Ship's Log Spring 2016

8/16/2019 Ship's Log Spring 2016

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JUNE 2016

Admiral Merchants: Building for the Future

SPRING ISSUE

Ship’s LogThe Admiral Merchants Motor Freight Strategic Prole is one of ourmost important governance documents. Every member of the Admiralteam has a copy of that document, and strives to live its principlesevery day. In that document we recognize as one of our Core Valuesthat:

We exist for our Agent and Driver partners. We listen to them andmeet their needs with superior service.

Unfortunately, many of the businesses all of us have to deal with do

not listen and do not provide superior service. When was the lasttime anyone had a good interaction with your cable TV company? However, at AdmiralMerchants we work very hard on communicating with our agent and driver partners, and weknow that listening is often the most important part of communicating. Every day, membersof the Admiral team burn up the phone lines as we work with our agent and driver partners,in order to move freight all over this country and Canada. In addition, we are thrilled everytime one of our partners visits our ofce in Minneapolis. In the last few months, we havehad the opportunity to host a number of our contractors in Minneapolis, and during eachof those meetings we hopefully demonstrated our superior listening skills. We also schedulea number of events across the country where we interact with our agent and driver partners.Members of the sales team are on the road all the time, dropping in on agents and trying tohelp them improve their business. Wes Dyer, our driver recruiter par excellence, is constantlyon the road visiting with drivers in all parts of this country. We have driver appreciationBBQs and other meetings where we deliver the Admiral message to our contractors, work onsafety with them, and learn how we can improve our service.

Two of the most important events where we meet with our agent and driver partners, bothoccurred in April.

The Mid-America Trucking Show, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, is the largest heavyduty trucking event of the year. We were once again thrilled to have the Beck Truck andmembers of our team in Louisville for the show. Doug Milroy and I were there for one day ofthe event and had a great opportunity to visit with many of our contractors and, hopefully,future contractors. Wes Dyer, Mike Grifn, Brent Layton and Rusty Parker of the Admiral

team were there for the whole event, and really did a great job of representing AdmiralMerchants to all who stopped by our exhibit. As I always do at those events, I learned a lot.

On the weekend of April 15-17, we held our annualTerry Bramer Circle of Excellence andTom Seitz Million Dollar Agents recognition weekend, also in Louisville, Kentucky. TheMarriott hotel there was a great host for our event. This is our most important agent andcontractor event of the year, where we thank all of our contractors and agents who achievecertain revenue milestones. Augusta Kirk once again planned and delivered another greatevent. Everyone who attended seemed to have a great time, as some of the photos of thatevent in this newsletter will demonstrate. Thanks to Augusta and all who worked on thisevent.

In Tis Issue Admiral Merchants:Building for the Future 1-2

Accounting, Billing & Process And Settlements Update 3

Personnel Changes In TePermit Department 3

News And Notes FromTe I Dept 4

Retirement Announcements 5

Bright Start to 2016 6

Permits 6

Introduction 7

A Look At Rebills 7

Agent-Contractor Council 8

In Memoriam 8

Office Visits 9-10

Bill Bolish Employee Of Te Ye

Introducing Karen Preusser 11

Updates From Te LegalizationDepartment 12

Roadcheck 2016

2016 erry Bramer Circle OfExcellence and om Seitz MilliDollar Agent Criteria 14

erry Bramer Circle Of Excelle

om Seitz Milliion Dollar Agen

Snapshots From Te AwardsMeeting 17-19

Louisville, KY x2 20

Doug’s Dedications 21-23

ELD-FAQ 24CSA Scores Continue o Be AProblem 25

imes, Tey Are A Changin! 25

Safe Driving Awards: OctoberTru January 2016 26

op Revenue Producing Agentso Date 27

op 20 Drivers By Equipment y Year o Date 27


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Admiral Merchants: Building For The Future (con’t from page 1)

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Although the numbers were down, virtually everyTerry Bramer contractor I visited with was optimistic about the future. Wface some challenges now – freight volumes and freight rates are down. However, the conclusion of most is that once we gethe election, things will start picking up again.

The theme of our recognition weekend in Louisville was:

Admiral Merchants: Building for the FutureI believe that Admiral Merchants is the platform all of us – Admiral, and our agent and driver partners – can build on fosuccessful future. However, I recognize that all of us have to get better at what we do if that success is to continue.

In my conversations with our honorees in Louisville, I suggested that we needed to make some changes for four reasons:

1. Regulation is becoming more challenging;2. Shipper expectations are changing;3. Freight transportation is becoming more commoditized; and4. The price of mistakes is dramatically increasing.

Shipper expectations are rising, and I think that can be a good thing. In order for all of us to succeed, we need to increase tprice which is paid for the services we deliver. If our shipper customers have low expectations of service, they will not be pre

to pay the price for the superior service we deliver. If, however, the shipper has high expectations with respect to service, anmeet those expectations, then the shipper will be prepared to pay a premium price. In Louisville, I urged our agents to continto look for shippers with high expectations. I am condent that the great contractors who work with Admiral Merchants willable to meet those expectations.

It should be obvious to all that mistakes are more costly. If the mistake results in a cargo claim, Mark Dooley and his team wtell you about the expense of that. If the mistake results in an accident in which someone is injured, the nancial and humcosts are often overwhelming. However, if a contractor makes a mistake and accepts a load he shouldn’t, or turns down a l which should have been accepted, the price is obvious. Trucks are getting more expensive, and the price of moving a load wdoesn’t pay enough is felt right away. However, the price of sitting and waiting for that “perfect load,” is sometimes even hig All of our contractors know what the cost of running their truck is. However, the operating cost of not running that truck cabe equally dramatic. If we make a mistake and do not meet the expectations of the shipper, we may never get another chanc

that shipper. The cost of lost business is real and continuing. We need to nd shippers with high expectations, and then all of us must strive to meet those expectations. That is our Vision

We are transportation professionals delivering excellent service to our business partners and their customers.

