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Image is Everything

TeamCaffee

TeamCaffee

Administrator
Staff member
Owner/Operator
Jeff really has hit on a sore spot with us. We are not White Glove but we always where our [font color="purple"] FEDEX [/font][font color="blue"]Custom Critical[/font] uniform to pickup or deliver a load. We feel the amount of respect we receive when we walk into a shipper is worth the effort. We try to keep our truck looking nice also which reflects back on our company. The cost of the freight or what you are being paid does not enter the equation at all. We feel you need to treat all customers and freight as if you are picking up a million dollar product and you are being paid a million dollars. We take pride in our job and I believe it shows. Good article Jeff.
 
Tennesseahawk

Tennesseahawk

Veteran Expediter
O/T Where do you get those cool colors?

"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas
 
B

Broompilot

Veteran Expediter
And what did Jeff Say?

I agree with a tidy truck. I do not sweep it everyday or everyother or maybee not even every week. It is picked up of broken pallet parts and my load bars and straps are put away nice and neat.

At least once a week someone is amazed at how clean it is inside when I think its not. A uniform I am glad I do not have them. I enjoy my buttoned shirts that I do have pressed. (Many think I am nuts) you have a right to your opnion its just I enjoy being presentable. But what drives me nuts is that I have clean clothes on, nice boots, clean truck and than I go into a shipper with toothpaste dried around my lips. My excuse, poor lighting in the truck and a small mirrior.

See even I can make fun of myself. Its embarrassing, but thats life of a Trucker? So much for a spit polished image. Its the little things that count and believe me it gets back to the dispatchers.
 
TJ959

TJ959

Veteran Expediter
At least you brushed your teeth. I've meet a few that don't seem to take the time. I don't wear uniforms either but my jeans are pressed and so are my shirts. Well, they're pressed when I pack them. Sometimes they don't fare too well in the bag. But I try. It always amazed me when I would get compliments on how clean my truck box was. There must be some real nasty trucks out there. I just kept mine reasonably clean. It was actually easier than my Sprinter to keep neat and clean.
 
fastman_1

fastman_1

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Clean Truck Clean Clothes and a Clean me, Yep I do that, Always keep my van Tidy and Try to wash it before I pick up and Deliver. Makes a Good Impression if I take care of my Truck then I'll Take care of thier Frieght. MyJeans are clean But I am a t-shirt kinda guy so That clean also.







































Owner/Operator since 1979
Expediter since 1997
B Unit Semi Retired
Somedays are Diamonds and Somedays are Stones
Home is Wherever you Park.
The Price of Freedom is Written on the Wall.
 
Tennesseahawk

Tennesseahawk

Veteran Expediter
Toothpaste around your lips? That's almost as bad as a booger hangin, or your fly open. No excuse! Mama taught you better than that. :7

Licking your lips will tell you if you have the first, and sometimes the second. I always check the third before I exit the mens room.

"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas
 
P

Paul56

Seasoned Expediter
Yes, not only image but also customer service. It has to be something you truly believe in and are always willing to conduct yourself in the manner accordingly.

While this is all mostly common sense, there are also a lot of finer points. Everyone in our organization has had initial and ongoing training from these folks:

http://www.wilsonlearning.com

Our customers know we care... because we always show up looking like we care not only about ourselves but also our equipment and this same attitude carries into our conversations with all the staff members of our customers.

This is what makes the real difference between our organization vs our competitors.
 
cheri1122

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
I don't wear a uniform, but I keep my clothes on hangars to look neat. A hanging garment bag is useful, with big pockets for stuff you can't hang, and it's easy to shlep (sp?) around, too.
 
greg334

greg334

Veteran Expediter
WOW, there is a word I haven't heard in a long time - shlep from the word shlepn.

Well I am building my collection of FedEx shirts/pants/belts/jackets slowly(I wish they had socks like the UPS people have). Eventually I will move to using a uniform all the time - something I been use to until I worked in IT.

I try to apprear as clean as possible, but sometimes after getting the truck loaded in the rain it is difficult to clean everything. I polish my shoes weekly which surprises me that many don't know how to polish shoes.

To me it is far more important to have a good attitude, provide the best service I can possiblely can and make the customer at both ends happy. Some people just don't get that image is clearly intwined with the presentation and knowing from the IT days, the customer remembers you for actions.

Right now my truck needs a bath and a good cleaning inside, I haven't cleaned the floor in two days and it is a mess.

The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance - and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.
 
terryandrene

terryandrene

Veteran Expediter
Safety & Compliance
US Coast Guard
Rene' has me schleppin all the time.

1. to carry; lug: to schlep an umbrella on a sunny day.
–verb (used without object)
2. to move slowly, awkwardly, or tediously: We schlepped from store to store all day. –noun
3. Also, schlepper. someone or something that is tedious, slow, or awkward; drag.
 
T

TeamBud8

Seasoned Expediter
I never understood the concept that someone owns their truck,wants to be become independent,but wants to act like a company driver,and wear a company uniform.HMMM !
 
davekc

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
I never understood the concept that someone owns their truck,wants to be become independent,but wants to act like a company driver,and wear a company uniform.HMMM !
================================================
Interesting thought. I do think appearance, pride, and professionalism does matter. A uniform makes one more identifiable, but not necessarily more professional.
In our many years, I have seen some scary folks in a uniform, trucking or not.















Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator
 
TeamCaffee

TeamCaffee

Administrator
Staff member
Owner/Operator
TeamBud8 We make the choice to wear our uniform. We have found when we walk into a customer, the customer usually know exactly what we are there to pick up. We are treated as professionally as we look. So we take pride in our uniforms and the other personal reason is they are easy to wash and take care of. The best part of the uniform is they are tax deductible!! We have watched other drivers behaviors and how a shipper will "punish them for rudeness" you act professional and usually the shipper or receiver will act in the same manner uniform or no uniform.
 
greg334

greg334

Veteran Expediter
>Schlep, wasn't he a fill-in for the Three Stooges.

nope that was Shemp or sam howard, the brother of moe and curly. He was an original stooge who was replaced by curly around 1932.
 
slfisher45

slfisher45

Expert Expediter
Teambud8 wrote "I never understood the concept that someone owns their truck,wants to be become independent,but wants to act like a company driver,and wear a company uniform.HMMM ! "

You may own your own truck but my guess is you have a big logo on the side of your truck.
For those that don't get, it we are in a service based industry. Looking professional and being respectful only promotes you and your company.

Who would you rather do business with.

It has been documented many times, service is one of the major criteria for doing business with a company.
 
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