Break Through Barriers in Our Industry

Joshua Hannaberry, AMTA Regional Chair

The greatest success our industry can celebrate occurs when we all make it home safely.

After all, as people, we are our industry. Most of us work diligently, to provide for our families, and to enjoy a quality of life that we can be proud of. In order for us to achieve this goal, plenty of things have to go right, and in addition, we need to mitigate a number of things from going wrong.

Depending on your profession, things going right will vary. In my world, this includes the successful delivery of a loyal customer’s product, in an intermodal container, from a CN Rail terminal to the customer location. I am often amazed at the number of procedural steps required for a product in Montreal, Quebec to safely travel across the country before being placed on the shelf at a retail store to be purchased by an eager consumer in Calgary, Alberta.

While I think we can all enjoy a good success story, what happens when barriers emerge, and things do not go according to plan? How do we respond to ensure we achieve our industry’s ultimate goal?

Identify Barriers

In order for us to break through barriers, I believe it is important to acknowledge their existence or the potential of such. When we have a deeper understanding of the barriers we may face, we can create a plan to overcome them.

Since the start of 2021, I find myself being more attentive in observing consistencies in myself, as well as those within my professional circle. Consistent can be defined as “acting or done in the same way over time, especially so as to be fair or accurate.” I believe it is important to monitoring consistencies in people, as that is a foundation of how trust is built in the workplace. When people are consistent during pleasant and challenging seasons, we know what we can expect.

Examples of consistency can be as simple as how someone answers the phone when you call for your weekly operations meeting, that you can expect Jane to be in the office 15 minutes before anyone else, or that Andy has already completed his pre-trip inspection, loaded his first delivery and is exiting the yard as you pull up in the morning. More complex consistencies could be the level of detail you have come to expect in the budget reports that you are provided with before speaking with senior leaders on quarterly budgets, or the accuracy of a carrier’s legal requirements when implementing a new policy.

One barrier professionals in our industry are facing regularly, since the start of 2021 especially, is staying consistent with who they are, and whom we have come to expect. On more than one occasion, I have done something that was out of character, which left me asking myself “Why did I act in such an inconsistent manner?”

Have you experienced a situation similar, where you would normally respond one way, but ended up responding in a completely different way? I believe one major contributor to this change is the impact our current climate is having on our mental health. It is quite likely the challenges we are currently facing, are having a negative impact on such.

So, again I will ask, what happens when barriers emerge, and things do not go according to plan? How do we respond, to ensure we achieve our industry’s ultimate goal, when people’s consistencies fail to meet our trusted expectations?

Create a Pivotal Impact

I believe a crucial component to achieving this goal is to continue to acknowledge the fact that our industry is full of wonderful, passionate people who genuinely care for the success of others. Making it home safely is not only a physical goal but a mental one as well. If you are feeling like you have had a down day, or have acted out of character in a specific situation, my encouragement is to give yourself a break. In addition, I encourage you to reach out and let those you trust know how you are feeling. One of the most refreshing experiences we can have, is after an honest conversation, with the feeling of the “weight” being lifted off our shoulders.

Far too often, we emotionally “beat ourselves up” if we do not perform to the level we would usually expect of ourselves, but in moments like these, we need to show ourselves empathy. I encourage all of us to recognize that we are not alone, and although at times in our own minds the issue may seem small, being vocal about how you are mentally feeling is important. As the late, great, Muhammad Ali once said “It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.”

Do not allow a bad day, or a bad response, be the anchor to your ship.

I believe we all have the opportunity to create a pivotal impact in our industry, in the lives of others, as well as in ourselves. When we collectively work together, by having honest conversations on how we are doing, we can break down barriers in our industry, and accomplish the ultimate goal of ensuring we all make it home safely.

Thank you