It’s that time once again! Expediter Services hosts the Spring EGG 2016. Spotlight News sits down with Jeff Tacker, Vice President of Operations to ask him some questions about this year’s Expediter Group Gathering. As you’ll see, not all EGGs are laid the same.
ES:Hi Jeff, thanks for taking the time to talk to us about the EGG!
I’m always delighted to take the opportunity to share information with the readers of Spotlight News about the exciting things that are happening at Expediter Services.
ES: Please tell us, what is the EGG?
The EGG stands for Expediter Group Gathering, and that’s just what it is: a venue for people in expediting to get together, network and explore the opportunities that Expediter Services has to offer this industry.
ES: What is the Spring EGG all about?
This year’s Spring EGG is focused on the industry outlook, truck sales and future growth opportunities. Whether you’re wanting to become a driver, or a driver who wants to become an owner operator, an owner operator who wants to become a fleet owner or a fleet owner wanting to grow a fleet, the EGG presents opportunities for entry into all levels. The EGG also provides a great way for us to get to know each other better. ES: Are all EGGs the same?
All EGGs have a common yolk — it’s people coming together to strengthen a business bond and to gain insight from the sharing of information. But every EGG can have a different theme, and focus on a specific area of concentration. As mentioned earlier, this EGG’s focus is on truck sales and why the time is right if you desire to become a contract driver, owner operator or fleet owner. We’re always looking to focus on trends and services that are important to the industry.
ES: Who can attend the EGG?
Since our goal is to get to know everyone on a personal basis, we try to keep the attendance of each EGG to a limited number of people. Contract drivers, owner operators, fleet owners or anyone from a team environment who is looking to explore opportunities is encouraged to attend if space is available.
ES: What services does ES offer to support EGG attendees?
We offer a number of services for a wide variety of needs, including:
• Contract Driver Program — allows the opportunity to “try it before you buy it” (Path to Ownership)
• Expediter Truck Sales — provides exclusive class-8 truck inventory including Freightliner Cascadias and Volvo 780’s
• Expediter Equipment Finance — provides financing
• Expediter Insurance Services — the low cost provider of insurance in expediting
• Expediter Management Services — Owner Operator program with daily operational support, including multiple carrier options At the EGG, you’ll find that Expediter Services is a one-stop shop when it comes to fulfilling your expediting needs. We invite you to drop by and explore your opportunities.
ES: Is it required that attendees purchase a truck at The EGG?
Absolutely not! But once someone attends the EGG and learns about the favorable outlook on the future of the industry, the service and support offered by Expediter Services and the opportunities available, chances are great that even if you don’t buy a truck, you will leave the EGG with the knowledge and the desire to purchase a truck in the not-too-distant future. We also find that a number of people who don’t purchase a truck at the EGG often sign up for our contract driver program to try it before you buy it.
ES: What do you mean by “Try It Before You Buy It”?
There are any number of reasons why people may not be ready to purchase a truck right away. Maybe you’re new to expediting and want to see if the industry and the carriers we support are right for you. Or you’re wanting to try out a particular truck to see if it performs to your specifications. Or it could be that you want to see if your team can produce the numbers necessary to feel comfortable financing a truck. Expediter Services’ “try it before you buy it” offer is a great way to mitigate risk and gain the degree of comfort necessary to move your business to the next level, should you desire to do so.
Expediter Services provides support programs and is the Much Better Alternative for your expediting opportunities.
ES: What makes the EGG different than events put on by other expediting companies?
The difference between the EGG and other expediter events is WE DELIVER! It is the one venue where all expediting opportunities are real and accessible. Time at the EGG will be well spent.
The EGG offers a clear-cut approach with well defined support and services to help you access opportunities and make the decisions that’s best for you and your business.
There a few slots left for the EGG. Register Today!
