Match Shipper Lanes to Carrier Sweet Spots

Once the lane structures are defined, the largest and the most frequently missed savings opportunity comes from matching shipper lanes with carrier sweet spots. To succeed, the shipper must have an understanding of carrier economics. While the costs of operating a tractor trailer unit on a lane varies from carrier to carrier (based upon driver pay, maintenance, and fuel optimization), the single largest factor is the carrier's empty miles.... Read More

Your company has worked hard to get the right fleet fuel program in place. You've picked the right card provider for your company and you might have even negotiated discounts with your fuel providers. Congratulations, your fuel management job has just begun. What a lot of companies foolishly do is put a fleet fuel program in place and forget about it, assuming it will manage itself.... Read More

We are on the threshold of the annual summer heat season and the associated road failures that it will bring. I want to take this opportunity to elevate what must surely be in the minds of all fleet managers so that you begin now to pay special attention to the several critical maintenance systems and components that could lead to costly road failures and unwanted affects on your delivery times. ... Read More

Motor carriers have endured some difficult times over the past 18 months, but the American Trucking Associations (ATA) believes freight tonnage volumes will continue exhibiting modest growth. Though recovery will be gradual, we expect overall freight tonnage to increase more than 26 percent by 2020, with the modal share moved by truck increasing to 71 percent. The federal government must seriously consider the adoption of more productive trucks to accommodate this large influx of freight demand. ATA supports allowing more productive vehicles - including 6-axle trucks carrying 21 percent more weight than currently allowed - to operate on the Interstate Highway System, consistent with sound engineering standards and safety.... Read More

Not only is that the title of a popular Bare Naked Ladies song but it's also an excuse I've heard frequently by fleet owners when asked to invest in technology. This misinformed thinking is one of the reasons many are struggling to pull themselves out of this recession.

Three things are true in life: death, taxes and change! Rather than embracing new ways to manage their company KPI's, their fleet, their drivers and the managers of those drivers, they use the technology's capital cost as an excuse to not improve their organization's SOPs. This type of thinking would never have allowed the combustion engine to replace the horse and buggy. That's the comparison you can draw between a company that's embracing technology versus one that isn't when looking at skinny margins and profitability within our industry.... Read More

Hello again everyone. I'd like to share with you one of my favorite quotes from "Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll because it's a great introduction to my topic for this blog. Alice is lost in the woods when she meets the Cheshire Cat for the first time.

Alice: I was just wondering if you could help me find my way.
Cheshire Cat: Well that depends on where you want to get to.
Alice: Oh, it really doesn't matter, as long as...
Cheshire Cat: Then it really doesn't matter which way you go.... Read More

In this blog I'm going to start breaking down some simple ways you can start leveraging the Internet and new media to create some market differentiation between yourself and your competitors. We visit thousands of transportation companies every year, helping them improve their businesses and one of the areas we can help folks out with right away is with their on-line presence; the first being the "website".... Read More

The economy a year ago was a "sharp pain" for many, and has turned into a "dull ache" for most. According to the media guru's, it's going to get much worse before it gets better. There's said to be a slight "upswing" heading our way, which some feel is already here; followed by a much larger "downturn". Speculation and forecasting; that's what's drilled into our heads by so many media channels. Prepare for THIS and prepare for THAT. This leads to unproductive behaviors and decisions trucking professionals must make every day in their businesses. Bottom line: turn off the TV, work ON your business, not IN your business, and seize a fraction of the opportunities that present themselves in these climates. Work "smarter", rather than "harder". Surviving is now cliché. Some have convinced themselves there is nothing they can do to help their business. They've already tried to minimize expenses and are so focused on cost; they are missing the big picture; growing and diversifying the business. Many companies are so focused on "cutting the fat", they don't realize that these efforts have a negative effect on their overall operating ratio if they neglect the all important element in developing a successful and profitable trucking operation. In fact, many think that because they cut expenses and their gross revenue increased, they are growing (false). Gross revenue can increase while the net profit decreases. Unfortunately, this is only one reason why over 5,300 companies have disappeared from the map, in the last 30 days. You can "float" for only so long. It's sink or swim. Speed is a critical element in business today. Net profit is the undisputed champion. Get back in the driver's seat, delegate your current day to day responsibilities and focus on growing the business.... Read More

'Last Resort Cost Reductions to Survive a Recession' (referred to as 'Last Resort' going forward) is the first of an 8 video series 'white paper' produced by Big Truck TV in association with Joe White & CostDown Consulting. The series was developed to provide trucking executives with creative and effective suggestions for reducing costs and improving operations.... Read More