Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By David A Kolman

Safety management

Cheney Brothers has a safety bonus program that rewards drivers every pay period (biweekly). If a driver doesn't have an accident and meets other criteria, he is awarded 10% of his gross pay for that pay period. “My drivers love this,” says King.

If a driver falls short on meeting the criteria, he must wait 90 days before he can get back on the safety bonus program. “That in itself is an incentive.”

“We also award an annual safety bonus of $750 the week before Christmas. It's given to those who don't have any accidents.”

About 10 years ago, King began holding an annual safety rodeo for drivers, allowing them to demonstrate to other employees, management, and their families, the skills they use daily. Drivers are awarded cash and prizes for their driving excellence and overall transportation and safety knowledge. There is a large barbecue for drivers and their families, along with activities for the children.

“The rodeos are a good opportunity for drivers to demonstrate their skills,” he notes. “They're also a lot of fun, and a very nice way to promote safety.”

The top two rodeo drivers are sent to compete in the National Truck Driving Championships, an annual test of safe driving skills for America's truckers.

Export business

Cheney Brothers does about $40 million of export to restaurants, hotels, and institutions in Caribbean, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. This portion of business, which began about 15 years ago, is growing. The volume has tripled in the last five years.

Products are shipped in 20- and 40-foot refrigerated and dry containers. Transportation is handled by an outside company.

Company mission

Realizing that success depends on customer success, Cheney Brothers' goal is to provide exceptional service. It does this by maintaining flexibility and responsiveness to customer needs at all times.

Furthermore, says King, the company strives for continuous improvement and is always working through innovation to improve processes and services.