Food Logistics has again selected Interstate Transport for its annual list of Top 3PLs.

Interstate Transport provides its customers with cost-cutting tools and services that increase their competitive advantage and their service levels. Interstate specializes in food and beverage transportation, and offers a dedicated staff of logistics experts to assist customers with moving the most complex loads efficiently.

Lara Sowinski, Editor-in-Chief of Food Logistics stated, "The companies on this year's list offer tremendous value to their customers in the food and beverage sector, starting with their understanding of the requirements and demands unique to this space. For one, food and beverage supply chains operate in a highly regulated environment where safe and secure transportation and warehousing of the product, which oftentimes involves temperature-controlled facilities and equipment, is paramount. In addition, the constant introduction of new products coupled with increased consumer demand for more fresh produce raises the stakes even higher."

Food Logistics' Top 100 3PL & Cold Storge Providers list serves as a resource directory of third-party logistics and cold storage providers whose products and services are critical for various companies in the food and beverage supply chain, ranging from food producers and manufacturers to retail grocers and small format markets.

Tim Higham, President and CEO of Interstate Transport said, "We're proud of our team here at Interstate. Year after year, they provide the best customer service in the industry and I believe that their dedication is the reason that Food Logistics and other industry publications honor us each year with awards for being the best in our industry. I want to thank our team for their hard work and ingenuity and we all want to thank our customers for their loyalty over the years."

Interstate Logistics Group, Inc. today reported that revenues and load counts in June 2012 were the best in the company's history. Revenues saw a jump of 39% over June 2011 and load counts rose 77% over the same period. Further growth is expected into July and beyond.

Tim Higham, President and CEO of Interstate Logistics Group, stated, "We deliberately focused our collective energy on sales and execution in Q1 and Q2. We are now seeing the results of those efforts. We staffed our sales area heavily in the first half of 2012 in order to see more business opportunities come into the company. More importantly, we also had to be ready to service the additional business that we were presented. Therefore, we have added staff in almost every department in 2012. It was a bold move to add staff and train them before the business wins actually materialized. However, it has paid off handsomely as our clients increasingly ask us for help resolving capacity and service issues throughout their logistics networks. We are finding that they are relying more and more on vendors that are financially stable and are able to execute quickly for them."

Interstate Logistics Group believes that much of its record growth in revenues and load counts is attributable to its strong and stable financial position. Interstate Logistics Group continues to operate with no long term debt and uses its strong and stable financial position as a selling point with both existing and new customers.

Higham stated, "Our clients increasingly want to know that their vendors are stable. There is nothing worse for a shipper than to see a logistics vendor they use collapse because federal law allows drivers and third-party carriers to seek recourse of any non-payment directly from the shipper of record – meaning a shipper can end up paying twice if it doesn't select its logistics vendors carefully.

"Moreover, we are hearing from our clients that they need vendors to be able to adequately invest in the people and processes to service their business at the highest level possible. Our clients are telling us that they are carefully selecting the best and most stable service providers as their key partners and they are helping them grow. We are certainly seeing this reflected in our recent record revenues and load counts. We will continue to invest in the people and processes wherever the business dictates it. We invite our customers to lean on us for service and allow us to take on more for them every day."

 

Interstate Logistics Group Reports Record June Revenues and Load Counts

InMotion Global, Inc. and its patent-pending technology, InMotion Global TMS^® are in the spotlight again.  Inbound Logistics has named the software development company, which specializes in transportation management system technologies, as a top 100 Logistics IT Provider for 2012.  As part of the Interstate Logistics Group family of companies, InMotion Global has continued to receive nationwide recognition for its software innovations and leadership in the development of logistics solutions.

InMotion Global TMS^® (IMG) is the leading web-based, fully hosted Transportation Management System (TMS).  IMG allows companies to manage every aspect of their logistics, transportation, and distribution functions while providing complete freight movement visibility.  IMG users merely sign in via the internet from any web-enabled device and are able to control the entire system, from load inception through final delivery and invoicing.

“We are so pleased to be recognized by Inbound Logistics again this year,” said Tim Higham, President and CEO of InMotion Global.  “Over the past decade, our development team has implemented the most comprehensive changes our system has undergone since its creation.  Many of the design enhancements are based on suggestions brought to us by our customers who use the system every day.  From the smallest shipper using InMotion Global to our largest—a $7 billion foodstuff distributor—our customers give us great ideas about how our TMS software can meet their needs while remaining the easiest system to use.  Making the complex simple is our focus and we couldn’t be more proud of our TMS.  Filing for patent protection this year was simply icing on the cake.  I am incredibly impressed with our development team for creating this amazing and ground-breaking system.”

Inbound Logistics selected InMotion Global for this recognition after analyzing hundreds of companies that compete for this honor each year.  InMotion Global garnered the award again this year based on its real-world approach to the most involved logistics complexities.

 

InMotion Global Again Selected as Inbound Logistics Top 100 Logistics IT Provider

Employees from Interstate Transport’s headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida visited a local elementary school to encourage the children to do well in their studies and on their upcoming statewide, standardized tests.

Interstate Transport partnered with a group called HandsOn Tampa Bay in its volunteer efforts.  HandsOn Tampa Bay, the volunteer arm of United Way of Tampa Bay, is the area’s premier volunteer program and is an affiliate of the HandsOn Network and The Points of Light Institute.

Interstate’s employees have been collecting items for the children for several months and when they visited the school, the employees handed out “goody bags” and spent time with the children to talk about the importance of studying and learning.  The volunteers gave the children pep talks about achieving their goals and the importance of being great students.

This volunteer project, called “Ready, Set, Go!” is the first of several projects the company’s employees have planned with HandsOn Tampa Bay.  The employees will return to the school in May to hand out more “goody bags” during a celebration marking the completion of the children’s standardized testing period.    Interstate’s employees have volunteered at the elementary school as part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program for several years and have fully embraced this new volunteer opportunity that reaches even more of the children at the school.

Zach Aufmann, Interstate’s Director of Operations, stated, “We give our team paid time off to make a difference and we encourage them to use it.  For several years, we have partnered with this elementary school to show the children that the basics of reading, writing, and math are the very skills needed to know how the world works outside of school.  We get them excited.  We show we care.  Most of all, we stay connected to them week after week and year after year.  The kids have responded amazingly well to our continued presence and to our commitment to them.  If every company reached out to a local school and helped kids understand why education is so important, most of those kids would exceed our highest expectations.

“Interstate Transport will continue to support the elementary school, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the United Way, and HandsOn Tampa Bay and concentrate our skills and time in areas where we can actually see and feel the difference we are making.”

 

Interstate Transport Supports Local Volunteer Program

Interstate Transport, Inc. has opened an office in Melbourne, Florida, adding to its current locations in Florida, Georgia, Colorado and Missouri. Situated between Miami to the south, Jacksonville to the north and Orlando to the west, the new office provides additional, regional support to Interstate’s customer base in the Southeast U.S.

The new office allows for additional service to the company’s plant, produce and foodstuff business coming in through the Miami gateway. The additional Florida regional location will provide back-office services to the company's locations across the U.S. Opening regional support offices has allowed the company to cover additional hours in order to expand its second- and third-shift operation capabilities.

Gay Seward, the Operations Manager for the Melbourne office, stated, “As Interstate grows, it is important that we focus on true 24-hour operational excellence whether a client or driver calls at 11 a.m. or 11 p.m.  This office will help to provide the kind of operational support that bolsters our existing first-, second- and third-shift service, as well as to provide an additional Interstate office on the east coast of Florida.”

Tim Higham, President and CEO of Interstate Transport said, “Opening regional offices in the Southeast U.S. has been a goal of ours for quite some time.  We started our expansion in that area with our Georgia office and now have a total of four locations in the Southeast.  Our plans include opening more regional centers throughout the country, as we did in Colorado and Missouri.  We base our expansion model on providing as much personal service as possible to our customers, and that means placing our team members in strategic locations so that we can provide the highest level of service.  Our management team carefully selects each new site and we only move forward after analyzing which location will be of the greatest value to our customers.  We look forward to announcing our plans for further expansion and diversification in upcoming press releases.  I predict 2012 will turn out to be a groundbreaking year for Interstate Transport.”

 

Interstate Transport Opens Additional Florida Office

Interstate Transport, Inc. has opened an office in Melbourne, Florida, adding to its current locations in Florida, Georgia, Colorado and Missouri. Situated between Miami to the south, Jacksonville to the north and Orlando to the west, the new office provides additional, regional support to Interstate’s customer base in the Southeast U.S.

The new office allows for additional service to the company’s plant, produce and foodstuff business coming in through the Miami gateway. The Melbourne site also provides added support to the company’s Miami Sales & Dispatch Center, which opened last year. The additional Florida regional offices will focus primarily on Interstate’s horticultural shippers and importers, while offering back-office services to the entire U.S.

Tim Higham, President and CEO of Interstate Transport said, “Opening regional offices in the Southeast U.S. has been a goal of ours for quite some time.  We started our expansion in that area with our Georgia office and now have a total of four locations in the Southeast.  Our plans include opening more regional centers throughout the country, as we did in Colorado and Missouri.  We base our expansion model on providing as much personal service as possible to our customers, and that means placing our team members in strategic locations so that we can provide the highest level of service.  Our management team carefully selects each new site and we only move forward after analyzing which location will be of the greatest value to our customers.  We look forward to announcing our plans for further expansion and diversification in upcoming press releases.  I predict 2012 will turn out to be a seminal year for Interstate Transport.”

 

Interstate Transport Opens Additional Florida Office

Food Shippers of America (FSA) will host its annual Transportation and Logistics Conference at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida. Interstate Transport will sponsor the Monday morning breakfast break at the conference, which runs from February 26 through February 28. Representatives from the company will provide attendees with gifts and an opportunity to learn more about the company’s unique suite of services. Specializing in temperature-controlled and refrigerated freight, its customers include Fortune 100 food shippers and retailers including the largest shippers of poultry, meats, seafood, dressings, produce and beverage in the food and retail grocery industries.

Interstate's President and CEO, Tim Higham, said, "The Food Shippers of America conference focuses on education and offers some of the country’s leading experts in trucking, logistics, produce, food safety, distribution, and consumer trends. Our core business is time-sensitive transportation and we look forward each year to meeting with colleagues and clients in the industry who attend this conference. It’s a great opportunity to catch up on how our customers and suppliers are leading their companies through the economic uncertainties we all face and how they are adapting to the increasing amount of legislation that regulates our businesses. Moreover, it is a great conference to truly connect to our clients and to make sure our future service offerings hit the mark on every level.”

Education sessions fill the 2012 conference agenda and this year’s line-up offers a diverse range of subjects. Session topics include best practices for disaster planning, food safety, oil prices and their effect on the industry, and consumer behavior analysis.

Attendees can visit Interstate Transport at the Breakfast Break Station on Monday, February 27, at 10:00 a.m.

 

Interstate Transport Attends FSA Transportation & Logistics Conference

A month after opening a new Sales & Dispatch Center in Miami, Interstate Logistics Group has opened a new office and truck terminal in Tampa, Florida.  Interstate Dedicated, the asset-based division of the Interstate Logistics Group family of companies, will utilize the new location to house its fleet and provide even more space for its asset-based staff.

Interstate Dedicated specializes in temperature-controlled freight movement throughout North America and focuses on supplying customers with dedicated equipment and drivers.  The terminal’s location is key to providing centralized service to Interstate’s numerous, Florida-based shippers and receivers.

Ken Chambers, Driver, Safety and Compliance Manager, explained, “We opened our new terminal after listening to our long-standing customers’ recommendations about where they would like to see our assets placed.  At Interstate, we listen to their needs and deliver the solutions that continue to make them, and us, more efficient.  The new terminal is at the crossroads of the I-75 and I-4 corridors, providing us with fast and efficient service to almost any point in Florida. Moreover, the new terminal provides our drivers a central location to return to after their runs and contains a driver lounge and showers.  The location also features maintenance, truck wash, and fueling facilities in addition to business office space for operations.  Our staff is excited to have a new office in which to expand our operations and look after our drivers and customers ‘the Interstate Way.’”

 

Interstate Dedicated Opens New Central Florida Truck Terminal

Food Logistics Magazine has again ranked Interstate Logistics Group’s technology solution, InMotion Global TMS^® on its FL100 List in recognition of Interstate’s leadership in the Logistics Technology market.

Each year, Food Logistics editors recognize 100 software and technology providers that enable grocery and foodservice distributors and manufacturers to meet and exceed their business goals.  The 2011 list focuses on solution providers that help their customers differentiate themselves in the marketplace, while simultaneously facilitating improved safety and traceability throughout the supply chain.

Interstate Logistics Group proudly adds the 2011 Food Logistics honor to its growing list of awards.  Inc. Magazine has named Interstate Transport one of the Fastest-Growing Logistics & Transportation Companies nationwide and Inbound Logistics Magazine selected Interstate Logistics Group’s InMotion Global TMS^® for its list of Top 100 Logistics IT Providers.  Interstate’s innovative solutions and services allow its clients to lower their transportation costs and improve their customer service performance.

Lara L. Sowinski, editor-in-chief at Food Logistics said, “With the passage of the FDA’s landmark Food Safety and Modernization Act, the entire food and beverage sector is under increased pressure to improve safety and traceability throughout the supply chain.  In addition, the ongoing globalization of food supply chains demands closer collaboration with suppliers and enhanced visibility from farm to fork.  Technology is a powerful tool that can ensure compliance, mitigate risk, and serve as a market differentiator in today’s highly competitive environment.”

Tim Higham, President and CEO of Interstate Logistics Group, said, “Receiving this recognition year after year from Food Logistics Magazine is a testament to our team here at Interstate. As an industry leader in transportation services, technology solutions, and best practices, our TMS provides the agility and simplicity of implementation that companies demand to manage the most complex shipping operations. InMotion Global TMS^® is intuitive and customizable which saves users time, and increases accuracy and efficiency. Everyone is focused on the bottom line right now, and Interstate provides the capacity its customers need at the most competitive prices in the market and utilizes the latest trends in transportation and logistical technology to help our customers reach their goals.”

Interstate Logistics Group's Transportation Management System, InMotion Global TMS^® Makes Food Logistics FL100 List

Interstate Transport, Inc. will open another new, company-owned and operated Sales & Dispatch Center on December 12, 2011. The center, located between Miami and Homestead, will support Interstate’s existing customer base with a regional focus. The Miami team brings over fifty years of industry expertise to the new location, which will offer both sales and complete dispatch operations.

Tim Higham, President and CEO of Interstate Transport said, “Our model has been to grow organically and through opening new company offices or through acquisition. Opening the Miami center is the next step in a strategic plan to offer more personal service to every region of the U.S. Like the centers we opened in Georgia, Colorado and Missouri earlier this year, the new Miami center will offer a focused approach to regional customer service, primarily working with temperature-controlled freight.”

The center, which is situated to allow for future growth, will interface with the company’s plant, produce and foodstuff importers through the Miami gateway. The goal is to provide seamless delivery to all points across the country from air and ocean transfers with complete, online load tracking and cold chain integrity. The Miami center staff is bilingual, offering customer service in both English and Spanish. They will also work very closely with Interstate's existing horticultural shippers in the South Florida area to provide integrated customer service.

Higham said, “2011 has been a phenomenal year for Interstate in terms of investing in people, new offices, customer-centric technology solutions, expanding our existing asset fleet, and most importantly, in terms of choosing close partner clients that need committed solutions from an extremely dedicated service provider. Our goal is to listen to our customers and to provide the real-world solutions they need to manage their most complex freight and logistics challenges. In response to our customers’ needs, we’ve continued to diversify and strengthen our presence in the most dynamic, nationwide markets and to execute a strategy of intelligent growth and expansion. Our new Miami center is just one step in that plan which includes even more expected growth announcements in the near future.”

