The Business of Independent Service Provider Contracting

Don’t think it matters which MESO you choose when you negotiate?

Wanna bet?

We're sure you know you are gambling with the financial health of your biz when you pick a MESO based on:

• What other CSP's say is the best one to take on Facebook
• The one with the best incentive bonuses
• Thinking they hide the best one behind door #3
• No Research, No Analysis, No Data

This is what the other side hopes for, and knows many CSP's do.

It pays to do your homework and get some expert help to determine what the best offer is based on the unique characteristics of your CSA.

There's too much for you at stake to not give this issue the attention it deserves.

Topics: ISP Negotiation, Management, FedEx Ground, Business, Profit

Delivering every day. That was the title FedEx chose for its announcement in May 2019 about moving to a seven-day residential delivery operation.

The press release stated, “We’re accelerating our process of integrating nearly two million SmartPost packages previously delivered through the U.S. Postal Service into FedEx Ground operations. By the end of 2020, all home deliveries will be sorted and delivered within the same ground network. Streamlining the home delivery network creates greater density, more efficiency, and potential cost savings for our shippers.”

That’s old news now, but here we are in May 2020. Is hindsight really 20/20? Maybe some folks suffer from 20/40 hindsight?

Topics: Training, FedEx Ground, Business, Scheduling

Okay, we know what many folks are going to say. The DRO is troublesome and may not work.

While it is true that learning to use it effectively is difficult, it actually works fine. It’s the theory and engineering principals behind it that are difficult to maneuver and grasp.

The move from static route creation and management to that of a very dynamic (always changing) way of route management is now at hand. Thanks to the virus, the premature push to unprecedented levels of eCommerce, and the need for 7 day service, all are being forced to transform quicker than originally planned.

The time to embrace Dynamic Route Optimization is at hand. The fundamental culture change to Dynamic vs. Static planning is now underway.

Topics: Business Tools, Business Results, Management, Training, Business Metrics, FedEx Ground, Business, contractor

The panic associated with the COVID-19 pandemic has forced you into ADAPTING how your business is run.

Only weeks ago, it was unthinkable that both our United States healthcare system and our economy would be under this kind of assault.

The good news is that this bizzare event has uncovered some things that will be useful to incorporate into your business strategies going forward.

Here are some tips & suggestions as you look ahead:

Topics: Business Tools, Payroll, Business, Profit

Today's blog post is by our guest blogger, Brian Reeves, of Reeves Delivery Group.

By Brian Reeves, Reeves Delivery Group

MANAGERS WHO RUN ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES NEED TO BE RECRUITING HUGE NUMBERS OF NEW EMPLOYEES TODAY, JUST IN CASE THINGS GET 50 TIMES WORSE.

Topics: Business Planning, Driver Recruiting, FedEx Ground, Business, leadership

Are your drivers forced to comply with safety rules?

Or do they want to comply?

If you prefer the latter, maybe you should consider Ashiq Mizan’s unique approach.

Do Your Drivers See the Big Picture?

Ashiq Mizan is a CSP in Philadelphia, PA, who had grown increasingly frustrated with his drivers’ lack of safety training compliance.

Despite the safety training lessons being super-easy, compliance in October was around 5%. Not only did his drivers' indifference put his money at risk, but it also showed that they were missing the bigger picture.

Topics: Compliance, FedEx, Ground, ISP, FedEx Ground, Business, Contract, Selling, contractor, Purchase, safety

Is FedEx about to be purchased?

The answer is probably not...maybe.

Truth is we'll never know for sure until it happens. But don't lose sleep over it because it's not under your control.

However, it's good business to think about and reasonably prepare for change. Focus on things you can control.

Let's take a look at what a sale of FDX might look like for CSP's.

Topics: Business Structure, Business Outlook, FedEx, Ground, ISP, FedEx Ground, Business, Contract, Selling, contractor, Purchase

We’ve been preaching it, to those who would listen, for years.

Recently, FXG finally admitted it. 

You’ve been a part of it for years. But I bet a lot of you don’t even know what it is.

Now, you are actually living it.

It’s not being disguised anymore.

FXG has been telling you change is coming, but downplaying its severity in order to not upset the apple cart...too much.

So what is it?

Topics: Business, contractor

Take a look around.

Do you see the number of contractors around you dwindling?

How many contractors do you see today, vs. how many there used to be 2, 5 and 10 years ago.

It's plain to see the number of contractors is shrinking, while the number of trucks grows

This results in fewer, but larger operations.

Think this is a coincidence?

It's not.

As you seek answers from FXG on how you will achieve scale, contiguous service areas and overlap, you are being told you need to "work it out" with those around you. Well that's great, but how are you supposed to do so if you have limited resources?

There is a way, but you'll need to ask yourself some questions first.

Topics: Business Structure, Business Tools, Management, Payroll, FedEx Ground, Business, Investment, model, Merge, Purchase

Some of you reading this have already negotiated your first ISP agreement.

Maybe more than one. Others, still have not gone through the process yet, and are wondering what to expect.

Whether you are a veteran, or going to be a rookie, we thought we'd take this opportunity to share with you what we have learned from helping more than 800 of you (as of August of 2017) successfully get through the process.

Topics: Business Tools, ISP Negotiation, Ground, ISP, FedEx Ground, Business, Contract, Negotiation, contractor

Topics: Business

Here we are at the end of another year.

Topics: Business Structure, Business Results, FedEx, Business Metrics, Business, Investment, model, Metrics, Selling, contractor, Profit, vendor

Once again, you've spoken...and we've listened!

Today, we'd like to announce that we have a new service available for you, that we
think, will REALLY change the way you operate and enable you to soar to a new level of productivity and profitability.

It's the "Cure" for what's been draining your time, and limiting your success.

Topics: Compliance, Ground, Business

It's been a while.

Yes, we know that it has been a while since we released anything new and exciting to help you run your business.

But good things come to those who wait!

We want to give you a sneak peak at the new "Contractor Business Intelligence Dashboard"....

Topics: Business Tools, Compliance, FedEx, Intelligence, Ground, Business, Metrics, Dashboard

Why is it important to understand and monitor your weekly Driver Productivity Report that is emailed to you weekly from eTruckBiz?

Well, it could mean the difference between surviving in the ISP environment or not. 

I want to take you through the report, and show you why it is of utmost importance and why it matters to you.

First and foremost, it provides a way for you, on a weekly basis, to measure and monitor the performance of each driver to the goals or expectations you have in place for them. You should use it to give your drivers feedback and follow up on their performance.

Topics: ISP Negotiation, FedEx, Business Metrics, Ground, ISP, Business