Speaker 2: 0:08

what's up everyone? Welcome back to another episode of that's delivered, the show where the road meets real talk. I'm your host, trucking ray, and today we're continuing a special series. I know you've if you've got to know some of the episodes with otta, african-american women and trucking association. One of our first guests in the series was an incredible woman, a lot of love Hawkins, and if you missed that episode, go back and check it out. It's a great show. I think you're going to enjoy that.

Speaker 2: 0:33

She sets the tone and today we're going to keep that energy going with someone who is not just talking the talk and she's out there building systems, empowering others and growing communities. So I'm joining with Amani Witcher, a freight consultant and dispatcher, business coach and membership chair of ATA With over eight years of hands-on experience. Amani is passionate about helping people create income and freedom without sacrificing family or faith. Through her brand, fleetology, she's helping dispatchers, drivers and entrepreneurs build businesses with purposes and confidence. We're digging deep into her journey and her day-to-day work, her mission to make trucking more inclusive and sustainable, especially for women. So let's jump right in. Monty, how are you doing?

Speaker 1: 1:27

Hello, how are you?

Speaker 2: 1:29

All right, it's nice to get to meet you today. You got a great personality. Great for the show. We're glad to have you on. I mean, it's a great addition to the series. Prada is doing great things out there and I know you're behind a lot of it. So let's tell us about yourself and a lot of things that you're working with. What drew you into the trucking industry? What brought you here? A little bit of background. Let's tell the folks about yourself.

Speaker 1: 1:56

Well, like you said, I've been in trucking for over eight years. I got brought into the industry, believe it or not, by my better half. I was living in Jersey and one of the goals that I had at the time, while I was living in Jersey, was to be able to spend more time with my son. I was actually, my son was four years old and my brother was nine, I believe, at the time. They're about two years apart, and I grew up with a stay at home mom, so I wanted to be able to do that with them and at the time I was working as a CNA seven to seven, seven to midnight sometimes, and I was barely home.

Speaker 1: 2:31

So when I met my better half and he gave me the opportunity to move to Georgia, I jumped on it and he started teaching me everything about the trucking industry because he was a truck driver. So that's pretty much what got me interested in it. And I got the privilege to work in a repair shop slash trucking company and that's how I learned to dispatch. So through him, you know, I got the experience and then I got the job in it and it just kind of flew off from there and we started, you know, our own company back in 2018 doing it.

Speaker 2: 3:05

Wow, what a big jump. That's awesome.

Speaker 1: 3:08

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 3:08

What was that like Right now a company.

Speaker 1: 3:11

Oh, I mean, it had its ups and downs. I was kind of forced into it. I tell everybody I see the good and the bad in trucking. So the repair shop slash reefer trucking company that I was working for decided that he was going out of business. You know it was January. And he's like, OK, I'm going to close my doors in February.

Speaker 1: 3:32

And here I was with no income, no free time to do what I used to do with my son, and I said well, you know what, Let me just go ahead and get started. And right after I said that, I kid you not, I was in the office by myself. And right after I said that I kid you not, I was in the office by myself and my very first carrier came walking in the doors and said, hey, baby girl, you know anything about dispatching, you know anything about, you know flatbeds. And literally he was my first client. I knew nothing about flatbeds because I had been dispatching refrigerated trucks before that and it started with him. I started the company literally February, the very next month, and he was my first client. So one door closed and another door opened.

Speaker 2: 4:12

Wow, that's amazing. What a great story, I mean, for a lot of people out there. It shows them that, hey, if you buckle down, you can make a lot of moves and a lot of changes in your life. So I was there a specific, specific moment early on where it made you realize that this was where I was meant to be. Maybe something happened that you wanted to share.

