Another Milestone in life…

Posted on July 3, 2014 by tharrisfc

Another Milestone in life…

Posted by tharrisfc in One Man Show Project on February 15, 2014

      From 2006, when I issued a Commercial Driver’s License, until January 31st, 2014, I struggled with whether I could finish each level I challenged myself to do. They became unforeseen milestones of accomplishments. I never thought I would drive cross country, and the initial idea of getting a CDL was to drive a school bus in the local town, where I was attempting to start a conventional class for computer and program concepts. But, there was a private promise to see the country I served for in the U.S. Army. I never knew how much of a “set back” from a permanent location this would become.

Somehow this “side job” idea never transpired, as the lifestyle of a commercial driver became the primary role. It started as a struggle to keep computing a focus, the current role of trucking and computers was not a practice, and almost every level. Paper was the main theme and sharing a netbook or laptop to show a Driver’s log, Bill of Lading, or even a planned route to a destination, was not an accepted concept. To be honest, many positions, such as a D.O.T. Inspection, still has  no use for seeing a trucker with a laptop of records, and it will be a a few more decades to bring security to a level of comfort for the Internal Revenue Agency.

But in many struggles, I found a way to make every passing moment a challenge, and with the “discipline” and focus of “completing a mission”, the battles that I confronted daily were my made up fight to build records and get away from papers piling up in a truck (my hording, and not simply discarding old work; waiting for the need to arise, and no longer have a document or record).

Coming up with the concept of a “paperless” truck never completely transpired fully, because there was so much added work and discipline involved in making it possible, but it was still a “win” over time, as all records of completed jobs, fueling, per diem, expenses of sorts, all became a routine in the last four years of trucking. The practice similar to logging every stop and go of the commercial vehicle, was a self trained focus to do the same from when a load was assigned, to mapping it out (using a mapping software), to fueling, and later as an Independent Contractor, all aspects of being a truck driver, that included recording my own DVIRR (maintenance records on a spreadsheet), records of scaling loads, and even tracking ATM withdrawals. Then, I advanced in making it a practice to take digital pictures of any new hook up of a trailer, while inspecting it as required by regulations. So, my records keeping that involved almost every aspect of logging, loads, income, expenses, maintenance, per diem, trip submitting (through electronic faxing, such as Transflo or TripPak), also include digital tracking of pretrip and recording damages found before assuming the trailer as in service and ready to roll.

In all honesty, I don’t see anyone attempting this to make what I have accomplished their daily duty and responsibility, but as a “Geek” who owns a truck, and a CDL, I needed to come up with every conceivable practice that a current driver might attempt but in a select area, such as simply tracking loads, or simply building records of scanned jobs for their own personal records. Others may just favor a mapping software, to not only express a favored route traveled, but make it their way of looking back at as a record, and detail issues on that given load, duty, or day. My goal was never to make any of this a future required activity in the trucking transportation lifestyle, and definitely not at my level, instead express a personal vision for any given individual driver the possibilities or records keeping on computer, instead of piling papers somewhere at home.

Over time, I do see drivers with computers, and using them for more than just email, internet surfing, and gaming. They are actually finding a purpose to utilize a computer in the everyday work life. So, even though I see things happening now (at small and limited levels), I feel my work is on the right track.

In my defense, I am not out to make this a future change in company policies, but more for the individual who has personally found motivation in keeping their own records on computers. If nothing else, the work I do is not for our generation of truckers, but for the next generations to come. As a folly, I find myself a pioneer in computing and trucking, and finding that next battle (for this civilian Soldiering) to keep real and important, the role of a personal computer in the next generation of trucking, and forge to make this the vision of possibilities for the individual trucker a direction for current times; and another notch in the trucking world, fighting to keep the lifestyle of trucking alive, and express that this industry is far from ever being the last generation of cowboys who still roam the ranges nationwide.

I went from an unwitting apprentice with a CDL, to experiencing many levels of trucking, such as OTR, Regional, Dedicated, pulling doubles, border crossings, Refrigerated, Lease Purchase, to Independent Trucking; and seven years later, I own the truck. I am shy of getting my own authority, and ponder whether to forge ahead. I am deciding that at this milestone, to take time down, and focus on the blogs, software “How To” concept video, make my own apps and software, before returning to the road. This will give me time to look back and tell my variation  of driving the highways, and even build my own software for the market. That truck might sit for awhile, but like drivers I have met, that truck will be a “tease”, and getting back in the “saddle” will come to me again. If nothing else, it will give me the opportunity to use my own products, and prove they work, and have a place in the industry, but at a personal and individual level, and not just a form of entertainment.

Finally, I did more than this article expresses, when it come to this “Professional Driver’s” daily routine…I left out the dash cam recording and records keeping, on a daily basis, and the gps tracking I did using the a second mapping software, as a part of my recorded role of records keeping. The work done seemed limitless, and the possibilities of a new (computing) territory with no boundaries. But what has been done, especially on a daily basis, was a success story in itself, since it was not a question of can it be done, rather it did get done, and it is part of this driver’s records in four parts; Trucking, Finance, Maintenance, and video tracking.

To those senior in the trucking industry, this work was not designed for you, since, most likely you are set in your ways. The the industry has always changed, and you have witnessed those changes, both good and bad. No, this isn’t for those with a routine they have mastered. But it is a blog that includes you to be informed, and see the possibilities of the future…to be entertained, and know that even at an individuals level, this lifestyle will always have a place to grow, evolve, explore, and master. This is a profession, and it will continue to be challenged. Just look forward to those future “kid” drivers, and be entertained to see how that make their place in this profession, whether it be simply not for you.

The computers will continue to become a personal and an individual interest, even in this profession. It offers more than just records for audit, finance, gaming, and entertainment. It will be explored as a form of communication, and staying in touch with family, friends, business, and leisure.  It also will offer a role, still not explored by me; the ability to be educated, and even a higher education for a degree…even for the future generation…driving that Pete, Kenworth, or “freight shaker”…the world of individual computing can be limitless, and it will be a new challenge to be explored. I call myself that “Computer Geek” who owns a truck and a CDL; I look to see that mirror image of a Pro Trucker who so happens to own a computer that does all his records keeping, and an important virtual tool in their work and personal life.

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Working on the Blog, But Still In First Gear…

Posted on July 3, 2014 by tharrisfc

Working on the Blog, But Still In First Gear…

Posted by tharrisfc in One Man Show Project on February 18, 2014

February 2014, and the last series of snow storms made me hold off from advancing to rolling as an Owner Operator, and store the truck, for better weather. But the decision happened in the first week of February, and a two storm event lead to lost time putting the truck to bed. Another week to settle, and while at my brother’s house, share the work of shoveling snow. The issue of “switching gears” from driving a truck to Blogging and building software (while actively rolling and writing) now faces different activities, but at a less consistent pace. So, in short, I am running out of excuses.

I am also my own worst enemy. I spent a morning looking to set up an office, which defeats the whole purpose of being so portable. It took time to realize that this whole project centers around the netbook as the office, and I should be able to perform in any enclosure. So, now I need to focus on turning on the machine and staying focused at the keyboard. Where getting a load picked up and delivered in a certain time frame, there has to be a measure of expectation in keeping the Blogs going, while working for tax year 2013 books, and developing at least two software programs. Time still is money, and as an Independent and Sole Proprietor, generating the money will still be based on finished products.

Comparing the professionalism of trucking, the overall appearance of these blogs must also start improving. The next part is recalling all those ideas and activities I had when rolling down the road. I made this time for this to get accomplished. My original plan was to roll 71% of the time. Mother nature has thrown that to the wind. Changing the expected results for 2014, will have to be based on the annual income, and for 2014, I now have to produce at least 71% of the overall income of the highest year driving. It may sound like I have +10 months to work with, but now I can easily be found by family and friends, other obligations will arise. This venture has again become work. To make this worth while, I have to succeed.

This project remains a One Man Show, and with at least one product geared for professional driving, the truck needs to be back in service, and if not this year, then by April 1st, 2015. Sounds like I gave myself time? No. I have so much to prep and share, and when it covers the last four years of rolling OTR, I think I’ll be skipping gears to find that faster pace. I do have one other possibility, aside from this project, but I cannot consider it my “Ace”. A television runs in the room, but not for me, I am guest, and the work in progress means learning to finally stay focused with my own agenda, and make nothing else matter. Talking the family dog for an occasional walk, well, not everything can be put off.

