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Have you ever loaned someone something, like a tool or yard equipment, and had it returned in considerably worse condition than you loaned it? It can be pretty frustrating, especially when you treat your things well and expect the same level of care from others.  Imagine if what you loaned cost around $200,000, and imagine if that replacement/repair cost was all on you. It’s pretty sobering, but anyone who is using expensive company equipment should understand the level of responsibility involved. While, fortunately, total losses of fleet vehicles are not common, smaller damages and problems can accumulate to a significant amount. Those damages, interior and exterior, can take a major toll on resale value as well.

Treat Company Property Like It’s Your Own

Because fleet managers can’t keep constant track of the condition of trucks when they are out for weeks at a time, it’s up to drivers to maintain them. It’s tempting to get lazy with cleanliness and maintenance, especially with an older truck, but the best way to stay motivated to keep your truck in peak condition is to treat it the way you would treat your own property. Would you allow your house or your personal vehicle to become neglected and require major costs to repair? When you are responsible for something, it motivates you to take care of it.

Take Ownership

If you don’t want to take literal ownership of your truck, take metaphorical ownership. Say your truck is so cluttered that you lose paperwork and we can’t get paid for a load, a can or bottle runs under your pedals and causes you to crash, or your pet destroys the truck interior. Are you willing to take the financial hits personally? Taking ownership means accepting responsibility and behaving as if everything is riding on your performance.

Policy Enforcement

It’s necessary for fleets to be explicit and transparent regarding truck maintenance and cleanliness expectations and to follow through on that policy. Drivers should be aware of everything that is expected of them and the consequences of non-compliance.

How It Affects You

Repair and maintenance costs are a large part of a fleet’s budget. When equipment isn’t kept in good order, the costs for that eat into other areas of the company where it could be used, including new equipment and even pay and bonuses. The next time you’re tempted to misuse or neglect your equipment, keep in mind that it will affect you down the line. Reach out to the shop crew or your driver manager if you need help maintaining your truck or need advice or supplies to keep it clean.

You reap what you sow, as the saying goes. Those who exhibit positive personality traits are more likely to find positivity and opportunity in return. Conversely, those who think negatively will probably see negativity in everything. Positive traits such as resilience, empathy, and adaptability are important to a successful career. These qualities not only enhance individual performance but also foster a collaborative and productive workplace culture. By embracing these traits, employees and organizations can navigate challenges more effectively and drive long-term success. Here are the traits Marvin Keller is looking for in a driver.

Adaptability

• Adaptability is the essence of intelligence, the ability to evolve with changing environments and solve problems. Embrace change and focus on what you can control; try to learn new things instead of resisting change, and seize opportunities for growth. Be resourceful, using creativity to find solutions to problems.

Ambition/Self-Motivation

• Show you are motivated to succeed by exhibiting enthusiasm and a good work ethic.

Friendly/Empathetic

• Be approachability and express genuine interest in others and be willing to go out of your way to help others.

Honesty

• Honesty and integrity are important in any job; being able to trust your employees and coworkers creates a more open, transparent atmosphere. Being honest is especially important for drivers. Because we can’t be on the road with you, we have to be able to trust that the information we are given is accurate. Deception with your managers or bosses undermines that trust and you become a target for micromanagement.

Humility

• Put the team ahead of yourself; consider achievements that others helped with as team efforts. Show that you are interested in the success of the whole company and not just those of the individual. The humble person avoids arrogance and self-aggrandizement. There’s nothing wrong with taking credit for your work, but be modest about it. Hyping your own work at the expense of the team is a bad look.

Optimism

• See opportunity in adversity and challenges, and always look for ways to improve.

Respect

• Everyone has different strengths and that is what benefits an organization. If everyone was good at and deficient in the same areas, success of the team would be hindered. Respecting those differences and the contributions of others is integral to team success.

Resilience

• Carry on, even when things are tough. Being able to recover quickly and powering through challenges makes you a stronger, more successful person.

Dependability/Thoroughness

• Be dependable in delivering results. This is an easy skill to develop as you just have to do your job and be reliable. Doing so consistently builds trust among your coworkers and bosses and sets you up for success and upward mobility.

Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching?