Friday, July 30, 2010

Exercising on the Job

My colleague and friend Linda Caffee got me started on this exercise thing. It all began when our Trucking Solutions Group got together for our first face-to-face meeting at a conference in Denver, Colorado last year April. I got there on a Sunday and got a call from Linda who met me in the lobby of our hotel. Linda and I hit it off right away. She is so down to earth and friendly that I felt very comfortable around her. In fact, I was so comfortable that I forgot my aversion to exercise! I can still hear myself telling her that I would meet her in the exercise room the next morning at 5:00 a.m.

That first week was a great week. I found that even though we all (the Trucking Solutions Group) had our days full with the conference and also went out somewhere to eat every night, I was still eagerly looking forward to exercising in the morning. Another lady named Rose started coming down also (boy was she in great shape!) While we were exercising Linda, Rose and I talked about this and that and before you know it our time was up. I had heard that exercising gave you energy; well I guess that was how we made it through that activity filled week! But, the real test was whether I would continue on this exercise “thing” even when I didn’t have my role models around.

Those first few days at home were the hardest. Lucky for me, I am an early riser. I am usually up and at em around 5:00 a.m., so that part was easy. But, what I really and truly love to do while I’m at home is (drum roll please) NOTHING!!! So, getting my behind out of the house was a real challenge. I think that I called Linda at least a couple of times during that first week! I remember how long that half an hour was. Yes, you heard right, one half hour!

I have a song that I really like that goes back to the good old days. It’s called Planet Rock by Africa Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force and it has a really great beat. Well, back in the day, I use to cut the heck out of a rug so I used that song to pace myself. The song lasts for seven minutes and 34 seconds. I would listen to that song and also listen to some Annie Lennox (I know, quite a mix LOL) and do my walk. By the second week I had worked my way up to 45 minutes. By the third week (and also the week we were scheduled to go back out on the road) I had worked up to one hour and had also added a few twists.

The twists I added were as follows:

1. Two 2.5 pounds weights that I could velcro around my ankles, and
2. Two three pound barbell weights that I carried in my hands

I concentrated on my stride and on also working with the weights in my hands. In this way I could strengthen my legs as well as my arms. Now, the real trick would be how I could work it into my work schedule.

The first thing I had to do was to make exercising a priority! I try and walk in the early mornings or early evenings. That is when the temperature is most conducive to the exertion of walking. I don’t always have one hour so I will walk a half an hour if that is all the time I have. Sometimes I don’t even have that and I only walk for 20 minutes. The trick is to just do it! No excuses. Hubby and I haul air freight and our loads aren’t usually ready till late at night. We usually deliver early in the morning so that gives me the opportunity to walk at least three times a week and sometimes even four or five times a week.

I avoid exercising in the middle of the day. I did that once in New Orleans; big mistake! The humidity was terrible. I managed to get in a half hour, but it was hard. I don’t want to do anything that would make exercising distasteful and that would definitely accomplish that. I concentrate on the beauty of nature and sometimes I even bring my camera. I don’t always go for power walks. The other day we were in Seattle, Washington and I decided to take a leisurely walk around the neighborhood. Before you know it three hours had passed and I had walked five miles! I also got to meet some really nice people to boot!

We make sure and park a good distance from all services at truck stops or at our terminals. On the days when we are under the gun, I will usually get out and walk my dogs Sheba and Doodles during my shift. After I get them back in the truck I will make the time to do a quick power walk for about 15 minutes. We have yet to be late on a delivery!

