Ships Log

FALL ISSUE

OCTOBER 2015

PROBLEM SOLVING
This has been a challenging year for most of us involved with
Admiral Merchants. Most of those challenges are faced by everyone
else in the trucking business. While the number of trucks on the road
has not increased materially, demand for our services is down and
consequently rates across the board are down. While fuel costs are
down, the fuel surcharge which helps our contractors with the cost of
their business is down even more.
Total line haul revenue, the primary measure of our success, is down.
You cant sugar coat that. However, all of us who have been involved
in trucking for any length of time know that it is an industry beset with ups and downs.
Our Senior Vice President for Sales Walt Site keeps his own charts measuring our progress.
His hand-prepared, hand-colored graphs are legendary with the management team at
Admiral. While Walt uses most of the computer applications we have here, he likes to keep
the total line haul revenue chart by hand. Up and down, up and down, over the years,
Walts chart has gone, hand drawn with colored pencils. This year, it is most decidedly
down.

In This Issue
Problem Solving 1-2
Admiral Merchants Website:
Sign Up and Password Reset 2
Balancing Technology And
Customer Service 3-5
Huge Fuel Discounts Help
Admiral Contractors Bottom Line 5
In Memoriam 5
Updates From
The Legalization Department 6
Suspending Insurance 6
Tendered Invoices And
Freight Payment 7
Driver Testimonial 8
Vehicle Maintenance
Goal Achieved 9
A New Voice At Admiral 9
Meet New Safety Director 10

However, as we all know, the true test of an individual or of a company is how we respond
to adversity. Admiral Merchants and all of our great contractors and agents are not simply
sitting on our hands. All of us are working on trying to get one more load each day, trying
to drive improvement. And we are starting to see some results. As I have mentioned to
many people, I am especially gratified that our turnover rate the rate at which contractors
leave Admiral Merchants is as low as its ever been. Those who know us best, our current
contractors, know that Admiral Merchants is the best place for the contractors business.
Second, we are recruiting and signing on contractors at a higher pace than we have ever
done before. Congratulations to Mike Griffin, Director of Contractor Services, Wes
Dyer, Recruiter, Kim Nelson and Bonnie Bley and all they work with for a job well done.
However, this also reflects what we all know to be true: a lot of other carriers are not doing
as well as we are. Their contractors are leaving for greener pastures. And for many, the
pastures of Admiral are indeed greener.

Why Are Good Shippers Lost? 10

Why is this? I think its because the primary focus of everyone at Admiral, the management
team, our great staff, all of our contractors and agents, is Problem Solving. As almost every
reader of this newsletter has heard me say many times, we are in the Service Business.
Service is the value that we provide our shipper customers which they cannot get elsewhere.
Anyone with a truck can move freight from point A to point B. Only a motor carrier
committed to service can move it safely, on time, and in conformance with the needs of the
shipper. Among the things that the management team does to support everyone at Admiral,
including our great contractors and agents, is to travel to visit with them and to call on
our shipper customers on their behalf. I was recently in the Fort Worth area with other
members of the management team and sales team member Mary Alfano, calling on some
of her customers. We called on one of our agents who serves a manufacturer of agricultural
and lawn care products for both consumers and commercial users. Our agent who handles
the account has provided great services with a core of Admiral contractors to that company

Pennys Lane 17-19

(Continued on next page)

Changes In The Brokerage

Department 11
Help With Quoting Over
Dimensional/Overweight Permits 11
2015 Driver Appreciation BBQ 12
Snapshots From The 2015 Driver
Appreciation BBQ 13-15
Office Visits 16

Photos From Agent Visits - Brian

Short and Team 20-22
Digging Deeper And In
New Ground 22-23
Safe Driving Awards: March 2015
Thru June 2015 24
Top Revenue Producing Agents 25
Top 20 Drivers By Equipment
Type YTD 25

Problem Solving (cont from page 1)

for years. Over the period of time she has provided those
services, the shipper has gone through at least three traffic
managers. Each of the traffic managers has learned quickly
the value of the great service that agent and our contractors
provide. When I was visiting with the current traffic manager,
I was struck on how deeply grateful she was for the great
service her company and its customers had received from the
Admiral team over more than 25 years.
The gratitude of a customer is at least one of the ways you
measure success. Business for our shipper is down and so
the amount of business that we receive from that customer
is down. However, we are still getting close to 100% of
the shipments out of the Fort Worth facility. When that
companys shipments pick up, so will our business. Why?
Because the shipper recognizes the value their customers have
received from us over the years.
We all have to remain committed to solving problems for our
customers. We look at our line haul revenue which is down
and are tempted to say, Oh, woe is me.
However, business for our customers is also down. We have to

continue to be there for them, continue to try to solve their

problems, continue to offer words of encouragement. If we
do, when business picks up for our customers, our business
will also pick up. If our customers arent selling equipment,
they arent shipping equipment. If theyre not shipping
equipment, theyre not using Admiral Merchants Motor
Freight. We need to see the general economy improve and
then our business will, too. However, while waiting for that to
happen, we have to continue to remind our shipper customers
that we can solve their problems by delivering excellent
service. If we do that, when the economy recovers, so will our
business.
Thanks for all you do. Thanks to all of our contractors
and agents for being Problem Solvers for our great shipper
customers. Thanks to every member of the Admiral
Merchants team in Minneapolis and the sales team on
the road for being Problem Solvers for our agents and our
contractors.
Brian P. Short
President and CEO

Admiral Merchant Website: Sign-up & Password Reset

Admirals IT department is always
looking for ways to provide convenient
and trouble free usage of our tools and
driver based applications.
With that in mind, we are happy to
announce a new enhancement to the
Admiral Web page; self-registration.
You can now create your own account to gain access to
the Admiral website by answering some simple security
questions unique to you. You no longer need to contact IT or
Contractor Services when wanting to gain access to the load
board or to have your password reset.

