What Does It Really Mean to Put Truck Drivers First?

Well, this is our gym. This is our theater. They have a laundry room. They can do their laundry at any time they want.

We have coffee at all times.

So this is our shop. Talking to the drivers, being honest with them. We appreciate them and everything that they do on a day-to-day basis.

So the Truckers Company is in the name. It is about the drivers, the truckers that's out there on the road every day. It's their safety, it's their communication, how we can help the truckers on the road, their equipment, the how we communicate with safety, how their dispatch runs them, how their miles How can I help you every day? And make them successful.

My name is Mark Koch. I'm the Vice President of Operations. Well, this is our gym. The drivers and all employees have access to the gym.

We are very proponent on driver safety and their health wellness, so they have 24/7 access. It is never closed. They can access it at any time through the door here. They do not need badges or anything.

We have a lot of our local drivers come in. They have a routine.

They know that If I start at 7 o'clock, they're here at 5. Or if they get in too early, they will work in the gym at night.

Our OTR drivers absolutely love it. They do not go down to the Love's. They actually want to come here and enjoy the gym because we have— actually, you can see a full-size gym. This is our theater.

This is the gym. This is where the drivers can come in and watch a movie. They have an iPad that they can access. They can watch any movie that we have on file at any given time.

The chairs lounge back. Open 24/7, never shuts down. They can always come in here and relax. Local, OTR, our independent contractors are more than welcome as well.

Owner-operators are more than welcome to come in.

So how do they pick the movies?

So, well, they go on the iPad, they open the iPad up in the home, and they pick whatever movie they like through— it's action, comedy, whatever they want. What's up with those signs up there?

They're actually all through the interstate that we designed. You want to make a left, you can go on our Express Highway. And as you can see, this same sign there, showers 4, 5, and 6.

So even when you're not driving a truck, you still feel like you're driving a truck?

Absolutely. Everywhere in the building is like that. Very cool. Even our offices and some of our rooms are named Miami, Chicago, Greenville, some of the major cities.

So when the drivers are relaxing in the cinema or they're out eating their dinner or lunch, waiting for a load, they have laundry room. They can do their laundry at any time they want. How much does it cost to use the washing machine? It's free. 100% free. 24/7 access? 24/7 access.

Company drivers, independent contractors, we don't mind. We welcome them all. We have 6 showers available. They are cleaned around the clock.

That way the shower is always available for the drivers at any time. Oh wow, these are a lot of snacks here. Is this for the drivers too?

Absolutely.

It's, again, it's open 24/7 at any time they want.

We also offer healthy options.

We also give them the board if they have anything they'd like for us to get. They can put it on there and we will do our best to bring it in.

Well, we have breakfast, we have biscuits and gravy, we have salads, for lunch. We have hamburgers, bagels.

We also have TV trays, pizzas, ice cream. No one leaves hungry?

Never, never. We have 3 microwaves. We have the refrigerator. We have coffee at all times, 24/7.

There's always coffee here.

We also have  pizza ovens for the drivers as well. And what happens when a truck breaks down or drivers need maintenance or anything like that? How— what does that look like?

They come here? And where do they go? Well, the very first thing when they come here, Dar, is they come to the window, which is our Fleet Equipment and Maintenance. They come to the window, they check in, they talk to one of the gentlemen behind the desk.

They say, I'm here for my PM, or, hey, I'm broke down. 99% of the time we are already aware of it. They already have an appointment made and ready, so they'll just check it in, confirm, hey, I'm here for PM, what is my PM? Or, I'm here broke down, is it still— you're broke down for bad airbags, line, whatever the case may be? PM is normally appointment only.

But we will bring them in if they're here in town, they need a PM, we will work them in. If it's a small breakdown, we'll absolutely work them in. Airlines, any kind of quick issue, we don't make them wait. If the breakdown is more than an hour or 2, they're free to use the gym, the theater, they can do their laundry, they can have a quick bite to eat.

Everything is here available for them.

So this is our shop. We have multiple bays for the tractors. We have multiple bays for the trailers.

We are full service on trailers and full service on our tractors. We do have a truck wash as well.

So yes, we do have a courtesy car available when drivers are here getting a PM or they're on a breakdown. It is available 24/7.

They just have to check the car out. Great turnout at the driver appreciation cookout today. What is the philosophy behind Artur Express? You guys call yourselves the trucker's company.

What does it mean in real life? Honesty. Talking to the drivers, being honest with them. We appreciate them and everything that they do on a day-to-day basis.

Anything that we can do to help them. We're not like every other trucking company that just wants to give them stories or fantasies. We give them reality. This is what we have.

This is what we can do for you. And we follow through. We don't lie to the drivers. It's honesty up front.

You're the vice president of the company and you're out here today with the truckers. You're talking to them, interacting, knowing their stories. Is that how everyone, every employee of Artur Express interacts with drivers? Like, you know, you treat them as human beings?

Absolutely.

We know most of our drivers, we know them by name. We encourage them to come to the terminal. I was talking to Tara earlier, and that's the one thing she loved about coming to the terminal.

She can talk to anybody. You can talk to myself, you can talk to Artur and Tom if they're around. Nobody— everybody's door's open. We're here for the drivers.

If someone's looking to get a better company, switch jobs, what do you guys have to offer? For us, we have one of the highest pay in the industry. One of the differences between us, we think sets ourselves apart, is we listen. We're here to help you.

If there's anything we can do for our drivers, we'll do our best to do it.

Okay, I've been talking to drivers here and they mentioned the equipment is pretty good. What kind of trucks do you guys run? We run just about everything.

The Peterbilts, KWs, Internationals, Volvos. We actually have a new Volvo that's just around the corner. Tara actually took it the other day.

Okay, and where can we get more information if someone's interested in working for Artur Express?

Go to our website, arturexpress.com. Where are you guys out of? We are based out of St. Louis, Hazelwood, Missouri.

Okay, thank you very much. All right, thank you.

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