How to be Effective in a World of Rookie Recruiters

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With Driver shortages at an all-time high – It is becoming more difficult to not only recruit, but to retain qualified drivers and owner operators.  How do you find drivers and operators that are a better fit for your company to begin with? 

Finding Drivers and Operators that "fit" you company is a key component in retention.  Most carriers, while looking at a lot full of empty trucks, tend to use the “Habeas Corpus” or “Just Produce a Body” method; we will hire someone qualified, but not necessarily the best fit for our trucking operation, or the driver for that matter.  This always results in a short career at our company for the driver and higher turnover, which produce significantly higher costs to our trucking operation.

·         How many countless Ads has your company placed using traditional methods such as newspaper, radio, or even TV with little to no return? How many internet ads surrounded by hundreds, if not thousands of other advertisers?

·         How much money has your company allocated to these already exhausted methods?

At 18 Wheels of Justice; we are providing a unique approach to recruiting and capturing the attention of drivers and owner operators.  We have tactfully and quietly developed one of the most devoted driver and operator audience in the nation and continue to foster that growth.

Why Partner With Us?

I'm the author of "18 Wheels of Justice", an educational, trucking based Book & CD series, website and blog. I have appeared on Big Truck TV (a partner with Internet Truck Stop) and various trucking radio shows.  My blogs are published on Big Truck TV, TripPak and various other venues. Drivers and owner operators visit and trust 18 Wheels of Justice to interview and explain the core values of a trucking company before they sign on.

The 18 Wheels of Justice “Blomotion” (Blog Promotion) is an in depth story that is designed to answer the drivers and operators questions about your company before they call.  

The game has changed so much over the last few years that most drivers & ops are hesitant to call to ask questions because of all the follow up calls they will get from recruiters for months, even years.  Our article presents your company in an up front and personal light by a reputable third party.  It works, and it works well.

Recruiting advertising is not like selling soft drinks. You're selling a career, success, a lifestyle and trust.  Repetition and flashing ads simply can not convey this message.  The time has come to promote in depth what makes your company appealing and makes it standout in our industry. Every trucking company has its own appeal and is unique; we focus on and promote these attributes.

We tell the founders story, the struggles and successes throughout the company’s history, the human side... This has great appeal and the principles of attraction must be applied to recruiting drivers and operators.  The operators, drivers and their wives want to make their own decision and learn about the company on their own.

Let us tell your story...

How it works

·         Written “Blomotion” (Blog + Promotion) on you company which includes an in depth story about your company with your final approval before publication. The article will be posted on our different blogs several times during the month.

·         Original article on your company includes interview with company CEO or Director of Recruiting describing the benefits of working for your company.

·         Blog article will be featured on owner operator and driver page on our website for 30 days, along with link and phone number to your company’s website.

·         Posted on 50 Craigslist Cities within your hiring area as an article by a 3rd Party (it works well, we know how to catch owner operators and drivers attention)

·         Any existing recruiting video you have will be published alongside the article on our website and blog as well.

Most Drivers and Operators(and more importantly, their wives and significant others) review companies and make their decision over the Christmas Season when they have time off and make their move in January, don’t wait. Our schedule is filling up quickly for the remainder of 2012, and this is the ideal time to have your “Blomotion” posted, especially to ramp up for 2013 driver needs.

Act quickly by simply replying to this email or call 314-620-5536 to learn more.  We do all the work for you…

                                              Copyright 2012 - 18 Wheels of Justice

18 Wheels of Justice Presents - "Landstar Latitude"

Career Decision

                                   18 Wheels of Justice Investigates

 

Owner Operators Check Out

Landstar Latitude

November 8, 2012 - 13:57

Welcome to our multiple part series called “Career Decision”.

 18 Wheels of Justice investigates all the rumors we have heard for years about the money to be made in specialized trucking segments of our industry.  We take an insider’s view of companies who operate in various specialized freight arenas and present our results to help our Owner Operator audience make an informed decision.  It gets a little more complicated with Landstar, a time-honored, agent driven organization who has achieved a great deal of success outside of the typical trucking company design.