If we are to be successful, if we are to continue to build for the future, we have to meet the shippers’ high expectations. Thnot only a burden which is placed on our contractors. It is a burden which is placed on every member of the Admiral Merchateam here in Minneapolis, and on the road. I’ve asked every member of the sales team to nish every conversation with an a with, “What else can I do to help you with your business?” And then we have to deliver.

Doug Milroy, our new Operations Vice President, has made a number of dramatic changes in our Operations departmedesigned to improve the quality of the service we deliver to our contractors. Finally, Paul Hinrichs, our Safety Director, spok

Louisville about the initiatives he has developed which will improve safety and assist contractors in meeting the expectatiothe shippers.

As always, I was reinvigorated by the conversations I had with all of the independent business owners who choose to work Admiral Merchants. Almost every one of them thanked me for the great job done for them by members of the Admiral teaHowever, given the business environment we all work in now, we cannot rest on our laurels. Every member of the Admiral thas to look at how he or she delivers service to our customers, and work on ways to improve that. I believe I have the commitmof everyone here. It starts with listening and it ends with delivering on the promise of superior service.

Thanks for all you do.

Brian P. ShortPresident and CEO


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As many of you have heard, our accountingdepartment went through some changes inthe past month. Jeff Johnson, our longtimecontroller and leader, decided to retire after

14 years with Admiral to spend time with hisfamily, and work on his shing and golf game– we wish him the best!

As a rst time writer of this article, I’d like to introduce myself.My name is Kelsey Rossow and I took over for Jeff at thebeginning of April. I have been with Admiral Merchants since

July of 2005 working in Processing, Agent Commissions, and Accounting. I have talked with many of you over the years,and look forward to continuing the great experiences andfriendships I’ve had with our many agents and drivers.

On occasion, the Settlement Department receives calls askingus to divulge information about Settlement Pay from someoneother than the Contractor or Agent. Although the requestis usually not meant to be malicious in nature, we will notdisclose any information to non-afliated third parties aboutyour Settlements. Admiral values our customers’ privacy andprotecting your personal information is a priority. We maynot always recognize our callers, so we may occasionally ask forpersonal information that identies the caller before we giveout any information.

Another way we are keeping your information safe is theOnlineSettlements . This is a secure system that requires you to set a password and is available 24/7. This is a great way to get to date on your settlements after hours or on weekends whe

we may not be available, so if you haven’t already registerplease visit our website today under the “Settlements” tab fmore information and get registered today.

Please remember that if you are still turning in trip reportto accurately record all necessary information that Admineeds. Trip reports are the source of information for fuel tareporting, IRP reporting of miles, as well as providing valuainformation for completing state income tax returns. Evetrip sheet should begin with the mileage taken from the ladelivery. Admiral can be and has been audited in the pasand it is important to report the correct miles (including adeadhead miles) for accurate reporting. Just a reminder that we approach the new ELD requirements, all of the paperwoassociated with logs and trip reports will no longer be neede

The summer driving season is almost here and we want again stress safety during this busy season with families aschools out, adding to the congestion on the roads. Have a saand protable summer!

Kelsey Rossow Controller

Permit Specialist Andrew urbiville, recently announced that he would beleaving Admiral to pursue a career more closely related to his eld of study. Andrew started with Admiral as a temp for many months before beingoffered a position in our Permits Department. He was with us for two yearssince then, and his positive energy and attitude will be missed by all. We wishhim the best of luck in his new endeavor!

Jessica Crowe accepted the position of PermitSpecialist upon Andrew’s departure, and has beenadapting to her new role since her start date ofMay 19. Jessica comes to us with a strong permitbackground from her time working with EFS/ -Chek Systems. She is a great addition to the teamand we are lucky to have her!

Megan EricksonPermit Manager

Accounting, Billing & Processing And Settlements Update

Personnel Changes in the Permit Department


4/27

At the 2015 Awards meeting held inLouisville, we presented the themefor 2016: “Building for the Future”.I believes with our solid foundationstarting with hard working Contractors,supported by our agent network and

back office team in Minneapolis, we cancontinue to build a strong organizationhere at Admiral. Our part of the foundation is a web page wefeel is a cut above our competition. Dishon and I continue tomake changes you see on the web page, in addition to changesyou do not see, to help us all move more freight. I wanted tohighlight a few of the changes and enhancements. In addition, we will be rolling out some how-to videos in 2016.

1) Contractors/Drivers, we added a few new items on theLoad Board page.

a. railers Loaded by Agent: Gives you a look at whichagents have moved freight on what trailer types, sorted bytrailer types, with the number of load moved in the last2 calendar months. If I had a particular kind of trailer, I would look at this report and call an agent who loadedthe most trailers of my type and work my way down thelist from there.

b. Loads by State by Agent: Give you a look at which agentsmoved an outbound load from a particular state. If youlook at this report, I would begin to contact those agents who moved loads from the area I will be in, or plan todeliver, while in route to line up another load. Combinethat with the railers Loaded by Agent, you can narrowdown the number of calls made looking for freight.

c. Don’t forget about the Additional Loading Opportunities.Many agents have posted loads out here and severaldrivers have found good paying freight on this board.Check this daily when you are looking at the load boardpage.

2) We rolled out a new incentive to encourage permitorders from ourPermit Request Access System (PRAS).If you are interested in saving some hard earned money

and valuable time, you should be checking out this newsystem. You will be able to order your permits when you want to, whether it is at night, on the weekends or overthe holidays. When you submit your permit app on-line,you will get better and quicker responses. Best of all, youcan minimize or virtually eliminate mistakes made whenordering permits. Tis application provides 24/7 permitrequests. Te new application also conrms what isordered via email with a conrmation # and a copy of thePermit request receipt.

