Now for Road Dog Trucking News
Hi Drivers, and welcome.
It is our number one SiriusXM Road Dog Trucking
News.
Thanks for being out there ladies and gentlemen
and thanks for being here at the Mid-America
trucking show in the beautiful city of Louisville…
Louis ville…
Louisville.
How do you pronounce it Tim Aschoff?
Well I think on April Fools Day you can pronounce
it however you want!
Because if you’re not correct you just say
April Fools!
Absolutely April Fools.
How are you sir, it’s good to see you!
Doing well.
It’s great to be here.
It’s a good buzz in the air here this year…
Absolutely!
… it’s nice to have a positive feeling.
Well drivers, I’ve got Tim Aschoff.
Of course he is the executive vice president
and chief operating officer for Crete Carrier
Corporation; the president of Shaffer Trucking.
Man, it’s great to have you on the radio
with us again.
And drivers what we are going to be doing
here in the course of the program is we are
going to be talking to Tim about what’s
going on with different things in the industry.
Talking about, you know, the latest buzz,
the technology that’s out there, a lot of
good stuff that’s happening out there in
the trucking industry today.
Tim I know that you guys are very busy.
You have a booth set up here at the Mid-America.
What are you hearing from drivers?
Well, I think we’re hearing from drivers
that you know it’s been a long seven…
eight…nine years in the industry and it
is feeling better.
I mean, I think we’re going through a time
now where you’re getting a seasonal dip
in freight in January and February, but hey
it’s spring.
I think things are getting more and more positive
every day and just again the feel on the floor
around here with drivers… with everybody
just seems to be really bright compared to
maybe a few years ago when you’d come to
places like this.
No absolutely!
Man we had the great recession back in 2008,
things were going off the track if you will,
but things are indeed getting better and I
think this is creating a lot more opportunities
for a lot of drivers out there.
I think that is one of the critical elements
and the trucking industry is stepping up.
I mean they are meeting drivers needs.
They are talking to the drivers about what’s
important to them.
What are you hearing from your guys?
Yeah absolutely, we have to evolve.
You know times change with everything.
You just walk around the floor here and we
talked about that a little bit before the
show about how there are so many different
things here, but there is still the core there.
The core of what we do in trucking, the core
of what a driver has to do.
And you know, technology has come a long ways
to help the driver.
To help them stay better connected with home.
To help them stay better connected with us.
To help them have a better quality of life.
I think companies are embracing that and drivers
are embracing that and we are pushing each
other.
And we are pushing each other to say how do
we make everything better for the driver,
for our customers, and for the company.
That ultimately makes it better for America.
Well you know what’s really great you mention
you know each side is pushing each other so
to speak.
It’s all to drive home excellence right?
I mean everybody is working on the same page.
Absolutely, I mean we have to talk about continuous
improvement.
That’s kind of the business buzzword out
there, but it really is.
It’s how do we do things were we stay true
to our core, provide good quality service,
have good quality job for a driver.
Still look where we can improve.
You know we’re not always going to be leading
edge out there you know doing some of the
far out things that may look like a fad of
the day or you know have those kind of things.
We do have to evolve and advance and certainly
do that with our drivers.
I think what’s really going to move this
forward, right, is the technology.
You were mentioning some of this just prior
to us going on the air.
You were talking about, man, some really space
age stuff here.
When you think about the things that are designed
to keep the drivers safe.
For example, technology that can maybe cut
through fog and can see ahead for the driver
helping make them safer out there on the road.
Talk about that technology.
You know, technology has made great improvement.
First of all, we know that safety does begin
with the driver.
Having a good quality driver and a good quality
job.
A happy driver is obviously very important.
There are a lot of tools that you can give
the driver.
Technology has given us a lot of options for
tools, and we’ve really been adopting some
technology since really ’07…
’08.
Some avoidance collision technology.
The Meritor Wabco OnGuard system, and that
system has really evolved greatly.
I know they have a booth here too.
I did a demonstration with them about a month
ago, and their technology now, what the radar
technology is able to even stop or at least
slow down a truck on fixed objects.
It’s amazing how they do that.
I mean the radar technology that they have
now where it reads the object, it reads the
shape of the object the moisture content of
an object so it’s not getting the false
positives like in the past that maybe didn’t
make those systems quite as effective because
they are more of a driver nuisance.
You know, we have to work together.
We have to push each other as I talked about
before.
So the technology that we look at has to be
something that will be a positive for the
driver.
It will be helpful for them not only from
a safety standpoint but from a quality of
job standpoint.
Well, and the quality of jobs that again drives
the success right?
Somebody who’s doing the job well that also
improves the performance translation it’s
a win on the bottom line.
