DISASTER RESPONSE PLANNING

/in , , , /by
It sounds awful, doesn’t it? Disaster, that’s something we see on the news, nothing that will ever happen to me or my business, right?
Over my 33-year career in the waste and recycling industry, I experienced a multitude of disasters. Our office burned down, 4 trucks had crippling fires onboard, trucks went over on their sides, accidents, disposal sites shutting down, and others I do not care to recount. One night while walking out to my truck, I watched a tornado across the street narrowly miss our property where all our carts and trucks were parked. Take it from me, it can happen to you.
I hope none of you ever have to experience any of these things but if you’re in the business long enough, something is bound to happen. Are you ready? Let’s take a look at a few things you can do to make sure you are prepared in the event of such tragedies.
First off, how’s your relationship with your fellow haulers? If you haven’t made an effort to reach out to a competitor who could be an ally, do so. Talk about these things and what you could do to help each other in the event of an emergency. Some will be uninterested, but others who are willing to talk with you may turn into a great ally in the future. You may even work together to secure contracts you would not otherwise have been able to secure on your own. Recently, one of the members of the Facebook group Mom and Pop trash business for dummies experienced a heartbreaking fire. They reached out to the friends in the group and were met with help from all sides. This is an incredible way for all of us to help each other no matter where we are located.
Second, build a relationship with a heavy equipment dealer who has equipment similar to what you are using close at hand. Open an account with them if you haven’t already so if disaster strikes, you don’t have to wait for credit approval! In addition to dealers, find out who the closest refuse equipment rental company is to your location and again, open an account. In our industry, you can’t just go down to Main Street and get a truck, they are sometimes hard to come by.
The most important part of a disaster response plan is to document what to do if and when disaster strikes. My friend and business partner can laugh now about putting our plan together. We sat down, locked the door, turned off the phones and brainstormed every potential disaster that could befall our humble company. You have to know us to understand how much laughter went into that process but suffice to say that we came up with quite a list. Fortunately, not much of it ever came to pass but we were ready! We had documented everything from loss of equipment or offices to loss of life and what we would do step by step following any of the occurrences. This plan was put in print and all of our employees had access to it. After all, it did include the possibility of John and I perishing while in the same vehicle on our way back from lunch at Five Guys.
I hope none of you has to deal with the worst of what can happen but if you do, be prepared. If you would like to talk more about how to put together a disaster response plan, we would love to talk with you!
Ed Dryfhout
ed@vantholenassociates.com
vantholenassociates.com
#afriendinthebusiness
Below is a picture from 1989. It is a route sheet that survived a fire. While this was before the common use of computers, it is a good reminder to have your data backed up in multiple locations. Fortunately, only the edges were singed. The route sheet was just legible enough to stop follow. More to come on fire in future episodes.

CRAZY TIMES IN VEGAS, BABY!

/in , , , , /by

 

 

WasteExpo is happening next week in Las Vegas, NV.   This annual gathering of waste professionals from across the world always provides a great time to get away and get a new perspective on our industry.

But many will say their biggest purpose in going to Vegas is the partying.  After all, “What Happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”, right?   While having fun is certainly important, the value you go home with is much greater than winning (?) at the craps table.

I attended my first WasteExpo in 1968 (I was very young), and I still walk around the show floor in amazement at the shiny trucks like I did so long ago.   But, I now have a whole different perspective when I realize the cost of these glittering works of art, and the complexity involved in getting materials picked up at the curb and recycled, landfilled or incinerated.

Besides the lights, the give-aways, the food and drink, here are few things to consider as you spend time at WasteExpo:

Visit with vendors. An obvious one. Ask questions. Open your mind to new ways of doing things.  Don’t be blindly loyal to just one make or model of truck, compactor or container, but weigh carefully the advantages offered by the alternatives.

Visit the big company’s booths.  Talk to them, ask questions, get some insight in the way they do business.  Who knows, you may get invited to their private parties!  I remember seeing the Doobie Brothers and REO Speedwagon at WasteExpo in years past!

