Carrier Profiles

On-Time Express: Reliability, Reliability, Reliability

In 15 years, On-Time Express has seen almost everything there is to see in the expediting industry.  The company was established in 1995 by Robert M. Stark.  "I began with 1 truck of my own and ran the operations of this company from the basement of our home in Plymouth, Michigan," says Robert Stark.  "Since that time, we have certainly grown and we have emerged to be one of the most highly respected and reliable Transportation Service Providers available in the country."

While On-Time Express is a full-service carrier and provides expediting services of all types, our specialization is "in the movement of time-sensitive automotive industry materials."  This specialization has helped the company to develop a deep, lasting relationship with U.S. Automakers "as a tier 1, top 10 carrier."  There's only one way to develop a relationship like this--by being reliable.

It's this drive for reliability that seems to inform every aspect of On-Time Express' business, from their slogan ("Expediting at its best!") to their willingness to make adjustments in order to stay reliable--for both their customers and drivers.  "We have an extremely low turnover rate. We have customers, employees and drivers that have been with us since our first year of business. We are tremendously proud of that fact, because we are dedicated to the people we serve and the ones that represent us on a daily basis. In return, they are extremely dedicated to us."

"Our objective is simple," Mr. Stark says.  "To provide our customers with prompt and exceptional service. We are committed to focusing on our customers’ needs and being a team player. We will continually set, achieve and reset our objectives to perfect the quality of our service. We will strive for no less than excellence."  So, what does On-Time Express do to achieve that excellence?  It's a fairly simple proposition, really--it's a matter of being on time on a solidly consistent basis.  But being on time consistently takes work and a willingness to provide the driver with the tools necessary to do so.  "We are committed to providing our drivers with every advantage possible. It is crucial that any Owner-Operator representing On-Time Express, Inc. is profitable and content," Mr. Stark says.

None of this is to say that On-Time Express simply sailed through the turbulent waters of the past year's economy; they've had to be just as careful in their decision-making as everyone else has, and is proud to have been able to do that without sacrificing the reliability they've come to expect from themselves. "It came down", Mr. Stark said, "to a matter of just paying attention to which things had to be done:  Making adjustments to our rates became necessary and constantly monitoring our capacity. We never over-hired and we were able to get by without losing anyone that was crucial to our company."

Now that things are beginning to look up a bit, On-Time Express feels more able to look towards the future.  Perhaps not surprisingly, their strategy is very similar to those they've used to get to the point where they are--Mr. Stark says that the springboard for their past growth has been the loyalty they've shown to their customer base, drivers and employees.  Likewise, they'll continue to do the same: "We will continue to do what we have always done by obtaining the kind of personnel that we can depend on. Acquiring loyal, professional individuals will always be the key to our long-term grown and success."

In the last 15 years, On-Time Express has been a steadily growing, reliable-as-a-finely-tuned-machine expediter, and offers one bit of advice to newer and growing carriers: Be honest.  It's a popular bit of advice, sure, but it's one you can't necessarily argue with; while honesty may not provide a fat wallet upfront, it does help you to build a strong foundation for a business that people will want to return to again and again.  This is, of course, something that goes way, way beyond the expediting industry, but it still works seamlessly within it.

On-Time Express offers to their drivers:

Weekly Settlements Top of the Industry Pay No forced dispatch No Satellites Open door policy Flexibility 24 hour dispatch Home most nights/weekends Paid fuel surcharge Family Atmosphere

On-Time Express
34443 Industrial Road
Livonia, MI 48150
Ph: 734-427-6400
Fax: 734-427-6442

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