Employee Commendation

We received this letter a day or so after the last "Reporter" had gone to press. But, as you will see, it is worth the wait.......

Dear Les (Nettles, VP-Ops),

I just wanted to let you know how I feel. Dave (Lobato, Oakland Terminal Manager) should be commended for the way he handled the events that happened on Monday 11-15-99.

On 11-15-99 there was an over the road driver here to pick up for one of our customers. While helping the driver back into a dock door, Dave (pictured at right) noticed the driver seemed to be in pain and was holding his left arm. Dave asked the driver if he was OK, the driver said "Yes, he was OK", then proceeded to walk towards the dispatch office. After witnessing more signs of a possible heart attack, Dave called 911. While waiting for the paramedics to get to the terminal, Dave attended to the driver. He also had the presence of mind to send someone out to the end of our street to help guide the paramedics into our location. This is very important help for someone who has never been to our terminal, as you know.

We checked on the driver today, 11-16-99 and while he is doing OK and resting in the intensive care unit, he did suffer a massive heart attack while at the hospital. If not for the actions that Dave had taken, this driver probably would not be with us today!!

Also, who knows who else would have suffered had the driver been allowed to leave our terminal with his truck fully loaded. We should all be so lucky to have someone like Dave around when something like this happens!!!!

From,

Jon England

All of us at L.A. Xpress join in saying "Thank You" for a job well done. We too feel lucky to work with a man like Dave Lobato and commend him for his ability to handle a difficult situation.

Executive Update

L.A. Xpress is proud to have our employees "give back" to the industry and community. In this issue of The Reporter we would like to update you on the activities of two of our executives.

First, we will take a look at the commitment that René Peters (pictured at right), AVP - Southern California, has made to the Citrus Belt Traffic Club. René, along with L.A. Xpress as a Corporate member, joined the Citrus Belt Traffic Club in 1996. Since then René has served on the Board of Directors for three years and is this year's President of the club.

The Citrus Belt Traffic Club was founded in Anaheim, California in 1947 for the mutual benefit of its transportation-related membership. The Club draws it's members mainly from transportation and related professionals located in the Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties. Membership is comprised of every phase of the transportation industry as well as many other related businesses. The Citrus Belt Traffic Club goals are to sponsor educational programs, advance the study of transportation, inform the public of transportation related issues and to promote fellowship within the industry.

We are proud of the wonderful work and dedication that René gives the Citrus Belt Traffic Club. We wish you All the Best for your year as President.

Next, we will take a look at how Les Nettles, VP-Ops, is working with the Los Angeles/Orange Unit of the California Trucking Association (CTA). L.A. Xpress has been associated with the CTA for many years. But it was just this last year that Les was asked to join the LA/Orange Unit as a Director. After all was said and done, he held the position of Treasurer/Director for the Unit.

The CTA has its origins in two separate Associations and their eventual merger. In 1934, several trucking companies founded the Motor Truck Association of Southern California. In 1935, the Truck Owners of California was founded. In 1954, the members merged the two organizations to form the California Trucking Associations. During the 1950's, other regional associations merged their operations into the CTA. In 1963, the members changed the official name to the California Trucking Association. The CTA has become one of the industry leaders in legislative advocacy, education and training and public relations.

We commend Les on his commitment to the CTA and our Industry. We wish him well and know that he will be a valued addition to the LA/Orange Unit.

Just For Fun

How Specs Live Forever.....

The U.S. standard railroad gauge (distance between the rails) is 4 feet, 8.5 inches. That's an exceedingly odd number. Why was that gauge used? Because that's the way they built them in England, and the U.S. railroads were built by English expatriates. Why did the English people build them like that? Because the first rail lines were built by the same people who built the pre-railroad tramways, and that's the gauge they used.

Why did "they" use that gauge then? Because the people who built the tramways used the same jigs and tools that they used for building wagons, which used that wheel spacing. Why did the wagons use that wheel spacing? Well, if they tried to use any other spacing the wagons would break on some of the old, long-distance roads, because that is the wheel spacing of the old wheel ruts.

So who built these old rutted roads? The first long-distance roads in Europe were built by Imperial Rome for the benefit of their legions. The roads have been used ever since. And the ruts? The initial ruts, which everyone else had to match for fear of destroying their wagons, were first made by Roman war chariots. Since the chariots were made for or by Imperial Rome, they were all alike in the matter of wheel spacing.

Thus, we have the answer to the original questions. The U.S. standard railroad gauge of 4 feet, 8.5 inches derives from the original specifications for an Imperial Roman army war chariot. Specs and bureaucracies live forever. So, the next time you are handed specifications and wonder what's horse's ass came up with them, you may be exactly right. Because the Imperial Roman chariots were made to be just wide enough to accommodate the back end of two war horses.

- Found on the Internet, source unknown.

7 Ways to a Happier Heart

Want to cut your risk of heart disease by more than 80%? According to findings from a study of 85,000 nurses, a low-fat, high-fiber diet, active lifestyle and moderate drinking while avoiding smoking all together does the trick. You can even go further by trying these lesser-known strategies:

• Take Time Out. The body's fight-or-flight reaction to stress can raise blood pressure immediately and LDL "bad" cholesterol over time. Take a "Heart Break", set aside time each day for yourself - to walk, listen to music or just relax.

• Pamper a Pet. A new study of stockbrokers being treated for high blood pressure found that those who had a dog or cat were half as likely to experience blood pressure surges when under stress as those who didn't have a pet.

• Get the "Good" Fats. Olive and Canola oil are heart-healthy oils - fats that won't lower your HDL "Good" cholesterol, the kind that mops up LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream and carries it away.

• Bet on the B's. Evidence has shown that folic acid, B6 and B12 help lower homocysteine levels in the blood, which in turn lowers the risk of heart disease. To get these B's; eat a balanced diet that includes 5-7 fruits and vegetables a day and plenty of whole grains, including fortified bread.

• Set your Sights on C and E. Vitamins C and E and antioxidants believed to protect the heart. Guideline: To get as much C and E as many researchers think you need, consider a vitamin E supplement of 400 IU (international units), a 500 mg supplement of vitamin C once or twice daily and a multivitamin.

• Ask About Aspirin. Studies have shown that regular low doses of aspirin can significantly lower your risk of heart attack. Important: Check with your doctor before trying "aspirin therapy", as it has many possible side effects, including stomach pain and bleeding.

• Be a Blood Donor. Studies suggest giving blood may reduce the risk of heart disease. The possible reason, the blood loss may play a role in preventing the clots that can clog arteries and lead to a heart attack. To find a Blood Bank near you, contact your local Red Cross office.