The following information is what you will need to get started

using this enhancement.
Contractors need the following information: contractor
number, tractor number and zip code
Agents need the following information: agent number,
telephone number and zip code.
Click Create Login to create your login as a new
contractor or agent.
Click Reset Password if you have forgotten your password.
Dishon Smoot
IT Specialist

Balancing Technology and Customer Service

Accounting Corner
Companies often struggle at trying new processes and
procedures. Determining what impact these changes may
have on their customers and employees can also be a struggle.
At Admiral these changes are done to improve efficiency,
improve the processing of settlements and invoicing, and get
the contractors and agents paid faster.
You may recall years ago we provided envelopes for trip
paperwork. This served us well for many years and the post
office delivered us a lot of envelopes every day for processing
with only an occasional lost envelope. Several years ago we
introduced TripPak envelopes and putting trip envelopes in
a box for UPS delivery to us on a daily basis. Again handling
all the paper associated with a trip, bills of lading, delivery
receipts, trip reports, fuel receipts and on and on. Then several
years ago as technology progressed we introduced truck stop
scanning with additional capabilities added using in-cab
scanning and mobile phone scanning. All of these changes
were possible with the progression of technology but at the
same time reducing the need for the contractor to call billing/
processing or settlements department.
If you have younger kids or grandkids you can see how easily
they adapt to new technology and processes. In todays
technology world you can deliver your load, go to your
truck, scan us the paperwork and be paid within a very short
period of time. The number of scanned documents has been
reduced as well because fuel receipts dont need to be scanned
if the T-Card is used for fuel purchases. These changes are
designed to make the paperwork processing burden less on the
contractor and easy and simple to complete. This also helps
Admiral in that documents are not lost and are available to be
processed timely. This has also affected the number of calls to
the billing/processing department. The normal calls we used
to receive related to did you get my paperwork are no longer
needed as the reliability of scanning is virtually 100%. We
believe that one of the highest forms of customer service is to
process your paperwork and payment without the contractor
having to take the time to call and check where in the process
their settlement is.

We are continually looking for ways to be more efficient in

entering and processing loads, from agents entering the load
data and dispatch to the final contractor payment. Our long
time contractors at Admiral have been a part of all these
changes from 100 % paper to nearly 100% digital. With the
automation of these routine tasks, it enables us to handle the
more difficult or complex requests on a more personal basis
and certainly reduces the routine calls made to the billing/
processing department. Please be assured we appreciate
your patience when we do roll out the new programs and
procedures. There is definitely some trial and error that goes
along with any implementation of new software programs, so
thank you.
One more change coming January 1, 2016. We will no
longer mail your settlement statement. We currently email
monthly settlement statements to 2/3rd of the fleet and US
mail about a 1/3rd of the fleet. Beginning January 1, 2016
our settlements will be available on line or e-mailed but we
will be discontinuing the US mailing of all settlement sheets.
We will still mail checks weekly to those who have requested
that, but the settlement sheets will only be available on-line or
e-mailed directly to you. We will remind you of this change
several times before year end. Admiral is also upgrading the
on-line settlement pages. It will be faster in use and provide
accurate yearend information on deductions, earnings, etc.
So watch for information on that in the coming months.
These improvements will assist you in being more profitable
and increase your ability to manage your time in a way that
benefits you.
Please make sure we have your up to date email address.
T-Chek Upload vs. Paper Checks
There are many benefits to getting your commission pay
uploaded to a T-Chek card such as:
Convenience
The Settlement Department is able to upload
your commission pay onto a T-Chek Card.
Commission is processed on Wednesdays,
typically by 11:00 a.m. CST.
Transfer funds via a Voice Response Unit (VRU)
from the T-Chek card to your personal bank
account, eliminating the need to wait in line to
deposit your commission check at a bank.
An earlier payday can occur if a regular payday lands
on a holiday.
If you are on vacation or on a sick day, you can be
assured the deposit will be made.
A T-Chek upload greatly benefits you in the event
you should require funds in an emergency situation.
(Continued on next page)

Balancing Technology and Customer Service (cont from page 3)

Security
Lost or stolen checks are a common source for identity
theft. With electronic deposits your personal information
is viewed by less people and signatures are not required.
Eliminating paper checks and using T-Chex upload greatly
reduces the risk of fraud and possible ID theft.
Eliminate waiting time for a replacement check and
avoiding costs associated with re-issuing lost or stolen
checks. Eliminate stop payment charges and investigating
charges that may be levied by a bank when a check has
gone missing.
No need to worry about your check being stolen from
your mailbox.
Other Benefits
Going paperless is environmentally friendly because it
reduces Admirals carbon footprint. The green impact
can be further expanded by using the online settlement
statements that are available 24/7. Please contact the
Settlements Department or visit our webpage under
Settlements for more information.
Understanding Your Settlement
The Settlement & Billing/Processing Teams want to thank
you for doing a great job when sending in your paperwork!
Following the simple procedures and sending in all
required documents has helped you and will continue
to help you get paid quickly! As a reminder, refer to the
back side of your Trip Report for paperwork requirements
and different options on submitting paperwork. Keep in
mind, when emailing or faxing in your paperwork, a PDF
or TIF doc is the required format. Pictures or JPG docs
are not accepted and will be rejected. Remember to always
complete your Delivery Receipts, Trip Reports and turn
in your logs with each trip. Missing logs and incomplete
trip reports will delay your settlement and you may be
asked to get these items completed before we can process
your settlement. Please look over your paperwork before
sending and REMEMBER TO WRITE YOUR TRIP AND
UNIT NUMBER ON ALL DOCUEMENTS.
Processing paperwork and settlements is always a busy process
from start to finish. With that in mind Monday is our busiest
day of the week, with all of the weekend scans pending
processing. We appreciate your patience and ask that its not
necessary to call us after sending in your paperwork as it can
take 2 4 hours to process. With fewer phone calls, we can
process trips more efficiently.
With all of the New Contractors on board, there is always a
concern about your deductions and how they are calculated
into each settlement. When reading over your settlement

