Atlas Amplifier PDF - Atlas Van Lines

Acceleration!Acceleration!Atlas’ Premium Delivery Option Takes Off“If you had something this fast, you’d paint it like this, too.”The Accel SmartVault is designed for safe, secure andefficient transit and storage.You might call it an idea whose time has come...or,as Frank Webers aptly terms it, “the solution for thesmall shipment.”Frank, President of Collins Brothers Moving & Storage(547) in Larchmont, New York, is referring to Atlas Accel,a new premium, expedited delivery option. In just a fewshort weeks of using Accel, he sees the potential for smallshipments has suddenly grown much bigger.“There have always been challenges with shipmentsunder 5,000 pounds,” says Frank. “With Accel, I can givecustomers a much shorter spread for delivery. Althoughthe transportation cost is more, they find the savings inexpenses for food and hotels–not to mention lostproductivity–is huge.”“We’ve shown this to about ten clients, and everyone of them has seen applications for their business,” saysDon Hill, President and COO of Alexander’s MobilityServices (207). “They see the value of employees beingable to select the dates, and they are extremely intriguedby the per diem cost savings.”But Atlas agents aren’t the only ones singing praises.“Customers like Accel because it lets them designtheir own move,” says Steve Hermann, Atlas AssistantVice President, Logistics. “For instance, a customer whorelocates frequently just completed a move with Acceland wrote to tell us this is exactly the service he has beenlooking for. He says he will never move any other way.”A New Idea for the Industry“Accel represents a new idea for the industry, a differentway of thinking,” says Atlas Sr. Vice President and ChiefMarketing Officer Greg Hoover, who led the Acceldevelopment team. “We started out in early 2005 bysimply looking at how we might add value and improveservice quality for customers with smaller shipments.”The idea for containerized transit evolved and, aftersecuring agreements with prime service partners, Atlastested Accel in the field. Following an introduction in 16major metro areas in mid 2006, the planned expansionto 41 markets was achieved by the start of 2007.Because Accel is new for Atlas, not to mention theindustry, product education has been critical to itslaunch. During December and early January, Atlas trainerstraveled the country to orient agents. Fifty-two agenciesparticipated in live training events and many took part inweb-based education programs. They became familiarwith how to submit an online contract request, usethe web-based pricing application to get an instantcost estimate, and how to actually place an order.“Our goal was to roll the program out on January 1,2007,” says Greg. The effort came close, with the firstshipments taking place in mid-January. “We’re buildingmomentum,” says Greg. “In just a little over three weekswe’ve booked 40 shipments, with an average size of twovaults per shipment. One account is now registering threeor four shipments a day.”Yet Another Claim to FameAs agents and customers are finding out, Accel saves timethat equates to significant expense reductions. But it bringsanother cost advantage: fewer claims.“The industry average for claims is about one in fourshipments,” says Greg. “As our customers know, Atlas VanLines outperforms the industry, with a ratio of about one inseven. For Accel, the ratio is approximately one in thirteen.That’s phenomenal.”The claims performance in large part reflects the uniquedesign of the Accel container, a tough, lockable polymerSmartVault that includes GPS tracking for added security."It’s unbelievably strong,” says Frank, “and it’s easy to stack inthe warehouse and move around.”“When you put it all together,” says Greg, “Accel offers avalue proposition with applications for practically anyone.”Don Hill agrees. “The value is so great, it’s worth it topay a little extra and have the truck there within a one-daywindow. This concept may even someday affect the waybig shipments are handled.”“I believe Accel will continue to gain momentum,” saysFrank. “Especially when clients see the happier faces on theiremployees and the cost savings. It’s a win-win for everyone.”Atlas agents learn how they can put Accel expedited deliveryto work for their customers. Atlas conducted the trainingsessions across the country during December and January.18Atlas Amplifier • Summer 2007Atlas Amplifier • Summer 2007 19