Interstate Transport Opens Miami Sales & Dispatch Center

Interstate Transport, named one of the Fastest Growing Logistics & Transportation Companies by Inc. Magazine, has opened two new, company-owned and operated Sales & Dispatch Centers.  The centers, located in Colorado and Missouri, opened simultaneously last month, adding to the company’s current regional locations in Florida and Georgia.

Tim Higham, President and CEO of Interstate Transport said, “The key to our amazing growth is that we listen intently to our customers.  When they need experts who are ready to respond and provide regional solutions on the spot, we’ll open a Sales & Dispatch Center nearby to meet their defined needs in that particular region.  We want our customers to know that we are more than just a vendor, we are truly a partner and we’re willing to commit the resources and technology necessary to help them succeed.  Our success only comes from their success.”

Geographical diversity has meant that Interstate’s trucks are moving efficiently which results in the best possible rates and on-time service for its customers.  Its regional Sales & Dispatch Centers have ensured that customers’ freight continues to be loaded in locations that are in the most need of capacity.  By adding additional Sales & Dispatch Centers, Interstate is building specific expertise in temperature-controlled freight, specialized flatbed, and produce in those regions and assisting customers who face challenges keeping up with seasonal demands.

Higham added, “We are constantly investing in the growth of our companies and we anticipate future announcements before the end of the year and into 2012 regarding other Sales & Dispatch Centers that are currently in development.  It’s a tribute to our team here at Interstate that we can continue to expand during such trying economic times.  The reason for our staggering success is that our business is focused on building relationships with and providing complex solutions for – our customers, our drivers, our carriers, and our vendors.  Opening regional Sales & Dispatch Centers makes sense because we have found that having our logistics experts close to our customers makes it easier to meet their needs quickly and efficiently.”

The company’s Transportation Management System, InMotion Global TMS, unifies Interstate’s diverse offices.  The system offers online, real-time tracking and tracing for customers and a complete suite of tools that allow employees to work efficiently and provide quick and responsive service.

Interstate Transport Opens Two New Regional Sales & Dispatch Centers

The International Foodservice Distributors Association will host its 2011 Distribution Solutions Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, next week. Interstate Transport will exhibit at the conference which will feature educational sessions, distribution solution exhibits and networking opportunities.

Interstate's President and CEO, Tim Higham, said, "This year's conference will be the best one yet. The roster of speakers is exceptional and our team has been gearing up for months to make the show a success. Interstate Transport is growing faster than even we expected and we're taking our company in several new directions in the next year and beyond. Exhibiting at the IFDA Conference allows us to build new relationships with key partners, customers and vendors and solidify long-standing relationships with others in the industry. This year's Conference has a theme of innovation which is what Interstate is all about. We continually look for strategies and technologies that move the industry forward and are excited to learn more about the future of food distribution at the conference."

Conference visitors can attend sessions on such diverse topics as incentive and pay plans, building your company's safety culture, technology platforms and data synchronization, and human resources best practices. The Conference also includes "Super Sessions" on the last day that include: U.S. Economic and Financial Outlook, How Regulations will Shape Foodservice, and Tactical and Strategic Skills Boot Camp.

Tim Higham states, "The economy is uncertain and our industry changes at a rapid pace. This means that everyone along the supply chain must remain up-to-date on the latest trends and innovations that allow us to sustain growth. Interstate relies on operational efficiencies that position us for long-term success and the IFDA Conference, for us, is like a mini training camp. Spending time with other industry leaders at the conference keeps us informed of new trends and allows us to offer our own insights and solutions to help others overcome the day-to-day hurdles their businesses face.”

Attendees can visit Interstate Transport at the Conference at booth #337.

Interstate Transport to Exhibit at IFDA 2011 Distribution Solutions Conference

Food Logistics, the premiere food supply chain publication, this week announced that Interstate Transport has made its annual listing of the Top 3PL and Cold Storage Providers for 2011.

Interstate Transport provides food and beverage companies with a competitive logistical advantage by offering a broad scope of services and capabilities that enable its customers to manage costs, increase flexibility, and improve service levels and operational efficiency, while reducing capital expenditures.

“Selecting the right logistics partner to manage your supply chain is of great importance to the future of any company’s operations,” explained Katherine Doherty, editor-in-chief of Food Logistics magazine.  “In the food industry, outsourcing has become a foundation of competitive advantage for many companies.  We provide this list to help our readers find the best 3PLs and cold storage providers for their businesses.”

Food Logistics also recently named Interstate Transport’s technology solution, InMotion Global TMS^®, to its prestigious Top Technology Solution and Service Provider list.  The Interstate Logistics Group companies focus on superior customer service, innovation and technology to deliver the industry’s most advanced transportation solutions.  This three-pronged approach has allowed Interstate to remain a leader over the years and informs the company’s strategies for the future.

Tim Higham, President and CEO of Interstate Transport explained, “This latest honor from Food Logistics Magazine tells us that our dedication to excellence is not only appreciated by our customer base but acknowledged by the industry at large.  To be named one of the top 3PLs in such a competitive market is truly a credit to our entire team.”

Interstate Transport Named Top 3PL by Food Logistics Magazine

With national headlines increasingly focused on the tightening capacity crunch, leaders at the asset based trucking company, Interstate Dedicated, and its sister company, Interstate Transport, have taken a proactive approach to retaining the best professional drivers and contracting motor carriers with the best professional drivers in the nation, respectively.  Management believes that, with capacity at a premium, maintaining relationships with only the best drivers is imperative.  The goal of the companies within the Interstate Logistics Group family has always been to provide the best possible service at the fairest price.  To maintain that goal, Interstate Transport concentrates on the retention of its carrier base that provides the highest quality drivers while Interstate Dedicated commits both time and resources to the development of its nationwide professional company fleet drivers. 

This commitment by the two companies has led to the creation of the Capacity Task Force (CTF) team whose goal is to understand, manage, retain, and grow the companies’ relationships with drivers who are such significant factors in their respective successes.  The CTF’s expanded goals are to review industry data and better understand capacity trends, develop more in-house driver relationship training, services and benefits for Interstate Dedicated company drivers, assess marketing options that increase brand awareness, and communicate the initiatives with all employees.

The employees from both companies who make up the Capacity Task Force, headed up by Interstate Transport’s COO, Mike Friedly, meet often to brainstorm and analyze the various areas in which they can create unique and innovative ways to improve services to both Interstate Transport’s third-party driver contacts as well as Interstate Dedicated’s nationwide company fleet drivers.  The group has come up with numerous ideas and divided the work of researching those ideas into smaller teams of two or three people within each company.

Each team determines the costs and benefits of the individual idea, ports the data to graphs, and gathers industry knowledge and materials that might aid in developing their ideas.  For example, one of the teams analyzed data in order to get a clearer picture of industry-wide capacity fluctuations and Interstate’s capacity utilization trends.  The team created monthly “snapshots” that included such information as the number of new and repeat service providers used by Interstate Transport on particular lanes each month, lanes that provided exceptionally difficult capacity challenges, and industry-wide driver turnover rates.

Once the CTF compiles the data, it meets with other members of management and sets forth its recommendations and timelines for implementation of each component.  Employees of Interstate Dedicated, Inc., the asset-based division of Interstate Logistics Group, participate in the meetings by helping to validate material and concepts from the driver’s perspective.

Another example of a successful Capacity Task Force recommendation was the implementation of a driver recognition and incentive program for Interstate Dedicated’s company drivers.  The rewards program allows the drivers to earn points they can use to purchase items from a large gift catalogue.  Interstate Dedicated also offers tickets to sporting events to its drivers with the highest safety performance in a particular period as a way to say thank you for a job well done.  These types of successful acknowledgement programs have led to one of the lowest driver turnover rates in the industry, which continues to be a key, ongoing goal at Interstate Dedicated.

Mike Friedly states, “The work performed by the Capacity Task Force has increased our overall understanding of capacity demand and supply and how we need to adjust to and address the needs of our customers and all drivers transporting loads for the Interstate Logistics Group family of companies.  By focusing on improved driver relationships, we are able to manage costs and offer our customers quality transportation services, which is what they have come to expect from Interstate throughout the years.  While a time-consuming effort, the Capacity Task Force’s work has proven to be invaluable as we grow the two companies in new and exciting ways.  My thanks to the CTF Team members for their diligence in wading through the data; the ROI makes it all worthwhile.”

Interstate Transport and Interstate Dedicated Create Capacity Task Force

InMotion Global, Inc. is a leading software development company, specializing in transportation management system (TMS) technologies.  As part of the Interstate Logistics Group family of companies, InMotion Global continues its tradition of leading the TMS technology sector with its latest honor – Inbound Logistics Magazine’s Top 100 Logistics IT Provider award. 

InMotion Global TMS^® (IMG) is web-based and fully hosted, requiring no software or hardware installation.  Using the latest in cloud computing advancements, the system integrates all aspects of a company’s transportation and distribution functions while improving both internal and external processes. 

The system allows users to streamline the entire transportation process from load inception through final delivery and invoicing.  IMG offers seamless management of transportation operations from any location and is accessible from any web-enabled device.  Because InMotion Global TMS^® completes 100% of freight-related “paperwork” electronically, it is a critical component for shippers who have prioritized the implementation of green initiatives.  Improved routing and optimization and accelerated load tendering assist in reducing man-hours and total costs.  Management teams and financial stakeholders value the real-time visibility of operational and financial business intelligence that IMG provides.

Tim Higham, President and CEO of InMotion Global, said, “We are so pleased to receive Inbound Logistics’ award again this year.  Our team is dedicated to keeping our TMS relevant to our user base and they’ve outdone themselves with advancements and upgrades this year.  The feedback I receive from our clients is priceless and receiving such a prestigious, industry award on top of that makes all the hours of development worthwhile. In addition to continuous feature enhancements, our development plans for 2011 include the release of a self-service version of InMotion Global TMS^® that is 100% free of charge.”

Each year, Inbound Logistics recognizes 100 logistics IT companies that are dedicated to logistics excellence.  The editors’ selections are based on tangible logistics solutions, impact on all lines of business activity and integration of internal and external processes.  Logistics companies that are considered for the award are evaluated on platform, price, industries served, compatibility, solutions and functionality.

Felecia Stratton, Editor of Inbound Logistics explained why the magazine’s editors chose InMotion Global again this year for the award.  “When choosing the 2011 Top 100 Logistics IT Providers, Inbound Logistics editors looked at excellence in optimizing internal transport and logistics operations.  At a higher, more strategic level, selections were based on how transformative solutions impact outward-facing business activities driving integration across internal, as well as external, business processes.  InMotion Global was selected because its solutions solve specific logistics challenges and improve processes, and create a ripple effect of efficiencies across the entire value chain.  Inbound Logistics is proud to honor InMotion Global for innovative solutions empowering logistics and supply chain excellence in 2011.”

Inbound Logistics Selects InMotion Global TMS as a Top 100 Logistics IT Provider

Interstate Dedicated is focused on growing its asset fleet quickly to serve its clients’ increased requests for capacity.  The company’s fleet is housed at its Lakeland, Florida terminal which will be headed up by Scott Mulkey, Interstate Dedicated’s new Operations Manager.

Scott comes to Interstate from Greatwide Dedicated where he managed an operation of more than 250 temperature-controlled trucks.  Previously, he was the Operations Manager for one of UPS Worldwide Dedicated Services’ key accounts.  In his new role, he will operate Interstate Dedicated’s terminal in central Florida which is ideally located to provide centralized service to Interstate’s numerous, Florida-based shippers and receivers.  The company plans to release more information about the Lakeland terminal in an upcoming press release.

Adam Amorose, Director of Operations & Safety for Interstate Dedicated, explained his decision to bring Scott aboard.  “With his extensive background in dedicated operations and assets, Scott offers the experience we need to take our company to the next level.  Scott has joined the Interstate Dedicated family at just the right time as we continue to expand our service options to our customers.  With a 30-year career in the transportation and logistics industry, Scott provides a strategic advantage that will allow us to pursue those niche customers who require high service standards that other carriers can’t deliver.  I have had the pleasure of working with Scott Mulkey in the past and am confident Scott’s goals align perfectly with those of Interstate Dedicated.”

Tim Higham, President and CEO of Interstate Logistics Group, stated, “We continue to invest in proven talent and Scott will execute our corporate vision of growing our asset fleet with the kind of ‘get it done now’ attitude we are renowned for.  Clients turn to Interstate for solutions and we deliver them.  Scott will manage our drivers, implement 100% satellite load tracking, and increase our on-time performance and we welcome him to our rapidly growing team of leaders.”

As the Operations Manager of Interstate Dedicated’s fleet, Scott will be responsible for expanding the local operation through organic growth, implementing best practices and attaining key financial targets.  Scott’s career in the transportation industry has included managing accounts with companies such as Ryder and First Fleet and he brings a vast knowledge of the refrigerated-goods and dry-freight sectors to his position with Interstate Dedicated.

Interstate Dedicated Retains Industry Veteran to Run its New Lakeland, Florida Terminal

Food Logistics Magazine honored Restaurant Depot with its 2011 Innovators Award.  The annual award recognizes food and beverage companies that employ innovative solutions to address their logistical challenges.  The magazine selected only 10 recipients for this prestigious award and will publish a full story about the award and its recipients in its May 2011 issue.

Restaurant Depot is the nation’s leading cash & carry restaurant supply wholesaler with approximately 80 U.S. warehouses that offer supplies for food service operators, independent retailers, and caterers.  Directing the multi-modal logistics for hundreds of multi-item purchase orders each day, Restaurant Depot needed a transportation management system that could manage its enormous operation while still being easy to implement.

Using InMotion Global TMS® (IMG) and its companion web-portal LoadLink™, Restaurant Depot was able to integrate its systems and gain increased visibility and a more comprehensive understanding of its entire capacity network.  This increased visibility drastically reduced the amount of “internal chatter” required to manage its dynamic daily and weekly load volumes.  Internal phone calls, e-mails and face-to-face conversations required for the lifecycle of each load was reduced by more than 86%.

The Restaurant Depot Logistics Team found some of the greatest benefit in the system’s Order Management module. This vital segment of the system allows users to filter, sort and optimize purchase orders into fully-routed truckloads that are then tendered to carriers.  IMG’s automated load planning process, which increased the average number of loads a user could plan each hour by 82%, was faster and far more accurate than the labor-intensive load building process the company had used previously.  The fact that InMotion Global TMS® is provided free of charge allowed Restaurant Depot to allocate more of its TMS budget to several aggressive integration and customization projects with InMotion Global.

A Restaurant Depot Logistics Team Leader summed up the implementation this way, “Selecting a Transportation Management System for an operation as large as ours was no small feat.  We researched most of the systems out there and concluded that InMotion Global TMS® was the right system for us, backed by the right company.  When we went live with InMotion Global, we saw an immediate increase in visibility and could watch for trends and fluctuations that we could not see previously.  The system has allowed us to track every load in transit and become proactive in our route planning.  Logistics is a complex aspect of this business and InMotion Global TMS® has simplified a process that used to be cumbersome and made it easier to control.”

Food Logistics editors looked for award candidates that had improved their operations by developing new business processes or by using products or services that created quantifiable results in terms of logistics costs savings, increased revenue and improved customer satisfaction.

 

Restaurant Depot Wins Innovators Award by Implementing InMotionGlobal TMS®

The Tampa Bay Business Journal has again selected Interstate Transport, Inc. for its annual Best Places to Work award. The publication creates its annual list by surveying employees in the Tampa Bay area, asking them what makes their companies the best places to work.

The employees of nominated companies completed a 37-question, online survey that measured 10 categories of employee satisfaction. Employees were queried on how well the company acknowledged their contributions and management’s responsiveness to employee concerns. The survey also covered compensation, benefits, team building efforts and leadership’s performance and interest in improving the employees’ overall work experience.

Interstate Transport employees were thrilled to boast about their company and all the benefits they receive from the company’s owners and management. Interstate hosts a monthly “Employee Appreciation” celebration, sponsors employee sports teams and pays for employees to take time-off while they volunteer at Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Tim Higham, President and CEO of Interstate Transport, said, "Our employees make Interstate a great place to work and we’re happy that we can share this award with them. It’s heartwarming to know our employees think we’re the best and we couldn’t be more grateful for their loyalty and encouragement. Being one of only fifty-seven companies selected for this year’s list confirms that we are making the right decisions to remain a leader in the Tampa Bay area."