My goal in improving the Website is to add more pages, specific to my established categories, and to start showing presentations and more visual pictorials relating to the articles. I’ll know have measured up to another level when I make thirty second video demonstrations a routine. I am hoping the Website takes on a life of its own, and becomes helpful and informative, and never loses its ability to do it in the form of concepts. I don’t want to lose a struggling computer user, who just needs that right concept to make the wall shatter.

I have high hopes…but like so many with a sparking idea or revelations, I have to process what is a true inspiration, a new direction, and what is simply a pipe dream only worth mentioning.

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Closing the First Phase – One Man Show Project

Posted on July 3, 2014 by tharrisfc

Closing the First Phase–One Man Show Project

Posted by tharrisfc in One Man Show Project on March 12, 2014

It takes a long journey to accomplish a routine, then take it to other levels. Making the project needed a focus on business, and by going through the experiences of Professional Driving. Much of the routine was building spreadsheet for each individual activity of the profession. The next level was keeping records of the financial aspect of the “business” (I am calling it a business, since the understanding of building records for any given business is the goal and concept of this project), and then, the third level is to show graphs and charts to evaluate each year. The last two aspects of the project was to put to use, the information to project the future timeline of the business.

I started out with a fight to understand this profession, build the endurance to do the profession, and also build up to all the records keeping (in it’s raw form), and make the time to actually build a common spread sheet for any user that they can modify to serve their purpose. When working with spreadsheets, it takes the understanding that “It will always be a work in progress”. I am no exception. With each year, I improved on the information to keep track of, and had to decide when to go back to the older spreadsheets and add information with relationship to it’s time period of data. At current, the next aspect of work is to bring all this information together, before even getting to building useful charts and evaluate and compare the work over the periods of years. Even the evaluation will by more open to criticism, since every year there will be random and ever-changing elements and activities that affected the results for that time period.

In one of my Blogs, I wrote about the log book in the form of story telling. In that same aspect, even records keeping is a story being told. What makes it understandable is how it is formatted and detailed, and the more details, the better a story is told. With that in mind, there are three types of stories to be told, all on one subject. That was a concept. The three books (stories) would be the trip, mapping, and planning of Professional Driving; the second book is all financial; the third, would be on projecting all three stories to be told, and what could be in the future. A collection of books put in one booklet is called a “bible”. Each part of this bible has an interest to certain groups of readers. Obviously, the financial story to be kept (told) is for the bank, revenue agencies, shareholders, etc., while the mapping version would be anyone traveling and wish to keep a record for the next journey in that area in the unforeseen future. Building the future projections and possibilities allows a mix of these groups (both financial and journeymen) to know where you are trying to go. Knowing where you have been, will express the possibilities of where you can go, but showing projections express the desired path that you will go. It’s all how you express that conventional story that allows the many genre to fully understand it without question.

Today, it’s about the whole plan I have, but time needs to be invested in protecting that book of books, and even I need to work on my redundant backups of files. Without backing up your story makes the difference between a story of validity, or mere “hearsay”. After all, if everything gets lost, there is no proof that the story was true, or fiction. To do this, I have two things to get done. The first is to burn a copy onto DVD. That actually is a permanent timeline or milestone, locking the work done before it was changed or improved. The second is to back it onto an external Hard Drive, as a “workable copy”, just in case the original version accidentally gets destroyed, which includes the master computer that holds all these activities.

When it comes to looking at my day as a business day, it is not lot time towards moving forward, rather an investment of securing the past. I won’t make money today, but, I can always have the story of the money I made in the past. Today is an investment to securing the work I will do in the future. The best part of this investment is the time I have done in the past, by making backups a monthly routine, that has allowed me to create the process of these two backup strategies a routine rather than work and time towards how to do it. As the backup of records are in progress, I have time to focus on other matter…such as writing a blog. Even the blog will eventually be a source of income (hopefully), and with it written once, it can be used as a reference, or be included in other resources later. In short, a blog may appear as a diary, but it is more a business plan being designed. The work involved is making it a routine, making it important to be done, and keeping it fresh (current).

When it comes to calling yourself a business, the work you do has to be as important to you as earning a paycheck. To be employed and not work, you typically call it a “lost day” of work. As a business, it is up to you to make that lost day, a work day without pay, but not with something to show for it.. This is the concept of “investing time” towards you, the business. So, since you have no real means of paying yourself, you need to always work on utilizing your time while you can, since you are basically getting through this day on monies earned the weeks before. Of course, you do wish to learn how to implement the work into the activities that make you money, but with no work to be done, use this time to develop your ability to focus, come up with a routine, and if just starting out, explore the steps needed to make it a routine. By doing this, it fills your time, and it also becomes your own measure of “business development”, since whatever routine you learn today, can be applied to be implemented in your real work day in the future. Honestly, never let a day get by with no work to show for it, especially when you were planning on working anyway. This is the concept of investing your time. The trick is making it as important and timely as if you had a real deadline to make it a day worth working…for yourself.

Back to my day. So far, as I thought of how I was going to get an unpaid workday accomplished, I started this blog with a title, then plugged in the external Hard Drive, set up the series of folders to copy, and got it to start copying. Then, back to the blog. The external Hard Drive had no issues arise (errors popping up on the screening), letting me write out the first four paragraphs of this blog, while 19 GB of folders and files became my workable copy. Once done (I had to see it was complete), I setup the DVD Drive to burn off a series of DVDs of the same folders and files. Since each DVD can only hold 4.37 GB of files, this would be a series of DVDs to burn, so that is why I first used the External Hard Drive. Burning a DVD now gives me about ten minutes to blog again. After the first DVD is done, I will need to invest my time in labeling it, and set up the next DVD, before returning to this blog. After checking the DVD driver’s progress, I have time to finish this sentence…

After starting the third DVD, it came time to get as many complete Folders together. It gets complicated to use up as much space on a DVD as possible, and for one folder, it will have to have three DVDs to copy the Files inside. Using a generic Burning Program means I have to choose where the dividing lines of files are copied on each DVD. Marking the DVD’s is now really important. I also have a database started to start recording all these copied folders and files, but that is a separate project for now (I have not mastered a process of doing this in a certain order yet). For now, I can recall these mot recent backups by memory, but as time goes by, these archives need to be recorded, so they can be accounted for, and even reused, later.

I recently wrote a blog that pointed out that backing up on DVDs is a way of regaining disk space, but when it comes to making variations upon variations of a file, backing up to older files also limits confusion (how would you like to add new information on an older version of files, only to need to rewrite or cleverly copy into the most recent version). My true point of DVD back up still remains to be a milestone (timeline) of records created in it’s rawest forms. The point here is once you start dedicating yourself to using the computer and its programs as a business tool, you never want to lose track of your work or get so cluttered that it takes time to make sense on what you wish to work on. In the same sense, you never want to just backup on DVD’s any active files you will constantly be adding or improving upon. For me, monthly backups was the routine, as a milestone, but deleting the most recent files being used would have been just as confusing to find as it is to have everything on the hard drive.

The best practice for me is to use what I have, and anything recent needs to be reviewed, only to get more use out of it later. As I close out this first phase of the project, everything financial remains on the computer, while the other two aspects of this project is on DVD. Now, time is of the assents, to get this closed, and back up the project, then, bring back the next phase to be organized and completed.

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The Steps Taken Over Time

Posted on July 3, 2014 by tharrisfc

The Steps Taken Over Time

Posted by tharrisfc on March 26, 2014

      The move to Pennsylvania was to find a way out of the “rat race”, only to put myself back in deep. I never pictured me driving a tractor trailer, but when the economy fell hard, I needed a quick way to stay alive. But before it occurred, I was already making the biggest leap I would ever attempt, to become a sole proprietor. My goal was to simply build a school of concepts dealing with computers, and I thought being in a new environment I would be able to collect my thoughts and develop courses quickly. The first struggle was creating a theme. I used much of my credit to get the materials started, while learning how to get the most out of what I already owned. It started in April 2006. By June 2006, I was already making steps to a developing theme, and spending money, when I saw the news and President George Bush explain our economic struggle that had occurred. The machines ordered had to go back to the merchant even before arriving to my business, and I went into shock.