The Staff at 18 Wheels of Justice HQ originally had its sights set on the flatbed and heavy haul specialized division of Landstar.  As our investigation continued, our nimble minded staff soon realized that Landstar’s entire approach to dispatch and operations deserves a hard hitting, 18 Wheels of Justice investigative review.

Agents, Agents, Agents… 

We typically do a phone interview as part of our process, I asked my staff to put me in touch with someone in dispatch so we could find some real answers on Landstar’s success and not the typical corporate song and dance.  The staff reported back to me, in shock and disbelief that Landstar HQ in Jacksonville stated that there is no dispatch.  I said, “Who manages their freight? Who manages the planning? Who makes sure the Owner Operators are getting good freight and keep rolling? Who, who, who?”

“AGENTS!” My staff roared from the front office.

Agents, I pondered quietly to myself…  Secret Agents? FBI Agents? Travel Agents? (If you’re under 35, travel agents were used before the internet to purchase airline tickets, cruises and even to make hotel reservations in some cases)

I called Kit, my beautiful but brassy assistant, and explained that we owe it to our audience to get to the bottom of the Landstar approach to trucking, face to face & eyeball to eyeball.

“Get my Travel Agent on the phone and…I mean go online and book two tickets to Jacksonville, F-L-A…”

Owner Operators call 800-435-4010 or visit www.lease2landstar.com

We met with Rocco Davanzo, at Landstar’s Corporate Office, who was kind enough to take the time to speak with us and give us the real scoop on Landstar…

1.) Who are Landstar Agents, what do they do and how is this structure better than a typical Trucking Company?

Landstar doesn’t have a big sales force sitting around at HQ, instead they have independent sales agents located all over North America. The agents go out and get their own customers, they post that freight on Landstar’s electronic “available load boards,” and then it’s up to you to get online and find what you want. The agent networking system allows you, as the owner/operator, to control your schedule. The agents have a vested interest in keeping you loaded, in order to keep moving their customer’s freight.

2.) Landstar is kind of a one stop shop for Owner Operators.  Flatbed, Specialized, Vans, Reefers.  Can an owner operator switch between Landstar divisions?  What if an Owner Operator has his own trailer?

There truly is a career path for owner/operators at Landstar. You can lease to Landstar without platform experience, take advantage of free two-day platform training and take the first step toward a career hauling specialized freight. All you have to do is get yourself down to Landstar’s Orientation Center in St. Augustine - Landstar pays for your food and lodging. I don’t know of any other company that does that. Once you come out of that, you’re able to haul flatbed legal freight and from there you can progress to multi-axle trailers and specialized freight as your experience, skills and desire allow. It’s possible for a van driver with no experience pulling platform to join Landstar’s van fleet and progress to 12-foot-wide specialized platform freight over time. Landstar says they have access to more than 3,000 pieces of platform equipment, but if an owner/operator has their own trailer, great. In fact, once most drivers get their feet wet hauling platform loads for Landstar, they find out how much money they can make and often go purchase their own platform trailer.

3.)  What is the key to Landstar’s success in our Industry?

Landstar’s success appears to come from their unique business model – networking people who like being independent and who want the freedom to run their own businesses, whether it’s from behind a desk or the cab of a truck. 

4.) Why Should an Owner Operator apply at Landstar vs. the thousands of other trucking companies out there?

There’s no forced dispatch – you choose where you want to go, when, what freight to haul. The freedom at Landstar is said to be comparable to the freedom of running with your own authority, but without any of the risk. Their unique agent network, and Load Alerts technology, puts thousands of loads at your fingertips each day. er that ks nt matching your choices is posted on Landstar’s available load board.

With their percentage pay system, you earn a share of the revenue for every load hauled. As freight rates go up, so does your settlement check. Landstar passes along to you 100 percent of all billed fuel surcharges. Plus, there’s discounts on fuel, tires, parts and service through a bulk purchasing program they call LCAPP program, as well as cash rebates on new and used trucks and factory direct pricing on trailers.

5.)  Some of our audience members have more than one truck.  Is Landstar small fleet “Friendly”?

Landstar’s system is optimized for one, maybe two, owner/operators. Small fleets would be much better served by exploring the brokerage side of Landstar’s operation, where Landstar has mutually successful relationships with hundreds of smaller, third-party fleets.

