My last blog was entitled, “No Task is Too Small,” and I expressed the thought that every job is significant to the success of a company. However, in many situations, we do not fully understand or can relate to a person’s job position until we put ourselves in their shoes. Doug Bierman, our General Manager at HG Logistics LLC, a transportation brokerage company servicing the United States, Canada, and Mexico, decided to experience the trucker’s life for himself.

Doug is not totally new to life behind the wheel of a big semi. He started out in this business 25 years ago driving trucks, and a few weeks ago he decided to haul one of our over-the-road shipments to re-familiarize himself with what our drivers experience on a daily basis. Doug hauled a load that is not new to HG Logistics. Even though it is one that we do on a weekly basis, Doug was surprised by how much he learned from this trip. He learned “little” things that he can now share with our drivers that will be beneficial in making their trips easier and smooth running. When I say little, I am referring to “little” as to how it appears from an outsider’s perspective. For instance, Doug learned the exact location and check-in procedure at this facility that he can now pass on to our drivers. Just turning down the wrong driveway at such a large facility can prove to be quite cumbersome and time consuming. This may seem trivial to some of us, but to a truck driver it can make a world of difference. It can mean the difference between a few minutes and several hours.

Doug is grateful for this experience, and I am happy to report that he made a clean, safe run. I am also happy to report that he is once again sitting behind his desk and overseeing the operation of HG Logistics LLC, but he is doing it with a little more knowledge from the trucker’s end of the business. I respect Doug for his willingness to experience and understand every prospective of the world of transportation.

Now, I need to get him to do my job for a day, and I think his first assignment will be writing next week’s blog.

At HG Logistics LLC, a third party logistics company located in Cincinnati, Ohio, you never know what you will be asked to do. A few weeks ago our General Manager, Doug Bierman, asked all employees to do two things: First, he wanted us to list on an average work day our job duties from the time we arrive until the time we leave. Secondly, he wanted us to write down our vision for HG Logistics in the next six months.

I immediately jumped to the task of listing everything I do. I included the least to the most important duties. I even went a step further and included my responsibilities performed on a weekly and monthly basis. As I was finishing my list, I began to realize how easy it is to get caught up in the busyness of the day. It is also easy to fall into routines where certain things become automatic. We don’t even have to think about them.

However, I did have to give Doug’s second request much thought. Envisioning where I see our company in six months was a little more challenging. One of the reasons being is that I get so involved in completing the everyday jobs that I fail to step back and  look at the bigger picture.  Honestly, I appreciate Doug asking us to do this because it forced me to look at how what I do affects the overall company. The jobs I do from day to day are not just a list for me to do and mark complete. They serve a purpose in helping the company achieve its goals. I have concluded that no job is insignificant. Each is vital to the success and smooth running of the company.

I do not know what Doug’s plans are or what he attends to do with the information we submitted to him. But as for me, an employee, I found it motivating to envision HG Logistics’ success and seeing the part that I can play in HG Logistics achieving that success.

One of my responsibilities here at HG Logistics LLC, a transportation freight broker and third party logistics company servicing the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is to write a weekly blog. Some weeks I have difficulty coming up with a topic or at least a topic I feel comfortable writing about. However, this week I had no problem thanks to a five year old little boy named Conner.

A few weeks ago when I came home from work, there was a picture someone had colored hanging on my refrigerator door. I have not had my refrigerator decorated with such art work in quite some years considering that my children are now in their twenties. Nevertheless, this was a welcomed surprise. It brought back fond memories of when I so proudly displayed my own children’s art.

After reminiscing for a few moments, my mind then shifted to trying to determine who put it there. First, I concluded that it was probably a little boy because the picture was of Captain America, which seemed like a boy thing to me. I know I should not stereotype, but I wanted to narrow down the possibilities in order to solve the mystery. I started by asking my daughters if they knew how the picture got there, thinking maybe one of the little boys in the neighborhood colored it for them. Neither one of them knew anything about the picture. I then asked my husband, and as I expected, he was totally clueless about the situation. Since my son works at night, I rarely see him, so it took another four or fives day before I had the opportunity to ask him. He, however, had the answer. He said that Conner, my daughters friend’s little boy, colored it and gave it to him. Aha! Finally the mystery was solved.