statement, all of the information that applies to your pay

is on each of the settlement pages. Please take the time to
read all of the associated pages and contact the settlements
department if you have any questions. The following is
a brief explanation of each page to help you have a better
understanding:
Page 1 This is a Settlement Summary and Year To Date
information page:
SUMMARY: (Located at top of page) is a summary of your
settlement from page 2. It summarizes the total revenue
paid, advances (card uploads) and deductions for that days
settlement.
YEAR TO DATE: (Located bottom left of page) is your year
to date revenue paid, advances (card uploads) and deductions.
This is great information to know what your gross earnings
for the year are.
Page 2 This page details your settlement for that day and is
broken down in 4 sections:
REVENUE: This section shows what is being paid to the
Truck/Contractor. This will include line haul revenue, fuel
surcharge and any other accessorial pay, trip numbers being
paid, gross amount and % paid to truck.
REIMBURSEMENTS: This section shows reimbursements
to the truck other than line haul and accessorial pay.
ADVANCES: This section shows any uploads to your
T-Chek Card including your settlement amount if you signed
up for Quick-pay. It will include trip numbers, dates and the
amount of each upload.
DEDUCTIONS: This section shows any deductions that
are included in your settlement for that day. These are either
one time deductions or reoccurring deductions that the
contractor has signed up for when leased on. The schedule
for reoccurring deductions and how often they come due are
noted on page 3 of each settlement.
Note: The Amount indicated in the bottom left corner will
indicate 0.00 if you do the quick-pay or your check amount if
you get check mailed weekly.
Page 3 This page is a recap of your deductions that you
may have signed up for when you leased on as well as any
escrow amounts. These may or may not be included on
your settlement for that day (page 2) but will let you know
what to expect on upcoming settlements. Amounts and
frequency may vary depending on the type of deduction.
The Frequency Codes located at the bottom of each page will
indicate how often deductions come due.
ESCROW ANALYSIS: This section shows your escrow
amounts and balances. The Limit is what you are required
to put into a reserve and the Current Balance is the current
balance to meet the Limit. The difference between the
(Continued on next page)

Balancing Technology and Customer Service (cont from page 4)

two amounts is what you actually have in reserve. Once
the Current Balance reaches zero, you have satisfied that
deduction.
LOAN ANALYSIS: This section shows any balances due on
loans. The Loan Amount is your beginning balance followed
by your Deduction Amount, Frequency (Frq) and Balance
Due.

3 Xth Pay of Month amount comes due once monthly.

The pay period in which it comes due will be displayed in
parentheses. Example: (1) = 1st Thursday of the month, (2)
= 2nd Thursday of the month etc.

MISCELLANEOUS DEDUCTION ANALYSIS: This

section shows all other deductions other than Escrow and
Loans. Most of these types of deductions may or may not
have a limit due to the frequency.

Page 4 This page is a Trip Summary from the time you were
dispatched up to your delivery date. All the information on
this page is generated by the system and is not used for any
purpose.

Most common Frequency Codes:

1 Each Load amount comes due each load or each trip.

If you have any questions or concerns about your settlement,

please contact the Settlements Department.

2 Every Pay Period amount comes due weekly each

Thursday.

Thank you!
Settlement Team

4 One-Time amount is a one- time deduction. Once the

deduction has been taken, it will no longer display.

Huge Fuel Discounts Help Admiral Contractors Bottom Line

In these tough economic times, the old saying that, every penny counts, really applies. Youve often heard
us say that our business is a pennies business. Well, it really is. When we look for new programs for our
contractors we keep this in mind. Our fuel-discount-program is one such example. The only difference is
that all of those pennies that our Contractors save through this program add up to some REALLY BIG
DOLLARS!!!
From January through July of 2015, the average discount per gallon across our fuel network was 34 cents per
gallon. The average number of gallons purchased by our Contractors and Drivers per fueling was 123 gallons.
This equated to an average fuel savings per fueling of $41.46. That is on EACH FUELING!
Across the Admiral Network, if you multiply those savings by the number of times our Contractors fueled, youve got
something very exciting, a total fleet savings of $1.34 million from January through July. This money went right back into the
pockets of our Contractors just for doing exactly what they have to do anyway fuel their trucks.
Once again, we are proud to be able to say that partnering with Admiral really pays off.
Mike Griffin
Director of Contractor Services

In Memoriam
We have recently lost members of the Admiral family. While some may have been known by many and others by few, we wanted to
take a moment to reflect on those we have lost.

Emery Wells (Contractor 5740) of Bradyville, TN has worked as an Admiral Contractor since November, 2011. Emery
passed away on May 24, 2015. Emery will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Dean Gosnell (Contractor 4864) of Alberta CAN has worked as an Admiral Contractor since February, 2008. Dean passed
away on August 4, 2015. Dean will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
David Langford (Contractor 6089) of McEwen, TN has worked as an Admiral Contractor since August, 2013. David passed
away on August 29, 2015. David will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Updates From The Legalization Department

The 2290 HVUT filing started on July
1, 2015 for the current tax year and was
due by August 31, 2015. If you missed
that deadline you can still file with minimum penalties and/or late fees.
To simplify this process, we have set up a
link on the Admiral web site.
1. Log in
2. Select Contractors/Drivers
3. Select Border Crossing/Licensing
4. Select 2290 HHV Electronic File
(this takes you to the ExpressTruckTax)
5. Follow the step by step instructions
If you should have any questions, please feel free to contact
me at ext. 8138.
Thanks and safe driving!
Karen Hedtke
Legalization Specialist

Suspending Insurances
HELP US HELP YOU!!
We want to save you money wherever and whenever we can!!
One of the ways we can help you accomplish this is, when you are going to be off for 30 days or more,
we can temporarily suspend your Physical Damage and/or Occupational Accident insurances. We must
however, leave Non-Trucking Liability (Bobtail) insurance in place while you are not working.
If you know that you are going to be inactive and not working at all for 30 days or longer, please call
Contractor Services at 612-843-8275 and let us know. We will then send you a form to fill out, authorizing
us to temporarily suspend your insurances. Once we receive the completed form back, we will go ahead and suspend your
insurances until you return to work.
However, please remember that you must contact us when you are planning to return to work so we can send you the
authorization form to reinstate your required insurance coverages. All insurance coverages must be in effect before you
return to work.
Thank you,
Contractor Services

