Fleet execs discuss cost, productivity

(Left to right) Max Fuller of U.S. Xpress, Leo Suggs of Greatwide Logistics Services and Tom Kretsinger of American Central Transport(Left to right) Max Fuller of U.S. Xpress, Leo Suggs of Greatwide Logistics Services and Tom Kretsinger of American Central Transport

A panel of fleet executives talked about the changes they made to their operations during the recent recession, what they are doing today during the transition and what they see for the future with the cost and productivity challenges they will face.

Max Fuller, co-chairman of U.S. Xpress; Leo Suggs, chairman and CEO Greatwide Logistics Services; and Tom Kretsinger, president and CEO of American Central Transport, shared their strategies and ideas in a panel discussion during the Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference at the Great American Trucking Show Aug. 26.

Suggs said if there is any silver lining to a recession, “it is that it causes you to look at every part of your business and eliminate inefficiencies. Those who survived the recession have come out of it much stronger.”

The panelists agreed one of the biggest challenges they face is capacity, which is impacted by the ability to find and retain drivers. “The priority today is what do we need to do to find capacity and we will have to do things we have never done before,” Suggs said. One bold move, according to Suggs, may be recruiting in eastern Europe.

The discussion also focused on equipment and 2010 engines. The U.S. Xpress fleet is already using 2010 engines and Fuller said driveability and reliability are good, but that cost is a major problem. “And it is not just the cost of the engine, but the cost of the truck as well,” he said.

Krestinger said the new engines “cause sticker shock at time when we have come off of 18 months of cost cutting.” He believes owner-operators are not in a position to purchase new vehicles.

The driver shortage will also likely have an impact on the type of equipment fleets purchase. The fleet executives agreed that fleets will have to focus on driver amenities and ways to keep drivers comfortable and safe.

On the regulatory environment, Krestinger believes CSA 2010, electronic onboard recorders and hours of service are all tied together and will have an impact on fleet management. His fleet is already using EOBR that allow him in real time to see what his drivers are doing.

Partner Insights
Information to advance your business from industry suppliers

Suggs said the convergence of these three items can have a catastrophic impact on trucking. “If you couple the likely reduction in hours of service with CSA 2010 and the driver shortage, we have a crisis shaping up,” he said.
 
Fuller believes things could get bad enough that freight may not get moved.

Looking ahead to the next five years, Kretsinger said that instead of fleets focusing on miles, they will be focusing on driver time. “We will be looking at how to put drivers’ time to good use.”

Suggs said he sees better utilization of equipment. “We can’t afford to have drivers and equipment sitting on the side of the road for 10 to 12 hours,” he said. “We must be able to improve the utilization of drivers and equipment.”