TOTE Celebrates National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

TOTE, LLC (“TOTE”) and its affiliates TOTE Maritime Alaska (“TOTE Alaska”) and TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico (“TOTE Puerto Rico”) honor America’s truckers for the significant contributions they make to keep our nation’s economy moving.

“Thanks to the efforts of our partners in the trucking industry, as well as our investments in technology and terminal operations, TOTE Puerto Rico has among the fastest turn times in the industry,” said TOTE Puerto Rico Vice President of Operations Jim Wagstaff. “TOTE Puerto Rico’s average turn times at the Port of Jacksonville have improved nearly five-percent year over year and are now below 19 minutes.”

The TOTE companies define turn times as the amount of time a trucker spends at a terminal from check-in at the front gate until he/she checks-out at the out gate. This excludes bad orders and maintenance issues.

TOTE Puerto Rico recently redesigned operations at its Jacksonville terminal to further enhance safety and efficiency for truckers at JAXPORT. TOTE Puerto Rico also invested in the installation of new spreader bars, which allows the company to more quickly offload containers from the ship to the terminal. In turn, truckers can more efficiently pick up containers to be delivered to their destination.

TOTE Alaska has also made investments to enhance operational efficiencies, which have produced industry-leading turn times of 15 minutes at its terminal in Tacoma. These improvements include additional cargo capacity, paperless gates and a new intercom system that combined improve productivity, minimize face-to-face interaction and further enhance the safety of truckers at TOTE Alaska’s terminals.

“Truckers are an integral link in the supply chain, providing that first-mile, last-mile service that is essential to moving nearly every good consumed,” said TOTE Alaska Vice President of Operations Chris Rye. “Trucks are the backbone of our economy, positively impacting consumers and businesses from Alaska to Puerto Rico.”

In recognition of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, TOTE Puerto Rico has posted large banners throughout its terminals in Jacksonville and San Juan that say, “Drivers keep us moving. Thank you for all that you do!” Meanwhile, TOTE Alaska is providing catered meals to drivers throughout the week and hosting raffle drawings, featuring a 55” TV grand prize.