CRST International
Providing Multiple Transportation Solutions
CRST International IOWA-BASED SMARTWAY PARTNER CRST INTERNATIONAL HAS THE ANSWERS TO YOUR DELIVERY QUESTIONS
CRST International
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OUNDED IN 1955 AS CEDAR RAPIDS STEEL TR reorganized as a holding company in 1985, CRST I executed a bold move in 1997 when it transformed trucking firm to a multi-pronged provider of transp Five companies now operate under the CRST Internationa Expedited, CRST Dedicated, CRST Malone, CRST Logistics a Transportation, Inc. (STI), acquired in July 2011. CRST Intern employs 4,400 drivers and office personnel across all division 2,500 independent contractors across the county. “All extensions of the brand were in response to a mar for providing overflow capacity for our customers. The fo businesses that are difficult to duplicate,” explains Mike G President of Fixed Assets. CRST International is also a member of The Environm Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership and maintains score of 1.25. The EPA program identifies measures to im efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution transportation supply chain industry and has helped US $6.1 billion in fuel costs. “SmartWay became a natural extension of all of our fu
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RANSPORT and International d itself from a portation solutions. al umbrella – CRST and Specialized national currently ns and has another
rketplace need and ocus is on niche Gannon, Group
mental Protection s a top SmartWay mprove fuel n from the companies save
uel programs. It
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CRST International
allows us to market within the industry what we’re doing with regards to fuel management. When fuel went over four dollars for the first time, our customers started asking what we were doing in regards to savings. SmartWay certification says we’re serious. It’s like the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval – it validated to our customers what we were doing,” says Gannon. SmartWay is but part of the overall strategy that distinguishes CRST International from its competition. For example, the CRST Expedited now provides 100 percent team driving. “I started here in 1983, we started up our first teams in
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1985, kicked it up in 1986 and ’87 and got to 100 percent in 2005. We’re now the largest team carrier in the truckload sector and this allows us to become the best value because we’re providing two people in a truck for the cost of one. If you need something moved from coast to coast in 60 hours, we’re the guys to do it,” Gannon asserts. A by-product of team driving is idle time reduction, another fuel savings. SMARTWAY IMPACT
Senior Fuel Manager Bret McKinney has been with the company for 15 years and is the primary driver of all things
SmartWay. The company is manufacturers, including O “During the 2007-08 time We’ve tested tires extensively a percent. All of our equipment “Bret also started a very tractors with an idling devic reduced idle time in 2008 b every year since,” says Gann Additionally, software de drivers have deviated from
currently testing trailer side skirts from various OEMs. eframe we checked engines, drive lines and rear ends. and we’re finding that our skirts provide more than five exceeds SmartWay specifications,� McKinney says. aggressive idle reduction program. We spec all of our ice that automatically starts and stops the engine. That by sixty percent and we’ve seen continued improvements non. esigned to map optimum routes alerts dispatchers if their trip and has driven down nonpaid miles by 40
CRST International
Providing Multip
percent. Trucks are set to a maximum speed of 65 miles per hour. The savings? At roughly three cents per mile, CRST International is able to drive approximately $6 million per year back into its fuel savings programs as well as providing upgrades for its drivers. “After all, they’re the ones doing the work,” says Gannon. HOW THEY ROLL
The company runs Freightliner, Volvo and Navistar
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tractors and primarily Vanguard, Hyundai, Great Dane and Utility trailers. Gannon says CRST Expedited has 2,000 tractors on 32- and 36-month trade cycles and will purchase 700 new units this year. Trailers are typically on an eight- to 10-year trade cycle but Expedited will replace 500 five- and six-year-old trailers this year to add skirts. In regards to services, CRST Expedited is the nation’s leading long haul truckload carrier; CRST Malone boasts one of North America’s largest flatbed
CRST International
Providing Multip
fleets for products such as steel, machinery and automotives; CRST Logistics arranges cost-effective, multi-modal transport solutions; CRST Dedicated allows customers to reduce costs by outsourcing their private fleets; and STI adds customized solutions for products requiring highDURING THE 2007-08 TIM touch support, special ENGINES, DRIVE LINES A handling and equipment TESTED TIRES EXTENSIVE across multiple markets. THAT OUR SKIRTS PROV The acquisition of STI PERCENT. ALL OF OUR added 45 distribution SMARTWAY SP SENIOR FUEL MANAG centers to the CRST International network. Eighty percent of Expedited drivers operate company trucks while 20 percent are independent contractors. CRST Malone drivers are 100 percent independent while CRST Dedicated is 100 percent contracted. “Our safety and training starts with a few select driving schools we have contracts with. Upon
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finishing, drivers are then paired with a lead driver for four to six weeks, followed by a one-week orientation. After that, drivers have recurring training once a year. Four times a year safety campaigns are rolled out with various seasonal themes and reminders. And all MEFRAME WE CHECKED drivers have to complete AND REAR ENDS. WE’VE occasional online testing,” ELY AND WE’RE FINDING Gannon explains. VIDE MORE THAN FIVE The company now EQUIPMENT EXCEEDS uses Qualcomm products PECIFICATIONS GER BRET MCKINNEY for fleet and driver management. Onboard recorders on Expedited trucks track minute-by-minute activity and produce daily and monthly reports that detail the actions of every truck and driver. In terms of capital expenditures, the company is about to break ground on a multi-million dollar facility in Southern California that will include a
CRST International
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training facility, driver housing and full service shop. DOWN THE ROAD
CRST International plans to expand its presence in Mexic acquisition is always on the table. “Each of our companie digit growth this year. We’re actively looking at dozens o but they have to be the right niche and a strategic fit,” Ga “I think where we will be and where I’d like us to be fi continue to be the leader in the respective market niches in,” he concludes.
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co. Growth through es has plans for doubleof acquisition candidates, annon says. ive years from now is to s we choose to participate
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STATISTICS
Name: CRST International Inc. Country: Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA Est: 1955 Industry: Transportation President and CEO: Dave Rusch Website: www.crst.com
CRST International 3930 16th Avenue SW, PO Box 68, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406 Tel: 800.736.2778 www.crst.com
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