August 15, 2011

How Will Branding Affect Your Company?

A complete overhaul of our company was done just under a year ago. It isn’t exactly easy to lose the brand you are familiar with and attached to but with the purchase of PTR by Lions Gate, a change was definitely in order. It demands a lot of confidence in your company, your client base and the firm in charge of redesigning your image and marketing you. A lot of work, back and forth phone calls and meetings were required to make certain everything was perfect... not to mention I personally was flooded with the workload associated with the change of a huge fleet registration and the identification of our equipment and facilities.

Although the initial steps of our company’s’ revamping was a little overwhelming, once it was all said and done, it has actually made things much easier. I climbed the mountain and now it’s all downhill from here. I have no more need to record equipment under different business names, which simplifies the steps necessary in various transactions we do.

When the Trailer Wizards name was revealed to the public, there was a wave of astonishment that made people smile... it’s great internally and maybe more importantly, nationwide. The reaction we received let us know what we have created is memorable and allows us to stand out. I even received an email with a photo of a magician. It was premonitory, since this unusual name has run very quickly across the country and now we are the leader across Canada. The competition is looking at our evolution with envy.

Now that we are approaching our first year anniversary, I am curious to hear your opinions on our new corporate identity.

Renée Lapointe
Supervisor Assets / Customer Support Group

August 2, 2011

Can you effectively blend process with passion?

Like most companies, the passion and expertise we have for the business we’re in is what sustains and differentiates us from others in our respective industries. In our case, there is a lot of competition from the oil and mining industries for skilled trades but we have managed to retain our key people. However, our recent expansion to three facilities in BC, created an immediate need to increase our workforce. It is an ongoing challenge that relies heavily on successfully integrating existing talent with new people and processes.

There is very little formal education available for Commercial Trailer mechanics. Our existing journeymen typically learned “on the job” over many years and include: body men that can fabricate, shape and retain structures, reefer technicians, electrical wiring experts, welders, and tire specialists... to name a few. Fortunately, we retained our senior tradesmen that are the key to training our new hires but we needed to develop new processes to train the new hires to help them be productive more quickly.

A “hit the ground running” approach was our mandate. Here are a few of the things we did to help us expand our workforce quickly and effectively:

• Incentive programs for apprenticeship recruits including fully equipped tool boxes
• In-house training programs that lead to Industry certified qualifications and Inter-Provincial Red Seal certifications
• Careful selection of candidates who were the right fit for our culture
• Putting the necessary processes in place to create immediate tasks the new hires could perform, while they were being trained for higher skilled tasks

Striking the right balance of process and performance will continue to be a key focus for our business... and yours. So the answer is yes! You can initiate new processes and still maintain the team atmosphere that built your company. As a matter of fact, it is critical to future growth and the ability to provide a consistent, quality service.

Bart Dueck
Manager, British Columbia

July 5, 2011

Ten tips to better management!

I’ve seen a lot of people come and go in this industry. My observation, is that the best listeners are the ones that go the distance. Don’t get me wrong, I have great respect for those with the “gift for gab” but in our business, that’s just not enough.

The subject came up over a business lunch the other day. It started with a discussion about sales people and what it takes to be successful in this industry. Over the years, I’ve seen sales people from all types of backgrounds, with all types of personalities. You can be a farmer, a hunter, great at finding the business or great at maintaining the business. There is a place for every type, but if you don’t truly listen to what your customer is saying... you won’t last.

This goes for managing people as well. We have very low turnover of staff within our organization. Even with the transition from several regional companies to a national entity; our greatest asset, our people, stayed on. It’s a big deal and has made us stronger as a company. No amount of education or training can replace that kind of stability, history, and experience.

Like most managers, one of my daily duties is problem solving. I would like to share a few basics I’ve learned on my journey to becoming a better manager:

1. Don’t assume, and get all the facts from the source(s) before making a decision
2. Hire the right people for the job and let them do it, offering guidance as required
3. Trust your instincts and manage with consistency and integrity
4. If you get the opportunity to break down the walls that divide your team (either physically or metaphorically) don’t hesitate
5. Keep your team informed about the vision, the dangers and the opportunities your company is facing on a regular basis. Make them part of the solution
6. Making the right decision is often the hardest decision, but they get easier with time, confidence and experience
7. Do what you say, when you say it, and your team will follow
8. There are always ways to improve... the finer details matter
9. Keep an open mind. It is the essential ingredient in becoming a better listener
10. Treat your people with respect and they will be there for you, when you need them most

We’re all in this together. To me, a collaborative approach, where we help each other through the challenges we face daily, is a great philosophy and culture to embrace.

Steve Nash
GM/VP Ontario

June 30, 2011

I love it when a plan comes together

I’ve been managing the Edmonton location for 24 years. We have grown to almost 30 people and built a new facility to better serve our customers, 6 years ago.

Located in the heart of the city, with a 15 acre yard, our proximity to the oil fields and diamond mines makes our business quite different from our other locations across Canada. The equipment we bring in is truly diversified and much is specific to the oil industry that our Edmonton based customers’ serve. They include trombones, low-beds, boosters, jeeps, flat decks and of course, standard vans and reefers.

We have the unique position of having more family oriented employees here. Folks that put a higher value on life balance than the bigger wages offered to the north. I would say our customers fit our culture in a similar fashion. We have relationships that go back to the very start. They have come to trust us and value what we add as individuals and as a company.

