Carrier Recognition Suggestions

[Wildrose23]

Hello all,

I am a freight manager (broker) and am working on a carrier recognition program for my company. My question to the carriers on the forum is what would you like to receive as a recogntion of a job well done? We value our relationships with our carriers (drivers and office staff) and feel it appropriate to show our thanks because carriers are an important part of our business. I am looking at it from a monthly, quarterly and yearly view.

I should also mention we deal with carriers across Canada so it isnt possible to deliver things in person so looking for universal ideas.

All thoughts are welcome.

Thank you in advance for your time!

 

[TruckDuck]

Hello all,

I am a freight manager (broker) and am working on a carrier recognition program for my company. My question to the carriers on the forum is what would you like to receive as a recogntion of a job well done? We value our relationships with our carriers (drivers and office staff) and feel it appropriate to show our thanks because carriers are an important part of our business. I am looking at it from a monthly, quarterly and yearly view.

I should also mention we deal with carriers across Canada so it isnt possible to deliver things in person so looking for universal ideas.

All thoughts are welcome.

Thank you in advance for your time!

I’m retired now but when I was asset based I always appreciated gift baskets, chocolates or anything we could let everyone share.

 

[Igor Galanter]

It's a very good question..
If you want to make a point in appreciation, would be nice to be involved in a carrier appreciation day or week is that matter.
This way not only brass will be covered but drivers as well..
Also, if you can make some purchase allowance for your product ( if applicable) would be geat too.
If something else will pump in my head - will share later..

Pina colada time now, eh..

 

[EricG]

The best appreciation we can receive as a carrier is a freight bill paid in full on time, and referrals to new clients/fellow brokers. Both these items last way longer than a gift basket or a bottle imo.

Freight bills paid on time and referrals to new clients, means the carriers employees have jobs, work for a profitable cash flow positive growing company. In todays day an age, I would think employees appreciate stability at the workplace. No one likes hunting for a new job when your not expecting to be out of a job.

Good things happen at well run profitable company, employee appreciation days, company lunches, company clothing, solid medical and financial benefits etc... typically few of these are available when a company is struggling to get by.

just my personal 2 cents.

 

[MLCAR]

The best appreciation we can receive as a carrier is a freight bill paid in full on time, and referrals to new clients/fellow brokers.

couldn't have said it any better.

I like the approach of some brokers who have tiered systems with carriers, where they have done X amount of business with them with no issues and so they get into a tier of higher paying less headache loads. More so than appreciation, it out right sucks when you do everything in your power to service a broker and customer and make sure things are done right, only to have those loads all of a sudden dry up and in reality it was just handed over to another carrier for $50 bucks less.

 

[NTravels]

I was literally just thinking about this last night, and really enjoyed the read and ideas everyone put forward.

Does anyone do the Tim's gift card thing, or is that a little lame? lol

Hope you all have a terrific weekend, and the coming holidays are loaded with good times, and good cheer!

 

[Wildrose23]

I’m retired now but when I was asset based I always appreciated gift baskets, chocolates or anything we could let everyone share.

Thank you for your feedback, I will add it to my list

 

[Wildrose23]

It's a very good question..
If you want to make a point in appreciation, would be nice to be involved in a carrier appreciation day or week is that matter.
This way not only brass will be covered but drivers as well..
Also, if you can make some purchase allowance for your product ( if applicable) would be geat too.
If something else will pump in my head - will share later..

Pina colada time now, eh..

Thank you for your feedback, I am trying to find a way to include the drivers and the office staff as that is where the magic happens!

 

[Wildrose23]

The best appreciation we can receive as a carrier is a freight bill paid in full on time, and referrals to new clients/fellow brokers. Both these items last way longer than a gift basket or a bottle imo.

Freight bills paid on time and referrals to new clients, means the carriers employees have jobs, work for a profitable cash flow positive growing company. In todays day an age, I would think employees appreciate stability at the workplace. No one likes hunting for a new job when your not expecting to be out of a job.

Good things happen at well run profitable company, employee appreciation days, company lunches, company clothing, solid medical and financial benefits etc... typically few of these are available when a company is struggling to get by.

just my personal 2 cents.

I agree with all of this. Our company has been focusing on getting invoices paid ahead of payment terms as a standard this past year and we are making some headway and will continue to work on it. The referrals is something I will add to the list as well, good feed back, thank you!

 

[Wildrose23]

couldn't have said it any better.

