Transport Corporation of America, Inc. ("Transport America") began operations in
1984. The company provides a wide range of truckload carriage and logistics
services in various lengths of haul in the United States, parts of Canada and
Mexico. Transport America serves as an integral part of the distribution system
of many of its major customers. The principal categories of freight hauled by
the company are department-store merchandise, home and office furniture,
grocery, industrial, consumer, paper products, and expedited services.
The majority of Transport America customers are Fortune 500 companies that
utilize transportation as a strategic advantage over their competitors. We serve
a wide range of industries including:
- Retailing
- Manufacturing
- Furniture
- Consumer products
- Expedited freight
- Recreational products
Our customer's freight points are located throughout the United States, Canada,
and Mexico, but our most dense traffic lanes are in the Midwest, East and
Southeast. We serve these customers with traditional over-the-road, dedicated,
local transportation, and logistics services.
Transport America has developed an integrated and highly sophisticated,
client/server computer information system. This system integrates operations
with the principal back-office functions of safety, maintenance, driver and
independent contractor settlement, fuel, billing, and accounting. The system
also includes satellite-based communications with the fleet.
This system provides information directly to and from the Company, its
customers, and drivers to assist in managing a complex information environment.
The Company believes that its proprietary operations system allows the
operations personnel to provide superior service to our customers and our
drivers.
The Company expects to continue to employ technology solutions that enhance
customer service, improve driver services, and that will enable it to realize
other processing efficiencies.
Operations and Communications. The Company utilizes information systems and
satellite-based communications to process orders, optimize scheduling, dispatch
loads, and monitor loads in transit.
Load planners, with the benefit of optimization software, match customer orders
daily with driver availability. Once the most appropriate load assignment
decision is made, based on computer-monitored load factors, the load information
is sent directly to the driver through the satellite network.
The satellite system simplifies locating of equipment and permits timely and
efficient communication of critical operating data such as shipment orders,
loading instructions, routing, fuel, taxes paid and mileage operated, payroll,
safety, traffic, and maintenance information.
Electronic Data Interchange ("EDI"). The Company's system enables full
electronic data interchange of load tendering, shipment status, freight billing,
and payment.
This system provides significant operating advantages to the Company and its
customers, including real-time information flow, reduction or elimination of
paperwork, and error-free transcription.
EDI allows the Company to exchange data with its customers in a variety of
formats, depending on the individual customer's capabilities, which
significantly enhances quality control, customer service, and efficiency. A
significant portion of the Company's revenues is currently processed through
EDI.
Click here for additional information on our EDI technical specifications and
for EDI contact information.
Customer Access Via The Web. The Company provides its customers with on-line
access to load-status information as well as the ability to view and print
document images related to customer shipments.
The Company's Web site (
www.transportamerica.com)
also provides access to other information for the benefit of customers, drivers,
and employees. Depending upon customer needs, technological capabilities, and
internal resources, the Company expects to continue to expand its use of the
Internet and e-commerce.