The Team Player

Who is Taylor Allen?

He’s a team player beyond measure, and his background may have something to do with that. He did such a great job introducing himself, we thought we’d share it with you!

My name is Taylor Allen. I was born and raised in Worcester, MA. I attended Endicott College where I played football and earned my degree in Sport Management. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to be an undrafted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012 as a tight end and long snapper. I now live in Cincinnati with my wife and 3 children. Before working in transportation, I worked in education and was a head football coach in Massachusetts. I have been in the transportation industry for 2 years.

Growing up in a sports family, the lessons learned through the process of winning and losing is what drives me day to day. My father was a head coach for the Boston University and Holy Cross football programs throughout my childhood. Watching him lead by example and living by the “Golden Rule” is how I lead my life as well.

The Golden Rule? “Treat others the way you want to be treated.”

Working at PGT has been very rewarding for me. I feel that my efforts are always appreciated and valued. I leave every day feeling accomplished. Every day is gameday in the office and our team wants to win! If you like a fast-paced environment, being on a supportive team, and learning to accomplish your daily goals, then PGT is the place to be. The leadership in the office is fantastic and I look forward to growing with PGT throughout the many successful years ahead!

Earth Day

Make the Earth Smile

Happy Earth Day! Shouldn’t it be every day? We think so! But did you know that the first Earth Day wasn’t celebrated until 1970 and didn’t go global until 1990? That’s crazy if you ask us.

If we’re being honest, sometimes it feels like having an impact is impossible. It seems like such a huge task to help save the planet. Well, it is. But it starts small. All of us can do little things to help make the world a better, safer place to live.

At PGT we recognize that we don’t have the reach necessary to make a huge impact, but that doesn’t stop us from doing everything we can to help.

 

"If you do enough small things right, big things can happen!" - John Wooden

So that’s where we start…small.

We talked about a piece of the puzzle that is directed toward the transportation industry in last week’s blog. PGT has gone through the process of becoming a SafeWay Transport Partner to work with carriers who value protecting the environment. We make those carriers a priority because their values match ours.

Is it much? No, not really. We could probably do more- and we will! It’s important to all of us at PGT to take care of the world we live in! Happy Earth Day!

On a daily basis we do small things to help our environment- a lot of which people don’t even realize.

Paperless: for the most part, our company is entirely paperless. Our files are stored electronically, we opt for ACH payments whenever possible, and we utilize our software systems to build our databases.

Recycling: when we can’t be paperless, we recycle it. We make weekly trips to the recycling center to dispose of carboard, paper, cans, bottles, etc. We believe it is important to reuse as much as possible!

Energy-Efficient: we have installed energy-efficient lighting throughout the building to help keep energy usage as low as possible. We also keep our furnace and air conditioner units serviced and maintained to ensure they are running efficiently.

LC Needed

Immediate Opening

The logistics industry isn’t only for those in sales. Some would argue that one of the most important people in the industry are logistics coordinators (LC). They are the ones that keep things moving between customers, brokers and carriers.

Guess what? You’re in luck! We are hiring for the LC role with an IMMEDIATE opening! You can check out what two of our LC’s love about working at PGT in our Table Talk from Tuesday.

This position will work directly on a broker’s account. You’d be the lead LC on the account and will be responsible for covering freight, doing daily check calls, updating carriers and customers, collecting paperwork, and updating our TMS. The best part? The faster you help the broker’s business grow, the quicker you’ll have the opportunity to be promoted! You control your destiny!

The million-dollar question everyone wants an answer to- What does it pay?

We take pride in our work here at PGT and want you to as well. This role offers a competitive base salary plus a lucrative commission structure. How much you take home is really up to you and how hard you choose to work. Ultimately, it is entirely in your own control.

What else does PGT have to offer? Let us break it down for you by highlighting some of the most important parts.

The atmosphere. Relaxed. Casual. Fun. Sound good yet? PGT is all of those things and then some. We want everyone to enjoy coming to work. Sure, there are always going to be bad days, but we believe there are more good days than bad here. There are TVs going, music in the background, and often jokes and stories flying back and forth. We enjoy simple things like casual attire, walks around the building, flexibility, and team events outside of the office.

The benefits. Our list of benefits continues to grow as we grow. We currently offer a 401k with a 401k match! We want you to be with us until you retire, so let us help get you there. We pay a cell phone stipend and paid time off at time of hire. In addition, we can get you set up with medical, dental and vision insurance. Not bad for a company less than two years old, right?

