Many of us celebrate Memorial Day with a start of a summer barbeque, beach trip, or town parade every May. But no matter your plans, it's important to remember the true meaning of the celebration. It's a day dedicated to honoring the fallen soldiers that have fought to protect our freedom.
Here are a few quotes that deserve to be shared to remind us of our soldiers' sacrifices every day, past and present, and to help honor those who inspired such powerful words. Simply put, to say thank you. It's an honor and recognition of service we should have every day, not only on this occasion. "Memorial Day: Celebrate, honor, remember."
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." –Ronald Reagan.
"Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them." –Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." –Adlai E. Stevenson II.
"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God such men lived." –George S. Patton.
"And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me." –Lee Greenwood.
On May 3, 2000, President William J. Clinton designated 3:00 pm on Memorial Day as a time for US citizens to observe one minute of silence in respect and reverence to those individuals who have sacrificed to protect the freedom of the United States of America. Also, keep in your thoughts and prayers for the well-being of the lives of the men and women who currently serve in our armed forces. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Now is the time to prepare your terminal facility for next weekend’s long Memorial Day Holiday
This is the first three-day holiday weekend of the year, and it is not uncommon for thieves to target truck terminals and truck dealerships over the holidays. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an escalation in vehicles being broken into. Another theft item that has escalated is the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). The DPF is constructed with precious metals. Thieves use a battery-powered saw to cut off the DPF. Thieves recently stole a complete after-treatment system from one of our customer’s units. The theft resulted in the cost of replacing the parts, and the unit has been down for six weeks due to parts on backorder. Thieves know this holiday is an excellent opportunity for a successful theft as the possibility exists for no one to be at the facility.
Here are some security tips:
- Ensure you take extra precautions to secure your facility's trucks and items of value.
- If your units do not have anti-siphon fuel devices or locking fuel caps, instruct the drivers not to fill the units at the end of the day.
- Make sure that all security alarms and cameras are in working order.
- Walk the yard’s perimeter to ensure security fencing is in good condition.
- Move units and all other materials, such as pallets, tires, etc., far enough away from the fence so they cannot be used to climb on to get over the fence.
- Review your security lighting to make sure it is operational and adequate. Lighting can be obstructed by vehicles or trees, allowing a thief a place to be unseen.
- Make sure the security alarm system is operational and cameras are adjusted.
- Consider blocking the entrance and exits to the lot so units cannot be stolen. Throughout the three-day weekend, assign management personnel to check the terminal randomly.
- Notify local law enforcement officials of your hours of operation over the holidays so they know when to expect activity at your location.
Using some prevention and common sense can deter a thief from striking your facility and disrupting your business!
Cargo theft, up 41% so far this year, expected to rise for Memorial Day
Cargo theft is expected to rise more over the holiday weekend.
CargoNet included records of property theft -- stolen cargo or trucking vehicles -- from the Thursday before Memorial Day to the Wednesday after from 2018 to 2022 to compile its cargo theft trends for the holiday. Cargo theft has already seen a significant increase in 2023, and cargo theft recording firm CargoNet is warning truck drivers and others in the supply chain that the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend will likely see an even more significant uptick in theft activity.
Cargo theft has already seen a significant increase in 2023, and cargo theft recording firm CargoNet is warning truck drivers and others in the supply chain that the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend will likely see an even more significant uptick in theft activity. Source: CargoNet
Operation Safe Driver Week
Operation Safe Driver Week is a safe-driving awareness and outreach initiative aimed at improving the driving behaviors of passenger vehicle drivers and commercial motor vehicle drivers through educational and traffic enforcement strategies and interactions with law enforcement.
The next Operation Safe Driver Week is scheduled for July 9-15, 2023
Throughout Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement personnel will look for commercial and passenger vehicle drivers engaging in risky driving. Identified unsafe drivers will be pulled over and issued a citation or warning.
Data shows that traffic stops and interactions with law enforcement help reduce problematic driving behaviors. By contacting drivers during Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement personnel aim to make our roadways safer by targeting high-risk driving behaviors.
- Speeding has been a factor in over a quarter of crash deaths since 2008. (Source)
- Speeding of any kind was the most frequent driver-related crash factor for drivers of commercial motor vehicles and passenger vehicles. (Source)
- Speeding was a factor in 26% of all traffic fatalities in 2018, killing 9,378 people or an average of more than 25 people daily. (Source)
- Distracted driving claimed 3,142 lives in 2019. (Source)
- Of the 22,215 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2019, 47% were not wearing seat belts. Seat belts saved an estimated 14,955 lives and could have saved an additional 2,549 people if they had been wearing seat belts in 2017 alone. (Source)
- Every day, about 28 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that’s one person every 52 minutes. In 2019, 10,142 people lost their lives due to drunk driving.
