Where will your life take you?

The typical questions people have about how to become a van operator usually include such things as how to qualify for your commercial driver’s license (CDL) and whether you need to pass a health exam.

To answer the first question, a CDL is issued by the state you reside in. In order to qualify you must pass both written and driving tests.

With regard to your health, van operators must carry a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical card signed by a licensed physician. This states that the operator has the stamina and is healthy enough to operate their vehicle and perform their job duties without problems.

And while these are two somewhat basic but important things, what you shouldn’t ignore when making this career decision is whether being a van operator is a good fit for you.

Here are some characteristics you’ll need to be successful:

Self-motivated. As a van operator, you are unsupervised and deadlines must be met.  You need to be self-motivated to do what it takes to meet those deadlines.

Good with business. Many van operators are owner/operators. That means they must be good at managing money including paying the bills for fuel, lodging, labor, workmen’s comp and insurance.  (If you are hired as a company driver, Suddath manages these expenses for you.)

Committed to being out on the road for long periods of time. During the busiest times of the year, van operators are away from home for months at a time.   Other times, you might be away 2-3 weeks and back for a couple of days.

Customer-oriented. Suddath is committed to making our customers’ moves as smooth and worry-free as possible. Our van operators understand that people are entrusting their most precious belongings to us. It’s important to have good people skills, patience and be able to make customers feel comfortable and at ease.

Flexible. You never know what is going to happen on the road and during a move. From furniture not fitting through a doorway or into a room to road closures and all kinds of situations.  Things don’t always turn out the way you think they will, so you need to be a good problem solver and easily adapt to changing situations.

If you see these characteristics in yourself and are excited by the prospect of a lucrative career that never gets boring and allows you to travel and explore the country, being a van operator might just be the perfect career choice for you.

For more information on becoming a Suddath Van Operator please call 1.888.768.3056 or visit suddath.com

Please join me in congratulating the following winners for “Suddath Van Operator of the Month” for February.  Each winner will receive a letter of congratulations, a certificate and a check for their outstanding service and performance.  For those of you who have an opportunity or may interact with these Van Operators on a daily basis, please take a moment and let them know how much they are appreciated!    

February 2013 Winners

Continental

Mike Anzalone – 488  

The Continental Van Operator of the Month for the month of February is Mike Anzalone from 488, our Ft. Lauderdale branch.  Mike has a perfect driver rating score of 1 and his SPR score is 71252. He has a near perfect updating score at 99.29% and a customer rating of 94.4%. Mike was nominated by our Customer Service team for his exceptional customer service during the month of February. Mike had a move which included a large picnic table with sentimental value to the shipper. The picnic table would not fit in the new home, so Mike kept it with him for a couple of days while making other deliveries. He went back to the shipper’s house to meet the third party technician, who found he could not disassemble it. Mike waited while the shipper went to get a u-haul truck to bring it to a friend’s house so he could assist them. In addition, Mike agreed to do the unpack a day early because the apartment complex was having concrete poured. Julie Waite stated “I have not had a Van Operator go above and beyond like Michael did with any of my moves. You could tell that his number one priority was the shipper and he was willing to do anything to provide superior service, even with all the hurdles he had to endure”. Kudos to Michael!

February’s Master Fleet Van Operator of the Month is Brandon Jacobsen. Brandon’s driver rating score is a perfect 1. He has an SPR score of 62499 and an impressive 96.92% updating score. Brandon is one of those up and coming stars that we so drastically need in our business. Steve Nygren states “I wish we could multiply him by ten. Brandon is a self starting, go getter that is always on time and actually thinking way ahead to avoid potential issues.   I always know he is on task when he asks me questions about an upcoming load, many times something I didn’t even think of.  This is the kind of communication that creates a successful van operator and operations team”. Brandon’s efforts have recently earned him a Continental position. Exceptional job Brandon!

February’s Special Products Van Operator of the Month winner is Keith Klein. Keith runs for 282, our Milwaukee, Wisconsin office.  Keith has a perfect claims score of 100%.   His SPR is 75566 and he has a near perfect updating score of 99.07%. Keith does a bit of everything. He hauls household goods, special commodities, electronics, motorcycles, cars and tradeshows. Keith had some trying moves this month and completed them in a professional manner and most importantly, as a team player. Keith has also recruited us two over the road drivers during the month of February. We are very proud of Keith!

 We are fortunate to have these three gentlemen on our team as well as all our Van Operators who have a very challenging job to perform every day. Please be sure to take time to thank them as you have the opportunity.

Please join me in congratulating the following winners for “Suddath Van Operator of the Month” for January.  Each winner will receive a letter of congratulations, a certificate and a check for their outstanding service and performance.  For those of you who have an opportunity or may interact with these Van Operators on a daily basis, please take a moment and let them know how much they are appreciated!      

