OUTSOURCING TIRE MANAGEMENT: Two Fleets Find Success

Two Iowa-based transportation companies have found success by outsourcing their tire management to Bandag.  West Side Transport, Cedar Rapids, and The Florilli Corporation, West Liberty, agree that Bandag’s tire management services have enhanced their operational readiness.

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West Side Transport sees the difference...

West Side Transport, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, signed an agreement with Bandag to outsource their tire management in August 2002.  After two years with Bandag’s tire management services, West Side still sees the positive difference it has made to its business.

Chairman, CEO and President Don A. Vogt, became interested in outsourcing after attending the Bandag Fleet Symposium, in Palm Springs in 2001.  After hearing the impressive advantages his company would gain from the arrangement, Don asked Bandag to present to him their ideas for the West Side fleet.  Don was so impressed with the presentation; he looked no further.

West Side Transport has a fleet of 450 tractors and 1150 trailers. Outsourcing tire management services has given the West Side management team more time to concentrate on customers and less time on the day-to-day tasks of tire maintenance.

Shipping customers hold West Side Transport to a 98% on time performance level. Since outsourcing tire management, West Side has exceeded that standard.

“Last June we had record utilization of our trucks,” Don Voigt said.  “Our miles have been constantly improving since we’ve signed the agreement with Bandag. With better equipment utilization, I have a lower fixed overhead.”

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Seeing Success Quickly...

The Florilli Corporation has one year of outsourcing experience with Bandag, but they can already see the positive difference it has made.

Florilli’s 225 power units and 320 refrigerated trailers keep busy hauling for such companies as Kraft, Hormel and Land O’Lakes.  Florilli President Murray Fitzer entered into an outsourcing agreement with Bandag because of the familiarity and comfort level he already had with them as a supplier.

Realizing that tire maintenance is one of the biggest costs the fleet has, Murray made a decision to outsource their tire maintenance in an effort to drive those costs down.

“With their tire management services, I have more confidence because I know I have more depth in tire knowledge, and have less of the responsibilities associated with it,” Murray explained.  “They have the man power and equipment to do what we couldn’t.”

Bandag’s tire management services have allowed Florilli to get rid of some of the time and cost they had put into tire maintenance, but have kept them involved at the same time.  Since outsourcing their tire maintenance, they have been able to focus more time and attention on their core business.