Team Building
I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.
I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.
I am completely at your command.
Half the things you do, you might just as well turn over to me,
and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.
I am easily managed; you must merely be firm with me.
Show me exactly how you want something done, and after a few lessons I will do it automatically.
I am the servant of all great men.
And, alas, of all failures as well.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine.
Plus, the intelligence of a man.
You may run me for profit, or run me for ruin; it makes no difference to me.
Take me, train me, be firm with me and I will put the world at your feet.
Be easy with me, and I will destroy you.
Who am I?
-John Di Lemme
Habit! I was first introduced to this poem while reading The 7 Habits of Highly-Effective Teens. The power of the ideas presented in this poem is immense. Over the next several weeks, I will focus on the habits that we have that can make us or break us. For now, consider these questions inspired by the poem:
Which habits do you have that are both your greatest helper and heaviest burden?
What habits do you have that need a firm hand to manage?
What personality habits do you need to be aware of that may serve or not serve you?
Have a great week!
Chuck Ross
John Maxwell Certified Coach, Trainer, Speaker, and DISC consultant
chuckross.net
Author: Change? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!?
530-277-6161
“They themselves are makers of themselves.” James Allen
Employee Spotlight
Christina is this month’s VLC Rockstar! Christina started as a part time admin with VLC. She was hired to help ship our credentials. Very quickly, we realized her potential and moved her into a key role in fuel tax reporting. Christina is currently attending college and was tasked to create a flyer. Look at the amazing work Christina has done!
TripDAWG Fleet Management Brochure
This is an excellent example of the great work that Christina does for us. This one-page brochure is well-organized, concise, and informative with good visuals to help understand the benefits of a TripDAWG solution.
Our thanks to Christina for all her contributions!
Vehicle Licensing Consultants
A Virtual Projects, LLC Company
Fleet & Driver Compliance…Fleet Tracking Software
530-384-3884
Team Building
A little over a year ago, I did a presentation on “Effectively Dealing with Change” for a group of teachers from a school in Grass Valley. Within the opening minutes, as I was introducing the topic, a person asked the question: “Do you know something we don’t?” I suppose she really wanted to know if I was prepping them for some impending change.
Truthfully, I was there because of a common phenomenon that happens in schools and businesses around the globe: When people are presented with change, they automatically resist. New programs, initiatives, ideas, processes, and ways of thinking are often met with the answer, “No!.”
Within the 3 weeks after that presentation, schools closed due to COVID-19, their principal announced her retirement, and the superintendent took a job elsewhere.
Change stops for no one! But that doesn’t mean we can’t move forward successfully.
Some people (including many in my audience that day) view change as life altering doom. They liken change to a dream in which you are crossing a bridge high above a river valley and the bridge disappears, leaving you to fall into the valley below.
As you may well know, I see change a bit differently. I liken it to a river, alternating between straits and twists, calm and turbulent, peaceful and terrifying. But, no matter the condition of the river, it always moves toward its destination. It provides both continuity and change. Change doesn’t put the ground out from beneath us, unless we let it.
The coming year will bring change, both here at VLC and in our personal lives. How it affects us is largely based on how we view it. Will we choose to paddle through the rapids, or fall into a river canyon? I hope you will join me in paddling, sometimes slowly, and sometimes with great intensity, but paddling nonetheless.
Through change we can continually move forward.
What types of changes have challenged you the most?
Were they challenging because of the severity of the change or because of how you viewed the change?
Looking back from where you are now, were those changes positive?
Have a great week!
Chuck Ross
John Maxwell Certified Coach, Trainer, Speaker, and DISC consultant
chuckross.net
Author: Change? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!?
530-277-6161
“They themselves are makers of themselves.” James Allen
Clearinghouse, EPN Service
Clearinghouse
All employers who operate interstate and intrastate commercial vehicles must query the Clearinghouse for any current or prospective employee who is planning to operate a CMV on public roads. Employers are also required to query the Clearinghouse annually for each driver currently employed.
EPN Program
In addition, the California DMV requires all employers of CMV drivers to participate in the EPN (Employer Pull Notice) Program. Carriers must have an up-to-date EPN report in each of their driver’s file.
What is Employer Pull Notice?