6.) What are the strengths of your specialized flatbed and van divisions?

Landstar is the largest Heavy/Specialized transportation company in the U.S. and ranked 2^nd in the world, according to industry publications. With more than 3,000 pieces of platform equipment, a variety of freight and a safety record that’s second to none, Landstar appears to be a good option for both flatbed and van owner/operators.

18 Wheels of Justice would like to thank Landstar and Mr. Davanzo for spending the afternoon with us discussing Landstar.  Landstar is the “Gold Standard” for owner operators in our industry for a reason.

Owner Operators call 800-435-4010 or visit www.lease2landstar.com

18 Wheels of Justice Copyright 2012

How to Stop Unreasonable Child Support Deductions From Your Check in 2012

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How to Resolve Child Support Issues - There is a Solution
At trucking companies across the nation, many dispatchers, recruiters and operations managers often wonder why a recently hired driver suddenly quits after a few months.  Everybody seemed to like him, he did a good job, he seemed to like working at your company.

Suddenly a notice comes in the mail to payroll to deduct for past due child support from the state.  It’s different in every state of course, but it typically is such a large amount that it is hard for the driver to live and have this amount “deducted” from his pay.  This notice usually arrives somewhere between one to four months after starting employment, depending on the state, your companies reporting schedule, what day of the quarter the driver started, etc.

A lot of good drivers leave a lot of good companies after a few months and move to the next one.  Some go to companies where they are paid cash or with a 1099, frequently for less pay. 

So… What is a driver or employer to do?  Everyone should pay child support; it’s the right and honorable thing to do.  That is a given.  A lot of smart divorce attorneys manage to have “alimony” or “spousal maintenance” classified as child support at the time of divorce.  This makes it collectable by the state.  This is a questionable practice, but it is done by divorce attorneys every day.  To try and get this amount changed after a divorce is impossible.  I know in the state of Missouri there is a six month waiting list to even talk to someone about a setting up a time for a hearing.  

This article is not about the inherent bias in the legal system against fathers, but the intent is to make the outcome of divorce and ensuing child support workable for our drivers who find themselves in this situation.
 

Recruiters and HR Mangers at every trucking company need to be prepared to address and handle this with every driver who starts at your company.

Every Driver who has this issue following them needs to know that there is a solution to it, and it’s a lot easier than you may think. A lot of recruiters/HR Managers I know have responded negatively to my comments, and refer to drivers child support as none of their business and the driver just needs to pay it. 

Having arrears in child support doesn’t make anyone irresponsible nor a bad parent or person for that matter.  The system has worked against fathers for decades and many have tried in the past to resolve it, hit a brick wall and decided there was nothing that could be done about it.  And they were probably right. 

A lot has changed recently and now is the perfect time to address it and put it behind you.

First of all, from the human resources perspective, you are helping your driver.  This is what you should to be doing from a personal and professional perspective.

Second of all, as Human Resources professional, this is your responsibility as far as I’m concerned.  If an employee has an issue that is affecting his job and tenure at your company, you should have a program in place to help them.  This should be addressed during the onboarding process.  Reach out and take action, help your fellow man and build a relationship.

Finally, you are helping the children involved by making consistent
child support payments a reality.

The Solution

Nearly every state will adjust the deduction.  There are phone numbers you can call where you can explain to them why you can’t afford the $300, $500 or more per week (usually its current child support plus arrears) they want to deduct and they will adjust it.  This is not an official reduction of the amount owed, just an informal adjustment of what they will take out every week. In my experience the state will adjust it to a “livable” amount, $75 to $150 per week depending on salary, number of children, etc.  This is usually accomplished within a week’s time frame.  I have listed the numbers of the Child Support Agencies in each state below.  All it takes is a phone call; just let them know you want to address current or future deductions being taken out of your check.