Visit with old friends.  Look for the folks you’ve passed along the way  in your career.  See what they are up to.  Grab a drink and learn something new.  Seek out your competitors and get to know them on an entirely different level.  Today’s competitors can become tomorrow’s friends!

Make new friends.  Don’t be bashful!  Introduce yourself to people looking at the same products you are.  Ask questions about their business, you may find some great ideas from someone across the state or across the country facing the same challenges you are.

Take in a conference session or two, or ten!   It may be hard to sit inside a building all day while its sunny and warm outside, learning about the latest trends in the industry, the newest technology, the best way to manage employees, these are all topics you will hear discussed.  Get the most of your investment by hearing from some of the best minds in the industry.

So, if you come for the gambling, OK.  But you can leave a winner if you have a plan and organize your time and attend WasteExpo in an intentional manner.  And make sure, What Happens in Vegas DOESN’T Stay in Vegas!  Bring home some solid ideas to improve your business!

 

Insurance Broke?

/in , , , /by
We have all heard the term, “Insurance Broke.” But have you ever heard of anyone going “broke” due to not having the right insurance? Today, we are going to look at required and recommended insurance coverage. Each state may have particular requirements or regulations, so always speak with an insurance professional well versed in your state’s insurance rules before making any insurance decisions.
INSURANCE COVERAGE THAT IS NECESSARY IN THE WASTE INDUSTRY
• Business Auto, coverage to protect you and your employees driving company owned vehicles, covering bodily injury and liability, property damage and other risks associated with operating vehicles in your business. EXAMPLE: Your driver cuts a corner short and damages a customer’s building and landscaping. This coverage pays for the damage to be repaired.
• General Liability protects you company if your business is involved in bodily injury or property damage. This coverage is often part of a larger “Commercial Package.” EXAMPLE: A customer slips and falls in your parking lot and receives a concussion. This coverage will pay the medical bills and defend your company in a lawsuit.
• Worker’s Compensation, pays medical expenses of employees injured on the job, replaces most of lost wages due to a work-related injury, and provides life insurance benefits after an on-the-job loss of life. Workers Compensation also covers ongoing care such as physical therapy. EXAMPLE: Your driver gets his arm caught in the hopper of your truck and requires extensive surgery. This coverage will pay the medical bills and provide compensation to the driver while he is off work.
• Inland Marine, many times a part of a larger commercial package, provides coverage for equipment that is transported over land, or is at a location other than your address. In the waste industry this would apply mostly to carts, containers, compactors, and other equipment installed at a customer’s location. EXAMPLE: a rolloff container at a remote location catches fire and the paint is burned off and the walls warped. This coverage will cover the cost of needed repairs to the container.
INSURANCE COVERAGE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED IN THE WASTE INDUSTRY
• Business interruption. Will pay the extraordinary expenses to continue operations in the event of a loss which otherwise will cause interruption for the operation. This could be part of a larger “Commercial Package.” EXAMPLE: A worldwide pandemic occurs and your whole staff is out sick. This coverage would cover the loss of income incurred due to the inability to perform services for your customers.
• Umbrella Coverage extends the coverage limits for many liability policies. Umbrella Coverage is often required under certain commercial, industrial, and municipal contracts.
• Pollution Liability, also commonly referred to as environmental insurance, helps protect businesses from unexpected pollution exposures that may not be covered by standard casualty and property policies. In the Waste Industry, Pollution Liability Insurance can be important in the event of a diesel, hydraulic oil or other leakage that can potentially cause an environmental cleanup. EXAMPLE: One of your trucks has a leaking hydraulic hose and sprays several lawns in a high-end HOA. This policy would pay for the cleanup and the replacement of the damaged lawns.
• Cyber Coverage, Protection for liability if confidential information is stolen via an intrusion into your computer network.
• Key Employee. Covers the loss experienced by the company in the unexpected death of a key employee who may be difficult or expensive to replace. EXAMPLE: your lead mechanic dies, and you now need to out-source equipment repairs until a replacement is found. Proceeds from this policy could be used to pay the additional expense of the outsourcing.
• Buy – Sell agreements funded by life insurance. This coverage enables shareholders to pay the survivors of a shareholder who has died for their portion of the business.
• Employment Practices Liability. Protect the company from inappropriate conduct, misrepresentations, or dishonesty on the part of an employee. EXAMPLE: An employee flirts with a customer’s employee and you are sued for harassment. This coverage would cover your expenses to defend this case and pay any damages.
• Employee Benefits Liability. Covers the company’s expenses in the event of an error in administering employee benefits. EXAMPLE: When a new employee was hired, a health insurance application was lost, and they were never properly enrolled. This policy would cover your expenses in covering any health expenses this employee had while he was not covered when he should have been.
• Employee Dishonesty. Protects the company from loss due to the dishonest of an employee. EXAMPLE: an employee services customers using your equipment and pockets the money. Once caught and prosecuted, this coverage would compensate for the loss the company incurred from providing the work and not seeing the income from that work.
SPECIAL COVERAGE
• Bid Bond. Often required by municipalities, a Bid Bond is a guarantee that a bid that is provided by a contractor is a serious bid. If a company is awarded a bid but fails to fulfill the terms of the bid and commence certain activities by a certain date, the bond holder (the municipality) can collect on the bond to cover expenses incurred due to the inability of the contractor to meet its bid commitment.
• Performance Bond, Often required as part of a municipal bid, a Performance Bond is a policy the contractor will provide to the municipality which will pay the city’s expenses if the contractor defaults on the terms of the contract.
So, insurance is a major expense if you want to conduct you business at the highest level of quality and professionalism. Do not get caught short. Having the wrong coverage or being under protected can cost thousands and thousands of dollars, or even your entire business. As a company grows, the risks only get greater. Do yourself a favor and review your coverage with an insurance professional soon and make sure you are adequately covered.
May be an image of 6 people, people standing and railroad
0
People reached
0
Engagements
–
Distribution score
Boost post
Like