3) Again, if you don’t have the Fuelbook App, you aremissing out on one of the best tools you can have in thepalm of your hands, at a cost that makes sense. You hav2 options, $49.99 a year or $5 a month. For this fee,you will have access to put this app on 2 mobile device You have a phone and tablet, you pay one fee. If you

have a 3rd, that would be an additional feel. All fees arepaid when you sign up for the app and you will be billeannually when due. From the Drivers page, click on FuDiscount Info and you will see the option for FuelbookFuelbook works on the iPhone, iPad and any Androiddevice (phone or tablet). If you have the tool, you alreadknow we have some new discounts at the Pilot/Flying Jstops.

4) If you are scanning and emailing us your documents, we need them to be black and white and either a .tif or.pdf le. We are still getting color photos (.bmp, .jpg)

and the wrong format. If we are not able to nd yourpaperwork, it could mean a short delay in getting youpaid. Te last thing we want to do is delay your pay. You want a virtually fool-proof way to get us your paper woSeveral options are available to you. ripPak or ransoMobile: these allow you to submit from a photo taken byour Android or Apple device. Both are available fromGoogle Play or the Apple App Store. In Cab scanning:ripPak In Cab and ranso Now. With a computerand scanner, you scan from the cab of the truck or homeoffice. Tere are links to this software and other valuableinfo on the Processing page. Look for Scan from ruck

and ruckstop Scanning. Tere is also a link to nd whereto scan your paperwork at a fuel stop.

One of the most valuable tools you have access to isSmartphone. Remember the days of pay phones? Smartphonhave changed the spectrum of communication, and havmade pay phones obsolete. Having all the information at yongertips is becoming a necessary business tool. If you ready for a phone upgrade, get a Smartphone. ry one, yo will like it!

Coming later in 2016, we will be posting some “how-tvideos to help you with some of the tools we have availablethe web page. If you have any questions or concerns regardthe Admiral website or tools provided, the I department ialways here to help!

im NeidDirector-Information System

4

News and Notes from the IT Desk


5/27

Admiral has experienced quite a few personnel changes over the last few months! We were sad temployees retire, but certainly excited to embrace all the new employees as well.

Penny Lynner, our VP of Operations, retired in January after 15 years with Admiral. Penny joined team in May of 2001, and was responsible for many of the innovations that led Admiral to grow fa carrier with $45 million of revenue in the year she joined us, to over $100 million in revenue to

She was a great leader for our Operations/Freight Coordinator department, and she will denitbe missed around the office. Penny named Doug Milroy as her successor, and he joined our team January as well. Doug came to us with an extensive background in transportation, and has t in wthe team already. We wish Penny the best of luck in her retirement, and are so thankful for her devotto her Admiral career over the years.

Jim Mallinger, head of our raffic department, announced his retirement in March. Jim started his career with Admiral in 1983, and in his 33 years of service he primarilyfocused on contracts.

His role over the years became increasingly more complex with the changing rules andregulations, and he successfully identied and negotiated changes to contracts thatprotected Admiral’s interests. He was a dedicated employee that could be counted ontobe here every dayand wasalways willing to work extended hours toget the job done.

Jim’s commitment to our customers and the details of the contracts he worked on wasrecognized in 2009, when he received the quarterly Eagle recognition. He was a quietand focused employee who played a major role in the Admiral team over the years. Mark Wothe, Operations Manager, will be taking over the roles and responsibilities of Jim’sdepartment until further notice. We hope nothing but the best for Jim, and that he isenjoying his well-deserved retirement after a wonderful career with Admiral.

Karen Hedtke, Legalization Coordinator, retired in April after 2 years with Admiral. She joinedteam in 2014, and was able to quickly adapt to the intricate details that come along with Licensand Border Crossing. She was a very dedicated employee who was always willing to speak with dabout any questions or concerns in regards to truck permits and registration. We are thankful Karen’s time with us, and wish her well as she spends more time with her already retired husband busy grandkids. Her successor, Karen Preusser, joined our team in April as the new LegalizaCoordinator, and we are lucky to have her. She has a background in the transportation and Licensindustry, and has already made great connections with some of our drivers since starting with Adm

Most recently, our nancial controller, Jeff Johnson decided to retire after14 years with Admiral. Jeff contributed to many of the valuable changesthat were implemented within the processing and settlements departmentsthroughout his career with us. His job as controller included overseeingthe Accounting, Billing/Processing, and Settlements departments, along with many other nancial decisions. He was a dedicated worker whosedoor was always open, and will be missed by all. His successor for theposition is Admiral’s own, Kelsey Rossow. Kelsey started with us 11 yearsago as a Billing Lead, and was since promoted to Billing Supervisor and Accounting Manager thereafter. Although we were sad to see Jeff go, weknow we are in good hands with Kelsey!

Penny Lynner

Karen Hedtke

Jeff Johnson

Brian Short and Jim Mallinger

Retirement Announcements


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Tere are many challenges of being in thetrucking industry in 2016. It is a difficulttime in which we operate, and there can bea tendency to let frustrations seep in andaffect your attention to detail. imes likethese are often when people cut corners or

miss problems they would ordinarily catch. I am happy to say

that this is not the case with Admiral drivers. We have trackedthe claims numbers for the rst quarter of 2016, and have seensome of the best rates since we began tracking. Tis is not just amatter of “fewer miles means fewer incidents”—the claimsrate in the rst quarter of 2016 was phenomenal.

When we look at our cargo claims, we want to focus on the rateof claims rather than the raw number. We calculate the numberof claims per load hauled. When we use this ratio instead of just the number of claims, we can overcome variation fromyear to year due to the size of the eet or miles traveled. It givesus an apples-to-apples comparison. Looking at the rate, the

rst quarter of 2016 has the lowest cargo claims ratio in the lastten years. In fact, the ratio isless than half of what it was everyyear from 2006-2009.