How many times have you had the opportunity to try out an Expediting truck, or even try out the Expediting business before making a commitment? Chances are, you haven’t — unless you’ve taken Expediter Services’ up on their “Try it Before You Buy” It offer. This edition of Spotlight News tells the story of how Terence Paul became a Contract Driver at ES who took the Path to Ownership. As you’ll see, he tried it and he liked it, becoming a new truck owner in the process!
Terence Paul’s driving career stretches as far back as the 1990’s delivering loads on flat beds. And over the past fifteen years, he has driven a Class 8-style truck, making deliveries for the dairy industry. As he explains it, there was just no room for growth or opportunity. “I had been making deliveries of dairy products to schools, hospitals and the like for a number of years. The pay was OK, but I realized that I had reached a dead end when it comes to pay and growth potential.”
Sensing it was time for a change, Paul began looking around for a career with real opportunity. That’s when he found Expediter Services. “I knew I wanted to stay in the trucking industry. So, I began doing research online. I found the Expediter Services website and learned about the many services they offer to both Contractors and Owner Operators. The Path To Ownership really piqued my interest, as I had always wanted to own my own truck. I contacted them to get more information. I learned that the PTO was real and that I could use my work history with ES to buy a truck. From that point on, I was onboard”.
Paul’s Path to Ownership began in November of 2015 as a Contact Driver. In March of 2016, his track record with ES had proven that he was ready to become an owner. “Like a lot of people, I had to overcome financial difficulities from the past. But I knew that I had what it takes to be a success, all I needed was the opportunity. In five short months, me and my son Dalton Smith, who is also my driving partner, worked hard to produce the numbers necessary to take the step to ownership. This past March, I picked out a 2012 Cascadia from Expediter Truck Sales, sourced from their very own fleet and utilized Expediter Equipment Finance for the financing. We’ll be picking it up in a couple of weeks,” said Paul.
Terence was quick to point out that his Path to Ownership was more than just a means to an end. “When I made the decision to be a Contract Driver at ES, I saw an opportunity to be an entrepreneur and start a business that could some day help my son become an owner too. At the age of twenty-two, he has many years ahead to build a large fleet. As for me, I could see myself adding a few trucks of my own in the near future.”
If there’s a common thread that runs through every Spotlight News story, it’s the desire for people to own their own businesses and control their own futures. It doesn’t matter where these individuals start on their path, it’s where that path takes them and how they access the opportunities along the way. Mike and Cynthia Taylor are an expediting team who took Expediter Services’ Path to Ownership, and are now on their way to building a successful fleet.
In 2007, Mike retired from General Motors and began looking for a way to supplement his pension. After looking at several opportunities, he realized that transportation was where he wanted to be. “When I left GM, I wanted to find a second career that was stable and had the opportunity for growth. I did a lot of research online and talking to people in the transportation industry and realized that trucking would be a good fit. Once I found expediting, I knew it was where I wanted to be.” But according to Cynthia, (his wife, business and driving partner) that’s only half of the story! “Since expediting is a team effort, I decided to leave my job in the government sector and join Mike on the road, and It’s been quite a journey from those early days of feeling our way along and learning about the business,” said Cynthia.
In 2008, the Taylors began their careers driving as contractors for a carrier. “We were swapping trucks with a couple who were working with Expediter Services and they told us about how easy they are to work with and how they provided great support for people like us who were starting out in the business,” said Cynthia. “It wasn’t long before Mike and I made the call to ES. It turned out to be a great business move!”
Soon afterwards, the Taylors signed on with FedEx as their carrier, and became contract drivers with Expediter Services. It wasn’t long before Mike and Cynthia began to plot their own Path to Ownership. “Mike had always wanted to own his own truck from the very beginning. After expressing this desire to Jeff Tacker, we learned that Expediter Services could help make our dream of truck ownership come true. As contract drivers with ES, we could essentially “try it before we buy it”. This gave us the confidence and the knowledge to know that we could generate the numbers needed to push us over the top to become owners. After a short time, ES looked at our work history and helped us buy our first truck in 2010. We purchased a straight truck and used Expediter Equipment Finance for financing,” said Cynthia. And according to Mike, ES was there when they were ready to build a fleet. “Our experience with ES was so good the first time around, we went back to them when it came time to buy another truck. We bought a slightly used 2013 Cascadia from their fleet, and again we used Expediter Equipment Finance. I can’t tell you how easy the entire transaction was. We picked up our new truck at Expediter Services’ offices last week and we’re looking forward to reaping the rewards of being fleet owners!”
