At around $200,000 each, the new rear-discharge trucks have automatic transmissions and GPS displays to help drivers choose the best routes, Clarage says. \u201cThis brings our total fleet to almost 700 trucks in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, with up to 50 more coming next year.\u201d<\/p>\n
New drivers expand our delivery t\u200b\u200b\u200beam<\/h2>\n
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We\u2019ve also launched a search for the best ready-mixed, bulk and aggregate drivers in the region, offering top pay, benefits and a 401k savings plan for those who qualify.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve hired about 50 new ready-mix drivers and will continue to hire more next year,\u201d reports\u00a0Margaret Tyburski\u00a0<\/strong>, Prairie\u2019s People and Management Director.<\/p>\n Candidates must meet a stringent set of licensing, experience and fitness requirements and pass a driving test before they are offered an interview.<\/p>\n Driver trainees start in the classroom, where they must master a 75-point checklist of concrete concepts, terminology and safety, says Training and Safety Manager\u00a0Tony Scott\u00a0<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a rigorous program,\u201d Scott says. \u201cWe move them from the classroom right into trucks, where they spend 2 weeks with experienced drivers who\u2019ve completed our train-the-trainer program and carry Concrete Delivery Professional certification from NRMCA.\u201d<\/p>\n The first few days, trainees ride shotgun on every delivery their trainer makes, learning processes, protocols and paperwork. \u201cWe teach them about weather, how to recognize slump by eye and all the details of job site and yard operations.\u201d<\/p>\n They take the wheel on the 4th day with trainers riding along. After 2 full weeks, they undergo a road and skills test with a different trainer. \u201cThose who pass enter a 90-day probationary period, and at the end they\u2019re evaluated again. Only those who pass become permanent Prairie drivers,\u201d Scott says.<\/p>\n Smart equipment that talks to ops managers<\/p>\n While we grow and train our delivery staff, we\u2019re also evaluating yard operations and adding capacity where it\u2019s needed.<\/p>\n Yard 33 in Chicago doubled its capacity with the addition of a second concrete plant this August. \u201cWe\u2019re proud we were able to get this done within the yard\u2019s small footprint,\u201d says\u00a0Paul Blatner,\u00a0<\/strong>Prairie\u2019s Operations Manager.<\/p>\n Three more yards \u2013 including our location near O\u2019Hare Airport \u2013 have new material loaders with larger buckets and self-diagnostics that e-mail the maintenance team if issues arise.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the loaders alerted us about problems with a brake solenoid and another time, a fuel pump issue,\u201d says Matt Clarage. \u201cThis helps us to take preventive steps to avoid downtime.\u201d<\/p>\n The new\u00a0Trucka\u200bst app\u00a0<\/a>is another key element in Prairie\u2019s commitment to improving service. Now available to contractors in Northern Illinois and coming soon everywhere, Truckast works with all smartphones to give you full access to the same delivery information our dispatch team sees.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to operate with full transparency,\u201d explains\u00a0Jim Munro\u00a0<\/strong>, President & General Manager of U.S. Ready Mix for Prairie parent company VCNA. \u201cTruckast provides contractors a tool to plan pours and track productivity.\u201d<\/p>\n As we transition to better times, Prairie\u2019s goal is delivering real value for you, Munro adds.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery employee at Prairie is focused on improving customer service,\u201d he says. \u201cOur culture fosters safety on the road and on the customer\u2019s job site. We want to be a reliable concrete supplier \u2013 a company that\u2019s easy to do business with.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Know a great driver who\u2019s looking for advancement? Here\u2019s a look at\u00a0current openings\u00a0<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n
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14 weeks of testing, training and \u200bsupport<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nNew mobile app puts delive\u200bry info right in your hands<\/h3>\n
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Fast, safe delivery you can count on d\u200b\u200baily<\/h3>\n