In this economic mess, express services are the most sensitive part of the economy. It is more appropriate for you to take a look at truck stops or rest areas; no matter how many logs there are trucks, and now in abundance, the economy is slow.
Expediting services means that someone has to move the load from “A” to “B” as soon as possible at the minimum price. How is it working? A broker has the load in his portfolio and is negotiating with the driver the prices, this means that 20% of the price is for this service. Next in line is “Driving Authority” (another 15% of the price after broker expenses), this will process money and security procedures, including insurance for freight. And keep an eye on the freight all the time, so that the customer knows where their cargo is. This is the job role for FedEx Custom Critical and Panther Expediting Services. My job role as a leased vehicle operator is to collect data and process paperwork and of course find the shipper, take the freight and deliver it to the consignee at business speed (47 miles / hour on Panther and 45 miles / hour on FedEx) . Personal I am a team player, so for my truck the commercial speed is 1000 miles / day and always available to the driving authority.
If your car did not start in the morning, call a taxi and it will be on time. Troy imagines communication tools (thanks Bell and Marconi) working for you and has a pale picture of expedited work.
First contact with FedEx, a few years ago, I sent an order for RFID tags (friend identification using radar technology) in the United States. My location at that time Europe, Romania, Cugir (this is in the middle of nowhere, AK47 was produced there and the communist country keeps it a secret) street so hidden that for visitors I give my cherry tree, the most big and old in the area. I was able to monitor my labels until I reached that country. At the time of delivery I was looking outside, and a driver came to ask me … if my address is there! Afternoon I understand that FedEx has optimization tools for directions, so the driver avoids left turns.
Panther is using Internet Map. And you have started a GPS application on the devices.
Now what about the tools? Communication tools are the most expensive part of the business. Recognize simple professional units, always have a working “hands-free” device. Inside truck is a satellite communication tool. Panther has a “paperless” working behavior, this means that the driver has to scan documents, and the log books are automatically generated by a satellite device (the driver has a black box that records all his position changes) every few minutes, this is annoying for all drivers. Tech level: windows so you can communicate while using any laptop. FedEx is using the same tolls at the industry level, this means open source software and Java applets interconnecting and integrating the phone into a computerized system. Log books remain as legal, on paper, so you have 15 minutes between status changes. Ok, you have to send the documentation by mail. I received a lot of inconsistent data at Panther, at FedEx I don’t have any access to the computerized system, this means that the competition rules are the same for all operators. For communications, it has a “messenger-like” behavior.