Tucker's Newly Certified Transportation Brokers (CTBs)

Congratulations to Tucker’s Hugh McLaughlin, VP Sales, and Mike Arlotta, Customer Service Coordinator. Hugh and Mike are the latest Tucker team members to pass their CTB exams from the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA). They join about a dozen other Tucker CTB team members. The CTB Program is meaningful to Tucker Company in another way, too. Tucker’s past President Bill Tucker (1972-2003), and CTB number 2, authored the first CTB Program. It was the central focus of his time as Chairperson of the Education Committee for TIA. His work developed curriculum and a series of tests to achieve certification. Today, the test continues to increase the professionalism and integrity of property brokerage, meet the educational needs of brokers, and expand basic knowledge of the brokerage and transportation industry through a rigorous certification program. There are over 1,280 CTBs nationwide.

Tucker CEO completes marathon & raises over $2,000 for charitable cause

Cherry Hill, N.J. (December 17, 2008) – Jeffrey Tucker, CEO of Tucker Company, Cherry Hill, N.J., recently competed in the Philadelphia Marathon, and raised over $2,000 for the Fellowship House of South Camden, New Jersey.

Tucker, along with the Rotary Club of Haddonfield, presented a check in the amount of $2,160 to Reverend Harrison Davis, executive director of the Fellowship House, in the memory of Brandon Thompson, the grandson of Reverend Davis. Recently Brandon, aged four, was tragically killed in Camden, N.J. by a stray bullet. The Fellowship House ministers to South Camden’s children and adults in a number of areas including drug rehabilitation, church services and food distribution.

Tucker, who completed the run in 4:35 hours, acknowledged the support of friends, family and the Rotary Club in this effort for the Fellowship House and the memory of Brandon. In accepting the donation, Reverend Davis expressed appreciation to everyone who helped, and said the funds will be used to help Brandon’s family during this difficult time.

As seen in: Outsourced Logistics and the NDTA Newsletter

Tucker Company CEO to run marathon

Cherry Hill, N.J. – Jeffrey Tucker, CEO of Tucker Company, Cherry Hill, N.J., has entered in the Philadelphia Marathon on November 23, 2008. He has chosen to run the marathon in order to raise funds for the Fellowship House of South Camden, New Jersey.

“I was saddened by the recent tragic story of 4-year old Brandon Thompson of Camden, who was killed instantly by a stray bullet as he was fleeing into his mother’s arms, just a few miles from where I live,” Tucker stated. “Charitable contributions will be made to the Fellowship House which ministers to South Camden’s children and adults in a number of areas including drug rehabilitation, church services and food distribution.”

Brandon Thompson was the grandson of Minister Harrison Davis, executive director of the Fellowship House. “Harrison, who humbly and quietly does his life’s work, is an outstanding, caring and giving man, who has consistently placed the health, mentoring, general safety and well-being of his neighbors above himself,” Tucker said.

Jeffrey Tucker and his wife Heather will personally match the contributions of the donations of others, up to $400, “or $500 if I’m able to run the marathon in under four hours,” Tucker added. This is his second marathon, though the first was ten years ago. Anyone interested in sponsoring Tucker’s run and supporting the Fellowship House cause, can write a check made payable to “Fellowship House” (write “Brandon Fund” in the memo field). The donation (tax deductible) should be mailed to “Brandon Fund”, c/o Jeff Tucker, Tucker Company, 900 Dudley Avenue, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002.

As seen in: Traffic World Online and Transport Topics

Tucker Holds First Annual Strategic Council

Tucker recently hosted its first Strategic Council in our Cherry Hill, NJ, headquarters. We assembled various leading shipper organizations and experts, representing some of the world’s most influential firms. Clients included leaders in the pharmaceutical and medical diagnostics, consumer products, industrial materials industries as well as US Government representation from the General Service Administration (GSA). The goal of the Strategic Council is to discuss critical transportation economic issues and their impact now and into the future, and to discuss effectively and successfully communicating these issues, changes and concerns to each of our organizations, vendors and customers. Guest presenters included: Jon Langenfeld, R.W. Baird’s Director, Senior Research Analyst, recognized by Forbes Magazine as among transportation’s “Top Analysts;” John Gentle, DLP, former Logistics Management’s Logistics Person of the Year and a DC Velocity Magazine “Rainmaker;” Annette Sandberg, past Administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Capacity and fuel dominated the day, followed by new legislation and elevated liability and risk selecting safe carriers.

Langenfeld’s economic transportation forecasts a significant shift from the abundant capacity that began in 2006, to a more severe and prolonged capacity starved environment, possibly as early as 2009, calling that period a “pricing renaissance” for carriers. Langenfeld provided an analyst’s perspective of fuel, illustrating how difficult it is for carriers to survive this fuel crisis, and how it has contributed to the loss of capacity.

Tucker’s CEO Jeff Tucker and General Counsel and Director of Risk Management Darin Day provided an overview of the new, expensive legal liabilities applied against shippers and brokers by plaintiff attorneys. Landmark cases like Schramm v. Foster and Puckrein v. ATI, and copycat suits have re-written safe carrier selection requirements that shippers and brokers should follow when hiring a motor carrier. These new procedures remove available capacity from the equation.