“For anyone looking to own a truck, and to take control of their future, we can’t recommend Expediter Services enough,” said Mike. “They do things that no other company does, with good people and the support you need to be successful.” “We’ve also been inspired by the people featured in Spotlight News,” said Cynthia. “We’re so pleased to share our story with others and hope we can help spread the word about the opportunities available with Expediter Services.”
In the future, the Taylors are looking forward to growing their fleet and helping other people along the way. “I believe we’ll be in the position to add another truck as early as September,” said Mike. “I also would like to help other people by providing opportunities and especially a second chance to folks that may have experienced setbacks at some point in their lives.”
Ed Wadel Chief Operating Officer Panther Premium Logistics
This issue of Spotlight News shines the light on Expediter Services’ third annual EGG (Expediter Group Gathering), to be held April 15th & 16th at the Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi. This year’s EGG will focus on truck sales and getting to know you on a personal level. The EGG will also feature as a presenter one of the foremost experts in expediting: Ed Wadel, COO, Panther Premium Logistics; who will share his knowledge about the current state of expediting and where the industry is heading within the next 3 to 5 years in the areas of Freight, Growth, Opportunity, Capacity and more.
Ed was kind enough to give us a taste of what to expect from his upcoming presentation at The EGG. So, buckle up, and be prepared for an advanced tutorial on the “State of the Industry”!
Ed’s Background
Ed Wadel has 23 years experience in the expedite industry. Early in his career, he worked as an IT consultant for some of the largest and most successful companies in the world, including BP Oil, Timken-Latrobe Steel and Tilinghast. For thirteen years, Wadel was an onsite IT consultant for Panther and is responsible for the development of much of the technology that Panther uses today. In January 2006, he joined Panther as VP of Information Technology, and was promoted to Chief Information Officer later that year. He now serves as Panther Premium Logistics Chief Operating Officer.
ES: Welcome, Ed, we’re privileged to speak with you about the current state of expediting, and where the industry is going in the near future! “It’s great to talk with Spotlight News to help give some insights as to where we feel the industry is going. I’m also delighted to be a part of the upcoming EGG. I’m looking forward to seeing the folks at Expediter Services again, as well as meeting a whole new group of people who will be participating in The EGG.”
ES: Can you tell us about what you will be discussing at The EGG?
“I will discuss four key components of expediting: Freight, Growth, Opportunity and Capacity. As COO of Panther Premium Logistics, I deal with these subjects on a daily basis. At the EGG, I will talk at length about how these components are interconnected and how these connections may affect the industry in the next three to five years.”
ES: Let’s jump right in! What is your take on FREIGHT and its future.
“When you look at all of the major market indexes, Morgan Stanley, etc., indicators point to increases in tonnage across the board. Factoring in things like home delivery heading up (which helps to pull capacity out of the market), freight will continue to grow for at least the next five years.
Also, there’s a relatively new phenomenon taking place called “nearshoring”, which means companies are moving their manufacturing closer to the U.S., and away from China to offset the rising costs of freight and logistics. Mexico is a great example where nearshoring is rapidly taking place. Nearshoring lends itself toward growth in freight by introducing expediting into new and nearby markets. This brings us to our next point, which is growth.”
ES: Please expand upon GROWTH in the industry.
“As mentioned earlier, Mexico is a major player in the nearshoring movement. Their growth in manufacturing and automotive (to name a couple of growth industries) presents a huge upside for expediting, as there has been a limited expediting presence in that country. The fact that Mexico is so near to the U.S., with easy trans-loading and cross docking at the border, the process is efficient, making it attractive for expediters to move into this market.