The biggest struggle with Video “How To” never was explored. I created three parts to using Microsoft Paint™, and placed on a website to see what the market reaction would be. I never pulled it off during my shock, and didn’t go back until I had decided to get a commercial driver’s license. Even that was only to be a means of working part time, while I found a way to recover the business plan. By August 2006, it appeared that I was about to lose everything if I attempted to be part time, driving school buses. With time and money going to truck driving school, I thought of going full time and over the road, and wait years to return back to computers. Now, I was back, and in a profession I never expected of ever staying in. Truth be told, I worked five to six months at a time, with a few months away and back to my business plan, and would work like that for more than two years.

The brainstorm came across to use the trucking trade as the role model to recreate the business scheme, and develop ideas around truck driving, but what could be applied to any business. This would only work if I could apply my work in computers to the real time work schedule of trucking. Those first three years involved understanding the role of trucking, then building the endurance, and finally finding the motivation to create more work by building a records keeping design to incorporate with the daily ritual of over the road truck driving. I knew I couldn’t do it five months at a time, and I was so far in debt. I had to find a way of staying committed to this business theme. That was when I made the greatest gamble, and signed up into a Lease Purchase program.

This was the biggest risk, since being in the military. I could have given up and lost everything I owned. At times, I was so desperate to stay focused with where I wanted to be, the business plan was my incentive to keep rolling. I wouldn’t see things working my way until 2012. Then, I was able to start paying off debts and get ahead, just as I finished the lease, and own the truck. The six year fight paid off, but I still had so much to bring me back out of that rat race. I still don’t see me out of harm’s way, but I do understand the attitude it takes to keep going (and not always rolling).

The last time I came to New Jersey there seemed to be a longing for me to come back by select family member. Looking back, wherever I went, from state to state, many family members wished I would stop in; but when I came off the road, that was not what I thought. I came off the road in February 2014, before taking the next challenge of running under my own authority. The reason was that I did not feel ready. I sacrificed not only time but time away from family. The challenge of owning a truck was that important to me. I am using the time to build a database, which will in turn be used in developing a software program to be sold. If I break it down into beta (test) software, it may be several sample programs. Doing it this way will help me gauge the interest, may explore the areas of improvements needed. Unfortunately, I found myself with so much paperwork to file and eliminate (I m supposed to be a paperless business). Some of my time needs to keep that with its own priority, or I will be hoarding another pile of paper, and stay unorganized.

I found myself opening another opportunity that not only involves building blogs, but another ambition in fictional writing, and I am calling it the Casey Farrelli project. The name is fictional, and divides the work of fiction from all other work, which naturally is the work of Todd Harris (me). The books, once completed and a copyright is initiated, will still be authored as Todd Harris, but the project will be addressed as the Casey Farrelli Collection. I always had a passion for writing but I never could just stay in one place and just write. I actually had written a novel and two playwrights, which I may be able to rewrite, and include them with the project. The original reason for not pursuing a creative writing career was because of the time away to simply create stories, and I as missing time with family; it is exactly what had transpired when I pursued ownership of a Freightliner.

The work I have now created for myself has changed my routine, and reflecting upon the time it took to create a routine with trucking and computing, the transition is much more expected. But time is money, and like any business, it has to start becoming a productive means of income; the business development period must be as short as possible. And, the One Man Show project needs to reflect this as well. The Driver’s Blog was broken into other headings for future +30 second instructional video’s to reflect all the work done in the past six years of trucking. That door I opened is supposed to be a step in a new direction, and it is uncertain is it can become something that merges with driving a truck, of if that door of opportunity needs to be closed behind me.

I really do want to return back to all my old blog writings, to see if I can keep them alive. And even if that door (of over the road trucking) is closed, any products made might challenge me to get back and roll again, to make sure whatever I make relating specifically to the truck driver can be practiced, exercised, and improved by me. For now, I am “thawing out” and organizing my records, to include preparing my taxes from last year. April 15th is less than three weeks away. This passing year was productive, and I am expecting that I can maintain the same work ethics and steady production in the future to continue this possible venture. But like everything, there must be results and expectations. I really do need to show something in the near future, to keep all this real.

There is still so much more to do. Since 2010, I have been experimenting with a Driver’s Database, which currently includes many truck stops, a feeble attempt of recording weigh stationsDrivrDatabase_WeighStn, weather and traffic telephone numbersDrivrDatabase_WeathRoadCond, Truck information, and since 2013, I have started to include Customer [freight] locations, pat load information, and everything already recorded in the active spreadsheets. I have to go through these projects to see if a software product can be made for a market… which means I’ll be back to working with visual studio; another Microsoft product. At the same time, when it comes to my past blogs, I should make a record to include all my works, to show past times invested when not driving.

Any transition appear to be indecisive at first, and in the beginning of any new change, it is hard to gain anyone’s support, unless the goal is a brainstorm. But even brainstorms can go overlooked. I recall back when I was a kid, wondering why we don’t build a business by bottling water, and I joked around about solar powered flashlights while in high school. Decades later, some of my routes included the transportation of bottled water and not by one business either. There also seems to be some great flashlights built with rechargeable batteries, which actually charge by solar power. The strange thing is, I wasn’t the only kid who thought of bottled water and solar powered flashlights.

I had just finished recording all the previous posted Blogs on both the Driver’s Blog and the 1 Man Show Project blog. Like any starting databases, you start outToddHarrisSP_BlogRecords with a table and a form, and most importantly, you start using it. The reason to do this is to not let it go stale from its creation. In this database, I have already had to move and stretch fields, and now, I want to include other fields, which means adding it to both the table and form.

Where to Go From Here…

Since February 2014, I have been trying to develop a new routine that will eventually lead to some form of income. Before coming off the road, I had added pages to the Driver’s Blog, for the purpose of short video Blogging. It will still be focused on one Profession, but the goal here is to keep it as general as possible to promote the ability to apply these concepts to any personal, academic, and business activity. Another project to start will be ideas to challenge those who see the possibilities and make them happen, called “Brainstorms”. This probably will be something shared on another Blog or social network. At the same time, there is the Casey Farrelli Project, already in progress.

 

Time is important, and although I am now out of the truck, it truly is up to me to set timeline, deadlines, goals, and expectations. I do need to get back to the truck, and get my own authority, and have pushed that time line from July to September 2014 (it may be pushed further depending upon my development and progression in this phase). This is the amount of time I have to build these projects, databases, video shorts on the blog, and implement a couple of bête software to market, and get feedback. The next time out, I’ll be pulling away from spreadsheets and record all information on access database, but will still work with the same aging mapping software, until the future software offers more promise and advancements. Once I build a video routine and timeline, I am hoping what I begin to do now will be able to be incorporated into the truck.

It is still a work day, and although I am unsupervised, time is money, and nothing has been presented in the form of monetary value…

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Beginning Of Every Month…

Posted on July 3, 2014 by tharrisfc

Beginning Of Every Month…

Posted by tharrisfc in One Man Show Project on April 11, 2014

      The first week, has always been a landmark policy to get the backups done. I not only want a backup in the form of a DVD, but also on an external drive. The DVD makes things permanent, while the External hard drive can be hooked up to another computer and be updated and used without needing to copy and paste a file over and start having too many copies of the same file “floating around”. It took me time to figure this out, but I would start making copies, and found myself updating older files accidentally. Eventually, I will keep an original file on the computer, but the the primary and active folder and files will be the primary records keeper. The ultimate goal is to specifically use the external hard drive for the records, and that way, when online, the external hard drive can be unplugged, keeping hackers from stealing or damaging my records. This also allows me to use the netbook as a Public machine for others to link to for public informational files. Well, I typically upgrade a computer to an enterprise operating system, for the intended purpose of creating a sharing file location. The other computers can be used to share files, but I would have to configure a folder with sharing rights to those who know how to link to my other computers.