The future looks good. We are ordering new equipment to meet rising customer demand. We listen closely to their requirements and spec the trailers accordingly. I think asking the right questions and really listening to our customers is what keeps us on top of our game and moving forward. It’s probably a good formula for success for any business... simply, listen and learn!

Our service shop turned around 200 trailers last month which speaks to how efficient our team can be. We’ll gear up again this winter for a high percentage of our fleet to run the ice roads up to the diamond mines north of here. New trailers keep rolling in, and our loyal customers and employees communicate as needed to make the ever changing supply/demand equation come together. It’s all in a day’s work for our seasoned team here at Trailer Wizards, Edmonton.

Gary Myroniuk
Edmonton, General Manager

June 14, 2011

Fully committed to semi-trailers

This is my life and has been since I was a teenager. I love what I do and as a sales professional still enjoy the hunt for a new customer and discovering better solutions. My history in the business and in depth understanding of semi- trailers, of all types and configurations, allows me to do what I do, well.

I’m VP of Sales Development for our company, but I also get involved in developing the specifications on the trailers we add to our fleet. Today, the various trailer manufacturers are doing a magnificent job at designing trailers that last longer and meet our clients' needs more specifically. Although plate trailers have been around for twenty years, today they are more common and more affordable. The only reason to use the traditional post and panel construction is for insulated, temperature controlled vans.

Logistics side posts are standard on all of our 53’ vans. We are also adding trailer skirts to help our customers, help the environment. There are many variables, but typically trailer skirts create fuel savings of between 4 and 7 %. There is legislation making skirts mandatory on new equipment running to California, a key lane segment for many of our transborder customers.

Semi-trailers, destined for the food sector, are equipped with roll up doors and flat floors. Temperature controlled requirements typically have swing or barn doors and duct flooring for better circulation. Our latest order of trailers, included high end aluminum 3 axle flatbeds from Macs and 53’ Quad flatbeds from Manac. In the van category, we took delivery of tridem plate trailers from Great Dane and plate and reefer vans in both tandem and tridem configurations from Vanguard. All great manufacturers, all great product and all specked to our customers varied requirements.

During my two decades in this industry, I’ve seen a lot of change. Today, we work closer than ever with our customers to find better ways to do things. What are we doing wrong is the best question to ask to enable us to do things right, consistently. We’re all in this together. A trailer isn’t much good without power to haul it. That is why it’s called a semi-trailer. I wouldn’t have this great career without my customers... maybe my title should be semi-salesman!

Mark Diamantopoulos
Vice President of Sales Development

June 2, 2011

Atlantic Canada is different... in a good way!

I have spent most of my career within the transportation sector, here in Atlantic Canada. People from outside the region often comment on the laid-back and friendly demeanour of the people who populate our four Atlantic provinces of New Brunswick, PEI, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland/Labrador. We take that as a compliment!

Community is extremely important here, and for the most part, there is a level of trust in doing business that is specific to our region. I was with a customer who commented “ I’ll sign the paperwork you need, but whether I’m renting one trailer or leasing a whole fleet, my deal is with you and we’ll close the deal with a handshake. I don’t care if it’s a hundred dollars or a million dollars, that’s how I do business.” This is the way things are done here, it has been that way for as long as I can remember. It may change with younger generations coming up through the ranks but, today, it is very much a part of our culture.

In Atlantic Canada, it is quite acceptable to drop in on a customer or supplier without an appointment. Quite common, as a matter of fact, and I always feel welcome to do so. It’s that kind of atmosphere. At our main facility in Moncton, my staff do their best to make customers feel welcome. We have a lounge area with a big screen TV, free coffee, and snack machines for drivers waiting for their trailers to be repaired at our 7 bay facility. We operate from 7:30 to midnight and are starting a weekend shift, to accommodate tourist traffic (out of province truckers passing through that might need their trailer repaired). We are a service organization, after all, and it truly is the way of Atlantic Canadians.

At this point, our staff, mechanics, and the drivers who bring their trailers in for repair, are pretty much all from Atlantic Canada. Often, those that leave us find their way back here to retire. It’s a different kind of life, and a great place to do business. I’m hoping it stays that way, for generations to come.

Dave Skaarup
VP Atlantic Canada

May 20, 2011

The Wizards of Change

When I look back at 2010, it’s hard to believe how much change we managed over a 12 month period. A new name, a unifying new brand, a nationwide internal and external launch and all this while we were making our way out of a recession and amalgamating a major acquisition into our ranks.

What did I learn? Plenty. Probably the greatest lesson was realizing the importance of regular and meaningful dialogue with our customers and fellow team members across Canada. It is what drove our executive to initiate this blog and share what we’re thinking and doing to continue our journey as individuals and as a company.

It’s new ground for us but we believe it is a necessary part of our communication strategy and we are encouraging our Wizards Canada-wide to participate. Subjects will range from tips for effective asset management, to the benefits of a preventative maintenance program. We’ll share the latest advancements in fuel saving techniques and innovations across our industry that have an effect on the optimization of your fleet. Our executive will share our experience in managing change, fostering employee development and implementing technological advances that have a universal impact on business.

Thank you for reading our inaugural blog. We look forward to your comments and trust you will continue reading entries on The Wiz Blog!

Richard Harvey
VP Quebec