Higham added, "Studies show that a happy workforce is more productive and efficient and a company with little turnover delivers a quality customer experience and, interestingly, more competitive prices. More companies should focus on employee retention and overall satisfaction which has paid long-term dividends at Interstate."

The Tampa Bay Business Journal will announce the winners’ rankings and scores at an awards ceremony scheduled for April 21st at Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa.

 

Interstate Transport Selected for 2011 Best Places to Work List

Interstate Dedicated, Inc.’s fleet of 2012, fuel-efficient tractors and refrigerated trailers hit the road the week of April 4, 2011. The new fleet of Freightliner Cascadia tractors and Utility trailers will be based in Lakeland, Florida, the company’s newest location. This new site will support Interstate Logistics Group’s growing family of companies - Interstate Transport, Inc., Interstate Dedicated, Inc. and InMotion Global, Inc.

Interstate Dedicated’s contract carriage and one-way truckload services provide clients the advantage of having a private fleet to meet all their transportation and distribution needs without the expenditures of driver management, fleet maintenance and federal regulation compliance. Customers will also benefit from expanded route design capabilities and delivery options. The fleet enhances Interstate Logistics Group’s Managed Transportation Services, providing customers a single-source solution for all their transportation demands.

Mike Friedly, COO of Interstate Dedicated states, “Customers are looking for partners that deliver comprehensive solutions and excellent service at competitive prices. We determined that adding physical assets to our fleet would aid in the development of new client relationships while providing our current customers additional business value and superior service. With capacity tightening, Interstate Dedicated has taken a long-term approach in addressing changing market conditions and our customers’ growing needs and that approach solidified the decision to implement and grow our asset-based fleet at this time.”

The combination of technology, industry experts and physical assets enables Interstate Dedicated to deliver exceptional value from pick-up through delivery. Because of this unique convergence of attributes, Interstate Dedicated’s customers experience enhanced visibility to monitor and improve their operations across their entire supply chain.

“We believe it is in our customers’ best interest to invest in the safest, most technologically advanced equipment available,” stated Adam Amorose, Interstate Dedicated’s Director of Operations & Safety. “This equipment has features that far exceed our customers’ expectations while providing our drivers with a safe and comfortable environment. The full-service, onboard technology included in each asset will assist with compliance and routing. The equipment is extremely fuel-efficient and includes state-of-art safety technology and these features enable us to control our costs and pass those savings on to our customers. Anytime we can decrease expenses and increase safety, we all win.”

Amorose continued, “Our drivers are all company employees and because they’re involved and invested in everything we do as a company, they are as excited as our customers about our new fleet.  We will continue to add drivers and assets to meet our clients’ needs and will run only the latest equipment in order to protect their valuable commodities.  The bottom-line goal is efficient and safe delivery at the lowest cost possible.”

Interstate Dedicated Gears Up in April

Interstate Transport is a unique company in many ways.  Since opening its doors, the company's owners and employees have redefined what it means to do business in an increasingly competitive and impersonal business world.  By concentrating on giving back, Interstate has grown from a modest freight company in the horticulture industry to a hugely successful leader in transportation, logistics and technology for all types of food and agricultural commodities.

Because Interstate's employees are so involved in the community, organizations such as businesses, schools, charities and other groups often call upon them for public speaking engagements. Tim Higham, Interstate's President and CEO, recently spoke at the University of South Florida College of Business where he lectured on entrepreneurialism, business ethics and growth management. He also has spoken at the BG Strategic Advisors conference, as well as making television appearances as an industry expert. Interstate's owners and InMotion Global Manager, Mike Olson, have spoken at Big Brothers Big Sisters events, as well.

Interstate's owners and employees devote hundreds of hours each year to volunteer work and community involvement.  Many Interstate employees mentor children through Big Brothers Big Sisters and the company provides those employees with paid time off to spend time with their Little Brothers and Sisters.  Other employees are involved with Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, Police Athletic League and local civic and political organizations.

“People are our most valuable resources," stated Gloria Higham, Executive Vice President of Interstate Transport. "We offer benefits that few companies of our size can provide and, because we work very hard to be a great place to work, we can be very selective in our hiring practices. We spend a lot of time selecting which applicants will become members of our 'Interstate family' and once hired, we do everything possible to assist their professional growth."

The company commits to its "people-first" principles by providing employees with opportunities to expand their knowledge of the industry and learn a wide array of software systems and applications that improve quality and customer service while making their jobs much easier through automating labor-intensive tasks.

Recently, employees participated in online courses for Microsoft applications, with many employees taking entire series of courses to obtain master certifications.  The company also provides all newly hired employees with in-house training courses in Business Writing, Communications, Telephone Excellence, as well as Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.  Interstate believes so strongly in education that it has set up a reimbursement program for employees who choose to take college or continuing education classes, attend seminars or pursue certifications.

"A well-informed, educated workforce is an asset without which no company can succeed," Higham explains. "If we encourage and support our employees in their own personal and professional growth, we ensure the success and growth of the company. Through our company's continued success, we can offer more to our community. Paying it forward is not only the right thing to do, it's the wise thing to do for your business."

Interstate Transport Dedicates Time and Resources to Community and its Employees

On the heels of a partnership announcement between DHL Global Forwarding and Interstate Transport, Interstate Logistics Group has announced the formation of Interstate Dedicated, Inc., the newest division of the Interstate Logistics Group family of companies.  Interstate Dedicated will operate the asset based fleet operations of Interstate Logistics Group.

Tim Higham, CEO of Interstate Dedicated stated, “Tight capacity markets have sparked some interesting conversations with many of our customers.  They asked us for solutions and, through business commitments they have made to us, we have answered by opening a unique, first class asset based trucking company that was designed from the ground up to be top tier in safety, service and rate structure.”

Interstate Dedicated will focus on temperature controlled freight movement throughout North America, much like the existing business conducted by Interstate Transport today.  However, Interstate Dedicated will execute very specific solutions and applications, with a scalable asset fleet and the ability to domicile trucks wherever the customer needs them.

“We have been asked by our clients to increase their access to newer equipment and provide dedicated equipment and drivers.  Their needs also include specialized trailer equipment such as decking and high-cube trailers, and custom fleet solutions that meet their needs each day,” said Higham. “In typical 'Interstate fashion,' we listened and we are delivering those solutions.”

Mike Friedly, Interstate COO and a veteran of asset based solutions with over 4,000 trucks previously under management, will manage the Interstate Dedicated team using state-of-the-art technology from InMotion Global, the technology segment within the Interstate Logistics Group family of companies.  The use of a common technology platform between all Interstate Logistics Group operating entities provides streamlined and efficient information flow to support flexible customer solutions, from dedicated fleets to single loads.

Friedly stated, “Interstate Dedicated’s asset based operations will perpetuate the stellar reputation we have developed over many years.  Our successful trucking business has grown out of true partnerships with our shippers where we listen to their needs and they commit to keeping us loaded.  Mutual success is a two-way street and as capacity continues to tighten nationwide, Interstate has the resources and sense of urgency to deliver worry-free transportation solutions.”

Interstate Logistics Group Announces Opening of Interstate Dedicated

Once again, Food Logistics Magazine has included Interstate Transport on its FL100 List in recognition of Interstate's leadership in the Logistics Technology market.

Interstate Transport, the industry-leading, third party logistics and transportation company, is proud to add the 2010 Food Logistics honor to its growing list of awards. Earlier in the year, Inc. Magazine named Interstate Transport one of the Fastest Growing Logistics & Transportation Companies nationwide and Inbound Logistics Magazine selected Interstate Transport's InMotion Global TMS® for its list of Top 100 Logistics IT Providers. Inbound Logistics' editor, Felicia Stratton, described InMotion Global TMS® by saying it "consistently provides the kinds of technology solutions business logistics managers need to successfully manage their global enterprises."

Interstate delivers innovative solutions and services to its clients that allow them to lower their transportation costs and improve their customer service performance. Food Logistics Magazine recognized Interstate Transport's technology for enabling grocery and foodservice distributors to reach their business goals. The 2010 list focuses on technology's role in sustaining growth and profitability through hard economic times.

"Despite the harsh environment, the past year has seen a number of food and beverage companies implementing technology solutions - especially transportation management and warehouse management systems - where they can see a quick ROI," said Katherine Doherty, editor-in-chief of Food Logistics Magazine. "Many of our FL100 recipients report that the food industry is still a strong vertical for them - in fact, it's one of the few markets that are actually seeing any growth."

Tim Higham, CEO of Interstate Transport, said, "It's an incredible honor when Food Logistics Magazine recognizes us as an industry leader in transportation services, technology solutions, and best practices. Our systems provide the agility and efficient implementation that companies demand to manage the most complex shipping operations. Our Transportation Management System, InMotion Global TMS®, is intuitive and customizable which saves users time and improves their accuracy. This, in turn, directly affects a business' bottom line. Interstate provides the capacity its customers need, offers the most comprehensive prices in the market and utilizes the latest trends in transportation and logistical technology."

Interstate Transport's Technology Solution - InMotion Global TMS ® Garners Food Logistics Magazine's FL100 Award

Interstate Transport has been working over the past year to provide transparent solutions to customers and carriers impacted by the new, stringent CSA rules that went live on December 13, 2010. As part of its response strategy, Interstate has added compliance and regulatory expertise to its growing staff to oversee the transition and to introduce systems and procedural changes to meet the new guidelines and to ensure carrier compliance for the benefit of its clients.

Interstate has also incorporated CSA rules into its internal policies and its technology components in order to provide customers with seamless and uninterrupted service. Interstate's Transportation Management System, InMotion Global TMS®, assists Interstate in managing the review process, providing consistent and reliable reporting on all aspects of carrier conduct and compliance. Tim Higham, President and CEO of Interstate Transport explained, "These changes will allow the integration of the new CSA scoring system into all aspects of the carrier qualification and driver hiring processes, and will enable us to meet all monitoring requirements. Additionally, changes to contracts with customers, carriers and drivers will ensure all new CSA terms are met or exceeded."

Higham continued, "It's our goal to assist our customers through this change. We know that CSA will further reduce truck and driver capacity and we want our customers to understand that, while the new regulations put an additional burden on the entire supply chain, they will receive the same excellent service we have always provided. Ultimately, our customers should not sense any change in the level or speed of service if they use Interstate Transport for their freight movement needs. Despite the new regulations, Interstate will continue to offer expedient delivery and exceptional rates."

Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010) is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) program that seeks to improve safety within the trucking industry. The federal program, which introduced new enforcement and compliance regulations, has changed the face of the trucking industry. While all carriers must meet the new, rigid guidelines set forth in the CSA 2010 regulations, not all carriers are prepared for such a paradigm change. Interstate Transport has found inventive solutions to provide peace of mind and seamless service to its customers in light of the restrictions that threaten to make the capacity crunch even worse.

The new Safety Measurement System (SMS) utilizes roadside inspection and crash data to analyze 7 Behavioral Analysis Safety Improvement Categories known as "BASICs." The system establishes maximum thresholds for carriers in the following areas: unsafe driving, fatigued driving, driver fitness, controlled substance and alcohol, vehicle maintenance, cargo-related, and crash indicators. Using the new SMS, Interstate reviews carriers' performance on a regular basis to ensure they continue to meet FMSCA and Interstate's qualification requirements.

While CSA 2010 sets forth specific consequences and remedies for carriers and drivers who fail the SMS evaluations, Interstate's focus is on achieving 100% compliance with the new regulations so that its customers avoid unnecessary financial expenses related to fines, lost time and delivery delays.

For more information regarding CSA 2010, visit the U. S. Department of Transportation website.

Interstate Transport Provides Solutions under New Government CSA Trucking Restrictions

Interstate Transport today announced that it has hired Mike Friedly as its Chief Operating Officer (COO). As Interstate Logistics expands its suite of logistics products, its management team has grown in order to provide customers with the best-in-class service they have come to expect from the transportation leader. Initially, Mr. Friedly will focus on expanding Interstate's asset based, temperature-controlled trucking offering for clients in a market of rapidly decreasing capacity. As part of the company's expansion program, Tim Duncan has moved into an expanded role as the company's Chief Commerce Officer where he will focus on new business development and on providing solutions that fit customers' unique needs.

Mr. Friedly comes to Interstate from Greatwide Logistics in Dallas where he was Vice President of Operations. In that capacity, he oversaw fifteen locations across the United States and $125 million in transportation spend. Greatwide operates approximately 5,000 trucks and focuses on grocery retailers and wholesalers. Prior to his time at Greatwide, he was National Sales Executive for Ceva Logistics and Director of Customer Logistics for Ryder Logistics. Mr. Friedly holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Tim Higham, President and CEO of Interstate said, "With CSA, EOBR legislation, new HOS rules pending, a stressful economic climate, and other constraints, truck capacity is expected to continue its decline over the next few years. We are already seeing significant capacity reductions causing higher rates across the nation. Mike has the necessary fleet experience to lead our asset division in the direction our customers expect. Under his leadership, our customers will receive real solutions at the right price so they can concentrate on their core business and let Interstate move their freight."

Mr. Friedly's experience in large fleet management, custom client solutions and day-to-day operations enable him to lead the asset division to meet demand. As COO, Mr. Friedly will develop consolidated operations procedures so that Interstate's Trucking, Logistics and Technology segments work together seamlessly. This strategy will provide customers with comprehensive solutions and consistent service and support.

Friedly stated, "After getting to know Tim and Gloria Higham, I recognized that this was a rare opportunity - one that I could not ignore. With Palm Beach Capital acting as an additional catalyst to Interstate's growth, I decided to accept the challenge. With such a solid infrastructure in place, I am confident that we will expand Interstate's asset based offerings with the same focus on excellence for which Interstate Transport is renowned."

"Our management team has impressive industry knowledge and proven leadership skills that will assist Interstate with its ambitious expansion plans, involving both organic growth and acquisitions," said Higham. "They are logistics experts who are focused on growth and I'm confident their experience and proven track records will support Interstate's goals and objectives."

Mike Friedly Joins Interstate Transport as Chief Operating Officer

The Supply Chain & Logistics Summit is the leading event for supply chain technologies in North America. The event this year will be held in Dallas, December 7-8. Interstate Transport has been chosen as this year's Temperature Controlled Transportation & Distribution Lead Specialist for the conference. The 2010 Summit will include discussions and programs regarding supply chain visibility and transparency; the critical roles that collaboration, automation and optimization play in supply chain management; and capacity issues in an unstable carrier market.

Interstate's President and CEO, Tim Higham, said, "Interstate's involvement at this year's Summit is truly exciting. With CSA in place, the world of supply chain and logistics management has just become even more complex. Companies all over the country are trying to develop ways to work more efficiently while keeping transportation costs down. The capacity crunch has hit the industry and will likely get worse in the short term. Interstate has been preparing for this turn in the market and we are able to provide our customers with the capacity they need, when they need it."

Interstate's Chief Commerce Officer, Tim Duncan, is slated to speak during the Summit's second day, December 8th. The topic of his presentation will be Temperature Controlled Transportation - Why high rates and low capacity will be the new normal. This timely topic fits into the overall theme of most of the presentations offered at the Summit. While the specifics of the presentations will vary, most speakers will discuss the changing landscape companies will face during the next decade.

Tim Higham states, "The one thing we are most looking forward to is the opportunity to meet face-to-face with others in the industry who deal with the same obstacles and challenges that we come across every day. By discussing and debating solutions and trends, we all benefit and, in turn, our customers benefit from this type of gathering. The Summit draws industry experts who have a passion for what they do and who enjoy bouncing ideas off other people with the same interests. This year's Summit focuses on forward-looking technologies and growth opportunities for those who are willing to adapt and innovate. It's an exciting time to be in this business and at Interstate, the future is going to be even more incredible than ever. As a company, we look forward to the opportunities that will arise within the next several years and we've positioned ourselves to be able to grab those opportunities."