Companies based in California or have terminals in California and employ drivers that are operating with a CDL are REQUIRED to acquire an EPN Account through the CA DMV. An owner operator who is running under his/her own name (not as an LLC or Corporation) is exempt from registering an account.
Our Services Can Save You Time & Money
At VLC, we help our clients navigate the ever-changing requirements and complexities of compliance. We are an experienced Agency who will help you with all licensing, permits, driver, and fleet reporting requirements. We help you focus on your business, and can take the headache out of the compliance and reporting aspect.
VLC and the FMCSA Clearinghouse
As a third-party administrator for FMCSA means that VLC can run queries on your drivers and new prospects (as required by the FMCSA) through the Clearinghouse.
We know that navigating through Federal Websites is not always the most user-friendly experience. VLC has set up many accounts for both Companies and Drivers. We can navigate through out the application process with ease on your behalf.
VLC and the EPN Program
Companies are required to keep the most updated Driver Record in their employee’s driver files.
A Driver Record will reflect:
- DL#
- Individual characteristics (height, weight, eye color, hair color, etc.)
- DL Expiration date
- Potential Safety Red Flags: Convictions, Accidents, Suspension. Revocations, Failures to Appear
Drivers will be enrolled under their employer’s company Account number. A new driver record is generated when:
- There is a change to a driver’s record
- Convictions
- Failures to appear
- Accidents
- Driver license suspensions or revocations
- Any other actions taken against the driving privilege
- Add a new driver to employer’s account
- 12-month annual driver record
The benefits of an EPN account (other than it being a requirement):
- Improves public safety.
- Determines if each driver has a valid DL
- Reveals problem drivers or driving behavior
- Helps to minimize a company’s liability
Why VLC should be your EPN agent:
- We have a direct communication with the DMV electronically
- Overall management of account (driver’s and invoices)
- No chance of mail being missorted or lost in transit to appropriate terminal
- 48-hour turnaround time compared to DMV standard 10-15 business days
- Reduce the use of paper and postage
- Ability to add and delete drivers from account with just an email to VLC
- Stored as Secure Electronic copies of all driver records
- Direct agent contacts with EPN department at DMV that is not available to the general public
- Invoice Auditing
Put our 50+ years of experience to work for you. We have many happy clients who are eternally grateful for the time and money we have saved them! Contact us for details.
Vehicle Licensing Consultants
A Virtual Projects, LLC Company
Fleet & Driver Compliance…Fleet Tracking Software
530-384-3884
Team Building
When people talk about life being like a roller coaster, they often mean that there are good times and bad times. But, like life, roller coasters also speed up and slow down.
And right now, we at VLC are moving fast…very fast. We have been fielding calls, creating work orders, completing work orders, and working extended hours. Helping our customers is a great motivator, but sometimes we get in our own way.
The old saying goes, “Haste makes waste.” At this point in time, I think this saying is appropriate to consider.
Last week, we dealt with a situation where we were so intent on getting credentials to a customer, that we missed a form that was required by the DMV. We were like teen drivers who are so excited to get somewhere that they forget to fill up the tank with gas. There we were, stuck on the side of the road.
Also last week, we began training two new hires. At one point, I was showing one of our hires (Kristin) a “shortcut” on the Mac, since she had only ever used a PC. I fumbled through the “shortcut” several times before actually making it work. By the time I got done, it wasn’t a shortcut at all! It took 3 times as long! Kristin just looked at me and said, “You just need to slow your roll.”
I have heard this phrase many times, but it is really making an impression on me at this point in time. We tend to create more work for ourselves, when we try to do things fast.
I believe slowing things down just a little will make us more efficient, not less. Taking the time to double check documents and signatures is an example. Taking the time to compose an email that is polite and easy to understand is another. Ultimately, we want to make sure we are honoring our customers and each other. Yes, this may take an extra few minutes, but it will make a huge positive difference for all involved.
Focus on doing it right, not fast. This roller coaster is in our control. Let’s slow it down. Let’s slow our roll.
What situations make you react quickly? Is this when you make mistakes?
What stops you from being able to slow things down and take a deep breath?
Moving forward, what can you say to yourself to remind you to slow your roll?
Have a great week team!
Chuck Ross
John Maxwell Certified Coach, Trainer, Speaker, and DISC consultant
chuckross.net
Author: Change? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!?
530-277-6161
“They themselves are makers of themselves.” James Allen