Speaker 1: 4:35

Well, I can say I have a soft spot just for children in general. But my brother suffered from ADHD so we had a lot of doctor's appointments already that I needed to kind of work my schedule around. When my son was diagnosed with Asperger's, though, it became kind of the moment for me where I knew that I needed to have that free time for both of them, not just you know, to be the stay-at-home mom, but all the things that came with those medical conditions having to go to doctor's appointments and therapy appointments. You can't really tell a nine to five job that you know you got to take off today because your son is having a breakdown going to school where he has separation anxiety. So that's where it became real for me and I knew I was doing the right thing personally.

Speaker 1: 5:23

Now where it became real for me with the business itself was just dealing with that first carrier and, you know, kind of starting to move his trucks Once I was able to do that because he was not the norm. He was a 45 flatbed, didn't want to do anything besides chain. He didn't I'm sorry strap, he didn't want to chain, he didn't want to chain, he didn't want to tarp, he didn't want to go outside of georgia. So once I was able to get him rolling, that's when the business was a reality. But the freedom aspect was a reality once my son was kind of diagnosed so, man, two parts.

Speaker 2: 5:58

uh, did you get him to start uh chaining and tarping? No, oh never.

Speaker 1: 6:04

No, I think he tarped once and the one time. I'm sorry, no, he chained once and the one time that we worked together and that was only because it was barrier work and it was paying pretty well and he borrowed the change from a family member, but that's the only reason why he did it.

Speaker 2: 6:18

All right yeah.

Speaker 1: 6:29

He gave. He gave it a try. Yeah, and it's a man. So how old are you? Is your son? Yeah, my son is 17. He graduates 24th of may from high school, so we are done.

Speaker 2: 6:34

Now it's college time and my brother graduated two years ago, so yeah, yeah, my, so I have a daughter, is 18 too and uh, yeah, we have some of those similar um struggles and uh, that's great, that's a celebration yeah, it is, thank you um, thanks for sharing that. I mean a lot of people can resonate with that. I mean, 2020 wreaked havoc on a lot of young ones and getting through all those changes was uh, that was a lot yeah, with or without a diagnosis.

Speaker 1: 7:04

I can't imagine you know what this generation had to go through. You know, especially communication wise and socially being boxed up for so many months, you know, and then having to get back out there and be in high school. You know it was hard, but we made it through. They're making it through.

Speaker 2: 7:19

So yeah, just a little delay and everything's going to work out so great job.

Speaker 1: 7:24

Delay, but not denied, thank you.

Speaker 2: 7:26

There you go. So yeah, man, that's great, great story in itself. On just that, I mean, you could do an episode just for that. So I appreciate that Now, coming from New Jersey, you moved from there to Georgia, is that correct?

Speaker 1: 7:40

That's correct. I was born and raised in Irvington and, like I said, since 2012, I've been a Georgia peach, I guess you would call it.

Speaker 2: 7:51

So, yeah, and Georgia has they got quite a bit of agriculture there. You know, different things other than peaches.

Speaker 1: 8:01

I always think about peaches and peanuts and walnuts.

Speaker 2: 8:02

I got a lot of things other than that too. It's a great state. I just drove through there last week.

Speaker 1: 8:06

Oh wow. Did you stop any place? Or you just drove through? You got to stop.

Speaker 2: 8:10

Yeah, huh.

Speaker 1: 8:12

You got to stop at some point and hit some of the major spots. Out here there's a lot of nice food places you can go. I want to.

Speaker 2: 8:18

I got to do more of that. You're right. So take some breaks and get it done right. Yeah, you have to, yeah.

Speaker 1: 8:33

So, coming from a different geography, has that influenced your work and opportunities in the field? Definitely influenced opportunities. I can say that I knew very little about trucking, honestly, in New Jersey. I know a lot of drivers don't like to drive in Jersey and probably because it's just congested Trucks just seem to be overpowering in that area. I didn't know anything about dispatching. I knew truck drivers my godfather was a truck driver but I guess I just didn't know the total aspect of everything Moving out here. It seemed like everybody's either a truck driver, they're doing something in logistics, they're dispatching. So it's a tougher market but definitely more knowledge that you can gain from being in the Atlanta area, definitely more opportunities. So it helped my business in that sense. I don't know if I had started in Jersey would I have been that successful, because it was not as known, I think when I left.

