We have all probably heard the saying, “With Freedom Comes Responsibility.”
Assuming that is accepted, let us discuss how that statement relates to our individual lives as citizens of the United States, etc. This also applies to transportation, maybe in a more significant sense. “How so”? The Freedom of trucking may go either way out of all the issues we address in Trucking Truth, including success criteria and factors that encourage failure.
Most of us did not join the trucking industry with the ability to manage almost unrestricted employment flexibility. Observing the rules of where to be, when to be there, and what to perform are often requirements for conventional occupations. The majority of us have had organized employment. Almost everyone who starts a career in trucking views the independence that comes with it as a major perk and something to look forward to. They at least believe they do…
I contend that this job’s Freedom often necessitates one of the more challenging but less evident adaptations. For the most part, whether at a job or in school, most of us have never had this much Freedom, making this “freedom transition” difficult for practically everyone.
Recognizing and then comprehending any possible issue are the first and second steps. Once we leave the trainer’s truck’s cozy confines, we are all essentially freed from the Mothership, thrust into the challenging world of trucking, and allowed to travel the wide byways and highways of our wonderful nation.
Consider me as an example. I spent most of my professional life in different technology consulting & project management roles. My superiors (customers) signed my status reports or deliverables acceptance reports and my salary. I had a variety of bosses as a journeyman consultant, depending on the task. I never had to be concerned about working with any freedom… Without the odd bathroom stop, there was not much comfort.
Even though I was glad to be out of that box, my newfound independence put me in an intriguing scenario. In essence, most truck drivers are assigned a start date and time, delivery date and time, and sometimes a lot of gap in between; other than e-logs, we have very little direct responsibility for these dates and times. In typical employment, various individuals often pry into our affairs. But with trucking, those regular inspections, the intrusive monitoring seldom happens. One of the most difficult reality checks a rookie truck driver must confront, in my opinion, is Freedom. Do not undervalue it, please.
Here is how, as a rookie trucker, I first acclimated to it and dealt with it:
Time management is challenging
I must admit that I needed to adjust how I thought about and planned for time management. I ran out of hours much too often over the first three months of my Walmart Dedicated Account employment. By the thirteenth hour of work, I would be left wondering, “Where did it all go?” In all honesty, my first few months were terrible. I understood that “Trucker Freedom” was not free.
Problem identified; time for a gut check. I started keeping track of anything that took up time. Like getting lost, taking the wrong turns, getting lost again, noticing trailers at stores with doors blocked on the inside or outside, entering the store from the wrong side, turning around in the customer parking lot, missing drop & hook locations, standing outside repeatedly ringing the bell (delayed), attending multiple PTA’s throughout the day, and engaging in numerous individual vendor backhaul procedures. For almost two weeks, I gave this list my whole attention. Reviewing the countless errors was a humiliating process. These problems combined to cause a tonne of wasted time.
Having the Right Mentality
Creating a mentality of responsibility and progress was step two in my shift. I started each week by concentrating on one or two issues I could handle. There were tactical considerations and, of course, the wider picture on my list. My priority was to arrange the trip more effectively (sound familiar). This included utilizing Google Maps to assess each store’s dock area more thoroughly as I made my way through each visit. The less time spent traveling to the dock, bumping the dock, and leaving the shop, while taking into account a 5-stop run, the more time was saved on the clocks.
The first stages of my adjustment are listed below:
Never trust your GPS
I used the look-ahead capability of the GPS to line it with the printed directions on the Walmart trip sheet for each store. Our GPS, NaviGo, was simply directing me to the front of the business, often placing me in danger. That issue was resolved by the written instructions, which detailed how to properly enter the dock while avoiding the main client areas and how to leave. Additionally, I use the look-ahead function of the GPS to double-check the route between stops. The GPS was accurate, traveling to the first stop and returning to the ultimate destination 98% of the time, as I had to discover the hard way. Going from the first to the second and so on in between is less accurate and sometimes downright incorrect.
Rerouting for a missed turn or detour also reduced accuracy. While mostly ignoring NaviGo, I accumulated route notes on the many variances from one shop to the next. This was especially crucial while doing deliveries in metropolitan areas with residential communities. Yes, I have also traveled through several car/tree-lined, tight streets, sometimes on purpose, but more often by accident. Trip planning is thus ongoing and real-time on this account, never pausing during the day. The huge change took many months of trial and error before realizing that preparing ahead saves far more time in the long run.
