WEBVTT - America's Truckin' Network -- 12/16/25 0:00:06.880 --> 0:00:09.640 This is America's truck In Network with Kevin Gordon. 0:00:11.320 --> 0:00:15.080 This is america struck In Network seven hundred at WLW. 0:00:15.120 --> 0:00:19.240 I'm Kevin Gordon. I'm joined by Connie Dempsey, Senior Continuous 0:00:19.320 --> 0:00:23.959 Improvement Manager, and Deborah Smith, she is the director of 0:00:24.040 --> 0:00:29.600 Operations Continuous Improvement. But their involvement in Rush Enterprise's twentieth 0:00:29.600 --> 0:00:33.800 anniversary Tech Tech Skills Rodeo. They are part of the 0:00:33.840 --> 0:00:38.239 competition committee that actually puts this whole thing together. And 0:00:38.640 --> 0:00:42.000 what Jody had talked about the other day was that, 0:00:42.520 --> 0:00:45.040 you know, in addition to the full time job and 0:00:45.080 --> 0:00:49.200 all the responsibilities, you've got this part time, full time 0:00:49.320 --> 0:00:54.040 job that you guys do throughout to hear and so explain, 0:00:54.440 --> 0:00:55.360 first of all, how long. 0:00:55.320 --> 0:00:59.480 How many times have you, Connie have you done? Have 0:00:59.600 --> 0:01:01.800 you done this rodeo? 0:01:02.440 --> 0:01:04.920 This is my fourth year being on the committee. 0:01:05.000 --> 0:01:07.640 Yes, okay, And you've been with Rush Truck Centers for. 0:01:07.800 --> 0:01:10.640 I've been with Rush Truck Centers or RUSSI Enterprises for 0:01:10.680 --> 0:01:14.959 twenty three years, okay. And yeah, just got involved a 0:01:14.959 --> 0:01:18.240 few years ago doing scheduling and things like that for 0:01:18.280 --> 0:01:23.679 the classes. And that's my main responsibility here. 0:01:24.280 --> 0:01:29.440 At Deborah, you have a Deborah or Debbie Deborah Deborah. Okay, yeah, 0:01:29.520 --> 0:01:31.399 so so I don't want to get the names right, 0:01:31.440 --> 0:01:33.319 so I don't assault anybody, makes sense. 0:01:33.400 --> 0:01:35.480 Yeah. 0:01:35.720 --> 0:01:38.560 So I have been on the Rodeo committee for about 0:01:38.560 --> 0:01:42.039 five years, did support before that, and then I've been 0:01:42.040 --> 0:01:45.440 with Russian Enterprises for actually almost twenty one years. 0:01:45.640 --> 0:01:48.240 Wow, coming up so amazing. 0:01:48.720 --> 0:01:51.200 I am blown away by the number of people I 0:01:51.240 --> 0:01:57.800 talked to from russ Enterprises that have been there for fifteen, twenty, 0:01:58.160 --> 0:01:59.280 twenty three, thirty. 0:01:59.720 --> 0:02:01.040 It's incredible. 0:02:01.320 --> 0:02:04.520 That speaks a lot about well the individuals, but also 0:02:04.760 --> 0:02:06.360 Rush Enterprises themselves. 0:02:06.600 --> 0:02:08.160 They must be doing something right. 0:02:08.040 --> 0:02:09.440 To Yeah, definitely. 0:02:09.720 --> 0:02:13.160 I think there's a lot of opportunity for just being 0:02:13.200 --> 0:02:16.359 able to find your thing at Rush. You know, if 0:02:16.400 --> 0:02:20.120 you're a truck sales parts service, there's just really so 0:02:20.360 --> 0:02:23.200 many different opportunities for sure. 0:02:23.440 --> 0:02:24.440 And it's a great company. 0:02:24.639 --> 0:02:25.440 Yeah. 0:02:25.280 --> 0:02:28.840 And so the planning of this, let's go to the 0:02:29.000 --> 0:02:33.440 Connie here and so this is not something that's just 0:02:33.919 --> 0:02:38.679 wing together. This is all those a full time, full time, 0:02:38.720 --> 0:02:39.520 part time job. 0:02:39.720 --> 0:02:44.960 Yes, yeah, we start we start planning again in January. 0:02:45.840 --> 0:02:49.160 We'll meet as a committee and talk about the past year, 0:02:49.520 --> 0:02:53.080 what went well, what we could approve on and things 0:02:53.120 --> 0:02:57.919 like that, and then we start planning for the next one. 0:02:58.600 --> 0:03:00.000 So it's a year round. 