Page 23 - ATR 4 2021 digital

USA Truck’s self-dispatch program replace a driver can run anywhere from
is an app that allows some company $5,000–$10,000.
drivers, not just the owner-operators it USA Truck was already using
contracts with, to access a load board Geotab tablets for telematics in their “[THE DRIVERS] WANT
and create their own schedules. Drivers trucks, so it was easy to give the drivers CONTROL OF THEIR
in the program must average 2,000 access to the WorkHound app through
miles over a 4-week period, but other their existing hardware. There weren’t LIVES. THEY WANT TO
than that, they have the freedom to many surprises when the anonymous BE RESPECTED, AND
choose the routes they’ll run. “The pri- comments started rolling in. Drivers PART OF THAT RESPECT
mary reason we did this is we listened wanted more time at home. They IS ALLOWING THEM
to the drivers, and they said, ‘I want to
be able to control when I get home, and CHOICES, WHICH THE
I want to be able to control the miles ACCORDING TO STOCK ANALYSTS INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE
that I get.’ And we provided that to AT ZACKS EQUITY RESEARCH, DOESN’T DO VERY
them,” Ewell says. “USA TRUCK (USAK) HAS MOVED
ABOUT 60.47% ON A YEAR-TO- WELL.”
LISTENING TO DRIVERS DATE BASIS. MEANWHILE, THE
Listening to drivers was the first TRANSPORTATION SECTOR HAS —BLAIR EWELL, SENIOR VICE
step in developing the innovative new RETURNED AN AVERAGE OF 7.48% PRESIDENT OF TRUCKLOAD
ON A YEAR-TO-DATE BASIS.
system. Several years ago, USA Truck THIS MEANS THAT USA TRUCK IS OPERATIONS, USA TRUCK
found a tool to help them listen. A rela- OUTPERFORMING THE SECTOR AS
tively new company, WorkHound, was A WHOLE THIS YEAR.”
founded six years ago with the idea that
employee feedback could be collected • • • and part of that respect is allowing them
and used more effectively. Rather than ROUGHLY HALF OF USA TRUCK’S choices, which the industry as a whole
a comments and suggestions box or an FLEET ARE OWNER-OPERATORS doesn’t do very well.”
annual survey on organizational health, AND USE THE COMPANY’S LOAD
WorkHound uses an app to allow a BOARD TO SELF-MANAGE. THE PERSPECTIVES FROM TRUCKERS
company to ask for anonymous feed- OTHER HALF ARE COMPANY Rich Damico has been a company
DRIVERS. ABOUT A THIRD OF
back from its employees on a monthly THOSE COMPANY DRIVERS USE driver for USA Truck for nearly five
or weekly basis. THE SELF-DISPATCH LOAD BOARD. years. He’s among those who use the
CEO and co-founder, Max Farrell SOME COMPANY DRIVERS REMAIN self-dispatch load board. “I actually
says, “A lot of trucking companies rely ON DEDICATED RUNS WITH enjoy my job now,” he says. “I absolutely
on truck data, telematics and spread- SCHEDULES FIXED BY DRIVER hated it before the load board.”
sheets to make people decisions. But MANAGERS. Damico describes himself as an
one of the things that we firmly believe advocate for the load board, but when
at WorkHound is that you should use the idea was first pitched, he thought,
people data to make people decisions.” wanted to decrease the delays between “This is insane. How is this even going
Users of the WorkHound app have loads. They wanted communication to to work?” Now he loves it and says
the option to remain anonymous or to be clearer. With over 2,000 drivers on using it is a piece of cake. Load boards
be contacted after giving their feedback. its roster, USA Truck was able to gener- aren’t new technology. Having been
This can help companies like USA Truck ate enough feedback to see patterns used by owner-operators for many years
rapidly respond to issues that need and priorities. WorkHound provided means most of the kinks in the soft-
immediate attention. “In this [truck- the data, but it was up to the leader- ware have been worked out. Expanding
ing] business, a guy can be happy at ship at the carrier to develop strategies access to company drivers is the innova-
the beginning of the week, something for responding to the comments, or tive piece of this program.
happens in the middle, and he quits by as Farrell describes it, “taking the gut “This load board gives us auton-
the end and has a job the next week. punches inevitable in critical feedback.” omy. It gives us the ability to create a
So, it was really important for us to The self-dispatch load board for com- schedule for ourselves and maximize
build something to help companies be pany drivers was among the first ideas our earning potential while being safe
proactive instead of reactive,” Farrell to emerge in response to those punches. and being expeditious. That’s why I love
says. This is especially important in Ewell summarizes the comments the load board,” Damico says. Using
the trucking industry where the turn- like this, “[The drivers] want control of
over rate is above 90% and the cost to their lives. They want to be respected, 

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 4 2021 23