Speaker 2: 9:25

Nice, and so the experience and growth. I mean you went from there and then you've worn a lot of hats I mean a dispatcher, freight, consultant, coach, a lot of behind the scenes work. What role challenged you the most and why?

Speaker 1: 9:41

Honestly, business consultant and it might seem weird to say, but you know the old saying you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink. I take a lot of things as a personal issue right. I love seeing my carriers succeed. So, for example, when I give advice like let's not go buy that you know million dollar truck, because your first nine months might be crazy, your first three months might be hectic, are we going to be able to make the bills? And the carrier says, oh no, no, we're going to be fine, I got it, I got it all figured out.

Speaker 1: 10:12

And then two months down the line, they're like I can't pay my insurance, I can't pay my truck note. Or I'm two months behind because I'm seeing the emails come in and yeah, you want to be like I told you, you know what I mean. Or let's figure out what to work. But they're so set in their ways. So for me that's the hardest part, because I internalize that Like, I take it like it's my fault and I keep trying to find ways to fix their problems when in all actuality, sometimes, if they just look at a different direction, it might make it a little bit easier. So I think that's probably my toughest role so far trying to separate.

Speaker 2: 10:50

I can see that. Yeah, that's definitely a lot. You want people to be successful. Their success is your success, so that makes a lot of sense. I mean, there are a lot of strong-headed individuals out there in trucking.

Speaker 1: 11:02

Yeah, Everybody tends to look at what they see advertised. You know, oh, make 10,000 a week in trucking and it's all you know rainbows and sunshine and all this other stuff. And then they get in there and their first week they make a thousand dollars because no broker would take them, no shipper would take them. You know what I mean. They don't necessarily point out the downside, because there is always a downside with a good side, Right, they don't show it and a lot of times people go headstrong into the industry with that knowledge, not understanding where there's good, there's bad, you know where there's up there down.

Speaker 2: 11:34

Yeah, you can't just go in there and go wild and take just grabbing money yeah. It's. It takes time to build those relationships and stuff and a lot of people that are gatekeeping and so you got to work through those things. You know A lot of people that are gatekeeping and so you got to work through those things. You know I can't just you got to nurture it Right, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2: 11:51

So what are some of the early lessons you've learned the hard way and now you pass it on to others from your coaching and from your experience.

Speaker 1: 12:01

What would you say? Build your foundation the right way the first time and build it where you are looking to grow the right way the first time and build it where you are looking to grow. Even if you're only a solo truck, even if you're only a dispatcher that only wants to have maybe one or two carriers, always have the right foundation. I probably tell this story every membership meeting that I host, where you get to introduce yourself, and I used to be ashamed about it, but now it's kind of my testimony. I started that dispatching company in 2018. And I mean, I was on a high. I had maybe about 15 trucks, I had a team, I had everything that you could possibly want for a dispatch and I was up there, you know, in my mind, up there making the revenue that I wanted. My team was happy, I had about three other dispatchers and then the fuel crisis hit and I lost five trucks. Then I lost another five trucks. Then I was down because everybody was looking for cheaper alternatives. They didn't care about the service, they cared about their bottom line, and I had even cut my rate somewhat and lost, you know, and at that point I lost trucks, I lost dispatchers, but I wasn't.

Speaker 1: 13:08

I didn't have the right foundation, so I didn't see myself growing. It just happened. I didn't have a system in place to continually grow, you know, to keep looking for carriers other than word of mouth or looking for contracts other than word of mouth. So when I tanked, I tanked and I tanked big time and it was more of an ego thing for me. Tanked and I tanked big time, and it was more of an ego thing for me. I think I stayed out of it for quite a while trying to get my mental back up, because at that point it's a letdown when you go from 15 trucks to one truck and that one truck is a headache. It's hard. So I would say, no matter what you're doing, always position yourself correctly for growth and have a system in place to where, if you lose that one contractor, you lose that one carrier. You have a method to get other ones outside of word of mouth. You know what I mean that you're putting the work in.