It is.
I mean it’s kind of that circle of life
so to speak.
If you have a good quality job with a good
quality driver they tend to do better.
They do better out there as far as productivity
and miles.
They do better in safety.
They do better in home time because things
get on a cycle and they get on a positive
cycle.
That’s what we really try to achieve with
our drivers everyday.
How do we keep them going on that positive
cycle.
What are you hearing from the drivers about
some of the regulations that are out there?
A lot of drivers are hearing about the electronic
logging devices, the mandate that’s coming
down.
I know you guys have those on board.
What is the current situation with the drivers.
Are most saying ok I am going to try this
and once they do they’re like ok I’m not
going back?
Well for us since we have had electronic logs
for so many years it is… um… it isn’t
something that’s unusual for our drivers
and the drivers that are coming to us.
I think the biggest thing about it and really
working with drivers and particularly drivers
that haven’t had electronic logs and are
coming to a company like us is time management.
I think what we’ve learned in having electronic
logs for many years is that again if we work
together we can really provide a good, productive
runs for drivers under the hours of service
with e-log compliance because we have more
information now about the driver about the
time they have left on their clock, how many
hours they have left on their 70.
Those types of things where we can match them
up with a load that allows them to run safe
and legal as many miles that they could when
they didn’t have electronic logs.
I think that’s the conversation that we
are trying to have with drivers and to show
them that electronic logs can be a very positive
thing for them too in helping their time management.
When you mention the electronic logs and the
drivers understanding the complexities of
those.
What about those in the front office?
Do they understand the complexities of the
ELD’s?
I mean one of the things I hear from some
of the drivers out there is that they are
under the electronic logging devices out there
but maybe dispatch or the driver manager has
got some other things that need to be done
out there.
What are you hearing from that standpoint?
I think it’s an absolute must that the back
office must understand the information.
What it means, how to use it because that’s
where you get the teamwork.
If you’re not on the same page with the
driver about the hours of service they have
available, what they can do, you’re not
going to work together as a team.
Provide them the loads that they can pick
up and deliver within their hours that they
have available.
Also, understanding other impacts that come
into that.
I think that’s … we always say it’s
very important for our team to understand
the environment that the drivers are going
to be in.
I mean it’s one thing to know the hours
that a driver may have.
It’s another thing to know that the driver
may be picking up on the Southeast side of
Atlanta and the routes going to take him through
Atlanta and hit in Tennessee or otherwise.
Just because he may have hours and you multiply…
or divide the miles by 50 or 55, he’s not
going to go 50 and 55 through Atlanta.
So they really have to understand even just
beyond the hours what environment the drivers
in to make that a good team.
I think what’s really also critical too
is that communication teamwork goes beyond
simply just a driver and say the fleet manager
or the dispatcher.
I mean that goes all the way up to your office.
I mean the communication door is open, drivers
can come in and man that’s got to be huge
to have that kind of teamwork and support
knowing that somebody in the carpeted office
is going to listen makes it a winning play.
Absolutely.
We’re one team and we only understand how
the whole team is doing if we are able to
talk to all of the team members.
That’s something very important with us
and I spend generally one week a month out
doing driver meetings because they can’t
all come to Lincoln and walk into the office
as you mentioned.
Last week I was at our Columbus, OH facility
and our Indianapolis, IN facility having driver
meetings.
The driver meetings are great, we have a couple
of hours there, but what I find just as valuable
is it’s the two hours before where I have
those individual conversations with drivers
and those two hours afterwards where they
want to continue to have some conversations
and take that office to the road so to speak
as you mentioned.
I really get a good first hand feel for what…
what are they facing out there.
What are the challenges?
Again, we can… a driver can sit in their
truck all day and they have there view of
what is going on and you know we sit in the
office and we have our view.
If we don’t get together and blend those
two views we’re not going to be successful
to each other.
You know I found one of the most interesting
stories several months back.
This was like very close to the holiday season.
I think it was like Christmas Eve or maybe
the day before, and you were out with one
of the drivers and you were actually at a
shipper.
I was.
And I did an interview with you about that.
I mean and I think it was a fascinating perspective
because you know you are in charge of the
organization.
I mean you deal with these shippers and you
got a great sense of what the drivers are
going through, what they are having to run
across, and what the complexities they’ve
got to deal with out there.
Talk about that because man I think that speaks
volumes about the intention of the company
to stand behind the driver.
Yeah, well I had a very practical need.
I needed to get from Cincinnati up to the
Indianapolis area and what better way than
to ride with one of our drivers.
Was that Christmas?
Am I remembering right?
It was between Christmas and New Years.