I’m still developing my exercise routine, but for now this seems to work. I have worked my way up to six pounds around each ankle and two five pound barbells that I use to develop the muscles in my arms, shoulder and back. I know that it isn’t easy trying to keep in shape while we’re out on the road, but if you put your mind to it, it can be done. If the girl whose favorite activity is NOTHING can do it, so can you!
Communication 101 FOR The Leased Owner Operator

Your first opportunity to begin the communication process with your carrier begins before you even get to orientation. As a business owner, you are the one responsible for any and all information that is available to others about you and your business. It is critical that you get a copy of both your MVR and DAC reports before looking to lease on with any major carrier. The cost of the MVR varies from state to state. You can get one free copy of your DAC report annually. You can also get a free copy if you have been denied employment or terminated based on information contained in your DAC. If you want to request a copy of your DAC on line go to this site: http://www.hireright.com/Disputes/Report.aspx. Review your DAC very closely and make sure to correct any discrepancies prior to beginning your search for a carrier. For more information visit this website: http://www.usis.com/Consumers/default.aspx. Note that according the FMCSR 383.35(c) motor carriers are required to request a minimum of ten years worth of accurate employment history. For this reason, it is critical that the information, neatly supplied by you matches with the information supplied by DAC. You do not want the first impression you make on your carrier to be one of unpreparedness.

You should take the following information with you for your orientation:

1. Employment History (with accurate dates)
2. Copy of your MVR
3. Copy of your DAC
4. Driver’s License
5. List of any prescription drugs you are taking
6. Long Form Medical Card
7. References

Communication is more than what you say, although what you say is extremely important. Communication is also about the way you look and how you carry yourself. Your family knows how wonderful you are and so you don’t always have to look and be your best for them. Society has no idea about any of this. You have to show them. The first impression people get about us, even before we open our mouths, is when they see how we are dressed. That impression can often be cemented when we open our mouths. How you are dressed and what you say will determine not only how your carrier will view and treat you but also how you will be viewed and treated by society.

First of all, arrive on time. If you can’t make it to orientation on time how can you be counted on to make your deliveries on time? Pack a jacket instead of the usual hoodie. Bring a good pair of work boots instead of sneakers. Don’t wear a baseball cap to your orientation. Make sure that you arrive at orientation with clothes that are clean and pressed. Carry a briefcase with you where you can keep all of your own information as well as all the paperwork you will be receiving over the course of the orientation. Carry a notebook, pens, pencils, a ruler, a small stapler, paperclips and whiteout in your briefcase. Turn off your cell phone, or at least leave it on vibrate. Nothing shows lack of interest more than a person who accepts personal phone calls during orientation. Watch your language and do not use any profanity. Always keep in your mind that you are attending a professional function. Pay attention and don’t ask unnecessary questions. We’ve all been stuck in the orientation process with that one “special” person who just can’t get over the sound of their voice! Don’t be that person.

Remember that your truck will have to be inspected. Make sure to arrive with a clean truck both on the inside and on the outside. Take care of any mechanical issues before you arrive at orientation. Here is a list of some of the things you will need to bring with you relating to your truck:

1. Name, address and phone number of your lender (if you are still making payments on your truck).
2. Copy of the title to your truck (original title if you own your truck outright).
3. Copy of the Bill of Sale
4. Form 2290 Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (marked paid).
5. Proof of Insurance
6. Current DOT inspection

I cannot stress enough the importance of looking the part after orientation. Once you are actually leased on with your carrier, it is imperative that you continue to dress professionally. Don’t get too comfortable just because you made it through the orientation process. Never have any face-to-face communication with your carrier unless you have cleaned up and put on a clean set of clothing. It will level the playing field psychologically. I know that this can present some difficulties, but those difficulties are worth it if it allows your carrier to see you as a professional.

Here are some quick clean up ideas:

1. Baby wipes. These are good for a quick clean up but not for a deep down clean.
2. Comfort Personal Cleansing. These are pre-moistened washcloths that you warm up in the microwave. They can be found at Wal-Mart.
3. Premium Fresh’n Up Personal Washcloths. These are extra large and extra strong wipes. These can be used when baby wipes just will not do the job, but you do not enough time for a thorough cleansing.
4. ConvaTec Cleansing Foam. Also known as Aloe Vesta. It is “a high foaming, non-aerosol, ph-balanced cleanser for all over cleaning.” You can find this product at http://www.convatec.com. This is great for a deep down clean.

