Fuel for Thought

A Familiar Face!

By Dale
Posted Dec 14th 2009 3:56PM

              Due to the nature of Expedite, we see different people all the time. We are at different companies all the time, so as I've said before, that first impression can be crucial.  You just never know when you ARE the only representative someone will have of your company.  Today it was pretty cool to go to a delivery, and be recognized!  I delivered to an area with a little higher security than normal, which required an escort to ride with me while on their property, and remain with me in their warehouse.  As security was tied up with other loads apparently, a supervisor came out to ride wth me.  As he got in, his face lit up, and I realized it was a gentleman who had talked with me over a year ago about Expedite!  He and his wife came to the Expedite Expo last year, and sat in on several seminars, including the Driver Roundtable I helped with.  He's planning to retire within a year from his current position, and has been researching the expedite business as a second career.

            We spent the time riding thru the property, and waiting to be unloaded talking about the current stated of the business, and talking about people we both new.  It was refreshing to talk to someone who is actually researching the business BEFORE they jump, and not just jumping blindly in with "OK, I bought a truck, NOW what?".... He and his wife have talked to several people, including Bob and Linda Caffee of the "Team Life" blog here on EO, and Phil Madsen, the editor of Expedite Now about the business, and he is really looking forward to the change.  Although they are looking to a different segment (Husband/Wife Team, Straight Truck).. the reasons for wanting to be in the business are remarkably the same as mine.  He knows the business has ups and downs, but the freedom and potential income are the driving factors. He's spent his life with a supervisor over HIS shoulder, and is ready for something different.  I gave him a few copies of Expedite Now to hand out to others, and headed out.. but it was a cool delivery, just to find someone so interested in what I do, and not just what I was delivering!

Dale is a Solo Van Owner Operator with FedEx Custom Critical and can be reached with comments at [email protected]