Interstate Transport Selected as Lead Specialist in Temperature Controlled Transportation

DHL, the world's leading air and ocean provider, has partnered with Interstate Transport, Inc. and Trans World Forwarding, Inc.(TWF) to offer customers a complete perishable supply chain solution starting from the point of consolidation at origins across Latin America to destinations throughout North America. This industry first in offering complete, solutions-driven expertise is designed to match customers' specific supply chain requirements in perishables.

"Given DHL Global Forwarding's increased focus on the perishables sector, this three-way partnership allows us to provide customers a service that no one else in the market can offer: one process, one contact, and one bill, no matter where their perishable purchases originate across Central or South America," said Samuel Israel, Chief Executive Officer for DHL Global Forwarding Latin America.

With more than 20 years of industry experience, TWF will act as DHL Global Forwarding's preferred provider in charge of receiving cargo from the airport and seaport and then handling and processing the shipment until it is ready to be transported per the customer's needs. Some of the services that TWF will provide include: customs clearance, inspections, storage, consolidations, pallet breakdown, cross-docking, and direct delivery to importers in the Miami area. DHL Global Forwarding will have access to TWF's state-of-the-art 270,000 square foot cooler with capacity to hold 27,000 skids/pallets.

"By working together, we can approach customers with strategic solutions tailored for their specific perishable needs. Whether it is transporting rose bouquets from Ecuador or meat from Argentina, by working together we can extend the life of our customers' products," said Yossi Hatsor, Chief Executive Officer for Trans World Forwarding.

The partnership will guarantee the cold chain integrity from points of origin in Central and South America to the final delivery locations at North American consignees. Interstate will take control of the perishable freight at the DHL gateway in Miami and ensure prompt and fresh delivery for all points in North America. This unique partnership will provide temperature controlled trucking for perishables coming in by air or ocean for all types of commodities such as cut flowers, produce and fresh seafood - all on one bill - from one freight provider.

Tim Higham, Chief Executive Officer of Interstate Transport stated, "This partnership means importers, wholesalers and retailers now can deal with one point of contact, one bill, and one process for every order rather than dealing with up to 6 separate entities to import perishables. This complete supply chain solution is the first of its kind in the industry and it guarantees that complete cold chain integrity is maintained. For the first time ever, wholesalers and retailers can buy perishables direct from any Latin American country, irrespective of location, and deal with one person right through the final delivery in North America."

This announcement follows the 13th biennial International Trade Show, FlorEcuador - Agriflor 2010 held in Quito, Ecuador October 6 - 9, 2010. All 3 companies attended the trade show and discussed with customers how this unique combined market offering will help them grow their businesses over the long term.

Interstate Transport Selected by DHL Global to Transport Latin American Perishables

The International Foodservice Distributors Association will host its 2010 Distribution Solutions Conference in Tampa, Florida, October 25 - 27. Interstate Transport will exhibit at the conference which will emphasize education, emerging trends and issues that shape the foodservice industry.

Interstate's President and CEO, Tim Higham, said, "Interstate continues to diversify in exciting ways. We are thrilled over several recent opportunities that will take our company in new directions over the coming years. Our participation at the IFDA Conference will allow us to continue building relationships with key partners, customers and vendors. This year's Conference focuses on "The Next Big Thing" and that's what Interstate is all about. We continually look for strategies and technologies that move the industry forward and are excited to learn more about the future of food distribution."

Conference visitors can attend workshops on topics such as warehousing, technology, supply chain, transportation and human resources. The Conference, which includes foodservice and convenience distributors, technology providers and food manufacturers, offers a platform to discuss practices and trends leading to more informed decisions regarding investments and management practices. Interstate will present solutions for companies that are dealing with a slumping economy, tighter budgets and shrinking capacity.

Tim Higham states, "The industry is changing at record pace and, to keep up, everyone involved from shippers to warehouses, trucking operations and technology providers, need to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and innovations that will provide ways to sustain growth. We continue to look for operational efficiencies that will position our company for long-term success and this event provides the opportunity to glean enormous amounts of information within a three-day time span. Coming together with other industry leaders at the IFDA Conference is just one way that we as a company remain informed of new trends while offering our own insights and solutions to help others overcome the day-to-day hurdles their businesses face.

Attendees can visit Interstate Transport at the Conference at booth 432.

Interstate Transport to Exhibit at IFDA 2010 Distribution Solutions Conference in Tampa

Inc. Magazine today ranked America's fastest growing, private companies with its 2010 Inc. 500/5000 annual list. The list ranks Interstate among the fastest growing private companies nationwide for a second straight year. Interstate joins such household names as Microsoft, Intuit, Visa, Oracle and Timberland, and many other renowned industry leaders, who have made the Inc. lists.

"The leaders of the companies on this year's Inc. 5000 have figured out how to grow their businesses during the longest recession since the Great Depression," said Inc. president Bob LaPointe. "The 2010 Inc. 5000 showcases a particularly hardy group of entrepreneurs."

Interstate Transport is honored on the 2010 Inc. 5000 list as one of the Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Logistics and Transportation category both nationally and in Florida.

Interstate, now owned in part by private equity firm, Palm Beach Capital, has also outlined a growth path of acquisitions and diversification. Later this year, Interstate is expected to announce at least one major acquisition and is partnering with one of the world's largest global shipping companies to implement a unique perishable import and delivery program for cut flowers, produce and fresh seafood.

CEO Tim Higham states, "I am not going to say that making the Inc. list again was easy. 2009 was a tough year for everyone in our industry. However, those companies with little debt, great service, and a desire to solve problems for their clients have flourished. We have chosen our clients carefully and they are like part of our team. We jump when they say jump and we help their ever-decreasing freight budgets last longer."

Higham, who brought on Palm Beach Capital in 2009 to help with growth, also stated, "We see great opportunities in 2010 and 2011 and we expect to open additional office locations while our competitors are closing theirs. Most exciting is our anticipated acquisition of a leading, asset-based trucking company in 2010. Because we have remained fiscally stable, we are able to move quickly in adding capacity for our clients and to answer their requests to provide distribution capacity for them. It is our constant focus on excellence and our ability to adapt to market changes that have earned Interstate such accolades as making the Inc. 5000 list. We are very honored indeed to receive this award once again and I now aim to make it an expected, annual achievement around here."

Interstate's co-founder and Executive Vice-President, Gloria Higham, said, "Our focus this year has remained on a sustained growth pattern, despite the economically trying times we have all been through. Our team has proven again that tenacity and ingenuity pay off. Interstate has expanded due to its debt-averse business model while more leveraged competitors in the logistics and transportation industry have reduced in size or failed altogether. A strong cash position allows us to capitalize on these opportunities."

The 2010 Inc. 5000 serves as a unique illustration of the profound changes taking place in the U.S. economy. Despite the fact that most of the list's measuring period of 2006 - 2009 took place during the latest recession, aggregate revenue among the companies on the list actually increased to $321.6 billion, up more than 50 percent from last year.

Interstate Transport Makes Inc. 5000 List for Second Straight Year

Restaurant Depot, the nation's leading cash & carry restaurant supply wholesaler, selected Interstate Transport's InMotion Global TMS™ (IMG) as its Transportation Management System and has deployed the first phase of implementation in its Midwest Corporate offices in Chicago.

"Selecting a Transportation Management System for an operation as large as ours was no small feat," according to the Restaurant Depot Logistics Team. "We researched most of the systems out there and concluded that InMotion Global TMS™ was the right system for us backed by the right company. When we went live with InMotion Global, we saw an immediate increase in visibility and could watch for trends and fluctuations that we could not see previously. The system has allowed us to track every load in transit and become proactive in our route planning. Logistics is a complex aspect of this business and InMotion Global has simplified a process that used to be cumbersome and made it easier to control."

Because InMotion Global TMS™ is web-based, companies can consolidate and streamline their entire transportation processes, allowing users to access the system at any time, from anywhere. Shippers such as Restaurant Depot, which operates numerous warehouses nationwide, are able to manage an unlimited number of locations and users in real-time while maintaining total, situational awareness of all logistical activity.

Moreover, InMotion Global TMS™ is the only TMS on the market that provides the option to be 100% free of all costs, both fixed and variable, depending on the type of implementation chosen. No other TMS on the market offers a 100% cost-free option to customers.

Tim Higham, CEO of Interstate Transport, welcomed Restaurant Depot to the IMG family of users. "We are incredibly pleased to have Restaurant Depot select us as its TMS provider. The Restaurant Depot Team put in long hours to find the right system and, as we walked them through the process of learning more about what our system could provide, we really came to respect their dedication and tenacity in reducing distribution costs. As one of the largest food distributors in the United States, Restaurant Depot moves a very high volume of loads each year and the selection of a system to manage that amount of freight is no small undertaking."

Interstate Transport has developed its intuitive, turnkey system so that companies experience no down time during implementations, a key factor when selecting a new software provider. In fact, InMotion Global TMS™ can be fully implemented and integrated in weeks, not months or years as with other systems.

Tim Higham explains, "Our training process involves uploading customers' own load data into a 'sandbox' version of IMG so that they can see exactly how the system will handle their unique situations and challenges. Each company has its own requirements for a TMS and its own terminology and processes for handling logistics. InMotion Global TMS™ is flexible enough to allow for easy, business-rule customization so that the customer's unique needs are met.

"Once the training is complete, our support team steps in and continues to walk the company through the implementation process, offering both on-site and virtual, ongoing support. Our goal is to ensure that the users are comfortable with the system and make full use of its reporting, forecasting and asset oversight capabilities. A TMS needs to be a tool that shippers can use to lower costs, boost productivity and increase profits. That is why InMotion Global TMS™ adapts to all types of shipping environments and is powerful enough to accommodate companies of any size. We are proud of our development team for building such an amazing system and equally proud to welcome Restaurant Depot as a valued customer."

Restaurant Depot Selects Interstate Transport's InMotion Global TMS™ as its Transportation Management System

Interstate Transport, Inc. (Interstate), the leading freight transportation and logistics provider, today announced that Palm Beach Capital (PBC) has increased its investment in the company. PBC, a Florida-based private equity firm, purchased a significant, but non-controlling, stake in the company in July 2009. PBC had an option to purchase a further, non-controlling percentage of the company within one year of its initial investment. PBC chose to exercise that option due to its confidence in Interstate's acquisition plans and impressive growth outlook.

Shaun McGruder, a founding partner of Palm Beach Capital, stated, "When we first partnered with Interstate Transport, we knew we had found something really special. Interstate has proven to be the platform company that we needed to serve as the solid foundation to move into the logistics and transportation arena. Over the past year, Interstate has continued to exceed our expectations and we welcomed the opportunity to increase our investment in the company. While Palm Beach Capital does not own a controlling interest in Interstate, our confidence is well-placed in its leadership. Its executive management team, which has expanded this year to include a COO and CFO, is comprised of industry experts who have the knowledge and experience to continue to drive Interstate forward."

As a result of Palm Beach Capital's investment, Interstate was able to accelerate and increase its 2009 - 2010 expansion plans and will continue to execute its growth strategies in its freight distribution and trucking segments and in its software company, InMotion Global. Interstate's future plans include continued hiring in both Operations and Administration and the pending purchase of an asset-based trucking operation to further meet its clients' needs.

Tim Higham, Interstate's CEO, commented, "Palm Beach Capital has been the consummate partner. Its team has helped us retain some amazing executive talent in order to build our business and we are currently accelerating our acquisition plans to include both an asset-based, regional carriage offering and a team driver, long-haul asset offering. Our clients have asked for these services and we are moving rapidly to honor their requests. We will make several major announcements concerning our growth plans and expanded service offerings in the very near future."

Palm Beach Capital Increases Stake in Interstate Transport, Inc.

Inbound Logistics magazine once again selected InMotion Global, a third-party logistics provider and software development company, as one of the year's Top 100 Logistics IT Providers.

InMotion Global TMS is a fully hosted, web-based Transportation Management System that requires no software or hardware installation. The system allows end-users to centralize and streamline their entire transportation processes from load inception through final delivery. Shippers can manage their entire operations seamlessly, whether they operate out of one location or across multiple locations. InMotion Global TMS offers users instant, real-time access to every aspect of their operations, providing them with total, situational awareness.

One of InMotion Global TMS' unique features is that it uses the latest ASP.NET technology, which provides a rich user interface including cascading menus, predictive typing and other, user-preferred capabilities. Using the latest in web-services architecture, InMotion Global TMS allows users to access a myriad of third-party data and information.

Each year, Inbound Logistics Magazine recognizes 100 logistics IT companies that support and enable logistics excellence. The magazine's editors analyze many criteria before deciding on their top 100 list. The decision is based on questionnaires, industry research and customer feedback. InMotion Global TMS delivers the simplicity, ROI and efficient implementation that transportation management system users value.

Tim Higham, CEO of InMotion Global said, "The InMotion Global team works hard to remain the industry leader in transportation services, technical solutions, and best practices. As market needs change, we remain dedicated to developing and delivering innovative solutions and services to our clients. We give our customers the tools they need to lower their transportation costs, improve their customer service performance, and gain visibility into their transportation management processes."

Felicia Stratton,Inbound Logistics Editor, stated, "When choosing this year's Top 100 Logistics IT Providers, Inbound Logistics editors looked at excellence in solving transportation and logistics challenges, but at a higher, more strategic level. Selections were based on how transformative logistics IT solutions impact all business activities and drive integration across internal processes as well as external processes for vendors and customers. InMotion Global was selected because its system solves specific logistics challenges, improves processes, and creates a ripple effect of efficiencies across the entire value chain. Inbound Logistics is proud to honor InMotion Global for innovative solutions empowering logistics and supply chain excellence."

The Inbound Logistics annual Top 100 issue highlights providers who offer innovative solutions that drive advances in logistics practices. Companies are evaluated on platform, price, industries served, compatibility, capabilities, solutions, and functionality. The Top 100 Logistics IT Provider list appears in the Inbound Logistics April 2010 issue.

InMotion Global selected as 2010 Top 100 Logistics IT Provider by Inbound Logistics magazine

Tim Higham, President and CEO of Interstate Transport, is slated to be a guest speaker at the University of South Florida College of Business. Mr. Higham will participate in a series of sessions exploring topics such as entrepreneurialism, business ethics and growth management. Students at the College of Business will learn Mr. Higham’s strategies for starting a business and sustaining growth in a recovering economy.

The College of Business guest lecturers will help prepare the students for the realities of the business world and provide them with techniques to manage the practical and ethical demands of today’s workplace.

"These students have hundreds of hours in the classroom but often find a completely different reality when they enter the working world," explained Tim Higham. "What I hope to share with them are the real-life challenges and decisions they’ll have to face as business leaders in the future. At Interstate, we encourage our employees to continue learning about our industry and about business practices in general. A well-informed, educated workforce is an asset without which no company can succeed. This opportunity to share my experience with these young people is an honor. I find that I get as much or more out of these exchanges as the students."

Mr. Higham will share his expertise in growth management, balancing life and work demands, as well as tips on maintaining ethical boundaries and corporate citizenship standards while increasing profits.

Interstate Transport CEO to speak at USF College of Business

Timothy Duncan joins Interstate’s Management Team

Saint Petersburg, Florida – April 13, 2010

Interstate Transport today announced that it has hired Timothy L. Duncan as its Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Mr. Duncan joins Interstate after a long career with Sysco, starting in 1986. Mr. Duncan’s experience includes executive-level responsibility including positions in Marketing, Sales, Operations and, most recently, as General Manager of International Food Group, Inc. distribution operations in Plant City, Florida, one of the fastest growing divisions of Sysco Corporation.

“We are so pleased to have Tim join our executive team and we are confident that he is the ideal choice to lead our company’s operations into the most exciting period of expansion we’ve experienced. He brings a unique set of leadership skills and abilities, as well as a vast knowledge of the logistics and transportation industry. The creation of this new, executive level position is a “Kodak moment” for Interstate. To get someone of Tim’s caliber s an amazing testament to what we have built here. His addition will help us reach our short- and long-term goals,” said Tim Higham, Interstate’s President and CEO.