Finally, get to know the people within your carrier's organization before they get to know you. Find out a little about them. What are their names? What about their birthdays? Are they married? Do they have children? Who does what? If possible, try and get their e-mail addresses. They will truly serve you well down the road.
Always remember that you are a business owner and no longer an employee. The carrier you are leased to should be treated as your number one customer. Prepare customer satisfaction surveys and ask key members of your carrier’s organization to fill them out. A survey is good in three ways particularly: it’s a good tool to discover if you are providing the best service possible to your carrier; it’s a good tool to find out how you can improve the services you are already providing; and it also shows your carrier that you are willing to go the extra mile to maintain that professional relationship.

Some questions you could ask are as follows:
1. Does (name of your company) pick up your loads in a timely and expedient fashion fashion? Yes No Explanation_______________________________________________________
2. Does (name of your company) deliver your loads in a timely and expedient fashion?
Yes No Explanation_______________________________________________________
3. On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the highest) how satisfied are you with the services provided by (name of your company)._______________________________________________________
4. If you could make any improvements in the services offered by (name of your company) what would they be? _________________________________________________________________

Try and make it a point to drop by the office from time to time and share positive information with your carrier. The reason for a visit from you shouldn’t always be because you have a problem. In that way, should you actually have a problem they will be open to listening. Don’t forget to offer potential solutions to any problem areas you may have. Anyone can point out problems. It takes a professional to offer solutions. If you are with the right carrier, this will be appreciated and rewarded.

We just recently came through some very trying economic times. We saw many of our business associates fall by the way side. We will miss them greatly. We saw many well known companies close their doors. Many carriers were forced to make tough decisions and had to downsize their fleets accordingly. Freight was down and there were more trucks out there than there was available freight. Freight has still not come back to the levels they were once at and times are still very uncertain. We are not out of the woods just yet and only the strongest among us have survived. Some see these times as difficult times. I see these times as times of opportunity. Here is our opportunity to change how we are viewed by the public. Change starts with one small step. Let’s take that step together!

Happy trucking!
What Was I Thinking?

Charles and I have been married for 21 years come this November. He spent the first eight of those years trying to get me to learn how to drive a big rig. To understand how formidable his quest was you have to understand where I was when he began.

I had been a legal secretary for most of my adult life. I grew up in New York City and as an adult I lived in Stated Island. In short, I was a city girl. My dad was in the Air Force and as a child I split my time between wherever my dad was stationed and the lower east side of Manhattan. Whenever my dad went out on his isolated tours of duty my mom and I lived in Manhattan and I went to Catholic school.

I left home at an early age and survived by my wits. I knew that I needed to find work in order to survive so I went door to door looking for work. One day I found myself at a 24 hour diner. I really liked the feel of the place so I started going to this diner almost every evening. I wiled away my time after a fruitless day of looking for work by ordering the least expensive menu on their menu; Sanka coffee and toast.

One day, after I had been up for several days, I found myself at that diner again. It turned out that the people who owned that diner were first generation Greeks. We started talking to each other in Greek, me speaking broken Greek to their perfect Greek, and they ended up offering me a job. They taught me everything that I needed to work as a waitress at their diner. That was my first lucky break. I worked for them off and on for a few years and keep in touch with them to this day.

For a few years I bounced around doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Among my occupations were: carnie girl (I worked for the James E. Strait Traveling Carnival Show [I really did run away and join the circus LOL), bartender and dancer. During a lucid period of my young life I somehow managed to study for my GED, which I obtained when I was 20 years old. Also during this same lucid period, I taught myself how to type. When I got my typing speed up to 45 words per minute I talked my way into a position at a temp agency as a temporary clerical worker.