Ok, Ok…
So I got out there and got on with the driver.
Again that allowed me to get into the cab.
I can get the drivers into my office, I needed
to get in their office and see what they faced.
Timing worked out where I missed my meeting
in Indianapolis and it was later in the evening
and the driver had a delivery.
So I said let me go along.
The great thing about this delivery is we
went to a place where it was to a customer
we have and I know I talked to them and they
are proud of this facility.
It’s Conagra Foods.
Where they actually built a new facility north
of Indianapolis and they came to us and they
came to our drivers and said what can we do
to make our facility one of the best in class.
That’s wonderful.
A place where drivers want to come, so I wanted
to see it.
You know, I wanted to see the outcome, and
it was great.
It was great to get through, you know you
hear the stories about how long does it take
to even get through the guard shack and then
you know are they going to….
Is the guard even there?
Is the guard even there, right!
So to have that experience first hand and
to know what drivers go through was very important
for me to see.
But then the same time for me to go back to
that customer and validate yes what you did
was important and the drivers recognize that.
Which was true, when I left… we did a drop
and hook and we were in and out of there in
less than 30 minutes.
Still on site, we scaled, we did everything.
So it went very smoothly, just how we wanted
to.
The driver had been in that facility a number
of times.
We didn’t get much time to go in and use
the driver amenities because we got to go,
but he told me as we left is that you know
I really want you to work hard to keep that
customer because this is a customer that is
friendly to us.
I think that’s were customers can see they
do get value for that investment because that’s
one of our drivers saying go out and do what
you can to keep that customer because it’s
good business.
It’s driver friendly.
Yeah!
No and I think that’s one of the critical
elements because you know you’ve got to
have those customers that are going to be
responsive to the drivers needs, but taking
the lead as the president, COO, I mean this
was huge from the standpoint you actually
did it.
You got out there and you wanted to see what
those drivers are going through out there.
I bet you got a lot of great feedback from
the drivers.
I saw the responses on Facebook.
Yeah, yeah.
and they were very positive.
I did and it’s just something I need to
do regularly.
In fact this morning before I came here we
have another customer just down in Buckner,
KY.
I went and visited our drivers there.
We do some dedicated operations there, and
got to see again.
See and feel how they are doing.
How it’s going for them.
It was a great experience and the other thing
we are doing is were making sure it is beyond
me that gets that opportunity.
Our operations team in all of our locations
that we have them, but particularly in Lincoln,
we have a program that gets our driver managers
out with the driver.
Practically we’re not able to get to far
from Lincoln because we have to get them back
there, but when they can come through and
they have a delivery between 40-50 miles we
have them pick up their driver manager and
take them on that delivery.
See what it’s like for them as well and
bring it back.
Not only does a driver manager get to experience
that delivery but they get time with the driver.
Oh absolutely!
And so that’s were I think they make great
connections.
Yeah they get to know them as a person.
I mean and I think that communication dialogue
is absolutely essential.
I mean to have that relationship, everybody
is on the same page makes for a very effective
business communication plan.
You know, you’d think we talk about technology
and advancement that communication would be
easier, but sometimes were still not the greatest.
You know we have to recognize that.
You know we’re not perfect and what do we
need to do to get better, and that’s what
I always try to tell our drivers is look we
are trying to do the best we can.
We’re not perfect.
We need to know where we need to improve.
Improvement doesn’t always happen over night.
You have to work with us you have to patience
and we have to do the same with them.
All right, I’m going to break here, and
when we come back I want to ask you about
some of the challenges going forward for the
rest of this year.
You know what do you see as some of the biggest
concerns for the trucking industry.
Obviously the driver shortage is huge, I mean
that is a big, big problem out there, but
where do you see some of the things that might
pop up on the radar screen and might slow
down the communication process or where do
you see things slowing down as far as the
economy is concerned.
Back to Road Dog Trucking News with Mark Willis.
All right drivers, hey welcome to the program
and thank you for being out there ladies and
gentlemen wherever you may be listening to
the sound of my dulcet tones across North
America.
The phone number to call in it’s…..and
if you want to step up right here to the microphone
I’ve got Mr. Tim Aschoff with Crete & Shaffer
Trucking.
Right here.
He’s on the interview table and he’s talking
to folks about what’s going on out there
in the trucking industry, and Tim again thank
you sir.
I want to get websites, social media, all
that stuff.
Yeah, it’s great to be here and I appreciate
you having us on.
We do have a lot of information out there
for drivers and others out there so please
go out there, look us up at cretecarrierjobs.com,
shafferjobs.com, hunttransportationjobs.com.
Also we do have coming, and look for it in
the near future.