You can make a big difference in your life or your driver’s life, and children’s lives today by reaching out and helping yourself or your drivers… 

ALABAMA 334-242-9300 mina.roussell@dhr.alabama.gov

ALASKA907-269-6832    david.tredway@alaska.gov

ARIZONA602-252-4045   dmoring@azdes.gov

ARKANSAS 501-682-6828 mary.e.smith@ocse.state.ar.us

CALIFORNIA 888-898-1745

COLORADO 303-866-4300 csecustomerservice@state.co.us

CONNECTICUT 860-424-4989, option 2

DELAWARE 302-577-7171 www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dcse/index.html

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 202-724-2254 artish.jacobs@dc.gov

FLORIDA 850-617-8099 csepassportdenial@dor.state.fl.us

GEORGIA 404-657-3869 csetaxoffset@dhr.state.ga.us

HAWAII 808-692-7000 wayne.y.izumi@hawaii.gov

IDAHO 208-334-5715

ILLINOIS 217-785-0283

INDIANA 317-234-5700, option 3

IOWA 515-242-6003

KANSAS 785-296-2089

KENTUCKY 502-564-2285 doris.moore@ky.gov

LOUISIANA 225-342-4780225 carol.dewitt@la.gov

MAINE 207-624-4111 kathy.levesque@maine.gov

MARYLAND 800-332-6347

MASSACHUSETTS 617-626-4156 glavin@dor.state.ma.us

MICHIGAN 517-373-2932

MINNESOTA 651-431-4400

MISSISSIPPI 601-359-4879 temekka.williams@mdhs.state.ms.us

MISSOURI 866-313-9960

MONTANA 406-444-3739 cstclair@mt.us

NEBRASKA 402-471-1400 julie.lavicky@nebraska.gov

NEVADA 775-684-0704 cse@dwss.nv.gov https://dwss.nv.gov/

NEW HAMPSHIRE 603-271-4680 http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcbcs/beas/nhcp/contact.htm

NEW JERSEY 609-631-2670 dfd-lien-levy@dhs.state.nj.us

NEW MEXICO 800-288-7207 (In State)800-585-7631 unit.intercept@state.nm.us

OHIO 800-686-1556

OKLAHOMA 405-522-0028 melody.rotan@okdhs.org

OREGON 503-373-7300 sccuquestions@doj.state.or.us

PENNSYLVANIA 800-932-0211 ra-crbcse@pa.gov

RHODE ISLAND 401-458-4400 richildsupport@cse.state.ri.us

SOUTH CAROLINA 803-898-9314 glenn.hastie@dss.sc.gov

SOUTH DAKOTA700 605-773-3641 kathryn.piersol@state.sd.us

TENNESSEE 800-838-6911 edward.canaday@tn.us

TEXAS 800-252-8014

UTAH 801-536-8500 ext. 22301 cdmiller@utah.gov

VERMONT 802-241-2180

VIRGINIA 800-468-8894 www.dss.virginia.gov/family/dcse.html

VIRGIN ISLANDS 340-775-3070 ext. 5008

WASHINGTON 360-664-5350 lsc@dshs.wa.gov

WEST VIRGINIA 800-249-3778 www.wvdhhr.org/bcse/

WISCONSIN 608-266-9909 marc.dibernardo@wisconsin.gov

WYOMING 307-777-6948 brenda.lyttle@wyo.gov

©18 Wheels of Justice 2012

Jim Palmer Pride - Experience the Difference

18 Wheels of Justice Trucking Legends Series Presents…

Palmer Pride

November 2, 2012 14:30 - Missoula, Montana…

Nestled in the foothills along the Bitterroot River in Western Montana, there are only two objects which steal the beauty of the surrounding mountains. The Hellgate Trading Post and Jim Palmer Trucking. The Hellgate Trading Post was established in 1860 to supply the western settlers with much needed “DIY” books on bear wrestling, delicious opossum lard cracklin’s for protein, and chastity garments for the gals. Jim Palmer Trucking was founded exactly 105 years later in 1965 to serve the good people of Missoula and eventually all of us Americans. The Hellgate Trading Post was later renamed Missoula, but Jim Palmer Trucking will always be called Jim Palmer Trucking.

Today, Palmer still succeeds in providing the best opportunities to the best drivers. How? By offering outstanding benefits, extra safe, top-of-the line trucks, competitive pay and excellent owner operator packages. Jim Palmer Trucking gives drivers what they need on the road including the latest GPS and trucking technology.

