Bruce Outridge

Beat Hours of Service Issues with Good Trip Planning

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Bruce

Unless you have been hiding under a rock many will know that the hours of service regulations changed on July 1, 2013, yet again, or is it maybe, I’m not sure? Since as of the time of this writing there has been no decision made, but does it matter. I realize it is frustrating to have the FMCSA changing the regulations for no good reason or so that seems. I am not here to debate whether they will increase safety or not because in my mind any law that tells someone when they should stop, go, or eat is going against human nature and will never work. I do believe in guidelines and maybe a hard stop at the end of so many hours of driving but that’s it. Anyway they have changed or are changing them again, and with the current driver shortage many experts are saying it will hurt our industry even more. I believe it will hurt those running longer than those running within a 500-700 mile radius from their terminal. When you run within that distance you are usually home over a weekend anyway so getting the restart and night time hours in isn’t too much of a problem. It may hurt those that run longer such as California, you will have to plan out your deliveries and stops to match your down time. Some are saying it will cause us to put more trucks on the road to match existing delivery patterns.

I try to stay positive in this industry because I have been a part of it for over 30 years, but also because much of the crap I heard when I was driving was so individual that it can be easily overcome. For instance someone who is always running late, “Gets there when they get there” type of attitude will always have a hard time with regulations and time management. Those of you who are true professional drivers, map out your trip, plan for obstacles and delays, and are organized won’t have much of a problem. You will look at your current running pattern, analyze where you might have to tighten up to meet the regulations and start rolling again. If anything I think this will make drivers and dispatchers work together more closely and that’s a good thing. Bring in EOBRs and watch the fighting that will go on, it will make the changes in regulation look like nothing. Now I have a friend that has a business that hauls oversized and that may cause problems as they have to work with daylight hours, again for most of us it will change little. I had so many people tell me things that if I believed them I would be unemployed right now due to their bad advice. A long time ago I stopped listening to people that thought they knew what they’re talking about but don’t. It would be like someone with a rusted out truck that has never been polished, telling you the right way to polish your truck, forget it.

You will succeed with the new regulations, just start working with dispatch, plan you trips so that breaks happen naturally when you are stopping for deliveries, fuel, and so on. Get smart and work within the system instead of fighting it and you will find you will succeed with a career in transportation.

About the Author
Bruce Outridge is a transportation consultant and author of the books Running by The Mile and Driven to Drive. Find more information on his website at www.outridgeenterprises.ca

Taking Home with You

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Bruce

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I don’t know about you but one of the things that used to drive me crazy was driving a truck that was not set up to my liking. When I started my career in long haul transportation I heard many complaints of people not being able to sleep well on the road. This was partially due to people viewing trucking as a job and not a change in lifestyle. When you are starting out in the industry you may not be getting the newest piece of equipment and depending on the drivers handling it before you it may not be in the best of shape. I came across this many times in my career and was told early on by a wise Terminal Manager I used to work for that the best way to get comfortable on the road was to duplicate what you did at home. I took this advice to heart and have operated the same way over my whole career. He had driven for years before me and I respected his opinion of logic on the road. As other drivers were packing sleeping bags into their bunk I was packing sheets and towels, and fluffy pillows. He said you don’t sleep in a sleeping bag at home so don’t sleep in a sleeping bag in the truck.
It’s true I have always run with a comforter, sheets, pillows and the like. Even if you only get fours hours sleep, four hours in a comfortable bed is much better than four hours in a sleeping bag. The same goes for diet and exercise, right now there is a big kick in the industry to get drivers in shape. If you like to exercise at home then find ways to replicate that on the road. If you eat cereal for breakfast at home, then eat cereal for breakfast on the road. Add mementos from home and other items that will make you feel comfortable on the road allowing you to make that truck your home. I have gone so far as to have special boxes made to hold paperwork, and other gear so the truck didn’t look a mess. Think of what you need and how you operate and you will find ways to make you truck your home. With technology these days you can be sitting in a truck stop in Alabama watching your kids play soccer in Toronto with Skype and other programs, you won’t even miss the game. The drivers that have mastered this will tell you they even sleep better in the bunk than at home and they should. You are in that truck for five to six days each week, it is your home, you may as well make it comfortable. The only thing missing on the road for me was the sweet smell of Grandma’s apple pie.

About the Author
Bruce Outridge is a transportation consultant with over 30 years of experience and author of the books Running By The Mile, and Driven to Drive. Find more articles at www.outridgeenterprises.ca

When did you graduate?

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Bruce

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When did you graduate? You’re probably thinking about when you graduated high school or college when asked that question. If you think about it when you leave school is not the end of your education, it is the beginning. I was thinking about this the other day when reflecting on my career and where I am today. If you look back, I dropped out of school at seventeen, went back when I was forty, and am still learning every day. So looking back I could ask the question, did I graduate at all, at forty,or am I still on the road to graduation. What I have learned is that graduating from school just gives you the basics to go to the next step. Because I left school early and went back later I have never been to a school reunion and often wonder what they might be like. Watching a movie not too long ago there was a scene with a reunion and I wondered how that might go for my class, it won’t!