Speaker 2: 13:58

Is that some of the work you do at Otta?

Speaker 1: 14:02

Yes, so what we try to do is membership outreach on my end. So we attempt to call some of the current members as well as welcome in new members and offer them the value of the services. Because I think a lot of times, you know, we sign up for stuff but we don't really see the value. And there is so much value and I've learned that, you know, since I started working with them so that's kind of what membership is focused on right now.

Speaker 2: 14:30

Yeah, they say it's. It could be kind of easy to get off the ground per se, you know, to find the right funds and the truck and the tools and the routes. But how do you keep going? And you talk about that point where things go down. Well, how do you survive? And also, now that ATA is available for a lot of people, spreading that word of mouth that way that the things that otta can do, um, you know, I've been, I've been checking it out too, and it's a lot of resources available to people to make their life a little easier, you know, and take the weight off of them. I think that's's great. Let's pivot to Fleetology. Tell us about that. How did the brand come to life and what makes it different than other coaching platforms in the space?

Speaker 1: 15:18

So part of what I've always said to my carriers, to any dispatchers that I worked with anybody that pretty much has a question I always want to be a resource to you.

Speaker 1: 15:29

A lot of times it's better to give out free information than to charge people for information constantly, right? So with my carriers, I've always taught them I want you to come to me because you want me and you value my services. Then you need me, right, because I could decide today I'm closing my doors, what happens to your business. So that's really kind of the foundation of fleetology is making sure that my carriers have the same knowledge as I do and the dispatchers that want to work with me or dispatchers that want to learn, have the same knowledge. So most of it I try to give out for free. You know, a lot of times there are things that I may charge for, but honestly, it's designed to be a resource to where you'll want to contact me for dispatching management. You know anything like that, versus you getting the wrong information someplace else and paying thousands of dollars and still getting the wrong information. So that's really the purpose of Fleetology.

Speaker 2: 16:27

That's amazing Taking away the gatekeeping and opening the doors and welcoming people in the industry and helping them be successful. Because, like again, their success is can be shared. It's our success. It's a group teamwork. One thing I advocate for it's a word that's been out there for so long, but I think if we got to keep pushing it and believing in it, I think it's going to help. So great work. How do you? I guess one of the biggest mistakes dispatchers or owner operators make, how do you avoid those?

Speaker 1: 17:01

Checks and balances. I did a back to base, back to office, back office basics Sorry about that Did a back office basis class with Aura and a lot of times what I see dispatchers not do, and drivers too, they think, oh, you know. Let's take, for example, two dollars is my minimum per mile. As long as it's over two dollars a mile, I'm good. But they don't know that their expenses don't cover two dollars a mile, good, but they don't know that their expenses don't cover $2 a mile.

Speaker 1: 17:28

Same thing with a dispatcher they're looking at the loads and they're like, okay, if it's $2.20 a mile, I'm doing good. But you're not calculating how much fuel, the weight, what their actual dollar per mile is cost-wise. And I think that's probably one of the biggest mistakes they both make is they're not really looking at things on a kind of pen and paper system. So one of the things we teach in fleetology is that tracking method. You know, having something to track your loads, having something to track your expenses, excuse me, keeping a track of those things so that you actually know at the end of the day, $2 a mile might be great for you and it's okay, but you'd be making profit if you were at $3 a mile and yes, $3 a mile is hard to get, but at least you know that's what you should be striving for.

Speaker 2: 18:18

Nice, I guess you're not relaxing. You're still reaching and striving and aiming for the goal and it's going to help you get there, the little by little bits that you get yeah closer exactly all right. Um, how do you balance being a mother, a mentor, while managing your day to day realities and truck life? I mean this sounds great. I mean everything you're you're talking about, I don't you know, yeah, honestly, i't.

