Hauling Excellence

Through April - 2016

Convention Year

pACE Setter A ce Re l o ca t io n

Sy s te m s, I n c . May 2016

In this issue: Behind The Wheel 1

Main Street 1

Summer Hazards 2

Tire Safety 3

Ace 15 Gives Back 3

Customer Support 4

Uncle Chuck’s Corner 4

BINGO Sheets 5

Gypsy Moth Inspections 6

Department of Defense 7

Wild For The Cure 7

Kathy’s Reminder 7

No Smoking! 7

Shut Gun Is coming! 8

Frontage Road 9

Atlas In The News 10

Our Space 11

Employee Spotlight 12

pACE Setter

Behind the Wheel - Kevin Jackson, Ace 62

Main Street - VP of Operations, Dan Lammers

(Con’t on page 2)

Rate

PVO

Use

Atlas

Again

?

Orlando

Maryland

Long

Beach

Seattle San

Diego

Chicago

San

Marcos

San Jose

Phoenix

Kevin has been in the moving industry for 11 years and 9

of those years were as a local Independent Contractor. He

got into the industry through a friend of his who (is still a

local Independent Contractor) needed some extra help. He

had recently been laid off from my job as District Manager

at 7-11 due to budget cuts, so the job was timely.

He is no stranger here at Ace. This is his second time

working for us. He was working for Bob Jared from Au-

gust 2006 to September 2008 and then came back as an

Independent Contractor in March of 2015. He’s very glad

he made that decision.

Although he was born in Tampa Bay, Florida he calls San

Diego his home since he’s been living here since 1986.

His favorite thing to do when he’s home is fishing. There is nothing more he likes to do with

his time off than go fishing! He would go fishing every day if his family would let him!

His favorite restaurant to visit while he’s on the road is Cracker Barrel because there isn't one

in San Diego. On the road he listens to a combination of Old School Hip Hop, R & B and a

variety of audio books.

What he likes best about his job and working at Ace is how hard working everyone is.

He shared, “I have worked for many different agencies who didn't seem to appreciate all of

the hard work their employees/contractors put in every day. Ace is different. They treat

their employees/contractors as an asset to Ace the company and make us all feel like we are a

part of a team. Ace has always respected me as a business owner and I am treated well.”

When it comes to customer service he believes that you need to have an understanding that

the “customer comes first”. With years of experience in the restaurant and retail industry, he

knows that customers are the most important part of his business.

Leroy says, “Know your Ps. Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance”

After a good night’s rest, start your day right by doing a good pre-trip of your equip-

ment. Get your BLT on - Brakes, Lights and Tires. Routinely check hoses, belts, flu-

ids. Look for leaks, listen for issues. Know your equipment. Do it as part of your early

morning routine.

With the hours of service restrictions, plan your day accordingly. Look ahead along with

your customer to get the most of your driving allowance and work day.

4.54 79.29

4.47 86.47

4.58 93.42

4.04 65.22

4.6 89.89

4.42 80

4.63 93.55

4.65 91.96

4.46 84.29

pACE Setter Page 2

(Main Street – con’t from page 1)

SUMMER HAZARDS

Winter is over in most of the country, so the hazards of snow and ice are behind us. According to statistics over

90% of large truck crashes occur when there is no adverse weather. When the weather is good, any driver may

become complacent. Bad driving habits such as tailgating, speeding, excessive lane changes and failure to “back

off” create the environment or a tragic crash. The following is a list of a few of the hazards associated with the

summer season:

Construction Workers - Congestion, restricted lanes, merging traffic, frequent stops and workers in close prox-

imity to your lane of travel require you to be alert and drive defensively. If you are aware of a construction zone

ahead of time, you may save time by avoiding the area if possible and practical. While there may not be a “good

time” to go through a construction zone, the worst time is during rush hour, so pace yourself to avoid construction

zones during rush hour.

Children - They tend to take chances that most adults would not. A child may dar t into the street to chase a

ball or other toys without looking for traffic.

Joggers - They never seem to be tuned in to anything but the music playing on their headphones. They

have a tendency to cross roads without looking and jog in the street when there is not a sidewalk.

(con’t on page 10)

Don’t procrastinate. No one ever got ahead by putting off necessary tasks.

Haste Makes Waste. Being late, catching up, makes for mistakes. Knowing what you are up against by researching routes,

customer needs, labor and agent resources, etc., will give you an edge. The fewer mistakes made, the more money in your

pocket at the end of the day.

