February 24, 2012
One of the largest challenges for professional drivers and owner operators is time away from family and friends. Life on the road can be lonely, hectic, and frustrating all at the same time. Many times you have no control over the location of your loads, when you return home, or the time away from family. The challenge increases based on the make up of your family, for instance if you are single you may not care about time away from home, if you are married you may try to get home more often but can still manage life on the road. However when you have children the younger they are the harder it is to be on the road and gone from the family. The challenge for most drivers is that the time at which they are hitting their stride in their career is usually the same time that they start to have children and want to spend time with them. This can be a challenge like no other. There are a couple of ways to handle the problem without upsetting the whole apple cart.
I went through this when I was driving so I understand the challenges of the road and a family. When my kids came into the picture I was at the height of my career in trucking. I had my own truck and trailer was running where I wanted to run and making good money, life was good. At first it was fine to be on the road but then the tug on the heart strings came along and I was looking at other options to be home more. I switched companies after a while, but wasn’t home a whole lot more. Once trucking is in your blood it is hard to get it out. That being said it is important to work with what you’ve got. If you enjoy the road then stay there and figure out how to adapt because you won’ be happy if you stay home.
One of the things that work the best is consistency. I used to call my family every night when I was on the road around the same time. They got used to that phone call and would have all their news from the day ready to go when I called. Make them part of your life. I’m not talking about just pictures in your truck but them get them involved with your truck. If you wash it yourself have them help so they develop a pride in it, take them to the truck shows and help them understand the life of a professional driver. Have them track you on the road. Create a map on a board and have them put pins in where you have been each day, kind of like tracking Santa. With social media and Skype you can now see them face to face that can be a great boost to those on the road for extended periods. The last thing is to do your best to be at the important functions. Be part of their lives whenever possible. Make the extra effort to get home for weekend games and other important functions. When you are home, be there for your family, you’ll be glad you did!
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is a business and leadership consultant for the transportation industry. He helps drivers and businesses be successful on the road. More information can be found on the TST Truckload Express blog at www.earnwithtst.com or Bruce’s website at www.outridge.ca
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Bruce Outridge, Guest Bloggers for TST, Owner Operator Business Tips | Tagged: family life, life on the road, owner operators, professional drivers, Transport freight, Truck Drivers, trucking, TST Truckload Express | 
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Posted by tsttruckloadexpress
February 17, 2012
Life is divided up into different classes, it always has been that way and the world seems to work that way. We can go back to the beginning of time and see the formation through slavery and more. I am not saying I agree with it, but that is the way it is and hopefully we will continue working towards meeting people where they are in life and allow them to be who they are. You are probably asking why I bring this up and what does it have to do with trucking?
In the earlier days of the trucking business everyone was regarded as a cowboy, no matter how hard working you were, how good natured, everyone was labeled the same, a cowboy, one class, low! Movies from the seventies which I truly enjoy watching where everyone is dressed like some crazy gear jammer didn’t help the driver image very much. If you believe the movies we gambled and drank beer at all the truck stops, and pinched waitress’s behinds as they walked by our tables. All waitresses looked like people that would go out to your truck in a moments notice. I am not saying that didn’t happen I am just saying it didn’t happen everywhere to everyone. Overtime we have come to realize that not all truckers are cowboys, many are just hard working individuals trying to feed their families and make a decent living. Most waitresses are just good people that work very hard and are feeding their families. So what forms our image to the public? If we just go about our jobs each day what will create a positive image to the public, management, or other coworkers? It all comes down to how you deal with people. It comes down to how you do your job every day. It takes time to be known as the person you are.
What can you do to improve your image if it hasn’t been as shiny as it should have been? Raise the bar, starting today aim for a higher goal. Lets assume you are a “B” level driver at your company. You get some respect but you have been late a few times and even though you have explained the reasons for your tardiness people don’t have total trust in you. You can blame others for the way they see you, or you can look at your track record and see if the problem lies with you. If the lateness comes from poor time management then you need to work on that. If you stop being late, if you are eager to work as a team player you will find your image improving, therefore making you into an “A” level driver over time. Remember you are not being judged by what you did this week, you are being judged by what you have done over time.
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is a business and leadership consultant for the transportation industry. He helps drivers and owner operators have successful careers. More information can be found on his website at www.outridge.ca
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Posted by tsttruckloadexpress
February 10, 2012
That title is the making of a great song by Garth Brooks in the country genre, but it also the end of a career and life to an unassuming young man. For those of you in Southern Ontario over the last week have probably been hearing of a young man involved in an accident in a rural part of Simcoe Ontario last week. The accident resulted in eleven people dying including the truck driver. This horrific crash happened early morning on a country highway. The young truck driver had just called his wife to say he would be home in an hour or so.
