DRIVER NEWSLETTER
STRONGER TOGETHER. FURTHER TOGETHER.
Your monthly update for July 2026. Thank you for keeping America moving!
Meet the JoyRide Team
The Godfather of JoyRide
Tom Robinson
The Early Days & Laying the Foundation
Tom, you are widely respected across the company as “The Godfather of JoyRide Logistics.” How does it feel to look back at where operations started compared to the powerhouse JoyRide is today?
Looking back at where we were to where we are now, the main thing that stands out is the size we have achieved in such a short time. When this all started, it was just Adis and me. We decided within the first week that we would need one more person, and Edmir Foci (Ed) was invited to join the group. At that time, we all put our heads together to determine what the company was going to be like as a culture.
SAFETY CHAMPIONS
SAFETY ISN'T JUST A RULE - IT'S A VALUE.
Thank you to all drivers who prioritize safety every mile, every day.
Driver Spotlight - July 2026
Steven Jackson!
On-Time Champion
Steven Jackson!
July 31, 2026
100
Perfect Safetly Score
10,000+
Miles Logged in July
🚚 Driver Spotlight - July 2026
Q: How do you mentally prepare before starting a long trip?
Steven: “When I get my route, I look at it and map it out before I even start. I visualize my plan in my mind—where I’m going to do my 10-hour break, what routes I’m going to take, and where I’m going to fuel up so I don’t run out of fuel. I make sure I have all my supplies like water and food in the truck. Because I prepare and plan out the trip in my mind beforehand, I’m mentally prepared and don’t run into problems when I get out on the road.”
Q: How has your relationship with the Safety team evolved over the years?
Steven: “It’s been great. Like I said, we didn’t have a safety department when I started, so we were basically policing ourselves. With our safety team now, it’s wonderful. They explain things to you. What I do is try not to get upset when they tell you something, because they are looking out for us. If we do something wrong, it affects the company and our license at the same time with our CSA score. They also let us know when DOT road checks are coming up so we can prepare ourselves.”
Q: How would you describe the trust and teamwork you’ve built with our dispatchers?
Steven: “Very well. I always tell other drivers: you have to be patient with dispatchers. We are not the only drivers out here; they have a whole bunch of drivers and problems they’re dealing with. If I have an issue, 10 or 20 other drivers might have the same problem. You can’t get mad at dispatch, especially when a customer or shipper causes a delay. They are being patient with us, so we have to be patient with them. It’s simple as that—just showing common respect and watching how you talk to people.”
Q: Do you feel that your voice and experience on the road are heard and respected by management?
Steven: “Yeah, I do. Sometimes office teams might not fully understand what we go through because they aren’t truck drivers themselves and they’re looking at a screen, but they are patient with us. Like I said, it’s about common respect. Everyone has bad days—dispatch deals with a lot of drama handling customers—so I just try to show a little patience. At the end of the day, the customer is our priority, and without the customer, none of us get paid. We have to keep that in mind.”
Top 10 - July 2026 Edition
11,407.3 mi
10,472.3 mi
10,152.5 mi
9,456.1 mi
9,353.9 mi
9,229.6 mi
9,220.0 mi
9,216.6 mi
| Inspection Area | Required Pre-Trip & Driving Protocols |
| Driving & Seatbelt Safety | Always buckle your seatbelt fully (shoulder AND lap). Obey speed limits, make complete stops, and scale heavy loads to verify tandem weight. |
| Tire & Wheel Check | Measure tire PSI prior to departure. Inspect rims for missing lug nuts, check hubs for leaking seals, and audit air bag suspension. |
| Lights & Reflectors | Walk around your unit with hazard lights and service brakes applied. Confirm all stop lamps, license plate lights, and conspicuity tape are intact. |
| ELD & Emergency Kit | Ensure your ELD tablet is securely mounted. Test electronic log transfers and verify your emergency kit contains 3 unbroken triangles. |
Lessons from the Road: Monthly Fleet Safety & Compliance Review
Issue: August 2026
Focus Area: July 2026 Inspection Data, Traffic Compliance & Pre-Trip Prevention
1. Driver Behavior & Traffic Compliance
Moving violations and basic safety-control issues represent 100% preventable driver behavior errors.
Speeding & Signals
Speeding 11 MPH over the limit and failing to bring the vehicle to a complete standstill at stop signs invite aggressive enforcement and heavy fines.
Seatbelt Usage
Wearing only the shoulder strap while sitting on the lap belt is classified as non-use by law enforcement. Seatbelts must be fully latched across your chest and lap.
Overweight Tandems
One trailer was cited for being nearly 3,000 lbs. overweight on the tandems. Always slide your tandems and scale your load prior to hitting the highway.
2. Tires, Wheels & Suspension Systems
Severe wheel-end and tire failures appeared throughout July inspection reports.
Blowouts & Flat Tires
We experienced flat tires and complete tire blowouts that tore off mud flaps on the road. Check tire pressures with a gauge prior to every trip.
Wheel Fasteners & Leaks
Inspections revealed:
Missing wheel fasteners/lug nuts on outer wheels
Active inner hub seal leaks
Leaking suspension air bags
These components must be inspected carefully during every pre-trip inspection.
3. Lighting, Reflective Conspicuity & Emergency Equipment
Inspectors routinely perform visual checks of lighting and emergency equipment before even stepping up to your cab door.
Inoperative Lighting
Citations were issued for:
Non-functioning stop lamps on both left and right sides
Inoperative trailer license plate lights
Conspicuity Tape & Emergency Gear
Vehicles were cited for:
Missing lower rear reflective sheeting
Incorrect conspicuity tape colors (red instead of white)
Broken emergency triangle reflectors
Make sure all required reflective materials and emergency equipment are present, properly installed, and in good working condition.
4. ELD & HOS Technical Compliance
Electronic Logging Device (ELD) compliance requires proper hardware setup and operational readiness.
ELD Mounting & Transfer
Drivers were cited for unmounted ELD units and inability to transfer logs electronically to DOT officers.
Your ELD must be:
Mounted in a fixed position
Clearly visible from the driver’s seat
Fully operational before starting your trip
Ready for electronic roadside log transfer
Know how to execute a roadside log transfer before you are inspected.
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