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Profile: Watkins Shepard Trucking, Inc.
Missoula, Montana
Annual Revenue: $160 million
Number of employees: 1,050
Watkins Shepard Trucking is a Missoula, Montana-based national carrier of less-than-truckload (LTL), truckload, flatbed and intermodal freight. Watkins Shepard has grown from a small regional-based company in Montana to a national company with 20 terminal locations in 14 states serving all 48 states and the western provinces of Canada. Watkins Shepard's primary goal is to provide quality service at a competitive price and deliver the best customer service in the industry.
Ray Kuntz, CEO and current American Trucking Associations (ATA) Chairman, recognizes the importance of idle reduction, speed controls and tire improvements in the industry. Under Ray's leadership Watkins Shepard is working hard to increase fuel efficiency and reduce exhaust emissions.
As a Partner in the SmartWay Transport Partnership program, Watkins Shepard has:
- Installed auxiliary power units on one-third of its fleet and is planning to install APUs on all 750 power units by the end of 2009.
- Implemented truck idling restrictions that include idle shut off on tractors.
- Installed super single tires on tractors and trailers. Watkins Shepard is taking delivery of 55 tractors and 50 trailers in the fall of 2007 that are all equipped with super single tires.
- Conducted tire inflation programs with training.
- Partnered with Cummins and Detroit Diesel to set parameters on truck engines that increase fuel efficiency by improving shift/RPM settings.
- Administered a fleet mileage improvement program.
“Improving fleet mileage is just good business; it is not only important to the environment, but important to the bottom-line. Watkins Shepard wants to be a successful trucking company and also a good neighbor concerned about the health and well-being of our population. We are proud to be an industry leader in emission and fuel efficiency study and implementation and hope to leave a healthy environment for our employee’s children and grandchildren. We are proud to be a SmartWay partner.”
Jim Lewis
Director of Truckload Operations