0:03:00.320 --> 0:03:03.560 Yeah, and now this year was a lot different than 0:03:03.760 --> 0:03:06.400 the years past because it's been well, the first one 0:03:06.840 --> 0:03:10.200 twenty years ago was in Nashville, that has been in 0:03:10.240 --> 0:03:11.480 San Antonio since. 0:03:11.720 --> 0:03:13.600 Yes, I don't know who calling the frame. 0:03:13.680 --> 0:03:17.079 I think it was one of your people at breakfast. 0:03:17.240 --> 0:03:19.280 Rachel had mentioned that this and I guess it's a 0:03:19.360 --> 0:03:21.280 term you guys used. Yeah, but when it's in San 0:03:21.360 --> 0:03:22.680 Antonio it's. 0:03:22.600 --> 0:03:24.000 Rinse and repeat. Yeah. 0:03:24.080 --> 0:03:27.320 Yes, we work with a lot of the same locations, 0:03:27.919 --> 0:03:31.600 our contacts that those locations are the same, so they're 0:03:31.639 --> 0:03:33.239 really used to what we do. 0:03:34.080 --> 0:03:36.280 Coming here. Of course it's a new venue. 0:03:36.440 --> 0:03:39.120 It's all new venues, including our night events, and so 0:03:40.120 --> 0:03:41.480 it was definitely. 0:03:42.920 --> 0:03:46.000 It's definitely a new experience. 0:03:46.480 --> 0:03:49.560 Oh great, Now, and of course, you guys show a 0:03:49.600 --> 0:03:52.480 wrinkle or the whole thing got thrown a wrinkle when four, 0:03:52.720 --> 0:03:55.160 I guess four years ago it was decided that we 0:03:55.280 --> 0:03:59.720 do that they do the twentieth anniversary back in Nashville. Yes, 0:04:00.080 --> 0:04:03.920 so in addition to year of the four year cycle, 0:04:04.000 --> 0:04:07.360 year one year, two, year, three, you guys are working 0:04:07.360 --> 0:04:11.360 on this show in addition to the San Antonio Show 0:04:12.120 --> 0:04:14.440 and that little thing called your normal job. 0:04:14.800 --> 0:04:17.840 Right, Yeah, we don't know. We don't think about that 0:04:17.880 --> 0:04:19.560 in November and December. 0:04:19.320 --> 0:04:24.520 Okay, but that threw a wrinkle into it too. And 0:04:24.880 --> 0:04:27.640 I keep mentioning, I know I've mentioned this several times, 0:04:27.680 --> 0:04:32.560 but it absolutely blows me away, the logistics of getting 0:04:32.640 --> 0:04:38.360 everybody here, all the equipment, and then the vendors themselves. 0:04:39.920 --> 0:04:44.680 As has been pointed out, it bears repeating that it 0:04:44.760 --> 0:04:48.480 is the show itself. Three million dollars to put this 0:04:48.560 --> 0:04:52.960 on is sponsored by all the vendors and sponsors, So 0:04:53.160 --> 0:04:55.239 not only do they step up to the plate there, 0:04:55.760 --> 0:05:00.560 but then they bring all their equipment and the trucks and. 0:05:00.600 --> 0:05:02.599 The stuff to this location. 0:05:04.160 --> 0:05:07.640 So that is a huge expense, and that speaks to 0:05:08.640 --> 0:05:12.400 again Rush Enterprises, the value that they put on, the 0:05:12.480 --> 0:05:15.760 value that these companies see working with Rush, but then 0:05:15.839 --> 0:05:18.600 also getting the exposure to the individual technician. 0:05:18.680 --> 0:05:21.640 So I just find that absolutely amazing. 0:05:21.920 --> 0:05:24.800 Yea, our sponsors are phenomenal. 0:05:24.839 --> 0:05:27.520 I mean, we definitely couldn't do this without them, and 0:05:28.200 --> 0:05:31.320 they do such a great job with communicating to us 0:05:31.400 --> 0:05:35.520 so that we know what they need, And yeah. 0:05:35.440 --> 0:05:37.599 It's just it's great to have them all here. We 0:05:37.640 --> 0:05:39.560 get to see a lot of them a year after year. 0:05:39.600 --> 0:05:42.120 But to throw this in and say, hey, guess what, 0:05:42.240 --> 0:05:44.160 we're not going to be in San Antonio where you're 0:05:44.240 --> 0:05:44.800 used to it. 0:05:45.760 --> 0:05:47.600 You know, they've all done a really great job. 0:05:47.760 --> 0:05:51.520 They have they have. Now what are these phone calls like? 0:05:51.560 --> 0:05:54.040 Because you said you can contact the suppliers and you 0:05:54.080 --> 0:05:58.400 can contact the people to be participating. Is that an 0:05:58.440 --> 0:06:03.360 easy call or is it more less something they're expecting 0:06:03.920 --> 0:06:07.200 and they're looking forward to jumping on board or does 0:06:07.279 --> 0:06:13.560 there need to be arm twisting? And Conte Connie just 0:06:14.200 --> 0:06:20.760 looked at me. I've got answering that question. Maybe maybe 0:06:21.440 --> 0:06:23.359 I'll push this off on Tabra. 