The power of benchmarking | Amanda Pearson of TCA

Summary In this episode, Jacob Eischen interviews Amanda Pearson, the profitability program facilitator for the TCA. They discuss the benchmarking program and how it helps carriers improve their operations and profitability. Amanda explains the structure and meetings of the groups, highlighting the importance of trust and collaboration among members. She shares success stories and learnings from the program, including how carriers have identified and addressed issues in their operations. Amanda also discusses the key traits of high-performing carriers and offers tips for successful growth. The conversation covers topics such as innovation, market cycles, and hot button issues in the industry. Amanda provides insights into the main KPIs used in the program and how carriers can join and benefit from it. Takeaways The profitability program offered by TCA helps carriers improve their operations and profitability through benchmarking and best practice sharing. Trust and collaboration are key in the program, as carriers openly share their successes, failures, and ideas with each other. The program has helped carriers address issues and make improvements in areas such as driver pay, maintenance, and growth strategies. High-performing carriers have a strong understanding of their values, culture, and goals, and align their departments and KPIs accordingly. The program fosters innovation in the industry, with carriers sharing cutting-edge technologies and ideas. Market cycles and regulatory changes are ongoing challenges in the industry, and the program helps carriers navigate and learn from these changes. Carriers interested in joining the program can reach out to TCA and go through a vetting process to ensure a good fit with existing groups. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction and Weather 00:42 – Amanda's Role and Program Overview 02:18 – Structure and Meetings of the Groups 04:38 – Building Trust and Collaboration 06:09 – Amanda's Background and Passion for the Program 09:23 – Friendliness and Support in the Trucking Community 11:12 – Typical Meeting Structure and Topics 14:06 – Success Stories and Learnings from the Program 19:03 – Remedying Issues and Managing Change 20:44 – Key Traits of High-Performing Carriers 22:28 – Tips for Successful Growth 25:12 – Balancing Unique Niche and Best Practices 27:20 – Innovation and Technology in the Industry 29:43 – Navigating Market Cycles and Lessons Learned 31:53 – Finding and Joining the Program 34:31 – Nurturing Diversity in the Groups 36:08 – Amanda's Experience and its Impact 38:05 – Hot Button Issues in the Industry 40:46 – Main KPIs and Starting Point for New Carriers 43:52 – Bold Prediction for the Future of Trucking 46:04 – How to Join the Program 47:25 – Conclusion