I bring up this terrible tragedy to show you the importance of the moment. The importance of doing today what you need to do to be successful in business, career, or personal life. I hear so many people say that they will do that tomorrow, or will work on it down the road, but what if tomorrow never comes? This happens to all of us but at some time you need to make sure you have control of your life. Life goes on and only the strong survive. So what does all of this have to do with trucking?
In the transportation industry the rumblings are beginning to start again, fuel prices are rising, freight is there but at what quality, and drivers seem to be in a bubble as to what will happen in the industry next. So as an Owner Operator you have two choices, you can join the crowd and start bellyaching over all the things happening in our industry or you can take a stand and decide to be successful. I personally would do the second one but again, the choice is yours. What will you do?
Plan! If you have been riding along at the edge of your seat and hoping for the best now is the time to stop. Take a good hard look at your business, is it where you want to be, take a look at your family life, is that where you would like it to be? Do you connect with family while on the road, do you have the right business practices happening in your business so that you can succeed? Is there a proper management team in place to make sure you are making quality decisions and moving your business and career in a forward direction. If the answer to these and hundred other questions you may ask is “no” then you have work to do. You can’t control life, you can foresee the future, but you can make sure you have done everything in your power to have a successful life. I ask you the question again, what if tomorrow never comes?
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is a business and leadership consultant for the transportation industry. He helps Owner Operators operate successful businesses. More information can be found on his website at www.outridge.ca
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Posted by tsttruckloadexpress
February 3, 2012
What do you do when the tax man calls? Considering previous experience I will tell you that you had better have your stuff together if you plan on making it through and audit slightly unscathed. Audits can be very intimidating and scary for most of us. If you think that the big scale guy is intimidating try dealing with the Canada Revenue Agency or the Internal Revenue Service. That is scary on a whole level above the rest. They don’t understand things like my computer crashed last month that was holding all the company records, or that you didn’t track your mileage to the safety meetings because you forgot. When we went through the audit for our business I was amazed at the information I was asked to provide. They didn’t want to know about the big things like the income and expenses from major clients, they wanted to know why the coffee shop meal was being written off. The expenses that most of us overlook as they are only a few dollars were the focus of their investigation. Now that we have successfully made it through the audit process with just a minor adjustment I wonder how many people are not ready for an audit.
Audits do two things for your business, you either begin to run a tighter ship or you decide this isn’t for you and close up shop. For those who decided against getting professional help for their business may fall into the latter because the process is very intimidating to people not in that line of work. We did have a computer crash in one of our years that has created a file that holds some serious financial data and it is only by luck that was not the period that the CRA wanted to look at. That audit made us run better which according to my accountant is the educational component that the CRA tries to do with the clients it audits. They may need to work on their delivery skills a little. They say they use it to educate companies on the proper way to account for their business, that may be true but I think there are better ways to do that.
So I ask you again, would your business pass an audit if you were selected for one? Many of us business owners especially the smaller ones don’t feel they are on the radar for being audited. That is wrong, ask any small business that was selected for audit recently. The best way to pass the audit is to get your ducks in a row now before you are selected because once selected you won’t be able to make things up. Get an accountant make sure your bookkeeping is being done properly. The biggest thing is to think like a business owner and that means getting serious about running your business. If you don’t I can tell you that you will be out of business before you know it.
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is a business and leadership consultant for the transportation industry. He helps Owner Operators operate successful businesses. Form more information or to learn about the OS Program for your business visit his website at www.outridge.ca
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Posted by tsttruckloadexpress
January 27, 2012
You may find this to be a funny question but it can be dreadfully true in some cases. As a professional driver or Owner Operator our reputation used to be built on helping people stuck at the side of the road, almost like the road warrior theory. It wasn’t a thought to help some lady change a flat tire, or use your phone to call for help. I remember when I was hauling chemicals for a company it was owned by a Canadian outfit and I had stopped one day to help an elderly couple fix a flat tire, taking a total of 10 minutes. I had been in that situation before as have most of us and being stuck at the side of the road is no fun. No one else seem to be stopping, anyhow after I left she wrote a thank you letter and sent it to my company. They were happy at what I had done, that our company culture was that of helping others and so on. A few years later the situation happened again,but when the office found out I was told not to do that again. That I had put the company in danger of being hit, or the truck stolen, etc. Since then we were told not to stop and help people at the side of the road due to liability of insurance. Apparently our company culture had changed.
