Mule Skinner

Mule Skinner by Steve Johnson

"Gather 'round, children, we got another run to make as soon as we get this load home and everybody's had a few days to raise their glasses and rest their asses. Soon as everybody boils up gets a night or two in their own bed, we head West for Casper, Wyoming. Nice little town at the foot of a mountain surrounded by miles and miles of nuke-free America. If the intel we got from those hippies at Ground Zero is any good, there's a junkyard just outside of town where a gang of scavengers who call themselves the Ricky Ricardos have been stockpiling every spare part in a couple hundred miles. They should have that transmission we need and probably a few other things on our shopping list. It's a straight shot from Sioux Falls down I-90 except for a detour around the Rapid City fallout zone, then a quick dogleg south to Casper. Means going through the Res, but as long as we pay the toll and only go where we're told--that means you, Jennifer--the Lakota will let us roll through without any problems."--Bettty Gundersen, Mule Skinner

Mule skinners are the planners and logistics experts who keep convoys on task and on time. It's their job to plan the route, allocate manpower and resources, and make sure the convoy comes back with the supplies the camp needs. When it's time to decide what rabbit holes to investigate, what's worth salvaging, or what deals to make with other camps and convoys, the mule skinner has the final call. As the camp's inside man in the covoy, mule skinners are often the de facto leader of the crew, but it's not unusual for less outgoing mule skinners to act as trusted advisors to whoever takes the lead. Whether they're in charge or just the man behind the curtain, good mule skinners listen to the people on their crew who surpass them in knowledge or experience concerning a particular subject. Mule skinners who think they know everything or want to play tyrant tend to get their petards hoisted and handed to them by their own crew.

Career

Qualifications

Boomlands wisdom says that if you need a good mule skinner, the best thing to do is find someone who was or would have been a successful businessperson before the Boom: bank presidents, captains of industry, and other go-getter entrepreneurial types. Once you find them, ask them whether their secretary survived the Boom, because that's who you're looking for. Mule skinners need to be able to keep track of everything that's going on with their convoy, make practical plans and tough judgement calls based on available resources and information, and make sure everybody in the crew pulls their weight and acts in the best interest of the team. Ultimately, the mule skinner is the adult in the room, somewhere between den mother and drill sergeant.

Perception

Demographics

The combination of versatility, problem-solving ability, and interpersonal skills required to be a good mule skinner makes for less direct line between pre-Boom employment and mule skinner ability than with most convoy positions. In general, the best mule skinners are people whose pre-Boom work experience involved juggling numerous unrelated duties and concerns, delegating responsibility, and improvising solutions based the available (and often inadequate) information, manpower, and resources. Small business owners, emergency operators, logistics experts, and administrative secretaries are some of the most common pre-Boom professions for mule skinners. New mule skinners are usually veteran Diner Punks who have spent enough time on the road to branch out beyond their previous specialty.

Operations

Tools

A mule skinner's tools can vary wildly based on the skill sets and division of labor among convoy members, but nearly always includes one or more heavily-annotated road maps; a collection of keys to convoy vehicles, padlocks, and storage containers; and an assortment of spare tools, weapons, clothing, first aid supplies, and other useful items. Many mule skinners also keep a small library of useful literature: army training manuals, encyclopedias, Chilton's guides, and anything else that might come in handy.

Materials

Mule Skinners are responsible for overseeing the distribution of all camp-provided or common supplies: gas, food, ammo, etc. They're also in charge of any "cash" carried on behalf of the camp, whether that take the form of diner script, gold, or trade goods.

Workplace

Most mule skinners operate out of a van, RV, or similar vehicle that serves as the convoy headquarters, but those in smaller convoys often have to make due with passenger cars or pick-up trucks.

Provided Services

Mule skinners spend most of their down time working with camp leaders to plan their next outing. They may also serve as members of the camp's governing body, planning committe, or inner circle.

Alternative Names

Boss, Chief, Dispatch, Foreman, Fun Police, Mr. Phelps, Ringleader, Straw Boss

Type

Administration / Management