Pushing Step-Decks to Work Harder

Company Using Logistical Strategies, Advanced Software and a Step-Deck Flatbed Equipment Technology to Generate More Hauling Opportunities for Operators

 Transportation Technology Magazine -- November 2000---If you’re a step-deck flatbed hauler, how many miles have you traveled with 20’ feet of empty trailer or 12 thousand pounds of payload space available? How many times have you had the opportunity to loop your haul with a back haul but you needed weather protection to book the back haul. How many times have you had to settle for a partial back haul when you could have had a full back haul? How many miles have you run completely empty from drop off to your next load? Or, how many layovers have you had where you or your driver was stuck, waiting on a Monday morning load or unload? And finally, how many times have you lost a shipment opportunity because you couldn’t get your rate to your shipper or broker fast enough? It is precisely these operating circumstances and operating challenges that Box Trotters, a leading re-seller of used shipping containers and container repositioner, has identified to work on in association with step-deck flatbed owners and operators to help them increase their efficiency and broaden their load opportunities. To help truckers with these opportunities, Box Trotters, a South Carolina based company, has invested in the software, equipment and technical development necessary to bring these operational benefits into the large volumes of hauling opportunities that they believe exist. These opportunities potentially represent many benefits for step-deck flatbed truckers who are also focusing on improving their logistical operations and to increase their hauling opportunities.

A Mutual Fund Strategy to Diversify Loads

 As the challenges become greater to profitably run step-deck flatbed truck operations, regardless of whether it’s one truck or a fleet of trucks, one thing should be clear for step-deck flatbed haulers. Step-deck flatbed haulers, combining Box Trotters’ techniques, are at the greatest advantage, in terms of having the physical equipment, to service the widest variety of shippers of any truck design that operates on the roads of America’s highways today. Step-deck flatbed haulers are at the greatest advantage compared to van trailers and step-deck flatbed haulers are obviously at the greatest advantage compared to tankers and bulk haulers. The primary advantage that step-deck flatbed haulers have is that they can haul both freight that requires no weather protection and, now, as a Box Trotters hauling partner, they can place a 20’ container upon their truck decks and haul freight that requires weather protection. Plus, step-deck flatbed haulers participating as a Box Trotters partner can, on many occasions, broaden their own internal hauling opportunities by hauling freight inside the containers that Box Trotters finds. This type of diversification strategy is also what keeps investors safe on Wall Street, who invest in mutual funds. A mutual fund is a collection of stocks and or bonds. The strategy in mutual funds is that when one individual company may be down, another may be up. And when the one today is down, it may be up tomorrow. "These are logistical techniques that represent winning combinations for us and our hauling partners. We are focusing our attention in continuing to lead the market through our container terminal network and we are now expanding our operations to those trucking companies who do have these such inefficiencies in their systems" , says Cannon, company president.

Example of How it Works

 Box Trotters works with the freight broker, who supplies freight for a 20’ container, that Box Trotters provides. A trucker or broker supply a step-deck flatbed, power, and a driver. The shipment is either pre-loaded, or, the empty container is placed upon the step-deck flatbed at the terminal. If the shipment is preloaded, when the step-deck flatbed driver arrives, the container is merely placed onto the step-deck flatbed and the driver drives to the destination, where the container is unloaded. If the shipment is in no rush, the broker can move loads onto and off of the trailer while the 20’ container sits on the trailer. If the shipment is a “Drop and Hook”, the driver will already have a 20’ container on his truck and he merely waits while the shipper loads the container (This is ideal if the trailer is equipped with car loading ramps). If the truck is equipped with car loading ramps then the trucker can also haul a car. The driver drives to the loading point where the freight is loaded on either a drop and hook basis or it is loaded while the driver waits. Box Trotters’ computer software tells the trucker how the loading time and terms will work so that rates can be accurately made.

New Ideas for Old Challenges

 One of the biggest challenges among those selling the services of a trucking operation and the drivers servicing the sale has been quick access to infomrmation. Box Trotters of America is leading this initiative to build tight relationships in bundling their sales services for step-deck flatbed haulers with DynaSearch, Box Trotters' FREE load matching, load searching, and rate maintence computer network. According to Blake Cannon, company president, it just makes sense for us to give access to the drivers, brokers, and private fleet operators. Operationally, its a win-win relationship.