Growth potential. New company = endless opportunities. We have a solid staff that has laid the groundwork for success, now we just need you to help build the foundation of our future. As we grow, so do the opportunities. The potential to move up into various other roles is endless. You can do as much as you want with us and go as far as you want to go. You control your destiny when you work at PGT. How far do you want to go?

Sounds good, right?

Come join our team! Check out the job description on Indeed and apply while you are there! Or just give us a call at 513-453-6046 to set up an interview.

What’s New at PGT?

New Happenings

Where do we start? So much has changed since we opened our doors almost two years ago. As we continue to grow, change is inevitable.

We’ll give you a look inside the happenings of PGT today.

One of the biggest changes we made at the end of 2021 was to our TMS system. We upgraded to a software that was built around our needs and functionality but is also scalable to continue to grow with us. We have a great relationship with the developers of our TMS and they are more than happy to work with us to customize features to match our customers requirements.

We already talked about our MBE certification in a previous blog. That was quite the process, but ultimately, one that is worth it in the end because of all the advantages it gives our customers.

Our marketing efforts were expanded in 2022 as well. Check us out on social media! We are active on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (admittedly, our Twitter following needs some work HA!).

So, what's on the horizon?

 

The most important piece of the puzzle: PEOPLE. We added three knew associates this month and look to do the same in May. We are working to fill out our sales floor and expand our operations teams. More people means more space! Our sales floor is big, but the operations and support staff need their space also. The next step is to expand into our back office and build our customer service and accounting teams. The good news is that we have the space to do it! Let the build-out begin!

Technology is always changing, and our goal is to continue to stay current with modern technology. Our TMS is ahead of the game, but our next step is to update the rest of our IT system and security setup. The details of all of that are boring (and over our heads, if we’re being honest), so we will leave it at that. Just know that the more advanced our technological systems are, the better we can serve you!

One of the biggest changes happening at PGT comes on the business side of things. We are looking to get at least one, if not more, assets on the ground in 2022. This will allow us to begin using our own trucks to move your freight! Stay tuned for more about this at a later date.

Big things are continuing to happen at PGT- change is just one of them!

Why PGT?

Jobseeker Edition

Have you ever thought about changing careers but are too afraid to take the leap? Or maybe a career change isn’t the problem, but joining a new company brings some new hesitations? Fear of the unknown is a real thing. In this week’s Table Talk Tuesday, Kandra, Taylor & Jake tell you why they joined the PGT team. 

They all have different reasons, but one reason they all have in common – the pay.

Reefer Market

The Rollercoaster Market

The market that tends to see the most fluctuation is definitely the reefer market. The ups and downs are so drastic that the swings often occur weekly.

That holds true in recent weeks. Just take a look at the graphic from DAT to the right. The number of loads available in the spot market compared trucks continues to flow like a rollercoaster. In theory, as we continue to get into peak produce season, these numbers should flatline on the higher end.

The closer we’ve gotten to produce season this year, the quicker reefer rates continue to drop. Reefer rates are always higher than van rates due to the extra cost and risk involved with temperature-controlled freight, but the gap isn’t as big as it has been in recent history. In fact, in some parts of the country, rates are only thirty cents per mile higher.

Reefer Spot Rates by zone across the US according to DAT.

Rates are still slightly higher than they were a year ago, but not by much. The reefer rates in April are averaging over thirty cents less than they were only three months ago. Will this trend continue? Probably not in the short-term because load volume will pick up over the next couple of months and mess with the supply and demand ratio.

The good news is, for the first time in a long time, trends are starting to turn in our favor. Whether or not that will continue and be sustainable is yet to be determined.

Do you need temp-controlled freight moved? Are you tired of unreliable service? Do you value honesty and proactive communication? If you answered “YES” to any of those questions, you need to give us a call. We can help with all of those things…AND…save you money in the process.

Give us a call at 513-575-7645!

New York to Ohio

This is Paul

Paul is the happy guy. All day, every day, he has a smile on his face and is happy to be here- anywhere, actually.

Paul has been in the industry more years than he can count. He joined our PGT team last year, and we can confidently say, he’s enjoyed every day of it. But that’s just how he is- happy.

