Page 50 - ATR 2 2020 digital

THE LAST WORD

The Truth of Full Shelves

By Alan Riels on the shelves when we needed them. job they do for all of us on a daily

Guest Writer But items don’t appear on shelves just basis but especially in times of crisis.
because we wish for them as many As business owners and executives,
When I was consumers learned when they stormed we have to think outside of the box to
asked to contribute the stores looking for a crate of hand take care of drivers right now as they
to the Arkansas sanitizer. No, someone is analyzing our navigate multiplied struggles. Many
Trucking Report, my buying patterns, anticipating our needs companies have already done this.
first thought was based on past behaviors and sending How? When the driver doesn’t ask for
“With everything I drivers to deliver everything we expect much, sometimes, a simple ‘thank you’
have going on and to see. That’s the truth of full shelves, goes a long way. We can also help them
what this country and we should never forget it. by managing some of their additional
and our industry is Under normal conditions, drivers expenses. We can supply them with
facing, I do not have time.” However, I deal with struggles most of us can’t some healthy food because we need
realized time is an important resource I imagine. Under abnormal conditions, them to stay strong and live long,
can contribute to The Driver. multiply those struggles by 10. prosperous lives. Maybe we can pay a
I have been in the industry for 37 A normal struggle: they are away bonus to compensate for even longer
years and have been a business owner from home longer than any of us would hours they are spending away from
for 20 years. As an “old school” person agree to. home during these trying times.
in a “new school” world, I have seen the A multiplied struggle: We expect The most important thing for all
perception of truck driving jobs change. them to keep the goods moving, even Americans to understand is just how
At times, they have been considered when rest areas around the country important the driver is to us all every
a-dime-a-dozen, and other times, driv- shut down. Instead of using clean day—to recognize the struggles that
ing is rightly recognized as one of the restrooms, they are forced to take their drivers manage on the way to stocking
most important jobs in the American bathroom breaks in port-a-potties. our shelves. Without Trucks, America
supply chain. For far too long, I believe A normal struggle: they have to Stops. Without the driver, the truck is
the driver has been taken for granted, plan carefully to find healthy meals on no good. I realize you are the choir, and
and it is a shame that it takes some- the road. my sermon is for Americans that have
thing like COVID-19 disrupting the A multiplied struggle: Restaurants taken the driver for granted for far too
supply chain for our nation to realize up and down the highway have closed long. Please, spread the word of how
how important our drivers are to us all. their dining rooms to prevent the spread important the driver is to this great
We ask drivers to leave their of the virus. Drivers can’t move their country we call the UNITED STATES of
families for days, and in some cases trucks through the remaining chain AMERICA.
for weeks, to deliver goods to keep drive thru routes, so some crawled out
our households and businesses run- of their cabs to walk up to the window
ning smoothly. Before COVID-19, we before being refused service. Alan Riels is the president and CEO of
Dedicated Logistics, LLC and a member of
all assumed things like diapers, toilet I say all of this just to bring the Arkansas Trucking Association Board
paper, milk and bread would all be attention to the driver and the great of Directors.

Opinions expressed on this page may not reflect official policies or opinions of the Arkansas Trucking Association or the American Trucking Associations.

50 Issue 2 2020 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT