Lessons in Logistics
I have worked in operations and logistics for a trucking company for more than two years, helping to oversee 15+ drivers, 400+ trailers, and dispatching almost a million miles in a year. As I recently stepped away from the industry to return to people-oriented work, I realized something: this business is not for everyone, but there are some lessons for everyone out of this business.
The last one surprised me, and helped me grow as a leader.
Safety and efficiency
In the context of this industry, everyone gets it. And it is easy to apply it to any other blue collar work. But if you zoom out and simply translate the ideas to your environment, you will see the truth applies: safety and efficiency are essential and conjoined for long-term effectiveness.
Think about it. In trucking, I used to remind drivers of these two premises. And without one, it does not matter how good you are in the other. If we drive with great fuel mileage, always arriving on-time or early, and handle the equipment well, but we operate in a dangerous manner in dispatch or in transportation, then we will not be in the business very long. And vice-versa: if we prioritize safety to the point where it took a whole day to complete a trip that should have taken 2 hours, then the customer likely is going to look elsewhere for transportation services.
It makes sense in construction, carpentry, and mechanical engineering. Safety and efficiency have to go together for long-term effectiveness. Now translate it to your context.
If a non-profit is hyper efficient with their resources, but does not care for the well-being of the people who work for it, then what inevitably happens? The people leave.
If a teacher is great at moving through the curriculum, but misplaces a kid before the end of the day, they get fired.
If a Nascar driver fixates on avoiding a wreck, he will never find himself moving ahead of the pack.
If a business is great at preserving the customer experience but they forget to efficiently handle their finances, they go out of business.
I think of NFL quarterback Jameis Winston: he once threw 33 touchdowns in a single season. Not a lot historically, but great that season. He was 2nd overall in TD passes and 9th overall in TD %. Essentially, 1 out of every 20 throws was a TD, an efficient rate of TD throws matched by Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott that season. Winston even led the league in passing yards that year.
The downside of the 2019 season for Winston is that he was historically unsafe with the ball: he threw 30 interceptions along with 5 lost fumbles. While he was throwing a TD 1 of 20 throws, he threw an interception at almost the same rate. His 35 turnovers is the second worst in the history of this type of data tracking. The Buccaneers would go on to miss the playoffs with a mediocre 7-9 record.
Safety and efficiency are conjoined and essential for long-term effectiveness.
The people
In a capatalist society, you get paid for the value you bring to society; that is business.
No matter how good you are in bringing value to society though, the people around you have to matter as much as the business. I have seen this first hand in non-profit and for-profit sectors. When this is done poorly, it stains the entire culture. When this is done well, the culture will thrive.
Even in the for-profit trucking industry, with truckers in their 50s and 60s working for me, I saw the impact of caring for people well. During my last week at the job, a driver told me “you care too much about the drivers”. He meant it as a compliment, while also delivering an encouragement to say my passion for people is better fit in an industry focused on serving people. I had drivers who went the extra mile because they saw my colleague and I make something happen for them personally.
In whatever world you are in, never forget: the people matter as much as the production.
There is a temptation for some businesses to sacrifice their people at the altar of the dollar. They limit flexibility for a family who is stretched because they want the consistency of a certain production. They fail to support an employee personally in a hard season, yet expect that employee to work with excellence. They ignore the culture while demanding profitibility. These businesses will always have high turnover, and always be miserable to work for.
The people matter as much as the production, and a good leader would even say more than the production.
Communication
This is a surprising observation, but one I am more and more being convinced of: effective communication is the bedrock of success.
I have watched departments thrive on effective communication, and watched employees flounder without clear communication. I saw this idea in Patrick Lencioni’s The Advantage, where he argues that an organization’s ability to separate itself from the competition is based on its ability to effectively communicate and build organizational health on effective communication. I am more convinced of this now than I was in 2023 when I read it.
I even see this in my marriage!
There was a recent morning where I made a comment to my wife about our kitchen and the fruitflies (IYKYK). The tone in which I said it, though not the words, led to a misunderstanding and a small argument. Minutes later, some clear communication smoothed out the morning.
If you are married or dating, you have seen it. You say one thing, thinking it is clear, but the other heard something due to a story they were telling themselves or due to something else you said a week ago. Clear and effective communication is the only way through it; otherwise, someone ends up frustrated.
I have seen individuals who claim to desire clarity, yet will fail to provide it. I have seen bosses take extra steps to ensure an employee understands something. Which one do you think succeeds with the people around them?
As I leave the world of logistics, I look back and see the successful days bloomed out of effective communication, and many of the headaches I had were rooted in a unclear or an overall lack of communication.
Effective communication is foundational for success in any industry.
How is your safety and efficiency?
How are you with your people?
How is your communication?
I say this with great conviction: any organization that applies these three lessons will experience a catapult towards greatness.