12A Trucker Behavior
The
segment I targeted where professional drivers that included 2 semi-truck
drivers and 1 professional transporter who drove a large pick-up truck and was
hired privately to move certain objects for customers.
The
semi-truck drivers stated they used highways other then the interstate very
often depending on if it was closer to their destination. They both also eluded
to the fact they do have certain stations they like to stop at and do build a loyalty
to certain stations. They did not have brand loyalty, but the loyalty was to
the station. They both expected to have enough parking to sleep and a maintenance
person to work on the trucks.
The transporter
did not have the same loyalty to certain stops and frequently used the interstate
system over the highway system. As well this person did not have a routine like
the semi-truck drivers did. The transporter was less scheduled and only ate and
filled up when needed. The semi-truck drivers would fill up and eat at mostly designated
times unless it was a must.
Hey Bradley,
ReplyDeleteI think that you chose a very interesting segment to write on. I think that truckers would be a very good segment to focus on because they are the ones that travel highways and interstate systems the most. I know that personally, I develop a brand loyalty to certain gas stations. At the end of the day though, convenience beats all. I understand the certain stop loyalty though as well. There are certain places that I love to stop at because they do have such great customer service and nice facilities.
-Dakota Horlocker
ReplyDeleteHi Bradley! You reached some interesting conclusions in your interviews, some of which I disagree with. My husband is an owner-operator truck driver, so I have great knowledge in this area.
Most semi-truck drivers do in fact use the interstate highways to get as close as possible to their destinations. In general, they only use local roads and non-interstate highways if those roads lead directly to their destinations, unless there is some problem on the interstate that is causing a traffic jam, such as a wreck. The interstates are built to accommodate heavy traffic and heavier vehicles, such as semi-trucks. This is not necessarily true of local roads. Truckers are happy to pay the tolls on roads such as the Florida Turnpike, because those roads are faster and because the tolls are a business expense that is deducted from their taxable income.
Semi-truck drivers DO have brand loyalty, not loyalty to a certain station. They don’t often stop at local stations. This is because of the way truck fueling works. The trucking companies engage in contracts with certain truck stop brands for fuel. They provide their drivers with cards that only work at those stations. The trucker fills the semi with diesel (usually) using that card at that brand station. This is for convenience, and so truckers do not have to carry large amounts of cash with them. It costs hundreds of dollars to refill a semi with fuel one time. My husband is leased onto a company that contracts with the Pilot brand of truck stops. He carries a card that works at Pilot stations only. He refuels at Pilot stations using the card. (The fuel charges are deducted from his settlement by the company he is leased onto. We in turn deduct those charges from our taxable income.) It worked the same way when he was a company driver, before he bought his truck. He carried the fuel card that was only good at certain fuel brand stations. My husband can stop at any Pilot to refuel; he makes that decision depending on where the next Pilot is and how much fuel he has left in the truck, as well as how far away his destination is.
My husband and other truckers are not loyal to particular stations because they do not often do the same loads. They pull different loads to different places. He may stop at the Pilot near Tallahassee one night when he has a load going to the Florida Panhandle. The very next night may see him carrying a load to Central Florida, so he wouldn’t be going back to that Pilot in Tallahassee when it is so far out of his way! Some truckers have dedicated loads and they might build loyalty to a particular station where their brand fuel is available, but most take what loads are available, and they might be going somewhere completely different than before.
So, that was a lot of words to disagree with your conclusions regarding semi-truck drivers. They use interstate highways to get as close as possible to their destinations, not local roads. They are required to use certain brand stations, and don’t necessarily build loyalty to particular stations as opposed to particular brands. Semi-truck drivers only have a set routine if they drive dedicated routes (the same routes every day.) If they aren’t dedicated, they couldn’t possibly have the same routine because they are driving somewhere different every night. (Most semi-truck drivers drive at night, when the traffic is lighter.)
One more point- you did not tell us how these interviews relate to your business idea. You were mentioning that a new interstate bypass was being built that would put businesses along Hwy. 301 out of business. If these semi-truck drivers would rather take local highways, how does that help a new business on an interstate bypass, which is still part of the interstate road system?