Recently, one of the best drivers in the world told me that he felt like he was getting too old to run up and down the
highway like he did when he was in his twenties (he is now in his fifties). I must tell you that I hated to hear it, because
the trucking world would lose an important teacher and mentor the likes of which may never come again. To explain why he is
the best truck driver, in my book, would actually fill a book. So, I will just give you this one story at a time.
This veteran driver has been driving a truck on and off since he was about seventeen. He has had a few jobs here
and there other than trucking, but he always came back because it was a steadier pay check (actually, he had to leave some
of the companies - even trucking jobs - because they went bankrupt or out of business).
So, the story goes that he was driving to his receiver, taking his time because he had preplanned his arrival time, when
suddenly another truck zoomed around him and beat him to the receiver first. Oh well, he shrugged. No big deal. The other
driver was much younger and in a big hurry and was proud of his accomplishment at beating the "old man" to the dock.
The older driver wasn't upset and he calmly waited his turn at the window.
Unbeknownst to the younger driver, the older one had been to this receiver many times over his exhaustive career and
the receiver knew him by name. So, when the receiver told the old driver to go ahead of the new one to the dock, of course,
the new driver protested vehemently. With a wink to the old trucker, the receiver calmly explained that the new driver was
to follow the older driver so he could show him how to back into the dock. An obviously furious young driver, stomped out
of the office and getting into his truck, he followed the old man around to the back of the building.
Without hesitation, the veteran truck driver set up for his blind-side backing and proceeded to spot the trailer
into the hole - no stopping - no pull-ups. And, as the air brakes went whoosh, a light dawned in the younger drivers mind.
Now, he understood why the receiver had him wait to back in his truck to this dock. It was the weirdest setup he had
ever seen! The original dock area was only a little wider than the trailer he was pulling! The dock was on the right,
and a fence along the left with a drainage ditch in front of it. Not only that, setting strategically in the path that the
trailer must take is a...fire hydrant.
To be able to jack the trailer along the fence without putting your tractor into the deep ditch and to miss the fire
hydrant with the tire rack under the belly of the trailer was all very amazing. However, this driver also missed the trailer
already in the dock beside the hole, and the wall along the driver side of the dock - all blind-side! To acheive this without
stopping, pulling up or hesitating was the best truck driving that rookie had ever seen.
Standing on the dock were about six or seven employees belonging to the receiver. They whistled, clapped, and cheered
when the old trucker squarely hit the dock with his trailer. It was the best show on earth!
Looking back, a tear comes to my eye when I think of all the outstanding and absolutely amazing things this trucker has
done. What's wrong with you, trucking companies? Can't you see that the best drivers are too precious to lose? Just as you
would promote an employee inside the office for achieving excellence, outside office employees are just as important
an asset! Why not offer to bring your star driver inside, out of the rain? My theory is that he shines so bright, he makes
you look like a blithering idiot.
What a shame. Ego should never be the decider of any good business decision. You might equate this caliber of driver
along the lines of the star quarterback. The only difference is, this type of star is undervalued and has no real representation
(manager) to help make those deals worth millions of dollars. How do you tell if you have one of these all-star drivers? Look
to the dispatch pool. If they are betting on him like they do the superbowl, you've got yourself a winner!
Go ahead. Ask your planners how often your customers ask for that particular driver by name. Where's ------? He'll be
at home or down the road with another company if you do not give real credit where it is due...usually this is a substantial
raise in pay, perks, and prestige. What is that driver really worth? If he consistently throws touchdown passes, then he may
literally be worth millions to your bottom line.
