Something a little different on the Channel 19 blog today — a look at some of the basics of a regional bulk fleet based out in California who happened to send in some nice pictures of some of their trucks/operations recently. (Oh a-and speaking of California — if you missed the news Friday, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has issued a commerce clause legal challenge against CARB’s Truck and Bus Rule. Find the story here. Tell me what you think about it in the comments here.)
Apex Logistics was founded in 1967 and is based in southern California, specializing in bulk freight throughout the Southwest U.S. but particularly in core markets in their home state and Nevada. But also: customers take delivery from Apex in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah as well.
Driver turnover rate: 43.5 percent, compared to typical 100 percent national averages year to year tracked by the ATA.
Largest continuous pour: Apex supported 20,000 cubic yards’ worth of a concrete pour, which required 200 truckloads of cement delivered continuously during a 14-hour period. “We kept the highway between Lucerne Valley, Calif., and Las Vegas pretty busy during that job,” comments President Steve Gale.
The company claims a strong emphasis on driver satisfaction, with a pay program that ensures consistent paychecks, reps say. “We create a target pay report weekly, and if a driver needs more hours we can adjust their schedule,” says Gale.
Being in California, too, as we know, there’s the issue of the state’s Air Resources Board. Being a sizable fleet, Apex has been subject to requirements to phase in compliance according to fleet size under the Truck and Bus and other rules for a few years now, but it’s pursued compliance with a considerable investment over those years to the point that it’s sitting just fine relative to CARB rules at present.
Here’s the company’s spec requirements for owner-operators looking to lease on:
**Weight: 2-axle tractor at maximum fuel capacity — max 15,500 lbs.; 3-axle tractor at maximum fuel capacity — max 18,500 lbs.
**Height: Maximum height 12.5 ft. (units over 12′.5 feet may not be able to pick up/ deliverer at some customer locations due to low overhead catwalks)
**Wheelbase limit: 240 inches max
**Age: Tractors must be less than 8 years old, mechanically sound, road-worthy and with an appearance that “communicates professionalism and safe driving”
Any Apex operators in the audience? How do you like the company?