We look at DO Recordable accident rates as well. We don’thave the same glowing numbers that we do in cargo claims,because we focus on all DO accidents. But if we drill downinto the data a little more, we realize that the preventableDO accidents are almost nonexistent this year. We have beeninvolved in DO Recordable accidents at a higher rate than we would like, but the vast majority of the issues have been causedby other drivers through no fault of the Admiral contractors.

I had many conversations with Admiral contractors iLouisville recently, and they voiced concern over the futuof this industry. Tere are concerns about regulatory changeseconomic changes, and technological changes. Even with of the concerns that Admiral drivers might have, the numbeshow me that difficult times have not broken the spirit of th Admiral driver. When many get sloppy and start to care a litt

less as times look tough, Admiral drivers have gotten bettOne of the great things about working with a company lik Admiral is that we are relatively small. Large-scale issues outof our control will not capsize us. We are nimble enough tha we can navigate through large problems with superior serviEveryone in the industry is going through the same issues th we are, but we are handling them better. If we keep deliveri with the same attention to detail that you have shown througthe start of 2016, then we will actually thrive through thestimes while others fail. I appreciate that you showed thcharacter to get going when times get tough.

As always, if you are involved in an accident, incident, or haa cargo issue, the Claims Department is here to help you 2hours a day, seven days a week at the following numbers:

8:00 AM-5:00 PM (CS ) -- 800-972-8864 ext. 8191Outside of business hours – 612-991-5923

Mark Dooley Director of Claims Management

One year ago, we implemented our newonline Permit System (PRAS). It is nowlocated on the Admiral website underthe “Permits” ab. Several of your fellowowner operators have used it, and havefound it to be an easy and time savingtool when ordering permits. What better way to order your permits than doing

so on your time, not having to wait for our offices to openat 7a, or waiting on hold to talk to a member of the permitteam?! Not only can it save you time, but now you can also savesome money. Effective March 3, 2016 we have implemented adiscount plan where if you submit your permit order(s) onlineor via the Admiral fax/email application, you can save $5 or$10 per trip.

Online application using the new PRAS system – Discount of$10 per trip (Not per permit)

Fax/Email Application – Discount of $5per trip (Not perpermit) – You will not get the discount if you do not use th Admiral Fax/Email Application.

Effective June 1, 2016 we will be adding a $10 service feepertrip if you call in your permit order. Tis will be an additiona$10 phone service fee on top of the current pricing.

We highly encourage you to get familiar with the onliapplication, as it is a great tool for ordering permits 24/7.

Tanks in advance for your cooperation! If you have anquestions or need help getting started with using the onlipermit application system, please e-mail us atpermits@ammcom or call us at 612-843-8270.Tanks,Megan EricksonPermit Manager

Bright start to 2016

Permits


7/27

For those of you whom I have not yetmet, whether it be during an office visithere in Minneapolis or at the April Awards Meeting in Louisville, allow meto introduce myself. My name is DougMilroy and I joined the Admiral team

in January as the new VP of Operations.Over the last four months I have

worked with our Operations department to implement new,positive changes that will benet the productivity of eachemployee, as well as our contractors and agents.

After serving in the United States Navy, I jumped into thetrucking industry and have accumulated years of experiencesince then. From starting out as a Dispatcher with Andersonrucking, to the Director of A S International, I have avariety of industry training. While with Anderson, I trainedand supervised Dispatchers and worked with a eet of almost

400 trucks. After moving to A S International, I focusedon project logistics, heavy haul, and an assortment of othercomplicated logistical operations. I couldn’t be happier thatmy experience and dedication to this industry has led me to Admiral.

I would also like to introduce KimKrause to all of you. Kim replacedRob Litzenberger as a FreightCoordinator when he retired atthe end of December. She hasbeen a quick study, and with the

help of everyone in the Operationsdepartment, she has done a great job working with our contractors andagents. Kim previously worked withBobby and Steve’s Auto World, WasteManagement, and Chek systems, and says the truckingindustry has been a great experience for her. She has alreadybeen a great asset to the Admiral Operations department, an we are lucky to have her.

I would personally like to thank everyone for being so welcoming and for treating me as part of the family in such

a short amount of time, and I’m sure Kim feels the same. Working together and supporting each other in our endeavo will make Admiral all the more successful. I hope to get toknow each and every one of you a little better, and lookforward to the future with you all!

Doug Milroy VP of Operations

Kim Krause

Credit, accounting, and processing track rebills, and one of the largest areas rebills occur for Admiral i“Wrong Customer Billed”. As of April 2016 the Credit Department will be sending “Wrong CustomerBilled” notices to agents, sales and processing. Our intentions are to use these notices as a “eaching aLearning” tool; in addition we are trying to eliminate costly rebill situations.

If you are the recipient of one of the “Wrong Customer Billed” notices, please take a minute to reviewthe notice in order to learn and gure out why the rebill occurred. We are happy to work with you andappreciate your help.

If you have any questions, please contact us [email protected]

Tank youPat GegnerCredit Manager

Te CREDI EAM would like to say

to all of the 2015 Award Winners! We are Building for the Future.

Introduction

A Look At Rebills

Introduction

A Look At Rebills


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Tank you to the Agent-Contractor Council members who play a pivotal role in Admiral’s success. We can’t express enoughhow much we appreciate your time and effort. (A * denotes that their term on the council is up.)

We have recently lost members of the Admiral family. While some may have been known by many and others by few, w

take a moment to reect on those we have lost.