This past weekend Conner was at my house, and I asked him if he colored that beautiful picture hanging on my refrigerator. He gave me a blank look as if he did not know what I was talking about. I told him to go look at it and see if he remembers doing it. He went over to my refrigerator and studied the picture. He first commented that Captain America’s shield is supposed to be white and red, not blue and yellow. He studied it a bit longer and then shook his head and said, “No, I did not color this picture because it has mistakes in it, and I don’t make mistakes.” It took every bit of effort for me to hold back my laughter because I could tell he was serious.

Then I began to think how nice the world would be if we were all like Conner and never made mistakes, but reality says that is not going to happen. The only place that can happen is in a five year old little boy’s mind who still believes life can be perfect.

Even at HG Logistics, we wish everything would be perfect. We strive to make HG Logistics’ workplace mistake free. We have set policies and procedures in place to minimize and even eliminate errors. HG Logistics does not want to disappoint. Believe me; we want to avoid all mistakes if humanly possible. The problem is that we are human and humans do err. The truth of the matter is that none of us are perfect and some day Conner will realize he too is not perfect. All we can hope for when we do err is a little understanding, forgiveness, and a second chance.

I do not want to be the one to break the news to Conner that he does make mistakes. We all do. I figure I will leave that task up to his mother. Hopefully, when she explains it to Conner she will also explain that it is okay to make mistakes from time to time because in many ways mistakes are good. They help us to learn, grow, and improve. Malcolm Forbes once said, “Failure is success if we learn from it.”

Here at HG Logistics we are always learning, thus always succeeding.

HG Logistics LLC, a transportation freight broker servicing the United States, Canada, and Mexico, celebrated the 4th of July with its second annual company picnic held on July 3, 2010. The day’s festivities included plenty of food, swimming, fishing, cornhole, and a wiffle ball game. The night ended with a fire works display put on by our very own General Manager, Doug Bierman.

Company picnics are not only fun, but I believe they serve as a valuable tool in building company morale. Company picnics give employees the opportunity to meet each other’s families and to get to connect outside of work. There is no pressure but just a time to relax and have fun. Company picnics can also be quite an eye opening experience, revealing hidden talents you did not know employees possessed, like athletic skills or the ability to grill a mean hamburger.

Other activities are reminders that some of us are not as young as we use to be. I, for one, managed to pull a calf muscle trying to run to first base during the wiffle ball match between the “Young and Old Timers” vs. the “Joe Jocks” teenage boys. I did not care I was in pain. I was just ecstatic that I even hit the ball and had reason to run. Of course, I had to have a seven year old pitch run for me the rest of the game, and he managed to steal second, which I am sure I could not have done even with two good legs. Believe it or not, the “Young and Old Timers” were ahead most of the game, but then the “Joe Jocks” managed to tie the game and score the winning run in the last inning during their last at bat. We have already challenged them to a rematch next year. After all, a little friendly competition is good for the soul.

I know I thoroughly enjoyed HG Logistics’ Company Picnic, as well as the rest of the employees who attended. Company picnics definitely have my vote, and I would encourage other businesses to schedule an annual picnic. It is just a fun way to get to know each other from a whole different prospective.

I ride the bus almost every morning to work. Therefore, before I ever arrive at HG Logistics LLC, a third party logistics company located in Cincinnati, Ohio, I cross paths with some interesting people. My journey to work begins with a mile walk to the bus stop, and on that walk, I take whatever shortcuts I can find. One of those shortcuts is through McDonald’s parking lot where every morning sits an older gentleman in his car drinking his coffee.  He wants me to stop and talk to him. Some mornings I do not mind, but other times I am thinking…”I don’t have time. I am in a hurry. I am going to miss my bus.” Regardless of what I am thinking, I am always compelled to stop and mingle for a few minutes. When I first met this gentleman, my first impression was that he was a dirty old man wanting to flirt with younger women. He often offered me rides to the bus stop, but I never took him up on his offer. However, over time as I got to know this gentleman, I realized my first impression was far from correct.

This gentleman is just a lonely man looking for someone to talk to and the topic he likes to share the most is his old war stories. As a young man in his late teens, early twenties, he fought in the Korean War. I do not know about you, but personally, I do not know much about the Korean War. I have heard a lot about Vietnam and World War II but not the Korean War. During the winter months when I was complaining about the cold and the few inches of snow, he would tell me stories of how the temperature often dropped to 35 degrees below zero in Korea. As soldiers, they had to be very resilient to withstand such conditions. He also tells me stories of his recent trips to VA Hospital where he is being treated regularly for a form of leukemia. He says with each visit, he sees hundreds of veteran suffering from all kinds of ailments many of them caused by Agent Orange. I can tell his heart really goes out to these fellow soldiers.