Have A Clear Plan
Before arriving, have a strategy for each delivery or backhaul. Before I started driving a truck, I liked surprises. When I went into a shop unprepared, it made me more anxious (when a negative surprise was found), and often my backup arrangement was a complete disaster. The finest tool for coping with very confined places and preparing for the unexpected is Google Maps. The ability to prepare the optimal approach for any dock needing unusual handling was made possible for me by having access to both an overhead view and a street view.
My strategy was to start with the business’s parking lot and then enlarge the picture to encompass the entrance, exit, and surrounding area. Once I included this in my daily real-time travel planning, I saved time. I prepared ahead of time for each stop by writing down what to expect and the problematic stores (like Elmsford NY Sam’s, Warminster PA WM, Boothwyn PA WM, Mt. Pocono PA, Clinton NJ, Princeton NJ WM, Maple Shade NJ WM, Wall Township NJ WM, Riverside NJ, and Cedar Knolls NJ WM, to name a few) in a notebook.
Use the shop’s telephone numbers. The method and protocols must be followed without fail; I must have the delivery papers signed and provide the invoice, and/or if it is a live unload, I must see and witness the unloading and sometimes the reloading process. I have to get entrance to each store’s or Sam’s Club’s inner reception area. I had to wait at the door for up to a half hour at around half the businesses I delivered to. Crazy when a dispatched trip is a 5-stop run. annoying
Voice dialing is my remedy. Moreover, the procedure had two steps, depending on where the delivery was going. I used the “ring-twice” strategy. If no one answers after a minute, ring the bell once again. After one more minute, use voice dial to request a manager. I will make another call if nobody has already let me in. Almost often, after the second call, I am in. This produced effects very instantly. I was entering the retail dock more quickly, frequently in under five minutes. On average, this saved each sent load between 30 and 45 minutes.
Develop Strong Relationships
Relationships with planners and driver leaders. I started making travel requests a day in advance, or “pre-plan,” about six months in as I had a better knowledge of how the account worked. When beginning a new week, it is crucial to have a predetermined strategy in place after a 34-hour reset. To cut down on time needed to go through each stop, I created a database of retail locations near Interstates.
The strategy required to handle the freedoms of trucking was much enhanced by the fundamental steps I took and the skills growth that naturally happens. Although the measures I performed are particular to Walmart Dedicated, I feel the fundamental logic is the same regardless of the kind of work you have. Personal responsibility is the crucial component needed.
In conclusion, a new OTR driver might use a similar strategy to move from more organized employment to trucking. The crucial step that takes far more time than is generally taught during road training is trip planning. The goal is to be prepared and prepared.
Eliminate Surprises
Reduce the unexpectedness. Know where you are going and what to anticipate on the way there and at the shipper/receiver port. If a certain route is required for dock access and you estimate incorrectly? A significant amount of time may be wasted due to the error. Plan. As I said before, never depend just on GPS. This is particularly true when rerouting traffic in real time. One of the instruments required for determining travel directions is a GPS. The look-ahead tool should be used to examine the route, and it should also be compared to Trucker’s Road Atlas. Understand how to access and leave major highways and interstates, as well as how to navigate the terrain. If the satellite connection is lost, write it down on a sticky note, post it somewhere accessible, and use it as a reference (which will occur at the most inopportune time).
Excellent Communication is vital.
Proactive interaction Inform your driving leader (dispatch) of any delays or progress. Although crucial, verbal Communication cannot guarantee the right degree of focus and documentation. Use the technological equipment provided by Qualcomm or another firm to record communications. It is always possible to look into it in the future for more explanation at some point in time.
Continually assess your performance and your capacity to manage the Freedom that comes with it to be your best advocate. I still evaluate my day every night, giving feedback on how I handled certain circumstances and suggesting improvements where necessary. Anytime it makes sense, seek the driving leader’s opinion. It seems reasonable to do this regularly at first. If you feel it is necessary, do not hesitate to seek assistance.
Ask for help if you feel you need it—you probably do.