0:06:24.000 --> 0:06:31.480 So now, yes, there was definitely a conversation. In addition 0:06:31.560 --> 0:06:34.200 to being the twentieth anniversary, and this is obviously a 0:06:34.320 --> 0:06:40.960 very special event for us. Nashville is, you know, considerably 0:06:41.000 --> 0:06:45.320 more expensive than San Antonio is, and we're in at 0:06:45.360 --> 0:06:48.159 the Gaylord, which is beautiful, and so we did have 0:06:48.200 --> 0:06:51.159 to have a conversation and say, you know, our costs 0:06:51.160 --> 0:06:54.120 will be higher, so our sponsorships, you know, are a 0:06:54.160 --> 0:06:57.919 little bit higher, And but I feel like everyone was. 0:06:58.240 --> 0:06:59.280 Yeah, they stepped up. 0:06:59.360 --> 0:07:02.000 They were all will to you know, push it a 0:07:02.040 --> 0:07:05.680 little bit more to be here and to support the 0:07:05.720 --> 0:07:08.680 technicians and the parts team that everyone who's competing. 0:07:08.800 --> 0:07:13.160 Yeah, and I think at four hundred and forty different 0:07:13.320 --> 0:07:14.200 vendors here. 0:07:14.200 --> 0:07:15.800 That Yeah, it's amazing. 0:07:15.920 --> 0:07:19.800 The great job on your guys part for pulling this off. 0:07:19.840 --> 0:07:24.000 That is incredible. So if you are willing to answer 0:07:24.160 --> 0:07:25.360 any questions. 0:07:25.000 --> 0:07:26.280 Got any question you have. 0:07:27.720 --> 0:07:28.040 That one? 0:07:28.120 --> 0:07:30.160 Yeah, that was a tough one. 0:07:30.960 --> 0:07:31.320 Okay. 0:07:31.600 --> 0:07:35.080 So as as far as again putting it together, the 0:07:35.160 --> 0:07:41.160 meetings and the involvement, so percentage time wise, what is 0:07:41.200 --> 0:07:43.640 that or that's a good question. 0:07:43.800 --> 0:07:46.640 I think, you know, the first part of the year, 0:07:46.880 --> 0:07:50.160 it's you know, we meet I think once a month, 0:07:50.440 --> 0:07:53.840 we meet monthly just to kind of start planning things. 0:07:53.960 --> 0:07:56.920 And then once we hit about August is when things 0:07:56.960 --> 0:07:59.600 really kind of ramp up and we're working on schedules 0:07:59.640 --> 0:08:04.640 and the qualifiers and you know, registration, all of the 0:08:04.920 --> 0:08:07.080 you know, logistics. 0:08:06.400 --> 0:08:08.160 Of everything else thing has to be put together. 0:08:08.640 --> 0:08:11.960 Yeah, So then we start meeting you know, two or 0:08:11.960 --> 0:08:14.160 three times a month, and then I mean it just 0:08:14.600 --> 0:08:15.560 snowballs from there. 0:08:15.800 --> 0:08:21.560 Yeah, real quick and very you're and with anything else. 0:08:21.640 --> 0:08:24.280 I can imagine in August it seems like, oh, that's 0:08:24.320 --> 0:08:26.400 so far away, it seems like it, and then all 0:08:26.440 --> 0:08:28.800 of a sudden, boom, it's right around the corner. We're 0:08:28.840 --> 0:08:31.760 telling you with Deborah Smith is director of Operations a 0:08:31.840 --> 0:08:36.760 Continuous Improvement and Connie Dempsey Senior Continuous Improvement. So I 0:08:36.800 --> 0:08:39.400 want to kind of lay the groundwork for the next segment. 