INTERSTATE TRANSPORTS LONG-DISTANCE TRUCK DRIVERS HOME FOR HOLIDAYS

Interstate starts planning the professional drivers' routes in mid-November so that drivers will be close to their homes, wherever that may be in the continental United States, by Christmas. Drivers who cannot be routed home are flown there, and then back to their trucks after the holiday.

"When drivers learn at orientation that we are serious about our commitment to send them home for Christmas, most are shocked," said John Shelor, the manager in charge of coordinating the drivers' schedules. "Knowing that their driving schedules are planned through the end of the year relaxes them, especially because they know that they will see their families on Christmas."

During the year, Interstate's long-distance drivers typically spend as many as three weeks a month on the road away from their homes and families. "This program reaps multiple benefits for the company because we keep our drivers and their families happy, while also keeping them on staff and committed to Interstate," said Shelor.

The Home for the Holidays program, instituted in 1993, is part of Interstate's continuing commitment to its employees. Interstate President Arthur E. (Buddy) Morrissette says, "At Interstate, we recognize that our most important resource and our most valuable asset is our Interstate team. Our ability to continue to provide 'Top Hat Service' and industry innovations is only possible with the help of each member of our team."

"Both when times are good and when we are faced with adversity, such as the national disasters this year, are times when we all must unite and work together. It is in such times that an organization's core values and its dedication to ethics and principles really shine through," said Morrissette.

Interstate, a family-owned business, is currently in its third generation of leadership by the Morrissette family. The company has been consistently recognized over the past half century for its strong commitment to its employees and the community at large - contributing resources and manpower to worthy causes such as the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve's "Toys for Tots" campaign, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

Established in 1943, the Interstate family of companies today comprises a worldwide group of relocation management, transportation and logistic entities that will facilitate more than 25,000 relocations this year. For more than half a century, the Interstate team has been learning and building on its reputation for providing Top Hat Service. The experience and attention to detail led to Interstate being designated as ISO 9002 certified for all entities and facilities in August 2000, an accomplishment achieved by less than one percent of companies within its industry.