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When we think of a team, we think of a group of individuals working together to achieve a common goal. In trucking we think of ‘the team’ as the trucker, dispatch, safety department, and sales, but we tend to forget many teams today are made up of smaller groups of individuals called units, which are the components of the whole team. In other words, the trucker and trucking company form one unit in the scope of the entire logistics team. The other units, which make up this team, can include freight brokers, 3rd Party Logistics Companies (3PL), the shipper and receiver.
When any two units of the team are in conflict, the entire team suffers. If each team member is only interested in his or her own benefit without regard to the effect on the other members, the entire team’s efforts will fail. It’s important for all the units which make up the team to work together.
Think of a football team, with several different types of special units which make up the entire team. Each of these special units; kick-off return, short yardage, punting, offense, defense; must work toward the same objective when they’re on the field. The ultimate objective for each unit is to get the ball across the goal line and put points on the scoreboard. If the kick-off return unit is constantly leaving the offensive unit on the one-yard line with first and ten, and ninety-nine yards to the goal line, the entire team has to cover for this set back. The team has to work that much harder for success, and most likely won’t get to put the championship ring on the team members’ hands. But when that kick-off return unit is constantly placing the ball near the fifty-yard line, then the offensive and other team units have a greater opportunity for success.
In the transportation of goods, the trucking company, freight broker or 3PL must work for each other’s benefit so their services are of value to the shippers and receivers for which they haul. If the trucker or broker suspects - or knows - they’re not being treated fairly and honestly, the shipper and receiver will find the quality of service will diminish. This is human nature.
Trucking requires the same dedication to task as the football team mentioned earlier. Each team unit must pull its own weight. If the trucking company is late on pick-ups and deliveries, it weakens the team. If the broker is charging the shipper a fair hauling rate but is not paying the trucking company a reasonable rate for their services, it weakens the team. If the shipper or receiver constantly requires the trucks picking up or delivering to facilities to wait for hours before being loaded or unloaded, it weakens the team. For the team to succeed, every team unit must work with the same goal in mind. Trucker, trucking company, broker, 3PL, shipper and receiver need to be on the same team. As each unit looks at its business model, members must be sure it will benefit the others and themselves.
Next week we’ll get into the details of what it takes for all the units to function as a complete logistics team.
Good loads and safe roads, everyone.
Timothy Brady
©2009
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