Tomas Donohue (Contractor 5740) of Radcliff, KY signed on with Admiral in October, 2003. om passed away inFebruary, 2016 and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Freddie Martin (Former Contractor) of Kewanee, IL signed on with Admiral in June, 2009 to October, 2015. Freddiepassed away in February, 2016 and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Dan Schroeder (Contractor 5787) of Edwardsville, KS signed on with Admiral in February, 2012. Dan passed away onMarch 1, 2016 and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Bob Siegel (Former Agent) of Elkhart, IN passed away in March, 2016 and will be missed by all who knew and loved him

Mark Beare, Ringgold, GA John Frey, Remington, IN

Gary Fellure, Grove City, OHRicky Guile, Eureka, IL

ammy & Fred Haase*, Lawrenceville, GA iny & Jacque Loretangeli, Greenwood, DE

Jim Murphy, Hermann, MOMatt Rocha*, Granite City, IL

Agent- Contractor Council

In Memoriam


9/27

If ever a load happens to bring you through Minneapolis, MN (or if you’re simply close and are willing to make an extra st Admiral would love to host you for a visit! Just give the office a call and we will gladly assist you in nding the best placepark your truck, and arranging a taxi for you.

We will show you around the office so you can stop at each department, and put faces to all the people that have helped yohere at Admiral. You can pick up any supplies you may need, and someone from the office will treat you to lunch. We realenjoy visiting with everyone, and especially with me speaking to most of you regularly over the phone, it would be wonde

to meet you in person. So if you’re ever in the area and can make it work, please know you’re always welcome.

Below are some of our drivers that have visited lately.

Wade Larkin, Kevin Schlutt (Unit 6507), Missy Swenso Missy Swenson, Bonnie Bley, Shane Place (Unit 6447),Doug Milroy, Mike Griffin

Karen McNamara, (Dan Maifeld Unit 6390)

Missy Swenson

Harold Brewster (Unit 0878b), Doug Milroy Mike Griffin, Joe Ammons (Unit 5806a),Claire Gregory

David Campbell (Unit 6293), Michael “Kirby” Lang, Megan Erickson

Office Visits


10/2710

Darrel Carpenter (Unit 6541), Missy Swenson,Eileen Carpenter (Unit 6541)

(front): Bonnie Bley, Jen Hanley- uttle. (back): Missy Swenson, Guy Fontaine (Unit 6468)

Sheldon Beckman Unit 5688a, and Greg McLeroy Unit 6363 also visited the offices recently but we unfortunately did nota photo with them!

Tank you to all those that stopped in the office and to everyone else, we hope to see you soon!

Claire Gregory Receptionist

Patty Zilka, Randy Cottingham (Unit 1036a),Kim Guzman, Rhonda Anderson

Mike Wimberg (Unit 5367), im Nelson

Megan Erickson, Michael “Kirby” Lang, Miles Gray(Unit 6495), Kim Krause, Mark Beare (Unit 4290)

Bob Norris (Unit 4221), Missy Swenson,Steve Bennett (Unit 5811), Matt Dillon(pilot car driver)

Kim Krause

Office Visits, Con’t


11/27

We are pleased to announce that Jen Hanley-uttle, Billing& Processing Supervisor, was selected as the 2015 Bill BolishEmployee of the Year.

Jen started with Admiral July 29, 2013 coming from years ofmanagement in the coffee industry and coaching hockey.

In her 2.5 years at Admiral, Jen has made a difference. (And weare not just talking about the fact she lives close to an amazing

donut shop or that we now have a way to enjoy freshly bakpizza and popped popcorn.)

From the start Jen has been asked to be on various teams as work to achieve our strategic goals, even though she did come with the traditional transportation background. She hbeen involved with recruiting initiatives, driver features ais currently working with the sales and operations teams agent visibility. Working primarily with credit, permits, aagents, the processing team has been able to lower the amoof invoices being rebilled. While it is still a work in progr Jen and her team are always open to new ideas in achievthe department and company goals. A prime example of Jeadaptability was working with an agent and their high procustomer with a billing issue, by implementing a new procand parameters for this customer.

Te processing team has historically been very high performinand has embraced the changes that have taken place since J joined. Tey take each challenge willingly and with limiteerrors (less than 1%).

Jen has appreciated being involved in the awards event, meetour business partners, and getting to know their businesmore personally. As the rst female to play men’s NCAhockey in the US, Jen has been willing to take customershockey games as well.

Congratulations Jen!

Hello everyone,

My name is Karen Preusser. I joined Admiralon April 1st, 2016 as the LegalizationCoordinator, taking over for Karen Hedtkeas she retired. I am informed that I did notget the position just because of my rstname, but that I am actually qualied for

the job! ime will tell… :)I come to Admiral with 11 years of experience in the truckingindustry. I began as a settlement supervisor and eventuallymoved over to the nancial side, overseeing the AccountsPayables and Account Receivables areas. Shortly after thattransition, Licensing and Permits were placed under me.Between myself and one other person, we licensed andpermitted about 1400 tractors between two states, with amixture of company and owner-operator drivers.

Restructuring gave me the opportunity to spend a short time with Comdata as a Fuel ax Analyst, before spending time with

the State of Minnesota. Wanting to return to the truckinindustry brought me to Admiral.

I am currently living in St. Cloud, but am looking to move the northern suburbs this summer. I have two children, a so who is 28 and a daughter who is 24. I am looking forwardmy rst grandchild this summer, as my son and his wife expecting a son in August. My daughter and boyfriend j

purchased their rst house together and are moving in JuneMy free time consists of picking up things my 14 month oLab (named Dixon) has chewed up, and getting as much ridiin on my Harley as possible. And watch out, I am an avmotocross fan!

I am excited to be with Admiral and look forward to manyears working here!

Karen PreusserLegalization Coordinator

Bill Bolish Employee Of The Year

Introducing Karen Preusser


12/2712

Federal Highway Use ax is due July 1st, 2016. Te IRS allows until August 31st, 2016 to le without anpenalties. A current 2290 stamped receipt is needed to renew your IRP registration, whether you are renew with Admiral or on your own.

