During my time at the Charlotte Truck Show, I enjoyed meeting many new people. It was a beautiful fall weekend with sunshine and cooler temperatures. Unfortunately, this year the location for my truck was in the far outside corner of the show. I guess somebody needs to be in the back. I was definitely out of the main traffic path for viewers. However, I did manage to have some great conversations regarding the issues facing our industry today. Drivers had lots of questions about the Cascadia and the new technology which has been designed into the truck.
The show took place a couple weeks ago and I still keep thinking about a group of owner operators in particular which come to my mind. The gentlemen came over to look at the Cascadia and as we were having conversation, I couldn’t help but notice they seemed a bit “negative” in their attitude towards the trucking industry. One of the men said to me “Nothing matters because the job isn’t fun anymore.” This struck me as I thought to myself… what a horrible way to make a living. I really felt bad for this guy as he seemed totally defeated. What could I do to make him see the brighter side of trucking? I agree, there are many challenges we face in our industry, however, there are a lot of positive attributes to the job. I began to share with him some of the ways in which I make a game out of fuel mileage. I enjoy the challenge of seeing how much better I can do on fuel week to week, month to month and year to year. This challenge has enabled me to focus my efforts which have made fuel purchasing a profit center. My average fuel costs per mile remains .08 to .10 less than what fuel surcharge pays me.
I discussed with him that today, we have so much more offered to us than in years past. Our trucks are fully equipped with many luxuries drivers could only dream of. The old trucks would take a toll on your body. They were loud,uninsulated and uncomfortable.
I shared that a radio personality friend of mine once said to me during a discussion of the Good old days… “Do you know when the good old days are? They are right now.” We discussed how people look back and think how great the good old days were and forget the parts that weren’t so great during that time.
As this man and I continued our conversation, I noticed him perk up a bit and a smile came across his face. It seemed that the spirit was coming back. He admitted to me that “I was right and people seem to focus on the good things that happen in the past and selectively delete the bad things from our minds.”
When I look at our jobs, business and life in general, the journey to the end zone is typically not the enjoyable segment of the trip. The reward is in the end zone when you’ve made the touchdown.

Comments (3)

Henry Albert

Henry Albert is the owner of Albert Transport, Inc., based in Statesville, NC. Before participating in the "Slice of Life" program, Albert drove a 2001 Freightliner Century Class S/T™, and will use his Cascadia for general freight and a dry van trailer. Albert, who has been a trucker since 1983, was recognized by Overdrive as its 2007 Trucker of the Year.

 
 

So true Henry-I have had so many old timers on how much they like this truck.

November 21, 2013 18:24:20 PM

Circle of friends, can lift you up or bring you down. I currently have a great support system of friends. Very great full for them.

October 25, 2012 6:43:20 AM

Good Blog Henry! I learned to drive on B model Mack's with an auxiliary transmission, no air conditioning and not much for a heater. The Mack's rode like a tank and they were as tough as iron. I am short on stature and sometimes hitting a bump in the road my head would hit the ceiling of the truck. I remember when the first walk in sleeper arrived and all of us were in awe of that truck now we take them for granted. So many things have changed for the better in trucking and I am still in awe of the amazing trucks we have to drive. We are living in the best of times and even better times are on down the road! What a lucky group of people we are, thank you for the great reminder.

October 23, 2012 10:29:08 AM