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February 2015
 Hello! And welcome to the first edition of The Star, our new quarterly newsletter. We want this to be a tool to help us all stay in touch -- about important company matters, but also about each other. Speaking of important matters, I want to thank you all for a fantastic 2014. Because of you, what started as a very challenging year (think, ice, snow, and more ice and snow) finished incredibly strong because you proved yourselves to be reliable in bad weather -- and used that time to strengthen relationships with your customers. The result? Double-digit growth for our company. It couldn't have happened without the efforts and dedication of all of you on our Star Freight team. I'd like to recognize a few individuals who consistently went above and beyond in their service to our customers -- drivers Steve Moldenhauer, Jay Murphy and Bill Martin and dispatcher Robert Hielckert. Thanks, guys, for the excellent effort! No doubt, we ended 2014 on a strong note, so I want to challenge everyone to help us continue that success. As long as we keep building those relationships with our customers and finding ways to meet our customers' needs better than anyone else, we'll all make Star Freight even stronger in 2015. Thanks! Charlie Johnson
President
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Jose "Lupe" Rendon is a happy man
It's hard not to smile while listening to Lupe Rendon talk about his job, his family and his life. His good mood just rubs off on you.  | |
Lupe and Mariel Rendon
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Lupe, who has been driving trucks for 15 years (the last five-plus with Star Freight) first learned to drive 18-wheelers while working at his first job in a warehouse in Oklahoma City. In fact, the owner there encouraged Lupe to learn all aspects of the business, from shipping to receiving. "I knew everything in that warehouse," Lupe says, and that experience has paid off. He knows how to relate to the people he picks up from and delivers to, and that makes both ends of his Ponca City, Okla., to Dallas route a lot more pleasant. Lupe, an owner-operator, has been driving that route with Star Freight for several years now. Not only does he like the people he deals with on a weekly basis, but he likes the fact that he knows when he'll be on the road -- and when he'll be home. At home, his wife, Mariel, owns her own cleaning business for surgical suites. He also has two daughters, one who's heading to medical school and the other who will soon enter college. "When I'm off work, I help my wife with her business," Lupe says. And when they're both away from work, they like to cook and relax together as a family, or go visit relatives in Dallas. Lupe is grateful that his job allows him to spend time with his family -- particularly holidays. Star Freight's "flexible like that," he explains, adding, "I plan to stay with them as long as they'll keep me."
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Safety Matters
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Restart Rules changed through Sept. 30
Two troublesome provisions of the 34-hour restart rule were suspended in December when President Obama signed the FY 2015 Omnibus Appropriations bill.
Here's what the changes mean to you: 1. Drivers utilizing the 34-hour restart do NOT have to  include two consecutive periods off-duty between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. As long as you are off for 34 consecutive hours, regardless of the time of day, you can restart your weekly clock. 2. Drivers may take the 34-hour restart multiple times per week. You are no longer restricted to taking the restart only once every 168 hours (or seven days). The provisions remain suspended through Sept. 30 while the FMCSA conducts a formal study of the rule.
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Safe Driver of the Quarter
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Patrick Fleming advocates patience
After 10 years on the road, power-only driver Patrick Fleming knows that patience is the key to safe driving.
"Everybody else can be a zippity-zap," he says, "that includes other [truck] drivers, too. But being patient is being professional. That's what you get paid for."
Patrick has driven for Star Freight the last 4 1/2 years. He enjoys the self-management that the Power Only division demands as well as the isolated work environment.
While Patrick's decade on the road has become pretty much a blur to him, a few memories stand out, such as the woman walking down the center of a California highway sporting only her underwear.
While that kind of sight is rare, Patrick says he's seen far too many of the more gruesome ones in which a person is killed in crash.
That's why it comes down to "taking it easy," Patrick says. "Live another day."
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Business Matters by Dan Sindelar, Vice President
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 I want to thank our fleet of drivers in each division for your outstanding effort in 2014. Star Freight, LLC, made significant strides in 2014 to position ourselves for an even stronger 2015. It would not have been possible without your continued efforts to drive safely and deliver on time. I also want to share some key factors that could occur in 2015 that will make it a GREAT year for all of us. Rest assured that Star Freight is ready and positioned to capitalize on these opportunities. According to Customs Report Today, these factors could influence our success in 2015: - The drop in fuel prices
- A possible improvement in the shortage of truck drivers
- A potential pick-up in customer spending
- Increased activity in the U.S. economy despite a slow-down in the global economy
- Service problems on rail lines
What's more, the U.S. Department of Transportation has reported five straight months of increasing freight carried by for-hire transportation, with trucking leading the increase in November. All of these factors work together to make the trucking industry more attractive to our customers -- and to our potential customers. Because we at Star Freight already are known for our exemplary customer service, we know we will stand out among our competitors. So here's to a healthy and profitable 2015! |
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Loyalty Counts!
We want to thank all of our drivers for their commitment to our customers, to our company and to being safe on the road. And we congratulate our "superstars" -- all those who have service anniversaries this quarter. We appreciate all of you!
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6 Years
Don Burris5 Years
Jack DubePeggy DubeSteve Merrill
Jay MurphyDaniel Wilson
4 Years
Mickey BrownSteve MoldenhauerBarrian Moorer Charles Pulliam
2 Years
Charles Armstrong Luis GonsalvesConnie LampmanJermey LampmanPentry McAfeeJohn PriceBrandon Whitner1 Year
Greg AdamsMark HoffmanLorenzo PerkinsTerry ReeseDeshondra Williams
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Join the Star Freight team
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We're always looking for good drivers who want to be part of a great company.
Star Freight, LLC, delivers professional service but our employees enjoy a family-style work environment.
Interested? Fill out our new driver application here.
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Referrals Shine!
How do we find our best new drivers? More often than not, from referrals by our current drivers. If you find us a new driver, we will thank you with our referral program -- and $1,000! Want to know more? Just contact Sherrie at scain@starfreight.com for more information. Thanks to these drivers who made referrals for us recently! Randall Basden Fred Blair Rex Shelburne Deshondra Williams
And welcome aboard to these new drivers on the Star Freight team! Randall Basden
Scott Brogan
Anthony Bryan
Johnny Butler
Micah Durham
Clarence Hammond
Charles Hatchett
Kevin Hensley Roger Kley James Lawson
David Ledford Jimmy Roach Roger Rupe Fred Taylor Ronald Solomon 
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Stay in Touch!
We really do want to hear from you!
Please email us if you have news you'd like to share or a suggestion for a driver profile.
And feel free to send your concerns and questions.
We care about what you think! Just email Laura at lreed@starfreight.com. 
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