Intermodal Transportation: A Look into Aspirin Transport and Reload Transportation Services
BACKGROUND OF THE INDUSTRY
People all across the world followed the story of the 200,000 ton Ever Given cargo vessel that became stranded in the Suez Canal in the spring of 2021. For six days, maritime travel on one of the world’s major trading routes was halted.
Overnight, international audiences became aware of the significance of intermodal freight transportation. Every day the canal was closed cost world trade $9.6 billion. That cost and impact do not surprise Aspirin Transportation’s Mike Perlut.
“Freight keeps economies moving,” explains Perlut.
The employment of two or more carriers (such as truck, rail, or ship) to convey commodities (freight) from shipper to consignee is known as intermodal transportation.
Perlut’s has been operating Aspirin Transportation from the Chicago suburbs since 2015 and is in the process of acquiring ownership from its present Texas-based owner, Mary Beth Guilbo. He devotes the majority of his efforts to obtaining commercial truck owner-operators in order to expand the firm. He now has a crew of 15 drivers who do not have to live on the road. They usually come home every night and have a good work-life balance. While the present owner keeps the firm running smoothly, Perlut is taking Aspirin to a new level of competition, beginning with rebranding initiatives led by Distinct.
Vincent Aguirre of Reload Transport works not far from Aspirin’s offices (dba Cowan Intermodal Group). Those who are familiar with the Distinct squad may recognize Aguirre’s name. Distinct Marketing is owned by Vincent Aguirre. His uncle is Vincent Aguirre of Cowan Transport.
Reload Transport was founded in 2007 by Aguirre and a group of business partners. They decided to become Cowan Systems franchisees, a nationwide transportation and logistics company.
“My business partners and I have extensive transportation experience.” We recognized a genuine potential to launch our own venture using better business standards. Cowan is now our parent company, and we use their Safety, Contract, and Legal departments, but we continue to operate freely and independently.”
With the help of Distinct’s marketing experts, Aguirre and his team were able to expand and grow their firm.
David’s advising has been a game changer. We currently use our website in a different way. It is gaining new high-end clients.
Operations Manager Mike Perlut
Our leads increased 10,000%. As a result, we’ve gone from hiring one new driver per month to hiring 15 new drivers each month. I had to hire people just to process the applications.
Vincent Aguirre, the proprietor
WHY WORKING WITH DAVID?
Distinct carefully matches small businesses with local advisers who are familiar with the neighborhood and the clients they serve.
An advisor that values your time.
Advisors understand that you have goals and objectives for your company. Their objective is to provide you with the marketing tools you need to reach your goals. Distinct’s expert crew will complete projects on schedule and as needed. If your objectives are long-term, they will stay up.
“I plan to continue developing with Distinct.” They suggested us to expand our marketing with geolocations in order to find new drivers. That is on our to-do list. We’ll make it.”
Aspirin Transportation commercial truck driver Mike Perlut
Advisors add unique knowledge to your team.
Perhaps you don’t have a designer on staff who can produce the new logo you require. Perhaps your website requires a makeover and TLC, but your crew is overburdened. Distinct becomes a member of your team and produces the results your company requires. Distinct invests in the success of your business, from graphic design to web support.
What matters is important to advisors.
Distinct is dedicated to building a strong community. They put in a lot of effort for tiny enterprises. When you work with Distinct, you are paired with local advisers that know and understand your neighborhood. It is important to companies like Aspirin Transport and Reload Transportation that its drivers spend the majority of their evenings in their own beds rather than on the road. Advisors and transportation firms collaborate to create marketing programs that produce leads to keep the hiring funnel filled and workers rested, content, and near to home.
COMMON DIFFICULTIES
Mike Perlut and Vincent Aguirre both have the same goal: to expand their businesses. Businesses in the intermodal transportation industry require a consistent influx of capable and vetted commercially-licensed (CDL) drivers. Their viability is impacted by a full hiring funnel.
Perlut is purchasing full ownership of Aspirin while prioritizing hiring and repositioning the brand.
The first task is to create a new logo.
For the firm logo, the original owner used a simple stock image. Perlut saw this as a squandered opportunity that he intended to rectify because generating new leads (drivers) is critical to his growth strategy.
