At a certain point it may seem like we are reliving experiences in our businesses over and over again. As in the movie Groundhog Day, personal and business cycles repeat, and repeat again.
We’re living and working comfortably when — BAM! — here comes a punch in the face. Knowing history may be very valuable, yet difficult to understand. Popular theory says most people’s grasp of history is limited to what we have lived through and personally experienced.
For example: The below timeline for just the basic hours of service rules. How many have you experienced? There are always lots of comments and complaints related to the 2003 change killing our ability to extend the duty window with mid-period rest (the current 14-hour rule), but there’ve been other changes.
How any of us adjusts to seismic shifts has a huge effect on our future. While change can be difficult, it isn’t impossible or by any stretch always negative. Resiliency is the ability to bounce back and adjust to the challenges — a natural toughness, you might say. This personality characteristic may be what allows you to survive as an entrepreneur. With effort, too, it’s not impossible to develop and nurture this valuable trait.
Business disruptions create challenges, but opportunities emerge, too. The 2017 electronic logging device reg implementation reduced available capacity, driving rates higher while the nation’s economy and business climate improved. The natural consequences: a rapid push by companies to take advantage by purchasing equipment and hiring drivers. Was this business decision of quantity over quality wise? Perhaps in the short term, but what of the long-range planning?
Several major disruptions are in the offing that will have unknown effects. The California A.B. 5 law leading the headlines has displaced much of the chatter around full implementation of the ELD rule next month – much of that had been about the loss of any ability to customize an e-log’s automatic switch to the drive status. With full ELD implementation, that happens at 5 mph. something every driver seems to agree is totally unreasonable.