Mr. Duncan’s experience in sales, marketing and day-to-day operations will assist Interstate in its objective of doubling its size again over the next two years. As COO, Mr. Duncan will implement procedures to streamline daily processes and assist the company with its plans to add even more of the nation’s largest shippers to its list of clients. He will also assist in the integration of planned acquisitions.

“I appreciate all of the opportunities that Sysco provided to me during my career there and I am anxious to bring that experience to Interstate Transport. As the fastest growing logistics and transportation company in Florida, Interstate’s opportunities are limitless. While at Sysco, I worked with Interstate for many years and found that the company is head and shoulders above the competition,” said Duncan. “I believe with the team we have in place and the future acquisitions and hires that are in the pipeline, Interstate is poised to become the fastest growing logistics company in the nation. Our approach of combining the newest technology and superior customer service is unique in the industry and I am thrilled to be a part of a company that is leading its industry, not just following trends.”

Timothy Duncan joins Interstate’s Management Team

How To Set Team Metrics - By Carolyn LaWell

Smart Business Tampa Bay | April 2010

Money isn’t the answer to every problem, but for Tim Higham it’s paid off in employee motivation at Interstate Transport Inc.

Higham instated team bonuses to balance the challenge that CEOs face as their employee count climbs.

“As more employees come on board, you don’t have the same kind of close relationship,” Higham says. “So [it’s asking] how to motivate employees to understand the culture and the goals of the organization when you’re more removed from them than you would like.”

By using team bonuses, you keep everyone working toward the same goal. An effective process starts by determining what each group of employees can affect and setting metrics and benchmarks, says Higham, the majority owner, founder, president and CEO. For example, if his teams reach the set minimum 10 percent growth for the quarter, they receive 50 percent of that growth as a bonus.

The third-party logistics provider earned 2009 revenue of $28 million and has 37 employees and 800 additional drivers. Smart Business spoke with Higham about how to set team bonuses.

Set team metrics. You basically will take the managers within your organization or the supervisors, whatever you call them. You sit down and say, ‘OK, this is what we’re trying to effect. In this particular department, for example, we’re trying to save money. So what kind of program can we put in place where every person has an incentive to save money? … For every $1 that we save, let’s give 20 cents of it to the team that impacts that. Let’s do that in such a way that they’re incentivized not to just save $10,000 but to save $100,000.’

Because they will beat up the coffee supplier, they will beat up the paper supplier, they’ll beat up the phone company on rates in order to put more money in their own pocket.

It depends on what (employees) have the ability to have an effect on. Some people have a direct effect on expenses, saving money, so they are compensated on a bonus perspective by affecting the expenses and lowering those expenses for the items across the board.

Some teams, they have a direct effect on what’s the actual cost to the customer so they are provided a bonus based upon gross profit. It’s kind of like department by department.

If I was to make it in real simple terms, we have essentially two different programs. One is for all the administrative staff that have an impact mainly on expenses, and one is all revenue-generating staff, anyone who affects any way the bottom line, either sales or marketing people. They (receive a bonus) based upon gross profit because that’s what they have an impact on.

Set benchmarks. That depends on the economy. If the economy is doing very poorly like it was last year, maybe the goal would be, ‘Hey, if we can just get the same revenue in 2009 that we did in 2008, for example, or 2010 and 2009. If we can just stay level, then that’s almost like a win.’

In business today, again, there’s an adage that ‘The new level is the old up.’ What used to be 5 (percent) or 10 percent, people are jumping up and down and happy if they’re just level. It’s different depending on the economic environment in your particular industry. And it changes every quarter. We might have a quarter where we have 20 percent growth as the watermark that we’re going for.

If you were trying to set some sort of bonus program for the first quarter of last year, you might not have wanted to go for 10 (percent) or 15 percent because the bottom fell out of the world. You might have just gone for, ‘Listen, if we can just remain level, then you all get a bonus.’

Sometimes seek outside opinion. I have competitors around the country who I’m friendly with. We don’t truly compete because they’re so far away, but you meet at trade shows.

I will occasionally pick up the phone and ask the CEO of a competitor or a company very similar to ours how they do it. Or I’ll run something by them and say, ‘This is what we’re thinking of doing. Do you think it’s a good idea or a bad idea?’ They’ll often be much better than a consultant because they live and breathe the same problems I’ve got every day and they provide good input and advice and they do it for free.

Motivate through message and metrics. I think this word is used all the time a little too flippantly but the word is communication. You have to communicate your message because if you build a relationship with another individual, if that individual likes you, they’ll perform for you.

If you don’t have a relationship, then they won’t want to perform because they don’t know you, they have no reason to try and please the CEO. If they like the CEO and they’re motivated by the CEO, they want to have a good relationship with the CEO.

If you can communicate with them, communication as simple as at least monthly meetings with all the employees, e-mails once a week about how well we’re doing in certain areas and other areas where we need to improve, then they feel like they’re part of the entire team. It’s all to do with communication. We have what we call an all-hands-on-deck meeting. We get everybody together at least once a month, and we tell them where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going hopefully. We try to keep people apprised all the time.

I send weekly e-mails out. ... Not any particular day but they’re kind of pep e-mails saying, ‘Hey, if I’m looking at last year’s numbers for the first week in January, second week in January, we only did this much business. Now we’re doing this much business. Keep up the work.’

How to reach: Interstate Transport Inc., (727) 822-9999 or www.interstate-transport.com

How To Set Team Metrics

Increasing Profits through Outsourcing and Technology - by Tim Higham

Transportation and distribution costs are among the most significant expenses for any company that ships freight. Even the slightest decrease in these sectors has an immediate effect on the bottom line, so cutting shipping costs is paramount, particularly in today’s economic climate.

The available truck capacity in the market is greater than ever. Freight volumes are down in all industries (over 20 % year-to-date) and drivers are plentiful. In the past, when freight volumes decreased, drivers moved into other industries such as construction. However, that is not an option in today’s world. This has resulted in an abundance of both drivers and trucks in the market, making it the perfect time for shippers to take advantage of unprecedented savings opportunities. Introducing cost-cutting measures now will translate into savings of 20% or more in distribution costs by year-end.

As in most industries, shippers have found that outsourcing provides the simplest and least expensive route to realizing those savings. Opening a trucking division is costly and the liability associated with a trucking operation is immense and requires mitigation through a complete separation of the trucking operation from the core business. By simplifying the fundamental elements of their businesses, shippers save money and are able to focus their time on the profitable aspects of their operations. Rather than creating in-house transportation divisions, prudent distribution managers turn to third parties to provide logistical and transportation expertise.

Third-party logistics providers (3PLs) generally charge flat, per-project fees for such services as lane bids which are laborious and expensive undertakings, especially for companies without a dedicated transportation department. During the lane bid process, the 3PL analyzes the shipper’s needs and sends requests to thousands of carriers for bids. On average, shippers who spend $1 million in annual distribution costs can save 10% by outsourcing just this one project to an outside professional.

As costs have risen over the past several years, shippers have also turned to technology to cut costs even further. Transportation Management System (TMS) technology allows shippers to bring all elements of their shipping process into a single, visible platform. This technology is affordable and, most importantly, it allows distribution managers to see all aspects of operations and make immediate corrections as capacity needs and market trends change. The current generation of TMS platforms are Web-based, “on-demand” systems. Users need only an internet connection to run their entire distribution operation. The best TMS software saves time, improves accuracy, increases customer service levels, provides instant reporting, and reduces claims.

Companies who outsource their transportation and logistical needs and implement a Transportation Management System find that these two improvements have an immediate impact on efficiency and accuracy and give them back the control they need to focus on the critical task of running their business.

Interstate Transport Cuts Transportation Costs

Transportation & Logistics leader does business the SmartWay

St. Petersburg, Florida – February 19, 2010 – Interstate Transport, Inc., Florida’s fastest growing Transportation and Logistics provider, has joined the EPA’s SmartWaySM Transport Partnership. SmartWaySM is a voluntary, public-private initiative designed to improve the environmental performance of the freight delivery system in the United States through money saving, market-based approaches. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the SmartWaySM Transport Partnership in February 2004 to educate and encourage the transportation industry to reduce emissions, cut fuel-related costs and improve the environment through a number of other strategies.

Interstate Transport CEO, Tim Higham explains, “Interstate is committed to expanding its operations in the most conscientious way possible. The transportation industry will always face challenges involving its impact on the environment. The SmartWaySM Transport Partnership keeps our industry focused on accountability and responsiveness to our community and nation’s needs.”

By 2012, more than 45 billion gallons of fuel will be consumed for freight transportation alone which translates to more than 450 million metric tons of carbon dioxide production. While fuel consumption is a necessary component of the transportation industry, too much fuel is wasted each year due to inefficiency. The industry can reduce fuel waste dramatically by such simple measures as reducing truck idling time and keeping tires properly inflated.

Tim Higham adds, “Where Interstate really shines in this equation is in the logistics component. We use our Transportation Management System, InMotion Global TMS™, to optimize routes in order to reduce the overall mileage and, therefore, the emissions created. Our TMS allows us to oversee load matching and scheduling, as well. By ensuring that trucks are full and not sitting idle at loading or delivery docks, we further reduce the negative environmental impact of those loads.”

About the SmartWaySM Transport Partnership: Launched in February 2004, the SmartWaySM Transport Partnership brings together major freight shippers, trucking companies, railroads, logistics companies and trade and professional associations to pursue mutually beneficial strategies that result in emissions reductions and other environmental improvements, as well as cost savings to the companies. The Partnership currently has over 2,200 Partners. For information about the SmartWaySM Transport Partnership, visit www.Epa.Gov/SmartWay.com.

Interstate Transport Joins EPA SmartWaySM Transport Partnership

Interstate again acknowledged by industry as Logistics Technology Leader

Saint Petersburg, Florida – January 13, 2010 – Interstate Transport has received Food Logistics Magazine’s FL100 Award. This recognition is a result of Interstate’s continued innovation in the Logistics Technology market. Interstate Transport joins other industry leaders such as Qualcomm, Motorola and UPS on this year's prestigious list.

Interstate Transport, the industry‐leading third‐party logistics and transportation company, has received many accolades and is proud to add the Food Logistics honor to its growing list of awards. Earlier this year, Inc. Magazine named Interstate Transport the Fastest‐Growing Logistics & Transportation Company in Florida. Inbound Logistics Magazine named Interstate Transport and its sister software company, InMotion Global TMS™, a Top 100 Logistics IT Provider. Inbound Logistics’ editor, Felecia Stratton, had this to say about Interstate Transport's Transportation Management System, “…InMotion Global TMS™ consistently provides the kinds of technology solutions business logistics managers need to successfully manage their global enterprises.”

Interstate Transport’s goal has always been to deliver innovative solutions and services to its clients that help lower their transportation costs and improve their customer service performance. Add to that Interstate Transport’s unparalleled truck and freight movement capacity and you see why this company is continuously singled out for industry praise. Food Logistics Magazine recognized Interstate Transport success in enabling grocery and foodservice distributors to reach their business goals. This year’s list focused on technology providers who offer customers help in managing change through hard economic times with technology.

Tim Higham, CEO of Interstate Transport, said, “We are honored to be recognized by Food Logistics Magazine as an industry leader in transportation services, technical solutions, and best practices. Our customers have found that our systems provide the agility and efficient implementation that their complex shipping operations demand.” Interstate's Transportation Management System, InMotion Global TMS™, is intuitive and customizable which means that users save time and improve accuracy, which in turn directly affects the business’ bottom line. Interstatehas built its three‐pronged service model around providing the capacity its customers need, offering the most competitive prices in the market and taking full advantage of the latest trends in transportation and logistical technology.

Interstate again acknowledged by industry as Logistics Technology Leader

Saint Petersburg, Florida – December 16, 2009 – Interstate Transport launched its newly redesigned and enhanced website, www.Interstate-Transport.com. The site has a fresh look and easy-to-navigate design with hundreds of features and a profusion of information about the company and its suite of logistics and transportation solutions. Interstate’s sister company, InMotion Global, has also recently launched a new website which can be viewed at www.InMotionGlobal.com Together, the sites herald exciting changes for the year to come for both companies. In the works for 2010 are an expansion of Interstate Transport’s freight capacity offerings and a continued increase in staff. The new year will also see the complete redesign of InMotion Global’s Transportation Management System, InMotion Global TMS™.

Interstate Transport’s new website was designed with the visitor in mind. Eye-catching graphics greet the visitor but it is the information found on the site that will draw viewers in. The new site is a valuable resource for decision-makers who are looking for a complete logistics and transportation solution.

Shippers and carriers alike will find the information they need on the new website. Each category of information is contained in its own page so that visitors may navigate directly to the information that matters to them most. The site also features a Fast Facts page that gives basic information and statistics about Interstate Transport in a quick, bullet-pointed format. Visitors may also link directly to Interstate’s catalogue of press releases and articles, and can even visit a page dedicated to the company’s home base, St. Petersburg, Florida.

Interstate offers a web-portal to its Transportation Management System for clients, shippers, carriers and sales representatives. The new website features a direct link to the web-portal, LoadLink™, on every page for easy access. Visitors who are looking for a transportation and logistics provider that specializes in temperature-controlled, time-sensitive and dry commodities will discover that Interstate offers solutions to their most complex shipping needs. The new site’s logical format makes it simple to navigate and easy to find information that leads to better decisions when choosing a transportation provider.

“We have dedicated considerable resources to developing a state-of-the-art transportation and logistics company and we rely heavily on technology to set us apart. Our Transportation Management System is the best in the business and we wanted our new website to reflect the same level of excellence,” said Tim Higham, Interstate Transport CEO. “We have received fantastic feedback from customers and business partners who have previewed the new site. This launch marks the end of another record-breaking year for Interstate and is the perfect way to usher in 2010. This coming year will see even more innovation and an exciting new chapter in our company’s history.”

Interstate tops off the year with a fresh new look

Florida’s Leading Transportation Management System Honored in Government Technology Category

Saint Petersburg, Florida – November 9, 2009 – InMotion Global’s Transportation Management System, InMotion Global TMS™, has been honored with industry recognition once again.  Its most recent accolade comes from IT Florida, a statewide organization focused on developing policies and practices that enable Florida technology companies to remain global industry leaders. 

InMotion Global was recently selected by Inbound Logistics Magazine as a 2009 Top 100 Logistics IT Provider.  The IT Florida recognition acknowledges InMotion Global’s work for the state of Florida and its contributions to the Florida Department of Emergency Management relief efforts.  InMotion Global™ was developed to provide transportation management to shippers with complex logistics requirements who need total asset visibility.  The TMS specializes in moving time-sensitive freight and rapid deployment.  Because the system was designed using .NET remoting and .NET web services, it is capable of integrating multiple facilities with any number of users.  This complex design structure also gives the system the flexibility and versatility required to handle intricate resource creation and advanced tracking capabilities.

InMotion Global™ offers Integrated Voice Response and Web portals, giving shippers and carriers access to load, order, pickup and delivery information remotely from any web-enabled device, including cell phones.  Its streamlined, low-bandwidth portals tie directly into Interstate’s enterprise data center, so that current production data is available anywhere, anytime.  This allows end-users to monitor the current disposition and location of freight, and ensures timely delivery and accurate, real-time reporting.

IT Florida’s acknowledgement of InMotion Global™ and its powerful management and tracking capabilities reinforces the fact that the system’s developers have created the most robust Transportation Management System in the industry.  The company is proud of its industry recognition and is even more pleased to be a part of Florida’s Emergency Response team.

InMotion Global Chosen as Finalist for IT Florida Technology Award

Tim Higham will offer insights into Creative Growth Strategies in New Markets

Saint Petersburg, Florida – November 4, 2009 – Interstate Transport's CEO, Tim Higham, has been selected to speak at the 2010 BGSA Supply Chain Conference.  His topic will be “Stretching the Boundaries: Creative Growth Strategies in New Markets.”  As CEO of Interstate Transport, Inc. and InMotion Global, Inc., Tim has garnered national attention for merging "old school" thinking with "new school" technology.  His companies have taken the Transportation and Logistics industries to the next level and he will share his expertise with a diverse audience of fellow CEOs.

