When we think of a trick, we think of pranks we played on
unsuspecting individuals when we were young (, but the context in which
we want to talk about ‘Tricks’ here is techniques or actions that
can improve a person’s life. Trucking tricks are kept under wraps because of the solitary nature of the business—a trucker is provided with a truck, a set of keys, a product or item to haul, a place to load and a location where he needs to deliver the load. All of this creates an atmosphere where the ability to share knowledge with
others is limited. So here is a list of ten tricks which can help make the job of picking up, driving and delivering, simpler and more financially beneficial
to the trucker, the shipper, the receive and the trucking company.
Ten Tricks of a Successful Trucker:
1. Always have a plan. This includes the obvious route and time
plan to pick up and deliver loads. You also need to include
plans for maintaining your equipment, plans for staying
healthy on the road, and plans to get the right amount of
home time. And most of all, a plan on how to reach your
goals, both personal and business.
2. Know what it costs you to operate on a daily, weekly,
monthly and quarterly basis. You can’t control what you
don’t know. Reducing unnecessary expenses is necessary
for any trucking operation regardless of whether it’s a lease
operation or you’re a company driver.
3. Develop a program where you pay yourself first. This means
including a salary as one of your fixed expenses, which helps
you create a visual goal which you can achieve. If you wait
for the leftovers on the financial side of your operation, what
you’ll end up with is the crumbs. If you’re a company driver,
you still need to set daily and weekly income goals, because
company drivers are usually paid by the mile, like lease
operators. Since most trucking companies don’t guarantee
company drivers a specific set salary each week, it is up to
the driver to be sure he’s maximizing his earning potential
through setting and achieving financial goals.
4. Schedule Preventive Maintenance. Remember a truck or
trailer whose maintenance needs are ignored will stop your
forward progress at the most inopportune time. Making sure
your equipment is in top-notch condition at all times means
you can achieve your other goals. Ignore its maintenance
and the truck will make sure you’re driven to financial
failure.
5. Stay with it! The biggest problem in the trucking industry
is the excessive driver turnover situation. There are many
contributing factors to the problem, one being truckers
expecting too much too soon when coming on board with a
new motor carrier. Be sure and do your homework on any
carrier with which you are thinking of aligning yourself.
Spend the time investigating the trucking company’s way
of doing business, and ask questions during the recruiting
process—lots of tough questions. Then, once you’ve made
your decision which company to go with, stick with them
for a minimum of one year. It’s all in the investigation and
effort you apply in the beginning before you’ve signed on
the dotted line.
6. Communication, communication, communication. This is not
just what is said or heard. You need to maintain a paper
trail on all aspects of your trucking business. If it’s said and
it’s important, write it down: who you talked with, when you
talked with them, what was said by all parties, what was
the final agreement, and if it’s extremely important, have
everyone sign the document. Just because it’s spoken doesn’t
mean it will be remembered. Don’t assume everyone is on
top of any situation. If circumstances change, whether it’s
concerning delivery or pick up times, repairs required on
equipment, solutions to situations, or a personal dilemma, be
sure it’s communicated to anyone with a need to know.
7. Teamwork is multi-tiered when it comes to trucking. There’s
the obvious team of driver, dispatch, maintenance department
and safety, where team work can make everyone’s life more
financially rewarding and less stressful, working to provide
the best logistics service to the company’s customers. But
don’t forget the other team members, the major reason you’re
out there doing what you do: your family.
8. The trucker is king when it comes to Customer Service.
Treating ‘your’ shippers and receivers as royalty is the first
step to your success. The second step is to remember whether
you’re a company driver or lease operator, the trucking
company is the ‘Other Customer’ to which you need to
provide stellar customer service.
9. Personal care means take care of yourself, in mind, body,
and soul. Take the time to stop and smell the roses. Don’t
allow yourself to become isolated from others by the sheer
nature of your work. Be sure to exercise, even if it’s nothing
more than a good brisk walk. Think twice, eat once; look at
what you’re about to eat. Is it going to be nourishing? Is it
something that will cause you problems later? If the answer
is yes to the first question and no to the second, enjoy it; if
not, consider something else. Each day spend a few moments
in spiritual contemplation to refresh your soul.
10. Recreation is needed too. All work and no play makes for
an irritable trucker. Schedule a hobby or activity which has
nothing to do with trucking. This is your escape from your
day-to-day responsibilities as a trucker. Make a plan to do
this at least once a week.
More Info :08185208688
07065149588
haulagermover@gmail.com