Every Palmer Truck is held up to a rigorous preventative maintenance program, attending to the smallest details and thinking hard about the road ahead. Palmer is staffed with the best mechanics in the business. The Staff at 18 Wheels of Justice HQ has seen a lot of Jim Palmer Trucks and we all agree that every single one of them has stood out. Clean, all black reefers, with Palmer on the side and late model, pristine, black trucks. We can spot a Palmer Truck from miles away.

Experience the Palmer Difference

If you are a professional truck driver or Independent Contractor, you know that the trucking industry has become extremely competitive these days. There are numerous trucking companies for drivers to choose from, thus, making the right decision more difficult. Jim Palmer Trucking understands this. That is why we continue to improve and rise above other trucking companies in the industry.

Jim Palmer knows how to offer a working experience unlike any other trucking company out there. This is accomplished by focusing on the driver in a way that most trucking companies don't. Since 1964, we have sought out the best of the best. Our philosophy is, the more we can give back to the drivers, the happier, more productive and successful they will be. 18 Wheels of Justice always talks about pay and the importance of knowing the miles you will get before you start somewhere. High pay rate per mile is great in theory, until you start at a company and sit, sit and sit. This is not the case at Palmer; you get the miles, week in, week out. The operations at Palmer are designed with this in mind. No driver left behind at Palmer, you will get your miles.

We are fortunate enough to have Mr. Joe Kalafat with us today to discuss the opportunities available at this time honored organization...

Mr. Kalafat, Jim Palmer has been a fixture in our industry for over 40 plus years, and has one of the best reputations in the business with drivers. What do you attribute this success to?

I think we can attribute our success to two things: 1) We’ve always been a Drivers Company. That’s the way Jim started the company – with the drivers in mind. We really do care about the driver. He built a company around not just saying it, but actually being it. 2) By being a company that shippers count on. We excel at on-time service and it’s allowed us to compete with much larger carriers with very large shippers. But again #2 goes back to #1. We have such an excellent reputation with shippers because of # 1—we have excellent drivers. And we have excellent drivers because we’ve created a company devoted to the driver and getting the driver great pay and excellent miles!

If you don't mind me asking what is your background and how did you become the CEO of Jim Palmer?

I’ve worked for JPT for over 15 years now. Worked my way up from Dispatch and Fleet management, into customer service, booking freight, being a load planner and then into Executive Vice President and finally President & CEO.

In 10 words or less, what would you tell a driver who called you and wanted to come to work for Jim Palmer?

 It’s about Family & Teamwork and we care about you and your bottom line. It’s not ten words, but I’d have to say a whole heck of a lot more to any potential driver on why they should work for JPT—this place is an excellent place to call home and make a real living as a professional driver with a lot of people that care about you and want you to succeed.

In 10 words or less, what about an owner operator?

Same thing! I would say if you really take a business approach to our pay package offering and compare that to what’s out there—you can’t do any better than we offer. I really like talking with Owner Operators that know the business end of things—because I can talk math with them and it’s clear we have one of the best pay packages for O/O’s out there and again, we get those guys the miles. All in- and O/O isn’t going to find a better company that’s going to ensure high earnings and a great team to help him win that JPT!

18 Wheels of Justice would like to thank Mr. Kalafat for his participation. We enjoy meeting CEO’s with Mr. Kalafat’s experience; it makes a huge difference in a trucking operation when you have someone who truly knows the ropes.

We invite you to... Experience the Palmer Difference

Click on any of the Palmer logos or call 800-682-8605

www.18WheelsofJustice.com



Treat Brokers as Customers!

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The business of shipping products to customers is ever-evolving into a world in which 3PL’s and Freight Brokers have access to more and more of the truckload market.  Large manufacturer’s want to focus more on their core business, than having entire shipping departments dedicated to rates and setting up carriers, dealing with scheduling appointments and so on. 

So, what does this mean to you?  A brave soul, the lone owner operator who sets out to seek his fortune with his own truck and trailer?  A small carrier with a dozen or so trucks, trying to build a dynasty or family fortune?

Buy Book and CD today at

www.18WheelsofJustice.com 

A truckload carrier whose business is 30% to 40% Broker and 3PL freight and has planners/dispatchers who are not yet masters in the art of negotiation?  Do they hesitate to be aggressive negotiators? 

