Carrier Profiles
A. Blair Enterprises
When asked in a recent interview how his company differs from all of the expedited carriers available, Tom Robertson of A. Blair Enterprises explains, "The basics of the industry are the same for all our competitors. Our job is to move freight quickly and safely."
"We do not claim to have a better mousetrap, or any specific methods of doing business that differ from any other carrier. We consider our drivers to be our partners and treat them with the respect that any business partner deserves. We do not claim to have all the answers for all expediters. We simply do not make commitments we cannot meet; we are straightforward with our customers and our drivers, and we demand the same treatment in return."
Robertson is founder and president of this privately-owned expedited freight carrier based in Louisville, Kentucky. The company runs the entire Continental United States and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec hauling general commodity and automotive shipments, utilizing a fleet of independent contractors.
Beginnings
Robertson began in the transportation industry in 1973 and worked in the air freight sector with various companies. By 1984, he had reached the position of regional manager for Burlington Northern Air Freight when he left that company to form A. Blair Enterprises.
He says of those early days, "When we began, only a small percentage of our operation was ground transportation, but the longer we were in business, it went from air freight to ground transportation. With the advent of new rules and regulations around 1993, I decided it was no longer fun to do air freight, so we began to focus on trucking only."
For more than 22 years, A. Blair has operated by utilizing company-owned vehicles with CDL-licensed independent contractors driving cargo vans (now Sprinter vans) and straight trucks (primarily teams).
"Changing Gears"
Today, significant changes for the company are on the horizon, a "Changing Gears" in its business model, if you will.
A. Blair Enterprises is now accepting owner-operators for the first time because, as Tom Robertson explains, "One of our largest challenges is attracting new teams for our trucks. We can prove beyond a shadow of doubt, that couples can earn more driving one of our trucks than they can earn in their own vehicles, however there are a limited number of folks who see this as a viable option. We have decided to open our doors to those who want and need to own the truck they are driving."
When asked what factors contribute to the decision for potential drivers to buy their own trucks, Tom Robertson says, "This is a tough question for me, but I believe there are several reasons."
"I am guessing that experienced drivers have favorite manufacturers for both their trucks and aftermarket living quarters. Some drivers want a truck with specific appearances, sizes of interior space, and a host of other "must haves" while others may simply want to be able to say 'that's my truck!' I believe that my failure to see the importance of truck ownership for the average driver is probably the most glaring of my many miscalculations."
He continues, "This company has been reinvented several times, changing our focus and specialties to accommodate the changes in the market or in this case, the changes in the attitudes of potential partners. The obvious problems will be finding owner-operators who are truly business people, with an understanding that we are their partners."
"Our philosophy is simple - the more our partners earn, the more we earn. Our goal is to hire professional drivers who understand we are doing everything in our power to keep them loaded and rolling."
Robertson says that there is no danger of "overstaffing" at A. Blair: "We want to move slowly by comparison to other carriers adding only five or six trucks within the first month. The goal here is to keep our trucks moving, adding trucks only when we feel we have the ability to keep them rolling. We're looking for owner-operators with a desire to run at least 2000 miles per week (for singles) and 4000 to 5000 miles weekly for teams."
He says that the company is actively seeking sleeper-equipped straight trucks with 22', 24' or 28' cargo boxes. Another component of the "Changing Gears" model is the addition of tractor-trailer owner-operators to the A. Blair operation.
Operations
***image1**Owner-operator teams are preferred but Operations Manager Steve Orlowski says,
"We see opportunities for solo owner-operators in the straight trucks and there is great earning potential for the solo owner-operators in tractors as well."
Orlowski, a former tractor-trailer driver and expediter, says of his duties: "I'm kind of like a utility player - anything that happens, I need to react to it ASAP. This includes taking care of customers, helping the drivers with their needs, obtaining new business and taking care of a volume of paperwork that I never even dreamed existed. I pretty much have to watch over everything and keep it running smoothly."
He says of A. Blair's drivers, "We're working our best for them at all times because the success of our owner-operators is imperative. I feel their pain every time they get a bad load or get stuck at a dock, stuck in traffic or get bad directions - I feel it all."
"I tell the drivers, I'm your best ally and we're going to do for each other. I think there are a lot of folks who don't have a clue as to what goes on out there on the road because they've been stuck in the office forever. As a driver, you'll never forget it - it's in your blood, it's in your psyche. You remember everything - the good times and the bad times."
Tom Robertson expands on the Open Door policy at A. Blair: "Communication with our drivers is old fashioned, that is if you consider cell phones and speech outdated.
We have a limited number of partners and we know each of them by name. Our partners have the ability to speak to Steve Orlowski, our Operations Manager at any time. We operate with the attitude than the only stupid question is the one that is not asked."
The benefits of leasing with A. Blair include:
No Qualcomm Average deadhead mileage less than 7 % Driver compensation exceeds average of all major expedited carriers Pay by the mile, not percentage Weekly settlements Com Data card Direct Deposit No forced dispatch Consistent long team runs Referral Bonus A true first in, first out dispatch policy No refusal penalties 99% no-touch freight Fuel tax reporting Detention Pay PC Miler practical miles Drivers are known by name, not a truck number
Driver Requirements
*2 years verifiable experience in the expedited industry preferably working with NLM business
*A clean MVR with no major violations accepted
One minor violation in the last 3 years is acceptable
*A courteous, professional attitude
The future
Tom Robertson sums up his operational philosophy:
"Bigger is not always better," says the president of A. Blair. "We take pride in our service, our partners and our record in the industry. We will not jeopardize our reputation by attempting to grow too quickly or beyond our capabilities, and we will grow slowly to insure that we maintain our family business atmosphere."
"Our rate of growth will not be one that is attractive to corporate America, but then I don't answer to them - I answer to our partners, our owner-operators."
For an A. Blair Online Pre-Application, click here or contact Steve Orlowski at: 502 326-0500.