We have so many new trucks parked at our place, it looks like a dealership.
I can understand the thinking though. As bad as it looks, to both employees and customers, driving crummy old trucks, I do agree that we might as well get our money's worth out of the old ones.
No one wants to buy them, or pay anything if they do.
Now, with that said, there has to be a line drawn somewhere between the money saved versus the money it costs when that old truck starts breaking down and/or needing road service or repair.
We've had more trucks break down on the way to our FAC in the last 2-3 weeks that I can remember in the last 2 years.
Is it any shock that these old trucks, especially given the cold weather in much of the country, have begun to lay down on us?
What is frustrating is spending money on that truck that broke down to patch it together, then sending it out again the next night. At some point, you have to quit throwing good money after bad.
As far as morale, it is perilously low.
It baffles me how GO cannot see that a time of economic terminations, low freight volume, bad weather, a poor national/global economy is not the time to be spending money on printing a book about 'living the dream'.
I'll accept that perhaps the committment was made to print the book months ago, but for goodness sake, does anyone think before sending that out?
Maybe wait until the economy picks up before sending out a self-promoting piece of propaganda. What makes it an even bigger waste is the enormous number of guys who, as soon as they were handed that book, tossed it directly into the trash can.
Who, or what purpose, is served by that whole episode?
If GO really thinks a little booklet with feel-good stories is going to motivate and/or re-energize our workforce, they are seriosuly out of touch with reality.
Money is wasted all over Con-Way, on things that we could easily do without.
I realize times are tough. There have to be cut-backs and yes---sacrifices have to be made---but I wouldn't mind so much if it actually appeared as GO was trying to save money too.
Management continues to grow. Go to the Con-Way internet page and look at the job openings. By far, the location with the most is CGO. As far as I know, not a single piece of freight is handled there---yet they're hiring.
Bottom line, we're in the business of getting items from one place to another. Beyond that, most things are superfluous.
{jobs like: Second Assistant Vice-Deputy Director Safety Coordinator in Charge of Regional Lean Six Sigma Implementation, etc., etc.} (That's a fictional job title by the way, but sounds just like something GO would concoct.)
If we'd just concentrate on getting people's stuff moved, undamaged and on time, the rest would take care of itself.
If we didn't tear stuff up, we'd have to turn the business away.
I see drivers tear freight up, whether accidentally or on purpose I don't know, but either way, it's followed by a shrug and an, "Oh well, no one else cares, why should I?"
If I've heard that once, I've heard it 300 times.
These guys think they're getting back at GO with that attitude, but the only ones being hurt in the long run is themselves, you & me included.
I try to have a good attitude, but some guys just won't have any part of it.
Of course, they're the same guys who are too busy looking for, and complaining about the lack of, soup when it's cold out.
I don't know what is happening out there on the left coast, but back east, we are the only ones parking the newer tractors.
:smilie_132:
