Synergy

Dictionary.com defines synergy as:

noun, plural synergies.

  1.   The interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements, contributions, etc.; synergism.

  2.   Physiology, Medicine/Medical. the cooperative action of two or more muscles, nerves, or the like.

  3.   Biochemistry, Pharmacology. the cooperative action of two or more stimuli or      drugs.

Last week was Truck Driver Appreciation week.  Freymiller does a lot for the drivers during that week: catered lunches, drawings, giveaways... they really put forth a lot of time and effort to help the drivers feel appreciated.

We hear it time and time again that "without the truck drivers the companies would not exist."  Okay, I will buy that, but at the same time.... without the support staff the companies wouldn't exist either.  

          Two years before I was born, Don Freymiller laid the foundational bricks of what we know today as D & M Carriers; DBA Freymiller.

Everyone at Freymiller plays an important part in the success of the company, from those with the last name Freymiller all the way down to the Porter who does cleanup work in and around the shop building.

I just wanted to take a minute to say I appreciate you all.

I'm Going Where?

                At some point during their training, almost every trainee has told me that I am either a walking atlas or a walking truck stop guide.  Comes with the territory, I guess.  I’d be more concerned if I didn’t know where to go - or how to get there - after being out here so long.

          There are 47,856 miles of Interstate Highway in the United States.  I have traveled most of them. Even Hawaii and Alaska have Interstate Highways, which makes no sense to me because by definition the highways cannot be Interstate, but would be Intrastate.

          I was pleasantly surprised last week when I was dispatched on a load that included a stop in Corpus Christi, TX.  I’d never been to Corpus Christi before, in fact, I’ve never been anywhere near it so I had to look it up just to find out where it was.  I looked it up on my phone and then had to zoom it out a few times to find out what Interstate went to it.  It’s at the south end of I-37, in case you were wondering.  I didn’t even know there was an I-37 until last Friday.  I’m a beach junkie so going near the water is always good for me.

          The load itself wasn’t much to get excited about, pay wise.  1,748 miles, 5 drops, 6 days.  My checking account isn’t going to be impressed next Friday, but that’s okay.  To me, it’s not all about the miles.  Yes, miles are important.  I’ve grown rather fond of eating and living indoors, but sometimes, it’s something completely different that makes a load a good one in my mind.  I get excited when I get to go somewhere new, or somewhere I can do something fun… like send live lobsters to my brother or drive over the Hoover Dam.  It keeps it interesting.  

The 63 MPH Challenge

                When I came through orientation last year, the driver scorecard bonus program was explained.  At the end, Kathy gave us two tips to help increase our MPG’s. Set the cruise at 63 MPH and don’t leave the Jake brake on all of the time.  Honestly, I blew her off.

                The problem with this: I wasn’t making Scorecard Bonus.  Kathy’s words poked at me from the back of my mind for months.  I refused to accept that slowing down a measly 2 mph was going to make a difference.  I wracked my brains trying to figure out what else I could be doing wrong that would keep me from meeting my MPG goals.  In January I decided to give it a try.  Slowing down 2 mph wouldn’t actually KILL me, would it?

                I lasted about a week; the ADD kicked in and I was back up to 65.  The crazy thing was I was teaching my trainees to set the cruise at 63, but I wasn’t doing it.

                April 1^st I committed to setting the cruise at 63 for the whole month because not making bonus was driving me bonkers. Even if it killed me.  The results?

    1.       None of my internal organs imploded.

    2.       The sun did not fall out of the sky.

    3.       I was less stressed at the end of my drive shifts because I hadn’t spent all day playing leapfrog with all of the other trucks on the road doing 65.

    4.       I increased my MPG’s by over half a mile to the gallon.

    5.       I scored Gold on the Driver Scorecard.  

Wait, what?!?  Half a mile to the gallon?  That’s right.  I had been averaging 6.8-6.9 and in April my MPG’s were 7.47.  Half a mile to the gallon might not sound like much if you drive a car that gets 30 MPG, but it makes a huge difference when you’re averaging 7.  Let’s look at this.  I pump on average 1,500 gallons a month and on 9/5/16 the national average price for a gallon of diesel was $2.22.

1,500(G) ×$2.22 = $3,300 per month (× 12 months = $39,600)

1,500(G) × 6.85(MPG) = 10,275 miles

1,500(G) × 7.47(MPG) = 11,205 miles

That’s 930 more miles on the same amount of fuel.  Not everyone is going to get on board, but what if half of us did?

930 (miles) × 250 (trucks) = 232,500 more miles on the same amount of fuel.

         If we as a fleet average 125,000 miles per truck, per year that saves the cost of fueling almost two trucks every year.  That’s $79,200 a year in savings.  Boggles the mind, doesn’t it?

Route 66

Several times a month I pass this site.  It’s not something I give a lot of thought, but every time I pass it I start singing Natalie Cole… get your kicks…

          I think I take for granted the rich history of Route 66 because I pass so many of the “Historic Route 66” signs in my daily life.  From just outside of Chicago all the way to Los Angeles I see those signs.  I pass Route 66 museums and at most stops along the way, memorabilia is available for purchase.

          Two of my aunts, along with their families, traveled that road to move out west and start new lives.  I wish I’d had the foresight when they were still alive to ask them about their journeys.

          People travel from all around the world to take the journey, mostly on Interstate highways that have replaced the “Mother Road” but in spots you can still drive on the original road.

          When I stopped to take these pictures, I had a “Whoa!” moment when I thought about where I was standing.  I was standing where countless numbers of people drove to follow their dreams and start a new life.  Times were good, times were bad, dreams were both crushed and realized along the way.  It makes me very aware of what a small part of a much bigger picture I am.