Now at fifty I feel comfortable enough that if I was in school I would be ready to graduate. You say why fifty? At fifty, I have had a thirty year career working for both large and small companies, I know what I want from my career, I know the lifestyle I want, I know what is really important in life, and I am old enough to know what the future might hold for me. You can’t learn any of that from a class. You can’t read enough fairy tail stories to wonder what life is like in other places. That comes from traveling, keeping up with the news, meeting people of other cultures, experiencing both hardship and friendship, be celebrated and beaten down, then you begin to understand the world. All of that takes time and experience.

I see people that have missed on the many experiences in life that are my age and I feel bad for them. They have worked at one place all their lives, never traveled, spent their hard earned money on frivolous items and have missed some great things life has to offer. Do they feel they are ready to graduate? That would depend on whether they are content with their lives, if so the answer is “yes.” As I watch young people get all dolled up, renting limos, having parties because they have graduated from high school or college, I often say to myself they don’t even know what’s about to hit them? Maybe we should move graduation to fifty? At fifty you get to rent a limo and have a big party for graduating, by then you have a totally different outlook on life and have learned enough to say I am ready to go out into the world. Of course I am still learning so maybe the real word for graduation is “retirement!”

About the Author
Bruce Outridge is an artist, author, and entrepreneur. He is the author of several books named Driven to Drive, Running by the Mile, and How to Start an Artistic Business in 12 Easy Steps. To learn more about Bruce and his work visit his website at www.outridgeenterprises.ca

The Internship Movie-Old School Business!

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Bruce

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Not too long ago I was watching a movie called “The Internship.” It was a very funny movie about two old school salesmen that lost their job selling various lame products and in a desperate attempt to save their downward spiral of life they apply for an internship at Google with people half their age. The essence of the movie is that they know nothing about computers but end up being the most creative people using old school relationship tactics. I won’t spoil the movie for you but certainly anyone over forty will appreciate the scenario and humour of the movie. It got me thinking however as to how we do business today.

There was a time when you could block off time to meet customers and have their full attention. There was a time when relationships built through business meant that you had secure business and loyalty from that client. As in the movie it showed that the most creative people were the ones that didn’t let technology take over their lives. Now we meet people for a meeting and often they are checking their phones while in the meeting, we don’t have their full attention. I say maybe it is time to go back to the old school way of thinking. Let your creativity come from your mind and your heart. Technology may be great, but remember a mind is what created the technology!

If you are in the habit of checking your phone or laptop often try blocking off your time. Check email at certain times of the day instead of every time a message comes in. Turn off automatic ringers and notifications sounds so that they don’t distract you from listening to the person you are meeting with. Take time to exercise without taking your phone and use your mind to solve issues in life. You may find your mind is the best technology that you have.

About the Author
Bruce Outridge is an entrepreneur and author of the books Running by the Mile and Driven to Drive, and How to Start an Artistic Business in 12 Easy Steps. For more information or to purchase a book visit his website at www.outridgeenterprises.ca

Hanging Out With a Group

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Bruce

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In the arts there are many that don’t feel that artists should hang out with others artists in case they steal their ideas, in fact that could be said among many different industries. That being said in my experience I have found exactly the opposite, whether I am attending a convention for cartoonists in a luxury setting, attending a local art gathering, or working with a local association I have found that I am always learning and helping others. Actually I am on the board for a group called Like Minded Business Networkers for that very reason, we all are working towards the same goal. Many join groups and associations to promote themselves and meet new clients but that strategy often back fire. If you join a group based on just meeting people with no connection then you may be missing the boat. I have friend that often says we deal with the people that we like and that is very true.

When I began my illustration business I didn’t know where to go to meet people and start networking. Often thinking about how to network with people is the worst way to join clubs and associations, that’s because you go in with large expectations and will look too needy in approaching people. I think if you are going to join a club or association then you should focus on some other aspect of the club, the meeting people will come later. For instance when i wanted to start showing my work I joined the Oakville Art Society in my area because they allowed members to show their work in group shows. Oh sure I met other artists, I learned techniques, I was given opportunities from being a member, but those were side benefits. My main goal was to show my work. I have been a member there for over ten years and have had multiple solo shows, have taught many courses, and made many connections for business that are still intact today.

When I began my consulting business I joined a safety organization called the Fleet Safety Council in hope that I would meet potential clients and I have. When I joined my goal was to keep myself educated about the industry and the safety world that I had become a part of. I knew I would meet people and I have gotten lots of business from the group, but my focus is on keeping up with the industry.

If you are looking for groups to join then try these ideas. Join groups that will give you education, opportunities, or experience. Be active in the group and participate, don’t be the invisible silent person in the back. Try joining a local group, a national group, and an international group related to your field. Last but not least stop trying to meet people, that will happen in its own, just go enjoy yourself! Sometimes when i go to my lunchtime meeting, I am not in the mood to meet anyone, sometimes I just go for lunch and that’s okay. At least I am being active!

About the Author
Bruce Outridge is an artist, author, consultant, and entrepreneur. He is the author of several books including, How to Start an Artistic Business in 12 Easy Steps, Driven to Drive, and Running by the Mile. You can learn more about Bruce and his companies at http://www.outridgeenterprises.ca