Speaker 1: 18:47

I'm surprised that I do. If I'm being honest, there are days that are really really hard, especially when my son was younger. I tried to start, let's say, looking for loads at seven o'clock in the morning. Excuse me, I would drop him off to school and he would cry and cry and cry and I would literally spend close to an hour and a half and then have to manage the driver's call on my phone. Driver's looking for loads, broker's calling me for updates. You manage it just by doing it. There's no you know internal system or nothing, that really makes sense.

Speaker 1: 19:20

It just somehow came, I guess, naturally for me. What I did learn to do eventually is start to take time for myself, set my phone on do not disturb, you know. So I wasn't being woke up at three o'clock in the morning for a silly question, or, you know, taking time for me, and that's really how I managed. Other than that, no, there's no managing and trucking, you just kind of keep pushing through.

Speaker 2: 19:43

I like the honesty, transparency. You know a lot of people want to hype it up, make it seem like more. You know, that's kind of a little bit of reason why I do what I do on my podcast too. I just like to have these conversations. I don't want to make it so impossible that people don't want to come on the show. We're just talking, we're having a conversation and sharing that information with other people to possibly help them, you know. So, yeah, you just push through.

Speaker 1: 20:08

Yeah, you got to. I mean, I've been on the beach booking loads. I think I had a Facebook post at one time, new Year's Eve one o'clock in the morning. I was booking a load at my cousin's wedding. Like right after his wedding he had a New Year's Eve wedding. I got home and I in the hotel I'm sitting there booking a load. You make time when you can make time, you know, and that's that's how you manage.

Speaker 2: 20:28

So yeah, that's awesome. That's awesome. Yeah, great drive, great example for many people out there. Uh, they keep doing what you do, uh, to keep the industry going. Like I said, every time they click the button, they put it in the cart and they'll know all the things that go on, um, when they want to get these loads delivered. You know people, people, it when they want to get these loads delivered. It's nice to hear these stories, to see all the fighters, the troops out there making it work. Let's focus on ATA and advocacy, sharing that story with people. You serve as a membership chair of ATA. For folks that are not familiar with ATA, I'd like to reiterate what is ATA and why is it important for the industry. We kind of may have to repeat some things, but hey, I think that's good for people to remember.

Speaker 1: 21:15

So ATA is African-American women in trucking, obviously. And why is it important? Honestly, I say this probably more now than I think I ever did since I joined ATA. But your network is your net worth. What you put into this industry is what you get out right. I have learned so much from them and I thought I was, you know, knowledgeable before. I've learned so much more about being in this group.

Speaker 1: 21:44

Like I said before, there's so much value in it and it's necessary, not just because you know there are not a lot of women in the trucking industry, because there's not Um and the role of the women in the trucking industry is always downplayed. We know that. But it's uplifting, it's empowering, it's resourceful. You know you get to see that there's others in this industry, not like you know, that are like you, rather, that are going through the same struggles, that have the same goals as you. And you get to network with, you know, phenomenal members in our community. So I mean personally, I love it.

Speaker 1: 22:22

You know I don't know what else I can say, but I would say if you value your network, this would be the place that you join. There's not a lot of organizations that I think are as inclusive as us, and there's not a lot of organizations that give so much kind of free info to their members Right, because there's other ones, but everything they give you got to pay for, you got to pay for, you got to pay for. I mean, we're essentially constantly, always sharing something in our Facebook group, sharing something on our Tuesday sessions or Saturday sessions, where, no matter what your role is, you can get that free information, and that itself is invaluable. So I think that's you know.

Speaker 2: 23:04

That's why ATA is necessary right now, especially right now, right now. Yeah, as a member chair, what are some of the initiatives or goals you're currently focused on as a group or support for auto community?