Tendered Invoices and Freight Payment

The concept of freight payments is relatively simple in theory, but is becoming very complex in practice.
Receiving freight payments has turned into a collection of processes; in using various tendering systems the
freight payment providers are capturing comprehensive data from the freight invoices and their supporting
documentation. Shippers are then utilizing this information to capture data, to create a reporting database
and to automate the disbursement of payments and their remittance details. A number of our shippers and
carriers have provided the Admiral collection team access to their online reporting systems, the ease of use
and functionality of the tools we have been given has assisted the department in verifying payments and
detecting payment issues early on. The uniqueness of each system can often times be challenging but has proven to be a great
resource for our team.
Requirements for tendered invoicing is referred to as invoice validation, all of the pertinent information that is required to
process a payment is entered through various stages of the shipment being moved. From the shipper creating the tender to the
Agent accepting the load, the driver meeting the delivery requirements, the Bill of Lading (BOL) being submitted, the delivery
date updated and the payment processed.
Admirals Credit Department works with a number of electronic payable systems. These systems have contractual requirements
needed to get our invoices processed and paid. Electronic data has its limitations the need for accuracy and proper
documentation is essential; by not being accurate and not providing the required supporting documentation can cause a
delay in payment and the rejection of the tendered invoice. With some 3rd parties processors (3PLs) not having the required
information created in the contracts between the Shipper and the 3PL can shut down the entire tendering process for a
particular tender; turning the process in to a manual invoice submission adding an additional 30 to 45 days to process and pay
the invoice. The collections team mindfully manages these accounts; at times requiring assistance from Sales, the Agent and
the Agents shipping contact to resolve rejected or short paid invoices. Learning the mechanics and particulars of each system
and finding solutions that best meet Admirals payment requirements and the tendering requirements have proven to be a
challenge.
Essential elements and documents customers require in order to process and pay invoices are:
The shippers Load Number, Pro Number or their Tender Number.
The Rate Con/ Rate Agreement/Tender Copy (RC), a standard RC signed and dated; a print screen of the tender from the
customers system; an instructional email with the pick-up, deliver-to and pricing sent to the Agent. The rate agreement
can be very diverse these days, none-the-less it is an extremely important piece of documentation that is required to get
Admirals invoice paid.
The Bill of Lading (BOL) signed and dated; a very simple or very complicated piece of documentation, submitting all of the
pieces of the BOL such as pages 1 of 3, 2 of 3 and 3 of 3 and they are turned in lendable, signed and dated is a key element
in getting Admiral paid.
A Delivery Receipt (DR) signed and dated.
Additional Miscellaneous paperwork needed is:
o Scale / Weight tickets
o In & Out gate tickets
o Interchange receipts
o Key Rec Stickers for the Menards and Home Depot loads
o Customs paperwork
The Credit Department appreciates all of your help and guidance, getting the documentation needed to process our invoices
for payment and working with the various tendering systems, even though they are electronic systems, as you can see we are
still in need the standard shipping documentation to get the invoice processed and paid.
Pat Gegner
Credit Manager

Driver Testimonial
Here at Admiral we are always looking for better ways to serve our business partners, and part of that is
seeking out advice wherever we can. With that in mind, Admiral has started interviewing drivers to find
out what works for them and why they are leased on with us. By taking these tips out of the truck stops
and exchanging the information on a large platform, we will all benefit from the collective knowledge of
the entire Admiral team.
The next driver in this interview series is Kevin Wilmot, who recently joined Admiral in January of
2015, driving a 2012 Kenworth and specializing in oversized and military freight.
What brought you to Admiral?
I was previously with Mercer and realized that I needed to align myself with a company that would support me as a person
and allow for more flexibility. Wes Dyer reached out to me and we hit it off being a former Mercer employee. I was really
conflicted about what I needed professionally and personally. My former company was focused on quotas and I realized
there needed to be more for me as a person. Admiral has been that place in giving me a quality connection as a person and
opportunities professionally.
How long have you been trucking?
Ive been hauling truck for 34 years. I began in the Marine Corp Secondary and havent stopped since. I love what I do and
see myself as a qualified drivernot a pro! I am learning every day and love the support I am receiving from the organization
and people like Penny Lynner and Bonnie Bley. I believe in a stay positive attitude to approaching life and work. Some
people think its about arriving and I am of the mindset that its the journey and we learn something new each day. I love
trucking and see value in the people I encounter every day.
What sets Admiral apart from other carriers?
The personal connection I have received from day one has been great. Brian Short called me within the first week and this
made me realize I was a person and not a number. The reputation from the outside has been one of a company with high
standards and the drivers I have encountered have been very nice. I am really enjoying having access to so many agents (over
300) and that nothing is dictated. Rather, I have the flexibility to work with various agents and maximize my trips so I am able
to generate income more consistently. The networking is huge and I feel like I am working with a team! I enjoy the speed of
pay and turn around with all my loads. I really sense that I am more in control of my business and have a great support with
Admiral.
Are there any impressions of Admiral that stand out for you?
When I first started it was a tough transition as my previous company was structured to handling and dictating all my loads.
Since coming to Admiral I have experienced tremendous support and direction from multiple departments. Most notable was
the help I received from Penny Lynner as she helped me to establish some great contacts and leads. I realized this transition
would take some extra effort on my part but it has definitely paid off as I am more established and feel like Admiral is family.
How have you been successful with Admiral?
Using the abundant list of agents I have been able to network myself in a way that allows me to plot each load in advance. I
am of the mindset you need to be proactive and think of your loads in a fashion of series of steps to keep you moving and
generating income. I live by the mottos living the dream and staying positive as to how to approach my customers and
life. I realize the importance of communication with my agents and customers alike. I make every effort to follow through on
calling and updating agents with my progress and follow through on the little things to ensure the best service possible. Thus,
my reputation is what I know will prevail in continuing my success as a team member with Admiral.
If you would like to take part in this testimonial series, please contact Mike Griffin at 612-843-8153 or mgriffin@ammf.com

