There seems to be so much happening in the trucking industry with all the regulatory and technology changes. It can be hard to keep up, and sometimes it is tempting to stay the course and not make any changes.
This is not a bad strategy, but if you choose that course of action, don’t just give yourself a pass on staying up to date on what is happening and the changes that are on the horizon.
The good news is you do not have to do this alone. The trucking industry has a wealth of associations that support it, and many of those associations have meetings, conventions, educational programming, and other events. These events usually feature speakers and presentations. A number of the presenters are key members of the trucking industry who can discuss the new technology and how it might impact your business. If they are really good speakers, they will not just give you the hype. They will present the good things about the technology as well as the challenges of incorporating it into your operation.
Sometimes they are people from outside the industry who are experts on the economy, human resources, leadership, and more. And sometimes they are motivational speakers whose purpose is to energize and inspire you.
I want to encourage you to attend some of these conventions, trainings, and educational sessions. I also encourage you to send some of your staff members to these events. It can be motivating for them to get out of the office every once in a while, and it is a way of showing them that you value their input. Attending these meetings can benefit both of you and allow you to gain a great deal of knowledge or a new way of thinking that you can bring back to your organization and share with others.
Another benefit of these industry events is that they allow you to network with your peers and share ideas about issues you are facing. These conversations often provide the real-world perspective that you can modify for your own organization.
Many of these conventions also feature trade shows, which give you a chance to not only look at the new technologies or existing products but also to get your questions answered by the people who make them.
Of course, I am aware of the fact that attending these meetings costs money and takes people away from their day-to-day responsibilities, but I think perhaps we should look at this as an investment and not a cost. Money spent on conferences and seminars is money and time well spent because it can bring fresh solutions to your organization, give you a different way to look at a problem, or simply arm you with valuable information that will help you make decisions.
I’ll be attending some meetings myself this year and sending Transervice staff members to others. I hope to see you out there. Maybe we can grab a cup of coffee at one of the networking breaks and share our stories.
