D.M. Bowman, Inc. began in 1959 when Don Bowman climbed into his used B 61 Mack tractor and trailer to haul coal. Don operated the tractor and trailer as an owner-operator with the dream of one day having 10 trucks. To this day, we have grown to being a transportation fleet that employs over 450 drivers. With the new year, we are excited to be celebrating 60 years of quality business!

In 2014, the Jone Bowman Customer Service Award was established to acknowledge an individual employee who demonstrates outstanding customer service and personal attention to develop and maintain relationships with customers. Customers are defined as internal to the organization and external customers.

Most importantly the award is in memory of Jone Bowman, an inspirational leader in the trucking industry and to us at D.M. Bowman Inc.

The criteria for nominations are one or more of the following:
• Demonstrates outstanding Customer Service in support of D. M. Bowman, Inc. goals
• Provides excellent customer service every day
• Exceeds expectations of a customer by providing exceptional service
• Exceptional service witnessed by others
• Has effectively corrected something that has gone wrong for a customer
• Recognizes and works well with all departments and customers
• Demonstrates creativity and resourcefulness

The award is presented twice a year which includes a company driver who is nominated and chosen for the award in the Spring and then a non-driver in the Fall.

This year’s nominee started out in the recruiting department and now works in our brokerage department.

We are pleased to announce the recipient of the Jone Bowman Customer Service Award for 2018 is Tina Brown. Tina has been described as professional, courteous, creative, quick to respond, resourceful, a problem solver and someone that has that “Carry Through” attitude. Tina has been with the company for over 5 years, starting in the recruiting department and now working in our brokerage department.

Tina received a framed certificate and a net check of $1000.00. Congratulations Tina!

2019 Per Diem Voucher 

2019 Per Diem Handout

2019 Per Diem Brochure

Per Diem is a payment to an employee under an accountable expense reimbursement allowance that is:

• Paid for business expenses the employer reasonably anticipates will be incurred by an employee for travel away from home for Meals and incidental Expenses
• A fixed amount is awarded instead of reimbursing actual meals and incidental expenses with no receipts required.
• All amounts paid under an accountable plan are: Tax free, are not reported on Form W-2 and are not subject to income or employment taxes
• Anyone who travels out of town overnight for work is allowed to claim per diem.
• A driver must be working away from home for at least 12 hours. This refers to the day a driver starts and ends their travel.
• Within a reasonable amount of time the driver must substantiate “Time, Date, and Place,” business connection and purpose of travel. A drivers HOS log provides the required substantiation.

New tax laws in 2018 brought changes to Per Diem which all drivers should be aware of:

• company drivers are no longer allowed to deduct Per Diem as an itemized deduction when filing their year end taxes.
• Only drivers who participate in a company sponsored program, like Omnitracs Per Diem Manager, can take advantage of the substantial tax benefits that come with Per Diem.

Things to Remember:

• A driver who is out of town overnight may receive one $66 meals & incidental expense reimbursement up to 7 times per week.
• A driver must depart for an overnight trip before 12:00 noon to be awarded Per Diem on the first day away from home, and return home after noon to be awarded Per Diem on the last day away from home.
• Per Diem is awarded when traveling a least 25 miles away from your tax home zip code.
• IRS-required “Time, Date and Place” substantiation is retained and accessible to a driver for 7 years.
• Per Diem Manager is provided as a benefit to company drivers at no cost to the driver.
• Owner Operators per diem is not calculated in payroll. It is compiled for an end of year reporting.

In order to provide recognition of outstanding drivers and driver trainers, an awards program has been implemented to recognize these employees on a monthly basis. This is a monthly program that recognizes one driver and one driver trainer who goes above and beyond the typical job expectations and provides outstanding customer service. Please read the details of these new programs below!

Driver of the Month
1. Eligibility Requirements
– Current full-time Professional Driver for the last 6 months
– Zero preventable claims in the last 12 months
– Zero Smartdrive score
– 100% on-time delivery
– Zero customer complaints
– Macro 42 Completion of 100%
– Risk Assessment Score of 9 or below

2. Review/Selection
– The Safety Leader will run a monthly Performance Report on the last business day of the month to determine top performing drivers
for that month based on the Eligibility Requirements. The Safety Leader will email the Performance Report with eligible drivers to the Capacity Management Team.
– The top performing drivers will be reviewed and a finalist selected by the Capacity Management Team. After final selection, the drivers Fleet Manager and Driver Lead will be notified.

3. Awards
– Each Driver of the Month will receive a Driver of the Month Plaque and $200.
– A letter of achievement will be drafted by the Terminal Manager or Fleet Manager and emailed to the Benefits Coordinator to save in the driver’s HR file.

4. Presentation
– Awards will be presented on “the floor” by the Driver of the Month’s Fleet Manager and Driver Lead.
– The Driver of the Month will be announced on the company website as well as the company Facebook Page.
* Every Driver of the Month selected will be eligible to receive the award of Driver of the Year. Driver of the Year will be announced at the Company Holiday Party and receive $500 along with a customized DMB Trophy.

Trainer of the Month
1. Eligibility Requirements
– Current full-time Professional Driver for the last 6 months
– Zero preventable claims in the last 12 months
– Zero Smartdrive score
– 100% on-time delivery
– Zero customer complaints
– Macro 42 Completion of 100%
– 70% trainee retention for the last 6 months
– 80% average trainee final exam score
– 80% trainees without preventable claim in the last 12 months

2. Review/Selection
– The Safety Leader will run a monthly Performance Report on the last business day of the month to determine top performing drivers for that month based on the Eligibility Requirements. The Safety Leader will email the Performance Report with eligible drivers to the Capacity Management Team.
– The top performing trainers will be reviewed and a finalist selected by the Capacity Management Team. After final selection, the trainers Fleet Manager and Driver Lead will be notified.

3. Award
– Each Trainer of the Month will receive a Trainer of the Month Plaque and $400.
– A letter of achievement will be drafted by the Terminal Manager or Fleet Manager and emailed to the Benefits Coordinator to save in the driver’s HR file.

4. Presentation
– Awards will be presented on “the floor” from the trainer’s trainees along with their Fleet Manager and Driver Lead.
– The Trainer of the Month will be announced on the company website as well as the company Facebook Page.
* Every Trainer of the Month selected will be eligible to receive the award of Trainer of the Year (must be an active trainer at time of selection to be eligible) Trainer of the Year will be announced at the Company Holiday Party and receive $800 along with a customized DMB Trophy.

Driver Appreciation Week 2018 was held September 9th-15th. Although we celebrated our drivers throughout that week, we are so thankful for them each and every day. Check back on our website and Facebook page for next year’s Driver Appreciation Week

Brian Hall- COO