Sheeler Speaks at West Coast PCA Conference

 

Nazareth, PA – Randy Sheeler, President & CEO of FT Silfies Inc., a regional mid Atlantic carrier of aggregate dry bulk products recently spoke at the Western Division’s Portland Cement Associations regional meeting in Irvine, CA.

 

“Carriers of dry bulk aggregate products continue to have barriers to entry and barriers to growth,” according to Sheeler.  “Most carriers try to diversify their hauling capabilities to balance out the volatility and seasonality of the cement business, however that causes a lot of problems with our drivers, their working schedule and their available hours of service.  As an industry, few carriers push back, however we are asking for more flexible loading and unloading times that will allow us to maximize the utilization of our equipment.  Remember, a driver can only work 14 hours a day, with 11 of those hours driving.  Every delay we experience in the plant or on the job site takes away from those available hours.  Additionally, there is a finite amount of product that will be sold in 2007 and that product will be sold in 12 months or as little as 8 months due to harsh weather conditions throughout the country.  Many of the mills had excess product in the first quarter, but it will go fast,” added Sheeler.

 

“So we’re asking for your help as a partner.  Look at innovative ways to assist your carrier; preloading, staging equipment, extending loading and unloading hours, divert rail car shipments to truck under 300 miles, and most importantly, don’t hold your orders until the end of the day.  The earlier we get them, the more unique we can get in matching loads to gain full utilization of the driver and the equipment.”

 

Sheeler discussed the new pollution control requirements that new equipment has had on the carriers, the added expense of pollution control and the rates.  “There always seems to be a carrier out there that drives the rates down, maybe it’s due to a lower operating cost, fully depreciated equipment or the fact that they have little knowledge as to how to run a trucking company; regardless, it takes capacity to move freight.  It takes professional drivers that want to work and are driven to be the best.  Carriers are taking a driver with a pulse and a CDL and putting them in a truck within days of applying and in many cases, you as shippers are accepting that to get your product moved.  Remember, the insurance limits for a common carrier are $750,000 in most states, $1M in others and as you well know, it doesn’t take much these days to hit a policy limit in a fatal accident.  When the carrier has exhausted their limits and the equipment is old and fully depreciated, the next step will be to come to the deeper pocket which is the shipper.  Are you ready to litigate on behalf of the carrier you selected because you were in a hurry just to ship freight?”

 

“Choose your carrier wisely”

 

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