Take the time to get your chain of custody paperwork done. Verify High Value Items with the customer at the beginning of

the move. Do a great inventory. Legible, accurate inventories (electronic inventory is the best practice) will save you

time and money in claim prevention. It also relaxes the customer when they know they have a Professional Van Operator in

the house. Always check inventories on the dock and make exceptions to the inventory on a Rider. If you aren’t checking

off using a BINGO form on the dock or at the home, Ace can’t protect you from the claims that are likely coming your way.

Plan ahead for weather. Keep plenty of sunscreen applied and water in the cooler. Soda doesn’t help you hydrate and can

make you sick in the heat. Keep cool with a hat and uniform shorts. Know changing weather conditions such as thunder-

storms or tornado warnings. They will shorten your outside work time. Prior proper planning! Do it for you own

success and do it for Leroy.

- Dan Lammers

Volume Page 3

The 29th Annual International Roadcheck will be

held on June 7-9. Here's what you need to know.

How safe are your tires? Inspectors will be answering

this and other safety related questions when the Com-

mercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) conducts its

annual truck safety inspection June 7 – 9, 2016,

which officials report will place special emphasis on

tire safety.

The International Roadcheck

Each year, the CVSA conducts the International

Roadcheck, a three-day initiative aimed at educating

commercial drivers and enforcing road safety regula-

tions through inspection of commercial vehicles in

the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

In the United States, the CVSA works in conjunction

with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

and law enforcement to conduct the 72-hour safety

campaign; CVSA inspectors will mainly perform the

comprehensive North American Standard Level 1 In-

spection, which is a 37-step evaluation of the truck

and driver. While the CVSA always considers the

condition of truck tires during inspections, additional

focus is being placed on tire safety for 2016 to help

increase awareness for drivers and carriers.

Tire Safety Inspection Points

Practicing good tire maintenance is essential for high-

way safety and efficient commercial transport. In-

spection points for tires will include the evaluation of

correct tire pressure, adequate tire tread depth, foreign

objects wedged between dual tires and tire quality

and detection of cuts or bulges.

Additional Safety Issues

While the CVSA is highlighting tire safety for this

year’s campaign, you can expect inspectors to per-

form a thorough assessment of drivers and their vehi-

cles. Drivers should expect inspectors to verify driver

compliance with commercial driving regulations and

safety practices, which may include review of: Li-

censes, Endorsements, Hours of Service documenta-

tion, Seatbelt practice, Alcohol and other substance

use.

29th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL ROAD CHECK TO FOCUS ON TIRE SAFETY

The Ace 15 crew assisted Keller Williams Preferred Properties in in-

stalling a new library for the Seat Pleasant Elementary school for

autistic kids. This is the third Red Day community event in which Ace

has been an active participant. What a rewarding experience!

Thank you! You make the Ace family proud!!

To read more about this, click this link:

http://www.heartofamerica.org/kellerwilliams/.

ACE 15 GIVES BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY

(con’t on page 10)

pACE Setter Page 4

MESSAGE FROM CUSTOMER SUPPORT Summer is almost here and we are starting to see an uptick in orders (yay)!

Communication is the key and super critical in the driver and coordinator relationship!

Below is a list of items that coordinators need to be made aware of:

1. Additional weight – if you think the shipment might weigh more than estimated, let us know ASAP. Most

accounts appreciate this information and many accounts require us to report within 24 hours of the weight

differential.

2. Bulky Articles – if the customer adds or changes a bulky article let your coordinator know so we can make

sure it is authorized.

3. Shuttle @ Destination– if you find you need a shuttle, please let us know as soon as possible so we can get it

approved. There are some accounts that require pre-notification of a shuttle and may not pay if we advise them

after the shipment has delivered.

4. Delivery day and estimated time- Please keep your CSR in the loop on what day and approximate time you will

be doing the delivery. Many of our customers require we report this information to them directly. It also helps

when the CSR in arranging 3rd party at destination.

Please call or email us with any information you feel is imperative to executing a successful move, we love to hear

from you! We are all in this together – providing excellent service for our customers!

Nancy Fiechtner – Customer Service Manager, 75

CLEAN INSPECTIONS

Juan Luna (Ace-25)

Nabor Villa (Ace-25)

Jorge Ceniceros (Ace-75)

Rubin Ramirez (Ace-75)

Jad Ryan (Ace-75)

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT NEWS:

Rule 4 Administration Fees

Delinquent Logs-$1,115.00

Speeding-$550.00

REMINDER:

Hot weather is coming.