Admiral offers an easy, convenient way to le your Federal Highway Use ax. Trough Admiral’s websitedrivers have access to a link that takes you toExpress ruck ax.

While this article below is a few years old, it still shows the importance of paying FHU on time: What is the penalty for not paying the Heavy Vehicle Use ax (HVU )?

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Te due date for ling your 2290 to pay your excise tax is August 31 each year. Not surprisingly, the IRS will penalize any o who fails to le their 2290 in a timely manner. Te amount of penalty is 4.5% of the tax due. Tey assess that penalty on amonthly basis for up to ve months. Tat’s just the start, though.

If you don’t le on time, and you fail to pay the tax due, there is an additional penalty of 0.5% of the total tax due. Interest chaaccrue for each month the payment is late as well. Tose interest charges equal another 0.54% per month.

Here is an example. You owe $550 for your heavy road use tax. You fail to le and you fail to pay the tax due for ve month

penalties would add up to $123.75 for the 4.5% failure to le, plus $13.75 for the 0.5% late payment penalty. Interest woadd more than $3 per month at the rate of 0.54% per month on the balance due each month.

In other words, you’re looking at a total due of over $700 for failing to le and pay your tax in a timely manner. o look aanother way, you end up paying an amount over 27% higher than the original tax that was due. And to remain on the road yogoing to wind up paying the tax eventually anyway, so please be sure to le on time!

Karen PreusserLegalization Coordinator

Updates from the Legalization Department


13/27

Te Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) 29th annual Roadcheck will take place June 7-9, 2016.

Roadcheck is a 72-hour period when approximately 10,000 CVSA-certied local, state, provincial, territand federal inspectors in jurisdictions across North America perform large truck and bus safety inspection

During the annual three-day event, CVSA-certied inspectors conduct compliance, enforcement, and educational initiatargeted at various elements of motor carrier, vehicle and driver safety.

Each year, International Roadcheck places special emphasis on a category of violations. Te special emphasis for 2016International Roadcheck is tire safety (i.e., measuring the tire tread depth, checking the tire pressure, checking to make surethat no items are lodged between dual tires, and examining the overall condition of the tire to make sure that no deep cutsor bulges exist in the sidewalls of the tire). While checking a vehicle’s tires is always part of roadside inspections, CVSA ihighlighting tire safety as a reminder to drivers and carriers.

During International Roadcheck, inspectors primarily conduct the North American Standard Level I Inspection, which ismost thorough roadside inspection. It is a 37-step procedure that includes an examination of both the driver, as well asvehicle. Drivers are required to provide items such as their license, endorsements, medical card, hours-of-service documentand may be checked for seat belt usage and/or the use of alcohol or drugs. Te vehicle inspection includes checking items sas the braking system, securement of cargo, coupling devices, exhaust system, frame, fuel system, lights, steering mechdriveline/driveshaft, suspension, tires, van and open-top trailer bodies, wheels and rims, windshield wipers, and emergencon buses.

Be ready this year. Check your brakes and lights, keep your log books current, wear your seatbelt, have all of your paperworder – including permits, and most of all make sure your tires are at the proper tread depths and pressure.

o help you prepare for the upcoming Roadcheck, A ruckservice has a special offer for Admiral drivers/contractors.Paul HinrichsDirector of Safety

Roadcheck 2016


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2016 Terry Bramer Circle of Excellence andTom Seitz Million Dollar Agent Criteria

erry Bramer Circle of Excellence 2016 Revenue Criteria Gold Level $200,000 Line haul revenue Silver Level $175,000 Line haul revenue

erry Bramer Circle of Excellence-Gold Level will recognize those drivers attaining $200,000 in line haul revenue or more within a 12-month period (calendar year) while operating according to Admiral’s safety standards and in compliance withfederal and state laws and regulations and company policies. Tis includes:

• No serious company policy violations.• Te cost of all preventable accidents combined must be below $1,000 total.• Te cost of all cargo claims combined must be below $1,000 total.• No pending claims.• No more than one out of service, no more than one moving violation, and be in good standing in all areas of

safety and compliance.•

Satisfactory CSA scores.• Not placed on a nal warning for any reason during the calendar year.

erry Bramer Circle of Excellence-Silver Level will recognize those drivers attaining $175,000 in line haul revenue or more within a 12-month period (calendar year) while operating according to Admiral’s safety standards and in compliance withfederal and state laws and regulations and company policies. Tis includes:

• No serious company policy violations.• Te cost of all preventable accidents combined must be below $1,000 total.• Te cost of all cargo claims combined must be below $1,000 total.• No pending claims.• No more than one out of service, no more than one moving violation, and be in good standing in all areas of

safety and compliance.•

Satisfactory CSA scores.• Not placed on a nal warning for any reason during the calendar year.

Doug Milroy VP Operations

om Seitz Million Dollar Agent Criteria Silver Level will be awarded to those agents producing$1,000,000 — $1,999,999

Gold Level will be awarded to those agents producing$2,000,000 — $4,999,999 .

Platinum Level will be awarded to those agents producing$5,000,000 or more .

Walt SiteSr. VP Marketing


15/27

Danny AdamsGregory AndersonLawrence AyersRalph BairdRonald BairdSteven BairdKathy & James BallRichard BoggsFrank BowersRichard BrentMarshall BrunerChristopher Campbell

Tomas Glen Claiborne

Lisa & Brian ClevengerDavid ConnDavid Conn, Sr, James Crowl Andy DavisHarry J. DavisDon FieldsHugh GrossRicky Guileracy & Daniel HawkinsPam & Ralph JohnsRoland Scott Kennedy

eresa & David Kern

Marci & Jerry KettererDavid Korhonenim LancasterPortia & Butch MantoothPatrick McCarthy Allen Mellott James Murphy Mike NeuteboomMike NicholsRobert L Norris Wayne Overbay Susan & Donald Patterson

erry L Pittenger

Wieslaw RamsCharles A. Schenk Rodney SchnelleDevon SmithKim & David SnyderCarol & Jack StevensRicky and Diana StovallRobert SulzbachMark SuverMona & Michael Van KriekChristopher VorysMichelle & Joe Williamson

Te following are the 2015 erry Bramer Circle of Excellence honorees. Congratulations to all!

