shorter mileage into consideration.

Example: If you drive 400 miles for your haul, you will make $175 a rate of 43.5cpm. But if you drive 201 miles for your haul (same short haul category), you will still make $175 for that haul……at a rate of 87cpm!

Our mileage pay slides. The shorter your haul, the greater the cpm rate is.

This allows our drivers to make a high income no matter how many miles they get because the number of miles do not matter, it is the type of miles that matter.

How does it work? Last week we had a driver who only had 1,838 miles but he made $1305 for the week…….an average pay of 71 cpm! He had a lot of short haul rates that carry mandatory minimum pays. So while his mileage didn’t rack up, his pay sure did!

2017 MILEAGE RATES

Short Haul Rates Loaded miles less than or equal to 400 miles. All deadhead miles will be paid at 43.5 per mile for 1 + year experience, 40 cpm for less than 1 year.

0-100 miles $75.00 – minimum pay of 75 cpm plus deadhead pay

101-200 miles $125 – minimum pay of 62 cpm plus deadhead pay

201-400 miles $175 – minimum pay of 43.5 cpm plus deadhead pay

Mid-Range Rates- 401-700 miles

1 + year experience 43.5 cpm

Less than 1 yr exp .40 cpm Long Haul Rates- 700 or more miles

1 + year experience .41 cpm

Less than 1 yr exp .38 cpm

How Our Sliding Pay Scale Works

Example: If you drive 400 miles for your haul, you will make $175 a rate of 43.5cpm. But if you drive 201 miles for your haul (same short haul category), you will still make $175 for that haul……at a rate of 87cpm!

It is this sliding pay scale that allowed our drivers to average between $56,000 and $62,000 last year and sill have weekly home time while operating in the Eastern United States.

For more information on Regional Driving opportunities at Nick Strimbu Inc, visit our website at www.nickstrimbu.com or call us at (330) 619-5434.

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The American Trucking Association reports that turnover at large carriers dropped to 71% at the end of 2016. The small carrier turnover rate drop was even more dramatic, down to 64%. So why is Nick Strimbu Inc. enjoying an incredibly low 16% driver turnover rate when similar companies are nearly 50 points higher?

There are many reasons for driver turnover, the economy, freight availability and expectation gap to name a few. Here at Nick Strimbu Inc., we are focusing on driver satisfaction. We believe that when a driver is truly satisfied with things like pay, regular home time, equipment maintenance and driver appreciation, they are significantly more likely to continue driving for us despite any external factors in the marketplace. I routinely explain to potential drivers that even though we are in a growth mode, I would rather hire fewer drivers that are a good fit than roll the dice on creating a revolving door in the recruiting and retention department. We have drivers that have been working here since the 1980’s and I am trying to find and hire drivers that will still be working here in the 2040’s.

It sounds like an insane concept in this day and age, but it is one that Nick Strimbu Inc. is well positioned to achieve.

STABILITY – Nick Strimbu Inc. is a

family owned business in operation since 1926. Nearly 100 years and 4 generations later, Nick Strimbu Inc. has not only survived, but thrived in a competitive market that has claimed so many other family owned carriers. From the steel that was used to make the planes, tanks and trucks of World War II to the cheese in your refrigerator, our drivers’ wheels have kept turning.

DIVERSITY – Nick Strimbu Inc. is not

tied to any one specific industry or customer. Our diversity of refrigerated and flatbed freight has allowed our drivers to continue moving freight and supporting their families. From the Great Depression to the Great Recession, the drivers at Nick Strimbu Inc. have enjoyed job and income security despite what the economy was doing.

STRENGTH – The backbone of Nick

Strimbu Inc. is our drivers. Understanding that our drivers are not only among the most professional in the industry but also people with families, wants, needs and desires has created a distinctly familial work environment. We lower the expectation gap by being up front with company realities and demonstrate from day one that we will do everything possible to ensure our drivers’ personal and professional satisfaction.

Drivers come to Nick Strimbu Inc. for many different reasons (pay, benefits, home time, etc). The one reason why they all stay is the family atmosphere. Our drivers immediately recognize that while

we may not be perfect, we strive to take care of the people that take care of us……our drivers. Our drivers are known by name, not by truck number. Our drivers know that when push

comes to shove, the management at Nick Strimbu Inc. will be there for them, just as our drivers are here for us day in and day out.

Embracing a selective hiring process that looks beyond mere industry experience, utilizing a train to standard not to time mentality, and realizing that not every qualified applicant is a good fit for us or vice-versa means that when we hire a driver…….we keep that driver. And that is the Strimbu Difference.

Visit www.nickstrimbu.com or call (330) 619-5434 for more information.

FAST FACTS

The Strimbu Difference - How a regional trucking company enjoys an ultra-low 16% turnover rate.

High turnover rate is not only a retention issue, but is a safety issue as well. A 2003 report conducted by the Department of Transportation found that truck drivers who averaged three or more job changes within a year were twice as likely to be involved in multiple crashes than drivers with a lower job change rate.

Companies with higher driver turnover had greater crash rates than carriers with a lower number of drivers switching from job to job.

The Revolving Door

71% Large company turnover

rates in 2017. These are all time lows?

16% Nick Strimbu Inc. turnover

rate in 2017. Our most senior driver has been driving here since October 1980.

Many of today’s CDL drivers weren’t even born yet.

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Nobody Likes Breakdowns

I have interviewed drivers from every walk of life and every background imaginable. Frustrated with being treated like a number at the mega-carriers, many drivers try to find that smaller, family owned company where they are treated like a person and not a commodity.

Unfortunately, far too many “mom and pop” trucking companies share a few common problems that the mega carriers typically do not. One of the most common complaints that I hear from talking to drivers during the interview process is frustration with vehicle maintenance.

…Or to put it bluntly, old, junky equipment.

Nobody likes breakdowns. Well, except maybe the maintenance providers. Carriers lose money when a driver is broken down, the customers are not getting the freight they need when they need it, and drivers - even if they are lucky enough to receive breakdown pay - are still losing much of the income they rely on to provide for their families. The risks of putting up with old equipment and poor maintenance programs are things that many drivers are seemingly willing to face just for the chance to have a personal work environment where they are treated like a member of the family. But if you ask me, too many families are dysfunctional.

It Is More than Just Pride

Dysfunctional families use and abuse each other. And small carriers that provide their drivers with sub-par equipment are no different. It is an abusive relationship where the drivers are asked to risk their livelihood, their ability to provide for their own family, and risk their own lives and the lives of the general motoring public…..all because maintenance is not a priority. Nobody takes pride in driving junk. And if a driver or carrier does not have pride in what they drive or what they do, what type of customer service are they going to provide?

We take pride in everything we do for our customers and our drivers at Nick Strimbu Inc. It shows in the equipment we have, the way our drivers carry themselves and is evident by the customer feedback we receive. But it doesn’t just end there - it is more than just pride. Maintaining a modern fleet provides our drivers with comfort while on the road. It provides our drivers and customers with reliability.

Reduced breakdown time means more on time deliveries and on time paychecks for our drivers. It also ensures our drivers make it home to their families safely, as well as the other motorists we share the road with.

At Nick Strimbu Inc., we rotate our fleet every 5 years. Our fleet average is 1.3 years old with only 113,000 odometer miles. We have invested over $7.5 Million dollars this year in new trucks and replaced over half our fleet with brand new, American Made, 2018 Freightliners. Yes, we specifically ordered our trucks to be Made in the USA and are proud of it! We included amenities such as built in power inverters and refrigerators for our drivers’ comfort. Our trucks not only provide our drivers with the blend of speed and

power they require to be on-time, but also increased fuel economy for the environment.

Since 1926, Nick Strimbu Inc. has been a leader in the transportation industry. Four generations later, this family owned carrier is still living up to its original standards of excellence in every aspect of our daily operations. From driver management to fleet maintenance….. Sustainability, Stability and Reliability are more than just words at Nick Strimbu Inc. They are part of our commitment to excellent customer service and exceptional driver relations.