Speaker 1: 23:15

Well, right now I know that membership is really focused in on, you know, getting more drivers. We want the drivers to get as much information as they can outside of what they're just getting on the road, because, let's face it, a lot of drivers don't have the time or the energy to really search regulations or find out when certain regulations are changing when they stop, they just want to relax. They don't want to go deep diving for information. So we definitely want to reach out to a lot more drivers and let them know that we're here and that they're supported and they're appreciated. That's one of our initiatives. And then, just with all of our members, kind of the same thing.

Speaker 1: 23:54

Right, we want to get to know everyone. We do what we call membership spotlights on Mondays, where we try to highlight the member, not the business the member might have, but the member itself. So if they're a mom, if they're active in their church or they're active in the community, these are the things that we want to highlight, because knowing the person as a whole, you get to know, kind of, how they operate their business and how they operate life. So that's really one of memberships or the second membership initiative that we have right now, that's really what we're focused on.

Speaker 2: 24:25

That's perfect, oh man. And so, and why is you think representation for, especially for African-American women in trucking matters more than ever?

Speaker 1: 24:36

because unfortunately we are still in I hate to say this way, but the good old boy system. Because trucking has been so male dominated not just African-American but just male dominated in general it's really, really hard for females to break into the industry and then be confident throughout the industry, because I've had, you know, as a dispatcher. I've had brokers tell me, you know it'll be little lady, you know this is what the rates go for, like I don't know that you just posted the lane for you know X amount They'll try to lowball me. Because I am a woman and I've seen drivers go through the same thing. You know what they go through female drivers at truck stops and things like that.

Speaker 1: 25:23

I've done a couple of ride-alongs. They need a support system right now, you know, kind of to overcome that and so we can make a change in some of this negative kind of stereotypes, the negative issues we have not only on the road but, you know, in the office. So I think you know, especially with what we're going through right now, audit is necessary, you know, in all aspects.

Speaker 2: 25:47

Nice. Can you share a moment? Maybe kind of got you started in the first place with the organization.

Speaker 1: 25:55

Honestly, you interviewed her a lot. She was what got me in. She saw the vision, probably before I did, and she kind of preached that vision to me. And then getting to meet Nicole and just being welcomed in, I didn't feel like it was one of those competition areas, right, you know, when you have so many dispatchers in the room, so many free agents and everybody's kind of vying for attention, the platform is evenly balanced so we're able to support each other and that's the one thing that I love.

Speaker 1: 26:27

I'm a dispatcher, I share other dispatch services folks, a lot of shares, other insurance agents, folks like we're in such a safe space that it's okay to work with other people in the same community as you, you know, without feeling like there's competition, because everybody here simply recognizes that there's enough on the table for everybody and there's enough opportunity. So for me that's really what drew me in and Lada showed me that pretty much from the beginning. And then when I got to meet Nicole Ward, it was done for me. Meeting her and her energy and just her enthusiasm about it, it sealed the deal.

Speaker 2: 27:06

Yeah, she's got great energy. Her name is perfect. She's got a lot of love to share. That's great. I mean I enjoy meeting them myself and interviewing a lot. She has a great story. I think a lot of people can be inspired by it. You know just great women in the industry like yourself, and I think that's going to be a huge contribution for the trucking industry to be able to share that wealth of knowledge. I think Ada is on the right track. So can you share a recent moment that to maybe really remind members why it works? Maybe there's experience or anybody that has come forward and told you hey, this has been great.

Speaker 1: 27:53

I will say we have a couple of sessions, like we have one this Tuesday, which is pretty much a safe space in an open forum and without disclosing, you know what we talked about in that safe space.

Speaker 1: 28:05

But to get individuals in a room where they can drop their guard and talk about what's bugging them, what hurts, what's good, what's bad, that to me, you know, it's kind of more than the knowledge right, because you need that mental support, you need that, that person who doesn't know your situation to be able to tell you it's okay, it's going to be okay. And that's one of the sessions that I love and for me, I wish I had known about it years ago after my business changed, cause that would have probably helped me continue to know that there were other individuals that were kind of going through the same thing. But that's the moment for me, that safe space sessions that we have. It means the world to me, that people want to kind of let their guard down and that I'm able to let my guard down right, because I can say the things that I don't necessarily say to even my family, because they don't understand the trucking industry. So I love moments like that.

