Spotlight News

After years of working with used and refurbished equipment, Colleen Umbehant had been searching for an answer that would position her trucking business for a greater level of success. She had already established her independence, running under the motor carrier authority of Panther Premium Logistics, a Service of ArcBest. A veteran of the trucking industry who started driving in 1996 to support her family, Colleen had found a home with Panther and she has always been open to the new opportunities that Panther presented to the fleet.

When ES announced in November of 2017 the launch of the company’s Women-Owned Business initiative to assist in the creation and growth of women-owned businesses in trucking, Panther, as a partner motor carrier in the ES Community, moved forward to participate in the program. One of the first steps that Panther took was to share the news of the program across the fleet.

“I always knew that having a new truck could make a huge difference for me, and, one day, a friend of mine with Panther asked me if I had seen the email about the new program from ES,” Colleen recalled. “I looked into the program and then I contacted ES.”

By February of 2018, Colleen was climbing aboard her new Class 8 tractor. ES had lined Colleen up with her chosen, make and model of truck, which only had a handful miles in coming fresh off the factory line to the dealership. Colleen utilized ES Equipment Finance to obtain competitive market-rate financing with a truck payment that worked perfectly with her business plan.

“She’s been the best truck that we’ve ever had, and ES made it so easy for us. We came to their offices, signed the paperwork, got the truck and started rolling,” Colleen explained. “That truck is exactly what we needed for our business. We’ve really been able to put our truck to work and I can’t say enough about the support that we have received from Panther and ES.”

Trucking is a family business for Colleen. A mother of five, Colleen was encouraged to consider entering the trucking industry 26 years ago by her oldest daughter. Watching Colleen drive for some over-the-road carriers early in her career, Colleen’s son, James, was inspired to explore opportunities as a professional driver. James earned his CDL, and Colleen assisted in finishing his training at a truckload carrier before finding her way to Panther about 10 years ago. Currently, Colleen and James are team drivers aboard the truck that she now owns.

“I made my final payment in May, and it’s amazing to think that I now own this truck,” said Colleen. “It has served us well and we do everything we can to take good care of it. One of things that has made a difference for me is that ES has always treated me like a business partner. They laid everything out for me from the beginning. Everything they told me was true and they have always stood behind what they said.

“Panther has also treated me like a business partner, and they are the best company that I have ever driven for. I plan to stay here until I retire,” Colleen added. “Looking back on my experience with ES and their truck ownership program, I would highly recommend it for any woman or man who wants to start out on their own with their own truck. It was definitely the right move for me and my business.”

Are you inspired by Colleen’s story and want to grow your trucking business? Contact the ES team or call (877) 349-9303 and let us help support your company with expertise in financial services and technology, relationship lending, and general business support.

Expediter Services and the ES Community earned national recognition through an extensive feature article in the current issue of North American Outlook Magazine. The publication specializes in profiles that showcase success stories across North America with exclusive, in-depth interviews with executives at prominent companies across a full spectrum of industries. North American Outlook strives to provide its readers with the kind of knowledge and insights that detail how industry leaders and their businesses are responding to the latest trends in their sector.

Jason Williams, the CEO and co-founder of Expediter Services, participated in a question-and-answer session that served as the foundation for the feature presentation in North American Outlook. The article, which covered six pages in the magazine, explores the core business values of ES as well as new initiatives from the company.

The North American Outlook feature also discusses the history and future of ES and how ES is well positioned to help our ES Community members to shine in times of uncertainty. One of the many highlights of the expansive interview with Jason spotlights the work that ES has done to champion the growth of women-owned businesses in transportation as well as the importance of partnerships to the success of ES and the ES Community in the transportation industry.

If you’re interested in a partnership that can take your business to the next level, click here to connect with us or reach out to the ES team at (877) 349-9303. ES is a one-stop support company with expertise in financial services and technology, relationship lending, and general business support.

When you consider where they started and how far they have moved their business forward in just over a decade, fleet owners Joe and Carol Shelton truly do stand as an inspiration within the ES Community.

The journey toward success in trucking for the Sheltons began 12 years ago when Joe lost his job as part of the fallout from the 2008 economic crisis. In surveying his possible options, Joe decided to explore what could be possible within the trucking industry. Joe convinced his wife, Carol, to join him on what became their first steps into trucking’s expedited sector.

Immediately following trucking school and securing their commercial licenses, Joe and Carol got connected with the team at Expediter Services. The Sheltons began their trucking careers by driving an ES truck that was running under the authority of one of the carriers in the ES Community. With the comprehensive support from ES in hand and the world of opportunity found in the miles in front of them, the Sheltons began the path to ownership of their first truck as independent contract team drivers within the ES Community.

Not long after becoming owner-operators with their first truck, the Sheltons had an opportunity to expand their operation and become fleet owners within the ES Community. Today, Joe and Carol are the proud owners of R2R Associates LLC – a company with an expedited fleet of 11 trucks all operating within the ES Community. Visit their website: r2rtrucking.com.