0:08:39.480 --> 0:08:42.080 One of the things we talked about is possibly, you 0:08:42.120 --> 0:08:45.200 know how you got involved with Rush Truck Centers, the 0:08:45.400 --> 0:08:49.040 career path to get here, and in terms of maybe 0:08:49.240 --> 0:08:52.720 encouraging other people as to how they might be able 0:08:52.720 --> 0:08:55.760 to maybe think in terms of this as a career, 0:08:55.960 --> 0:08:58.760 because as we talked before, it's one of those things 0:08:58.920 --> 0:09:02.079 where if you were to think about as a as 0:09:02.120 --> 0:09:04.360 a young person, what am I going to do when 0:09:04.440 --> 0:09:05.040 I grow up? 0:09:05.440 --> 0:09:07.400 This was probably not even on the radar screen. 0:09:08.640 --> 0:09:12.240 Well, I will say, twenty three years ago, I don't 0:09:12.559 --> 0:09:15.360 know that continuous improvement was really a thing. 0:09:15.760 --> 0:09:17.719 There you go, so we'll pick that up. 0:09:17.880 --> 0:09:22.959 I'm Kevin Gordon, America struck In Network seven hundred WLW. 0:09:22.840 --> 0:09:26.839 I need This is the briefing repord on America's Drugging Network. 0:09:26.600 --> 0:09:28.400 On seven hundred WLW. 0:09:29.080 --> 0:09:32.360 Team Penske will celebrate its sixtieth anniversary in twenty twenty 0:09:32.400 --> 0:09:34.480 six with a year long effort to tell its story 0:09:34.720 --> 0:09:39.319 through special events, liveries, and exhibits. Our sixtieth anniversary is 0:09:39.360 --> 0:09:42.680 a tremendous milestone for our organization, said Roger Penske in 0:09:42.720 --> 0:09:45.240 a statement. The twenty twenty six season will give us 0:09:45.240 --> 0:09:48.640 the opportunity to celebrate the people, partners, and fans who 0:09:48.640 --> 0:09:53.040 have helped shape Team Penske since nineteen sixty six. Major 0:09:53.120 --> 0:09:56.599 highlight of the celebration will be a dedicated sixtieth anniversary 0:09:56.640 --> 0:09:59.400 exhibit opening in late spring and the NASCAR Hall of 0:09:59.400 --> 0:10:03.360 Fame in Norm Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. Featuring historic cars, 0:10:03.480 --> 0:10:08.000 championship memorabilia, and rarely seen artifacts of the team's archives. 0:10:08.120 --> 0:10:11.560 The exhibit will showcase the pivotal events that have defined 0:10:11.600 --> 0:10:15.560 Team Penske six decades of competition. Fans will once again 0:10:15.679 --> 0:10:18.080 enjoy three days of on track action when the stars 0:10:18.120 --> 0:10:20.920 of the NASCAR Cup Series and the O'Reilly Auto Parts 0:10:20.920 --> 0:10:24.400 Series return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 0:10:24.440 --> 0:10:27.280 Weekend on July twenty fourth through twenty six of twenty 0:10:27.320 --> 0:10:30.840 twenty six. The Brickyard Weekend racing lineup will include the 0:10:30.840 --> 0:10:35.120 O'Reilly Autoparts, Pennzoil two fifty on Saturday, July twenty fifth, 0:10:35.400 --> 0:10:39.439 NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard four hundred Sunday July twenty sixth. 0:10:39.640 --> 0:10:43.080 The full practice and qualifying schedule, including for Friday, July 0:10:43.200 --> 0:10:46.000 twenty fourth, will be shared at a later date. For 0:10:46.080 --> 0:10:50.800 ticket information for the Brickyard Weekend, visit IMS dot com. 0:10:52.040 --> 0:10:55.440 This is the racing report on America's Drugging Network on 0:10:55.600 --> 0:10:57.080 seven hundred WLW. 0:10:57.960 --> 0:11:03.360 Say Dennison for A. 0:11:01.160 --> 0:11:06.280 And I'm Kevin Gordon, America struck a Network, seven hundred WLW, 0:11:06.400 --> 0:11:11.240 continuing our conversation with Deborah Smith, director of Operations Continuous 0:11:11.400 --> 0:11:17.840 Improvement and Connie Dempsey, Senior Continuous Improvement Department. Okay, we 0:11:17.960 --> 0:11:21.680 talked before about how the career path was, How did 0:11:21.720 --> 0:11:23.520 you come into Rush Truck Centers. 0:11:24.200 --> 0:11:26.400 Who wants to take the microphone and start from there? 0:11:26.440 --> 0:11:27.200 I can go ahead and start. 0:11:27.360 --> 0:11:28.520 Okay, we'll start with Deborah. 0:11:28.640 --> 0:11:32.000 Okay, Yeah, So I started at Rush Enterprises twenty one 0:11:32.040 --> 0:11:36.040 years ago in our central purchasing department, so placing parts 0:11:36.160 --> 0:11:40.680 orders for all of our truck centers. From there, I 0:11:40.760 --> 0:11:44.880 really moved through Parts operations, did a little bit of everything. 0:11:46.080 --> 0:11:48.800 If you think about you know, we've got customer pricing, 0:11:48.920 --> 0:11:52.240 we have customer maintenance. All of our part numbers that 0:11:52.280 --> 0:11:55.160 we sell, those have to be set up and maintain. 0:11:55.400 --> 0:12:00.280 So handled all of that and operations. Let's see, I 0:12:00.320 --> 0:12:04.000 was an operations specialist, really supporting all of our parts departments. 0:12:04.040 --> 0:12:06.720 So any kind of question that the field has that 0:12:06.760 --> 0:12:09.320 they need to help from corporate, it's working through that. 0:12:10.440 --> 0:12:14.360 In twenty sixteen, we created our Business Process Management Team 0:12:14.840 --> 0:12:18.400 and I moved over there, so started doing process improvement 0:12:18.480 --> 0:12:22.080 for Parts operations, really starting to look at how do 0:12:22.160 --> 0:12:25.160 we standardize processes across the network and how do we 0:12:25.200 --> 0:12:27.520 make things, you know, look the same no matter which 0:12:27.600 --> 0:12:29.120 rush truck center you walk into. 0:12:29.559 --> 0:12:36.400 Okay, So in terms of as the title describes, Director Operations, 0:12:36.440 --> 0:12:40.880 continuous improvement, continuous improvement in terms of the organization itself 0:12:40.920 --> 0:12:43.400 and how these things all come together exactly because they 0:12:43.520 --> 0:12:46.320 just don't happen to fall into place. There requires a 0:12:46.360 --> 0:12:48.560 lot of planning with that, Oh. 0:12:48.600 --> 0:12:51.600 For sure, yes, I mean yeah, when you have over 0:12:51.600 --> 0:12:55.280 one hundred and sixty locations. It's really difficult for all 0:12:55.320 --> 0:12:58.040 of them to one know what the best practices are 0:12:58.600 --> 0:13:01.000 and know what the process is should be. And our 0:13:01.000 --> 0:13:04.080 team does a really great job of improving the processes 0:13:04.120 --> 0:13:06.480 and then making sure that everyone knows what they are. 0:13:07.920 --> 0:13:09.560 Donnie, how about you? How did you? 0:13:10.200 --> 0:13:11.360 Very similar to Debora? 0:13:11.440 --> 0:13:14.920 Actually, I started twenty three years ago as a temp 0:13:16.240 --> 0:13:19.040 doing purchasing and just. 0:13:19.080 --> 0:13:20.320 Worked my way through. 0:13:20.520 --> 0:13:27.120 I worked for Rick Touff Truck Carts as the business 0:13:27.160 --> 0:13:32.120 manager for about eight years, and then I did some buying. 0:13:32.760 --> 0:13:35.040 I was a buyer for a while and then went 0:13:35.080 --> 0:13:38.720 to go work for Deborah. 0:13:37.280 --> 0:13:41.120 And you know, but again in terms of coordination of things, 0:13:42.000 --> 0:13:44.880 I think one of the things that rush enterprises stress 0:13:45.000 --> 0:13:49.319 is the fact that Okay, somebody's out on the road. Yes, 0:13:49.440 --> 0:13:52.120 if their truck is down, they're not making any money, 0:13:52.679 --> 0:13:55.680 and so the key is to get them out back 0:13:55.720 --> 0:13:59.160 on the road as soon as possible. So that involves 0:13:59.520 --> 0:14:03.600 continuing improvement of making sure that the parts flow are done, 0:14:03.880 --> 0:14:07.840 even in some of these challenging times with certain suppliers 0:14:07.840 --> 0:14:11.439 and whatnot, making sure that the supply chain is all 0:14:11.480 --> 0:14:14.800 there and at the coordination with the individual locations. So 0:14:15.600 --> 0:14:19.920 again one hundred and over one hundred and sixty sixty locations. 