On the dais with Tim will be such industry notables as Jack Holmes, of UPS and David Congdon of Old Dominion Freight Line.  Mr. Higham will speak to the industry’s need to stay ahead of the demands of its customers, both in technology and in service strategies.  He will discuss the challenges faced by supply chain CEOs who must meet the demands of an increasingly complex national and global marketplace that requires new solutions and fresh thinking.  

“We bring a “change your thinking” approach to our technology and freight businesses,” Tim Higham said recently.  “The industry has changed drastically within the past few years.  To remain profitable, management must be aware of all aspects of the business from capitalization to sales, legislative changes to employment costs.  It’s easy to become overly focused on the day-to-day details of the business and forget how it all ties together.  All of these factors affect the bottom line and we need to remain cognizant of every component of our business.  In the end, those who excel at change management and executing their plan will succeed.  Those who refuse to move forward will fail.”

BG Strategic Advisors, an investment banking company that focuses on supply chain enterprises, hosts the conference each year.  It is the only CEO-level conference in the industry and will be held at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida in January 2010.  Speakers at the invitation-only event will cover topics ranging from the implications of Cap-and-Trade to niche markets and emerging technologies.

Interstate CEO Speaks at BGSA Supply Chain 2010 Conference

InMotion Global Launches New Website And New Features

The logistics software giant celebrates its success with a fresh new look and exciting new features

Saint Petersburg, Florida – October 26, 2009 – InMotion Global has launched its newly redesigned and enhanced website, www.InMotionGlobal.com.  The updated site has a completely new look and feel, welcoming visitors to explore the company’s award-winning transportation management system, InMotion Global™, and to see the host of new features now available.

“We are dedicated to providing our online visitors with the same quality experience they enjoy when they use our transportation management system,” said Tim Higham, InMotion Global CEO, a division of Interstate Logistics Group.  “The site is vibrant and exciting which reflects everything we do here at InMotion Global.  Innovation is at the core of our operations, from software design to new client implementations.  ‘Good enough’ does not fit into our thinking here.  We continue to lead the logistics software industry precisely because we do everything with quality in mind.”

The website features streamlined navigation and dramatic graphic design.  Visitors to the site will find the technical aspects as compelling as the vast array of information offered.  Beyond the graphics and eye-catching display, the site is a great resource for current InMotion Global clients and for prospective clients who are just beginning to explore what a transportation management system can do for their operations – and how it can save them money.

InMotion Global offers so many products and services, the designers had to come up with a clever, user‑friendly format to present information on the new site.  Customers can follow a link that takes them directly to information that fits their needs.  Shippers, Carriers and other potential users may navigate to sections of the site that are designed specifically for their unique areas of interest.  “Both our website and InMotion Global™ were designed with the end-user in mind.  A lot of thought went into the flow and ease-of-use as well as the look and technical aspects of the site and our TMS.  Everything is laid out and arranged in a logical format that makes it simple to navigate,” explained Mike Olson, Sales Manager of InMotion Global.

The website highlights each of the InMotion Global™ components, broken down into logical categories.  For example, visitors to the site can learn about the system’s powerful business intelligence reporting and its unparalleled load planning and routing & optimization components.  They can also explore how InMotion Global™ makes freight management a breeze with color-coded load boards and a centralized dispatcher dashboard.  The site explains how InMotion Global’s customized web-portal, LoadLink©, can provide real-time information about each load and how simple it is to access load information via telephone with PhoneLink, InMotion Global’s interactive voice response system.

InMotion Global Launches New Website And New Features

Florida’s Fastest Growing Logistics and Transportation Company Continues to Expand

Saint Petersburg, Florida – October 19, 2009 – Interstate Transport’s plans have always included growth.  As a result, 2009 has proved to be so successful, the company had outgrown its usable office space.  A good problem to have in today’s stagnant economic climate.  The company expects another record quarter and even bigger increases in the coming year.  To accommodate the ongoing growth, Interstate recently unveiled its new headquarters in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Interstate team hosted a celebration that brought out the city’s most prominent business leaders.  Interstate welcomed its clients, business partners and the owners and employees of neighboring businesses in the city’s vibrant downtown community to the gala.  The evening was highlighted by the appearance of Mayor Rick Baker and 2010 mayoral candidate, Bill Foster.  The Mayor officiated at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and everyone toasted the continued success of Interstate Transport and its staff.

The company’s revamped offices now reflect the energy and innovation for which Interstate has become known.  Staff members have plenty of room and new amenities to enjoy.  As new staff members come on board, there is now the available office space to accommodate them.  Interstate believes that an attractive and comfortable workspace is necessary to stoke their employees’ imaginations, which will keep them in their place of leadership in the logistics field.

Flat screen TVs throughout the building keep employees and guests current on the latest news.  The glass-walled offices are framed in gleaming wood; the chrome hardware compliments the glass desks and heart of pine floors.  “The work environment should be as pleasant to the eye as possible,” states Gloria Higham, Executive Vice President of Interstate.  “After all, we spend a lot of time at work.  It should be an inspiring place to be.”

Interstate’s new headquarters boasts a new Kohler natural gas/diesel generator that will keep the company running at full capacity during power outages.  The generator is capable of running Interstate’s entire Freight Distribution Center, at 100% capacity, twice over.  Interstate serves thousands of customers nationwide and the generator ensures there will never be any down time in its operations.  Another reason the generator is necessary is to support Interstate in its work for the State of Florida.  The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) relies on Interstate to provide logistics for the shipment of tens of thousands of loads during hurricanes and other disasters.  If the surrounding area is affected by power outages, Interstate will remain fully operational and staffed to continue its emergency relief work for the State.

Interstate Transport is a division of Interstate Logistics Group and provides logistics and distribution services.  Interstate Logistics Groups’ software division, InMotion Global, Inc., created the industry’s leading transportation management software, InMotion Global TMS™.

About Interstate Transport:

Interstate Transport, Inc. is one of the fastest growing logistics providers in the United States.  Headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, Interstate provides logistics and distribution services and complete logistics outsourcing solutions including transportation management software (InMotion Global TMS™) to customers across the United States.  Interstate’s Freight Management Center and Disaster Freight Management Center provide: trucking capacity and Internet load tracking for every shipment, routing and load optimization, Internet load tendering, guaranteed appointment setting, and complete efficiency reporting. Learn more at www.interstate‑transport.com. About InMotion Global:

InMotion Global, Inc. provides the industry-leading Transportation Management System, InMotion Global TMS™ with its companion web‑portal LoadLink© to customers across the United States.  InMotion Global TMS™ is fully integrated with Interstate Transport’s Freight Management Center to provide freight capacity, Internet load tendering and tracking, routing, load optimization, guaranteed appointment setting and complete efficiency reporting.  InMotion Global, Inc. is headquartered in Saint Petersburg, Florida.

Learn more at www.InMotionGlobal.com.

Interstate Transport Ranked 1st Place By Inc. Magazine on Inc. 5000 List

For More Information Call:

Mike Olson

(727) 822-9999 ext. 1444

Interstate is Ranked As The Fastest Growing Logistics & Transportation Company in Florida and 17th Fastest Nationwide on the 2009 Inc. Magazine “Inc. 5000” List

Interstate adds yet another leading award to a very successful year

Saint Petersburg, Florida August 13, 2009 – Inc. magazine today ranked America’s fastest growing private companies with its Inc. 500/5000 annual list for 2009. In this year’s list, Interstate is the #1 fastest growing private company in the Logistics and Transportation category in Florida. Interstate is ranked the 17th fastest growing among all Logistics and Transportation companies nationwide. Interstate Transport joins other entrepreneurial success stories such as consumer electronics maker Vizio, Internet giant GoDaddy, and health drink maker MonaVie on this year's prestigious list.

“Savvy trend spotters and those who invest in private companies know that the Inc. 5000 is the best place to find out about young companies that are achieving success through a wide variety of unprecedented business models, as well as older private companies that are still expanding at an impressive rate,” said Inc. 5000 project manager Jim Melloan.

Interstate, the leading third-party logistics and software development company, is honored to add this most recent award to its list of accolades. This year, Interstate and its software division, InMotion Global, were privileged to make InBound Logistics Magazine's list of Top 100 Logistics IT Providers. The magazine’s editor, Felecia Stratton, states, “…[Interstate Transport’s Logistics solution] InMotion Global™ consistently provides the kinds of technology solutions business logistics managers need to successfully manage their global enterprises.”

Interstate’s co-founder and Executive Vice-President, Gloria Higham said, “It is truly exciting to rank so highly and win growth awards in this difficult economic environment. As the more leveraged competitors in the logistics and transportation industry have suffered, Interstate has been able to grow and expand due to our debt-free business model. Furthermore, our strong cash position allows us to capitalize on the continuing growth in consumer spending and the resulting increase in the shipments of consumer goods.”

The 2009 Inc. 500/5000 serves as a unique report card not only for the companies included on the list, but for the U.S. economy overall. Despite the ongoing recession, aggregate revenue among the companies on the list saw a median, three-year growth rate of 126 percent. Interstate’s revenue growth rate was a staggering 374.3%. Companies on the Inc. 5000 are responsible for creating more than 1 million jobs since their inception, making the list perhaps the best example of the impact private, fast-growing companies can have on the nation’s economy.

The future is indeed bright for Interstate Transport and its software division, InMotion Global. CEO Tim Higham states, “2009 revenues have been extraordinary and the company will see even more growth during the rest of the year. We are adding significant truck and freight movement capacity, regional and national office locations, and providing the kind of industry-leading distribution solutions for which we are already nationally renowned. A focus on sustainable growth and a keen eye for industry trends have led to Interstate’s ongoing success and fiscal stability, which have brought the company such accolades as this year’s inclusion in the Inc. 500/5000. We are very honored.”

View Interstate’s profile on the Inc. 500/5000 list at http://www.inc.com/inc5000/2009/company-profile.html?id=200907790

About Interstate:

Interstate Transport, Inc. is one of the fastest growing logistics providers in the United States. Headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, Interstate provides logistics, and distribution services and complete logistics outsourcing solutions including transportation management software (InMotion Global TMS™) to customers across the United States. Interstate’s Freight Management Center and Disaster Freight Management Center provide: trucking capacity and Internet load tracking for every shipment, routing and load optimization, Internet load tendering, guaranteed appointment setting, and complete efficiency reporting. Learn more at www.interstate-transport.com.

About InMotion Global:

InMotion Global, Inc. is a wholly owned division of Interstate Transport, Inc., and provides the industry-leading Transportation Management System, InMotion Global TMS™ with its companion web portal LoadLink™ to customers across the United States. InMotion Global™ is fully integrated with the Interstate Transport’s Freight Management Center to provide freight capacity, Internet load tendering and tracking, routing, load optimization, guaranteed appointment setting and complete efficiency reporting. InMotion Global, Inc. is headquartered in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Learn more at www.InMotionGlobal.com.

About the Inc. 5000 list

Inc. Magazine began its Inc. 500 list in 1982. Two years ago, Inc. expanded its list to include the country’s top 5,000 companies. The third edition of the Inc. 5000, gives readers a clearer picture of America’s business and economic composition.

Interstate Transport ranked in 1st place on INC 5000 List.pdf Download

Interstate Transport ranked in 1st place on INC 5000 List.pdf

Palm Beach Capital Acquires Stake in Interstate Transport, Inc.

The Florida Based Private Equity Firm Adds To Its Arsenal; Makes Interstate A Platform For Additional Logistics Industry Acquisitions

Saint Petersburg, FL – July 1st, 2009. Interstate Transport, Inc., America’s leading logistics, logistics software, and freight transportation company, today announced that Palm Beach Capital (PBC) has purchased a significant, but non-controlling, stake in the company. Palm Beach Capital has added Interstate to its growing portfolio of companies as a platform for further expansion into the trucking, transportation, and logistics space.

Gloria Higham, Interstate’s Executive Vice-President stated, “This is an exciting time for Interstate, our employees, and our customers. To be approached by a leading private equity firm and to close a deal in this economic environment speaks volumes of our years of operational excellence, steadfast aversion to debt, focus on profitability, and dedication to sustainable levels of growth. Over the years, we have waited patiently for the right partner. We now have what we need to continue our amazing journey.”

Interstate has been an anomaly in today’s difficult economy. In 2008, it spun off its successful transportation management system, InMotion Global TMS™, into its own wholly owned subsidiary, InMotion Global, Inc. The company has also been hiring staff and is expanding its Saint Petersburg, Florida headquarters.

Shaun McGruder, a Palm Beach Capital founding partner stated, “To find such a clean and well-run company in today’s business environment is rare. We immediately knew Interstate and its team were a great fit for our growth model. We have been interested in the logistics and freight distribution space for several years, but we couldn’t find the right fit. However, Interstate surpassed our expectations in every way. It will become the platform company we need to help us integrate and digest further acquisitions in this space. For private equity firms with committed capital funds and an interest in moving quickly, there is ample opportunity when partnerships like this are forged. Interstate will make significant headway through organic growth and acquisition of other logistics providers.”

Tim Higham, president and CEO at Interstate, added, “We are incredibly excited that Palm Beach Capital has partnered with us. PBC’s considerable capital, expertise, and eagerness will quickly take Interstate Transport and InMotion Global to the next level. We have outlined a preliminary growth plan that we will immediately begin to execute. The plan includes adding significant truck and freight movement capacity, regional and national office locations, and providing the kind of industry leading distribution solutions for which we are already nationally renowned.”

Raymond James & Associates, Inc. served as financial advisor and Trenam Kemker served as legal counsel for Interstate Transport in the transaction.

Learn more about Interstate Transport, Inc. at www.Interstate-Transport.com, or call Mike Olson at (727) 822-9999 ext. 1444.

About Palm Beach Capital:

Founded in 2001, Palm Beach Capital is a private equity investment firm which specializes in making investments in growing privately-held companies. With offices in both West Palm Beach and Tampa, Florida, the firm focuses on high growth investment opportunities with enterprise values ranging from $10 million to $100 million and EBITDA of $3 million and above. Since its inception, Palm Beach Capital has made investments in 28 companies and has approximately $200 million in total assets under management. For more information, please visit the firm's website at www.pbcap.com.

About Interstate Transport:

Interstate Transport, Inc. is one of the fastest growing logistics providers in the United States. Interstate provides logistics, trucking, and distribution services and complete logistics outsourcing solutions including transportation management software (InMotion Global TMS™) to customers across the United States. Interstate’s Freight Management Center (FMC) and Disaster Freight Management Center (DFMC) provide: trucking capacity and Internet load tracking for every shipment, routing and load optimization, Internet load tendering, guaranteed appointment setting and complete efficiency reporting. Interstate Transport, Inc. is headquartered in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Learn more at www.Interstate-Transport.com.

About InMotion Global:

InMotion Global, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Interstate Transport, Inc., and provides the industry leading Transportation Management System (TMS), InMotion Global TMS™ with its companion web portal LoadLink™ to customers across the United States. InMotion Global TMS™ is fully integrated with the Interstate Transport, Inc. Freight Management Center to provide: freight capacity, Internet load tendering and tracking, routing, load optimization, guaranteed appointment setting and complete efficiency reporting. In 2009, InMotion Global TMS™ was named one of the best transportation management software solutions in the world by InBound Logistics Magazine. InMotion Global, Inc. is headquartered in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Learn more at www.InMotionGlobal.com.

Palm Beach Capital Acquires Stake In Interstate Transport - July 1 2009

InMotion Global™ featured in June 2009 Maddux Business Report

InMotion Global™ featured in June 2009 Maddux Business Report

The award winning InMotion Global TMS™ and its companion web portal LoadLink© exceed expectations during the statewide “stress test.”

