Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/697470
TECH TALK BY CHIP OLSEN, OPERATIONS MANAGER T o me, family is important. Twenty years ago, I was visiting my parents, away from where I was living, over a long, holiday weekend. I enjoyed the time I was able to spend with family. I also re&ected on my relationship with my grandparents, or lack thereof. I had grown up at least 600 miles from any of my grandparents, and did not have a deep relationship with them. I made the determination that I wanted my children to have a closer relation with their grandparents. So I said something like, "Dad, this is a nice area. If you could $nd me a job I would move out here." My father called me two weeks later and said, "I found you a job." I have been in the area, near my family, ever since. I had been in the military, and spent a lot of time away from my family. I was happy to have family close, and be able to cultivate those relationships. I $nd dealing with family a refreshing change from dealing with computers. As we examine our lives we need to find what makes us happy. We then should find time in our lives to do what makes us happy. Trucking, like many industries, is being altered as new technologies are adopted. Technology can free us from many of the mundane and time consuming tasks we have to perform. Truckstop.com has many products that can automate, and accelerate your work in the trucking industry. Life is much more connected then it has been in the past. I would go months with only letters from home while I was in Korea. Today, almost every mobile professional has a smart phone. !e laundry list of communication methods continues to grow as well. Many years ago getting a letter was cool. A call was even better. Now, if communication is not texted, tweeted, or snapchatted, our kids won't even look at it. Spending time on video calls is commonplace. !e connectedness is wonderful if you want to stay in touch. Now when I do have to travel, I can still have meaningful daily conversations with my family. My kids frequently forget I am away, too. More than once I have been on the other side of the country, and had one of my children call me and want a ride home. !e world is growing closer despite our constant motion and distance. Fitness trackers are getting very popular, too. Estimates say more than 20 percent of people wear $tness trackers. !is number is growing quickly. I have talked to a number of people who love these little devices. !e tracking and motivation provided are enough to help many be more active. Being active will increase your well-being, and add to your quality of life. Truckstop.com is a family-friendly company. Management works to foster a culture of integrity, accountability, quality, collaboration, and other values. !ese values come through in our product o#erings, and in our support services. As you work to $nd balance in your busy life, let Truckstop.com help simplify your life and give you time back to enjoy what you love to do. Vo l . 1 0 , N o . 4 TRUCKSTOP.COM 23