Check and replace belts, hoses, tires, antifreeze.

Running heater helps overheating.

Turn off A/C on hills.

Carry replacement hoses and belts.

Slow down! It saves your tires!

TIRE SAFETY WEEK IS JUNE

Refer to page 3 for more information.

UNCLE CHUCK’S CORNER

Page 5 Volume

INCORRECT INCORRECT INCORRECT

BINGO SHEETS

**THEY ARE MANDATORY**

(except for Military)

Check off numbers with an X in each box.

Check-offs must be performed even if the shipper

waives the right.

Report missing items to claims ASAP!

Failure to use a BINGO at delivery may result in a

100% change back to the PVO.

CORRECT: ALL ITEMS ARE X’D OFF

AND SIGNATURE IS COMPLETE

WHY USE A BINGO?

Because it’s Mandatory

Saves you the 100% Charge Back for Non-Procedure

It’s protection for YOU, the PVO, from Claims

It terminates liability when delivering to self-storage

It limits liability on confirmed missing items

It helps trace items transported with other shipments

It helps initiate the missing item trace

It ensures the you are not delivering someone else’s items

Re-assures the SHIPPER that you’ve done your job

and everything is OK

WHY USE A BINGO (Con’t)

pACE Setter Page 6

Gypsy Moths: You Need to Know!

You must have Gypsy Moth Inspection on any shipment originating in the quarantine area to

any destination outside the quarantine area.

Inspections must be done 365 days a year.

It’s not just a California thing!

To prevent the further spread of this destructive pest, the U.S.D.A. requires shippers to in-

spect and remove gypsy moth egg masses from outdoor items prior to moving from an in-

fested to a non-infested area.

Gypsy Moths are devastating: They can kill more than 300 different species of trees.

Inspection Form:

Please make sure customers sign

the bottom once they do their

inspection and complete this

check-off list.

These are the Quarantined Areas

For more information, please visit: http://www.hungrypests.com/.

Learn the Facts: The Gypsy Moth Fact Sheet can be found on

Atlas Net, just type in Gypsy Moth in the search bar.

Page 7 Volume

The Department of Defense is the largest purchaser of our services in the world. This traffic is key to filling

out loads or moving our trucks to our other bookings. There is an unfair knock on military business as it pays

cheaply and it’s not as good as other traffic.

Two things to remember:

The better our service, the more we can charge by filing higher rates along with our Customer Service Score

ranking amongst our peers. Our PVO’s are the best in the industry, yet we perform below the industry on CSS

scores for DOD. Full unpack is always authorized. It pays 15% of the total packing job and when we

provide the unpacking, scores go up.

Our Military Members volunteer to protect our country from enemies foreign and domestic. We can support

them by giving them great relocation service with a smile, until the final moments of service.

BUSINESS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

ATTENTION SMOKERS!

KATHY’S REMINDER Before packing or delivering, if you notice anything with mold including boxes or furniture which look

wet and moldy, please STOP right away and call your office immediately.

You will also need to send pictures, so have your phone camera ready to go.

We do not pack any items with mold or deliver anything which looks moldy.

Please stop and let your shipper know you need to call your office for assistance.

Any questions, please call Kathy at 888-770-5510 X4324.

SAFE DRIVING!!!!!!

Ace’s team, WILD FOR THE CURE, did a great

job completing the walk to support MS research!

Every year they walk to show support for all their

friends and family who suffer from or have lost

someone with Multiple Sclerosis.

We are proud of you all! Thanks for representing

our Ace family and thanks for raising money for

the cause!

The group of 12, TEAM WILD FOR THE CURE, raised $594.00 this year! Awesome effort!

NO SMOKING:

- On trailers or straight trucks

- Near pad stacks

- Near customers homes

- 75 feet from warehouse doors

Don’t leave cigarette butts or ashes at residence. Keep the job site clean!

Smoke only in areas designated for smoking.

Frontage Road - David Wood and Staff at Ace 15 Page 8 pACE Setter

-ATTENTION PVOs -

THE SHUTGUN IS ON THE WAY TO A

BRANCH NEAR YOU!