Saint Petersburg, FL – June 9, 2009. InMotion Global, Inc., a division of Interstate Transport, Inc., announced today its successful completion of the 2009 Florida Statewide Hurricane Exercise which concluded last week. The storm simulated during the exercise, Hurricane SUITER, was based upon the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926, a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall south of Miami, crossed the peninsula south of Lake Okeechobee, entered the Gulf of Mexico, and made another landfall near Mobile, Alabama as a Category 3 hurricane.

“As a member of Florida’s State Emergency Response Team [SERT], it was incredible to witness events unfolding during the simulation, which included satellite imagery, video feeds, meteorological reports and damage assessments,” stated Mike Olson, Manager of Client Relations for InMotion Global, Inc.. Olson went on to state, “You couldn’t help but feel a bit of anxiety as the storm made landfall, which provided a realistic look and feel to the whole exercise. Our personnel staffed the Movement Coordination Center at the State Logistics Response Center in Orlando and worked side by side with SERT personnel, Florida National Guard, FEMA, and state contractors to manage the movement of resources to affected areas. We’re grateful to be part of SERT and proud of our role in the relief effort.”

The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) conducted the week-long exercise as part of its annual preparations for the 2009 Hurricane season, which officially started on June 1, 2009. Interim Director of FDEM, Ruben D. Almaguer, used the statewide exercise to test the full capabilities of Florida’s State Emergency Response Team and the State Emergency Resource Management Network (SERMN), which includes the InMotion Global TMS™ and its companion web portal LoadLink©. For the duration of the exercise, the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Tallahassee, the State Logistics Response Center (SLRC) in Orlando, and a Logistical Staging Area (LSA) in Homestead were all fully activated and staffed. The InMotion Global, Inc. Emergency Response Dispatch Team was deployed to the SLRC, where they managed the Movement Coordination Center (MCC) and provided training for FDEM personnel, the Florida National Guard and state contractors. In addition to the InMotion Global, Inc. team, the exercise involved a broad spectrum of federal, state and local agencies, FDEM relief supply vendors and the various contractors that constitute the other technical components of the SERMN system.

The exercise included a virtual mass relocation of 1.5 millions residents, the activation of four Area Commands with Logistics Staging Areas, the movement of 3700 virtual truckloads of relief supplies, the movement of 10 actual truckloads of food and water from Orlando to Homestead, and military aviation missions. The virtual and actual truckloads were generated in InMotion Global TMS™ via a Shipment Origination Portal, deployed in real-time, and successfully geo-tracked in transit from origin to destination. InMotion Global, Inc. also introduced a new convoy management feature that allows for the creation, management and tracking of truckload convoys that are frequently deployed during large-scale disaster responses. The 10 actual truckloads, provided by the Interstate Transport Freight Management Center, were shipped on a roundtrip from the SLRC in Orlando to the State LSA in Homestead, where they were checked in using logistics support vehicles, satellite data systems, satellite tracking and geo-coding of resource locations. Throughout the exercise, FDEM managed all logistics mission resource requests, procurements, satellite tracking and resource geo-coding, ground, air and sea-lift transportation management, warehousing, shipping, receiving, field maintenance, recovery, demobilization and rehab with the SERMN suite of software and hardware systems. InMotion Global TMS™ and its companion web portal LoadLink© are the key logistical components of the SERMN suite, allowing FDEM to rapidly move and track large volumes of relief resources in response to a disaster.

Chuck Hagan, Chief of State Unified Logistics for FDEM, stated, “…The participation and input of our SERT members over the last 7 days is greatly appreciated and vital to the ongoing success of how Florida does business and enhancing our Unified Logistics process and team of local, state, federal and non-government agencies, contractors and the retail sector. We strive to be a leader in the nation on innovative systems and processes in emergency and disaster logistics, and further our relationships with our partners at every level. We openly share our experiences and successes with other states, agencies and organizations in the hopes of a more consistent national system of logistics support to our responders and survivors of disasters and emergencies through true unified partnerships with all sectors and agencies.”

InMotion Global, Inc. is making some hurricane preparations of its own as part of the headquarters expansion project in its Saint Petersburg, FL offices. The expansion project includes the addition of a Kohler 125 kW electricity generator that is directly connected to the city’s natural gas grid providing for a continuous supply of electricity without the need for diesel fuel. Additionally, hurricane rated, impact-resistant glass has been installed in all areas of the expansion project.

Nathaniel Engelsen, CIO of InMotion Global, Inc., was proud of the contributions his team made to the SERMN system, stating, “It’s only right that Florida lead the way in catastrophic emergency response planning and execution. The SERMN network is a model for other agencies at the state and federal level to emulate or acquire, as it is the only project of its kind able to provide full intelligence and visualization at the theater, strategic, and tactical levels of response. Being able to flawlessly execute the FDEM vision during as large an exercise as Hurricane SUITER is a credit to the InMotion Global, Inc. team and all of our software partners.”

In 2009, InMotion Global TMS™ was named one of the most important and relevant technologies in the logistics industry. The award is given each year to the “best of the best” logistics technologies by Inbound Logistics. InMotion Global TMS™ is a fully hosted, web-based Transportation Management System that requires no software or hardware installation, making it a true, on-demand TMS that can be implemented in minutes. The system includes hundreds of features that centralize and streamline the entire transportation and distribution process from load inception through final delivery, allowing shippers to manage their entire transportation operation. Whether the logistics operation is conducted out of one location or across multiple locations, users log in through their web-browsers and have instant, real-time access to every aspect of their operation, providing them with total situational awareness.

One of the differentiating factors implemented by InMotion Global TMS™ is that it uses the latest ASP.NET technology, thus providing a rich user interface including cascading menus, predictive typing and other user-preferred capabilities. Moreover, using the latest in “web-services” architecture, InMotion Global TMS™ is able to seamlessly access a myriad of third-party data and information for the user.

Learn more about InMotion Global TMS™ at www.InMotionGlobal.com, or call Mike Olson at (727) 895-1035 ext. 1444.

About InMotion Global, Inc.:

InMotion Global, Inc., is a wholly owned division of Interstate Transport, Inc., and provides the industry-leading Transportation Management System, InMotion Global TMS™ with its companion web portal LoadLink© to customers across the United States. InMotion Global TMS™ is fully integrated with the Interstate Transport, Inc. Freight Management Center to provide: freight capacity, Internet load tendering and tracking, routing, load optimization, guaranteed appointment setting and complete efficiency reporting. InMotion Global, Inc. and Interstate Transport, Inc. are headquartered in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Learn more at www.InMotionGlobal.com.

About Interstate Transport:

Interstate Transport, Inc. is one of the fastest growing logistics providers in the United States. Interstate provides logistics services and complete logistics outsourcing solutions including transportation management software (InMotion Global TMS™) to customers across the United States. Interstate’s Freight Management Center (FMC) and Disaster Freight Management Center (DFMC) provide: capacity and Internet load tracking for every shipment, routing and load optimization, Internet load tendering, guaranteed appointment setting and complete efficiency reporting. Learn more at www.interstate-transport.com.

Saint Petersburg, FL – May 18, 2009.

InMotion Global TMS, a division of Interstate Transport, Inc., the leading third-party logistics and software development company, added a new Interactive Voice Response (IVR) module to its flagship product InMotion Global TMS. The IVR module allows InMotion Global TMS clients to provide their own customers, pickup locations, carriers and field staff with phone-based access to real-time location and status information about their orders.

Tim Higham, CEO of InMotion Global TMS, said, “We are proud of our IVR technology because it extends automated information access down to the lowest common denominator of remote connectivity, the telephone. This feature has been readily embraced by our clients who have either carriers or field staff that are unable to utilize an Internet-enabled PDA to access LoadLink, our web-collaboration portal for InMotion Global TMS. Sometimes, a traditional telephone or cellular phone is all that is available in the field, so our goal was to enable those types of users with system access.”

With the IVR in place, InMotion Global TMS clients can now reduce their volume of inbound support calls and strain on internal resources by providing their customers, suppliers, carriers and staff with 24/7, automated access to their own load & order information. Carriers can provide up-to-the-minute location and status updates to InMotion Global TMS right over the phone without involving any dispatch or support staff. Users at pickup locations, drop-off locations or out in field can quickly access real-time location and status information about their own orders by using the streamlined workflow menus. IVR users can either talk or use their telephone keypad to interact with the IVR which can be configured to simultaneously support any number of foreign language options. InMotion Global TMS clients also have the option of branding the IVR interface with their own custom company prompts to provide their users with a support experience that is consistent with other company-specific marketing and messaging.

“InMotion Global TMS has made a commitment to its clients to provide accessibility and configurability. The IVR is a wonderful addition to our core product in that it offers both,” stated Nathaniel Engelsen, CIO of InMotion Global TMS. “By leveraging our existing Microsoft.NET service-oriented architecture, we are providing additional interaction options for external InMotion Global TMS users. The selection of the Voxeo Prophecy platform means unparalleled speed and reliability from the industry leader in interactive voice applications.”

In 2009, InMotion Global TMS was named one of the most important and relevant technologies in the logistics industry. The award is given each year to the “best of the best” logistics technologies by Inbound Logistics. InMotion Global TMS is a fully hosted, web-based Transportation Management System that requires no software or hardware installation, making it a true, on-demand TMS that can be implemented in minutes. The system includes hundreds of features that centralize and streamline the entire transportation and distribution process from load inception through final delivery, allowing shippers to manage their entire transportation operation. Whether the logistics operation is conducted out of one location or across multiple locations, users log in through their web-browsers and have instant, real-time access to every aspect of their operation, providing them with total situational awareness.

One of the differentiating factors implemented by InMotion Global TMS is that it uses the latest ASP.NET technology, thus providing a rich user interface including cascading menus, predictive typing and other user-preferred capabilities. Moreover, using the latest in “web-services” architecture, InMotion Global TMS is able to seamlessly access a myriad of third-party data and information for the user.

Learn more about InMotion Global TMS at www.InMotionGlobal.com, or call Mike Olson at (727) 895-1035 ext. 1444.

About InMotion Global TMS:

InMotion Global TMS, Inc. is a wholly owned division of Interstate Transport, Inc., and provides the industry-leading Transportation Management System, InMotion Global TMS™ with its companion web portal LoadLink© to customers across the United States. InMotion Global TMS™ is fully integrated with the Interstate Transport, Inc. Freight Management Center to provide: freight capacity, Internet load tendering and tracking, routing, load optimization, guaranteed appointment setting and complete efficiency reporting. InMotion Global TMS, Inc. and Interstate Transport, Inc. are headquartered in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Learn more at www.InMotionGlobal.com.

About Interstate Transport:

Interstate Transport, Inc. is one of the fastest growing logistics providers in the United States. Interstate provides logistics services and complete logistics outsourcing solutions including transportation management software (InMotion Global TMS) to customers across the United States. Interstate’s Freight Management Center (FMC) and Disaster Freight Management Center (DFMC) provide: capacity and Internet load tracking for every shipment, routing and load optimization, Internet load tendering, guaranteed appointment setting and complete efficiency reporting. Learn more at www.interstate-transport.com.

Saint Petersburg, FL – April 8, 2009. InMotion Global TMS, a division of Interstate Transport, Inc., the leading third-party logistics and software development company, was named by Inbound Logistics magazine, as one of the 2009 Top 100 Logistics IT Providers.

Felecia Stratton, Editor, Inbound Logistics magazine stated, “Solutions providers such as InMotion Global TMS empower logistics and supply chain management, continuing to offer innovative and practical solutions in the face of demand volatility. 2009 continues to be a year where every opportunity and efficiency must be seized and InMotion Global TMS consistently provides the kinds of technology solutions business logistics managers need to successfully manage their global enterprises. As shippers, carriers, and 3PLs increase their use of logistics IT, InMotion Global TMS is flexible and responsive, anticipating customers' evolving needs. That's why Inbound Logistics editors have recognized InMotion Global TMS as one of 2009's Top 100 Logistics IT Providers.”

Every year, Inbound Logistics editors recognize 100 logistics IT companies that support and enable logistics excellence. Selecting the annual Top 100 Logistics IT providers is no small task, given the pace of change and the number of new entrants in the logistics technology market. Inbound Logistics editors whittled this year's list through a comprehensive process of evaluating questionnaires, conducting research, and soliciting reader feedback. The goal is to provide a balanced and accurate assessment of its readers' needs and the logistics IT companies best suited to meet their specific requirements. InMotion Global TMS delivers the simplicity, ROI and efficient implementation that Inbound Logistics’ readers value.

Tim Higham, CEO of InMotion Global TMS, said, “We are honored and grateful to be recognized as an industry leader in transportation services, technical solutions, and best practices. Our devoted team continues to develop and deliver innovative solutions and services to our clients that help lower their transportation costs, improve their customer service performance, and gain visibility into transportation management processes for continued improvement.”

InMotion Global TMS is a fully hosted, web-based Transportation Management System that requires no software or hardware installation, making it a true, on-demand TMS that can be implemented in minutes. The system includes hundreds of features that centralize and streamline the entire transportation process from load inception through final delivery, allowing shippers to seamlessly manage their entire transportation operation. Whether the logistics operation is conducted out of one location or across multiple locations, users log in through their web-browsers and have instant, real-time access to every aspect of their operation, providing them with total situational awareness.

One of the differentiating factors implemented by InMotion Global TMS is that it uses the latest ASP.NET technology, thus providing a rich user interface including cascading menus, predictive typing and other user-preferred capabilities. Moreover, using the latest in “web-services” architecture, InMotion Global TMS is able to seamlessly access a myriad of third-party data and information for the user.

The Inbound Logistics annual Top 100 issue highlights providers who offer innovative solutions that drive advances in the practice of logistics. Companies are evaluated on platform, price, industries, compatibility, capabilities, solutions, and functionality. Inbound Logistics’ 2009 Top 100 Logistics IT Provider list appears in the publication’s April 2009 issue.

Learn more about InMotion Global TMS at www.InMotionGlobal.com, or call Mike Olson at (727) 895-1035 ext. 1444.

About InMotion Global TMS:

InMotion Global TMS, Inc. is a wholly owned division of Interstate Transport, Inc., and provides the industry-leading Transportation Management System, InMotion Global TMS™ with its companion web portal LoadLink© to customers across the United States. InMotion Global TMS™ is fully integrated with the Interstate Transport, Inc. Freight Management Center to provide: freight capacity, Internet load tendering and tracking, routing, load optimization, guaranteed appointment setting and complete efficiency reporting. InMotion Global TMS, Inc. and Interstate Transport, Inc. are headquartered in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Learn more at www.InMotionGlobal.com.

About Interstate Transport:

Interstate Transport, Inc. is one of the fastest growing logistics providers in the United States. Interstate provides logistics services and complete logistics outsourcing solutions including transportation management software (InMotion Global TMS) to customers across the United States. Interstate’s Freight Management Center (FMC) and Disaster Freight Management Center (DFMC) provide: capacity and Internet load tracking for every shipment, routing and load optimization, Internet load tendering, guaranteed appointment setting and complete efficiency reporting. Learn more at www.interstate-transport.com.

Saint Petersburg, Florida – March 26, 2009 - Interstate Transport, Inc., a leading US freight management and logistics company, announced today that Dun & Bradstreet has increased its credit rating to 3A2, a significant achievement for any company in today’s economic climate.

Tim Higham, CEO of Interstate said, “Over the past year, we have worked hard to aggressively grow our business while keeping a sharp eye on the bottom line. Our improved credit rating proves that we have our financial house in order when other organizations are clearly crumbling. Our top tier credit status allows our partners to trade with us in complete confidence.”

The Dun & Bradstreet Rating is the most widely used credit rating in American business, and provides an accurate assessment of a company’s overall creditworthiness and risk of default. A company’s Dun & Bradstreet rating is made up of two basic components:

• Rating Classification, which indicates a range of the company’s net worth or equity as computed by D&B when a company provides D&B with financial statements. A rating of 3A is reserved for companies with net worth between $1M and $1B.