Vehicle Maintenance Goal Achieved

Admiral is scored in seven categories in
the Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA)
program: Unsafe Driving; Hours of
Service; Hazmat; Driver Fitness; Vehicle
Maintenance; Crash Score; and Drug and
Alcohol Violations. These ratings create
a profile for Admiral that customers may
take into consideration when choosing
who will handle their freight. We have always had a fantastic
crash rating, but have struggled in other areas, such as vehicle
maintenance and hours of service. Admiral is proud to
announce that the fleet has achieved the threshold standard
(below 80%) in vehicle maintenance after years of dedication
and tireless work by our safety team and the attention to
detail of our contractors.
Scoring a Driver and Carrier
Various violations are given scores and severity level, and then
then the scores are adjusted by the time since the violation
occurred. There is more emphasis on violations that have
happened more recently. All violations remain in Admirals
score for 24 months, and on a drivers record for 36 months,
but a violations value reduces over time due to this time
weighting system.
After a score is determined, Admiral is compared to its peer
group and then ranked against all of the other carriers in our
group. The carrier with the lowest score in the group is ranked
at 0, while the carrier with the highest score is ranked at 100.
All other carriers fit somewhere in between, and this ranking
against our peers is what our customers care about when
selecting a carrier.
Why is Admiral Celebrating Getting Below 80%?
Admirals score is relative to other carriers, so a score of 80%
means that we are better than only 20% of our competition.

This does not sound like an achievement worth writing about

at first blush. But, Admirals business model of working with
independent owner-operators places us on uneven footing
with owned fleets. We are competing with carriers who have
the infrastructure so that they should never have a violation.
Owned fleets can manage their own trucks with an in-house
maintenance staff ready to verify everything is in working
order. Before hitting the road, an owned fleet can substitute
a tractor or trailer if a defect is found by maintenance
specialists. Admirals contractors take great pride in their
equipment and pay great attention to maintaining their
tractors and trailers, but they simply have neither the time nor
the resources to match the maintenance departments of the
largest van carriers in the country.
This is an occasion to celebrate and a time to refocus on
maintenance. With the dedicated attention to contractors
equipment, Admiral and our contractors are seeing the results
of the steady work of the entire fleet. But, while Admiral
is improving, so is the entire industry. Furthermore, the
FMCSA has proposed moving the threshold for a passing
score from 80% to 75%. Take the time to enjoy this welldeserved achievement, and then prepare to take on the next
challenge. It is not good enough just to improve; we need to
improve faster than the competition. With the success so far,
we have no doubt that this new goal is achievable.
As always, if you are involved in an accident, incident, or have
a cargo issue, the Claims Department is here to help you 24
hours a day, seven days a week at the following numbers:
8:00 AM-5:00 PM (CST) -- 800-972-8864 ext. 8191
Outside of business hours 612-991-5923
Mark Dooley
Director of Claims Management

A New Voice at Admiral

As many of you have heard (literally) we have a new voice at Admiral. With Missy Swenson transferring to the Operations
Department, Claire Gregory has joined the Admiral team. And thought it would be a great idea for her to introduce herself to you.

Hello everyone! I am so excited to be the new receptionist at Admiral, and
thanks to Missys wonderful training I am confident that I will do a great job
and love it here. I am currently a full time student in pursuit of a Business
Management degree, and while I do have previous reception experience, I
have also been a server since I was 18. Ive lived in Minnesota my whole life
and because of that, have grown to love the outdoors and would spend every
day at my cabin in Ely if I could. I love talking to people and absolutely
cannot wait to get to know everyone involved with the Admiral team!

Claire Gregory and Missy Swenson

Thanks for welcoming me.

Claire Gregory

Meet our New Safety Director

I joined the Admiral Merchants family as the Director of Safety just last month.
Already I have been very impressed with the professionalism of our independent
contractors and the agents.
My background includes approximately 30 years of transportation experience
in both the Safety and Operations arenas. I have worked at Dallas Mavis and
Greatwide Truckload, and most recently at Diamond Transportation so I am very
familiar with the O/O system and the open deck industry.
I am very excited to be here and working with such a respected company. My wife
and I (and our dog Brandi) will be moving to the Minneapolis area from Kenosha,
WI just in time for the wonderful Minneapolis winter.
I look forward to working with you all.
Paul Hinrichs
Director of Safety

Why Are Good Shippers Lost?

1% die
3% take another job
5% switch their routings to friends or relatives
9% gives their business to someone that cuts their rates
14% leave because of bad service
68% take their business away because of the lack of attention or poor attitude on the part of the agent, contractor or someone within
the trucking organization!
Lesson to be learned. . .
Never, ever take anything for granted. No one can be faulted for continued follow up and the continued use of the words; thank you.
This is not just from our agents; it is also from our contractors and our corporate folks too. Be sure to show your appreciation to our
shippers. Dont let them think you are taking them for granted. Remember, there are probably 5 competitors doing whatever they can
to do to get your business, especially during slow times.
Now the truth is told. The above is a reprint from a Ships Log from over twenty years ago. Good sales practices dont
change much, do they?
Walt Site
Sr. VP Marketing

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Changes in the Brokerage Department

It was bittersweet saying goodbye to Debbie Taylor at the end of June. After 12 years
at Admiral, she decided it was time to retire. We cant thank Debbie enough for her
dedication and outstanding customer service, and know she has been having fun
traveling and golfing in her first two months of retirement.
With that being said, we want to welcome Dave Stedman to the Brokerage team. You
all know him as one of the freight coordinators in operations. With his 20 plus year
in transportation and knowing the operations side at Admiral, he will be there to help
you with any of your transportation needs.
In addition, we added Theresa Dougan to the team. We thought we would give her a
quick moment to introduce herself.
Debbie Taylor Retiring

Hi, Im Theresa Dougan. I was raised in Topeka, KS and am a BIG KC Chiefs fan. I lived
in Oregon for 10 years and have been in Minnesota now for 16 years. I have 3 children
and 5 grandchildren. I love to sew, read, ride my bike, and spend time with family and
friends.
I came aboard the Admiral team on June 8, 2015. Not to worry, I have 18 years of
experience in transportation. I have been the customer, the agent, the dispatcher and the
broker. I look forward to working with each of you and learning even more about this
business.
Tom Bobrycki
Brokerage Manager