My day started at 8:00 AM, with one developing computer running my new Visual Studio program, for building future apps and programs, while the computer I am writing on is backing up files to the external hard drive, and now at 10:30 AM it is time to backup this past months files to DVD disks; and at the same time, I am writing two Blogs. The backups needs to be the first main focus, but while the activity is copying files, I can work on the blogs, instead of sitting and waiting for the files to be copied. The combined activities had to conclude at 1:30 PM. It would be picked up later this afternoon, with the backups completed, leaving the two blogs, and time for my relearning of Visual Studio. Even the two blogs will run into the next day, since adding helpful pictures has become part of improving the articles.

The beginning of the month gives me time to go over bills and other aspects of the activities created, and focus on how to better improve in making the process and completion happen in a shorter period of time.Since I took myself off the road, in February, I found a lot of work hat fell to the wayside, and needed to be caught up. Now, in April 2014, I am looking at the business development aspect on how much I can automate the process. I do know how to write code, and may start automating some aspects of my activities, giving me more time to focus on other areas. One possible code may include setting up the computer to backup, and simply run a program that might even include labels to either be taped to the DVD’s or take it a step further and create DVD labels. Another focus is to go back and see how much I can automate in my organization. All of this takes an unknown amount of time and concentration, which I couldn’t afford under previous contracts…loads had to move.

A week later, and I have maintained some study, some billing, and some business development. Being in the role of a Professional Driver meant falling behind on other studies, such as HTML and JavaScript coding. It also meant forgetting what I had learned. I have had to recall things in my old Visual Studio studies, while adapting to the different appearances of the program. Even I have to practice everything I have “preached” when it comes to new software. There has also been an interruption in my personal endeavors, my writing. Being a Sole Proprietor has left me with concerns of when to go with the “rat race” scheme, and when I am justified to place myself in this “Business development” stage. Of course, the change over had its own challenges, where taking time down, with no basis of generating revenue, was pacified with deals and compromises that has fallen short of the initial expectations.

Next week, my work potential needs to accelerate, and I have a window of opportunity to explore the “How To” aspect of video, while keeping up with current activities. This truly has become a “One Man Show Project”. It is my hopes that by the end of next week, I will have created enough raw material in the form of video to start introducing 30 second “show an tell” concepts in the Driver’s Blog. For now, I play “catch up” on a weekend typically meant to relax and reinvent. I may have reached my point of ongoing activities, and might have to focus on seeing something of true completion in the 2nd years quarter. By the third quarter, I have to start showing revenue. By then, I will need to be back in the swing of things, and recover for the lost opportunities of building a dream. Basically, for every week of lost revenue, takes about three to five weeks of future work to recover. I think since there is no one over me, it is hard to gauge whether this risk of time down is beneficial. Even I know that hindsight is 20/20.

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Building a Recorded Routine

Posted on April 17, 2014 by tharrisfc

      When starting into the Trucking Industry, many companies want to find out what you are able, and even willing, to do. Starting out involves going Over The Road for many, while others find a specialized or local route assignment.  In any case, one thing that takes time is the individuals routine. Aside from what is required from start of the day, picking up and delivering, and post trip responsibilities, what occurs at a personal level is what is acquired or adapted into. Typically, if a driver is regional or 48 state, keeping up with your log book, and permits seem to be the only two requirements. But at a personal level, you have a personal obligation towards your own bills and records keeping. For many drivers who don’t come home every night, they can be in the truck for weeks. It takes time to arrange for things like your utilities to be “prepaid” through your bank. But there is also your CDL, Medical Card, and family occasions and events that you have to consider. By letting everything occur, and attempting to handle it when you can results in losing control or not getting things resolved in a timely manner.

      There are three ways of categorizing your routine; daily, weekly, and monthly. By writing out your own outline, and keeping to it may help get you started, with the intention of keeping it like a commitment. The outline can also be adjusted to a more realistic activity that you can keep. But most importantly, it is a way of staying aware of upcoming events and bills.

Making a Daily Outline

      An outline will give you a chance to decide when you can do what you are obligated to do. It is one thing to keep a record in an organizer, such as a calendar or outlook, but until you come up with your own personal set of rules of when to keep track of the calendar, it will eventually fall to the wayside, and become another thing that is not kept or forgotten. I wrote an outline, that over time, I was able to keep. It took years to become focused on my own personal obligation to follow as a business practice, and not a guideline. It made the difference between feeling like giving up or staying with driving.  I went to needing time down at least every third or fourth week )not only to rest but catch up on my bills), to being able to stay out months at a time, and work on my routine. Eventually, I did need “Time Down” to catch up with what fell short, but that was far in between. Below is my Start to finish Daily outline.

Start of Day:

  • Make Personal Inventory and Purchase List
  • Review and complete yesterday’s Log
    • Complete Daily Recaps Sheet
  • Scan yesterday’s receipts
  • Update Planned Mapping & Destination
  • Check Weather & Email
  • Set Alarm for 8 hour Drive time and 14 hours End Time, for proposed startup.

Pre Trip:

  • Do complete inspection of truck & Trailer
    • Plan on fueling and possible maintenance
      • Truck Oil Change, Fuel Filter Change, Inspection
  • Do a checklist Inventory of Supplies that may be needed
    • Straps & Load Locks
    • Oils
    • Fluids and wipes
    • Light Supplies & Fuses
    • Tools & Supplies
      • Missing wrenches, Hammers, screw drivers, etc.
      • Inventory fuses, Relays, and spare lighting supplies
    • Stationary Inventory

Pick Up Checklist:

  • Have information handy
    • PU Number, BOL, Contact Information
    • Current Trailer Number
    • Drivers License
  • Update records on BOL
    • Record all information
      • BOL Number
      • Contact Emergency Number
      • Destination
      • Load type, Amount, and weight
      • Any special Instructions
  • Contact Manager (Update Current Status)
    • OBC
    • Phone Call
  • Update Mapping Plan
  • Check
  • Weather, and seek road conditions
    • Websites
    • Radio (Local or XM)
  • Review & Update Log Status

Route Checklist:

  • Stop period
    • Check weather
    • Check Email & Phone Calls
    • Check Traffic Reports when possible
    • Update mapping plan, and add notes to describe issues
      • Current issues (Road Construction, Accident, weather, etc.)
      • Upcoming Issues (Planned Constructions)
      • Local Scheduled Events
    • Walk Around Inspection
    • Log Book Update Status
    • Update 8 Hour Rule Alarm
    • Create adjustable 11 hour alarm

Scale & Fueling:

  • Scale with current amount of fuel
    • Record of Scale
      • Write comments on scale Ticket
  • Fuel
    • Record Fuel Location, Amount, and Pricing
    • Check Fluids and Oil & Do Walk Around
  • Record any purchases
  • Update Log

8 Hour Rule:

  • Update and Review Log
  • Get out of Truck [rest]
  • Do Walk Around
  • Communication
  • Update Mapping
  • Update Log

Delivery:

  • Record any issues
  • Contact manager
  • Update Mapping Notes
  • Update Log

End of Day Checklist:

  • Store all documents in safe place
  • Finish Mapping status
  • Post Trip
  • Update Log
  • Get Rest

 

      My start of day was just as important as getting to a safe haven before my 14 hour rule. I learned that by the end of the day, I just wanted to get ready to rest. I also found out that many mistakes were made, when I went to look over all my records, logs, and organizer (I use an Outlook). Getting some sleep first, meant that I would awake and have breakfast, before tackling my paperwork and records. By having a fresh approach, gave me a chance to make sure the paperwork and log was in order. I did not really waste too much time on scanning receipts each day, but I did scan and submit all finished logs and Bill Of Lading, relating to completed deliveries. Scanning receipts would happen at the end of the week, as a routine. This is when I also checked my Email and phone calls to see if I had to include anything into my organizer, and future schedule; While looking at what was due on that day (bills), while I could write a check and mail it, or pay online. It also gave me an opportunity to communicate with the fleet manager, and even include when I would be rolling. I would also invest time in my Mapping program to record my route and stops. I can also add notes, since each mapping file was saved as a part of my own personal records. Eventually, I will build a routine to review them to make a database, which includes past issues or best practices at specific locations. For now, when I am going to a known customer, I can search for the file, and look over my old notes.