Paul was born in Buffalo, New York but moved to the Cincinnati, Ohio area when he was a freshman in high school. He proudly served in the United States Army for five years- including two tours to Iraq.

He attended college at Xavier University where he met his wife. They now have two beautiful daughters and live around the corner in Loveland.

Paul values hard work and providing for his family. “I make it a priority every day to take time to play with my children and enjoy them in every stage of their lives,” Paul explained. They are his motivation.

“I enjoy the challenge that comes with freight brokering. Each day feels different. I love talking with new customers and providing excellent service.”

Paul really appreciates the leadership at PGT and all the support they’ve given him since day one. “I think PGT is a great place to work.  I feel challenged and appreciated each day.”

SmartWay Transport Partnership

PGT partners with the EPA

Did you know PGT has been a SmartWay partner since 2020? In case you don’t know what that means, we’ll explain that here.

In 2004, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a voluntary program to track, document and share information about fuel use and freight emissions across supply chains. The SmartWay Transport Partnership is an innovative collaboration between the EPA and the industry. The SmartWay Transport Partnership provides a framework to assess the environmental and energy efficiency of goods movement supply chains.

The SmartWay program helps “companies identify and select more efficient freight carriers, transport modes, equipment, and operational strategies to improve supply chain sustainability and lower costs from goods movement.” With the support of major transportation industry associations, environmental groups, state and local governments, international agencies, and corporate communities, SmartWay helps offset environmental risk for companies and reduces freight transportation-related emissions.

As a SmartWay partner, we have access to carriers who have also committed to the SmartWay initiatives. We can then combine our partnerships with carriers and the EPA to measure and improve logistics operations so we can reduce our environmental footprint. As a 3PL, we believe it is important to work with carriers who take the environment into consideration and work to improve in any way possible.

Partners rely upon SmartWay tools and approaches to track and reduce emissions and fuel use from goods movement. The Partnership currently has nearly 4,000 Partners including shipper, logistics companies, truck, rail, barge, and multimodal carriers.

We are proud to align our mission with the SmartWay Transport Partnership goals and continue working together to improve the industry’s environmental mark on the world.

For information about the SmartWay Transport Partnership click here.

Tire Blowouts

Temps rise & so do number of blowouts

As temperatures continue to rise, so does the dreaded tire blowout.

It is a real problem, especially in the summer. There are ways to prevent it from happening, but nothing is 100% fool proof.

There’s a long list of reasons a driver could experience a tire blowout. We don’t have time to address them all, but let’s start with a top-5 list and then break down (no pun intended) a few of them to get a better understanding of what happens:

1. Heat/Weather
2. Driver Negligence
3. Defective Tires
4. Overweight
5. Potholes/Object on the road

Obviously heat and weather are out of anyone’s control, but it can be one of the leading causes of tire blowouts. It is exponentially worse between mid-May and early October due to the rising temperatures across the country. Driving for long periods of time in high temperatures puts a lot of strain on tires. Add in even hotter temperatures on the road itself, and it’s no surprise the damage it can cause.

Driver Negligence and defective tires could go hand in hand at times. Drivers are required to do pre and post trip inspections, primarily for safety. One of the parts they should inspect are the tires. They need to confirm they are inflated properly and make sure they are not overworn- both of which could lead to tread separation if not properly addressed. Drivers also need to look for any defects that are visible. Not all defects are visible, some are inside the tire. These types of defects are likely to cause tires to blow when they go over potholes, broken glass, or bumps in the road.

There are strict weight guidelines for multiple reasons, but one is definitely tire capability. Overloading cargo can put too much pressure on tires and cause them to explode. It is important for drivers to go scale if there is any question that the load could be overweight.

Obviously, no one wants to be in that situation. Tire blowouts can cause serious accidents and a lot of damage. It is vital that all precautions are taken and that everyone remain calm and in control in the event that it does happen. And a friendly reminder: if you see a truck (or anyone for that matter) on the side of the road, please pull over and/or slow down. It’s a stressful situation by itself, let’s all do our part to not make it any worse.

Sales Openings

Sales openings galore

Okay, so the reality is, we will always be hiring sales associates. It’s just the industry we are in and as we plan continuous growth, we need more people to reach those goals. 

We’ve already posted about our open sales positions, but because the role is so great, we thought we’d do it again. Don’t worry, we won’t repeat ourselves. Instead, check out our video below. If this doesn’t answer all of your questions, just contact us. You won’t regret it!