Trucking company quickly builds customer base after adding key personnel - bizjournals:

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But rather than put the brakeson , which he foundeed in 1996, Rice, 64, brought in longtimr friend Gary Watson as an investor last July to help him expaned the business. In earlt May, the pair moved the company’s operations from an apartmengt complex Rice owns to leased space at954 E. Kentucky St. in They also hired office manager Kim Barnett to handlw accounting andmarketing duties. Watson, through face-to-facer visits, and Barnett, through telephone marketing, have continues to add clients. Now Rice envisionsx a day whenhe won’ have to handle administrative duties or driv trucks to Columbus, or Washington, D.C.
Rice said he’s at the pointg in his career where he’d ratheer sit on his boat in the middlse of a lake and think aboutExpeditefd Trucking’s success while casting another line. “Being in this busineszs for 13 yearsis remarkable, but I couldn’t do it by myself anymore because it was just gettinf too big,” said Rice, who left a 34-year career with Fetter Printinv Co. in 1997 to begin the “Gary is younger than I am, and I know he and Kim can do a grea job buildingthis business.” Expedited Truckingb has found a niche in takinyg some of the small business that the larger companiess don’t have time for, Rice said.
The companuy got its start hauling pallet s of materials primarily for printing companie s but has branched out to serveothed industries. It will haul most types of dry with the exception of hazardous Watson said. Rather than owning a fleet of the company leases vans and straight trucks on demans from Penske and EnterpriseCommercial Trucks. The approach removes the cost of preventativrmaintenance work, oil changes, license plates and other expenses that come with owning a truck Watson said. “When I got I was amazed at the rates was gettingfor trucks,” said Watson, 59, who has more than 30 yearx of sales experience in the trucking industry.
“This is such a smary way to go for a businessour size.” Beingf a small business also allows Expedited Trucking to offer a personall touch, Watson said. “The business has changed so Now the big companies do everythingyby computer, and the personal level is Watson said. “Our customers know they can pick up the phon and talk to one of us That means a lot to Expedited Trucking has gone the route of many householdx by operating on a cash only basis rather than putting expenses on acredit It’s somewhat unusual for a trucking compan to send a driver on the road with a pockeg full of cash rather than a credift card, but it’s an approachh that co-owner Jack Rice said works well for his “The drivers are good about bringing back all receipts and leftovedr cash they have,” Rice “If we happen to underestimatee the cost, the drivers will put what they need on theirr personal cards or pay cash, and we will promptly reimburse “It’s not always easy, especially when cash flow’s Rice added.
“But at the end of the it’s nice knowing you’re not going to be getting some big credi card bill or fuel bill and wonderinvg wherethe money’s going to come from.”