Going Above & Beyond

Going the Extra Mile

It may be a simple concept, but not everyone does it. Here? It’s just what we do.

We take every opportunity we get to learn, understand, and get feedback from our carriers and customers. What better way to do that than see it all firsthand?

That’s exactly what account manager Jason Harper did last week when we drove out to one of his customer’s delivery locations.

But the real question is why. Why bother seeing your customer’s product deliver? Why take time out of your day to check in on a truck driver delivering product for you?

The more we understand about your company, product, and procedures, the better service we can provide. At PGT, we honor our promise of quality service from start to finish. When we get the opportunity to learn more about the shipping and receiving processes our customers deal with, we jump at it. It provides great insight to other aspects of the business. Then we can provide some feedback for you on ideas we may have to make things easier on your end.

It’s always an added bonus when we can see the delivery process from the carrier side of things. It is a great way for us to build relationships with our carrier base, which, in turn, ensure your freight is handled by the drivers who value our relationship.

We’d love to come check out your facilities to ensure we understand just how complex your supply chain is and how we can better serve you. Ask your account rep or give us a call at 513-575-7645. Let’s make it happen!

Fowling Fun!

PGT Family Fun

At PGT, we consider each other family. After all, we spend many hours a week with each other.

This industry can take a toll on you if you don’t balance work, life and fun! We try to combine everything into one around here to help everyone relax, get to know each other personally, and really build that team environment that goes along with our core values.

Every quarter we get out of the office and do something fun. Don’t get us wrong, we do other small things on a regular basis, but every quarter, we make sure we do something bigger and better to let loose.

As we wrap up the first quarter, we thought it would be fun to show you exactly what we mean! Earlier this month we went FOWLING! Nope. That’s not a typo. Fowling.

If you’re like most of us and have never heard of it, you should really check it out! It’s a lot of fun.
The entire PGT staff was there, enjoying each other’s company, having a few drinks, and throwing a football at bowling pins. To make it even better- there was some added friendly (for the most part haha!) competition. As you can see, Kandra may or may not have won…a lot.

Come join our staff! We have several open positions. We are confident you will find one that fits. You still have time to get on board before our Q2 event. You won’t want to miss out.

E is for Excellence

Excellence- the final core value

We’ve reached the end. It’s time to finish our discussion on our core values!

We have determined that T.I.M.E. is our most valuable asset. In every interaction, we strive to uphold our values to keep our team and your business on track. If you missed it, we discussed teamwork, integrity & meticulous earlier this month.

But what does T.I.M.E. mean for you? We continue this discussion with today’s focus: E is for Excellence.

We do the job and we do it well.

If there’s one thing to describe our focus, it’s definitely excellence. Ironically, that means we have to do the other pieces as well.

Excellence means things to different people, but at PGT excellence is defined by execution. Did we give our customers what we promised? Will they trust us with their freight again? Did our carriers have a good experience with the shippers and receivers? We will become a preferred carrier for us?

We answer those questions every day to evaluate our level of excellence. It’s obvious the answer can’t always be “yes” to all of those questions every time. But that’s the goal, no matter how unrealistic it may be. There are a lot of moving parts, many that PGT can’t always control, but we will do our best to control as much as we can.

Control becomes easier with technology. That’s why we have invested a great deal of our time, money and energy into having top-of-the-line technology options for our customers and carriers. We have a customized TMS software, upgraded phone and internet options, and have major IT projects in the works. All of this helps us, and you, reach the highest operational efficiency possible.

PGT believes we are the standard for excellence. That doesn’t always mean perfection, but we’ll get as close to that as we possibly can. We want your freight to move without issues so your experience is…dare we say it…EXCELLENT!

Flatbed Market

Spring has sprung...flatbeds?

Spring is here. Many associate this time of year with produce loads. Not today. Today we’re reviewing the flatbed market.

When the temperature starts to rise, so does the load volume for flatbeds. Over the last couple of weeks, the number of flatbed loads moving increased by more than 7%, according to DAT. The load post volume on DAT’s load board have also increased by about 18%. The number of carrier equipment being posted through the DAT system has also increased.

What does that mean? The short answer is that capacity is tightening. Yes, there are more loads and more equipment being posted, but the load to truck ratio isn’t increasing at the same rate. In fact, the recent DAT load-to-truck ratio trends are seeing a significant drop. (You can see the load-to-truck ratio according to DAT in the graphic to the right.)

What is this doing to the flatbed rates?

As the month progresses, so does the spot rate. Last month, flatbed rates were increasing weekly by about one cent per mile. By the end of March, spot rates are expected to have increased by almost ten cents per mile throughout the month and almost 20 cents per mile more than February. How does that compare to this time last year? It’s almost 30 cents higher than March 2020. The last time there was this big of an increase in the flatbed market was 2018. The spot rates are almost 80 cents higher per mile in 2022 than they were in 2018. Wow.

