It was gratifying but hardly a surprise to Joseph Newman, president of Newman Carriers, that his company was named a finalist in the NTTC 2020 North American Safety Contest for operating with the fewest accidents per million miles in its mileage category.
“Safety never takes a back seat,” he stated. “With 90% of our loads consisting of hazardous materials, it takes strict attention to drivers, equipment, and maintenance to ensure the products we haul are transported with the utmost care.”
Headquartered in Fairmont City, Illinois, Newman Carriers hauls a variety of liquid chemicals to manufacturing plants and water treatment facilities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. From two terminals, the company fields 75 Freightliner New Cascadia and Kenworth tractors and 156 Tremcar, Polar, and Brenner tankers.
Keeping the Newman Carriers fleet running smoothly are two company shops that are staffed by six technicians. One shop is located at the headquarters location, and a satellite facility is in Kankakee, Illinois. The operation is headed up by David Brown, director of maintenance.
“Effectively maintaining equipment contributes to our fleet’s safety performance,” Brown said. “Our shops focus on tankers and especially on inspections. For example, while there are annual testing requirements for barrels, we test cargo tanks and hoses every 90 days. Every other inspection covers the full annual requirements.”
Certified by FMCSA as a cargo tank inspection facility, the Newman Carriers shop is registered with ASME to perform welding and barrel repairs. The effort to achieve that certification included producing weld samples that were tested by an outside lab and producing several manuals and code books. Implementing quality control procedures and routine recertifications are required as well.
“We undertook the certification process so we can control and perform our own repairs,” Brown related. “It took a lot of our time but the result is a faster process and lower costs. In the past, we didn’t have a good outside source for this type of work and it could take a long time to get things done. In-house we’re always first in line.”
The Newman shops also handle tanker repairs unless an issue occurs on the road, as well as routine tractor service. Most major repairs and work done under extended warranties are performed by Freightliner dealer Truck Centers and Kenworth dealer CIT Trucks.
“Having easy access and good relationships with those dealers, who are both in Troy, Illinois, lets us invest our time and resources on tankers,” Brown said. “It also means we don’t need to spend a lot of money on diagnostic and other specialized tools.”
The Newman shop does use software from WABCO to diagnose ABS issues on trailers. Its thorough tanker inspections, completed after every unit is washed at a nearby facility, also include using Lite-Check trailer light testers on each circuit to ensure proper connectivity. The Lite-Check device identifies specific types of electrical wiring faults. Special attention is paid to tires as well, including only new steer and wide base single Michelins, and Goodyears for dual applications.
“We align trailer tandems every six months using Bee Line equipment,” Brown related. “Using Meritor and Hendrickson automatic inflation systems, that practice has all but eliminated irregular tire wear.”
The management of the maintenance operation at Newman Carriers, including parts inventory that is supplied by the fleet’s truck dealers, is currently being transitioned to TMT Fleet Maintenance software. The software will be used to document service activity, evaluate specifications, and measure the performance of maintenance programs and technicians to determine training needs.
“Our shops are fully staffed for now and we have technicians who have been with the company for eight or more years,” Brown reported. “If we do need to find a new technician, it’s very hard to get someone with the specialized skills we need, so we put a lot of effort into making sure they’re a good fit. We need people who are very detail oriented because making mistakes in the chemical hauling business can be very dangerous.”
Newman Carriers is in the business of providing dependable and safe tank truck carrier transportation, Joseph Newman said.
“Everyone here is committed to providing that level of service,” he added. “We’re a premier liquid chemical hauler due to our top tier equipment, experienced managers, dispatchers and drivers, and a maintenance operation that is focused on keeping our vehicles in the best possible operating condition.”