Comment
Share

Boy, I’ve been guilty of this….

/in , /by

From the Harvard Business Review:

 

Overcome Your Team’s Resistance to Change

Many teams suffer from “active inertia” — the tendency to seek comfort in the old ways of doing things, even when the world around you is changing. To help your employees meet the moment, there are two techniques you might try.

• The “foot-in-the-door” technique. Start by asking people to do something small or easy. By agreeing to the request, and then meeting it, they develop a sense of commitment and confidence that makes them more enthusiastic about agreeing to the next (bigger) request. In other words, the path to big change is paved by lots of small steps and little bets — each of which builds on what’s come before.

• The “door-in-the-face” technique. With this approach, you ask your employees to do something even more demanding than what you actually have in mind. The idea is that by setting aspirations that seem extreme, you can push people to perform at a level — and creatively solve problems — that would have otherwise felt unachievable. This often pushes people to imagine innovations or work-arounds they wouldn’t think of in the normal course of business.

This tip is adapted from “Persuading Your Team to Embrace Change,” by Bill Taylor

What does the trash business and the Russian army have in common?

/in , , /by
There are many similarities between business and the military and war. One of the great business and leadership books is “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu. Terms like strategic and tactical planning, chain of command and the emphasis on training are interchangeable between business and the military objectives.
This article in the link below from CNN is a great story about how neglected maintenance affected the Russian army’s advance into Ukraine.
What lessons can we learn from this article?
Ed Dryfhout ed@vantholenassociates.com

Brushing teeth and fixing trucks?

