Chapter 11: Threshold management
Chapter 11 bankruptcy has a legal way of tuning around companies and offering a restart opportunity. If you have not gone through one, it is an experience that one should focus on the positive outcome and not use it as an excuse to slide away from the business. Chapter 11 is a structure, as explained
Vehicles to mechanic, technician ratio algebra
I always get asked, “How many vehicles per technician?” As a seasoned “iron doctor,” I should know. However, when I fire back more questions to help me determine the answer, those who ask me the question don’t understand why I don’t have a set response. The technician to vehicle question is asked many times and
3/5: A Career Path
What does 3 slash 5, career path mean? I had no idea where I would end up many years ago, but knew what I could do best—fix things. I started with farm tractors and bicycles, but figured out that hard labor was good for the soul, but not got for the bank account. So a
Fleet maintenance is not a democracy…
The headline may appear to be somewhat strong limiting a sense of team work, committee-type leadership, group building, etc., but it is a reaction to a mission statement I saw on a wall poster of a huge company that read: “Everyone get involved in everything.”
Communication is an option…
Life has certainly changed in the last few years. The ability to communicate has risen to an all time high with the ability to communicate 24 hours a day—which seems to consume most people. We used to be impressed with the ability of landline phones to connect to each other. Then we moved to emails—a
What side of B50 life are you on?
There was a day—most of those who read this will remember—when the million-mile truck was obtainable and B50 life was virtually unknown to most of us. It now also has become something of the past. The B50 phrase referred to those components that lasted 50% of some sort of life. In our world, it was a
The ‘SS’ is coming to a theater near you
What is the SS? Is it the Secret Service? Silent Service? Submarine Service? Social Services? No, there is a new group term from the financial group—strategic sourcing (SS). Wow, what does that mean? What it means is that the person who buys corn flakes on Monday buys tires and oil on Wednesday. The term SS
Cold weather & fuel gelling—finding answers to fuel problems
In the past months, we have seen below normal temperatures that we have not seen in many years. These frigid temperatures have sent many fleet managers into a frenzy—fuel gelling problems are the cause. Here’s what’s going on. The temperature is cold outside, below zero; say -2 or -3 degrees below. The truck will not
Budget, bonus consideration drive maintenance: Right or wrong?
We seem to be going through times where budget decisions are based on cost rather than doing “the right thing.” I base this on my observations of front-line, younger fleet mangers are making decisions that exclude a focus on cost rather than determining what is “right or wrong.” We are supposed to be professionals who
Electronic DVIRs, who works for whom?
With all the “i” devices on the market—iPod, iPad, iPhone—and other tablets and smartphones, the world of instant data is make information more accessible than ever. It almost seems as though the way we get the data is more exciting than its content. In fact, it can be mindless to get a text or email,
Under cover boss or Uncovered boss?
If you want to be an effective manager, get out from behind the desk. Don’t spend all day sending emails. Get out of your chair and talk with the people in your charge.
Buying a warranty or mechanical insurance?
There has been a change in truck purchasing in the last few years. Some times it appears as though buying a truck includes the offer of extra support—to add fries with that hamburger—to “supersize” maintenance outsourcing. These days, buying a new truck requires spending six figures for for a highly sophisticated, electronically equipped vehicle that