Come be part of The Strimbu Difference and help rebuild America….one truck load at a time.

Visit www.nickstrimbu.com or call

(330) 619-5434 for more information.

Reinvesting for our drivers, customers, and community: Why Nick Strimbu Inc. maintains a modern fleet.

by [Article Author] Even in 1926 we used modern

equipment. The first Nick Strimbu truck was a 1924 GMC.

Today, our fleet consists of 2015 & 2016 Peterbilts and 2017 & 2018 Freightliner Cascadias.

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Pay Package – We pay all miles

What’s the point of paying mileage unless the miles matter? At Nick Strimbu Inc, we pay miles with a scale that understands not all runs are equal. Near or far, loaded or unloaded, experienced or entry level, we have a scale for you.

2016 Average Pay was $56,000 - $62,000

Short Haul Rates Loaded miles up to and including 400 miles. All deadhead miles will be paid at .435 per mile for 1 + year experience, .40 cpm for less than 1 year.

0-100 miles $75.00 – minimum pay of .75 cpm plus deadhead pay

101-200 miles $125 – minimum pay of .62 cpm plus deadhead pay

201-400 miles $175 – minimum pay of .43.5 cpm plus deadhead pay

Mid-Range Rates- 401-700 miles

1 + year experience .435 cpm

Less than 1 year experience .40 cpm

Long Haul Rates- 700 or more miles

1 + year experience .41 cpm

Less than 1 year experience .38 cpm

Orientation and Training Pay

Company drivers will be paid during the orientation day and training period. The training period will vary based on experience and will consist

of local and Regional (OTR) deliveries. Drivers in training will be paid $10.00 / hr for On Duty hours.

Special Pay – Driver’s time

Detention Pay $15.00 / hr Layover Pay 20% of bill Breakdown Pay $15.00 / hr Stop Off Pay $35 Tarp Pay $20 Ever hear the saying if the wheels aren’t turning, a driver isn’t earning? Not so at Nick Strimbu Inc. We realize that a driver’s time matters, and sometimes your wheels won’t be turning

through no fault of your own. When conditions* are met and the unexpected happens, we have you covered.

Paid Vacations and Holidays

1-2 Yrs 1 Week Paid 3-10 Yrs 2 Weeks Paid 11-14 Yrs 2 Wks Paid & 1 Wk Unpaid 15-19 Yrs 3 Weeks Paid & 1 Week Unpaid 20+ Yrs 4th Week Paid at $625

After one full year of service 8 paid Holidays at $120 per day.*

In addition to the paid time off our drivers enjoy regular time off as well. At Nick Strimbu Inc, our drivers don’t have to be on the road for weeks at a time just to get a couple days off here and there. Our drivers are home every week. If there’s a home emergency, we will do everything we can to get our driver back safe and as quickly as possible. Our dispatchers earn your respect and keep you producing a high wage, but they are understanding as well.

Health and Life Insurance

We realize the importance of your well-being here at Nick Strimbu Inc. Our drivers enjoy a robust health care plan and employer provided life and disability insurance policy in the event the worst happens. We want our drivers to be concentrating on the road, not distracted by other worries and what if’s.

Highmark BC/BS Community Blue Opt 10

Dental and Vision coverage

Short Term Disability pays $300 week

Life Insurance - $35,000

Accidental death & dismemberment $35K

Dependent Life Insurance Spouse and Child

Low deductible $1,000/2,000

Healthcare premiums per week as of 12/19/2016

Single $31.41

Family $71.48

Parent/children $60.11

Husband/Wife $67.34

Annual Nick Strimbu Inc. Driver’s golf outing and BBQ.

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Pension and Retirement Plans

We don’t run our trucks until they die, why should your work life be any different? At Nick Strimbu Inc we believe that a life of honest work should have its just reward. After a year with us our drivers qualify to participate in not just one, but two retirement plans.

Union Pension – weekly contribution paid to a Western PA pension fund

401K with .30 on the dollar employer match up to 4% election by the driver

Award and Appreciation Programs

Everyone wants to feel appreciated for a job well done. We realize that drivers are no different. That is why we have developed several programs that not only show our appreciation for our drivers, but financially reward them for excellence in the performance of their duties.

