Learning the Ropes

This article is reprinted from the ExpeditersOnline.com with the kind permission of the author.

Express-1, the Buchanan, Michigan-based carrier that recently merged with Segmentz, Inc. has joined the ranks of a relatively small number of expedited carriers that have established a "support" department for their new contractors.

The new "Driver Development Coordinator" position is designed to assist and mentor the owner-operator and driver who is beginning his expediting career. This assistance includes continuing the education that began in orientation and includes a regular review of the new driver's progress.

Express-1's Chief Operating Officer Jeff Curry says, "This department is an extension of our training program, which is on-the-job training. We've selected Dwayne Ridgway as the director of this department and he is a perfect fit for this position. We were very lucky to find someone with his experience, both on the corporate side and the driving side. Dwayne has a firm, yet calm demeanor which is a plus for someone filling this position."
He stresses that this department offers assistance for the veteran Express-1 driver as well: "Dwayne can provide real-time positioning help because he works very closely with dispatch. He also coordinates with our other departments and can help in problem resolution for our veteran drivers."
Curry continues, "The key measurement of this department is the degree of driver turnover and that number has been dropping. We feel that Dwayne has an important role in that success."

Express-1 recruiter Scott Hancock says, "Dwayne knows trucking. He's a down-to-earth, grassroots kind of guy who knows what it's like to go out there and work for a living. He brings a lot of experience to the table and he has a great deal of trucking credibility."

Dwayne Ridgway is 34 years old and is originally from the Detroit area. He began driving professionally in 1996 with an expedited carrier in that area and drove for a year before moving into dispatching. A year later he became head of operations and this was followed by 3 years as General Manager for the company.

"When I left that company, I moved to the Grand Haven, MI area," says Ridgway. "I took over a fleet of eight tractors which I operated as a private fleet for Vans Interstate. We ran intermodal freight from Grand Rapids to the Chicago railyards and back."

"I started with Express-1 in February 2004 as a recruiter. I had to put driving behind me in August due to diabetes. Shortly after that, Express-1 offered me the newly created position of Driver Development Coordinator."

As part of his duties, Ridgway also works as an Orientation trainer. "I review positioning strategies, truck equipment and load securement. I also talk to new drivers about their expectations of Express-1 and the company's expectations of them. I also do a constant review of Express-1's handbook to ensure the drivers' use of the handbook as an ongoing resource."

Scott Hancock adds, "Because Dwayne is working in Orientation, he has a chance to meet all of the new drivers personally, and he's not just a voice on the phone."

Ridgway also helps educate the drivers on:

*How to position themselves in the better areas for freight.

*Crossing the Canadian border with the goal of making the crossing as smooth as possible.

*Meeting their income expectations. Ridgway physically works next to the load planning department so he can help guide the drivers on a daily basis.
He provides the new drivers with a two-month evaluation or as Scott Hancock describes it, "Sixty days after the brand new drivers' graduation from orientation, Dwayne gives them a 'report card'. The driver will either pass, or Dwayne will give them remedial training in whatever areas he might be weak such as on-time performance, use of the Qualcomm, logging, etc."

"It's because of this intensive training that I feel we have the best trained fleet in expediting."

COO Jeff Curry says that occasionally, though not often, Ridgway will work extensively with a new driver for whom expediting is just not a good fit:

"At that point, Dwayne will explain that he has tried to help that driver to adjust and it's just not working out. By that time, the driver is usually aware of the problem as well and chooses to move on."

Ridgway says that some of the areas that provide the new driver with the most challenges are: "For the drivers in the larger straight trucks, some of them need help with their logbooks. Logging split sleeper berth time can be tricky for the new driver. I've found that truck positioning for the next load is also, at times, a problem for all size trucks."

Ridgway has a positive attitude about his new position and company:

"I love this job. This is the best company that I can picture myself working for and I think this is the most driver-oriented company that I've seen."

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