Theresa Dougan is the

newest member of the team

Help with Quoting Over Dimensional/Overweight Permits

Over the past year, the permit department has created a few tools to help quote OD/OW loads. You can
find these tools on the Admiral website under the Permits tab, then under the Pilots/Quoting tab.
The following documents are available online:
Over Dimensional Permit Fees
Overweight Permit Fees
Escort Requirements
Estimated Quote Form
*If you are looking for a quote for permit pricing, please fill out the Estimated Quote Form and email it to Permits@AMMF.
com or fax it to 612-843-8179.
We have created these tools to help alleviate some of the phone calls so that we can spend more time processing permits. If you
have any questions, please feel free to email Permits@AMMF.com or call 612-843-8270.
Thank you,
Megan Erickson
Permit Manager

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2015 Driver Appreciation BBQ

Once again, our annual Driver Appreciation BBQ was a fabulous event. It was held at the Speedway Truck Stop in London,
OH and almost one hundred drivers, agents, and family members attended this year. Although we had a chilly and wet start
to the day, the weather Gods were looking out for us once again. The sun burst out of the clouds just as everyone started to
arrive, and we were able to spend the rest of a beautiful afternoon enjoying some great food and meeting with old friends. We
were also able to meet some of our newest contractors and agents, as well as their families.
Every year I get asked about the purpose of holding these BBQs, and my answer is always the same. The first and most
important reason is to say thank you to our business partners and to let you know how much we appreciate all your hard work.
Secondly, it provides great networking opportunities with other drivers, agents, and members of the Admiral team. Last but
not least, Brian Short (President and CEO of Admiral) always attends the BBQs so he can meet with everyone face to face
and discuss any concerns or issues there may be. Brian truly cares about what you have to say, and has acted on many of your
suggestions.
The BBQs are a great way to communicate with you about what is going on at Admiral, as well as the overall trucking industry.
We also want to inform you about improvements we would like to implement, and to ask for your cooperation and support.
One of the initiatives we introduced at the BBQ this year, was our on-line permit application. Our permit manager, Megan
Erickson, gave a brief presentation on how to use the permit application, which can be accessed at any time and will help speed
up the process. Instead of calling us to order their permits while on the road, drivers can now order their permits at any time,
day or night. Please give Megan a call with any questions, and she will walk you through the process. Dishon Smoot, our
IT specialist, will then upload all of your equipment information onto your computer for you. This way, all you need to do is
enter the routes you want and the load information required by the states. When youre finished, hit the submit button and
you will receive an e-mail confirmation of your request. The BBQ was a great place to introduce everyone to this new initiative
and we are very excited about implementing it.
Finally, we want to give special thanks to our great grill masters at the BBQ, Mark Suver (5588) and his AB daughter, Ricki.
Both of you did a great job, and we hope youll be back again next year, because we received many compliments about how
great the food was. We also want to thank Fred Haase (agent 2248) for helping us with all of the ground work, and for his
good humor. Last but not least, I want to thank the folks at AFLAC who brought their Heisman Trophy trailer to the event
again this year. They were on hand to let everyone know about some great insurance plans with low group rates, which are
about 50% lower than if you tried to purchase a similar plan directly from an agent. These plans are available to agents as well
as drivers. If you want more information, please visit their website at www.aflac.com/ammf. Thanks to everyone for making
this years BBQ such a success!
Make Every Mile a Safe Mile
Penny Lynner
VP Operations

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Snapshots from the 2015 Driver Appreciation BBQ

(Continued on next page)

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Snapshots from the 2015 Driver Appreciation BBQ (cont.)

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(Continued on next page)

Snapshots from the 2015 Driver Appreciation BBQ (Cont.)

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Office Visits
We realize that most loads do not bring you through
Minneapolis MN, but when they do, we would love it if you
would take time and come visit us. Just call the office and
the receptionist will direct you to the best place to park and
arrange a taxi for you.
We will show you around the office and stop at the different
departments so you can meet everyone. You can pick up any
supplies you need, and someone from the office will take

you out to lunch. We really do enjoy meeting our drivers

and agents so if you can make it workplease know you are
always welcome.
Hope to see you soon!
Missy Swenson
Below are some of our drivers that have visited latelythank you
for coming!!!

Rob, William Ryan Unit 6368, Missy

Chuck Mikec Unit 6371, Mike

Penny, Steve Johnson Unit 6 398

Missy, Andy Mainard Unit4453, Karen

Sheldon Beckman Unit 5688A,
Bonnie, Missy
Missy, John Earl Unit 6082

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Bonnie, Kim, Marvin Schwark

Unit 5683A

Lisa, Rick Stone Unit5735A, Mike

Missy, Clayton Freeman Unit 6292A

Pennys Lane
Admiral contractors and drivers strive to provide excellent customer service on a daily basis, but we seldom hear feedback. However,
when customers do express their thanks and appreciation for outstanding service, we want to recognize those individuals who go the
extra mile and thank them for being part of Admiral.
June 16, 2015 - Justin Fritz, Agent 3452 - received an email from Greg Carty, Plant Manager, stating that driver Ron Lewis,
Unit 6229, made a delivery for Xerxes to the Hagerstown, MD location and that Ron was very patient and courteous that
morning. There was a driveway full of trucks loading oversize loads and they actually unloaded him in the parking lot. Great
work Ron!
June 26, 2015 Donna Duckworth, Agent 3279 This is the first Load out of NADC.
Pictured left to right are:
Carrier Rep, Bobby Conley,
Shipping Supervisor for
NADC, and Admiral Driver,
Athen Steele, Unit 4152

(Continued on next page)

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Pennys Lane (cont.)

August 6, 2015 - Charles Gale, Unit 5854 - New Truck

August 20, 2015 - Justin Fritz, Agent 3452, e-mailed to say that Dave Adams, Unit 5235A had just delivered a Xerxes tank
for him in Joliet, IL and as usual, he did a wonderful job. Justin went on to say he always does a wonderful, professional job
and that his customers love him.
August 26, 2015 Clyde Wood Unit 5245A, delivered this 30,000 gallon propane tank on his new stretch trailer. It was 68
ft. 6 in. long, 9 ft. wide and 59,000 lbs. He traveled without incident from TX to NV. This was Clydes longest load he has
moved in over 30 years of driving. The Admiral agent on this load was Chris & Heather, Agent 2383 out of CA.