0:14:20.000 --> 0:14:23.080 Yeah, yeah, yeah, And so that's a lot of what 0:14:23.160 --> 0:14:28.520 we do, you know, from warehouse management and making sure 0:14:28.600 --> 0:14:30.840 that you know, the parts are where they need to 0:14:30.880 --> 0:14:34.840 be and you know, salespeople can find them quickly and 0:14:34.920 --> 0:14:37.560 easily to actually delivering the parts. 0:14:39.040 --> 0:14:41.000 We kind of have a hand and on a lot of. 0:14:40.880 --> 0:14:45.000 That making sure those processes are efficient good. 0:14:45.360 --> 0:14:49.480 We're speaking with Deborah Smith, Director Operations Continuous Improvement and 0:14:49.600 --> 0:14:55.320 Connie Depsei, Senior Continuous Improvement Manager. One of the things 0:14:55.320 --> 0:14:59.440 that is, you know, interesting from the standpoint of this 0:14:59.800 --> 0:15:04.800 can continuous improvement and getting parts and everything located in 0:15:04.840 --> 0:15:08.120 the right spot is again the logistics end of it 0:15:08.200 --> 0:15:13.280 and making sure that they're all available there. But it's 0:15:13.880 --> 0:15:17.120 even more than that. From the standpoint of a career 0:15:17.200 --> 0:15:20.720 path or the job. I can imagine that you know 0:15:20.760 --> 0:15:22.960 a lot of people will say, you know, my job 0:15:23.040 --> 0:15:25.480 is boring that you know, doing the same thing over 0:15:25.520 --> 0:15:30.000 and over again. I'm guessing that there's probably not a 0:15:30.480 --> 0:15:33.680 some things are similar, but every day is different. 0:15:34.120 --> 0:15:37.400 It is, Yes, every day is different because I mean, 0:15:37.440 --> 0:15:41.560 whether you're looking at parts or service, there's so many 0:15:42.000 --> 0:15:44.640 there's just so many things we could fix, right, there 0:15:44.640 --> 0:15:47.440 are so many things we can improve, and so one 0:15:47.520 --> 0:15:49.600 day we might look at, you know, how are we 0:15:50.080 --> 0:15:53.280 going to improve our estimates for our customers? How do 0:15:53.360 --> 0:15:56.800 we start to break down where we're wasting time so 0:15:56.840 --> 0:15:59.720 we can get rid of that. And you know, with 0:15:59.800 --> 0:16:04.840 us being in operations, we're handling parts, service, our rush, 0:16:04.840 --> 0:16:08.120 care team, warranty. You know, we're really covering so many 0:16:08.160 --> 0:16:13.320 different areas that yeah, they're just two there. Every day 0:16:13.400 --> 0:16:15.920 is a little bit different because we're trying to find 0:16:16.360 --> 0:16:19.760 what is the thing that's going to make things easier 0:16:19.800 --> 0:16:23.240 for our customer and make the most impact for the 0:16:23.360 --> 0:16:24.359 entire organization. 0:16:24.640 --> 0:16:27.840 Now, in terms of that, is that so as you 0:16:27.920 --> 0:16:32.240 mentioned that is that you know, continuous improvement over this department, 0:16:32.320 --> 0:16:35.040 this department, this department and this department, or is it 0:16:35.120 --> 0:16:36.840 all one linear thing? 0:16:37.280 --> 0:16:40.760 So on our team, we have four continuous and six 0:16:40.840 --> 0:16:42.480 continuous improvement managers. 0:16:42.640 --> 0:16:44.280 I have three for parts and three for. 0:16:44.360 --> 0:16:48.800 Service, okay, and so in general they'll work on their 0:16:48.840 --> 0:16:52.200 own division. But we're a very closely knit team. So 0:16:52.480 --> 0:16:55.480 if something you can very rarely make a change in 0:16:55.520 --> 0:16:58.920 parts that doesn't affect service and vice versa. So there's 0:16:58.960 --> 0:17:01.720 a lot of alignment figuring out like Okay, if I 0:17:01.800 --> 0:17:04.280 go change something in parts, how's that going to affect 0:17:04.280 --> 0:17:07.000 my technician, how's it going to affect the service advisors, 0:17:08.040 --> 0:17:11.040 And just making sure that we keep in mind that 0:17:11.280 --> 0:17:13.440 those other impacts. 0:17:13.240 --> 0:17:17.640 And then the feedback from the individual locations and what 0:17:17.680 --> 0:17:20.879 they're experiencing kind of gives you an idea of well, 0:17:20.920 --> 0:17:21.960 how well are we doing? 0:17:22.080 --> 0:17:26.480 And absolutely yeah, yeah, I mean a big piece of 0:17:26.520 --> 0:17:28.800 that of what we do is you know, the change 0:17:28.840 --> 0:17:32.879 management piece and getting that information you know, to the 0:17:32.880 --> 0:17:36.440 field and explaining why we're doing what we're doing, and 0:17:36.640 --> 0:17:41.000 you know, help train them and make sure that they understand. Yeah. 0:17:41.040 --> 0:17:43.560 One of the things I'm picking up from Rush Enterprises 0:17:43.680 --> 0:17:45.960 is that not that it's we've been doing this for 0:17:46.000 --> 0:17:47.960 a long period of time and we're going to continue 0:17:48.040 --> 0:17:53.199 doing this. It's constantly evolving, absolutely and improving, I know, 0:17:53.640 --> 0:17:56.879 you know, going you know, having been an account and 0:17:56.960 --> 0:17:59.760 going to different well, when you go to different companies, 0:18:00.119 --> 0:18:01.760 one of the first things you try to do is 0:18:01.800 --> 0:18:05.960 make sure that you look at their flow of paperwork 0:18:06.000 --> 0:18:09.960 at the time or how things are moving, and so 0:18:10.000 --> 0:18:14.480 that things are in a convenient and well managed and 0:18:14.640 --> 0:18:18.400 streamlined situation. And when you start to make those changes, 0:18:18.440 --> 0:18:21.439 sometimes there's a little bit of resistance with that, and 0:18:21.480 --> 0:18:27.520 so sometimes Deborah has got this big grin on her face. 0:18:27.560 --> 0:18:30.440 So apparently this has happened a few times. 0:18:31.840 --> 0:18:35.440 I will say that as human beings, we are wired 0:18:35.520 --> 0:18:40.640 to resist change, and there are definitely people who are 0:18:40.640 --> 0:18:43.360 more wired to resist change. I always tell I mean, 0:18:43.400 --> 0:18:47.879 I tell everyone I am the I do not like change. 0:18:48.080 --> 0:18:51.679 I don't like change done to me, and so I 0:18:51.720 --> 0:18:53.720 will do change to everyone else all the time, but 0:18:53.760 --> 0:18:57.840 don't do it to me. I feel like it makes 0:18:57.840 --> 0:19:00.479 me a little bit more qualified to say, Okay, I 0:19:00.720 --> 0:19:01.520 do get where. 0:19:01.359 --> 0:19:03.280 You're coming from. I don't like change either. 0:19:03.480 --> 0:19:06.720 But we try our best to say this is why 0:19:06.720 --> 0:19:09.120 we're doing We're not doing it to make your life harder. 0:19:09.680 --> 0:19:12.119 We're trying to make your lives easier and make the 0:19:12.160 --> 0:19:13.720 lives of the customers easier. 0:19:14.560 --> 0:19:17.720 So a lot of times if it's improved on their end, 0:19:18.280 --> 0:19:22.119 then it's improved on the customer's end. Oh that cuts 0:19:22.160 --> 0:19:25.240 down on the complaints from the customers. It makes the 0:19:25.240 --> 0:19:28.640 customers happy exactly. Thanks, everybody happy all the way around. 0:19:28.760 --> 0:19:31.320 Yeah, I think the biggest thing is a lot of 0:19:31.359 --> 0:19:35.560 times our process changes and so involve new systems. New 0:19:35.560 --> 0:19:39.000 systems you have to learn, and so eventually we get 0:19:39.000 --> 0:19:41.440 to the point where you've learned the new system, you're 0:19:41.480 --> 0:19:44.080 comfortable with it, and everyone likes it better than the 0:19:44.119 --> 0:19:44.639 old system. 0:19:44.680 --> 0:19:45.520 You just have to get there. 