      With the weather being so unpredictable all year round, I made it a point to get the regional forecast, to see how the weather predictions were going to affect me throughout the day, and into the next day as well. The weather could become a reason to call the fleet manager or customer to inform them of any impending delays. Traffic reports were beneficial locally, to keep me from pulling out of the safe haven, and wind up at the back of the traffic jam. It gave me a chance to find an alternate route, or call about another delay. My mapping programs has the ability to download scheduled construction areas, and Google Maps (online) can also show current traffic flow. In one way or another, I did not plan on just getting in the truck and expect the path to be clear; although, as a novice, that was exactly what I was prone to do. Local news would let me know if there was any celebrations or events that may also hamper my planned time frame, and it expressed any current accident scenes. All this might sound like extra work, but keeping everyone up to date of pending delays, gave a chance to reschedule (or at the most let the customer know of the delay).

      My Pre-Trip would include checking my supplies that might be needed during the day, from Load related, Truck Related, Office Related, to Tools. Since most of my starts happened at a Truck Stop, I might as well get whatever I needed or might need now, while I was still there. This also included extra supplies like water and crackers, just in case I broke down or stuck at a customer for an extended period of time. By breaking this up from my start to the day did two thing; it gave me the opportunity to take care of my personal affairs to it’s completion; and then, take care of the equipment. I might have to go back in and make a second purchase, but that helped keeping my receipts separate too (my first purchases were personal, and going back in to buy for the truck, would be on a separate receipt). The last but most important thing was to set up my alarms. Using an old Samsung tablet, I could setup multiple alarms, and display them on one screen; giving me the opportunity to update them as the day’s events changed. With the eight hour rule being as important as the eleven hour rule and the fourteen hour rule (all regulations), having a tablet that could list these times offered me the best way of staying organized. The alarms were set up to go off an hour before the limited time, giving me time to find a safe haven. Before starting out, I would also map out my potential stopping points, which I would change as the day would go on.

      The pick up checklist to me was just as important as the Driver’s Log, and both were kept up and recorded with every change of event. I use Microsoft Office Excel as the workbook for this information. I always found it important to have redundant records, since nobody needs to see the Bill of Lading (except customers and police), and in a spreadsheet, I could copy and paste it into other records keeping of writing documents that needed to be created; and, it was available to Email information to my manager, when there were issues needing resolving. During this time, I would update my log, and my mapping file, recording any other notes relating to this stop. It again sounds like so much work, but typically, if there was a question about this load, the questions sometimes happened weeks later. By documenting (a version of a blog that expressed story telling), I had information that helped me recall what had transpired during that given day. After communicating my pickup, it was back to importantly updating my alarms, based on any delays or earlier leaving for delivery destination.

      Everyone has their own rule of when a load needs to be scaled, and mine was anything over 32,000 lbs. Since the contractor and companies would reimburse me the money, I had no problems with this rule. Fines can cost so much more than the weigh station fee. I also recorded the scale ticket in another spreadsheet. This was more along the lines of “Story Telling” and documenting, but if I lost the scale ticket, I knew what I had. Since the scale ticket was my record, and served no real evidence for the police, any changes or current settings were written right on the scale ticket (change in tandems settings, and even the fuel tank amounts), all of which “told” me what I had done. Then, there came deciding on the fueling. This always finished with a fuel receipt, for my records, and I would also document the information into another spreadsheet (I needed this to organize my expenses, especially as an Independent Contractor, for tax purposes). Again, always update your status in your logs, and adjust the alarm, for that eleven hour rule. I made whatever noted changes in my mapping file, and communicated any changes to the manager (by On Board Computer). In between, I tried to get a weather and road report, other than what was stated on the citizens band radio.

      When it came to stopping early or for the eight hour rule, I always went back to my log and records to update my status and make notes of any issues. I always looked at my alarm settings last.

      After delivering, I made any notes in my records needed, and included a one line comment. Remember, much of this could be needed to recall at a later time. Not knowing is not considered a reply or response.

      By the end of the day, I just wanted to eat a meal, shower, and get sleep. I caught up on closing out my total miles, and drew a line to Off Duty status, leaving the remaining information to be completed after some rest. Mistakes in drawing a line in the wrong place always caught up with me (as a violation), but not until a few months later.  The next day involved, doing it all over again.

 

Driver’s Weekly Task

Billing Status:

  • Check for upcoming Scheduled Debts
  • Check for upcoming revenue

Inventory Checklist:

  • Check record for upcoming Permit Expirations
  • Check for upcoming Maintenance
  • Check for upcoming events or scheduled meetings
  • Review all previous work
    • Log Book
    • Mapping records
    • Records
    • Inventory
    • Expenses
    • Scan all receipts and document
  • Check Inventory List
  • Schedule any maintenance needed

Personal Inventory:

  • Clothing
  • Stationary and Office Supplies
  • Tools and Equipment
  • Food Stuff
  • Personal Inventory
    • Dates Off and On
    • Medical or Physical
    • Occasions or Events

      The end of the week was Friday into Saturday for me. Friday morning was the last “active” business day of the week, when it came to make last minute telephone calls. Of course, many places do have operating hours on Saturday, but if anything had to wait for the next “business day”, Sundays made that a day to wait out on some occasions. Some places pay on Thursdays, but lately, I got paid n Fridays. This was a good reason to work out my financial records, and pay some bills. I used Saturdays for what calls didn’t occur Friday, and for my inventory. Strangely enough, I still have to make a strong inventory sheet to keep track. This was also the time to review my appointments or schedules for both business and personal needs. The weekend also gave me a chance to figure out if I had any expiring permits renewed, and this is when scanning my receipts had a priority. Receipts fade over time, and if you are planning to document them, getting it scanned is one of the best ways I found to make them available for my records. Unfortunately, I never sent them to the accountant, so I left me doing all the financial recordings. I originally desired to scan and then send, but for some reason…I got lazy.My bad.

      Looking of the past weeks logs and records gave me one final opportunity to make whatever corrections before they became permanent records. It also gave me a chance to analyze my routine to see if I was slacking, or make an improvement. Reviewing my maintenance records also seemed to be a low priority, meaning something to work on in the future. Sunday was my day to plan for the next week, unless I was rolling. The point here is that my weekend started Fridays and went to Sunday. If I’m in the truck…I am at work.

Driver’s Monthly Task

Vehicle Inventory Checklist:

  • Fuses & Relays
  • Oils & Fluids
  • Lights
  • Reflective Triangles
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • Vehicle Records
    • Registration
    • Insurance
    • Permits
    • Maintenance Records
    • Next Service Due

Supplies Inventory:

  • Wire Connectors & Tape
  • Placards and Reflective Gear
  • Clothing
  • Personal Hygiene
  • Wet & Cold Weather Gear

Tools Inventory:

  • Tool Supplies

Records Inventory:

  • Backup records
  • Record all expenses and revenue for the month
  • Record all Repairs & Maintenance
  • Review and record all log records & Recap
    • Look for issues or possible corrections
    • Analyze possible changes for improvement
  • Personal Records
    • Driver’s License
    • Medical Certification Card
    • Credits & Check Book
    • Scheduled Bills

Study:

  • Green Book (FMCSA)
  • CSA Handbook
  • HAZMAT Booklets
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Interest
    • Computer and other devices
    • Hobbies
  • Vehicle Handbook

Finance Records:

  • Bank Statements
  • Bills

      As I wind down with this Blog, I am expressing an idea that helps give you a plan on how to stay with a routine. It is important to everyone to feeling like the work they do is beneficial and worthwhile. Having a plan, especially starting out as a Professional Driver, keeps you from feeling completely lost and hopeless. It takes time to build any routine, and to stay current with everything relating to truck driving, maintenance, and all your financial and personal obligations. I had copied these outlines in a way to where you can copy and alter it to what suits your ability. Knowing what you need from the start also takes time. You should have Oil and window washer fluid, and extra fuses and relays are a mandatory “must”. An extra set of headlights, taillights, and directional lights keep you from being fined. A supply of window cleaner and paper towels should also be in your inventory.  When it comes to your financial obligations, you have to make it important to track, like you need to when it comes to the truck’s permits, registration, Insurance, and maintenance records. When it comes to being a Professional Driver, the trick is the timing in every aspect of your life.

