Posts Categorized: Safety
Saltchuk Honored with Dual Safety Awards from Signal Mutual
February 6, 2025
Hector Rodriguez (left) accepts the Operations Professional of the Year award at the Signal Mutual General Meeting in January.
Saltchuk’s commitment to safety excellence was doubly recognized at Signal Mutual’s January General Meeting in Austin, Texas. The company received the Industry Safety Leadership Award, while Tropical Shipping’s Hector Rodriguez was named Operations Professional of the Year.
The Industry Safety Leadership Award acknowledges Saltchuk’s dedication to workplace safety culture and leadership engagement. Signal Mutual highlighted Saltchuk companies as environments where safety and operations seamlessly integrate, resulting in performance metrics that exceed industry averages.
“We were honored to receive recognition for the incredible work our companies and employees do daily to ensure that every employee returns home safely,” said Lisa McQueen, Saltchuk’s Senior Director of Risk.
For Hector Rodriguez, Operations Manager and Vessel Planner at Tropical Shipping’s San Juan facility, the Operations Professional of the Year award marks another milestone in his distinguished 18-year tenure with the company. The honor recognizes operational professionals who elevate safety standards through personal values and unwavering commitment to preventing workplace injuries.
Rodriguez’s journey to this achievement began in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, where his dedication to safety was first instilled during his military service. “In the Army, you are taught safety first, from day one,” Rodriguez reflects. “You develop your training with one single thing in mind: accomplish your task and bring all your guys back home.”
This military-inspired approach to safety has defined Rodriguez’s leadership at Tropical Shipping, where he has implemented numerous innovative safety initiatives. His recent efforts include retraining warehouse employees on operational and safety requirements, installing peripheral vision mirrors in restricted visibility areas, and developing a tsunami evacuation plan that Tropical and other port operators have adopted.
Rodriguez’s influence extends beyond Tropical Shipping through his role as Chairman of the Security Committee at the Puerto Rico Shipping Association. Through his role with the PRSA, in 2024, he led the Homeland Security Initiative Seminar, bringing together key federal agencies, including HSI, US Customs and Border Protection, US Coast Guard, and the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency.
His commitment to safety was particularly evident during Hurricane Maria in 2017 when his leadership helped maintain operations despite devastating conditions. “While we were working, family members were doing the cooking and taking care of the young ones,” Rodriguez recalls. “We did not miss a sailing. It has been the biggest accomplishment of this team.”
Rodriguez, also a 2024 finalist for the Saltchuk Safety Awards, emphasizes the importance of speaking up about safety concerns. “If we really care about the safety of our colleagues and our own safety, take action,” he advises. Don’t ever hesitate to talk to your first-line supervisor. There is no greater reward than seeing everyone go home safe.”
These awards from Signal Mutual underscore Saltchuk’s broader success in creating a culture where safety is not just a priority but a fundamental value. Through the combined efforts of dedicated professionals like Rodriguez and strong organizational leadership, Saltchuk continues to set industry standards for workplace safety excellence.
Saltchuk Fall Newsletter
November 1, 2024
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Saltchuk names Salazar, Estencion 2024 safety award honorees
August 20, 2024
Saltchuk is pleased to announce the honorees for the 2024 Saltchuk Safety Awards. Nominations received from across the Saltchuk family of companies highlighted incredible stories of safety mentorship, examples of going above and beyond, leading safety culture, and innovating to make operations safer for employees and the community.
The Michael D. Garvey Award for Distinguished Service in Safety is awarded to an individual who displays distinguished service at a Saltchuk company with regard to safety.
Aldin Estencion, 2024 Michael D. Garvey Award for Distinguished Service in Safety
Carlile Hostler Aldin Estencion is the 2024 Michael D. Garvey Award for Distinguished Service in Safety. A daily stretching program started five years ago at Carlile has helped to nearly eliminate soft tissue injuries, but these programs don’t happen without consistent champions. Each morning, Al, a well-respected 18-year Carlile veteran, leads employees at Carlile Transportation in Tacoma, Washington in a series of exercises designed to keep everyone moving safely throughout the day. “Aldin has been a model employee for safety and reliability,” his nominator says. “He continues to be a great asset to Carlile and all of the employees around him.”
The President’s Award for Innovation in Safety is awarded to an individual responsible for an innovative idea that improves safety behaviors or activities at a Saltchuk company.