Speaker 2: 29:04

I like that. It's like a nice trucking therapy session. I like that Right Even more. You know building those networks. What a great opportunity to be a part of. That Sounds exciting as far as inspiration and purpose helping people with that. You speak to a lot about your faith, family and freedom. How do these values show up on the daily grind?

Speaker 1: 29:29

Honestly and I've posted videos of this. I start my day with gospel music and burning sage. I know some people say that that's kind of controversial, but I do it. I sit there and I say my prayers and that's how I start my day, because I've learned over the years when I do that, I'm able to keep a calm, level head throughout the day, with all the craziness that happens. So that's really how my faith plays a part.

Speaker 1: 29:51

I don't do anything than I need to be with everything that I do, because I'm a firm believer of what you put out comes back and if I go against my faith, then obviously it's going to come back to me. So I don't want that. In terms of freedom going on vacations with my kids or, you know, being able to take that moment and, you know, do something with them, be at their school, like those are moments that you can't really replace. So for me, you know there's times that some days that I'm on my phone all day and I'm working I used to work sometimes till you know 11 o'clock at night trying to find a load, if I could, you know, sending emails and things like that, but I knew I always had the ability to stop, you know when I needed to. So, um, that's been, you know, crucial to me. Um, it was faith, family, and I forgot the third one. What was the third one?

Speaker 2: 30:54

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 30:55

So yeah, that's been kind of my, my awesome, uh, great advice.

Speaker 2: 31:02

Gotta have something that's bigger than us that keeps us going. I think that's, uh. That's something that everyone should probably try to look into if they haven't. Um, gives you more grounding, I think. It's, uh. I think it's a great thing to be a part of, not just focused on making money. So what advice would you give women or you know that may be hesitant about stepping into the trucking world or the dispatching world? What would you say to them?

Speaker 1: 31:27

Stop overthinking it. Find you a community, you know, if it's not auto find. Find something that can support you, right, um, but just do it. Stop overthinking it, because it's really not as complicated as it's made out to be. It's actually a very simple process. You're going to learn more hands-on than you ever will by buying a book or watching other people do. Once you get into it, you get the flow of it and you'll develop your own system. Right, you'll develop your own, your own niche in this industry. But you're not going to do that if you're just sitting back on the sidelines and watching and overthinking it. So, like nike, just do it. Just get out there, get started that's what, that's what's up.

Speaker 2: 32:14

I like that. Um, like I said, the ability of the human mind. Um, when you read it, that's a lot of steps, but then all of a sudden you're doing it, you're here, you're clicking them off fast in your mind. You can actually start adapting to things really quick and before you know, it's second nature, like breathing.

Speaker 1: 32:33

I think that I.

Speaker 2: 32:35

I love the human concept more than the robot concept. I love the fact that we're able to adapt and adjust and learn and grow. That's the stuff, I think, that makes life so inspiring. So great job. What's one misconception about dispatching or coaching in an logistics space that you would like to set clear? Maybe there's something in the social media world that keeps being put out there that you can maybe squash.

Speaker 1: 33:06

So here is my pet peeve and you know I try not to say too much on social media but dispatchers are not just sitting behind a desk looking at a low board. That's probably my biggest pet peeve. Yes, we do have access to load boards. Yes, we will use load boards sometimes. But a good dispatcher is doing kind of some of the stuff I mentioned before, right. So they're looking for a load, they're moving your truck, sometimes they're handling compliance stuff for you, sometimes they're sourcing out shippers, they're holding your paperwork.