/in , /by
The Importance of Preventative Maintenance
Let me ask you a question. Do you brush your teeth? Most people do on a fairly regular basis, but why? You don’t go to the dentist and find out you have 3 cavities only to go home and brush frantically in hopes of making them go away. By then, the damage is done. You brush your teeth 2-3 times per day to PREVENT the cavities.
The same goes for preventative maintenance on your equipment. Your equipment, like your teeth, are some of the most valuable assets you have. To lose them (your teeth or equipment) would be devastating. So, what are some things you can do to be proactive in your maintenance? Let’s take a look.
Our last 2 posts talked about pre and post trip inspections. That’s where you catch the immediate problems that may become bigger problems. If you aren’t engaging in this practice, start right away.
One of the most important things you can do as the person responsible for such precious assets is initiate a preventative maintenance schedule. There are software programs that can automate things for you and track service items, labor hours, parts costs etc. In future posts, we’ll talk about how you can actually measure and manage these things. (Imagine that!) Remember the phrase, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” If you are just starting out and maybe don’t have the budget for that yet, start with old fashioned paper or white board and markers. Look in your owner’s manual to find service intervals specific to your equipment and set up the schedules for those items. Some are tracked by hours, others track by miles. If you have implemented the pre and post trip inspections and your operators are handing in their inspection sheets daily, then you can track the hours and miles and set up the time when you will service your equipment.
Follow your service manual to determine what needs to be done at different intervals. For example, you need to grease things like cart tippers, automated arms and packer blades often. Oil changes and other items are less frequent and won’t be done at every service. The main things you want to be paying attention to at these services are tires, fluids, hoses, brakes, lights, belts and high wear items like floors and hoppers. These are the things that will cost you precious time out on the road if not addressed at the shop. A blown tire, ruptured hydraulic hose, or an out of service violation from a DOT officer for bad brakes will cost you hours and precious dollars.
There’s a lot to unpack here so in the coming weeks we will brake (see what I did there?) it down even further and get into the nitty gritty of what to be on the lookout for when you’re crawling under, around and on top of your equipment. Until next time, don’t forget to brush!
Ed Dryfhout
ed@vantholenassociates.com

Van Tholen and Associates
May be an image of indoor
0
People reached
0
Engagements
–
Distribution score
Boost post
Like

Comment
Share

Pre-Trip Inspections, Continued…

/in , /by

Last time, we talked about the importance of pre-trip inspections.  I hope you gave some thought to the idea and that in addition to it being required, it’s also just good business. I know it seems like extra time in the morning but it really can save you hours down the road.

 

So, you’ve decided you’re going to take the leap and start disciplining yourself and the rest of your team members to do the same. What are the things you need to have on board while doing your pre-trip inspection?

 

First of all you need a good pre-trip inspection booklet. You can find these on various websites like JJ Keller, who has inspection booklets designed specifically for refuse trucks. They will have carbon copies so that one copy will stay with the booklet in the truck and the other copy can be handed in after the post trip inspection. We’ll talk about that soon as well!

 

Last time we talked about inspecting tires, lights, hoses and belts. I also want to touch on some important safety items. You need to have an approved type ABC fire extinguisher on board that is fully charged and has been Inspected by a certified fire professional in the last year. If you have never experienced a fire on your truck, good for you! It can be a devastating event to your business.

 

You will also want to have a set of three DOT approved triangle reflectors. Any local truck dealer or heavy duty parts shop should have these. In the event of a breakdown, you will need to have these on board so you can display them facing oncoming traffic.

 

The next thing you will need to make sure of is that your license plate registration is up-to-date along with your insurance certificate. Check the dates on the paperwork on board to make sure they are current. This is the first thing a motor carrier officer will ask for.

 

The officer will also ask to see the paperwork on your annual DOT inspection. This inspection needs to be performed by a licensed heavy duty mechanic. It will include a check sheet of all of the FMVSS (federal motor vehicle safety standards)items that were inspected. Also, an annual DOT inspection sticker needs to be posted in a conspicuous area on the cab of the truck.

 

If you don’t have maintenance software that logs the renewal information, make sure you come up with a system for reminding yourself to have this done. It can be as simple as a Google calendar reminder 2 to 3 weeks prior to the expiration date.

 

I hope this helps to give you a framework of what you need for a good foundation for a pre-trip inspection program. If you’d like to talk more, please contact us at vantholenassociates.com.  I look forward to helping you!

 

Ed Dryfhout

ed@vantholenassociates.com

#afriendinthebusiness

The Importance of Pre-Trip Inspections

/in , /by

It’s 5 a.m., it’s 35 degrees and raining pretty hard.  Somebody just called in sick and so that’s one extra route to try to cover.  You better hit the road quick, right?  You looked over the truck as you were walking into the shop last night and everything seemed alright so it’s probably not worth taking the time now when you need to hit the road, right?