Mark BeareSteven J. BennettCharles Boardman Joe BotelloTomas ‘Andy’ GriffinTomas L. GrimesRodney Halliday Paul Hershberger

Blake HolmesBrian Johnsonerry JohnsonFranklin C. Keng John KnaapCharles Krohne Justin A. Lambert John G. Legler

Alfredo Sainz Jerzy Satora James R. Smallwood Jeffrey SmithRick Stone Allen rostleKenneth Van StedumRonald Watkins

Mike Wimberg Clarence Winget Jeffrey Wright Walter C. Yasuk

Gold Level

Silver Level

Terry Bramer Circle of Excellence


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Platin um LevelLDM Enterprises

Gold LevelGary FellureM&M rucking Singleton ransportationHarold G. Sparkmanammy & Fred Haase

Silver Level A Dispatch ServiceBob Greenwell rucking IncC&H LogisticsGMA ransportationHawk ransportation IncHillegas rucking Mags Logistics

Silver Level, continuedNew Ground ransportNorthwind Logistics, Inc.P.S. Leidy rucking EC LogisticsValue Plus ransportation

At our recent Awards Banquet in Louisville, we had the honor of presenting the2015 om Seitz Million Dollar Agents. Congratulations!

Tom Seitz Million Dollar Agents


17/27

Snapshots from the awards meetingSnapshots From The Awards Meeting


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Snapshots from the awards meeting


19/27

Snapshots from the awards meeting


20/2720

My annual trip to Minneapolis andthen to Louisville KY with our Beckruck in tow started a day earlier thanscheduled this year. A major winterstorm was going to hit Minnesotaabout the time of my departure, andfollow most of the same path I would

be travelling. Te early departure ended up being a verygood decision, as we rolled into Louisville a day earlier thanscheduled without seeing a single snow ake. A big thanks toBob Greenwell (Agent 2477) and staff for letting me park thetrailer containing the Beck ruck prior to the truck show.

Te show was a great success and as always, our booth wascontinually lled with activity and was busier than most ofour competitors. Mike, Rusty, Wes, and I were there Tursday,Friday and Saturday, while Brian Short and Doug Milroy joined us on Friday. We were able to spend time with many

of our contractors and agents who were able to attend. Along with meeting some potential new contractors, we were alsoable to talk with a lot of other industry people, includingsome who work for our competitors. Te conversations wehad (other than talking about the current levels of business) were very positive, especially toward Admiral.

A big “CONGRAULA IONS” to Admiral Contractor,Ronny Pinson (Unit 6236), whose name was drawn from ahat at the 2016 Louisville ruck show for a $500 Visa GiftCard. Tis drawing was reserved only for Admiral Contractors

that lled out an entry card at the truck show and as luc would have it, Ronny was the big winner!!

A week after the ruck Show, I was back in Louisville for onemy very favorite events of the year; our annual awards banquTis was yet again a fantastic event, and we were able to hon

some of our top agents and contractors. Congratulations to of the Award Winners, and I hope see you again next year. those who did not make it this year, continue to get out theand nd those customers and haul those loads. It’s great evto be a part of.

Tanks For All You Do!

Brent LaytonVP Business Development

Louisville, KY x2


21/27

Many of our drivers come across tough and interesting loads that need to be delivered, and they takethe challenge while also ensuring an on-time delivery. Below are a few pictures of some recent load well as the beautiful trucks that deliver them. A special thanks to all the Admiral drivers who work so each and every day to make Admiral a success; this article is dedicated to you!

Marty Gallant unit 4565A Crane off Bayeld, CO

Sheldon Beckman unit 5688Lumber Yard, Meadow Lake, SK

Guy Fontaine unit 6468, Xerxes ank, Edmonton, AB

Blayne Lough unit 5858Te “One Direction” StageColorado Springs, CO

Doug’s Dedications


22/27

Missy Swenson, Steve Bennett unit 5811, Bob Norris unit 4241A, Matt Bunnell, Jen Hanley- uttle & MeganErickson--Driver breakfast in Hudson, WI. Steve and Bob were in the area picking up the large ovens goingfrom Baldwin, WI to Moses Lake, WA.

Here is a picture of Missy standing infront of one of the ovens to show howtall they actually are.

Jerry and Marcy Ketterer, Unit 4195DDelivered from Baldwin, WI toMoses Lake, WA

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Doug’s Dedications (continued)


23/27


24/27

By now, most of you have seen the letter I sent out about Admiral’s plan to comply with the DOTmandate for electronic logging devices. I have already received several orders to take advantage of theearly adopter incentive program, and I have elded several more calls with numerous questions andconcerns. I have tried to answer some of the most frequently asked questions below.

Q: If I order the HD100 unit that uses my own smart phone or tablet, will the data go onto my cell pcarrier’s data plan?

A: No – Both the HD100 and the TND 760/765 use their own data plan and it is covered by themonthly fee.

Q: If I order an ELD right now, but do not activate it until I am chosen for mandatory installation – can I still get the eadopter incentive?

A: No – The expectation will be to install and use the ELD immediately. This will be true whether you takeadvantage of the early adopter program or if you decide to wait for the mandatory requirement. In addition, themonthly fee will begin when we activate the unit in the corporate ofce.

Q: What is the difference between the 2 monthly plan options? A: The basic plan will cover ELD’s, DVIR’s, state mileage tracking for fuel taxes, and messaging. The expanded plan

will include everything listed in the basic plan as well as engine metrics such as hard-braking, speeding and idle

time data.

