The year is finishing up and we are all looking forward to 2009. 2008: Well it will certainly go out with a bang, or more like a THUD. WHAT A MESS, THE ECONOMY. We saw Trucking companies disappear, we saw Amalgamation of Trucking Companies, we saw new PIP initiatives, we saw NEW Customs initiatives on both sides of the border., We saw, or almost saw, the collapse of the BIG THREE automakers in North America. HOW DO WE COPE WITH IT ALL AND STILL MAKE MONEY? 1) Work smart (er) ! 2) Communicate 3) Deal with Reputable companies 4) Deal with companies that pay their bills on time, all the time. 5) Diversify your (our) customer base. 6) Quit undercutting rates for the sake of keeping business you already have. 7) Train, Train, and Train again. NO, NOT JUST THE DRIVERS, THE DISPATCHERS, THE MANAGERS, THE OWNERS, THE WAREHOUSE STAFF, THE ADMINISTRATION STAFF, EVERYONE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. All of us are working and for the most part enjoy what we do. In order to feel we are legitamately making a contibution, to the company's bottom line, we all need to feel just as important as our next colleague. To do this it is up to The OWNER's and MANAGER'S, to train everyone and retrain everyone. To communicate what it is we do and how we intend to do it. THe Owner's have the responsibility, from top down, to ensure all staff members, are patted on the back once in a while. This will always go further than them always receivng a KICK IN THE PANTS. We have to be open to new ideas, We have to be open to new concepts, We have to be open to New Customers needs and wants, We have to be open to Progressive thiking. All of this has to be done PROACTIVELY, NOT REACTIVELY. If we are reacting it is already to late. LET'S ALL FIND A WAY TO GROW, PROSPER, THRIVE, COMMUNICATE, DEAL WITH EACH OTHER HONESTLY, EFFECTIVELY, AND FINALLY TREAT EACH OTHER WITH THE RESPECT WE HOPE TO RECEIVE IN RETURN. I WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS 2009.