John Gentle presented the results of his recent survey of leading national and regional motor carriers entitled, “Looking in the Mirror and How Carriers Perceive Shippers.” The study provided rare, invaluable insight into how carriers decide which shippers will receive their service and available trucks. The carriers ranked the most important shipper characteristics in this order: operations, compensation, relationships, receivables, legal, claims, other. Summary discussion focused on how a shipper’s internal self-evaluation can yield positive results affecting service, cost and capacity from transport providers. As we begin our journey into a capacity-starved environment, the resulting discussions involved what each of us can do to handle the challenge.

Annette Sandberg provided insight into what is happening on the regulatory front, from both DHS and DOT agency perspectives. She covered expected DOT announcments this year on final rules for hours of service, electronic on board recorders (EOBRs), New Entrant Motor Carrier Safety Audits, and Intermodal Container Chassis. In addition, Ms. Sandberg discussed the DOT’s plan for merging the medical license and commercial driver’s license programs for drivers. She also provided commentary on the newly introduced TRUCC Act (See Owner Operators), and the unified opposition against it in Washington and the Clean Air Action Plan LA/Long Beach, where authorities there would drive owner operators out of business, in a “green” push. Finally, Ms. Sandberg outlined the debate in Washington on infrastructure investment, which will dominate the upcoming Highway Reauthorization Bill. Every presentation illustrated in different and clear ways, how and why capacity is leaving the marketplace. Capacity is leaving due to fuel costs, bankruptcies, highway congestion, new regulations, safety and risk reasons, broader economic conditions and because physical assets are being sold overseas due to the weak U.S. demand and weaker U.S. dollar. The singular challenge ahead for all shippers: survive the upcoming crisis, in tact. The smartest shippers will not only survive, but they will prosper.

To be involved in future Strategic Councils, please contact
Hugh McLaughlin at (800) 229-7780, ext. 128,
hugh.mclaughlin@tuckerco.com.
For more information on successful strategies, contact Hugh or your Tucker sales representative. We will continue providing feedback and insight in our newsletters, too. Tucker Company can help you plan for the crisis ahead, and successfully navigate through it, so that your company is positioned to win.

Two New Certified Transportation Brokers (CTBs)

Congratulations to Tucker’s Mary Massaro, National Accounts Manager, and Brian Hadley, Customer Service Coordinator. Mary and Brian are the latest Tucker team members to pass their CTB exams from the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA). They join about a dozen other Tucker CTB team members. The CTB Program is meaningful to Tucker Company in another way, too. Tucker’s past President Bill Tucker (1972-2003), and CTB number 2, authored the first CTB Program. It was the central focus of his time as Chairperson of the Education Committee for TIA. His work developed curriculum and a series of tests to achieve certification. Today, the test continues to increase the professionalism and integrity of property brokerage, meet the educational needs of brokers, and expand basic knowledge of the brokerage and transportation industry through a rigorous certification program. There are over 1,280 CTBs nationwide.

As seen in: Outsurced Logistics, and Transport Topics

Tucker Company Goes Green

Cherry Hill, N.J. (September 15, 2008, B, ) – Jeffrey Tucker, CEO of Tucker Company, Cherry Hill, N.J., recently announced that the firm is continuing its efforts to act green. “We are no longer purchasing disposable cups, including Styrofoam and paper cups for coffee and drinking water purposes,” he stated.

To kick-off this latest environment-friendly program, the entire staff had a “going green” party where they all got together to paint their own ceramic mug that each would use in place of the disposable cups.

“It is estimated that 25 billion Styrofoam cups are thrown away every year, without a thought to the consequences,” Jeffrey Tucker said. “We need to remember that Styrofoam is an environmental hazard because of it not being degradable, and its high cost to be recycled.”

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Even 500 years from now the foam coffee cup you used this morning will be sitting in a landfill.”

Tucker Company participates in a voluntary fuel conservation program of the EPA named “SmartWay” that seeks to reduce the carbon emissions and wasted fuel in the transportation industry.

As seen in: South Jersey News On-line

Tucker Company selected as a 2008 “Top 100 3PL”

Cherry Hill, N.J. (August 21, 2008) – Tucker Company, Cherry Hill, N.J., as been selected as a 2008 “Top 100 3PL” (Third Party Logistics firm) by Inbound Logistics magazine. A “3PL” is a logistics management firm that usually owns no trucks, trains or ships, but by knowledge and contracts with carriers, it manages freight and logistics for many of the nation’s manufacturers and retailers.

This is the fifth consecutive year that Tucker Company as made the prestigious list. “Tucker Company was selected as a Top 100 3PL for its ability to help customers explore new markets and new opportunities both domestically and around the world,” stated Felicia Stratton, editor, Inbound Logistics. “They are responsive to customer needs, and offer strategic solutions designed to drive business process improvement and change.”

Jeff Tucker, CEO of Tucker Company, stated, “It is very gratifying to be recognized in this manner for our efforts on behalf of our customers. I have to commend every member of our staff for their commitment to do whatever is necessary to help our customers succeed.”

Felicia Stratton added, “Each year, Inbound Logistics editors select the best logistics solutions providers by carefully evaluating submitted information, conducting personal interviews and online research, and comparing that data to our readers’ burgeoning global supply chain and logistics challenges.”

As seen in: Courier Post On-Line