FRONT BACK

In the event that a sprinkler head is hit and the sprinklers start running, you can use this tool to shut the sprin-

kler head off and stop a catastrophic water damage claim! This tool is designed to shut off activated sprinkler

heads instantly. Not only can this tool minimize water damage, it will save you money out of your pocket

from claims filed.

You must watch the instructional video on the link given below. This will soon be posted on the

ACE INTRANET as well.

You must always carry this in your truck.

You must always carry this into a building with a sprinkler system, EVERY TIME.

You must put your name on the Front and Back of this case. Please use a Sharpie marker and

make your FIRST NAME AND LAST NAME legible.

PLEASE MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO STOP INTO YOUR BRANCH

AND SEE YOUR OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR YOUR OWN SHUT GUN !

YOU CAN FIND SHUTGUN INSTRUCTIONS ONLINE.

http://www.shutguntool.com/

Frontage Road - David Wood and Staff at Ace 15 Page 9

Frontage Road - Pete Pfeilsticker and Staff of Ace 75

Volume 94

Left to right:

Pete Pfeilsticker, Kenny Le,

Xinhao Jiang (John), Eulalio

Montoya (Lalo), Tad Wood,

Mike Quigley, Willie Stall-

worth

Front row:

Roselynn Ly, Debra Bedard,

Arianna Hernandez, Mariah

Ambriz, Natalija Kantarevic,

Sara Luna, Meghan Patter-

son, Christina Meyers

The harder we work, the luckier we get.

The harder we work, the luckier we get. We are very lucky here in San Jose. Like every spring, Ace 75

is humming like a hive. We have been busy surveying, selling, registering and coordinating the sea of ship-

ments coming at us, preparing for wave after wave of V, VV and VVVIP transferees. (Right now Mike

Quigley is asking, why only 3 Vs.) Everyone has been working hard to prepare for the hustle and bustle of our

upcoming summer season. I think it’s here! There are more over-the-road tractors in the yard at night and less

local equipment in the yard during the day.

Most people probably already heard we hired another GM in San Jose. Debra, Richard and Willie, our

long tenured warehouseman, have to break the “new” guy again. So far, I’ve been told, the orientation has been

going well. Even though he gets a little too “involved” with operations and can be a bit of a “loose cannon”, he

seems to be fitting in well with the team. For somebody who just got here, he hugs an awful lot. It’s almost as

though he has an intimate history with the place. Sometimes this GM pushes dispatch and crews a little outside

of their comfort zone, but they appear to have quickly developed a strong sense of trust and teamwork. Know-

ing that we have each other’s backs as we go to into the struggles of summer means we will be able to get so

much more accomplished. The same can be said for our awesome customer service staff. Between the crew we

have in San Jose and the folks who represent us offsite in PA, TX and AZ we have some pretty incredible tal-

ent. Some of the biggest moving companies in the industry do not have the depth of knowledge, commitment

and skills we have. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of this team…again.

I love walking through our yard and seeing the blue-striped equipment parked under the palm trees.

From the faint ocean breeze, you can detect a mixture of propane, cardboard dust and burlap. The sweet smell

of storage is in the air.

- Pete Pfeilsticker

Page 10 Volume

(Summer Hazards con’t from page 2)

Vacationers - Typically these people do not possess the same amount of knowledge and exper ience

around large trucks. Their “rig “consists of a motor home, RV, or a boat that is only used a few times

throughout the year.

Student Drivers - Be aware that these dr ivers usually travel more slowly than surrounding traffic and

have a tendency to make very erratic maneuvers.

Teenage Drivers - While there is no such thing as an exper ienced teenage dr iver , we all know a few

months behind the wheel and they know it all. A truck is a slow moving obstacle in their way and they will do

almost anything to get around it. As a professional driver, look at the vehicle ahead, behind, and on both sides

of you as if they were your family.

Now ask yourself, “How would I want my family members to be treated by other motorists?”

The answer to the question is.....WITH RESPECT.

Drivers should also anticipate inspection of their vehicle’s operational systems, which may include their

trucks: Braking system, cargo security, coupling mechanisms, exhaust system, frame, fuel system, lights,

steering, driveline/driveshaft, suspension and wheels and rims.

Remember, there is no substitute for regular maintenance and good safety practices. We encourage all drivers

to always check your truck and tires to ensure safe traveling and to avoid “out-of-service” status and costly

penalties.

Be prepared when Roadcheck 2016 begins this June 7-9, 2016.