Q: If I wait for the mandatory requirement, when will my name come up? A: The new contractors will be required to have ELD’s to lease-on beginning June 18 th of this year. Beginning in

September we will begin the mandatory requirement, starting with those who are on Warning or Final Warningfor HOS issues. After they are completed, we will notify contractors by seniority – the newest contractors will benotied rst, the contractors with the longest tenures will be the last to be notied. Unfortunately, there is noway of knowing exactly when any specic contractor will be called at this time.

Q: Will the units have GPS? A: The TND760/765 will include the Rand McNally Intellitruck Routing system for free. The HD100 will not, but

Rand McNally is working on an app that can be used with the HD100.

Q: Will the HD100 work with my ND530, ND720, or ND730? A: Yes, you can use one of these Rand McNally products in conjunction with the HD100 to comply with the DOT

regulations.

Q: How will this affect my available on-duty and driving hours? A: The DOT HOS regulations are not changing, but we anticipate that you will save time for several reasons. First

– these units will log in real time, not 15 minute increments. Second – you should spend less time at roadsideinspections. And lastly – you will not have to do the annoying logs, DVIR’s, or fuel tax paperwork anymore.

Q: I have an older truck that has been exempted, but I have heard that the DO will require ELD’s on older equipment iIs this true?

A: No. The DOT does not currently have any plans to expand the requirements.

Q: What trucks have been exempted? A: All trucks manufactured in 1999 or before are not required to use ELD’s.

Q: Who do I call if I want to order an ELD – or if I have additional questions or concerns? A: Call the main toll free number – (612)332-4819, Paul Hinrichs @ ext 8140, or Suzanne Keller @ ext 8169.

Paul HinrichsDirector of Safety

24

ELD-FAQ


25/27

I wrote in the last newsletter that we needto improve our CSA scores. At that time, Admiral was in the alert status in the Hours-of-Service BASIC, and was very close tothe alert status in Vehicle MaintenanceBASIC. Unfortunately, we are now in thealert status in both BASIC’s and our scores

are continuing to climb. As previously stated, this affects youas a contractor by increasing your odds of getting pulled infor an inspection at a roadside facility, possibly decreasing theamount of shippers willing to broker loads to Admiral, andincreasing our insurance rates. Because of that, we need yourhelp to reduce these scores.Tere are only 2 methods of reducing our scores. First, thepoints associated with our current violations will decreaseover time. Unfortunately, even if we added no new violations,this will not result in improved scores for several months. Tesecond method of reducing our CSA scores, is to add additionalinspections with no (or at least minimal) points. Tis will lowerour measure – which is the total points divided by the numberof applicable inspections – which should lead to a loweredpercentile ranking when compared to our peers.Te most common HOS violation for Admiral is “Driver’s

record of duty status not current”. Tis violation is within thcontrol of the driver to avoid. Te DO regulation requiresthat your log book be kept current to the last change of dustatus. You should never be trying to “catch-up” your log boat a roadside inspection. Te other common violations for thHOS include False Logs, Failing to retain the previous 7 dalogs and the 30 minute break, and the 11 hour and 14 hou

violations. ELD’s will help to eliminate almost all of thviolations. Please call me if you are interested in ELD’s for yvehicle.Te Vehicle Maintenance violations are mostly for brakes, tirand most recently – mud aps. While there are times thatVM violation may be unavoidable, we need your help to reduthem whenever possible. Whether it is raining, snowing, sunny, whether it is dark and windy, or beautiful wherever yare, the pre-trip inspection is vital. It is imperative that ykeep your tractor and trailer in good repair and compliant withe DO regulations at all times.

Admiral cannot reduce these scores without our professiocontractor’s cooperation. We value your hard work anprofessionalism. Keep Safe!Paul HinrichsDirector of Safety

We have heard the old saying “the onlything for sure is change,” and it seems

like this is one of those times when youlook in any direction. Te Political scene,the economic scene, the moral scene, thegeneral business scene; everything appearsto be in turmoil at the same time.

Here we are holding on with both hands to maintain ourstability, and trying to nd some sense in the world aroundus. Maintaining your stability in a business and actuallymaneuvering the trail to growth and prosperity seem to bechallenges that never subside. What do we do, truckers oneand all, to maintain our sanity and continue to grow?

First of all, don’t panic; don’t go running for the exit signscreaming all the way. Make your moves judgments, not justmerely decisions. Tink it through, be well informed. Te grassis NO always greener on the other side of the fence.

Do what you know, and know what you are doing. Put yourfaith and trust with people you have experience with and knowhow to work with. Be professional in everything that you do. Work like a professional, look like a professional, conductyourself like a professional. Work hard and maintain yourcredibility.

Tere’s way too much change and way too much uncertainty

surrounding us now, so don’t add to it, dig in and hold youground. Look at your expenses, and then back up look at the

again. Squeeze the dollars and the pennies. Tis is the timto be the best manager of YOU that YOU have ever bee Whatever you do, don’t sit down on your rusty dusty and wfor tough times to pass. Sure, the rates are not as good as th were back when. Te fuel surcharge is all but gone. But you castill make some money out there, and that is what you need do. You need to keep running, keep the cash owing, and kethe bills paid. As this works its way around, you will come the other end in good shape.

As we said before when times get tough, the only way to through it is to work your way through it.

Admiral is responding to the changes, positioning us stronand stronger every day, and that keeps YOU at a good place

As you go to work each day and each night, remembyour family; hug them as often as you can and tell thothat you love that you do, and be safe. Always work wcaution, obey the laws, don’t take the short cuts, and dontake unnecessary chances.

Just do it; do it right, do lots of it, and do it safe. We’ll see ydown the road!

Ralph A. (Woody) WoodSenior Vice-President

CSA Scores Continue To Be A Problem

The Times, They Are A Changin!


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Documents

Ship's Log Spring 2016