On my way to work the other day, I was thinking about my yard check I do and why I do it.

Some of our drivers, perceive it as checking up on them, to see if they sealed (security reasons) the trailers, some perceive it as checking up on where they park, some perceive it as making sure they are wearing their safety vests while in the yard.

Then I asked myself the same question. WHY DO I DO A YARD CHECK? The answer is pretty simple. 2 fold really (1) Never ask someone to do something you would not do yourself and (2) When that panic sets in, in the dispatch office, as they cannot find a trailer or tractor or seal number, or some other such thing in the computer, I have the answer. I did the yard check. Within reason I should have answers. I should be able to see if our early delvieries will make it on time. I should be able to see if all the loads are here that should be every morning. I should be able to ensure that the information in the computer, is up to date.

However, what I do not do is update the computer. GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT. If I update our internal system, then the dispatch team (which I feel is pretty darn good), will not learn or make their own conclusions. They are always relying on me. No one has told me, I have to be in the office every day at 5:30 in the morning. Why am I? The old fashioned morals that my father instilled in me. Work hard, do what it takes, and go the extra mile.

Create and Follow a process. Of course it has to be a logical sequence. How do we arrive at a process. Well you may want to start at the end reslut and work backwards. That way, you know what the result is, and you can input each step to get there, arriving at the starting point.

Last week Ray Haight in this BLOG section printed a few of his rules. All make sense and all have merit in them. What however it still comes down to, is what is missing in business today. TOO MANY UNSCRUPULOUS BUSINESS PEOPLE, TAKING THE MONEY AND HIDING. Giving both carriers and Load Brokers a bad reputation. We both know, we both need each other. We all Need to kow however who they are. Who double brokers freight continually, etc.

There has to be a way to publish every company's name that bounces a cheque, does not pay within agreed payment terms, deducts money for claims off of freight charges owing (YES IT IS ILLEGAL), Do not want to pay Detention upon pickup or delivery, Expect not only 2 hours free time, but they expect the same 2 hours for 3 drops, which is now 6 hours free time. I think it is time some of these people, got out from behind the desk and worked free like a driver for 6 hours, and then complain about detention and waiting time. Certqainly in this industry, when the shipment picks up late or delivers late, there are a million and one excuses, least of which is the weather. What this industry does have to start doing though is also charging for delays at the border. Remember FELLOW CARRIERS, ALL WE ARE DOING IS TRANSPORTING THE GOODS. WE NEITHER OWN THEM, TAKE TITLE TO THEM, PREPARE THE PAPERWORK FOR THEM, OR CLEAR THEM. We need to be compensated for work performed. Whether a load broker or shipper agree or disagree is not the question any longer.