To compete in today's complex global economy, you must look for ways to improve efficiencies, without losing value, in every aspect of your business. One immediate change that can easily help you focus on your core competencies is outsourcing the management of your freight transportation to the experts at Penske.
What Is Dedicated Contract Carriage?
The Council for Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP.org) defines dedicated contract carriage (also known as DCC) as a third-party service that dedicates equipment (vehicles) and drivers to a single customer for its exclusive use on a contractual basis. At Penske Logistics, we see dedicated contract carriage as a way for shippers to reduce costs, increase truck capacity and transfer liability. As a dedicated contract carriage provider, we may also take on white-glove responsibilities such as direct store delivery, front-door delivery, customer interaction, cross-docking and more.
The Benefits of Dedicated Contract Carriage
With Penske dedicated contract carriage, you don't have all the worries of fleet ownership, but you receive all the benefits: a safe, efficient fleet that's under your control; visibility to your shipments and deliveries; well-trained, professional drivers; continuous improvement that's measured and tracked; and much more. All this allows you to focus on the real concerns of your business and your customers. Penske's dedicated contract carriage solution relies on industry expertise, dedication to safety and cutting-edge transportation technology to deliver peak service performance, allowing you to surpass your business goals.
Recruiting and retaining drivers along with managing the complexities of running a fleet and staying current with regulations can cut into your time and profits. Penske dedicated contract carriage provides you with a fleet of trucks and well-trained drivers that we take care of. We'll even brand them for you. Penske covers 48 states and Canada and provides dedicated contract carriage service across industries, equipment types and uses. Some of the notable benefits of outsourcing to Penske include guaranteed capacity and the ability to alleviate driver management and truck maintenance concerns while establishing route optimization that saves valuable time and money.
Penske Dedicated Contract Carriage Benefits
Gain Access to Cross-Industry Experience
Penske has experience in a variety of industries: food and beverage, industrial manufacturing, automotive and retail, and others. We can also demonstrate transferrable skills that can adapt to your requirements. We understand your needs because we have experience working in your world. Learn more.
Improve Customer Service
You want to represent your company in the best way possible. Penske dedicated contract carriage seamlessly integrates into your organization and ultimately becomes an extension of your business. From driving trucks with your logo to wearing your uniform, a Penske dedicated contract carriage solution means we will represent your business in the same manner that you would.
We also help you give your customers the best service possible by giving you visibility into every delivery we make. With ClearChain®, you'll be able to rest assured that the parts you're waiting for are on their way or the order you sent is nearing its destination. ClearChain collects load data in several ways, so you can automatically receive alerts regarding shipments based on parameters you set. You can define how often you'd like updates, the type of updates you want (such as ship notifications or estimated time of arrival) and the preferred communication method. Learn more.
Drive Excellence With the Latest Technology
Penske uses advanced tools and state-of-the-art technology called ClearChain to create operational excellence and control within our dedicated contract carriage practice.
ClearChain is a comprehensive suite of optimization and operation tools that leverages best-in-class commercial software and integrates it with Penske's own applications. It provides key benefits in the areas of visibility, operational efficiency and productivity.
ClearChain captures GPS data on your loads and provides customized dashboards, so all vested parties are in the loop and know where your products are every step of the way. Not only will you have a clear picture of your operations, but we can also use that data to improve your productivity as well as make quick decisions, should a disruption occur.
Much of ClearChain's reporting is automated, which means no one has to wait for a driver to update the system. It utilizes a truck's electronic onboard recorder to monitor both engine and driver performance while a truck is in operation. It can communicate with the driver via tablet, smartphone or the web.
From fleet management to driver performance, ClearChain produces disciplined metrics management and ultimately enables continuous improvement, allowing you to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Learn more.
Improve Safety
Penske makes safety a priority. For drivers, Penske provides the tools they need to be successful. We also continuously invest in state-of-the-art safety componentry for our vehicles. This includes items such as adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, disc brakes and LED headlights. Penske also routinely conducts a continuous evaluation of new safety products, ensuring that we are always up to date with the latest safety technology. Learn more.
Eliminate the Need To Buy and Maintain Your Fleet
Fleet ownership comes with the associated expenses of overhead, towing, taxes, washing, acquiring substitute vehicles, licensing and fuel, among other hard costs. And the longer you own a truck, the higher maintenance and repair costs will be. This includes givens like tires, oil changes and routine inspections. With dedicated contract carriage , Penske Logistics owns and maintains all of the vehicles in your fleet. That means we take care of keeping vehicles safe, compliant and on the road.
Easily Handle Fluctuations
Penske understands that the ability to meet spikes in demand can often make or break a business. We have the solutions to make certain your freight is delivered during both seasonal and unexpected surges. When demand surges, we are able to source additional Penske drivers and trucks. Our vast network of trucks and qualified drivers enables us to place resources where necessary to ensure your business is covered. Learn more.
Optimize Routing
Today, shippers require some degree of a customized solution to ensure both time and resources are used with maximum efficiency. Penske will fully customize a plan for your transportation needs, taking into consideration your market, your people and your schedule.
Complexities within the supply chain also increase the importance of route optimization. Penske doesn't just look at it as distributing from A to B. We look at the network and optimize it, and that applies to miles, drivers and assets. With ClearChain technology, we model scenarios that look at increasing efficiency by diversifying equipment or by making more frequent deliveries, etc. Learn more.
Outsource Recruiting and Retaining Qualified Drivers
Recruiting and retaining quality CDL drivers is a big challenge for any shipper. Penske has highly skilled, dedicated drivers, and all drivers receive year-round training and instruction to keep their driving skills sharp.
Penske seeks out drivers who are positive brand representatives and who exhibit a strong customer service commitment and pledge toward road safety. Our drivers enjoy outstanding benefits packages and comprehensive onboarding and training programs; well-maintained, late-model trucks and trailers with the latest safety and technology; 24/7 support from our own roadside assistance team; and a North American network of over 2,900 truck leasing and rental facilities. Penske drivers are highly valued—a strong indicator as to why Penske driver turnover is among the lowest in the industry. Learn more.
Stay Compliant with Changing Regulations
Requirements for transportation companies seem to change on an almost-daily basis. Penske can create a strategic solution that right-sizes your fleet, keeps it safe, well-maintained and compliant, and runs it all using a combination of operator expertise, proven processes and industry-leading technology. Because Penske is a leader in the truck leasing industry, you can rest assured that we will always keep your fleet safe and compliant. Additionally, we stay up to date on all of the industry's changing regulations, from ELD and hours of service requirements to environmental considerations. You will no longer need to worry about being compliant because we will make sure you are.
Reduce Overhead Costs
Buying new equipment and keeping it operating at peak efficiency is expensive and can be unpredictable. And with the way technology is constantly changing, enjoying and maintaining the latest technology is extremely challenging. At Penske, we are experts at buying and maintaining cutting-edge transportation solutions and finding the best fit for every customer.
Cristy Sinclair, Penske Logistics director of food safety, has been recognized as a 2022 Rock Star of the Supply Chain by Food Logistics magazine.