Carrier Profiles

Carrier Profile: Metro Express, Inc.

Metro Express, Inc. of St. Louis, MO is a privately owned transportation company founded in 1988 by president Tom Whaley.  The company began as a local pickup and delivery operation handling expedited freight for companies in the St Louis area. 

Metro Express expanded into a full-service expedited carrier that now operates in all 48 states and Ontario, Canada.  The company also has hub locations in El Paso and McAllen, Texas and its service area is expanding into Texas and the Southeast.

Metro Express offers its customers expedited ground transportation in three distinct operational categories:

Automotive
Metro Express provides transportation services to major automotive facilities in North America, including the manufacturing facilities and suppliers of Ford Motor Company, Daimler Chrysler, Toyota North America and Visteon Corporation.  In addition to its automotive services, Metro Express handles general commodity freight.

Government
Metro Express is an approved Department of Defense carrier that specializes in premium ground military expedited shipments and communicates with military transportation officers on a daily basis in order to offer access to its fleet of late model straight trucks and tractor-trailers.

Convention
Metro Express also specializes in the delivery of corporate displays to trade conventions in the United States and Canada. The company tracks all trade show shipments in real-time and provide automatic email updates 24 hours a day.

Operational Details

The company utilizes a fleet consisting of company drivers and independent contractors.  In a departure from the "typical" expedited carrier operation, Metro Express doesn't use cargo vans in its 60-unit fleet; truck sizes range from 22 - 24 foot straight trucks to tractor-trailers, all of which are sleeper equipped.  The company allows a 6- model year service life for straight trucks.

All Metro Express drivers are required to possess Commercial Driver Licenses with Hazardous Materials Endorsement.  The carrier transports most non-bulk quantities of hazardous materials. The exceptions are: certain explosives, radioactive materials and poisons.

All Metro Express trucks are cell phone equipped and dispatch utilizes a "closest unit to the customer" policy; however, if time permits, a first in - first out dispatch standard is used.

Metro Express dispatch is supported by FREIGHTlist.com, a sophisticated Internet based software. This software system allows Metro Express dispatchers to record accurate load bookings and vehicle requirements and provide real time tracking updates to its customers.

FREIGHTlist.com software generates invoices, rate agreements and bills of lading automatically. The system offers unlimited tracking, automatic email notifications, which can deliver updates and proof of deliveries, directly to the customer.

EPAY MANAGER, a value added service of FREIGHTlist.com, Inc. allows Metro Express to submit electronic invoices with a proof of delivery to the customers using the Internet.

Metro Express uses EPAY MANAGER as a tool to assist in attracting new shippers by negotiating discounted rates for early payment.

Requirements

All Metro Express drivers are uniformed and must pass an extensive background investigation and participate in its industry standard training program.  All vehicles are inspected every 120 days.

Metro Express owner-operator requirements are as follows:

Two years over the road experience Minimum of 23 years of age No more than one moving violation or chargeable accident within the last three years Ability to pass a Department of Transportation physical and drug test A proper class CDL with HAZMAT endorsement Canadian access preferred, but not mandatory

Eligible trucks include 22' and 24' straight trucks with sleepers and 48' and 53' air-ride tractor-trailers with sleepers

Metro Express owner-operators enjoy the following benefits:

-No forced dispatch

-No out of service penalties

-Income commensurate with truck type and availability

-Competitive commission
 
-Pre-Pass

-Weekly settlements and direct deposit with EPAY MANAGER

-Paid permits

-Fuel tax reporting

Rob Stuart, Operations Manager and Recruiting Director for Metro Express says that some of the keys to success for a driver with his company are:

Flexibility Customer focus Excellent communications skills, particularly in dealing with dispatch Meticulous attention to detail in the upkeep of his equipment

When prospective Metro Express owner/operators ask about an income projection with the company, Stuart says, "We give them an average of what our teams are currently making.  Actually, the mileage of our average load is around 700 miles, so we do have long-distance freight available."

Metro Express is currently recruiting tractor-trailer owner/operators (team operations only) with 48' and 53' air-ride tractor-trailers with sleepers. The company is also seeking experienced tractor drivers for company positions.

"Owner/operators are the backbone of our fleet, and we rely on them to provide additional strength to our fleet at peak times of the year.  We're proud of the professionals we now have in our fleet.  Metro Express is continuing its growth and we're always looking for experienced independent contractors to join our company and grow with us."

For more information, contact:

Rob Stuart
Operations Manager and Recruiting Director
Metro Express Transportation
(800) 805-0073
(314) 993-8707 (fax)
www.metroexpressinc.com

Metro Express Online Pre-application