Beside the fact that pre trip inspections are a federally mandated regulation and there should be an inspection booklet on board and properly filled out, it’s just good practice.  So much can happen in between shifts.  Sometimes you may think gremlins have been active all night, letting air out of tires, severing wires to lights or rubbing hydraulic hoses together to the point where they will burst on the 3rd stop of the day.

It may seem like one more thing that will take time away from getting your customers picked up and getting done for the day but think about the potential downtime.  How long will you wait for a tire vendor or mobile repair service to show up at the farthest point from your shop and get you going again, an hour, maybe more?  5 -10 minutes in the morning can save you hours during the day.

Pre-inspection booklets should be kept in the truck and filled out after an inspection before leaving the yard.  The main things to look for are tire condition, operation of all lights, brakes, fluids, hoses, listen for air leaks and general operation. And don’t forget to look on the ground for fuel, coolant or oil leaks.  While the cart tipper functionality is not something a motor carrier officer will be looking at on a roadside stop, it is something that could cost you hours during the day but 5 minutes to fix before you take off.

Speaking of roadside stop, are you ready for that if it occurs?  If you haven’t filled out the pre-trip inspection, or don’t have it on board, there’s your first violation.  The day only gets longer form there.  Should that trigger a DOT audit, your week and month may get even longer.  A good friend of mine experienced such an audit.  The officer took an entire day calculating the fines.

So, before you leave, is it really worth skipping the pre-trip? If you need help setting up a pre-trip inspection policy, let us know, we’d be glad to help!

Ed Dryfhout

ed@vantholenassociates.com

#afriendinthebusiness

Vantholenassociates.com

Who are the “Associates”?

/in , , /by

I’m often asked, “who are the ‘Associates’ at Van Tholen & Associates?”  Let me introduce you to our leading “Associate”.

Ed Dryfhout and I were co-owners in a waste collection company for 17 years.  It was a great partnership, where Ed managed our fleet, and I managed sales and administration, and together with a remarkable staff, we shared responsibility in leadership and managing the day-to-day operations.

In Ed’s role as Fleet Manager, he spec’d our trucks and containers, managed maintenance and repair of our fleet, rebuilt collection vehicles, initiated our tire management program and undertook initiatives in the areas of safety, productivity and leadership that contributed to our company’s growth and health.

Now, he serves our clients with the knowledge and experience based on over 30 years in the waste industry.  From designing maintenance programs to making recommendations on products, services and procedures, Ed can help keep your fleet running reliably and effectively.

If you are faced with tough decisions regarding buying, selling or operating your equipment, Ed is here ready and willing to help, bringing you value by helping to manage your fleet better.  Reach out to us at Van Tholen & Associates to speak to Ed if you need to discuss improvements to your fleet management!  Call today at 616-813-1657 or fill out the contact form at vantholenassociates.com.

 

To Keep Your Best Employees, Ask Them These Questions

/in /by

From the Harvard Business Review:

 

If you’re serious about retaining the people on your team (as you should be), consider conducting “stay” interviews. These are discussions where you ask loyal employees key questions to understand how engaged they are. The information you gather can help you tackle common retention issues. Here are four questions to try:

  • What’s your frame of mind today? No matter what the response is — positive or negative — don’t negate their experience or move too quickly to solving a problem. Just listen, thank them for being honest, and ask for more information before moving toward a solution.
  • Who do you feel connected to at work? Based on their response, explore what you can do to help them deepen those connections. Perhaps people from different departments can work on a company-wide event, a cross-division initiative, or take part in virtual discussion groups.
  • What do you want to learn that will excite you and help you grow? This question signals that you care about their development and want to help them achieve their aspirations.
  • What barriers can I remove for you to help you do your job better? Then brainstorm with your colleague how you can be most helpful. Ensuring people can do their jobs well is just as important as praise and rewards.
This tip is adapted from “What Stops People on Your Team from Leaving?,” by Sabina Nawaz