As we begin the launch of a video series that will spotlight a variety of members within the ES Community, we thought the Sheltons’ story of success and growth in the trucking industry over the past decade would serve as an ideal place to start our profiles. We would like to invite you to watch Joe and Carol’s personal story and how they have been able to utilize the comprehensive services and the support available from ES over their years in the trucking industry.

Are you interested in a partnership that can help grow your business to the next level? Reach out to the ES team at (877) 349-9303. ES is a one-stop support company with expertise in financial services and technology, relationship lending, and general business support.

In an interview conducted by RadioNemo’s Jimmy Mac, Jason, capturing the spirit of the week, used the national platform that reaches 1.5 million listeners daily to note the value of owner-operators, independent contractors, small trucking businesses and all professional drivers to the transportation industry and the supply chain.

Jason shared that one of the ways ES has shown the organization’s commitment to professional drivers is through helping them realize the dream of ownership by working to remove barriers and by providing support services that are focused on placing ES Community members in the best position to succeed. 

During the interview, you’ll get a glimpse into how Jason thinks about the importance of drivers in moving the country and how the success of ES comes from focusing on the industry from the truck level upwards. As Jason shares with Jimmy Mac and the RadioNemo audience, ES only succeeds if the people behind the wheel succeed. In addition, ES has aligned the organization in the manner so the company never loses appreciation for and understanding of the value that professional truck drivers have in the transportation industry and to ensure they a platform and the support necessary to become true truck owners and launch their own businesses.

Jason notes during the interview that someone running a business with their own truck has the same obstacles and hurdles to overcome as larger carriers do. However, unlike a large motor carrier, most small trucking operations have a steep hill to climb because they lack the resources to run their business as efficiently as large fleets. This is where ES serves as a champion for trucking entrepreneurs. Through the approach taken by ES, owner-operators, independent contractors and fleet owners, as members of the ES Community, have the resources and support to overcome the hurdles small operations encounter.

Partnership is the foundation to Success in Trucking for professional drivers. As Jason shares during his interview, ES recognizes that finding the road to success in trucking is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It must be tailored to each member of the ES Community. Owners need to have partnerships that encourage and assist with operational matters, but also that challenge how they’re thinking about their business based on their expertise. At the end of the day, ES is here to provide opportunities and support for those who are interested in making the commitment to owning a truck or running their own small fleet.

If you’re interested in a partnership that can take your trucking business to the next level, reach out to the ES team at (877) 349-9303. ES is a one-stop support company with expertise in financial services and technology, relationship lending, and general business support.

As you will hear through the webinar replay, the Path To Ownership (PTO) program stands as one of the most unique and successful programs in the industry that offers professional drivers the opportunity to realize their dream of truck ownership and running their own business.

In addition to our panelists, you’ll hear from husband-and-wife team Dominic & Ashley Peace, who are owner-operators in the FedEx Custom Critical fleet, about the support they received from ES when they decided to enter the trucking industry, seeking a path to new opportunities and growth after deciding to make career changes. They also enlighten viewers about what it’s like living as a couple on-the-road.

You’ll also hear the experiences of veteran truckload driver Bobby Meredith, who run as part of the Forward Air fleet with his business partner Clayton Phelps. You’ll hear how Bobby got connected with ES after nearly giving up on his dream of truck ownership because of his difficult experience within a traditional lease-purchase program at his previous carrier. 

If you’re inspired by this webinar to take the next step in your Success in Trucking, reach out to the ES team at (877) 349-9303.

Want to learn more about how we can help you succeed in trucking, click to watch our previous webinars.

ES is proud to have Stoops Freightliner serve as the Title Sponsor for the IN-SITE 2022 Series.

Webinar Replay: Spotlighting Success Within the ES Community

David is part of the webinar panel spotlighting success in our own ES Community entitled “2022, It’s All About You: Spotlighting Success Within the ES Community.” If you have friends or family that are interested in a Path to Ownership, please share this webinar replay so they can see what is possible in truck ownership when they Never Stand Alone with ES.

This edition of the IN-SITE 2022 Webinar Series is moderated by Leah Shaver, the President and CEO of the National Transportation Institute (NTI). Leah, who also serves as a host on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Radio Channel 146, is one of the foremost experts in the trucking industry on topics related to compensation, driver recruiting and driver retention.

During this webinar you’ll hear personal stories from professional drivers who achieved truck ownership by utilizing the programs and support services available within the ES Community and how ES programs and support services work together.

We highly recommend that you watch the webinar to learn about the ES Path To Ownership (PTO) program, which stand as one of the most unique and successful programs in the industry offering professional drivers the opportunity for truck ownership and running their own trucking business. Connect with ES to learn more.

Thank you again for everything you do as truck drivers!