Another area for growth is the fact that more companies are realizing that expediting can now become a part of their supply chain. Expedite is a critical part of the logistics plan, as companies focus on optimization and cost control.”
ES: Explain how all of this leads to more OPPORTUNITY.
“I’m sure Spotlight readers are beginning to see that all of the topics we’re discussing are interconnected. Freight and Growth build upon each other to provide opportunity in the market. But there is also a new paradigm that is evolving as technology becomes more pervasive — and this is known as the “Internet of Things” and “Big Data”. (Learn more about The Internet of Things and Big Data). Expedite freight opportunities will continue to increase in this expanding market of sharing data.
Which brings us to our next subject: Capacity.”
ES: What does the future look like for CAPACITY?
“Interconnectivity and the sharing of information will empower expediters in a number of ways, positively effecting capacity and driver retention. Big Data improves the quality of services to the carrier and the customer. It also improves the quality of life for drivers by providing information about when they can get loads — and when they can go home. These opportunities will only get better in the future as more and more drivers access this information. It’s a win-win for everyone, the customer, carrier & contractor.
Other factors that will effect capacity can be attributed to what is being called a “perfect storm”. This includes: a driver shortage, DOT and other regulations, and increasing freight volumes (including automotive). Any of these disruptions drive freight into the expediter world and are actually good for expediting. Capacity shifting from standard freight to expediting makes retention even more important to the bottom line, up and down the supply chain.”
ES: What is your take on Direct Contract Customers versus Load Boards?
“Loads boards work when capacity is loose, as it is at the moment. When capacity tightens up, load boards have a distinct disadvantage because they just don’t take care of the customer. There’s absolutely no customer service. It’s advantageous for the customer to be signed up with a carrier who will take care of them and has the ability to have a margin of pricing control. Load boards are always going to be out there, but I don’t see them winning in the long run. Being with a carrier provides peace of mind. Once the carrier is given freight, the customer can forget about it, knowing it will be delivered on time and on budget.”
ES: Thank you Ed, for giving us a sneak preview of what to expect at The EGG. We look forward to seeing you there!
See Ed Wadel’s “State of the Industry” presentation live and in person at The E
GG. Register Today!
Ed Wadel Chief Operating Officer Panther Premium Logistics
This issue of Spotlight News shines the light on Expediter Services’ third annual EGG (Expediter Group Gathering), to be held April 15th & 16th at the Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi. This year’s EGG will focus on truck sales and getting to know you on a personal level. The EGG will also feature as a presenter one of the foremost experts in expediting: Ed Wadel, COO, Panther Premium Logistics; who will share his knowledge about the current state of expediting and where the industry is heading within the next 3 to 5 years in the areas of Freight, Growth, Opportunity, Capacity and more.
Ed was kind enough to give us a taste of what to expect from his upcoming presentation at The EGG. So, buckle up, and be prepared for an advanced tutorial on the “State of the Industry”! Ed’s Background
Ed Wadel has 23 years experience in the expedite industry. Early in his career, he worked as an IT consultant for some of the largest and most successful companies in the world, including BP Oil, Timken-Latrobe Steel and Tilinghast. For thirteen years, Wadel was an onsite IT consultant for Panther and is responsible for the development of much of the technology that Panther uses today. In January 2006, he joined Panther as VP of Information Technology, and was promoted to Chief Information Officer later that year. He now serves as Panther Premium Logistics Chief Operating Officer. Welcome, Ed, we’re privileged to speak with you about the current state of expediting, and where the industry is going in the near future! It’s great to talk with Spotlight News to help give some insights as to where we feel the industry is going. I’m also delighted to be a part of the upcoming EGG. I’m looking forward to seeing the folks at Expediter Services again, as well as meeting a whole new group of people who will be participating in The EGG. Can you tell us about what you will be discussing at The EGG?