      I find Professional Driving challenging, and it has many aspects to it with one thing in common…it is all important. As you learn that driving habits vary from state to state and region to region, so does the routine from over the road driving to local deliveries. On Time performance seems to be the main theme, but from the time you get into the truck, until you come home, every aspect of what goes on seems to be timely, both professionally and personal in nature. Having a routine and a plan that you can keep makes things more predictable and manageable.

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The Concept Of Making It Important…

Posted on April 2, 2014 by tharrisfc

      Starting anything new is indeed overwhelming, since there is so many things to comprehend, adapt into a routine, decide on how to improve on your talents, and keep it up to date. It is a state of mind, and if you are to become good (at anything), there is time needed to learn, experiment and practice, decide on how and when to do it, and then, make it a routine. One way you my want to understand a program is to make a simple project for yourself to develop these principles. It can be maintenance on your automobile or building an organizer (with a blank spreadsheet) for your garage or workshop. It can be anything that you could use, and over time make it something to improve and detail. But like any blank page, everything start with a vision and purpose that you create; then, it starts with that first line, text, or image. At the same time, plan on also creating your files for real time records keeping. The personal file activity will be what you experiment and try new things with, while the real records would be what you apply from your experiences of what works and what does not work. Some programs come with help and practice files already built, to try to help you understand how to apply a program to your true purpose, but I felt I forced myself to learn from the practice of trial and error using real time activities, but always starting out with a copy of my file and building and advancing on it. This way, if it is wrong, I can always go back to the original file and start over, only losing time (not true, unless I give up; otherwise, if I get right back to work, it was an “investment” in time to learn from). If everything came out ok, I then went to “Save As”, and saved it with the original file name, which replaces the old file.

 

It becomes Important The Day You Start

      When I brought my scanner onboard the truck, it was to commit myself to scanning receipts, and build a routine around that. Of course, the day already commanded my role and responsibilities towards transporting loads, so I first started out making this practice something to do when I had the time. Anyone who drives a truck knows that when the truck stops for the day, you just want to “vegetate”.I already had a binder and organizer billfold for my piles of receipts. This made it easy to let the first activity be a last activity, and it didn’t get far…at first. I had to make it important, and become conscious of the activity that falls to the wayside. Sitting in an office while the trailer was being loaded, I would look through the customer’s window, and see a wall of file cabinets containing everything business related for them. This was where I sat, and focused on how I don’t have room in my truck for file cabinets, let alone a binder and billfold full of receipts. Eventually, it would have to be recalled, and the computer was to replace the extras that got tossed in a corner or cabinet. Everyone also knows that receipts sit on a dashboard and fades from the sun and elements, or gets wrinkled and ripped. Eventually, I decided the activity needed to become something done at the end of the week. The priority was no longer something that could wait.

      My level of priorities was basically determined by the job I was doing. When starting out in trucking, my first priority was towards recording my assigned loads. The second was building my routine around planning my trip on a mapping program (which I easily found important, since I had a personal interest in maps), and my spreadsheets grew to recording my fuel stops…and that was when things started to merge. Fuel stops included receipts. My concept went to merging those receipts with the spreadsheet that I recorded the fuel on, by “Hyperlinking”. Hyperlink is a tool in my spreadsheet that allows me to link a cell to another place in the same file, or link it to another file, such as the receipt. The only thing I had to make important was scanning the receipts into an organized folder of the computer….you cant hyperlink to a file that is not there.

      Learning To Organize

      The building of an organized folder was easy for me. There is a “parent – child” relationship concept that helped me understand the role that the parent folder would keep or contain everything that is in it…the children. When it came to links or hyperlinks, this would be important to know. My spreadsheet had to be in a parent folder, along side another folder, that became a parent to the files that I scanned. Of course, I learned this the hard way. My first spreadsheet had links to files elsewhere on the computer, but when it came to making backups, those links would be looking for the path to the file, as if the path would always be including the computer. I needed the links to the receipt files stay linked when copied to a DVD or external hard drive. It took awhile to know that the first folder would contain my workbook and a folder that was the parent to the receipt files. When backing up or moving to an external hard drive, I would have to copy the whole parent folder. By doing this, the computer remapped the path.

      Basically, a path is the steps to get to the target folder. Your internal hard drive on the computer is known as the “C” drive, and the path would look something like this: C:\Documents and Settings\User\ToddHarris\My Documents\TheParentFolder\…from here, the path continues to where my spreadsheet and folder “containing” other folders that hold my receipt files. A DVD drive is Typically the “D” drive. An external drive can be any other letter not already assigned. When you hyperlink to files not in a containing “parent” folder, then when you copy from the C drive to another location, the hyperlink makes a best guess (in spreadsheets), or keeps the original path established. So, when the spreadsheet is copied to the D drive, the path may still look for the C drive path. By making sure that a folder contains everything in it, the spreadsheet will change the path to keep the hyperlink connected to file. This has been successful when using Microsoft word as well. Other programs don’t typically change the path. What you link to from lets say Microsoft Publisher, it becomes a permanent path when copied (it does not figure out the changes in drive letters).

      Because the role as a Professional Driver took priority over any business development, it set the tone of how much could be accomplished at any given time. It challenged me to set up a 34 hour period of off duty, to catch up and analyze what I was missing, and where I could improve. Over seven years, a workbook can contain twenty three spreadsheets reflecting each year, while the Driver’s Daily Log program only needed to be reviewed and improved, when it came to recording the activities, and the appearance of each days logs. But, even a reader can look at the archives of this Blog and see how much time was available to Blog, where the less amount of blogs was when the work or workload was the heaviest. Blogging at the time couldn’t become a practice into my routine. But before coming off the road, my daily routine was to review yesterdays logs and paperwork, before printing them in paper form, scanning the previous days completed paperwork (but the receipts were not a daily priority, as was left for those 34 hour periods). Along with my responsibilities of Pre Inspecting the Truck and Trailer, I would set up my other computer that did all the mapping programs, use a digital camera to show any new issues,  and both parts of this routine would get done and I would be moving within a 30-45 minute time average. During the day, like the log, stops for fuel, repairs, and notes at the customers were recorded “as they happened”.

      I did make a few attempts to scan receipts as I acquired them, but there were various issues that kept me from including it in my work routine…at least for now. The hopes of being off the road for now is to contemplate activities like this, and figure on what can be implemented and improved, before returning to the highways. As I lightly mentioned in previous blogs, my focus in this project was to see how much could actually be accomplished while in the course of the work day, and without it interfering with deliveries. Over time, I also explored making a database or two,one reflecting the loads, locations, and customer information (like my own telephone book), and another database that reflected my Blogs, computer activities, and other tasks that I had made important to myself. The purpose was to actually be familiar with as much as possible, so when an individual came up to me with a program related issue, I would have a concept of what they were attempting to do. In short, many drivers may like the idea of a customer location database, but have no interest in recording loads, fuel stops, service information, or maps on computers, while another would like to focus on doing everything as a record by mapping program, and not all the other records. In seven years, I think I have accomplished much of what I envisioned, but would like to go further.

      This Blog also include a category called “Down Time” and it was to be filled with articles that related to photography, writing (to include poetry), drawing, and anything else to pass the time. Crafts, such as making cards and other print related activities, was just the tip of the iceberg. A computer for me is a machine that may reflect multiple codes of communication and hold the universal language of math, but it will always be described in two words, “To Create”. It has to do with making something out of nothing, and the computer screen is a palette to some, a virtual blank paper to another, and the purposes can go on. Making the Down Time category will be more active, because it is important. It is important to me.

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Digital Cameras And Their Use In The Workplace

Posted on March 12, 2014 by tharrisfc

Through the last few years digital photography has played a stronger role in all aspects of life. What once was an asset for personal occasions and entertainment now reflects catching a moment in time for developing structures, travel, and individual activity. The best example is the smart phone camera, and extends to dashboard camcorders. Anything that will serve as a form of information and communication has equaled its familiar role of entertainment and memories. The one single concepts still remains, “you get what you pay for”, but this has actually falls short from the truth with today’s technology. Instead, the development of any picture now falls on the individual and how the use the newer devices. The point to be made is that there is still an obvious difference when taking pictures “on the fly” as to when planning a picture, and making it a steady shot.