Box Trotters Gives FREE Access to Loads With Computerized Load System

 Once you start hauling for Box Trotters you’ll learn more and more about their operations. One of the most exciting features of their operations is DynaSearch, their load and rate system. DynaSearch is an open database system that requires no special program to be installed on users computer. The only computer software that a user must have is an internet browser, such as Netscape, Internet Explorer, or AOL. Box Trotters shows operators how to log into DynaSearch, a computer software system that’s proprietary to Box Trotters(We invested in the development of it for operators free use.) In the DynaSearch system, operators search for loads from origin city to destination city, from origin state to destination state. But load searching is only part of DynaSearch!

DynaSearch Stores Carrier Rates!

 Another important function of DynaSearch is that, once a carrier submits a rate quote on a specific, live load that's currently available in Box Trotters database, the rate is stored. This enables those selling the carriers' service access to the rate in the future. The second benefit is that it enables email to be distributed to drivers and owner operators that may not have access to email 24 hours a day, because they're on the road. With the DynaSearch system, email is distributed to those on the list and can wait for the driver to retrieve it when his schedule permits. "It's truly a Quote it, Forget it system that saves time, labor and money for all parties needing this information" says Cannon.

Load Forecasting

 Few trucking operations have the benefit of being able to view future load hauling opportunities. This is a primary feature of the DynaSearch Load System. The DynaSearch load system maintains load opportunities up to 200 days into the future. With this powerful feature, step-deck operators can not only find return loads on their regular hauls, but they can expand their hauling opportunities for more load combinations, according to Cannon.

Color Coded Date Displays for Load Consolidations

 For maximum use of your time the Dynasearch system even automatically displays records in different colors to indicate multiple hauling and consolidation options. This feature enables operators to find separate loads that are originating in one state and combine them with loads that are destined for the same state. For operators looking to search for the greatest load opportunities, DynaSearch will serve them.

Got 20’ to Spare?

Step-deck flatbed haulers are at the great advantage to service Box Trotters’ loads and here’s why. Box Trotters’ loads primarily revolve around the standard 20’ ocean container that occupies 20’ of length on a step-deck flatbed and never weighs over 12,000 pounds. How many loads have you hauled where you had 20’ to spare on your step-deck flatbed?

Slow Freight and Fast Freight

 Box Trotters trucker partners haul a wide variety of freight with certain values of time. Some freight needs to move fast and some freight can move slowly. Box Trotters works together with carrier teams to combine both fast freight and slow freight for maximum opportunities, hauling densities and overall benefits.

Weekend and Overnight Loading

Box Trotters hauling associates find that some of the loading combinations include a weekend trailer drop or an overnight drop near where a driver lives. It may also be near the drivers’ terminal. If this is the case, then trailers can be dropped overnight or for the weekend while the shipper loads, and is picked up on Monday morning, when loaded, and ready to go when the driver is ready to hit the road.

Specific Time Loading/Unloading Conditions

 Nothing is more aggravating than a driver having to wait longer than the agreed upon loading and unloading time. Box Trotters works with shippers to make sure that loading time and unloading time conditions are spelled out in the Order for Service before the Bill Of Lading is Issued. Box Trotters works closely with operators, drivers and shippers to negotiate the details of the hauling contract and every detail, including loading time, transit time and unloading time, and is agreed upon in advance. “We work hard to make sure that these conditions exist in our operations to ensure smooth operations over both the short and long term”, said Cannon.

Sales and Service Support for Carriers

 One of the most important keys to selling your hauling services is immediate information for a sales representatives and origin-destination service agents is access to information immediately. Box Trotters works in many capacities with its carrier associates to accomplish this primarily through its DynaSearch System. Let them know how you prefer to participate and Box Trotters will set it up for you. To register for more information, including hauling opportunities, driver, owner operators, dispatchers, company owners are welcome to register at their on line form. You can go to this link and complete the online form. Box Trotters will send you more details plus they will keep you informed by mail and email.

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