Sadly, I have to admit that at one time I considered this gentleman an interruption to my busy schedule, but today I can say I truly appreciate his life’s experiences that he has shared with me. He has taught me to appreciate what I, for so long, have taken for granted.

Next week we celebrate the 4th of July, and there is no better time than now for us to reflect on what our independence truly means. Our independence came with a cost, and that cost often equates to lost lives. Our founding fathers and their loyal followers fought for our independence and today, soldiers are still making sacrifices to protect that freedom.

So next week on the 4th of July in between all the activities and the picnic lunches and the fireworks displays take a few moments to thank a soldier. I know of one veteran sitting in McDonald’s parking lot that I need to thank. Never again will I consider him an interruption. Instead, I see him as one of the many heroes that have helped preserve my freedom.

Thank you soldiers and veterans for all your sacrifices!

Death is always a topic we try to avoid and one I do not particularly care to blog about. Death makes us uncomfortable because it is painful and frightening. However, death is something we all have to face at some point in our lives, and at HG Logistics LLC our hearts are tender this week as we deal with the loss of David Greek Sr. David Greek Sr. was the President of our affiliate company, Hill and Griffith, and on Monday, June 7, 2010, Mr. Greek passed away. Although Mr. Greek’s health had been failing the past few years and his death was not totally unexpected, it does not make it any easier to say goodbye to a father, friend, and coworker.

Having been employed by both Hill and Griffith and HG Logistics LLC, I have a total of 15 years experiencing working for the Greek family, and from experience, I can attest that they are great people to work for. I can recall the first time I met David Greek Sr. His large, what appeared to me to be a 6′ 4″ frame, towered over everyone in the room and his physical presence alone could prove quite intimidating. However, as I got to know him over the years, I personally found Mr. Greek quite approachable. He was someone with a great sense of humor who always made me laugh. He was definitely a determined man and over time I even grew to appreciate his stubbornness. He was not easily swayed, but the fact that the goals he visualized for Hill and Griffith led them to over 100 years of success tells me his vision was right on track.

David Greek Jr. now has the privilege to carry on his father’s vision as he oversees the operations of Hill and Griffith and HG Logistics LLC. Our prayers are with David Greek Jr. as he finds strength to heal and get pass the pain. In the mean time, all of us at Hill and Griffith and HG Logistics LLC can help keep David Greek Sr.’s visions, dreams, and aspirations alive and well as we work to keep his company operating at a level where it will experience another 100 years of success.

David Cooper grew up in Edgewood, KY and graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2007 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and a minor in Economics. After graduating from college, he moved back to Northern Kentucky and bought a house in Erlanger. The week after he moved into his new house, he got married to his college girlfriend in May 2008. David spent two years doing accounting for a large company in Erlanger, KY. However, David wanted to try something different, so he decided to join the wonderful world of logistics.

On May 17, 2010, David crossed the river into Ohio and  joined HG Logistics LLC, a Cincinnati freight broker. David is enjoying his time at HG Logistics, and he hopes to help the company grow an even stronger presence in world of transportation.

This week many of the reality T.V. shows aired their season finales. Did your favorites win? At  HG Logistics some of us are disappointed because our hometown contestant, Chad Ocho Cinco, was eliminated last week from Dancing With the Stars. Chad was the only contestant in the semi-finals that had no dance experience at all. He had made great strides throughout the entire season and just when he mastered the ballroom posture, he was voted off.

What I like about Chad is that he does not shy away from a challenge, but he embraces it. He attacks it fully committed and with great dedication and ambition. During one week’s practice session, Chad told Cheryl, the dance professional, that he did not want her to tell him it was good if it was not. He wanted the truth so he knew what he had to improve on.

Even though Chad did not dance away with the Dancing With the Star’s trophy, he still maintained a winning attitude. I think everyone in the business world needs to adopt Chad’s go-to attitude.

At HG Logistics, a transportation broker in Cincinnati, Ohio, we, like Chad, have learned to stay committed and dedicated to every challenge we face, and in the trucking business, we come across those challenges daily. With each challenge comes more knowledge and  experience and with more knowledge and experience comes improvement and growth. We witnessed Chad Ocho Cinco develop into a dancer this season on Dancing With the Stars and here at HG Logistics LLC, we are developing into a better transportation provider with each business day.