• Composite Credit Appraisal, which reflects D&B’s assessment of overall credit worthiness (risk of default).

Despite the toughest economy in decades and the most difficult post-war freight volumes to hit the trucking sector, Interstate Transport managed to elevate its credit rating while also adding office space to its headquarters, hiring staff, and most recently opening its InMotion Global TMS software division to critical acclaim. InMotion Global TMS is already profitable and is on track to double revenues in 2009.

“We will continue to execute our very strict business model,” Higham said. “2009 will be the year that Interstate Transport and our InMotion Global TMS division, usher in our largest growth phase yet. Our elevated credit rating from D&B simply reaffirms that we are on the right track.”

To find out more about Interstate Transport, go to www.interstate-transport.com. Learn more about the InMotion Global TMS software platform at www.InMotionGlobal.com or call Mike Olson at 727-822-9999 x 1444.

About Interstate Transport:

Interstate Transport is one of the fastest growing logistics providers in the United States. Based in Saint Petersburg, Florida, Interstate provides logistics services and complete logistics outsourcing solutions including transportation management software (InMotion Global TMS) to customers across the United States. Interstate’s Freight Management Center (FMC) and Disaster Freight Management Center (DFMC) provide: capacity and Internet load tracking for every shipment, routing and load optimization, Internet load tendering, guaranteed appointment setting, and complete efficiency reporting. InMotion Global TMS allows customers to manage every aspect of their logistics needs via the Internet or telephone, using the latest IVR (Integrated Voice Response) technology.

About InMotion Global TMS:

InMotion Global TMS, Inc. is a wholly owned division of Interstate Transport, Inc., and provides the industry-leading Transportation Management System, InMotion Global TMS™ with its companion web portal LoadLink©© to customers across the United States. InMotion Global TMS™ is fully integrated with the Interstate Transport, Inc. Freight Management Center to provide: freight capacity, Internet load tendering and tracking, routing, load optimization, guaranteed appointment setting and complete efficiency reporting. InMotion Global TMS, Inc. and Interstate Transport, Inc. are headquartered in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Learn more at www.InMotionGlobal.com.

InBound Logistics Magazine Profile January 2009

InBound Logistics Magazine Profile January 2009

Saint Petersburg, Florida - February 2, 2009 - Interstate Transport, Inc., the leading US freight management and logistics company, announced it has broken ground on its expanded US headquarters in downtown Saint Petersburg, Florida.

In light of the toughest economy in decades, and the most difficult post-war freight volumes to hit the trucking sector, Interstate is adding space, staff, and recently opened its InMotion Global TMS software division to critical acclaim. InMotion Global TMS is already profitable and is on track to double revenues in 2009.

Tim Higham, CEO of Interstate said, “We are extremely proud to be able to offer our team members a stable work environment in light of such a dire economy. Our past planning has allowed us the enviable position of expanding the company, hiring staff, and starting a new division to capitalize on our proprietary software platform, InMotion Global TMS.”

Higham stated that the two major reasons for Interstate’s ability to expand are good past planning and remaining debt-free. “So many companies borrowed money when things were easy, but we remained true to our plan of growing with free cash flow. If we did not have the cash, we waited until we did,” Higham said. “The end result is that Interstate is a debt-free company that is now watching our competitors struggle and fall. Our competitors’ debt loads are too high to support the shrinking available business.”

Higham went on to state that more fiscal responsibility is needed in business and that taking on debt for growth’s sake is a fool’s game. “Is it better to have $100 million in sales and $1 million in profit, or $50 million in sales and $5 million in profit? It is a simple math question. More revenue does not mean more profit – and business owners need to remember that,” he said.

Interstate is adding room at its headquarters for up to 40 new members and has an existing Tier 3 Data Center in Tampa. Construction will be completed on the headquarters expansion in March 2009.

To find out more about Interstate Transport, go to www.interstate-transport.com. Learn more about the InMotion Global TMS software platform at www.inmotionglobal.com or call Mike Olson at 727-822-9999 x 1444.

ABOUT INTERSTATE TRANSPORT: Interstate is one of the fastest growing logistics providers in the United States. Based in Saint Petersburg, Florida, Interstate provides logistics services and complete logistics outsourcing solutions including transportation management software (InMotion Global TMS) to customers across the United States. Interstate’s Freight Management Center (FMC) and Disaster Freight Management Center (DFMC) provide: capacity and Internet load tracking for every shipment, routing and load optimization, Internet load tendering, guaranteed appointment setting, and complete efficiency reporting. InMotion Global TMS allows customers to manage every aspect of their logistics needs via the Internet or telephone, using the latest IVR (Integrated Voice Response) technology.

Interstate Expands Headquarters

Saint Petersburg, Florida - August 29, 2008 - Interstate Transport, Inc., the leading US freight management and logistics company that coordinates disaster response freight for the state of Florida, is readying itself for 2 more major storms expected to hit the area within the next week.

Interstate runs the freight “Movement Coordination Center” at Florida’s State Logistics Response Center (SLRC) in Orlando and dispatches a full-time team to run freight operations before and after disaster events. The multi-million dollar state-of-the-art operations center in Orlando is strategically located to provide both pre- and post-storm relief in 8 hours or less. The SLRC in Orlando stores more than 400 truckloads of general commodities and disaster relief supplies such as water, food, cots, tents, tarps, and other emergency equipment. The center is fully redundant in every area and is the functional operations response center for the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Tallahassee.

Tim Higham, CEO of Interstate said, “We are extremely proud that a Saint Petersburg company has so much responsibility for the citizens of Florida. The state chose our company because of our state-of-the-art InMotion Global software system that provides ’Total Asset Visibility’ for all disaster freight, including tracking and tracing of every truck load being moved. Total asset visibility has been the benchmark for freight movement since the lessons learned during Hurricane Katrina. We know of no other state in the nation that has achieved total asset visibility other than Florida. Using Interstate’s technology platform, the state EOC, staff, and responders gain real-time visibility regarding where commodities are and when they will arrive.”

“Florida leads the way in disaster preparedness and response. Nobody comes close to what we have built with the state of Florida,” Higham said. “At its simplest level, it is a matter being ready. It’s not like we are unsure we are going to see hurricanes –it’s a case of how many and how big they are.”

To find out more about the Interstate Transport disaster management team, go to www.interstate-transport.com. Learn more about the InMotion Global software system at www.inmotionglobal.com or call Mike Olson at 727-822-9999 x 1323.

ABOUT INTERSTATE TRANSPORT: Interstate is one of the fastest growing logistics providers in the United States. Based in Saint Petersburg, Florida, Interstate provides logistics services and complete logistics outsourcing solutions including free transportation management software (InMotion Global) to customers across the United States. Interstate’s Freight Management Center (FMC) and Disaster Freight Management Center (DFMC) provide: capacity and Internet load tracking for every shipment as needed, routing and load optimization, Internet load tendering, guaranteed appointment setting, and complete efficiency reporting. InMotion Global allows customers to manage every aspect of their logistics needs via the Internet or telephone.

Interstate Prepares for Gustav and Hanna at State Response Center

Saint Petersburg, FL: InMotion Global, Inc. announced today its successful completion of the 2008 Florida Statewide Emergency Response Hurricane Exercise which concluded last week.

“As one of the newest members of Florida’s State Emergency Response Team, it was an amazing experience overall and very rewarding to apply our technology and teamwork in a ‘live’ simulation of this magnitude” said Mike Olson, Client Relations Manager for InMotion Global. “We’re grateful to be on this team and proud to be part of a project whose sole vision is to quickly provide relief to our citizens in the aftermath of a disaster.”

The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) conducted the week-long exercise as part of its annual preparations for the 2008 Hurricane season, which officially started on June 1, 2008. FDEM State Director, Craig Fugate, used the statewide exercise to test the full capabilities of the enhanced logistics program. The exercise also tested the new State Emergency Resource Management Network (SERMN), which now includes the InMotion Global Transportation Management System (TMS) and its companion web portal LoadLink©.

IMG Completes 2008 Florida Hurricane Exercise

Saint Petersburg, FL: InMotion Global, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded a logistics contract with the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM). As part of the contract, the InMotion Global Transportation Management System and its companion web portal LoadLink© will be integrated as the key logistical components of FDEM’s State Emergency Resource Management Network (SERMN), which is used to manage the state’s relief response efforts for major disasters.

Mike Olson, Client Relations Manager for InMotion Global said, “We are thrilled that FDEM has selected InMotion Global to provide the logistical components for such a visionary and vital project. Considering how highly respected FDEM is in the emergency response community, we feel especially honored to be included in its mission to quickly provide relief to our citizens in the aftermath of a disaster.”

Initially created in 2007, SERMN combines the capabilities of multiple software and hardware solutions into one integrated catastrophic Event Planning and Response system. In the wake of a large-scale disaster, SERMN can provide “Total Asset Visibility” to the FDEM decision-makers who are coordinating the relief response effort, allowing them to see, in real-time, the location and status of various resources they are directing. SERMN capabilities include resource acquisition, searching for resources locally and statewide, satellite tracking and resource geo-coding, ground, air and sea-lift transportation management, warehousing, bar-coding, shipping and receiving.

InMotion Global awarded FDEM Contract

Difficult times call for interesting ideas - and the cooperative idea is one that has had varying levels of success.

The Co-operative Movement

Shred one of Your Biggest Expenses Overnight

Distribution Cost

Hines Horticulture one of the largest growers in the world turns to InMotion Global for a transportation solution.

Hines Cover Story

Do I Use My Own Trucks or a Common Carrier?

Do I Use My Own Trucks or a Common Carrier?

Interstate 'A' Rating for Performance

Interstate 'A' Rating for Performance

Interstate Retains Engelsen as CIO

Interstate Retains Engelsen as CIO

Outsourcing Transportation and Logistics

Outsourcing Transportation and Logistics

Ready, Set, GO!

Ready, Set, GO!

If there is one area of transportation that you can get the most from technology, it is reducing the number of miles your deliveries are routed and maximizing how full your trucks are.

There is a reason the “C” in “PC” stands for “computing”. Computers are designed, by their very definition, to take in data and to analyze it according to rules set by the operator or program. For example, let’s take a simple route that goes from point A to point B (one pickup and one delivery). Any reasonable person may think that with this simple scenario they can be as efficient as a computer in calculating the route. This may or may not be correct (and you would probably have to resort to using PC mapping software to get your results in the end – I mean, who routes with a map and a pencil anymore).

The bottom line is that even between 2 points on a map there are literally millions of route permutations regarding the route that could be taken. Most simple mapping software bought in a store can do a routing based on the shortest miles, scenic miles (great for vacation traveling), or avoid toll roads (to save money) etc. However, these simple mapping systems have one major flaw – they only do one trip or journey at a time and are designed for car travel. Therefore, they do not allow you to input data about your orders (their size, shape or constraints etc). You need to calculate that yourself – a recipe for disaster. And if you have, for example, 50 deliveries to make, forget about even getting close to being efficient if you do this calculation on your own. The number of possible routes and trucks needed are so large that it is not uncommon for you to be 20% less efficient that even the simplest routing and optimization system. Take this from a guy who sees this every day of the year…a well honed routing and optimization program will save you up to 20% (or more) in miles traveled, trucks needed, and money spent. It is that simple and easy to prove (e-mail me at thigham@interstate-transport.com for a real world sample from a medium sized grower...all names protected, of course).

So, you believe me. Now what? How do you make sure (and know) that every time you process your deliveries that you are not giving away thousands (sometimes tens of thousands) of dollars due to simple inefficiency. Inefficiency that is easy to eradicate.

Fortunately, there are several solutions available to you. But, first, the “government warning” (well, not really a “government warning” but more of a “get ready to get your check book out warning”). Routing and optimization software is not cheap. You don’t go down to your local “Computer Universe” store and pick up a shrink wrapped box for $29.95. In fact, you won’t even find the software on sale there. The software you need is available for the bargain basement price of – are you sitting down - $10,000 or more. It is not unusual to spend $20,000 or more by the time you have a few user licenses, all the bells and whistles you need, and the hardware to run it on. Moreover, you can expect an annual license fee (for updates, fixes, and technical support etc) of 10% to 20% of the initial price. So, it is a major investment. On top of this, you will likely need an actual mapping system (such as PC Miler from ALK Technologies or Microsoft MapPoint) to interface to. This will add $2,000 or more to the total acquisition cost if you do not already have one of these products in your office.

You will also need someone to actually use the software at your company. Now, while they are generally easy to use, it is not as simple to use as Microsoft Word or your chosen e-mail program. These are powerful and full featured systems designed to allow the user to play with a whole host of variables in order to massage the results that best fit your needs. In fact, a reasonably intelligent user will be able to squeeze an extra 5% efficiency from the system by just using it correctly. So plan on making sure you have someone in the office identified that will take the time to understand the software and how it should be used. Yes, this could add cost. However, I am sure the savings will more than offset the costs in a matter of weeks or months.

The next question to ask is if routing and optimization software is right for you. While this is hard to answer, I think it is not a question of if it is right for you but rather a question of how long will it take to see a return on your investment. For example, if you send out 3,000 trucks a year your return will be almost immediate and you will start “making money” right away. If you send out 100 trucks a year you will see benefit – but it could take years. Also, if you find your deliveries are very predictable – going to the same places weekly, and you are confident you are running things efficiently, you may not need to invest in this type of software. But, if in doubt, you can contact a vendor (see below) and ask. Most are happy to look at your information and tell you whether their system is right for you (again, e-mail me at thigham@interstate-transport.com for a real world sample from a “medium” sized grower to get an idea about what can be saved. You might be surprised at the savings possible).

There are several vendors out there that can help. MicroAnalytics (www.bestroutes.com) is used by 2,400 customers worldwide, and, according to Dan Buttarazzi, it is the most used routing software in the world. Their own calculations show savings of over $16,000 per year for a user with only 10 trucks per week and saving only 50 miles per day. Essentially this means your investment is paid for in year one and then the money saved stays in your bank account. Your return will be faster if you run more trucks per week or your mileage savings are larger. In fact, MicroAnalytics has found several of their grower clients, including Metrolina Greenhouses and Stacy’s Greenhouses, saving $30,000 to $40,000 per year of use!

Another solution is Direct Route from Appian Logistics (www.appianlogistics.com). This company just celebrated 20 years in business and provides a system that integrates to GPS tracking systems. They also have several variations of the system to solve solutions unique to certain growers. While more expensive than other systems, it is a good choice for “mega growers” or growers with many multiple locations or very complex delivery needs.

There are other vendors that can also help. Try a quick Google search on “Truck Routing Software” and you will hit the top providers in the first few pages or results.

Most growers will benefit from routing and optimization software. In fact – I will go as far as saying you need it. Unless you have the simplest of operations you will see results the first time you use it – and that is money in your pocket.

Routing and Optimization Software -You NEED it!

Keep Drivers Coming Back for More Loads

Keep Drivers Coming Back for More Loads

The Loading and Unloading Problem

The Loading and Unloading Problem

Interstate Spins off Software Company.

Interstate Spins off Software Company.

Greenhouse Grower Article, Using Technology To Save Money

Greenhouse Grower Article, Using Technology To Save Money

Interstate Announces InMotion Global Availability

Interstate Announces InMotion Global Availability

Hines and Interstate Partnership

Hines and Interstate Partnership

The Transportation Headache

The Transportation Headache

Interstate and RPS Partnership

Interstate and RPS Partnership

Poinsettia and Christmas Logistics Program

Poinsettia and Christmas Logistics Program

Interstate Nominated for Governor's Award

Interstate Nominated for Governor's Award

InMotion Global

InMotion Global

Staff Changes

Staff Changes

Free Load Optimization and Routing

Free Load Optimization and Routing

St. Pete Times Article, "Mover is Planted Downtown"

St. Pete Times Article, "Mover is Planted Downtown"

Interstate Launches Disaster Freight Management Center

Interstate Launches Disaster Freight Management Center

Transportation Trends Article, "Growing Like a Weed"

Transportation Trends Article, "Growing Like a Weed"