I will discuss four key components of expediting: Freight, Growth, Opportunity and Capacity. As COO of Panther Premium Logistics, I deal with these subjects on a daily basis. At the EGG, I will talk at length about how these components are interconnected and how these connections may affect the industry in the next three to five years. Let’s jump right in! What is your take on FREIGHT and its future.
When you look at all of the major market indexes, Morgan Stanley, etc., indicators point to increases in tonnage across the board. Factoring in things like home delivery heading up (which helps to pull capacity out of the market), freight will continue to grow for at least the next five years.
Also, there’s a relatively new phenomenon taking place called “nearshoring”, which means companies are moving their manufacturing closer to the U.S., and away from China to offset the rising costs of freight and logistics. Vietnam and Mexico are two countries where this is rapidly taking place. Nearshoring lends itself toward growth in freight by introducing expediting into new and nearby markets such as Mexico. This brings us to our next point, which is growth. Please expand upon GROWTH in the industry.
As mentioned earlier, Mexico is a major player in the nearshoring movement. Their growth in the manufacture of automotive and life science (to name a couple of growth industries) presents a huge upside for expediting, as there has never been an expediting presence in that country. The fact that Mexico is so near to the U.S., with easy translating and cross docking at the border, the process is efficient, making it attractive for expediters to move into this market.
Another area for growth is the fact that more companies are realizing that expediting can now become a part of their supply chain. Companies are finding that more “focused” shipping, where they are able to ship smaller units of freight on a smaller truck, is more optimized and efficient than shipping a small load on a half-full tractor. Companies that don’t have expediting as part of their “spend” are actually over paying for the truckload. This realization is beginning to take hold in the market, pushing growth. Explain how all of this leads to more OPPORTUNITY.
I’m sure Spotlight readers are beginning to see that all of the topics we’re discussing are interconnected. Freight and Growth build upon each other to provide opportunity in the market. But there is also a new paradigm that is evolving as technology becomes more pervasive — and this is known as the “Internet of Things” and “Big Data”. (Learn more about The Internet of Things and Big Data)
Opportunity in expediting is expanded via the sharing of information over the internet. For example: Let’s say you’re driving down the highway anywhere in the USA. Through your ELB, you know how much fuel you have, even when your next break takes place. There’s a truck stop about fifteen miles ahead. Big Data can tell you how many parking spots are available and even fuel prices. On top of that, imagine that this information is tied into inventory control and warehousing systems. The interconnectivity of data has the advantage of helping move freight. Which brings us to our next subject: Capacity. How does the future look like for CAPACITY?
Interconnectivity and the sharing of information will empower expediters in a number of ways, positively effecting capacity and driver retention. Big Data improves the quality of services to the carrier and the customer. It also improves the quality of life for drivers by providing information about when they can get loads — and when they can go home. These opportunities will only get better in the future as more and more drivers access this information. It’s a win-win for everyone, the customer, carrier & contractor.
Other factors that will effect capacity can be attributed to what is being called a “perfect storm”. This includes: a driver shortage, DOT and other regulations, and increasing freight volumes (including automotive). Any of these disruptions drive freight into the expediter world and are actually good for expediting. Capacity shifting from standard freight to expediting makes retention even more important to the bottom line, up and down the supply chain. What is your take on Direct Contract Customers versus Load Boards?
Loads boards work when capacity is loose, as it is at the moment. When capacity tightens up, load boards have a distinct disadvantage because they just don’t take care of the customer. There’s absolutely no customer service. It’s advantageous for the customer to be signed up with a carrier who will take care of them, who has the ability to have a margin of pricing control over freight and that they know they are not going to get gouged out in the marketplace. Load boards are always going to be out there, but I don’t see them winning in the long run. Being with a carrier provides peace of mind. Once the carrier is given freight, the customer can forget about it, knowing it will be delivered on time and on budget. Thank you Ed, for giving us a sneak preview of what to expect at The EGG. We look forward to seeing you there!
See Ed Wadel’s “State of the Industry” presentation live and in person at The EGG. Register Today!