30% to 40% is a very large portion of your business and where a large portion of potential profit is hiding.  Yes, and it is an art, when done creatively, properly and successfully, negotiating can be one of the most beautiful and rewarding experiences one can have.

Think back to the days of your youth, negotiating with parents to stay up later, only to be told to go to bed.  Or did you return to the negotiating table with your parents armed with opposing arguments?  How about delicately trying to negotiate your first kiss with a blushing, young redhead and getting a hug or handshake?  Or did you steal a kiss and walk away, leaving her wanting more?

Like most of us, you probably have good and bad memories of negotiating.  The important thing to remember is that you walked away from each one with more knowledge, experience and skill every time.

The transportation business has changed over the last ten years.  What does it mean to you? 

No longer are Brokers and 3PL's just a backhaul provider, they are our best customers.  The carriers who treat them as such, win everytime...

BOOK & CD Package

Book & CD Package $49.00 USD

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EMAIL - Negotiator@18wheelsofjustice.com

Know When to Hold 'Em - Strategy #6 from Negotiating with Freight Brokers

18 Wheels of Justice Home

"Know When to Hold 'Em" - Strategy #6 From Negotiating with Freight Brokers and 3PL's


So, here you sit, at your desk talking with a broker about a load. Meanwhile, you still have lots of trucks to cover, phones ringing, one driver late and going to miss an important customer pick up, another driver MIA, customer keeps calling about load, lots of pressure, trying to increase revenue per mile and margins, and keep drivers... Lots to do. Sweat is starten to moisten your forehead, your beautiful, blonde secretary notices and stops what she is doing to wipe your brow. Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, there is an invention that helps in negotiating while increasing productivity at the same time. The most effective tool in your negotiating arsenal - "The Hold Button".


Keep the broker on "ice"... Put them on hold while you are deciding what to do. Patience is a virtue and revenue increaser. Patience, Patience, Patience. Are you already at a higher rate than expected? How much more money will turn this from a good load into a great load? Another $200,$300 or more? All the additional revenue you can get now is sweet, sweet, profit. Have your reasons prepared before you come back and tell them another $200 and let's wrap it up. The longer they remain on hold the better. Don't let them stay on hold for longer than a few minutes without picking up the phone and letting them know you're interested in this load and trying to get it worked out while you have them on hold, and thank them for their patience. The longer they are on hold, the more time and effort they have invested in selling this load to you, the more they want to wrap it up and move onto the next load. An extra ten minutes of "hold" time with each load will generate a lot of extra $$ every time.

BOOK & CD Package

Book & CD Package $49.00 USD

Cortes on Recruiting and Retention II

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Continued from Part I - Senor Cortes on Recruiting and Retention

Cortes may not have been the most qualified to lead the expedition. Though he was experienced and renowned for his courage, another reason for his appointment was his promise to help finance the expedition. Cortes emptied his personal wealth and poured it into the trip. He mortgaged his lands. He called on friends to both help prepare for the trip and to join his small army.

The first land Cortes and his crew of 508 men spotted was the coast of Yucatan, at one time the central nervous system of the Mayan empire. Cortes had ordered his scouts to the coast a month ahead of time to travel to the borders of the Aztec Empire to see what sort of trouble they might face when they approached to pillage the Aztec gold. They set up camp on the beach and prepared for the perilous journey ahead into the heart of the Aztec's and waited for the scouts to return to the coast with their report.

As Cortes' men waited for the scouts and prepared horses, guns and provisions for the nearly 200 mile inland journey, some curious local tribesmen had visited the encampment.  The subject of Montezuma, gold and armies were the main topic of discussion.  The locals told them of Montezuma's city of gold, the homes were decorated with and the streets were paved with gold.  They were amazed with the white, bearded man's peculiar interest in gold.  They also told them of Montezuma's fearless army, some 10,000-20,000 men strong by the locals count.
Within a few days the scouts returned, and they met with Cortes in the conquistadors large tent.  Some of the Cortes' men, eager to learn what they were facing, hid behind the tent and listened carefully to the discussion.  The scouting report was worse than any had imagined, Montezuma's army numbered well over 100,000 men, armed with spears, bows and arrows.  Although the expedition was well armed with guns and a large cannon, victory with 500 men vs. 100,000 well trained warriors, seemed an impossible feat.  Cortes took all of this in, swore his scouts to secrecy, and retired to his tent for the evening.