Mack Anderson is our Continental Van Operator of the Month for the month of January.  Mack is with 460, our Houston branch.  Mack has a perfect driver rating score of 1 and his SPR score is 72492. He also has a perfect updating score at 100%! Mack has been a number one rated driver for over eight months. He is the type of Van Operator that takes care of the small details that are required for a smooth move for the customer and all involved. Mack is always a team player and we are proud to have him as an integral part of the Suddath team!  

Our Master Fleet Van Operator of the Month for January is Jamil Lababidi. Jamil has a perfect driver rating score of 1 and a customer rating of 95.4%. He also has an SPR score of 72719 and an impressive 99.34% updating score. Jamil was recognized by LDD for his outstanding performance in the month of January. They maintain that he is always professional and has a personable demeanor, regardless of the situation. Way to go Jamil!  

January’s Special Products Van Operator of the Month winner is Bryan Brown. Bryan is with our 1855 Milwaukee, Wisconsin office.  Bryan has the highest line-haul for the month of January, has a perfect SPR and claims score and his updating is 96%. Bryan is an extremely motivated driver. During the month of January, he went out of his way and deadheaded back to Wisconsin from Tennessee to go to a training class on how to assemble and disassemble products for a new customer. He also took the lead and drove the rental passenger van along with the other candidates to the training facility. Bryan is a great asset to our Suddath team! 

We are fortunate to have these three gentlemen on our team as well as all our Van Operators who have a very challenging job to perform every day. Please be sure to take time to thank them as you have the opportunity.

~ Van Operator of the Month Honorable Mention List – December 2012 ~

Leo Altes – New York 499

Mack Anderson – Houston 460

Matt Bowe – Milwaukee 282

Ray Cantrell – Milwaukee 282

Marvin Cardinal – Minneapolis 283

Jerry Carlstrom – Minneapolis 283

Tom Cederberg – Minneapolis 283

Alvin Craig – Milwaukee 282

Michael Ellison – Minneapolis 283

Zenon Giz – Miami 483

Travis Hancock – Charlotte 173

Allison Irish III – Milwaukee 282

John Jankowski – Milwaukee 282

Walid Katini – Miami 483

Brett Kishel – Minneapolis 283

Keith Klein – Milwaukee 282

Alfred Kuhl Jr. – Milwaukee 282

David Loeffler – Minneapolis 283

Richard Lowe – Milwaukee 282

Rudy Marquez – Los Angeles 470

Dennis Mehr – Minneapolis 283

John Meola – Ft. Lauderdale 488

Lee Merritt – Minneapolis 283

Leslie Miller – Milwaukee 282

Wade Moran – Minneapolis 283

Dale Neidenfeuhr – Milwaukee 282

Steven Neidenfeuhr – Milwaukee 282

Peter Paluszak – Ft. Lauderdale 488

Edin Pervanic – Minneapolis 283

Matthew Polfer – Orlando 444

Devannan Rattan – Orlando 444

Russell Speas – Dallas 163

Dennis Sykes – Minneapolis 283

Larry Turner – Dallas 163

Jae Van Ness – Orlando 444

Ramiz Velic – Minneapolis 283

Frank Verk – St. Petersburg 446

Dragos Zalischi – LA 470

Congratulations to you all!!

Please join me in congratulating the following winners for “Suddath Van Operator of the Month” for December. Each winner will receive a letter of congratulations, a certificate and a check for their outstanding service and performance. For those of you who have an opportunity or may interact with these Van Operators on a daily basis, please take a moment and let them know how much they are appreciated!  

DECMEBER 2012 WINNERS 

Continental Van Operator:

Mike Anzalone 488 

Master Lease Van Operator: 

Walid Katini 483 

Special Products: 

Alvin Craig 282 

Mike Anzalone is our Continental Van Operator of the Month for the month of December. Mike is with our 488, Ft. Lauderdale branch. Mike has a perfect driver rating score of 1 and his SPR score is 71623. He has a near perfect updating score of 99.3%! Mike Anzalone is a great ambassador for Suddath and our continental fleet. He consistently provides top notch service in every aspect of his job, and that is evident with his 1 rating in every category. We know that when Mike is put on the job that he will do everything needed and asked to go above and beyond for the customer. His communication is timely and effective, and he is one of the best when it comes to problem resolution. The Suddath family is fortunate to have such a great representative of our company on the street.

Our Master Fleet Van Operator of the Month for December is Walid Katini. Walid has a perfect driver rating score of 1 and a customer rating of 98.5%. He also has an SPR score of 63504 and an impressive 99.48% updating score. Walid is a great van operator who always presents himself well. He knows what it takes to be the best of the best, and makes sure he pays attention to the little details to ensure he stays at the top of his game. We know we can count on him when we need help. Walid always sounds like he has a smile on his face when we are talking with him, and that he truly enjoys taking care of his customers. We are glad that he is a part of our team, and look forward to working with him for a long time.  

December’s Special Products Van Operator of the Month winner is Alvin Craig. Al runs for 282, our Milwaukee, Wisconsin office. Al has a perfect claims score of 100%. His SPR is 40368 and he has an updating score of 95.31%. Al has been an owner operator since 1971 and he has worked for Barrett for the past 6 years. Al is a very experienced operator and goes above and beyond. He handles customers exceptionally well. Al has held down most positions in the moving and storage business, including GM, but has always enjoyed the freedom of the road so he ended up driving…again. Thank you for all you do, Al! 

We are fortunate to have these three gentlemen on our team as well as all our Van Operators who have a very challenging job to perform every day. Please be sure to take time to thank them as you have the opportunity.

  Please join me in congratulating the following winners for “Suddath Van Operator of the Month” for October.  Each winner will receive a letter of congratulations, a certificate and a check for their outstanding service and performance.  For those of you who have an opportunity or may interact with these Van Operators on a daily basis, please take a moment and let them know how much they are appreciated!    

October Winners

Continental Van Operator:

Anatol Zawadzki – 452

Master Lease Van Operator:

Vernon Thompson – 488

Special Products:

Mike Dowdle - 282

 Anatol Zawadzki is the winner of the Continental Van Operator of the Month. Anatol is with our 452, Melbourne branch.  Anatol has a perfect driver rating score of 1 and his SPR score is 67875. He has a perfect claims score! This is a phenomenal accomplishment. Anatol and his wife Barbara are the best.  Even though it’s Anatol getting the award, Barbara is very much a big part of their success.  There is never a problem with paperwork and customers love them.  He is a good business man, never seen a big claim, and he keeps his tractor and trailer incredibly clean and in great shape.  Anatol always has a positive outlook in any situation and always has a smile on his face.  Just watch out when you shake hands with Anatol, his grip is that of a 25 year old.  We wish we had more like him!

 Vernon Thompson, from our Fort Lauderdale office, is our Master Fleet Van Operator of the Month for October. Vern has an updating score of 91.66% and a perfect United Raw score of 1. He has an SPR of 35974 and an impeccable claim score of 0.  Vernon Thompson has been a great addition to the long distance fleet.  He has come in and performed extremely well, and has done a great job taking care of our customers.  We trust that when he takes a trip that he and his crew will do whatever is necessary to make sure the customer is taken care of, and he is great at communicating throughout the move.  Vernon is a great asset to the team, and a pleasure to work with.  

 October’s Special Products Van Operator of the Month winner is Mike Dowdle. Mike runs for our 282, Milwaukee Wisconsin office. Mike has a great United Raw score of 1. Mike has a perfect Driver Points score at 100%.   His SPR is 69440 and he has an updating score of 93.7. Mike was the first driver in our fleet to have an automatic tractor!  Mike became a driver at the age of 21 and he is now 63.  Mike started out doing HHG with Greyhound Van Lines. Mike left Greyhound to drive for Whalen/Allied where he drove for 29 years.  He left Whalen/Allied to come to Barrett when Mike Hansen left Whalen/Allied to come to Barrett in 2000. Mike is a Premier Driver in our Tradeshow Fleet. Mike has a house in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and enjoys his free time there.

 We are fortunate to have these three gentlemen on our team as well as all our Van Operators who have a very challenging job to perform every day. Please be sure to take time to thank them as you have the opportunity.

When you’re not a truck driver, you probably whiz right past weigh stations without really even thinking about it. But, if you’re thinking about becoming driver of a moving van, semi, or other large truck, taking notice of weigh stations will be a necessary part of your job.

To ensure the safety of truck drivers and everyone else on the road, the Department of Transportation has many regulations for large trucks. They consider tire-load safety, road width, bridge height, and other on-the-road conditions to create these regulations. While there are some overarching laws and requirements, each state can determine some of their own.

The variance of rules and requirement across state lines can make things confusing. However, most states’ laws are at least similar, including requiring trucks of 10,000 pounds or more to stop at all open weigh stations. Width restrictions are 102 inches in general, but some states require 96 inches or less.

So, how is it possible to know whether or not you have to stop, and which states require which laws? Many companies that employ drivers have approved driving routes, where they’ve checked to ensure that their trucks will be legal. When in doubt, stop at all weigh stations. Getting pulled over for disobeying any regulations will most likely result in a fine, as will being over the state’s regulated wight.

There are now some ways to bypass weigh stations, legally, without getting pulled over. In fact, it’s now as simple as enrolling in a program and using an app on your phone. However, not all systems are accepted by all states, so it’s imperative that you check before driving across state lines and attempting to use it. Try PrePass, Drivewyze, or NORPASS.

We’ve gathered these resources for you to learn more about weigh station rules. Try these:

AAA Motor Laws - A list of weigh station rules by state.

Coops Are Open - Search for weigh stations by state.

eHow - A basic DOT weigh station regulations overview.