Quarterly & Annual Safety Bonus

Clean DOT Inspection Bonus

Driver Referral Bonus

Driver of the Year Program

Semi-Annual Safety Breakfast

Driver Appreciation Lunches

Trucks, Maintenance & Equipment

Just because Nick Strimbu Inc is a family business, it does not mean our drivers settle for less. Our drivers enjoy all the gadgets, bells, whistles, and top of the line equipment and service that the mega carriers provide.

Peterbilt and Freightliner

Truck rotation every 5 years

24 hour Roadside and Maint Assistance

People Net Electronic Logs and Navigation

EZ Pass, Drivewyze, Fleet Fuel Cards

Alternate Power Units (APU’s)

Accident Event Recorders (AER’s)

The Nick Strimbu Inc Difference

The trucking industry has changed a lot since my grandfather climbed behind the wheel of a 1924 GMC truck and hauled his first load of clay pipe out of New Philadelphia, Ohio in 1926. The company he founded, and that four generations of my family has operated, has evolved right along with it. We've had to, or we wouldn't still be here after nearly 100 years.

During that time we survived the Great Depression, hauled the steel used to make the planes, tanks, and trucks that helped the Greatest Generation win World War II, rode the post-war economic boom and rode out the collapse of the steel industry that forced many of the companies we competed with over the years to close their doors. Today, we've emerged as one of the nation's strongest, most reliable regional truckload carriers capable of delivering an incredible variety of freight to markets that serve more than half of America's population in 24 hours or less.

How did we do it? How did we survive when so many other haulers fell by the wayside? The answer's really quite simple: Nick Strimbu, Inc. isn't just in the trucking business. We don't just deliver freight, we deliver customer service and we're better at it than anyone else. That's the standard my grandfather set when he said the words that have become our guiding principle: "Our customers' reputation is our most precious cargo."

At Nick Strimbu, Inc. we strengthen your bottom line by constantly investing in new trucks and trailers equipped with state-of-the-art technology, employing only highly-skilled and motivated professional drivers, and providing them with the dispatch and logistical support they need to deliver unparalleled value and unmatched customer service. My grandfather would expect, we will accept, and you will receive nothing less.

2017 National Interstate Driver of the Year. Stephen Carson, Nick Strimbu Inc.

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After years of working for companies that made promises they couldn't keep, being just another number and no recognition for his work ethics, my husband

started looking for a new company to drive for. It didn't take long and he came across Nick Strimbu Inc. They were close to home, offered competitive pay, benefits, up to date equipment, weekends home, paid holidays. Everything we were missing from his previous companies.

He started in April 2017 and we were struggling to make ends meet because his previous company couldn't get him the miles needed, bills were falling behind and we were just getting by. Although we knew the change would mean no pay check for a couple weeks, we both agreed it would be worth it in the long run. We couldn't imagine just how right we were.

In no time my husband was out on the road and things were looking up. He was getting the miles needed and when we were still trying to catch up with the bills, Nick Strimbu stepped up to help us. For the first time in a very long time, we have managed be ahead. Not living pay check to pay check.

After playing musical trucks a couple times, they let my husband know they were getting new trucks in and he would be getting one of them. I was ecstatic about it, a truck with a refrigerator! My first thought was how much we will save with him being able to have meals in the truck! With his microwave and meal planning, the cost on the road will go down! I can't wait.

Here we are not quite 3 months with the company and they have made us part of the Strimbu Family! I couldn't be prouder of my husband Scott! Yesterday he was asked if he would be interested in becoming a trainer. When he told me I was absolutely awe struck. My husband is a hard worker who gives 100% all the time! But Nick Strimbu is the first company to appreciate it! They have taken the time to see how hard Scott works and I couldn't ask for a better company for him to work for.

I guarantee, if you're looking for a company who treats drivers with respect, friendship and personal connection you will never find with larger companies, call Nick Strimbu!

A great new beginning for great drivers!

