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company is about: people working hard
and solving customer problems to make
a difference every day.”
A self-described lifelong learner,
McReynolds said she enjoys the process
of thinking about the future. “What’s
been frustrating is there are so many
uncertainties,” she said before adding: “if you are resistaNt to chaNge, you
“You should make the most of uncer-
tainties. The uncertain world is here to shouldN’t get iN this busiNess.”
stay. That’s what drives me to make the
day, the week and future better. ABF is —roy slagle,
known for that.” presideNt aNd ceo, abf freight system, iNc.
Slagle said he’s been fortunate to
work for the ABF organization for such
a long time. “There have been people
who have been of service to me as men-
tors, advisors and friends,” he says.
“There’s a value system we all willingly
belong to at ABF. Early on, you learn
there is a culture to do the right thing, improving,” she said. “What you have working together more than ever. We
tell the truth, own up to mistakes, learn to do to differentiate yourself is to be are working together to get that right
from them and move on. It all starts at much more tuned into your customer answer for the customer.”
the top with (former chairmen) Robert and what their needs are. Find those Increasingly, McReynolds said,
Young Jr. and Robert Young III, who difference makers, and bring them to shippers want a single source to handle
provided leadership along the way.” that discussion. That’s what ABF is all their transportation needs. “We like
Slagle has worked in both the pre- about. We’re not talking about basics. owning assets but we like bringing solu-
1980 regulated environment in the LTL We’re talking at a higher level.” tions,” she said
sector as well as today’s no-holds-barred Just in the past eight years, the “Customers don’t want you hand-
world of trucking competition. It’s changes at ABF have been multifold. Far ing them off (to other third parties).
American commerce at its best, he said, from being strictly a long-haul domes- We’re continuing to drive single source
but not for the faint of heart, he added. tic LTL carrier, ABF now has customers answers to customers. We want to make
That’s how much I value this “If you’re resistant to change, you worldwide handling myriad solutions it easy and have that be as simple as
magazine. While I’m deluged with shouldn’t get in this business,” he said. that are rarely the same. possible. We have a great opportunity
going forward to continue to do that.”
“If their manufacturing is based in
“It’s constantly changing and evolving.”
differing magazines from across the Slagle likes to joke that when dereg- Taiwan, ABF sales people can manage McReynolds said eight years ago,
nation, the Arkansas Trucking Report ulation occurred with the Motor Carrier that process for you,” Slagle says. “We ABF was focused on the $34 billion
is the only one I actually pack in Act of 1980, he predicted it would take have people in Taiwan to see that mate- LTL market. “Today with everything we

my briefcase and take with me. five to seven years for the industry to rial gets from factory to port, gets load- offer, we are operating in a $200 billion
absorb the changes and for the market
ed on the proper vessel, clears customs
market,” she said. “That’s significant.”
I think that speaks volumes for its place to settle down. and pays duties. If you need warehous- The trucking market, like many in
quality and readership, even on a “We’re now on our 33rd year,” he ing and distribution, truckload, LTL, this country, will find most efficient
national level. quipped. “It’s one thing that keeps me long haul, short haul LTL, final mile, answer to serve the business. “We
are not naïve. We understand that,”
expedited, premium logistics, we have
excited. It’s not the same thing every
day.” it. In eight years, that’s a pretty robust McReynolds said. “We see opportunities
Duane Acklie McReynolds said the price of transformation.” to find those answers that will affect
McReynolds said the ultimate goal
Chairman entry into the LTL market place is is to deliver transportation and supply their business in a positive way. The
market will be efficient.
“much, much higher” than it once was.
Crete Carrier Corporation Everybody has trucks. Everybody (well, chain solutions, regardless of mode. “ABF has always been focused on
nearly everybody anyway) has drivers. “We are not overly concerned that kind of delivery of answers and
Everybody has technology. And nearly which subsidiary is going to deliver solutions. You have to be that go-to
everybody has an efficient operating those services,” she said “In our 90-year person who makes their business work,”
For advertising information, contact model. history, our subsidiaries in the trans- she concluded.
portation and logistics businesses are
“The intelligence of pricing is
Jennifer Matthews Kidd, publisher, at 501.907.6776
arKansas trucKing report | issue 5 2013 35