In time I was sent to a law firm to fill in for one of the secretaries who was going on vacation. The lady that I had filled in for was preparing to retire and liked me. They offered me her position and she taught me as much of what she knew as possible. I ended up staying at that law firm for two years. While working as a legal secretary I took a correspondence course and obtained my paralegal certificate. I guess you could say that I had all the makings of an old school truck driver from way back then: I am a self-taught person!

So, fast forward ten years: I was living in El Paso, Texas and married to a truck driver who began pestering me to learn how to drive a big rig almost from the very beginning of our marriage in 1989. When he first started his pestering I thought he had lost his mind. I’ll be honest with you: I was petrified to even sit on the seat in front of the steering wheel. And when he started that big old truck I just about jumped out of my skin.

Actually, what made me go to school to learn how to drive a truck wasn’t so much my husband’s gift of persuasion; it was the low wages I was earning in a border town. That is the reality of why I decided to become a truck driver. It was either starve or make some changes! I got sick and tired of earning a top hourly rate of $9.50 an hour! I knew that I would experience a drop in income by moving to El Paso, I just didn’t realize that it would be a 50% drop!

I was a two week wonder. I remember it like it was yesterday: there I was with my CDL in hand and someone was actually expecting me to drive! In my two weeks of experience I had only gone out on the highway three times: twice as part of a group of students and once during my test! The only thing that I really and truly remembered from the previous two weeks was: 13’6”, period. I think that I had only hooked up to a trailer maybe twice. That anyone could expect me to actually drive this thing was unbelievable to me! How my husband would actually consider trying to sleep behind me was another matter altogether!

Charles started me out real easy: I only drove four hour shifts. I can still remember being so scared that I barely turned my head from left to right. I held on to that steering wheel with a death grip! The first ticket I got was in (I think) Virginia. I had missed all the over head signs telling me about a scale up ahead. You see those signs were not on the side of the road where I could move my eyes to see them. Oh no, they were overhead hanging off the over pass. Well, how could anyone expect me to see those signs? After all, if I was too scared to move my head from left to right how in the heck would I be able to move it up or down? I remember asking Charles what I should do as the scale master was racing out of the scale house. His response: pull the hell over. He’s always been real gentle with me (as you can tell).

The next four years were a very interesting time for Charles and me. For the first time (and I am sure that some of you who have read some of my posts can feel my pain), I was not the boss. I had to rely on Charles for everything. My very life depended on making sure that I checked in with him. What a time. It was a real challenge. After putting up with his you know what for seven months I decided that I had had enough. Boy, he was surprised when I quit the company we worked at and signed on with Werner.

Apparently, Werner had a lot more confidence in my skills than my husband. It’s a wonder I didn’t kill myself in my short time with them. But I did accomplish one thing though: I actually learned how to drive that truck. You see, Charles was too protective (insert here that he had a strong belief that I would kill us both) of me and wouldn’t let me do anything more than basically hold the steering wheel. Under his tutelage I didn’t know how to back my truck and I didn’t know how to deal with anything else truck related except for holding the steering wheel. He’s an old school truck driver and, while he loved me as his wife, he had absolutely no respect for me as a truck driver. And why should he have? I wasn’t a truck driver; I was a steering wheel holder!

Werner set me loose in a Freightliner Classic on the east coast. They had a lot of confidence in me (insert here that they could care less if I lived or died) and just let me run wild! Boy oh boy did I learn how to drive a truck! I also learned how to deal with all my paperwork, how to read a map, how to plan my trips, the difference between north and south and east and west, how to load and unload, how to back that baby just about anywhere and last but not least, how to ask for help. It was a humbling experience.

I stayed with them for a few months until my husband asked me to come back and drive team with him again. After some thought (you know I didn’t even tell him how much I had missed him, right?) I said that I would even though it meant giving up my freedom (NOT). I hope he doesn’t read this. But in reality, I didn’t mind; I had proven my point. I didn’t want to be a steering wheel holder. I wanted to be a truck driver. And the love affair began anew. No, not with my husband, that never ended, with driving a truck! Having said that, I still consider myself a trainee because I still have so much to learn.