Anyone have any ideas for trucking company?

How did they get their existing clients?

If they are solid,
then why not do more of what brought them in?

And are they promoting the backload to Phoenix firms?

Best,
Ewen

The business was bought not too long ago, and most of their clients are existing clients. Any new clients were friends or family that owned stores or had some relation to the owner. They are solid, but 25-50 stores does not bring in enough inventory to Phoenix. The problem is they have a full 53' semi coming in everyday, however it isn't always full sometimes not even halfway full. I'm trying to fill the trucks up for them.

I also asked why not cut it down to 2-3 trucks a week instead of 5? The stores need their inventory so that was out of the question.

They are just promoting inventory that comes into Phoenix, I can't imagine much going out either although that would help as well.

Basically they have 4 half full trucks coming in, nothing going out, and are currently breaking even. Filling up 2 trucks a week would do wonders for this business. I just can't seem to find any companies that bring in inventory from Califonia/overseas on a small/med basis.

The shipping is the retailers responsibility so I'm not sure if contacting the companies in LA's might be huge, although they could probably put in a good word. However, my problem is still I'm not sure what types of companies would need shipping of this nature. Any ideas on types of companies to contact minus small retail?

Great site, however most are full loads, couldn't find any partial loads coming to Arizona. Can't do full or else they'd have to get rid of their exisiting clients!

I take the stores are in AZ and the merchandise is coming in via the port at LA?

I see two great ways to make this more profitable. And in your situation here is what I would do.

1. I would cold call/cold walk small businesses in the area that are similar to current customers. That way you can get more and fill the truck and maybe even get a second or third truck going.

2. I would use contacts at the port to find people who are exporting out of that port. Find people in AZ so that every trip is as full as possible.

Being loaded as much as possible as often as possible is how trucking companies make money.

Hi there,

"The shipping is the retailers responsibility"

So, following on from what ewenmack suggested, their current client base would be of great assistance. If you could get more retailers to use the route, then you might be able to reduce the rate for all. It's a win-win.

From your original post:

"ll of the clients right now are small retail stores like clothing stores and small goods shops"

Do you have ALL the small retail stores in Phoenix? I'd highly doubt it. I was just on a trip there. It's a large city. It's easy to find a list of retailers such as this. A postcard or well written letter to these retailers should get you a few leads, or you could call them. Dial for dollars.

All the best,

Sasha.

Cold call similar businesses and ask for appointments.

Create a USP to differentiate the company from the competition.

Get an account executive in who's only job is to open new accounts.

Problem solved.

I just pm'd you to share an idea I use that may help you.

There are all kinds of trucking sites out there.
The good ones you have to pay for...usually $50 a month.

Then you need to know what kind of trailer it is...
Reefer, Low Boy, Van, Curtain, etc.. also all the sizes.

Then you will know what you can haul and I guarantee you will find loads.
The term you are looking for is LTL...which is a partial load.

Yes, merchandise is either being imported from overseas or purchased from wholesalers in LA. Right now they are breaking even filling half and not even half sometimes, so yes filling that truck up would be huge for them.

I know I don't have all the retail stores, but what types of stores are small enough to need partial loads in a truck and big enough to make deliveries once or twice a week? Furniture stores bring them in by the container, and big franchise stores have their own shipping lines/major contracts. The only companies they have are small clothing stores, or guys who own like 1-2 stores.

Yes Phoenix is huge, but I'm driving around and all I see are major brands. They are all Van's no reefer and they can only take partials because they only have one semi going back and forth.

I'm checking my PM now, thanks for all the help guys

There isnt a niche for that "type" of stores and you cant define them, just do as SashaLee said and target the same types of stores that you have as clients atm.

Hmm perhaps furniture retailers ?

Food restaurants and small food stores that need certain type of food/ingredients.

You know what... instead of thinking of NEEDs... why not go and research the market and see what people/businesses actually NEED then provide that.

They need to cover the backhaul. There are about 8 or 10 big players in the trucking business that they could get freight from.

Google "freight brokers" or "load board".

There are lots of places to work out this problem better than an IM forum, I have several years experience in both industries, and this is the last place I would go to solve a trucking problem.

There are large companies that do exactly what you're trying to do. I have an old neighbor who was working for a division of England trucking. They had a whole call floor of guys who cold called on businesses and developed relationships for recurring business. Their whole job was to fill trucks that had vacant space.

There wasn't one industry they went after although I understood that some agents would eventually learn to specialize in certain niches. It was all phone and cold-calling, though. Perhaps not the route you want to go but they had several six figure earners on the call floor so it must be working.

LTL (less than truckload) is a huge business, contact LTL companies and bid for some business.

Offer express expedited delivery at a higher price.

Ask current customers to help because their costs will drop if they help recruit more customers to fill up a truck. They are all networked pretty well generally.

You just need to invest more time and resources in marketing,that way you will get know more clients.
In addition,use your current clients to generate more leads on who may in need of your services
Good luck