Speaker 1: 33:36

It's a lot more entailed than just sitting there looking at a little board and connect sorry, collecting 10% off of your revenue, right, because a lot of dispatchers charge 10. That's not all. We do. Same thing with a business consultant, someone who is truly invested in you is not just doing the bare minimum and sitting there looking at a little board. I'm not saying there aren't some, but for the most part that's. You know, that's not all of us and I think that's the biggest thing I see so much. You know, social media hate for dispatchers nowadays and I think that probably came with the whole, you know, covid era of everybody wanting to be a dispatcher, and I get it. But if you find the good one. No, they are not just sitting back looking at a little board all day.

Speaker 2: 34:25

So diamond in the rough and champions out there, because if they want to be successful, they're not just going to be looking at the little board. Yeah, right, yeah. Like I said, our success is their success and we share it together, man Teamwork.

Speaker 1: 34:38

Exactly, exactly.

Speaker 2: 34:42

Wow. So now let's talk about the Powerhub that's coming up. That's a great celebration. What can you tell us on that? A little sneak peek or something?

Speaker 1: 34:51

Listen, it's Nicole and Lata have put in so much work. You know, I'm just kind of sitting back on the sidelines. I can't wait. You know you definitely have to be there the day of the opening. I know that there is a lot planned, but just in general, this is going to be the place that you can physically, hands-on connect with people in your industry. So we're taking it out of just social media Now you have a home that you can come to. Taking it out of just social media Now you have a home that you can come to. That in and of itself, is phenomenal, right, because you can be in the building with other dispatchers, other drivers, other logistics coordinators, different companies. You have access to that. You're getting right in this hub. You can't get that anyplace else. So you definitely want to be there for grand opening, definitely.

Speaker 2: 35:38

I'm excited I can't wait. Yeah, I saw the post and everything. I was like man, they were, they're doing it. You know power hub, you know, and the fact that you know you guys have that one there locally but you can also be there remotely. So, hey, good Thanks for the future. People are going to be excited and impressed by a lot of the things that you guys are putting out, so I'm glad to be a part of the ride as well.

Speaker 1: 36:05

I'm glad you are. Listen, membership has its privileges. If you're not a member, reach out to somebody, because in a week I can tell you what you put in for your membership You're going to see back in value, right. So that's the biggest thing what you put out, you're going to get in. So by you joining and becoming a member, the value that you're going to see right after you click send.

Speaker 2: 36:27

If you haven't already seen it in some of the free groups, you're definitely going to see it. Then Tell us about those memberships. Is there there's more than one?

Speaker 1: 36:33

right, there's different packages. Yep, there's different packages at different levels. We do have a student membership. We have a basic membership. I would say reach out to us because we can tailor it to what you need. If you're looking to advertise your membership, we do have levels for that. There's different benefits now that you get with the hub as part of the membership. So it's various levels that I think we can cater to. You know different fields across the board, so if they have, you know, any questions, I would say just reach out to us directly. If you don't get me, you will get one of the membership team and we can kind of guide you through the process and make sure that you're picking the right membership.

Speaker 2: 37:12

That's perfect. Well, thank you so much for rolling with us today, sharing not just your knowledge, but you know your purpose and the work that you're doing out there with Feetology Ada and changing the game for a lot of individuals out there, creating a space for others to rise with confidence. So, man, I think that's great, so thank you.

Speaker 1: 37:34

Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate the opportunity.

Speaker 2: 37:38

Yeah, and we'll put the links in the notes as best we can For everyone out there listening. If you're thinking about trucking, coaching, dispatching or just simply building something that honors your time and value, otta is the place to be, and you also take Paige out for Imani's playbook. She can help you get that thing on the road that you're looking to do. So keep your options open. You got the right team and the network here to help you bring purpose and profit that we can both all ride together. So I think it's great. So make sure you check out the notes. More about ATA Fleetology the Power Hub that's coming up Now. Don't miss out on that. Put that schedule on your calendar and don't miss it. So be there, and that's how we can connect with all of the great team there directly. So until next time, stay safe and stay driven and keep delivering what matters. So that's delivered.