0:19:45.800 --> 0:19:48.159 I will start with Connie's final thoughts in terms of 0:19:49.359 --> 0:19:52.120 any advice for people that are interested in getting into 0:19:52.160 --> 0:19:54.239 this end of the business, if it's something that they 0:19:54.320 --> 0:19:57.200 may not have heard about before, or I. 0:19:57.119 --> 0:20:00.560 Think my advice and I'm going to hope and hopefully 0:20:00.600 --> 0:20:03.600 this is okay, but kind of related to women is 0:20:04.000 --> 0:20:06.080 you know, I don't think that there isn't a place 0:20:06.160 --> 0:20:10.119 in this trucking industry for them. I mean, there are 0:20:10.160 --> 0:20:15.760 so many opportunities, especially with a company such as Rush. 0:20:16.440 --> 0:20:18.960 You know, it's it's once you get your foot in 0:20:19.000 --> 0:20:21.800 the door, there's just there's a lot of opportunity. 0:20:22.000 --> 0:20:26.840 Yeah, yeah, I mean I completely agree with Connie. My 0:20:27.119 --> 0:20:31.000 advice I think would be, you know, don't limit. 0:20:30.720 --> 0:20:32.719 Yourself, right, I was going to jump in there. 0:20:33.160 --> 0:20:37.280 I have no idea that continuous improvement was a thing, 0:20:37.440 --> 0:20:40.040 and now I wouldn't want to do anything else. 0:20:40.160 --> 0:20:40.960 That's fantastic. 0:20:41.040 --> 0:20:44.719 Yeah, Connie, it was really great talking to you. I 0:20:44.760 --> 0:20:49.960 certainly appreciate you stopping by. Devora Smith's Director Operations Continuous 0:20:50.000 --> 0:20:54.280 Improvement and Connie Dempsey, Senior Continuous Improvement Manager. Thank you 0:20:54.320 --> 0:20:56.399 both for stopping by the booths and talking with me 0:20:56.480 --> 0:20:56.880 this morning. 0:20:56.880 --> 0:20:57.800 I certainly appreciate it. 0:20:57.840 --> 0:20:58.639 Thank you for having us. 0:20:58.640 --> 0:20:59.600 All right, have a great day. 0:21:00.160 --> 0:21:12.920 I'm Kevin Gordon, America struck in Network seven hundred WLW. 0:21:13.080 --> 0:21:15.480 Here's your trucking forecast for the Try State and the 0:21:15.480 --> 0:21:17.920 rest of the country. In the Try State, overnight mostly 0:21:17.920 --> 0:21:20.160 Claudia and not as cold. The low down to thirty two, 0:21:20.280 --> 0:21:23.320 Mostly claudi early Wednesday, then gradually becoming sunny. A high 0:21:23.359 --> 0:21:26.919 of forty three. Afternoon. Rain expected Thursday. Highs in the 0:21:26.920 --> 0:21:29.920 mid fifties. Friday, slight chance of snow showers the first 0:21:29.920 --> 0:21:32.520 half of the day, otherwise partly sunny and colder, a 0:21:32.640 --> 0:21:36.120 high of thirty one. Nationally, the Pacific Northwest scene heavy rain, 0:21:36.119 --> 0:21:38.840 impossible flooding this week. The mountain west to the northern 0:21:38.880 --> 0:21:41.919 Plains seeing destructive winds and winter weather impacts. For the 0:21:41.920 --> 0:21:45.040 Ohio and Tennessee Valley, strong storms are possible Thursday. 0:21:48.440 --> 0:21:53.000 This is america'struck in Network seven hundred WLW. I'm joined 0:21:53.000 --> 0:21:56.760 by Michael Freese. He is the feature editor of features 0:21:56.840 --> 0:22:00.760 editor Transport Topics out of the Washington DC area. Also 0:22:00.960 --> 0:22:05.280 Leo Leo Barrows with truck Trucknews dot Com. He's the 0:22:05.280 --> 0:22:09.080 associate editor out of Toronto. So welcome to the program. 0:22:09.119 --> 0:22:10.960 Thank you both for joining me this morning. 0:22:11.440 --> 0:22:14.159 Thanks for having us, Kevin, thanks for having me. 0:22:14.400 --> 0:22:15.760 Yes, there may be a little delay there. 0:22:15.760 --> 0:22:19.600 We got one microphone that they're both sharing, and uh, 0:22:19.680 --> 0:22:22.919 but let's start with you, Michael with Transport Topics. I 0:22:23.040 --> 0:22:24.719 got to say, I go to your I told you 0:22:24.800 --> 0:22:26.920 last night that I go to your side a lot 0:22:27.000 --> 0:22:30.200 and I look at a lot of the articles. So 0:22:30.520 --> 0:22:32.439 what are your how many times have you been to 0:22:32.480 --> 0:22:33.840