Cortes, meanwhile, weighed his options. He faced imprisonment or death for defying the governor, Velasquez,  if he returned to Cuba.  Cortes knew the want of gold and riches was not a big enough motivator for his men to face such a daunting task.  They were Soldiers of Fortune, not the soldiers one needed in such a battle.  All the gold in the world is worth nothing to a dead man.  The best soldiers are the soldiers who are fighting for God, Country and for the safety of their homes and family.

Cortes decided to take a walk on the outskirts of the encampment and try and get a feel on his men and their  morale.  The men who had been eavesdropping on the scouts and Cortes, had of course spread the word quickly about the 100,000 plus warriors.  Panic ensued within the men and everyone felt Cortes had surely lost his mind if he wanted to proceed, and there was no amount of gold worth marching into a certain slaughter.  They knew his situation at home in Cuba, but they were merely following Cortes' orders when they set sail from Cuba, and felt any of the consequences of joining Cortes would be dismissed.  The majority of them came to the conclusion, that life was good enough in Cuba, and it was time to return to their families and plantations.

Cortes knew his only option was to move forward with the expedition, he knew Velasquez's anger at his disobedience would be cooled off by returning with ship loads of gold, of which the Cuban Governor would get his fair share, of course. 

Hernando Cortes had heard all of this mutinous planning discussed at length by his men well into the late evening.  They had finally decided to seize all the ships at first light and sail back to Cuba, with or without Cortes.  Cortes, in a bold stroke of genius, sent his personal entourage of 50 loyal soldiers to the ships in the darkness.
He ordered his men to set all 11 ships on fire and send them out to sea.
They followed Cortes' orders, set the ships on fire, pushed them out to sea, and watched them burn and eventually sink, in a glorious sight in the darkness.

The next morning, Cortes and his army of 508 men marched toward Montezuma.


How does this relate to the trucking industry's seemingly never ending battle with recruiting and retention?  Join us here on Monday, September 24th to explore more on this fascinating subject.

Negotiating with Freight Brokers.  Gain much needed additional revenue by learning superior negotiating skills - Order Today!

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Book & CD Package $49.00 USD

18 Wheels of Justice Series available at: 18 Wheels of Justice

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Cortez on Recruiting and Retention

I imagine if he were alive today, Hernando Cortes would be a popular senator, a good spokesman and consumer for Captain Morgan, or perhaps, if he had the courage, he would be a successful Driver/Owner operator recruiter.  A recruiters job today is as daunting and challenging as any, and they must possess a unique set of abilities to lead, inspire and manage people.  Please join me as we go back a few centuries into an abridged version of the adventures of Senor Cortes in "New World" Mexico.

Cortes or Cortez, both acceptable versions of his name, found himself in Cuba circa 1517, after playing a role under Velasquez in the acquisition of Cuba for Spain. 

Cortes was a great leader of men.  He had an uncanny ability to recruit and inspire.  He found himself in Cuba, helping to set up the new government and closely guarding and organizing this exciting new asset for Spain.  Rumors had been spreading for decades in Cuba about the bountiful gold and treasures available to anyone who dared to venture into Mexico. 

Cortes, with a burning desire to make a name for himself, not to mention a blood lust for gold, starting putting together his own expedition into the golden hills of nearby Mexico.  He set out to put together a army of 500 men, and as any good recruiter will tell you, you start by defining and getting an understanding of your quarry. 

Cortes focused on the sons of wealthy sugar plantation owners.  They were plentiful in 15th Century Cuba and they had plenty of time on their hands.  He inspired them with tales of riches, gold and beautiful women from coast to golden coast.  These young men were easily regaled and intrigued with his tales and signed on easily.  Most were eager to make a name and a fortune for themselves, as most young men are...  Word spread quickly among these men, and soon Cortes had more than the 500 he needed and prepared for the expedition to conquer modern day Mexico... Learn the drastic retention steps he implemented.  Post continued Wednesday this week, don't forget to sign up for a free email subscription.

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