Tank Talk is a quarterly publication produced by United Petroleum Transports Send announcements and articles to Shari Ardies at: Tank Talk 4312 S. Georgia Place Oklahoma City, OK 73129 or sardies@otl-upt.com

TankLTa K U N I T E D P E T R O L E U M T R A N S P O R T S

2017 3rd QTR

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, September 10-16, 2017, is when America takes the time to honor all Professional Truck Drivers for their hard work and commitment in tackling one of our economy’s most demanding and important jobs. These 3.5 million professional men and women not only deliver

our goods safely, securely and on time, they also keep our highways safe. Here are some fun facts:

• More than 80% U.S. communities rely on trucking• Trucking brings $726 billion in revenue to the American economy• At every critical step: Natural Disasters, Health Care, Retail, Food and Agriculture, Manufacturing and FUEL! • Trucking supports more than seven million jobs• Serving country serving proud, professional drivers we are there making the delivery!

As a small token of appreciation, each UPT Professional Driver received custom imprinted safety sunglasses and a flexible flashlight. Each center provided their own unique show of gratitude ranging from a variety of snack options, full breakfasts, BBQ lunches and even homemade tamales. UPT extends appreciation to all our dedicated and hard-working Professional Drivers, thank you for everything you do ~ YOU ROCK! Enjoy a collection of photos from throughout the week.

OKC

ELP

HOU

PHO

Chief Operating Officer

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David Price

Drivers of the Quarter

Daniel Alvarez – Central Region (DFW)Kyle Gillett – Northern Region (WIC)

Bevan Anderson – Southern Region (SAT)Ryan Taft – Western Region (PHO)

$afety = $uccess 327 UPT Professional Drivers

received a safety bonus in the 3rd quarter for a total payout of $55,800

Happy Anniversary

25 YearsMiles Coulter

15 Years Mary Yike

10 Years James Crutchfield

5 YearsRicky KerschnerJose Antonio China

My how time flies when things are busy! How is it that the third quarter of 2017 is already over and the holidays are once again right around the corner?! This past quarter began with one of our busiest 4th of July holiday seasons ever and closed with the best September we have ever had in terms of miles driven and loads delivered. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our professional driving staff, the folks who support them in the field and at corporate, and most importantly their families at home. I cannot thank everyone enough for all their efforts. With all the positive notes to talk about this quarter, it is hard not to think about the stressful times we have gone through as a family. As all of you know the Texas Gulf Coast suffered one of, if not the most, tragic hurricanes in recent history. Hurricane Harvey was unlike most other hurricanes because it didn’t bring the high winds in most areas like usual but it just sat on parts of Texas for days dropping anywhere from 50”-70” of water. That is an incredible amount of water. Some say the amount equaled the entire volume of Lake

Michigan being dropped on land, which is hard to comprehend. Another fact which stuck out in my mind is Seattle’s average annual rainfall, known to be the rainiest city in the continental United States, is 48” and Texas got more than that in 3 days. This caused great stress on many of our loyal employees and contractors who call Houston home and the surrounding areas a great deal of stress and personal loss. But it also gave us the opportunity to show great courage and do our job, delivering fuel to those in need, in a time of crisis. Although it directly impacted those of us who live here in Houston, it caused a ripple effect across our company to react to chaotic fuel supply chain that was responded to with great customer service well beyond most of customer’s expectations all while maintaining Safety as #1. And for that I’m also very thankful! I thank each of you for all the hard work you have put in these last 3 months and I know we will finish out 2017 with a bang! Keep on trucking…

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SAFETY!Think

Joe Hill VP Risk Managment

One of my favorite parts of this job is talking with drivers at safety meetings, during observations, or at other CSC events. During these conversations, I am often asked what a driver could or should do to avoid a roadside inspection and what causes an inspection in the first place. Drivers can be chosen for a roadside inspection by probable cause or at random. UPT drivers received 1,372 inspections in the past two years. That is an average of 1.8 inspections per day. Odds are that you will receive an inspection. A little preparation and having a positive attitude can go a long way to reduce your downtime and help to obtain a clean inspection. The following tips should be used to get you quickly through an inspection.

Remove violations that are easily observable. Most drivers are selected for an inspection due to observable defects such as faded placard, cracked windshields, defective light, window tint, flat tires, lights that are burnt out, etc. The best way to eliminate these violations is to perform a thorough pre and post trip inspection on the tractor and trailer. More importantly, if you find violations, get the violations repaired prior to operating the units.

Be organized. Drivers should have their permit book and shipping papers organized. If an inspector asks for your paperwork and you hand them a disheveled stack of papers, they form the opinion that the driver is not a professional. This causes frustration on their part and increases the length of the inspection, giving them more time to find violations. If you are unsure on what paperwork is needed or what is up-to-date, contact your Regional Safety Director. Having paperwork clean and organized makes you and UPT look professional and gets you on your way faster.

Keep your cab clean.In the inspection world perception is reality. If an inspector opens the door to your cab and trash falls out, the perception is that the driver isn’t taking time to clean up the very space that they work in all day. If they aren’t taking a couple of minutes to clean up the cab, then they probably aren’t taking time to perform a proper pre-trip inspection. A clean cab can give a good inspection, whereas a trashed cab can lead an inspector to think, “The chances of me finding something wrong is very likely.”

Your attitude matters.Don’t exit the truck with a poor attitude. Inspectors have a large amount of discretion on who and what to inspect. This is where courtesy and professionalism go a long way to minimize the time spent on an inspection. Remember that there is little benefit in getting into a roadside argument that you will never win. Feel free to ask questions if you are unclear and contact your Regional Safety Director after the inspection is over if you believe you have been issued a violation in error. We have a recourse to correct these types of violations.

Remain seated.Stay seated in the cab with your seatbelt on until the inspector directs you to do otherwise. The inspector may greet you and have you move to a safer area. Also, he may not see that you had your belt on until he gets up to the cab. If you are like me and must wear glasses while driving please keep your glasses on. Taking them off to view paperwork before the officer approaches could also lead an officer to believe that you were not wearing them.

Roadside inspections do not have to be a bad thing and the tips above can help you to get through an inspection quickly and cleanly. Please feel free to reach out to me at jhill1@otl-upt.com

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$afety = $uccess

MAINTENANCE

David Keegan VP Maintenance

In 1999 when I started in this segment of the transportation industry, there were a few people who influenced my knowledge and information on the fuel delivery business. Now, most of the time, you would think the influence would come from a supervisor or someone “above” your responsibility level. If you are smart, you also listen to experienced employees in all job levels. Not saying I am smart, but I do listen to all employees I work with.

One man who was already known in the industry assisted me in gaining knowledge of the cargo tanks and the requirements he had experience in understanding. Working from several points of view over his career, this man experienced it all. Working in the retail shop for Hobbs Trailer, and UPT, a private carrier, was just a small touch of his experienced knowledge. I watched this man work outside in the winter cold of Topeka, KS. I watched this man work for UPT in a startup process which we now know as DFW.

He also assisted with Albuquerque, Phoenix, San Antonio, El Paso, Houston, and Odessa Customer Service Centers. We worked side by side doing maintenance processes while UPT built the needed structures to operate in these areas. As a great author wrote, “It was the best of times and the worst of times”, and he loved it! As with all life, there is age and illness which distract us from doing the things we love. This man has done much to assist new and younger maintenance employees in their careers. I was lucky enough to be one of his students. Steady work effort, punctuality, attendance and adaptability to change, all mark this man’s working history. I also know his family and friends are his most valuable possession, giving that he never married or had children. His work is his life, and I was just a small part of what he has affected. Still not aware of whom this employee profile is about? This is a tribute to his resolve to be a team player, and not the quarterback doing all the interviews. Darrell Ward made a lasting impact on many people, even if he did not realize just how many he taught in his career. I believe there are hundreds he impacted. Darrell’s knowledge is not replaceable, his work ethics are extinct with the next generation of technician staff. I invite all employees to strive to his level of professionalism and dedication to their career as Darrell did. I am proud to have worked beside him and hope I have made his teachings come to value in my career. Respectfully to a Friend. You can contact myself at dkeegan@otl-upt.com. Thanks for all you do.

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Chad Green has been a part of the UPT family for over 21 years. Currently working as a mechanic in the OKC shop, his main duties include working on brakes, checking all the tires, testing the trailers, and taking care of the yard. He and his wife have been happily married for 28 years and are the loving parents of three beautiful daughters. When Chad is not working, you might find him fishing, working on old cars, or messing around with tractors. However, what most people don’t know about Chad, is that in his spare time he helps the police department work on their trucks. His most memorable moments here at UPT are hanging out in the shop and getting to know everyone. He also enjoys the cookouts and trips to the lake with his UPT friends. When asked if he could tell people one thing, he responded with “Be happy and don’t stress out, it’s just one day.”

Jon Keegan, son of David Keegan Vice President of Maintenance, has been accepted into the accelerated Mechanical Engineering Master’s Program at the University of Oklahoma. Jon’s dedication and hard work earned him a spot on the Dean’s Honor Role the last five semesters and coupled with his project activities secured his spot in the program. His project activities included working with Slumberger, GE and others on extreme high pressure gas sealing materials. In layman’s terms, basically working on methods to stop accidents like the Gulf of Mexico BP spill in 2016. Jon is no stranger to the UPT family, he worked many summers during his high school and early college years helping in many facets of UPT.

CONGRATULATIONS JON!

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$afety = $uccess

PEOPLE & PROMOTIONS

Rod Radcliffe has been promoted to Senior Vice President and will continue to work closely with Kevin Hogan, strategic accounts, and the Price Family.

Kevin Hogan has accepted the responsibility of Vice President of Sales and will now directly oversee and manage the Business Development Managers and the sales and development initiatives for UPT. Kevin has previously been Region Manager and BDM for the west region.

