The network team spends time each week reviewing our network and looking for ways to improve it. We are always trying to find more freight that we can book directly through Customers and reduce the number of broker loads we are forced to accept. Our team builds relationships with our Customers and we depend on drivers making on-time deliveries so we can keep the lanes that are strongest for us. It is not uncommon for a Customer to take away lanes if the carrier cannot provide good service. We have been providing excellent on-time delivery for Wal-Mart, ADM, Georgia Pacific, and Graphic Packaging.
In addition, we focus on drop trailer opportunities to improve the experience for our drivers. We know drivers prefer to be able to drop and hook rather than wait for a very long unload. Here are some of the improvements we have made in the past few weeks:
- Added a new lane out of Munster, IN that drops in Decatur, IL 10 times per week
- Added two drop trailers in Friendship, TN so they can start preloading for us
- Hired local drivers and created a drop lot in Cordele, GA to finish deliveries into Southern GA and stage shipments for road drivers. This provides a faster turnaround and less wait time for OTR drivers.
Our team’s goals for the year include growing Customer freight by 10% and reducing the bottom 10% of freight.
Examples of the bottom 10% include:
- Lanes that do not pay well
- Broker lanes
- Lanes that have a long wait time
- Lanes that are outside our dense network regions
We are also working to reduce our deadhead (or empty miles) by 5% this year. We have added a new Customer, Packaging Corporation, in Valdosta, GA to match up with deliveries we make in Valdosta on a daily basis.
Our team welcomes Customer leads from drivers so if you are at a facility that is friendly, clean, and quick…reach out to your Driver Manager so we can check it out!