Carrier Profiles

Carrier Profile - A.S.A.P. Express Inc.

By Jeff Jensen - Editor
Posted May 20th 2003 10:17AM

asap.gifHeadquartered just off I-94 in Romulus, MI, A.S.A.P. Express Inc. was co-founded in 1995 by Rod Baisden (President) and John Cummings (Vice President). This privately-owned company provides expedited shipping services throughout the Continental United States and Ontario. A.S.A.P. operates with a staff of thirty office and corporate personnel.

In the 8 years since it's founding, A.S.A.P. has risen to become a Tier I Carrier with Ford Motor Company, Daimler Chrysler and a Tier II Carrier with GM and Johnson Controls Inc. The company is ISO 9000:2001 certified.

The company is proud of its service record; A.S.A.P has consistently placed in the top five out of 100+ Tier I Carriers. This contributes to its 99.4% rating in Customer Satisfaction Reports.

The company started with only two trucks and has since grown to a fleet size of 95 units. With an owner/operator fleet that consists of cargo vans, cube vans, straight trucks and tractor-trailers, the company states that it can handle shipments of 1-40,000 lbs.

Company Details

A.S.A.P. Express transports general commodity and automotive freight, or as VP of Operations Rob Bonello puts it, "anything but HazMat." The company's service area has primarily focused on the Midwest, but is currently expanding into the Southeastern US.

Rob Bonello: "Our company has shipments that range from 20 miles to 800 miles. An average length of mileage, according to the last report I compiled, was 200 miles."

Company to truck communication is accomplished through cell phones and Qualcomm satellite equipment. Trucks are dispatched via computer and A.S.A.P.'s customers' shipments status is available through web-based tracking and reporting systems

This carrier features a 15,000 sq. ft. secured, climate controlled storage facility with 12 loading docks at the company's headquarters in Romulus. A.S.A.P. Express also offers its customers Air Freight options with a wide carrier network spanning all of North America

From the Recruiter

Safety Supervisor Rechele Scott has been in the trucking industry for the last 21 years, and with A.S.A.P. for slightly over a year. She states that one of the benefits of an owner/operator contracting with A.S.A.P. Express is one of familiarity; with a more modestly sized company, she says, "We know their name, they're not just a number."

"We feel we have an open door policy here at A.S.A.P. Express. If a contractor or driver feels they have an issue, they can talk to any of us in the company, and find resolution for the problem."

"Because of our driving experience requirements," she continues, "prospective A.S.A.P. Express contractors come to us from other companies. Quite often, they will tell us that our company has more of a 'family' feel to it."

She adds that the company offers its owner/operators true independent contractor status, with no forced dispatch.

"We have very low deadhead or empty miles. One of our main goals is to keep our drivers from sitting. Our contractors are never stranded in a location for 24 hours. We can usually get them moving within a couple of hours after they deliver."

Scott says that two keys to contractor success with A.S.A.P. is, "a willingness to work, along with maintaining a high percentage of availability. If a contractor remains in service and his equipment is kept in shape, he should do very well with our company."

"However, we are a family-oriented company, so we understand when contractors need to take time off for families, vacations, emergencies, etc."

"We allow a service life of 5 years for cargo vans and straight trucks. For tractors, we will extend that time frame a little, depending upon the condition of the unit."

"Our tractor division is relatively new (since January 2003); presently, we have ten Class 8 units on with A.S.A.P. Express. This would be a particularly good time to sign on a tractor with our company, and get in on the ground floor of this new division."

A.S.A.P. Express is currently recruiting qualified owner/operators with cube vans, 18-24 foot straight trucks and Class 8 tractors. The company is particularly interested in owner/operators who are from the Chicago area and in the southern states.

Driver qualification criteria

21 years old 1-year verifiable OTR experience Current DOT drug test and physical CDL's required for the larger trucks where DOT mandated

Rechele Scott says that when A.S.A.P. examines the prospective driver's MVR, they focus more on the violations that he might have accumulated rather than the points.

The A.S.A.P. Express package includes:

Cargo and Liability insurance Weekly Settlements Guaranteed Pay by Loaded Mile, Not Percentage Qualcomm Satellite system Immediate phone response to driver calls Paid permits Sign on bonuses

For recruiting info, contact Rechele Scott at:

A.S.A.P. Express Inc.
28950 Goddard Rd.
Romulus, MI 48174
Ph. 734-946-2052
Fax. 734-946-2058

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