(Tire Safety con’t from page 3)

ATLAS IS MAKING THE NEWS

Atlas Van Lines was determined to the BEST OVERALL Moving Company for 2016

by Reviews.com.

We are very proud to be an interstate agent for Atlas!

It’s clear that our hard work here at Ace is paying off!

Page 11 Volume

No other lifestyle habit has as much impact on your

health as exercise. Research is revealing numerous

rewards with exercise - from reversing chronic diseas-

es to improving brain function, longevity and quality

of life. Count the ways:

**Exercise lowers major health risks. Starting with

our most serious conditions, regular exercise has the

power to lower your risk of heart disease, stroke and

diabetes as effectively as medications by helping to

control blood pressure, cholesterol and insulin levels.

It also helps fight some cancers and delay the potential

onset of osteoporosis and dementia.

**Exercise supports mental health. Feeling better

physically through regular exercise helps improve

your outlook and counter stress, anxiety and depres-

sion. It promotes better sleep and offers a positive way

to share time with family and friends.

**Exercise keeps you strong and mobile. It helps

maintain muscles, bones and joint flexibility, allowing

you to stay active as you age, especially if you devel-

op arthritis.

**Exercise extends life. The CDC

says that people who are physically

active for about 7 hours a week

have a 40% lower risk of dying ear-

ly than those who are active for

fewer than 30 minutes

A simple prescription:

Get a minimum of 150 minutes per

week of moderate-intensity exercise (e.g., walking 3

miles per hour). You can do 30 minutes 5 days weekly

or break it into smaller sessions. Mix daily physical

chores, formal workouts, walking, stretching, strength

training and sports play to get the total you need for

health maintenance.

Ingredient of the Month:

PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED OILS

One of the reasons that partially hydrogenated oils are

used is to increase the product's shelf life, but they de-

crease your shelf life. The big problem is that partially

hydrogenated oil is laden with lethal trans fat.

Trans fats cause significant and serious lowering of

HDL (good) cholesterol and a significant and serious

increase in LDL (bad) cholesterol; make the arteries

more rigid; cause major clogging of arteries; cause insu-

lin resistance; cause or contribute to type 2 diabetes; and

cause or contribute to other serious health problems.

Partially hydrogenated oils are commonly found in pro-

cessed foods like commercial baked products such as

cookies, cakes and crackers, and even in bread. They are

also used as cooking oils (called "liquid shortening") for

frying in restaurants.

Look at food labels and say NO to these oils!

pACE Setter Page 12

https://twitter.com/acerelocation

https://twitter.com/AceReloPVO

https://www.facebook.com/acerelocation

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ace-relocation-systems

Teri Kress is the newest

interstate dispatcher at the

corporate office. Her

hometown is Mequon,

Wisconsin although she’s

been in California for 30

years with the majority of

it in the Inland Empire

area.

On her free time, she likes to make beaded jewelry. Years

ago she used to sell jewelry at the farmer’s market. She

also like to cook and bake.

She’s been with Ace since March 2016. She likes work-

ing at Ace because the people are great. She particularly

enjoys Frank Meilander’s humor! Prior to Ace, she

worked for Generator Services and Nestles where she

worked in the water department (and had access to free

candy). In October of 2015 she graduated from Ashford

University with a degree in Supply Chain Management.

She used to be an active volunteer with the Special

Olympics. She tells a great story about the time she

jumped off a 30 foot high cliff in Jamaica!

Jessica Greenhalgh is the cus-

tomer service manager in Phoe-

nix. She was born and raised in

Chandler, AZ . She enjoys her

life there today with her hus-

band, son and stepson.

On her free time she loves to

shop! She shops for clothes,

shoes, furniture, you name it! She enjoys family time and

going to see movies. Comedies are her favorite! She also

remains busy keeping up with her boys’ sports activities.

She likes working at Ace because it is always changing.

There’s always something new to learn with new challenges

to overcome. Her work environment keeps her brain active

and fresh.

The one thing that was interesting to learn was that she has

Master’s Degree in Psychology. (We are guessing she puts

that to good use here!) And, by the way, she lives in the

same neighborhood as her parents and in-laws!

That’s a lot of babysitting power!

TRIVIA QUESTIONS 1. Which is the most widely spoken

language in the world?

2. What is the largest organ of the

human body?

3. Who played Dracula in the 1931 vampire-horror

film "Dracula"?

AND, don’t peek on the internet!!

Email your answer to Francesca at

fashcroft@acrelocation.com.