Carrier Profiles

Express-1: Temperature-Control Service Heating Up

Strategic growth.

That’s the philosophy of Express-1, an expedited carrier based in Buchanan, MI — and the philosophy is working.

Express-1 provides ground expedited services to the continental United States as well as Canada and Mexico.

Most recently, the company’s business model has grown to include temperature-control services.

“It’s a new service,” said Darin Mark, Express-1’s vice president for capacity management. “We’ve been operating now for about five or six months and we are strongly positioned with our customers.

“It’s an opportunity for Express-1 to grow and to provide our owner operators with additional business opportunities

Kyle Tracey, an Express-1 recruiter, said the company continues to refine its temperature-control service to become even more efficient.

Like many expedited carriers, Express-1 is experiencing a sort of double-edged sword with the current business conditions. Freight is plentiful, but the company’s growth means it needs more dependable owner-operator partners — especially in the temperature-control sector. Our temperature control business is growing at a rapid pace, particularly in the healthcare and pharmaceutical markets

“We’re missing load opportunities daily,” Mark said.

To counter that dilemma, Express-1 is actively recruiting owner-operators in all segments, with an emphasis on temperature-control. The most pressing needs are for temperature-control straight truck teams and temperature-control team tractors.

Mark described the company’s ideal owner-operator partner as “a very safe-minded business owner that operates his truck as a business.”

Mark said Express-1 understands how essential its owner-operator relationships are to the company’s overall success. These men and women are true professionals. Express-1’s goal is to provide the kind of support that makes the job easier for those owner-operators.

Express-1 has a centralized dispatch system based at the company’s headquarters in Buchanan, and the temperature-control drivers work with the company’s Select Service group.

“They will be very visible to our operations staff,” Mark said.

The glut of freight also provides a tremendous opportunity for those owner-operators who want to work as hard as they want to work. Tracey said owner-operators driving straight trucks in partnership with Express-1 average around 3,500 miles a week.

“It’s really up to the owner-operator, how hard that individual wants to work,” Tracey said.

One thing drivers can expect from Express-1 is to be treated with respect. The company recognizes that its success depends on the drivers’ success.

“Our focus is on the owner-operator and ensuring that while they are here, this is home and they don’t want to go anywhere else, they are our extended family” Mark said. “Retention is a key component for us.”

Express-1 pays owner-operators for each loaded mile and for all accessorial charges. Owner-operators aren’t required to keep logs unless their gross vehicle weight is 10,001 pounds or more. Owner-operators are paid weekly via direct deposit, and their performance is evaluated by confirming on-time deliveries, safe driving/DOT compliance, out-of-service days, turned-down runs and DOT logs.

Owner-operators in all segments, including dry freight, who are interested in working with Express-1 can fill out an online application at http://www.express-1.com/Contractors/EmploymentApp01.php or call the company’s toll-free recruiting number, 866-857-4546.

While Express-1 is a growing company poised for even more success, Mark promised it will never lose sight of its true driving force.

“We’re still a small company that can appreciate the men and women who do a great job  for us every day,” he said. “We’ve never lost focus of that.

“We may not be the biggest, but it’s good to be the best.”

For more information about the opportunities at Express-1, Click Here .

www.express-1.com