Each year, I had a small fund that was to help in having redundant supplies for the role sole purpose being able to continue a project or projects, without worry of running to the retail store for a replacement. It wasn’t a big fund, and currently, that fund stopped. It was a need since most of anything used in the truck takes a large amount of punishment and wear and tear, along with the extreme weather season periods. During that period, I obtained two Mustek Camcorders (about $79.00 each), and an RCA Camcorder (also $79.00). The idea was way before the dashboard camera became frequent in truck stops. My purchasing choices was geared to what was available in truck stops, since having drivers roll into mall areas is desired. Eventually, the dashboard camcorder did become more popular (for about $100.00 or more). Many drivers don’t want them, fearing they could be used against them in an accident. I see it more helpful in such situations, and for other reasons. As far as the dashboard Camcorder, well, it had just as much value when on break too. Security. If nothing else, it was a deterrent, and on one occasion, it also caught an incident as it occurred.

But even a digital camera is useful, especially when I became an Independent Contractor. I used them for inspecting trailers at the time of hooking them up, to have evidence of “pre-existing” damage. It also came in handy when damage or breakdowns did occur. Instead of spending time on the telephone with the company, detailing the issues, a picture was able to be emailed, and like they say, pictures speak in volumes.  When it was a conflict of interest, because their records showed the trailer was just in a shop, sending a picture helped enforce my concern. On other occasions, a mechanic was able to analyze the picture and note that the trailer was still good to use (I just annotated that in my DVIRR – Driver’s Vehicle Inspection Repair Report).  There were times that cameras were absolutely not allowed to be used on certain customers property (rarely), and in those cases, I made a second stop not too far from the customer and did it at a truck stop or rest area. Of course, making notes of this depended on the reasoning. One way or another, digital cameras and camcorders have found their way, and value, in the trucking industry depending on the individual’s purpose. It all sounds like so much work, but that is why it is called the “workplace”. It is more thought and planning than anything else. The records keeping can also be redundant, but it holds it’s value the first time it becomes needed. Typically, every professional driver should carry a disposable camera, that takes the old type pictures, and they simply fill a few cards out with the film used, and mails it to the supervisor or their safety department. Having a digital camera actually saves time, when it comes to simply emailing into that department or person.

The cameras all were well used, and still functions today. Of course, when it came to the quality of the pictures, many factors had to come into play. Distortion is one thing that still happens often, and that is because of the camera speed [click], movement [why they are called still cameras], and lighting. I even found that some pictures taken at night were prone to distortion, because of the street lights in parking lots. To correct this issue at night, I used a 16 LED flashlight to outshine the lighting from the street lights. The problem was that the street lights use alternating current (60 Hz), and the flickering we don’t notice was enough to trouble the digital camera’s focus. Using the battery operated flashlight helped give a constant beam that the camera needed. I also got in the habit of taking a couple of pictures of the same spot, just in case the first picture still had issues. I tried to also go back and run the camcorder, when I was uncertain of the quality of picture, since the video recording happened while I was inspecting, and I could also narrate my observations. There was just one difference in making this a habit; file size.

If you think about the amount of file size created, a picture simply creates a still picture, with a very minute extra, if you use the date and time settings, compared to a video file. The video not only holds a picture every second, but it also stores the audio. If this was to become a daily routine, a computer would be filled over time. This is where an external Hard Drive comes into play. Of course, now you do have to go to a mall. But the external hard drives hold “Tetra bytes”  of files now, and they are affordable. In many ways, this might be an expense worth doing, since attempting to save them on DVD [4.7 GB] would definitely be time-consuming. For many drivers, just having up to 7 days of records is fine. But the Owner Operator may envision the need to save a longer period of time, to assure responsibility.

Many will point out to keep a record of every inspection would be more work than is necessary, but there is some who would find it worth while. Creating the organization of folders and storing them seems to also be so involving…until you make it a routine. The individuals who would find this most helpful are more likely those who are independent contractors or owner operators. It still is a form of records keeping, and actually can be recalled upon when questions like where you were, the weather or road conditions at the time, and yes it can also reflect on the mood you were in at the time. In my opinion, once something has occurred, it can never be changed, only falsified or ignored. Whatever occurs in reality is something to learn and live by, and if it leads to improving an ability or action, then it was noteworthy of happening. For this reason, the needs to be a personal interest in when and where cameras and videos take place in the workplace; the good points are just as important as the bad ones.

Deciding on the time and place for digital recording

      There are some things that comes naturally to some, but there is still an amount of patience, experimentation, and deciding on a results that has to be acquired. This is done by planning and repetition. There is no other way of building the talent or outcome one is expecting. Even I spent years looking over older pictures, evaluating how to make them look good. And when it comes to photography, it may start out as simply “point and shoot”, but over time and routine, you start developing your own expectations, needing more time and experimentation to reach that outcome. Bottom line, you have to start somewhere, and allowing time to pass for you to review and judge, that desire to improve will come naturally. Don’t let the first poor expectation make you feel it was a waste of time, or it is a poor camera. For now, even if you were to plan on using it for trailer inspections, just do it. Later, review it, and over time, try to develop your aim, steadiness, and expectation. By simply starting to use it already expresses the most important part of inspecting a trailer…it says it was done. Even if you have no real purpose for a digital camera or camcorder, use it for trailer inspections, just to get in the experience.

      In the beginning, you will see a less than professional appearance. As far as I am concerned, even a professional photographer is their own critic. So you should not give up. Experimentation is one of the best lessons. In the beginning, simply focus on that “pointing and shooting”. Get the aim down. Then, work on your steadiness. Distance will also become a personal learning experience, since too close might make it hard for the camera to focus, and too far might not show the exact detail you wish to catch. Finally, lighting will also affect a digital camera. Those old outdoor street lights will be a possible factor because of that “sixty cycle hum”. Learn to explore the devices settings when it comes to lighting, affects, picture adjustment, and even the time and date settings (not available on all devices). Start out as a personal interest or a form of self entertainment. Then, plan on improving and deciding on how to use it, and when.

Photoshop Software

I do have an opinion on when and how Photo Shop software comes into play when planning on the digital camera in a workplace, avoid it. Basically, you really do not want to alter pictures for damage reporting, or any criminal issues. Even using it to mark up a picture to comment on it can be considered altered or not useful. If you wish to comment or draw on any picture as evidence of damage, always make a copy of the picture file, and rename the original as “raw”, meaning “As is” picture, and the second as “edited”, and submit both versions to whatever recipient. If you plan on improving on the picture with photo shop programs, again, submit the raw version with it, and make sure their identified as raw and enhanced so the recipient can understand and value both the original and the improved version. As long as you make this a rule, especially for accident scenes and damage reports, then yes, experiment with any graphics software program you wish. Honestly, that original picture may appear too dark, or tone may be off, but the recipient can always lighten the picture with whatever viewing software they are using. With that said, once you start working with one software, experiment with other graphics software, to include the paint or graphics program that came with your computer (sometimes the simplest program can give you a better result, and easier to use, especially when you find a software tool that serves your purpose, and in a timely manner). And, by using more than one Photo shop program, you may find a better tool in one, and flip to the next graphic software for the other tool.  Even making an album (a series of pictures for the same subject) can be a way of keeping those filed pictures together. They old line is, “How does one get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice’’”.

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Understanding the computer, as Time Goes By…

Posted on February 18, 2014 by tharrisfc

      Today, a computer is made with integrated circuits and other “Solid State” parts, and that includes the processor.   To believe a computer  gets slow with age, well, It’s simply not true. These parts don’t wear out. Even the processor is controlled consistently like from the first day it was installed. So, what makes the computer become slow over time? The user. Yes, the computer was designed to work at a constant speed, and doesn’t rust with age. So, what is happening? Consider what occurs after it comes out of the box and is plugged in and turned on for the first time.

