Pitt Ohio president: expanding service, driver benefits key to success

If you take good care of  customers and  drivers, success will follow in 2014, a leading trucking executive told a conference of carriers from around North America at the Carrier Logistics Inc (CLI) User Group and Executive Forum at the Crown Plaza in White Plains, N.Y. last week.

Chuck Hammel, president of Pitt Ohio Express, a respected multi-stop and LTL carrier, credited top-tier customer service, such as the expansion of next-day lanes, with keeping his company on top and in the forefront of transportation this year. He also stressed the importance  of providing strong up-to-date employee benefits including paying full healthcare for drivers.

Attendees representing LTLs, couriers, transportation brokers, 3PL’s, freight forwarders and multi-stop delivery companies also heard CLI presentations on reports, billing, accounting, security, web use, tariffs, dispatch, and  dock management.

“As we emerge from tough economic times, it is important transportation companies obtain and take advantage of all the benefits cutting-edge systems like ours offer,” said Ken Weinberg, CLI vice president who acted as moderator and introduced the speakers.  “Our expert trainers educated operators and managers here on how best practices maximize systems, increase cost savings and reliability and streamline business practices.”

Following Hammel’s remarks, Satish Jindel, a noted transportation industry expert and principal of SJ Consulting Group, helped to assure a lively Q&A through his incisive questions.

On the meeting’s second day, attendees received the economic forecast in a presentation by Ken Hoexter, senior airfreight & surface transportation analyst at BofA Merrill Lynch.  Hoexter, whose presentation is a staple at CLI conferences since 2004, is a respected expert on transportation trends.

Sessions included a supplier showcase by CLI’s technology partners including Accordex, Apacheta, Barcoding, Cheetah, Corvedia, Cyberscience, DDC FPO, EBE, Fresh Start Logistics, Progress, ProMiles, Royal 4 Systems, SMC3, TCG, Transportation Profitability Group, and Webtech.