HG Logistics may not be quick-stepping our way across the dance floor, but we are taking the lead and holding our frame in the world of transportation. We set high standards in customer relations, load performance, and carrier safety, and with these standards, we work to get our customers’ votes.

Summer is quickly approaching, and everyone soon will be hitting the road heading towards their favorite vacation spot. I can feel the excitement already as people anticipate plans for some rest and relaxation this summer. However, as you route your course, perhaps, you should also allow extra time in your agenda for some unexpected delays. With Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan stimulating road construction, facing the dreaded orange barrels will be inevitable.

Patience will be a definite virtue you will need as you head out on the road. However, dodging the orange barrels is not the only time you will need to exercise some patience. On occasion, you may find yourself behind a truck hauling an oversized load. Vacationing drivers more than likely view these trucks as a hindrance, a barrier they have to get around in order to reach their destination.

As an employee of HG Logistics LLC, a Cincinnati, Ohio freight broker, I encourage drivers to respect these trucks and the load they are transporting. HG Logistics has extensive experience in hauling heavy haul and oversized equipment and therefore, can attest that being patience and courteous will help ensure everyone’s safety. Heavy haul and oversized loads are carefully planned: they must travel preplanned routes, must use certain lanes, and travel at certain speeds. The drivers of these trucks are not purposely trying to annoy you. They are just abiding by the predetermined restrictions they are required to follow.

If you are having trouble maintaining your road rage as you sit behind an oversized load, taking up two lanes of traffic, and traveling at a measly speed of 25 miles per hour, think about the truck driver. Before you honk your horn and give him the finger, put yourself in his shoes and think of the awesome responsibility he has of hauling 150,000 pounds across U.S. highways. One slip up, one distraction is all it could take for him to lose control of that load and produce catastrophic results.

Please do not try to zip by them, swing around them, or cut in front of them. If you do, someone could be seriously injured. Practice some patience and common sense, and the worse thing that could happen is you arrive a few hours late to your favorite vacation spot, but at least you will arrive there alive and in one piece.

In the Midwest, the winter freeze has thawed and the spring showers are slowly moving out, and this opens the way for all outdoor activities to begin. One of my co-workers at HG Logistics LLC, a 3PL logistics company located in the home town of the Cincinnati Reds, is already ahead of the game. Duke Heller lives and breathes baseball. Daily he relays stories about his little league coaching experiences, and as he does, I am reminded of America’s favorite pastime, baseball. However, reflecting on this thought, I asked myself, “What is a pastime?” According to Webster’s dictionary, a pastime is something that serves to make time pass agreeably. After reading this, I then had to ask myself, “Is baseball still America’s favorite pastime?”

I did a little research to understand how baseball had originally earned this honor. Baseball rose to popularity during and immediately after the American Civil War. Baseball was what kids played after school and adults played on weekends. There was no television, so baseball literally became America’s favorite way to pass the time. Before long, baseball became the topic of choice at most dinner tables. Baseball became so commonplace, that almost everyone knew enough about the game that they could talk about it with a neighbor or a person sitting next to them on the bus. However, I conclude that in order for something to become a “national pastime” it has to be more than just America’s favorite activity. It must become so intertwined with our society and culture that it just becomes a way of life. It is familiar to almost everyone, if not all. Baseball definitely meets these requirements.

With this in mind, I asked again, “Is baseball still America’s favorite pastime?” Some say that baseball was to the late 19th century and early 20th century as video games and television are to today. Perhaps kids today are spending more time playing video games and watching television than they are out playing baseball in the neighbor’s yard. And perhaps people are discussing with the person sitting next to them on the bus more about who is going to get eliminated from Dancing With the Stars than who won the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals. But I do not think anyone can deny that baseball is America’s longest standing “national pastime.” In a few years, Dancing With the Stars will be replaced with some other reality show and video games will be exchanged for some newer, bigger, and better technical phenomenon. But baseball will still be around. Baseball will still be baseball. People will still be going to games, eating hot dogs, and singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” After all, baseball is a part of America’s culture.

As summer approaches, I encourage you to keep with tradition and live the American way. Get off the couch and go out and toss a ball with your child or better yet take the whole family to the ballgame.

Come on–”Let’s Play Ball!”