      When a computer is first new, it comes typically with a startup program that has you add your name, and connect to the internet. In the steps, it even strongly suggests you use the antivirus software that came with it, and if none, best get a good antivirus software. Then, it suggests you make sure the operating system has all the updated fixes and improvements on it.  With each restart, the machine seems ready to work. Keep in mind that when you restarted it, the processor now is doing a little more work than when you first plugged it in, because now the processor is not only going through the original setup, but now its checking registry and operation of the Virus software.  Still not a problem.

      So, now besides having the ability to surf the web, we all want to have the machine retrieve our email. Once we configure whatever mail server we use, the  mail start coming into our mailbox. Later and when the machine is started, now it not only goes through its basic startup, checks the registry, it now starts retrieving your email, while looking to see if there is any new operating and software updates out there, and that includes the virus software program. The processor is working the same speed, but doing more work. Some emails, and other programs need files to be downloaded. With downloads, space I used, and with software downloads that are installed, they come with there own settings and configurations. Next time the computer starts up, it now goes through it’s system startup, checks all the registries, checks the locations logs of the downloaded files, runs the virus scan program, seeks updates on the internet, and retrieves your email. That processor is still working the same speed as when it was first plugged in, but now does so much more work, and as time goes on, updates are found, you will create or download more files and install more software, and there will be times where virus or adware is unintentionally downloaded…but the processor is still working the same speed it did from day one. In short, the more we add the more work the processor does, but at the same speed it always did. Processors don’t slow or rust. They are integrated circuits. Like a car alternator, they work or they don’t; there just is no middle ground.

    A real visualization is like taking a small Honda Civic, and start loading newspapers to deliver daily. You get accustomed to driving around, and the weight is distributed to the houses, the small car goes faster and handles curves easier. Now, Sunday comes, and the Sunday paper, with all those adds, are much heavier, and are loaded in the same Honda. The workload weight has multiplied, but it is still the same Honda.  Another example is that I own a Freightliner Century, which will pull up to 46,000lbs. You cannot put that weight in or behind that Honda. That pore car won’t go. In the same sense, my Freightliner rides and handles the roads and hills much better when pulling 11,000 pound load; and still, 11,000 lbs. won’t save time if even get far in that Honda. So, are you hurting the computer by adding so much files and software? No. But that processor is still going at the same pace with much more work to account for.

      Some things to consider when you wish to start a computer faster may be to buy an external hard drive and save your personal files and pictures on that. This actually serves two things; it spares the computer from starting up (in your perception) slowly, as long as the external hard drive isn’t attached until the computer is up and ready (that covers speed), and secondly, if you plan to surf the web, and the hard drive is disconnected, no spyware can track your files and personal information. You still have to install the software on the internal hard drive. Trying to install it on an external hard drive me allow the computer to appear to start up faster, but using that program may run slower, since the computer and processor is now working with the software on an external hard drive; which will be slow to work with.  Another thing to consider is to take account of the software you no longer use and uninstall them. That way, the computer starts up and no longer seeks the registry for the unused programs.

      Don’t forget to occasionally go to the Administrative folder, and click on the system folder, to find the Disk Clean program, and the Defragment program. This helps keep the files closer and the available space more accessible, and not scattered. I’ll do a few more Blogs on using external hard drives later. Just know, a computer doesn’t get slow, instead, it stores, installs and uses whatever you add to it, and at the same pace as when it was first plugged in.

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A Monday Start Needs A Starting Point…

Posted on February 18, 2014 by tharrisfc

          Before I get involved in details, the first thing is to express a certain frame of mind. Everything in life involves degrees of work, study, patients, and imagination. Bottom line, none of us is born with this experience. We may have a certain knack for some things, but not for everything.  So, lets make some “work” out of this concept, by breaking down that everything in life…

Work

      From birth, there was curiosity and wonder. As days passed, everything else we achieved was through time, patience, and repetition. At a young age, parents challenged each other to make the first word commonly used as “Mommy” or “Daddy”. The amazing thing is, we all got really good at frequently using the word” No” (so much for Mom and Dad). In all our defenses, our parents told us “No” more than we did or were allow, and, well, curiosity in many activities always had them say”no”. We weren’t allowed to play with garbage, swallow the salt shaker, tear up every piece of paper, and a lot of things to taste always came with, “No”. Geez, right from the beginning, there were restrictions, and in their defense, they were simply keeping us safe, and expressing what was not right. School started at an age, and then, there was a bigger world to explore, but “no” was still stated and for various reasons. More time passes, and we now had “homework”. And that was the first time we knew what work meant. Enough trashing the folks.

      From the beginning, we developed a concept of self. And, that self comes in various versions. The one concept that remained was what can we do (curiosity)? There were many challenges, and if it looked like fun, we unconsciously started to work to be a part of it. This can be games, sports, contests, and the list goes on. There was a degree of work and exercise(better call it repetition), but since it was something we chose to achieve, we overlooked the work and repetition it took to be competitive. Still, the was a mind set that made it worth the achievement.

Study

      To get to the next level in…well, anything in life, it took studying. Just to know the rules, limits (or more “no”), and even to start recognizing your opponents next approach meant to study and recognize it from previous days in that same activity. Of course, when it comes to any kind of instruction, if there is no challenge or understanding of how something is done, going to instruction is just that much harder to comprehend….to include why to study in the first place. Sometimes it feels like most of what we learn won’t be used anyway. But, how does any instructor or teacher know what you are going to need in life, especially when it may apply at first, but since the average person will go from job to job, and trade field to trade field, it is hard to know what you would need. So, maybe there is some truth in learning useless information. In some ways, I think computers and Office software of any kind appear so intimidating for the same reason; there are so many tools, format options, configurations, and settings, it appears to be more useless and even harder program to use. But just like a teacher, everything you might need, especially when your intentions may change, has been provided. There are simpler programs (I try to compare them as a workman’s portable toolbox or workshop in a garage;carried to do various repairs and small project building), but the more expensive supplies more possibilities (Like a workshop, or factory, where huge projects can be made, and if desired in an assembly line). Let’s face it, we all have chiseled something with a screw driver, while attempting to tighten a screw with a knife. But generally, we learn that the right tool, and using it for that specific purpose gets the job done fast, safer, or even…well, correctly. I had to make sure I didn’t say “No”, or “Wrong”.

Patience

      I think it comes with age, that we master patients in so many aspects of life. Well, we continue to be angry with ourselves when getting something thought of as simple becomes involving. But, if we take the time to do something, we prevent overlooking a step, breaking something, or needing to start all over to figure out “why”. A major chore may look overwhelming, but as we learn to pace ourselves, plan, and approach that big project in small degrees; over time, it does finally get done. And, what we finding entertaining as spectators, can take months of planning, routine and patients to provide that entertainment. Illusionists make the impossible come to life, and athletes break records in speed, strength and longevity(endurance), but all that came from time, planning, routine, and patience.

Imagination

      “If you build it, they will come.” That is a line that has been around for a long time. For many, that was a line in a movie (good movie too). To other’s, it is an old business line of motivation. And, that was just to thoughts that came to mind. When it comes to imagination, we can be the recipient of a good line or thought, or become the provider that other’s can relate to. Hopefully, I had every reader imagining that in one way or another, they have seen it in other infants, and can believe they were like that too, and the word “No” is the universal first word we have all learned and used….and often. Another thought, as time passed by the next frequently used word was…”sorry”, followed by the time honored, “It was an accident”. If nothing else, we can imagine. We later grow to imagine what we will or can become, plan on retirement, or have that home and lifestyle we would be willing to routinely work hard for, and with patience, we would get it. Of course, there will be hurdles and barriers if something takes time to earn, and with many unknown events that could go wrong. But, we want it, so we plan for it. When it comes to working with computers, it takes a little planning, and thought, to know what you are attempting to achieve. If you approach any software, and can sit back and think of what it could make and do for you, it can be done, with some understanding(Study), experimentation (and experience), and as time goes by (doing it routinely), your creativity expands, and you come to appreciate that factory workshop, and all its tools, wondering,”What can I do with this?”. It takes time. For now, don’t let it ever seem intimidating. Focus on what you see and can make no only sense of, but what you could use on a regular basis. And, if you enjoyed my Blog, then “yes”, you have the imagination. Honestly, give “no” a rest…and smile.

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