Leadership Quick Hits

by Mike Buck

Here are a few quick leadership tips that hit home, choose your medicine:
• A bad decision is when you know what to do and don’t do it. – Duncan Goodhew
• Obey the voice within – it commands us to give ourselves and help others, as long as we have the capacity to give, we are alive. – Kirk Douglas
• Real success is finding life’s work in the work that you love. – David McCullough

Have a great day leading yourself as well as others. – Buck

Economy on the Rise and Fuel Prices are Tagging Right Along.

by Mike Buck

U.S. Economy Picks Up Steam.” That was the headlines recently of the Wall Street Journal. Many other economic indicators are pointing towards positive trends. Transportation stocks as a whole continue to hedge higher whether the market closes up or down. Freight tonnages is at the 13-year high but in spite of all the positive trends seasoned economist are still at odds whether or not we will experience a second dip? What if we don’t? The unpleasant fact is that if the economy continues to grow, the demand for fuel will follow suit as will the escalation of fuel prices. Do you have a fuel conservation program in place? Small incentives for drivers will reap benefits in the bottom line if managed properly. Be proactive; put your program in place today.

Leadership for Thursday

by Mike Buck

If music is what makes the world go around, then accurate agreed upon performance metrics is what keeps the business world ticking. – Buck

Preventative Maintenance

by Mike Buck

It must be stated that good well maintained equipment and low cost are not mutually exclusive. Low cost maintenance can be achieved with a solid preventative maintenance program.

For a fleet maintenance program to capture the maximum return on investment of the asset it is necessary to perform maintenance in a methodical manner, on a timely basis. The maintenance must be documented in a manner where trends can be identified to capture manufacture’s and vender deficiencies as well as gaps within the maintenance process. Additionally, tires, fuel, labor, and vendor repairs are the high costs categories which provide the greatest opportunities for savings.

There are several different types’ maintenance processes however the preventative maintenance process is the most widely accepted, easiest to implement, and renders the best return on investment. The initial recommendation is to develop a preventative maintenance program that includes a step-by-step inspection process. Each mechanic whether internal or a vendor should be certified in the inspection process and held accountable to the methods.

For the PMI process to be effective and capture the maximum life of both the asset as well as the part, a PMI must be completed, the breakdown and safety items must be repaired and the maintenance items needed to be repaired or replaced in the future must be documented

Leadership

by Mike Buck

“How much easier our work would be if we put forth as much effort trying to improve the quality of it as most of us do trying to find excuses for not properly attending to it.”
-George W. Ballenger

Leadership

by Mike Buck

Persistence is the firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition. The truly great leaders have all overcome substantial adversity which proves the point that is much easier to be negative. The truly great leaders find the positive when others only see the fault. How can we turn this problem into an opportunity? – Buck

Transportation Project X

by Mike Buck

Deregulation 20 years ago prompted a surge in the transportation industry at a time when the AS400 was the common industry platform. Due to the rollercoaster economy since the surge, coupled with the fact that the transportation industry is a leading, not a lagging economic indicator, the industry has been resistant to change from this stable platform which is the lifeblood of their business. However, business needs as well as the demands from their customers have changed to the point this platform is no longer able to cost-effectively or handle these demands in a proactive manner. In short, currently there is a desperate need in the transportation industry for an intergraded software solution that will effectively interface operations with and accounting and fleet maintenance functions. Operations generates the revenue for the organization and maintenance needs to maintain the equipment consistent with the demands and the lifecycle of the asset. Simultaneously, accounting must control cash-flow while monitoring fixed and variable costs. Yes, there are solutions that solve one or two pieces of the puzzle however one (1) solution that solves all three (3) is not available that is cost-effective for the small and medium transportation and service sector organizations. Currently, freight volumes are at the highest levels 13-years, the system is at capacity, and freight companies are generating the revenue needed to support a change of this nature. Moreover, if freight volumes continue, the demand for fuel, tires, fuel, and parts will rise and they will need tools to manage fluctuations
Solutions:

1. Find three companies that willing to work together and integrate the systems not interface them. Companies must have the following:
a. Collaborative culture.
b. No high pressure sales for service
c. Adapt to the needs of the industry.
d. Willing to build a cost-effective solution that will produce long-term sales.
2. Build a new solution from the ground up.

If you interested in participating in this solution please contact us.

Leadership for Thursday

by Mike Buck

Great things will happen if you have the courage to step out of your comfort zone and we all must learn to operate in this unfamiliar zone. Stepping into this zone will result in a few bruises, both mental and physical. However, the truly great leaders are the ones that get back up and are not discouraged by setbacks. – Buck

Leadership

by Mike Buck

“No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave. ”
Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933); 30th US President

Leadership

by Mike Buck

“You can do anything if you have enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes rise to the stars. With it, there is accomplishment. Without it there are only alibis. ”

Henry Ford (1863-1947);

founder of Ford Motor Company