GREW FROM 5 TO 60 TRUCKS

“Had 5 trucks when we started with Axon, and now we’re up to 60. When it comes to driver payment, invoicing, accounting department, that’s where we use Axon the most and it has been a lifesaver.”

Samuel Esparza
Terminal Manager
InterFlet Transport Inc.
Laredo, TX 78045, USA
book-iconFREE BOOK – “HOW WE TRIPLED OUR FLEET SIZE WITHOUT ADDING ANY OFFICE STAFF”

Zero to 60 in under 5 years. No joke – that’s how many trucks they’ve been adding at Interflet Transport of Laredo, Texas. It definitely helps that they went in with a plan and with an organized software system from day one. We stopped in for an interview with Samuel who is part of the management team.

My name is Samuel Esparza. I am the terminal manager for Interflet Transport from Laredo, Texas.

Can you tell us a bit about the company?

We’re a trucking company – we just haul dry vans. The company has been open for 5 years, and I’ve been working here for 3 years.

We started with 5 trucks when we started with Axon. It’s been almost 4 years and we were able to grow to 60 trucks. Axon has been especially helpful when it comes to driver payment, invoicing, and the accounting department. It has been a lifesaver.

It’s an easy system, so I learned it probably in a day and a half. It really helps.

Can you tell us about your experience with Axon Software?

My experience has been good. I know that if I have any questions, I can just phone. Axon’s staff are great. The call back is in 5-10 minutes or so. I’ve actually never had any issues with Axon. It’s a good system and we enjoy it. Everybody enjoys it.

I use Axon to see which driver has which load and where that driver is at. It’s easy. Like I said, it took me just a day – actually more like half a day – to learn the system.

I don’t use Axon every day, but whenever I get onto Axon I remember everything. Everything is just there. It’s user-friendly. That’s what I like about it. Everybody likes Axon.

How do the drivers like their statements?

They like them a lot because they’re very detailed. If there are any changes or anything, they’ll see it on the statement and question us about it. For example, if there is a layover that we paid them or there’s a deduction, they can see it physically on these statements. That helps a lot. It’s very driver-friendly. They understand it and it’s helpful.

If you didn’t have Axon Software and grew your fleet to 60 trucks, how many more staff would you need here in the office?

I would have probably needed 2 more people for each department. For example, I have 2 people in accounting, and I would have probably needed 4 extra staff if we didn’t have Axon. That’s very good, very helpful. It’s cutting down on the manpower that we need to run a company our size.

If we were to double in size again, we would probably only have to bump it up by about 3 people.

From the standpoint of return on investment, has Axon Software paid for itself?

I think it probably paid for itself in the first couple of years, because back then we had 5 people working for 2 trucks. . . . That’s a lot.

When we integrated Axon, we cut down on personnel and it worked out great. Since then we’ve had just a few people that we had to hire on. It’s a good system.

Has Axon Software helped maintain or improve your customer relations?

The reports are what help us a lot. There are a lot of reports that are customer-friendly, that we can just take from Axon and email to our customers in an attachment. The customers love that. I don’t think we’ve ever had a complaint about any reports that we send directly from Axon to the customers, and we send them on a daily basis. It’s good.

Can you compare Axon Software to any other software that you’ve used?

Yes, I’ve had experience with the McLeod system. I think McLeod is way more complex. I know trucking companies around here still use it. But I’ve used it first-hand and I know we would have a lot of trouble trying to train everyone how to use McLeod.

How do you find the support from Axon Software?

The support is great from Axon. McLeod had a 1-800 number, but it was a voicemail. You’d have to call them and leave a message, and they’d call you back. But it took them at least half a day to get back to you – they’re slow to get back.

If somebody in your industry asked about your experience with Axon Software, what would you say?

Great experience and fabulous customer service. I would recommend it to anyone.

Axon Software