Blog

Mondays Are for the Birds

On May 18, 2015 / Just Another Mary Monday

In Friday’s Thought for the Weekend, Bob shared a joke that reminded me of the old saying: “Some days you’re the pigeon, and some days you’re the statue.” This got me thinking about pigeons. The birds are almost universally hated, but it’s no wonder! They poop everywhere, they carry diseases, they travel in gangs, and they work as thieves and thugs, swooping in to steal your last French fry or waiting for the perfect moment to use your head as target practice. I mean, let’s face it Angry Birds isn’t nearly as fun when

Trucked by an Angel

On May 14, 2015 / Thought for the Weekend

A few weeks ago, I shared information presented at the TIA conference about the serious driver shortage we’ll be facing in coming years. How will we recruit a new generation of great drivers? One solution is to focus on female truckers. Recently, a local news channel highlighted increased enrollment by women in the truck driver training program at the community college. The story comes on the heels of a National Public Radio report: To Reverse Driver Shortage, Trucking Industry Steers Women To Jobs. Currently females comprise around 5% of the professional truck driving population, which is

Sticking It to Stick Figure Families

On May 11, 2015 / Just Another Mary Monday

Mother’s Day is a time to reflect on family. When people think of the word ‘family’ do they still conjure up scenes from Leave it Beaver, where June Cleaver cleaned the house wearing a dress and pearls? Ward never had to work late and always made it home on time for June’s home cooked family dinners, which the entire family enjoyed while conversing civilly at the dinner table. If you look at the back of minivans and SUVs, you might think this is still the norm. Those perfect little stick figure families are everywhere! At

Incredible Mom, Incredible Wife, Incredible Life

On May 8, 2015 / Thought for the Weekend

Brad Bird may not be a household name, but you know his work. Touted by some as “the modern-day Walt Disney” and considered to be one of the smartest people in Hollywood, he is the creative force behind Ratatouille, The Simpsons, and The Incredibles. He is married with three children. In fact, Bird based the story of The Incredibles on his own experiences trying to balance a career with family. Ranking #40 on the Top 100 Grossing Movies of All Time ($261,437,578), it was the first Pixar film to feature a nuclear family (mother,

Shipping Away the Other Man in My Life

On May 4, 2015 / Just Another Mary Monday

There I was sitting at a red light, with a 6-foot Power Ranger mannequin stuffed into my four-door Dodge Stratus sedan. His feet were touching the back window, his head butted against the front windshield, and his groin sat nearly parallel to my head. Some people are lucky. Generally speaking, I’m not one of them. You see, whereas others win free trips to exotic countries, $500 from scratch-off lottery tickets, or even dinners for two at fancy restaurants, I managed to win a 6-foot Power Ranger. Back in 2001, Toys R Us sponsored a

Divorced from Reality Television

On May 1, 2015 / Thought for the Weekend

Like it or loathe it, reality television is here to stay. Approximately 20% of current television programming is “Reality TV”. Name a subject, and there is likely a show about it — from singing, modeling, cooking, and dancing competitions to shows about antique hunters, bounty hunters, crocodile hunters and husband hunters. The trucking industry is also represented with a handful of shows: Big Rig Bounty Hunters, Ice Road Truckers, American Truckers, Truck Stop USA and Shipping Wars. If reality television has taught us anything, it’s that you don’t need good looks, talent, morals or

Donuts- A Public Service Announcement

On April 27, 2015 / Just Another Mary Monday

It rarely happens. But occasionally, I make a mistake. A couple of years ago, I told you about my favorite day of the year. No, it wasn’t Christmas or my birthday, or Super Bowl Sunday. I said that my favorite day was the first day of school. While there is no disputing that the first day of school is indeed a blessed day, I now realize that there is another day that trumps it. That day is tomorrow, and it involves donuts. Have I got your attention? I thought so. You see, tomorrow is

Truck Capacity Facts

On April 24, 2015 / Thought for the Weekend

Before you start reading, try answering this question: Is truck capacity up or down, and by what percentage? Now, hold that thought! They say that life is all about perspective–even the sinking of the Titanic was a miracle to the lobsters in the ship’s kitchen. John Le Carre wrote: “A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world.” And fellow author Dan Brown wrote: “Sometimes, all it takes is a tiny shift of perspective to see something familiar in a totally new light.” It can be a challenge to get up

Hiring- What Not to Say

On April 20, 2015 / Just Another Mary Monday

Matchmaker Logistics is adding a new member to our team, and I’m involved in the hiring process. This means that in addition to my regular duties, I am now spending a considerable amount of time listening to job applicants as they respond to questions like: “Tell my about your yourself.”; “Where do you see yourself in five years?”; and “Why do you think you are the best candidate for this job?” It’s been more than fifteen years since I was last on the job market, and let me tell you, times have changed. Between

Tanker Rules for Our Industry

On April 17, 2015 / Thought for the Weekend

There are a lot of rules in our industry, and sometimes those rules are as clear as mud. That seems to be the case with a revised tanker definition passed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in 2011. The Feds changed the definition of a tanker or tank vehicle as one designed to transport liquids or gasses in tanks that are either permanently or temporarily attached to the chassis and are rated at more than 119 gallons or aggregated to 1,000 gallons or more. This means that drivers of a flatbeds or