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(Continued on next page)

Pennys Lane (cont.)

September 16, 2015 Brad Tolles, Agent 2609, and Keith Tolles Unit 2929 hauled the life boats that will be used for Disneys new movie, The Finest Hour. They were delivered directly to the movie set in Quincy, MA. The movie will be released
in December. Here is a link to the movie trailer. https://youtu.be/BQmllwTKtqU

September 16, 2015 Mary Ellen, Agent 3429, received an email from Jr. at Centerline Freight, informing her that Bob
Norton Unit 6255 received this compliment email from a competitors driver:
Jr, As you know I was picking up Wednesday at Braddock Medical surgical at 1590 Huber street. The driver you had that had
picked up from Nevadato deliver there was extremely helpful. The tank he had was neatly secured and was a true professional
driver. If you have a way to thank him for me please do so. I was extremely sick, and he was a real trooper. He may be a Competitor, but he did take care of your freight as well as me. Way to go Bob!
**We would love to publish pictures of your equipment too! E-mail your pictures to khedtke@ammf.com so that we can post them in
the next edition of Pennys Lane! **

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Photos from Agent Visits - Brian Short and Team

Agent Visits
Brian Short and members of the Admiral team were able to take time away from the office to visit some of the Agents this
summer. It was a valuable experience being in the field, because it allowed us to get answers to the following question: What
can Admiral do to help grow your business? Below are a few photos from those visits.

Larry Morris Agent 2048

Chris and Heather Palmer Agent 2383

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Photos from Agent Visits - Brian Short and Team (cont.)

Al White Agent 3308

Tom Campos Agent 2198

Charlie and Amber Agent 3327

Vernon Probst Unit 3424,Stacy from Kubota

Stacy from Kubota

Loading at Kubota, Vernon Probst Unit 3424

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Photos from Agent Visit Brian Short and Team (cont.)

Jackie Askelson Agent 3236

Donna Duckworth Agent 3279

Digging Deeper and In New Ground

The economy is cyclical and it is structural. It moves in circles and it takes structural adjustments.
We are on the low side of a cyclical rotation and we are feeling it in the lack of loads that are out there
and in the rates that are on the loads that we have. Not all business is down, but some of the prime areas
of business that we tap into are affected; oil, construction, and mining to name a few.
What do we do to keep the flow of loads going? How do we improve business? Some of the answers are
very obvious some are more elusive.
For each of us in this three way partnership: Contractor/Driver, Agent, and Company the answers may
be different, but some of the answers are the same. Here is an example of some answers that should be the same for all three.
First of all, KEEP THE FAITH: We need to stick together. Dont turn into sour apples! We need to stay optimistic. Admiral
is a stand up company when times are up and we are a stand up company when times are down. A lot of that has to do with
keeping the faith.
Next, WORK HARDER: The old saying the harder you work the luckier you get comes to play in times like this. Where
ever you are standing, your results will be equal to your effort. We have talked in the past about persistence and how that extra
effort pays off, now is that time. Push, push harder, push again, all the while staying safe. Now push again.
Now, WORK SMARTER: Plan a little more than you are used to. Think about your next step when you are planning the first
one. Network yourself. Helping someone out might be the answer to connecting to more loads. Be smart.
Then we get into areas that are not as well defined. One of the best rules in sales is that if you want more business get more
business from the folks youre already working for every day. That does not work as well in a down market so we have to think
outside the box. We need to look at freight that we have not been moving, commodities that we have not been big in. This is
freight that has been moving on the other guys truck. How do we get into that business? Sure that business may be down too,
but every load of that business that we get is new business for us.
When was the last time you worked with an Agent to get freight from a shipper that is in the business of getting power to mar-

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(Continued on next page)

Digging Deeper and In New Ground (cont.)

ket? You can catch the wind or the sun, but how do you get it to market? What about these orange barrels we drive around all
summer long? Someone is moving the construction equipment they use for that. Heck read the help wanted ads, whos hiring,
whos producing, and who needs to move their production. Everything to do with food production and medical services is
booming. We are all getting older and we all need to eat. Every day we make more and more trash. How is this being handled?
Whos providing the equipment and whos paying the freight bill? Dont wait for all your regular shippers to come back to life.
Find new ones, ones that are new to us, we give great service and they need us.
Remember, its all about relationships. Dont desert the old ones, but start building some new ones. There are some great folks
out there that want to meet you, make friends with you, and do business with you.
Be SAFE in everything you do , think it through, hug your loved ones as often as you can, and know we appreciate you.
Ralph A Wood
Senior Vice President

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Safe Driving Awards: March 2015 thru June 2015

Congratulations to the following drivers who earned Safe Driving Awards for the months of March 2015 thru June 2015.
To be eligible for a Safety Award the following criteria must be met:
A current driver in good standing with Admiral for each 12 month period after your date of lease.
No preventable accident or unreported accidents/incidents.
No cargo claims or unreported cargo notations.
No roadside inspections with out-of-service violations
No moving violations (citation or noted on a roadside inspection)
No more than 50 CSA points.
Must be in good standing in all areas of Safety and Compliance as defined in Admiral Merchants policies and procedures.
Thanks again and congratulations to the following drivers for achieving another year of safe driving.

Holly Caskey
Safety Director
22 Years
James M. Wilhite
17 Years
Randy L. Cottingham
14 Years
Christopher Campbell
13 Years
John G. Legler
Clarence E. Winget, Jr.
12 Years
Ricky W. Guile
11 Years
Harold E. Justice
10 Years
Jason T. Whitaker
Teresa L. Kern
9 Years
James H. Murphy
Jeffrey J. Diachenko
David W. Kern
8 Years
Paul D. Hershberger
Frank J. Bowers
Rodney D. Bowling
7 Years
Dale E. Nabors
Mearl M. Schlegel
Charlie E. McKeown
Arlen 'Jody' Miller
Matthew M. Rocha
6 Years
David B. Popp
Franklin W. Shaffer, Jr.
Joel P. Strand
Tomy Dean Erno

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5 Years
J.L. Leonard
William David Adams
L. Dean Deckard
Frederick G. Kay
Ralph G. Kennedy
Steven M. McCarl
Clyde W. Wood
Joseph M. Wright
Freddie E. Martin
4 Years
David L. Johnson
Joseph H. Sauble
Richard E. Brent
Richard E. Schriver
3 Years
Clifford A. Boling
Howard Willie Davies
Pamela E. Legg
Anderson C. Mantooth
Kent E. Miller
Conley Powell, Jr.
Larry D. Yorgason
Glenn F. Morehart
Alfredo Sainz
James L. Ward
Travis M. Durnin
Harold H. Hedlund
R. Blayne Lough
Shawn A. McLean
Duane G. ODonnell
H. Gerald Penn
David A. Snyder
Kim J. Snyder
Debbie L. Wilson

2 Years
Steven D. Baird
Robert A. Holder
Alan R. Kent
Michael R. Loman
Robert Bob L. Slack
Gregory A. Wallace
Brian D. Clevenger
Lisa L. Clevenger
Barry D. Crooks
John E. Flanagan
Shirley M. Irwin
Anthony A. Maggard
Sean K. Poland
Kimberly A. Southers
Michael A. Southers
Patrick M. McCarthy
James W. Carter
Troy D. French
Johnney E. Keck
Charles H. Krohne
Clyde E. Moody
Michael Robinson
Warren F. Stamp
Robert J. Sulzbach
Walter C. Yasuk
Jose L. Botello
James V. Crowl
Mark L. Goodwin
Thomas L. Grimes
Curtis L. Sanlo, Sr.
Marina Sidko
Vadim Sidko
Devon A. Smith

1 Year
1 Year, Continued
Paul Allen
Donald L. Patterson
Lenny K. Duckett
Susan E. Patterson
Patrick A. Golden
Charles A. Schenk
Kristopher M. Jacobs
Rodney L. Schnelle
Jerzy F. Satora
James R. Smallwood
Nelson V. Stutzman
Carl L. Stanoyevic
Allen E. Veldjesgraaf
Robert L. Wise
Patrick M. McCarthy
Terry R. Cumming
Daniel Loewen
Allen S. Mellott
Joseph R. Spears
Robert L. Catlin
Dale A. Cheever
Michael J. Coan
Matthew S. Cunningham
James Harold Gillian
Charlie R. Guinn, Jr.
Pamela S. Johns
Ralph D. Johns, Sr.
Kenneth R. Jones
Roland S. Kennedy
Michael N. Nagy
Diana L. Stovall
Ricky R. Stovall
James R. Underwood, Jr.
John D. Wilson
Richard D. Beck, Jr.
Kevin L. Clippinger
Harry J. Davis
Iran A. Gomez
William J. Herringshaw
Charles H. Lindsey
Timofey Moiseyenko

TOP REVENUE PRODUCING AGENTS YTD

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)
13)
14)
15)
16)
17)
18)
19)
20)

2048
3017
2103
2476
3399
2631
2248
2609
2383
2198
2664
3458
2442
3165
2963
2419
2061
3164
2682
2477

Larry Morris
Gary Fellure
Jim McGowan
Don Singleton
Harold Sparkman
Larry Huisenga
Tammy Haase
Brad Tolles
Chris Palmer
Tom Campos
Shirley Bohman
Helen Blennerhassett
John Frey
Brian Clevenger
Matt Hillegas
David Disselhorst
Gary Muth
Pam Cramer
Brenda Stringer
Bob Greenwell

Albuquerque, NM
Columbus, OH
Bakersfield, CA
Winchester, KY
Kenova, WV
Springfield, MO
Lawrenceville, GA
Northville, MI
Alpine, CA
Woodland, CA
Chesterfield, MO
Conroe, TX
Remington, IN
McConnellsville, PA
Everett, PA
Granite City, IL
Hot Springs Village, AR
Obesonia, PA
Olive Branch, MS
Louisville, KY

TOP 20 DRIVERS BY EQUIPMENT TYPE YTD

FLATBEDS

SPECIALIZED

STEPDECKS

6240 Allen Mellott

6225 Richard Brent
5291 Christopher Vorys
5467C Mike Nichols
5853 Rolland Liff
6277A John Baxter
6009 Lawrence Ayers
5321B David Korhonen
5864 James Crowl
3726B Omar Overby
5885 Brian Johnson
5555 Jeff Smith
4622B Paul Hershberger
5594 David M. Blue
5108 Michael Deshong
2467A Brian Cisler
3994 Royal Elwess
5088 Carmel Holbrook
4425 Mark Rix
6191 Michael Nagy

5427 Portia and Anderson Mantooth

3784C Ralph and Pamela Johns
3274B Brian and Lisa Clevenger
6361 Joe and Michelle Williamson
5660A David and Kim Snyder
5920 David Conn Jr.
5517 Donald and Carol Stevens
5935A Angel Arroyo Jr. and Mike Fontanez
6119 Kimberly and Michael Southers
6234 James and Kathy Ball
5066A Don Fields
4195D Jerry and Marci Ketterer
3567 Jim Murphy
6158 Danny Adams
6059 Patrick McCarthy
6066 Thomas (Andy) Griffin
5710 Thomas Grimes
6178 William Mellott
6195 Terry Pittenger
6203 Charles Schenk

5680A Daniel Hawkins680A D

6258 Anthony Miotke and Debra Thornton
3876 David Kern
6204 Donald Patterson
5414A Diana (Lynn) and Ricky Stovall
6145 Ronald Baird
6282A Cody Olesiak
4820A Ralph Baird
4625A Lynn Dennis
5588 Mark Suver
5544 Steven Baird
6318 Mike Neuteboom
5685 Michael Van Krieken
3529D Thomas Glen Claiborne
2929 Keith Tolles
3543A Frank Bowers
6177A Daniel Loewen
5738 Devon Smith
6041 Charles Krohne
6023A Roland Kennedy

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