Holly McClure has been with UPT for just over a year and has hit the ground running. She’s already successfully served the company in a number of ways, most recently as a field driver recruiter. With some other streamlining in our Risk Management department, Holly jumped at the opportunity to lead our recruiting and training efforts. She graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a degree in Industrial Safety and a minor in Business Management. She and her husband live in Norman, have a dog named Russell, and love to travel, cook, and cheer on the Patriots, OU, and the Oklahoma City Thunder (thus the dog’s name).

Rod RadcliffeSr. Vice President

Kevin HoganVP Sales

HOLLY MCCLUREManager of training

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PEOPLE & PROMOTIONSTISA PARSONCONTROLLER

Jessica HendersonREGIONAL MANAGER

Kierston WillobyDirector of IT

Jessica Henderson, currently serving as CSC Manager in Phoenix, has accepted the position of Region Manager to oversee and direct operational efforts in our west region and will work closely with the El Paso, Albuquerque, and Phoenix teams.

Kierston Willoby joined the UPT family earlier this year as a business analyst in our Business Support Group, working closely with Tisa Parson and her team. With her background and experience in Information Technology, Kierston has recently taken the challenge and opportunity of leading our IT team. Kierston graduated from the University of Oklahoma and came to us from the healthcare industry where she also worked in Information Technology. She has a daughter, Laila, who is a softball phenom and future OU class of 2027 and together they have one dog, a ten year old Cane Corso Mastiff, Lily, who spends her day lounging and living the good life.

Tisa Parson joined the UPT team in June 2017 as controller. Tisa jumped right in and quickly made a positive difference within our accounting department. She graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

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$afety = $uccess

Sandy Brummett, of Benchmark, attended a Houston CSC cookout where she wanted to thank everyone for their efforts during the hurricane relief. Left to right: David Byerly, Linda Seal, Katherine Goode, Wes Goode, Sandy, Chris Boozer, Chuck and myself. Good time today.

Christy and George Caddell, Professional Driver from Waco, welcomed a baby girl on September 15. Saphyre Daun Caddell weighed 8.5 pounds and was 19.5” long.

Phoenix Professional Driver Dani Yousef, of Phoenix, and wife Lana Saro welcomed their second daughter on September 30th. Olivia Grace is pictured with her big sister Annabelle.

Oh baby

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5 Signs Someone Has True Emotional IntelligenceHow Much self-awareness do you have?Nicolas Cole - Contributor, INC.com

There is a big difference between someone who is confident and someone who is self-aware, someone who is socially intelligent and someone who is emotionally intelligent. Being skilled in your field or talented with your craft is not emotional intelligence--and this is what so often gets forgotten. In fact, when it comes to discussing skill sets, best practices, leadership habits, etc., the emotional intelligence portion of things tends to get far less spotlight. A recent chat with fellow Inc. columnist Justin Bariso prompted me to think hard about what makes someone emotionally intelligent. What so often gets misunderstood about emotional intelligence is that it is not simply self-awareness. It is the ability to be aware of both yourself and the other person, at the same time, and understand both parties’ emotions separately yet completely. Here are 5 signs of emotional intelligence:

1. You seek first to understand, then to be understood.This is the golden rule of emotional intelligence. So much of conflict between people occurs right at this intersection, where one party, or both, rushes to judgment or criticism of the other person’s feelings, instead of first seeking to understand where they’re coming from.2. You can recognize your emotional state and actively make moves to improve it.The people who struggle with emotional intelligence hardly know where they stand at any given moment emotionally, let alone someone else. One of the most important parts of being intelligent in this capacity is knowing, and being able to take responsibility for, your emotional state.3. You know the difference between how you feel and how someone else says you should feel.Projection is what happens when people take how they feel and place it on someone else. Those that lack emotional intelligence struggle then to differentiate between how they truly feel and how the other person says they should feel. It’s this differentiation that is important.4. You understand what habits in your life cause you to emotionally react in certain ways.One of the big challenges people face, and this goes back to how individuals can actually form positive habits in their life, is knowing how they change emotionally depending on the activities they choose. For example: Some people get frustrated every time they do X, and yet continue doing X over and over again, not realizing the habit of their emotional reaction.5. You can disagree with someone without reacting emotionally.There is a huge difference between disagreeing with someone and having an emotional discussion that ends in flames. One is productive and one is chaotic. Ending a discussion in agreement isn’t required for a dialogue to be positive. People can disagree and still respect each other. It’s when people speak from an emotional place that conflict tends to arise.

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$afety = $uccess

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UPT Driver

100%9:41 AM

UPT Driver

UPT Driver

UPT DRIVER APPDOWNLOAD

TODAY

Easy to Use

Navigate and work through loads easily using smart phone. UPT Driver App eliminates processing loads through TotalMail on the PeopleNet.

Accurate Pay

Scan paperwork using the UPT Driver App will insure timely and accurate pay.

Informative

Get access to news, training videos, and messaging between dispatch on the UPT Driver App.

Send your FULL NAME, DRIVER ID, and EMAIL ADDRESS to UPTappsupport@otl-upt.com prior to registering on the downloaded UPT Driver APP or see your Center Manager for help.

See CSC Manager for more information and training