THERE ARE MANY PLAYERS ON THE CAMELOT TEAM THAT KEEP OUR TRUCKS RUNNING WELL ON THE ROAD—

from the experienced drivers who know our fleet like the back of their hand and thoroughly inspect each truck before every trip, to the dispatch team that keeps a birds-eye view on the entire operation. I’ve sung the praises of these team players in past newsletters. However, today I’m going to sing the praises of another group of players that keep the Camelot fleet humming, players outside of Camelot that are nonetheless essential to keeping our trucks in good working order, and therefore protecting the items we’re delivering.

First, there is our local truck tire specialist. When an 18-wheeler is carrying 80,000 pounds across thousands of miles of highway of uncertain quality and terrain, you need to know that your tires and all related parts are in good working order. That’s why we trust this guy to give our tractors and trailers a detailed inspection before every long run. Our shops have been working together for more than a few decades, and our office teams—which both consist of quite a bit of family—know each other on a first-name basis. Whatever he advises, we do without question. His invaluable knowledge and insight into tire health and tire life have helped prevent costly repairs on the road and help me sleep easier at night.

Second, there is our go-to mechanic, who is more accurately described as our come-to-us mechanic. While our tire guy keeps the wheels turning, our mechanic keeps the engine running…and the brakes stopping, and the turn signals on, and…you get the idea. A man of few words and a seemingly infinite interest in mechanics, he’s not put off by the crack-of-dawn or middle-of-the-night work required by our fleet’s schedule. He’s proven his in-depth knowledge of our trucks even from a distance. At times, while on the road, our drivers have sent him photos of suspicious mechanical concerns, which he has helped them address.

Lastly, there’s our truck supplier. I have to admit, I’m often a sucker for the big, shiny, flashy newest truck! However, often these are not the best trucks for our specific needs, such as a tight turning radius or a specific horsepower. Our guy, a third-generation truck supplier, has always guided us to the truck that will best serve our needs and become a welcome addition to our fleet. Even on the rare occasion that we have needed to complete a sale outside his network, he has generously offered advice that sent us in the right direction.

In both life and business, the fires we put out are often more memorable than the ones we prevent, not to mention the many people that help prevent them. But when prompted, I bet we could all make a short list of the members of the pit crew that keeps us on the road. If we don’t have a chance to thank them (or write a newsletter about them), perhaps we could take a moment to notice them. I was certainly left in a more grateful place by doing so.