So the question is what is your company saying on this subject and are you putting your company at risk by helping others. I am sure there is no right or wrong answer for this one but it is food for thought. With theft in transportation rising, traffic getting busier every day stopping on the side of the road is frowned upon by most companies and I can understand those factors. What scares me is my belief system that what goes around comes around, and what you put out you get back! If that’s the case then the world will stop helping each other in times that seems like we need people to band together more than ever. I myself will continue to help people stuck at the side of the road if the need arises, to me helping others is what we are all about.
But what about you, what is your policy, what is your company policy? That may be a question for the next safety meeting. Better to know now than later.
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is a business and leadership consultant for the transportation industry. He specializes in helping drivers and owner operators have successful careers. More information can be found on his website at www.outridge.ca
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Posted by tsttruckloadexpress
January 20, 2012
I am amazed how much of the time drivers bounce up and down the road without the thought of breaking down, getting stuck in bad weather, or being delayed at a customer with nothing to eat. It happens everyday in trucking but many don’t see it until it happens to them. Most seasoned veterans know what to expect and prepare ahead of time for the dangers of the road. Winter driving can teach all motorists a lot about being prepared for a trip, making sure our truck is maintained to prevent breakdowns, we are aware of the road ahead and where it leads us. Winter trains you to be professional from the other motorists on the road.
Those principles that make you prepare for life on the road in the winter can help your prepare for other areas of your business and life all year long. Think of business for example. With winter driving you didn’t want to break down so you did preventive maintenance on your vehicle to get it ready for winter driving. By setting up your business with the proper management team, bookkeeper, and accountant you are setting it up with good advice to avoid breakdowns. By stocking your truck for winter driving with things like candles, blankets, food, clothing and other essentials you were prepared if you got stuck on the road and to shutdown due to weather issues. The same thing happens in business if you watch the cash flow in your business you are stocking up in case you have a bad month or have an emergency happen. By reading the map and understanding where you are going you are prepared for what lies ahead on the road to your destination. Business is the same way if you have a business plan you have a road map showing where you are going with your business and how you plan on getting there.
Winter teaches us a lot and the more we keep our eyes open and prepare properly the smoother the trip will be, winter teaches us many things, what has it taught you?
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is a business and leadership consultant for the transportation industry. He helps Owner Operators operate successful businesses. For more information visit his website at www.outridge.ca
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Posted by tsttruckloadexpress
January 13, 2012
Running a business is no easy feat especially a trucking business. Among the day to day duties of administration, driving and delivering freight you have the added chore of making sure you are profitable and running a lean business machine. On top of all that you have maintenance, tires, engine repairs, general upkeep and more. That is a lot for one person to keep track of and perform on a regular basis. So how do you go about making sure you are doing a good job in that area?
Creating a system for maintenance is the first key to solving the problem. If you are the type of Owner Operator that believes you shouldn’t change items such as tires until they are worn out completely, or wait until you are at your mileage to schedule an oil change then you may be playing the game of Roulette with your maintenance program. Your maintenance program should be scheduled and routine with a proper checklist in place that focuses on prevention rather than repair. This isn’t that hard to do and can give you great piece of mind going down the road. Here are the steps you need to take.
First find a shop that you are comfortable dealing with, that you can trust to do a good job, and has the interest of keeping your truck in good running order. You may even be able to negotiate a lower rate if you promise to bring all your business to that shop. Sit down with the shop manager and go through your preventative maintenance program, what you need it to cover, what repairs should be performed regularly and so on. If a shop manager is not interested in sitting down with you then move on to somewhere else, customer service is key.
The second issue is to schedule your basic service intervals so the shop has an idea when you will be around for service, this of course may move around a bit based on your schedule, but they should know they will expect you twice a month and so on. Make sure the shop is aware of when they will be doing a basic service and when they are also doing an inspection.
Now the third piece of the system are the large items. The tire change outs, engine rebuilds etc. These items should be checked on a regular basis so that they are attended to before they become an issue on the road. Document their condition at intervals through out the year so that like an accountant your mechanic can advise you on the best approach and time to make those big repairs hopefully saving you downtime and money. Running a truck operation is not rocket science, but it is important and having it on a system is just a smart way to do business.
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is a business and leadership consultant for the transportation industry. His specialty is helping entrepreneurs and owner operators setup successful businesses. More information can be found on his website at www.outridge.ca
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Posted by tsttruckloadexpress
January 6, 2012
Oh how times have changed, regulations in the industry as a whole are getting tougher, the driver shortage is getting larger, and finding a decent job is major problem in most areas. In addition to that many of the regulations being introduced these days are taking the fun out of trucking in general, for instance talking on the C.B. radio is now under scrutiny. Remember the days when talking on that C.B. meant the difference between a boring trip to Texas and one where the miles just flew by due to the banter on the radio or the new friends met on the way. Those times are changing along with everything else and 9/11 had much to do with it. The same thing has happened to load securement.
