 As
Taylor Truck Line owner Rob Taylor sees things, there's nothing very complicated about
building a successful trucking company. There are just three rules: Pick up and deliver on
time, all the time; do everything possible to service your customers; be open minded and
completely honest.
Rob learned these principles from his father Jerry, who began trucking full time in 1957,
and soon established himself as a man to whom "customer service" was more than a
mere slogan. It was the foundation of his business.
Slowly, but solidly, Jerry began to add trucks to his fleet, always careful not to grow
beyond his ability to provide customers with the highest quality service, and drivers with
a fair, friendly place of employment.
In 1989, Rob bought the company from his father and, after several years, began expanding
its dry van and flatbed operations.
Today, Taylor Truck Line is a thriving carrier, transporting a variety of products across
the country. Its continued growth is driven solely by the demand of customers, many of
whom are America's premier manufacturers. And although their transportation needs differ,
they all have one requirement in common: consistent high quality service.
To the people who make up Taylor Truck Line, trucking is not a job; it's a way of life, a
career, an essential part of the American economy. This attitude is what separates Taylor
from its competitors. It is the difference between toil and fulfillment, between service
that's adequate and performance that's excellent.
The effect of Taylor Truck Line's positive attitude is apparent in all the key indicators.
The company's on-time record is one of the best in the industry. Its safety rating is
among the highest. Freight claims are almost nonexistent. And the annual percentage of
driver turnover is low by any standard.
Today and Beyond
Running a successful trucking company today takes more than good tractors and
trailers and drivers. It takes a willingness to change with the times. Here too, Taylor
Truck Line excels.
The company's management has always viewed change as a normal business process, where
growth and diversification are dictated by customers' needs. During the past several
years, for example, truckload capacity has increased enormously, and the number of
services has doubled.
Taylor now offers dedicated fleets, electronic data interchange, just-in-time
deliveries, LTL capability in certain lanes, team drivers and system-wide satellite
communications. For additional logistic needs, the company also provides full-service
freight brokerage through Taylor Logistics Inc.
It's hard to imagine where the future will lead technology and the trucking industry.
But, wherever it is, Taylor Truck Line will be there as well, in step with the cutting
edge.
Of course, not everything is subject to change. Taylor's founding principles -- that
promises to customers will be honored, that transactions be honest, that employees be
respected and paid fair wages, and that relationships be based on trust -- all remain
unaltered from their inception almost five decades ago.
When Jerry Taylor started the company in 1957, business deals required no more than a
handshake, and customer service was a personal commitment. Today, trucking
has become much more complex, but to the people of Taylor Truck Line, customer service
is still a commitment to be made personally and taken seriously.
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