I like the approach of some brokers who have tiered systems with carriers, where they have done X amount of business with them with no issues and so they get into a tier of higher paying less headache loads. More so than appreciation, it out right sucks when you do everything in your power to service a broker and customer and make sure things are done right, only to have those loads all of a sudden dry up and in reality it was just handed over to another carrier for $50 bucks less.

Thank you for this, I did see some companies are doing tiered systems with carriers and will look into it some more.

 

[DIETCOKE]

In my experience the gift baskets / gift card, etc do not make it to the office staff or drivers. Whatever comes through the front door stays in the back room.

If you wish to recognize drivers/ office staff, please ensure that your gifts are addressed in that manner.

Ask your shippers / receivers if they have received exceptional customer service from a CSR, dispatcher or driver. Get their name and send a small gift card. The little guy doesn't often get recognized.

 

[Igor Galanter]

The little guy doesn't often get recognized.

That is exactly what I'm talking about!

 

[tasuinam]

I am assest based - when I receive a note from a customer / broker that my driver did a great job - I include the note and a $15 gift card for Tims / Skip (we do it electronically and email it them )

As for your question - for the next year whenever you see a driver / dispatcher you feel should be rewarded do not wait for year end - send a gift card (now can do a mobile code for skip etc...) to the driver / dispatcher as a thank you -

 

[Igor Galanter]

Because I have some time left on my short getaway..
Back in a day when I was a rookie working as O/O for a small drayage company part of a Vitran group we got a new run from CN or CP yard ( not sure, 29 years ago))) to Collingwood, ON to deliver automotive windshields..
It was in the midlle of snowy winter, so alot of fun going country side roads up and down..
Once when I arrived, an older man asked me if I can help them to configure their shipment in a 40' can..
Apparently, the area in the front of the loading docks was not plowed, because was not used so it took some effort to maneuver with the empty unit on the tandem chassis..
After all it took us about 2 hours all together for everything and just before leaving the same man came up to me and gave me a note and asked to pass it to my Ops Manager. (time before emails, eh..))
And he asked me to read it so I will know what is it about..
He was asking to charge his company for an additional 2 hours wait time and pass it all to me as an appreciation for my involvement in all of it.
Shook my hand said thank you very much and left..

I wish I would asked for a copy from my manager just for a good memories...
But again, I was a rookie..

 

[EricG]

Because I have some time left on my short getaway..
Back in a day when I was a rookie working as O/O for a small drayage company part of a Vitran group we got a new run from CN or CP yard ( not sure, 29 years ago))) to Collingwood, ON to deliver automotive windshields..
It was in the midlle of snowy winter, so alot of fun going country side roads up and down..
Once when I arrived, an older man asked me if I can help them to configure their shipment in a 40' can..
Apparently, the area in the front of the loading docks was not plowed, because was not used so it took some effort to maneuver with the empty unit on the tandem chassis..
After all it took us about 2 hours all together for everything and just before leaving the same man came up to me and gave me a note and asked to pass it to my Ops Manager. (time before emails, eh..))
And he asked me to read it so I will know what is it about..
He was asking to charge his company for an additional 2 hours wait time and pass it all to me as an appreciation for my involvement in all of it.
Shook my hand said thank you very much and left..

I wish I would asked for a copy from my manager just for a good memories...
But again, I was a rookie..

That willingness to assist from 29 years ago, stuck with you, hence why you now have a successful operation! Always nice to see the rookie o/o 29yrs ago running a solid show now! Congrats sir!

 

[SCAM CHASER]

Well 50 years ago, I had just started a Montreal division of a Toronto to Western Canada poolcar operation, and to promote the new venture, I donated a trip for 2 to the Bahamas to be won at the Christmas dinner of the Montreal Traffic Club.

I had taken the voucher to a very large LTL carrier between Canada and the US who ultimately could not compete with de-regulation. Anyway, their sales manager was a former Habs player, and as I was sitting in his office, he took a call from one of his sales guys trying to get his customer an invite to their luxurious fishing camp in the Laurentiens. For the annual sales period, the client had to do $1,000,000 in revenue, but he was only at $985,000. He didn't get the invite.

The same LTL carrier had a smart Christmas gift system for their big clients. Back then, crystal place settings were the cat's ..........., so they would one Christmas, give clients 4 crystal water goblets, (the pattern was exclusive to the carrier but without advertising, but would includes a brochure showing all the other pieces available. Next year, it might be bread and butter places, and so on. What a smart idea!!