Theft is on the rise in many industries but especially the transport industry. This is due to various reasons from the economy to organized crime but the end result is the same. Crime is up and it is important as an industry partner, and professional drive that you do your part. In past years we would tell people we were running with where we were going, what we were hauling without a thought of a bad person listening to our conversation, after all bad people were busy planning or doing bad things, not listening to truckers on C.B.s. That has changed however and you now have to be aware of who may be on the other end of the radio. This really hit home for me when 9/11 happened. I was driving for a chemical company at the time and shortly after that incident we had some communications come out letting us know that our company and industry as a whole may be used as targets for supplies, etc. We were under strict orders not to communicate our company name, location, route, cargo, or anything else that may give away the vehicles we were driving. Knowing the chemicals that we were carrying and what they can do made me realize the situation we were in and how much security played a part in the larger scheme of things. If you have followed the reports in the media about the truck that got stolen while the police chased it around Ontario you may notice that it isn’t even about the freight anymore. As I was watching that incident unfold I kept thinking to myself what would someone want with a load of wafer board? What kept crossing my mind is the fact that the truck may have been a decoy for another robbery taking place somewhere else. At the same time there were reports of a trailer being stolen somewhere else with a load of electronics. I don’t know if they are connected, but it makes you wonder.
So how can you help prevent theft for your company? First don’t tell people the type of cargo you have on as that may peak interest. Second, don’t tell people the route you plan to take or your final destination so that an ambush cannot be planned. Third, lock your truck at all times even when driving too prevent roadside robberies. Fourth, secure your vehicle with locks, kingpins, and other mechanical measures to stave off robberies. Park in lighted and authorized areas or secure yards whenever possible. Fifth, be aware of your surroundings at all times. If anything looks suspicious report it and move on. Theft prevention is everyones problem from driver to taxpayer. Do your part to minimize the problem.
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is a business and leadership consultant for the transportation industry. More information can be found on his website at www.outridge.ca
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Posted by tsttruckloadexpress
December 30, 2011
“All right that’s it, we’re creating new rules because people here can’t follow the system!”, said the Manager. Have you ever heard something like this at your workplace? What was your first reaction, was it like the masses, “They’re trying to get us, they want to keep us down and control us!” That is what most think when they hear announcements and commands brought down by management. In my career there have been many times when I could have joined the people and revolted against management. So why didn’t I, what made me different from the others, was the message not for me? Did I work at a different location? Did I hear a different message?
The truth is that I heard the same message, and could have felt the same way but decided to feel differently. I thought about being in the other persons shoes, thought about what they may be going through, tried to stand on the other side of the track. By doing that I was able to see past the message itself to the reasoning behind it. By doing that I found that the rule or regulation is put in place to make sure that things keep running smoothly. Unless you know the background for the decision on making the rule or were in the meetings prior overseeing the problem you would not have a clear picture for the decision.
When something new comes into effect that may seem to be against your operating procedures take a close look as to why the decision was made. If you’re not clear on the reasoning go and talk to management to get clarification. Know for yourself the reasons behind decisions that affect you and you will be able to live by the procedure much better. Think like the boss and you will find that you probably would have done the same thing in their shoes. Thinking like the boss is the best way to handle change and the best way to be a leader as an employee. You’ll be better off for it.
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is a business and leadership consultant specializing in the transportation industry. More information can be found on his website at www.outridge.ca
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Posted by tsttruckloadexpress
December 23, 2011
The end of the year is now among us and this is a great time to not only reflect on what has happened over the last year, but plan for the new year. As you gather with family and friends over the next few days for the Christmas Holidays try to think of what can be different for the future, are your goals being achieved, have you made the money you wish to make, or have you gone further down the road to more debt. We are entering into a shaky year in the economy, with the United States having an unsettled economy, a presidential election about to take hold it can be very uneasy to know what to do. There also isn’t any clear answer on how to best approach the many predictions that are being thrown around. So what can you do to survive an unsettled economy? First get your own house in order. Create a game plan to tackle your debt, get your business in order with the proper help and setup. Operate smarter than you did this year, and be an ambassador for the industry. Step up to the plate where others fail and you will survive. We will talk more in the coming weeks about setting your goals for the new year ahead, but for now enjoy the time with your families, and create the renewed energy needed for successful operation in 2012.
From our family to your family and behalf of our friends at TST Truckload Express we would like to wish you all the best for the Holidays. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and all the best for 2012.
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is a business and leadership consultant. He assists Owner Operators in setting up and operating successful businesses. For more information on Bruce and his work please visit www.outridge.ca
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Posted by tsttruckloadexpress