George Salazar, 2024 President’s Award for Innovation in Safety
Tropical Shipping Senior Cargo Handling (and Hazmat) Specialist George Salazar is the 2024 President’s Award for Safety Innovation honoree. After witnessing a near-miss situation in which cargo wasn’t properly secured on a flatrack container, George took action. “Loading flatracks entails many risks — for the person loading, for the drivers and for everyone on the highway daily,” he said. To ensure safety for all parties, he used a 40-foot shipping container to create a flatrack inspection depot at the Miami warehouse. Inside, he stored tools — chains, cutters, straps, measuring poles and more — that he needed to ensure each flatrack load was secure and would pass inspection. George went beyond just creating the depot, he volunteered to work nights, training a new crew and ensuring processes and safety were consistent across the team.
2024 Honorable Mentions:
- Michael Correa, Mechanic Crew Chief, Aloha Tech Ops
- Sal Griffith, Operations Manager, St. Thomas, Tropical Shipping
- Tomas Merel, Electrician, TOTE Services
- Drew Nanouk, Cargo Agent, Ryan Air
- Hector Rodriguez, Operations Manager & Vessel Planner, Tropical Shipping
- Ronald Rodriguez, Cargo Operations Manager, TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico
- Scott Jason, Manager, Marine Operations, Vineyard Wind, Foss Offshore Wind
- Blair Teddy, Port Captain, Pacific Northwest, Foss Maritime
- Nathan White, Assistant Foreman, TOTE Services
- Donell Wilson, 289 Mechanic, TOTE Maritime Alaska
Congratulations to Aldin and George and thank you to all the 2024 nominees for making Saltchuk companies safe workplaces. This fall, People of Saltchuk will feature the stand-out achievement of the 2024 honorees.
For information regarding Saltchuk’s safety awards program, contact Saltchuk Head of Safety Michiel Versteeg, , or Communications Director, Emily Reiter,
Carlile Steps Up For Safety at Annual Community Event
July 29, 2022
ANCHORAGE – Alaska has some of the most hazardous driving conditions in the country. In 2020, there were 53 fatal motor vehicle crashes and 64 deaths in the state, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Traffic fatalities at a national level reached a 16-year high in 2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This is one of many reasons Carlile Transportation, an Alaska shipping company, is active in roadway safety and prevention education.
The company kept safety awareness moving at the annual Wheel-O-Rama fair on June 15. The event, hosted by Alaska Regional Hospital, raised awareness about trauma, safety, and injury prevention related to wheeled vehicles. Carlile was joined by several community partners, including police officers, firefighters, People Mover , and the American Red Cross.
“Safety is at the core of our business operations. We appreciate the opportunity to spotlight safety practices in the communities that we serve,” said Jeremy Miller, who is Vice President of Operations at Carlile.
Carlile is Alaska’s leading trucking and logistics company, with terminals in Alaska, Tacoma, Houston, and Alberta. The company provides trucking, ocean, air, and rail solutions to connect shippers and supply chains to Alaska.
Carlile Truck Drivers Steer for the Win At Annual Competition
July 26, 2022
ANCHORAGE – Rogue moose, heavy snow, and summer traffic are just a few examples of the many challenges motorists face in the Last Frontier. It’s all in a day’s work for Alaska’s truckers, who are trained to navigate some of the most hazardous terrains in the country. On June 4, Carlile’s professional drivers put their skills and training to the test and won top spots at Alaska’s annual Truck Driving Championship.
Bill Krenz, a Carlile driver of 12 years, took first place in the tank truck division. Brad Hinkes, also with Carlile, an Alaska shipping company, for more than a decade, took first place in the four-axle tractor-semitrailer division and was the overall grand champion. The competition featured a total of nine vehicle categories ranging from step vans to five-axle big rigs. Competitors completed a multiple-choice test on trucking safety facts and were also judged by time and proximity to targets, often winning or losing by mere inches.
“The competition is a great opportunity to come together as a trucking community. Congratulations to all drivers who placed in the competition,” said grand champion Hinkes.
The annual truck driving championship is hosted by the Alaska Trucking Association, formed in 1958 to foster and promote the trucking industry in Alaska. The organization has hosted more than 20 truck-driving championships in Alaska.
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Carlile is Alaska’s leading trucking and logistics company, with terminals in Alaska, Tacoma, Houston, and Alberta. The company provides trucking, ocean, air, and rail solutions to connect shippers and supply chains to Alaska.