— Barb Simpson

“I have been in the military for 37 years and with Nick Strimbu Inc. for 15 years. Mobilized and deployed for 4 and a half years, in all of that time, I have known no other company better in working with the military and with the amount of time I need off to perform my military functions.” — CSM Keith Bright

“I find the pay at Nick Strimbu excellent. I’ve been with the mega companies before where you are fighting for every mile you get. Here, they get me home every week. I’m still running the same amount of miles without having to take a 34 hour reset at a truck stop in the middle of nowhere. They know me by my name, not my truck number. It’s refreshing to be with a company that treats you how you want to be treated.” — Coryn Hayes

“I came from a carrier that made a lot of promises but didn’t deliver. Nothing was more frustrating than sitting around waiting for them to find me a load. Here, my next load is pre-planned before I even deliver most of the time. I didn’t think it was possible to be this satisfied with a company.” — Heather Pearson

“I’ve worked in factories all my life and got tired of my job being outsourced. I’m new to the industry, but there aren’t any companies near here that can compare to what Strimbu offers. I’m home every week with great pay, benefits and job stability so my family and I aren’t worried about losing my job ever again. New equipment, union pension, 401k, medical & dental, paid holidays and vacation…what more do you want? Sure it is a demanding job, but Strimbu pays you well, treats you well, just to do the job well.” — James LaGamba

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Actually

Whether you are talking about Regional or OTR driving routes, everyone always talks about driver satisfaction and home time. While everyone likes to talk about how they get their drivers home…..at Nick Strimbu Inc., we actually do it.

No matter if you are new to the industry or are a seasoned veteran, being away from home is one of the things most drivers and their families are concerned about. We understand this at Nick Strimbu Inc. Our shipping lanes are primarily east of the Mississippi River, with 70-75% of our freight going towards the east coast and northeast region. This means that you are never ‘too far away’ from home in the case of an emergency.

It also means that we get you home every week. Our freight is designed to start each week by delivering freight from our local customers ‘outward’. Quite simply, this means that we route our drivers back to the home terminal area at the end of the week to get pre-loaded for next week’s deliveries. It’s as simple as that. While everyone else wants you to spend your restart at a truck stop in the middle of nowhere while they try to find you a load, Nick Strimbu drivers are enjoying their time off at home. Companies like to talk about their high cpm and how many miles a driver can expect. I hear commercials that talk about how

much their top driver makes. One of the hot topics to talk about now is

‘guaranteed minimum pay’ or ‘guaranteed hours’. Again, there is a whole lot of talk going on, but at Nick Strimbu Inc., we actually do it.

We track weekly low wage earners and find out why they are making below what we and Teamsters Local #261 consider an acceptable wage. Whether it is a new driver who needs tips for more efficient

trip planning, or a veteran who is feeling under the weather, we find out and address the issue. You heard right, we actually do something about it.

I hear companies talk about how their drivers want to feel appreciated. At Nick Strimbu Inc. our drivers deserve to be appreciated. If you can’t see the difference in those two sentences, you’ve never been with a company that does more than just talk about things. Our drivers are known for their

professionalism and excellent customer service. Not only do our drivers represent our company, they have a voice in our company. We value driver input and act upon their recommendations and ideas on how to be a better company. The open door policy at Nick Strimbu Inc. means that every driver feels welcomed to speak with senior management directly about issues our drivers face. This means our drivers actually have a say in how we operate as a company.

While other companies have their token Driver Appreciation Week once a year, at Nick Strimbu Inc. we actually do it every day.

Find out for yourself what The Strimbu Difference is all about. Call our recruitment and retention manager Tom Banks at (330) 619-5434. Get the chance to speak to our drivers and find out first-hand what makes Nick Strimbu Inc. the

first choice in carriers. Don’t just sit there and talk about making a change in your life. Follow the Strimbu

philosophy and actually Do It.

www.NickStrimbu.com

Other Companies Say

It…

We

Do It.

A typical Friday or Saturday afternoon at the Nick Strimbu Inc. terminal in Brookfield, OH. Yes, we actually get our drivers home.