Slump Helped Industry, Refrigerated Carrier Execs Say

The refrigerated segment of trucking has benefited operationally from its recent bust and rebirth cycle, moving freight more efficiently and communicating better with shippers, said several carrier executives.

They said their businesses, aside from greater profits, are now more technologically advanced and run more professionally. Oddly enough, they credited a federal regulation and Wal-Mart Stores for helping matters.

“In the late 1990s and early 2000s there was a lot of downtime at shippers’ and receivers’ [facilities]. The detention was bloody awful, but it’s gotten a lot better now. It’s much more sophisticated,” said Christopher Kozak, president of Willis Shaw Express, a refrigerated carrier subsidiary of Comcar Industries.

For the full story, see the Dec. 5 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.