We are re-launching our corporate website
just the crete carrier site.
The main site should be launched here in the
next two weeks or so go out there and look
at that.
One thing that’s also really exciting for
us is this is our 50th anniversary.
Oh congratulations.
We are really looking forward to that.
The actual anniversary is in June, and the
great thing about being a part of the Crete
Carrier organization is that we’re still
a family owned company and privately held.
Been owned by the same family since 1971 and
it’s really, truly a great family organization
that cares about its people, its drivers,
its office people, its shop people.
It has a lot of long term, valuable customers
as well.
It’s just been a great ride and we are looking
forward to another 50 years.
Outstanding!
Yeah and June is going to be the anniversary
date so probably a lot of celebratory things
coming up.
We are.
We are trying to go out and celebrate with
our drivers and staff every month.
We’re doing a little bit at each of the
terminals.
You know one of the things a lot of folks
talk about; you know we talk about the drivers
and the importance of doing things right for
them.
Driver wellness is also a very big topic out
there.
Any thoughts concerning the sleep apnea discussion
that’s going on?
I know the first phase of that is under way;
they’re looking at that and reviewing it.
How big of a problem is that out there?
You know, we saw it many years coming as a
challenge for drivers and their well-being
and so we started our own sleep apnea program
well before there was anything in place.
Since there really isn’t any true guidance
in place, certainly there’s some other regulations
that do cover this.
Back in about 2012 we put sleep labs in a
few of our terminals and started doing some
testing on some of our drivers.
We did find that about 25-26% of our drivers
do have sleep apnea.
The good thing about it is when treated it
can…
It’s a live safer.
There are so many positive stories we’ve
received from our drivers about man I didn’t
know that I had this and I didn’t know how
bad I felt until after I was treated and how
well I sleep now and that I’ve lost weight,
my blood pressure has gone down.
It does have a true impact.
The challenge with that always is what’s
the best way and most effective way for the
driver and the company to manage that.
We’ve learned over the years I think on
how to do that.
As I mentioned we have sleep labs right at
our terminals because part of the challenge
is just the drivers getting scheduled for
a sleep study.
The practical aspects that go with that and
the costs.
We know it is important enough that we cover
the cost of that; we schedule them right in
at our terminals as part of their… either
their orientation or part of their route.
We get them scheduled in there and we take
care of that were something that could have
taken them maybe a week off the road we can
handle in a night and the next day in house.
And then we have coaching, we have a third
party company that helps coach them on their
compliance and their treatment or otherwise.
Its not as easy as people say hey, go get
a cpap and you’ll be fine.
There’s some adjustment, there’s some
other things, and I think what we hope to
do is learn from, as I mentioned, what we’ve
done and try to share some of that information
with the FMCSA is asking for information so
we’ll share with them some of the things
that we think work.
I’m hopeful that they provide a rule that
is flexible enough that will work for the
whole industry because everyone is a little
different.
You know different segments, there’s you
know LTL, truckload other things and how you
manage it you know we need some flexibility
in doing that.
I know Mr. Scott Darling was in the building;
he was at the Mid-America Trucking show talking
to the drivers out there.
A lot of drivers gave him a lot of feedback.
DT news did an exclusive interview with him
and he was stating that he wants to get feedback;
he wants to know what’s going on out there
in the trucking industry.
That’s got to be a big positive right, the
willingness to listen?
It is great, you know, the FMCSA has a job
to do and we would like to cooperate with
helping them and work together.
Again the more we can do together that’s
mutually beneficial the better the end result
will be.
It’s just like what I talked about with
our drivers before it’s the same with that.
I did stop in you know the public listen session
and I have to be honest with you I was a little
disappointed in how few people were there
willing to comment.
Interesting, OK.
TA: Because the FMCSA has stepped up.
They have asked for input and this is our
opportunity, so I do encourage the people
who are at the show I think they are still
over there for a little while longer.
If you have some suggestions, some concerns
or otherwise…
You gotta step up.
Step up.
They’re investing their time and I think
they are here to truly listen and it’s easy
for us to sometimes complain away back in
our own world.
They’ve tried to come to our world and listen
to us so let’s get out there and lets talk
to them.
Outstanding.
I appreciate you doing this, sir.
Sure.
Um, one more time on your websites where they
can find you.
Sure, it’s cretecarrierjobs.com, Shafferjobs.com
and hunttransportationjobs and again thank
you for the opportunity to be on the show
OH absolutely!
It’s my pleasure!
It’s always a pleasure to talk with you.
Thank you very much!
Ladies and gentlemen let’s give Mr. Tim
Aschoff a nice round of applause.
Please if you will with Crete and Shaffer!