From the Marines to Logistics

Get to know Jason

PGT takes pride in our team’s diverse backgrounds. What fun would it be if everyone in the office was the same? That’s not the case here.

Today’s Staff Spotlight is Jason Harper. Jason has been with us for almost a year and has proven to be an asset to both the company and the industry.

Jason grew up in the Cincinnati area. He made the honorable decision to join the United States Marine Corp after high school. With the Marines, he served our country for eight years. He was deployed multiple times to various countries around the world. After leaving the Marines he attended college at Miami University and earned a degree in Project Management and Professional Leadership.

It wasn’t long after graduating from college that Jason got his start in logistics. He jumped in head first with the second largest 3PL in the country and has been in the industry in some capacity ever since. Jason explained what he likes most about PGT. “I like working at PGT because of the aggressive mindset of the senior leadership.”

Jason values his integrity most of all. “My integrity is important to me in my personal life and even more so as I conduct business daily,” he stated. “I am motivated to provide reliable service to my customers and to be an example for others to follow.” 

Parking Problems

Nowhere to park

One of the reasons for the driver shortage that we haven’t even mentioned in our previous blogs is lack of parking available to truck drivers.

We talked about how big the industry is earlier this month, but the parking infrastructure hasn’t really adapted to the growing freight market size. Trucks haul over 70% of the $200+ billion-dollar freight market so you can probably imagine how many parking options are needed to accommodate that many trucks on the road.

In the United States alone, there are over 3.5 million truck drivers moving freight across the country. Industrywide, there is only one parking space for every 11 truck drivers according to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI). That seems like a serious problem, right?

It isn’t just an issue of convenience, though. It’s a major safety concern as well. Drivers get tired and want to take a nap. They have DOT regulations they are required to follow- 30-minute breaks, 10-hour breaks, 34-hour breaks. In bad weather, they need to get off the road for their own safety, but also public safety. What happens when there isn’t any parking available? What should drivers do now?

The answer is one no one wants to hear. It forces them to park illegally, go over their DOT mandated hours, and park in less-than-safe locations. We can all imagine the level of stress and anxiety that could create. So much for getting a quality night’s sleep when you’re worried about law enforcement siting you or potentially being attacked.

Truck drivers are leaving at a faster rate than ever- and this is one major reason for it. Parking has been an increasing problem for decades, but the COVID pandemic made it much worse because many locations closed permanently. The ones that remain open are over-crowded.

Add the amount of time it takes out of their day to find parking- nearly an hour a day- to the cost of parking to guarantee a spot, drivers are losing over $10,000 annually due to lack of parking infrastructure. Would you do a job that takes that kind of money out of your pocket? There would have to be some incredible benefits to outweigh that cost and stress.

The Truck Parking Safety Act was introduced last year in the House of Representatives, but it hasn’t had a committee hearing yet. The act includes $755 million for truck parking capacity. We will have to wait and see what comes of it.

Another Career Opportunity

Recruiting & Marketing

Hey, we warned you- we’re hiring, and we meant it!

The open position in the spotlight today: Recruiting & Marketing Specialist.

At PGT, we aren’t only looking to hire people in traditional logistics roles. We have grown exponentially over the first two years and we feel it is important to bring a new role to our team.

In order to grow at a faster rate, we need to find qualified candidates. What better way to do that than hire someone to do the hiring!? You can find the full job description on Indeed, but it’s basically exactly what it sounds like.

Our team is very proud to work here and want you to be as well. This role offers a base salary plus a lucrative incentive program. The incentive package could include bonuses and performance-related rewards. Your success will drive your paycheck- how great is that?

While we know pay is one of the most important parts of taking a leap of faith with a new company, we know that it isn’t the only thing that plays into that decision.

The benefits.

The growth potential.

The atmosphere.

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?

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 at PGT. How far do you want to go?

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.

Sounds good, right?

Come join our team! Check out the job description on Indeed and apply while you are there! You can find all of our openings at: https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Premier-Global-Transportation/jobs or just give us a call at 513-453-6046 to set up an interview.

Combating the Driver Shortage

Solving the problem

This is not an easy task, but it’s one problem many professionals in the industry have been trying to solve.

So, what’s actually being done?

Honestly, at times, it feels like nothing. But that’s not entirely true.

We addressed some major reasons for the driver shortage in one of our very first blogs, so let’s try to figure out how we, as an industry, can come together to combat these ongoing challenges.

Can we change the lifestyle?

