On Monday, November 26, 2018, General Motors announced that it will be closing five plants in North America in 2019, four in the USA and one in Canada. In addition to the closures, 6000 hourly workers and 8000 salaried employees will lose their jobs. “The actions we are taking today continue our transformation to […]
Attention GM Workers: The Trucking Industry Needs You
Over the past few years, I have noticed a disturbing trend as I meet with both our shipper and carrier associates. They have changed their leadership team again. The VP of Transportation or Logistics (in manufacturing and retail organizations) or the President or other senior officer (in transportation organizations) has now been replaced multiple times. […]
Some New Year’s Resolutions for Shippers
8 years ago
As we enter a New Year, many people create a set of resolutions to burn off a few pounds, to quit smoking or to achieve whatever goals are meaningful to them. On a professional level, this is a time for smart shippers to set in motion a series of resolutions to improve their company’s […]
Hillbilly Elegy provides Life Lessons for those seeking a Career in the Transportation Industry
8 years ago
Last week, while on a brief vacation, I had the privilege of reading the book, Hillbilly Elegy, by J.D. Vance. The book tells the story of how the author, a self-described Hillbilly, rises from a life of poverty and instability to graduate from Yale Law School and join the ranks of the “elite.” It is […]
One of the business trends over the past couple of decades has been the employment of personal coaches to help key leaders and executives enhance their skill sets. These coaches can be engaged to tutor an executive in such areas as leadership, decision-making and team-building; others may be hired to coach an individual in media […]
Finding your “Lane” in Life
8 years ago
This is a follow up to the blog on “Passion” (http://www.dantranscon.com/index.php/blog/entry/passion ) that was posted here a few weeks ago and is published in the current issue of Canadian Shipper. While the blog on Passion was inspired by Bernie Sanders, this blog was inspired by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the author and star of the hit Broadway […]
I grew up in the Muhammad Ali era. Back in the 60’s and 70’s, heavyweight boxing was a major sport. The Championship fights between Ali and Frazier and Ali and Foreman ranked right up there with the Super Bowl. I have great memories of Don Dunphy and Howard Cosell calling the top boxing matches on […]
How to Learn the Basics of Sales and Freight Transportation in a Company that Offers No Training
9 years ago
Three years ago I posted a blog entitled Tips for the New Transportation Sales Rep (http://www.dantranscon.com/index.php/blog/entry/tips-for-the-new-transportation-sales-rep-and-his-manager ). In that blog I consolidated a number of ideas generated in a LinkedIn Sales Management group and added a few thoughts of my own. To my amazement, it has received over 38,000 hits since it was posted. A […]
Passion
9 years ago
Last week, I was watching the U.S. Democratic Party Town Hall on television that took place in South Carolina. A member of the audience stood up and asked Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont to talk about what he considers one of the most important traits of a leader. He replied that having a passion for […]
Will your trucking company be around in 5 years?
11 years ago
If your trucking company hasn’t been purchased or doesn’t get purchased by TransForce, will it be in business in five years? That is the question that came up in a recent discussion with a long time industry colleague. The response I received was that he didn’t think his company would survive. I was a bit […]