“The company previously had no strong brand presence,” he explains. The logo consisted of an aspirin pill. That image does not correspond to what this company does or attract drivers’ attention. Transportation is about movement and flow. Drivers might be unpredictable. Our website was just a landing page. But I’m confident that if I obtain a name and a number, I can convert them.”
The purpose at Reload Transportation was modernization. Not only did the logo need to be updated, but so did the marketing strategy. Vincent Aguirre’s long-term goal is to expand into western states, as well as the southeastern and southern United States. He has access to hubs in various states as a member of Cowan Systems.
However, simply having his feet in different places is insufficient. He requires the work force. He requires a solid recruitment strategy. His marketing was not digital; instead, he depended on newspapers. As a result, on average, he would draw no more than 5 candidates every month and extend a job offer to only one driver. At this rate of hiring, he would miss his mark and be unable to scale his services.
SOLUTIONS OF DAVID MAILLARD
Vincent and Mike both met with the Distinct team to discuss their vision and aspirations. Despite their longstanding friendship, the Distinct Advisors did not take their professional connection for granted. They listened and tailored programs with the same results-driven dedication that any client would receive.
“I’m good at what I do, and Vince (Distinct) is great at what he does,” Mike Perlut says. I knew I needed support with technology to get the firm where I wanted it to go.”
Perlut described his vision for Aspirin’s identity. With a new sleek truck design and motto, Distinct created a new logo that clearly conveyed the company’s professional services. It was a thorough procedure that left Perlut satisfied and heard.
“We tried roughly 30 different logo designs.” We continued to narrow down the alternatives and made 4 or 5 modifications. And then I got the logo I desired.”
He also knew he wanted “Keep Freight Flowing” as his tagline. The text was seamlessly inserted by Distinct’s designers.
They didn’t stop there, though.
“Our website is essentially a landing page.” I just need a spot to collect the names and contact information of interested drivers. Distinct enhanced our page with a lovely form. They’ve also assisted in a variety of different ways.”
Distinct is in charge of Aspirin’s website support, email hosting, and Google services (including Cloud platform).
“It’s going well with Distinct. I communicate my technology requirements, and assistance is provided. This frees me up to concentrate on my drivers and build the business. More drivers are discovering us. Customers locate our site through Google as well, despite the fact that it is not oriented toward them.”
Not only has Distinct designed better business tools for Aspirin, but Mike Perlut also lets his counselors to influence his destiny.
I intend to continue growing with David. They encouraged us to expand our geolocation marketing in order to discover additional drivers. That is on our to-do list. We’ll make it.
Mike Perlut
Reload Transportation has also seen good marketing results after working with Distinct’s personal advisors, and Aguirre informs everyone — including the competitors!
“I tell other transportation experts, small company owners, organizations, and anybody else about Distinct’s work.” I have faith in them. They value confidential knowledge, thus I have no reservations about sharing others about the results they will bring.”
Reload, like Aspirin, got a new style and a new logo. The new style was warmly received not just by Aguirre (Reload), but also by drivers and non-industry persons. “Distinct suggested we look into merchandising the new logo. It was successful. People of all ages wear my company’s brand on their hats and shirts. It’s fantastic. They’re out there advertising for me.”
Reload’s largest benefit from digitizing their marketing was increased driver recruitment. Aguirre (Reload) saw his monthly applications increase from 1-5 to over 100 after Distinct improved the website and implemented effective SEO. Each month!
“We witnessed a 10,000% rise in applications and a significant increase in employment offers.” Instead of hiring one new driver per month, we hired 15.” With the leads and conversion rates Aguirre is currently seeing, his national expansion plans become lot more attainable.
SUMMARY
The intramodal transportation industry necessitates a long-term labor force capable of committing to long hauls and irregular timetables. Aspirin Transportation and Reload Transportation Services both employed print ads and lackluster websites to attract truck owners and operators to their respective businesses. Neither technique significantly increased their driver pool.
Different consultants worked with both organizations to refresh their brands, redesigning logos and introducing digital marketing tools and healthy SEO methods that ensured a larger reach among truck operators. The outcome has been fantastic.
Reload witnessed a 10,000% increase in applications, and high-end clients initiated service conversations with Aspirin after being drawn in by their new design and website.