One of the biggest reasons for the driver shortage is that the lifestyle is less than ideal. Some of it, however, just is what it is. We can’t change the fact that the job entails sitting behind a steering wheel all day. We can, however, address some of the other concerns along the way by asking some of these questions:

  • What if companies encouraged physical activity through paid gym memberships?
  • Or instead of gym memberships, just provided them with some basic workout equipment that doesn’t take up much space in the truck? 
  • What if companies provided healthy food options for truck drivers to grab on their way out?
  • Is it possible for shippers/receivers to have space for drivers to walk safely? Or maybe have healthy snack options available?
  • Would better routing that includes rest areas, gyms, and healthy restaurants nearby benefit the drivers but not cost extra money associated with more miles?
  • Do companies have healthcare access on site or nearby with hours conducive to truck drivers?
  • Can we route drivers home more frequently and still get the same (or better) results?

None of those questions present easy answers, but they are important solutions in trying to reduce some of the concern for the lifestyle of a truck driver.

What can we do about the regulations?

Unfortunately, they aren’t going away no matter how much the industry wishes it would. However, we could pay drivers differently to off-set what the regulations are taking away from their pockets.

Instead of just paying per mile, carriers could:

  • Pay their drivers an hourly rate when at the dock getting loaded/unloaded.
  • Pay drivers for resets on the road or nights spent in the truck.
  • Give the drivers a per diem for food.

There are many options out there, it’s deciding which ones work best for each company’s structure.

How do we get more bodies?

The biggest problem of them all- having the bodies to do the work. Many organizations, industry professionals and schools are coming together to reach more people. All trades are feeling some version of a shortage because of the push for higher education over the years. The stereotype that you “have to go to college to make a real living” was sold for years, decades even. Together we are trying to break that theory to get more people to realize they can early a very good living as a truck driver without waiting for a degree.

Along with that comes setting up training programs once we do reach those people. While driving a truck seems like a simple concept, it can be scary for someone who hasn’t done it. Incorporating better training programs will give people time to get comfortable and learn some of the nuances that comes with driving a truck.

Are any of these solutions doing any good in the short-term? Maybe. Maybe not. There are many people working together to come up with new strategies every day. The companies putting for any type of effort are seeing results through hiring and lower turnover rates.

M is for Meticulous

Attention to Detail

And we’re back at it! Time to continue our discussion on our core values! If you missed it, we discussed teamwork and integrity early this month. Go check it out and come back for the third piece here.

We have determined that T.I.M.E. was our most valuable asset. In every interaction, we strive to uphold our values to keep our team and your business on track.

But what does T.I.M.E. mean for you? We continue this discussion with today’s focus: M is for Meticulous.

Attention to detail. Precision. Over communication. Perfection.

That’s what being meticulous means at PGT. We will never be satisfied when it comes to our customer service. We are always looking for ways to improve and be better than we were yesterday.

One word tends to be the focus of many staff meetings around here: precise.

We believe precision is key in logistics because it involves meticulous behavior. Checking and double checking. Then triple checking. The more we can prevent errors, the easier it is on all of us. We’ve created multiple systems to help catch errors before they become problems. We regularly analyze various ways to refine those systems to be better.

We have also used technology to give us a giant leap forward. We have a new, customizable TMS system that has helped catch human error. It is set up to recognize each customers’ requirements and expectations to help prevent common errors. We plan to continue to use top of the line technology to better serve our customers.

If you want it, we can make it happen! We promise to execute to your standards meticulously, precisely, and as close to perfection as we can get. Every day. Every shipment. Give us a shot!

Are the rumors true?

Fuel prices trending in wrong direction

It’s no secret that fuel prices have increased.

In fact, we are confident that it’s something you’ve analyzed in your personal lives as of late. 

With regular fuel prices increasing weekly, we are seeing trends more than a dollar higher than a year ago and twenty-five cents higher than a week ago.

The average regular fuel price in the United States right now is over $4.30 per gallon.

If it is having that kind of impact on all of our personal lives, can you imagine what it is doing to the transportation industry?

We will break it down.

The rumors are true. Diesel fuel prices have skyrocketed in the last 4-6 weeks. In fact, in some parts of the country, diesel costs are OVER six dollars per gallon. YIKES! That is not a favorable trend for the freight and shipping industry. Arguably the largest expense in logistics is tied to transportation.

If you ask any owner-operator or fleet manager, they will tell you the most significant cost they have year-over-year is fuel- and across the country, the average fuel cost is $5.250/gallon for diesel. That’s over two dollars higher than this time last year and over forty cents higher last week.

“It’s a challenge. Carriers are telling us their overhead costs have doubled in the last month and are continuing to rise.” -Brandon Cliffe, Acct Mgr

In March 2021, diesel prices were over two dollars cheaper per gallon across the country. The bigger concern is that we don’t see any relief in sight at this point. In fact, all trends are indicating on going increases, at least in the near future.

Shippers and brokers are feeling this impact every day, but PGT will continue to work to save you money on your shipping costs. We’ve built strong relationships with carriers across the country who value our partnerships & customers.