For Allie Sharp-Schwalb, president and CEO of SharpTransport, the company’s success depends a great deal on the ability to keepoperating costs as low as possible. “We 
implemented a new business strategy in2007,” she relates. “To combat rising fuel costs we focused on ways to achievebetter fuel economy in the future.
“Our philosophy has always been to ask ourselves, ‘What isbest for the company?’ before we make a decision,” Sharp-Schwalb continues. “Inevery case we must find ways to increase profits by lowering costs while alwaysproviding our customers with the highest quality transportation services.”
Founded with a single tractor in 1979 by John Sharp,chairman, Ethridge, Tenn.-based Sharp Transport has grown into one of thelargest family-owned dry van, general commodities truckload carriers in thestate. Today, the company employs 200 people and fields 160 tractors thatprovide service to a long list of clients, including Bridgestone, Carrier and NewellRubbermaid, to name just a few.
Rewriting specs
“One of things we recognized was that our tractor fleetcould operate more fuel efficiently,” Sharp-Schwalb states, “so we set out torewrite our specifications in favor of aerodynamic, fuel-efficient trucks. We also wanted to work toward not havingany tractor for more than five years.”
Today, new power units are replacing older models in theSharp Transport fleet every quarter. The latest vehicles to join the operationare 40 Kenworth T2000s equipped with 475-HP CaterpillarC-15 engines; Eaton Fuller UltraShift automated manualtransmissions and Bridgestone M720 drive tires.
To help assure optimum fuel efficiency, the new Kenworths atSharp Transport were also specified using U.S. EPA SmartWay Transportguidelines. SmartWay is an innovative collaboration between EPA and the freightsector designed to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas and airpollutant emissions, and improve energy security.
“We decided to buy the T2000s after comparing our optionsfor aerodynamic trucks,” Sharp-Schwalb says. “These units average 2,500 milesper week operating mainly in eight corridors covering all 48 lower states. Withthe efficiency of the T2000s, and by encouraging drivers to keep road speed to65 MPH and minimize idling time, some of the tractors are getting better than 7MPG.”
The balance of the Sharp Transport is also made up oflate-model fuel-efficient tractors. Included are 2007 Peterbilt 379 and 387models, a group of 2007 T2000s, 2006 Peterbilt 387s and 2006 FreightlinerColumbias. All but six of the tractors are sleeper-equipped. Trailers in thefleet are a mix of Lufkin and Utility dry vans, which are traded after eight toten years of service.
Competitive advantage
“In all aspects of our equipment programs,” Sharp-Schwalbsays, “we work closely with our suppliers to develop specifications. We alsowork with them to learn about testing they have done and to stay updated on newproducts that might help give us a competitive advantage.”
Sharp Transport also takes advantage of training programsthat manufacturers make available for its five technicians. Utilizing acombined 30-plus years of experience, the maintenance staff works in aneight-bay shop that houses five tractor, two trailer and one service bay forpreventive maintenance, electrical work and trailer repairs. The fleet alsooutsources some services to MHC Kenworth in Nashville, and it relies on thenationwide Kenworth dealer network when repairs are required on vehicles thatare in other states.
Heading up the maintenance operation at Sharp Transport isRonnie Staggs, director of maintenance, who has more than 25 years of truckingindustry experience. “Staggs works with all of our departments and ourtechnicians to make sure that our equipment is maintained in a timely andefficient manner,” Sharp-Schwalb states. “He also represents us at industrymeetings where he meets with other trucking companies to talk about issues andto work together to solve problems.”
One area of expertise that Staggs –– who was named 2008Maintenance Professional of the Year by the Tennessee Trucking Association ––brings to the Sharp Transport fleet is in parts management. “We use the FleetMaintenance Assistant program on our AS/400 platform to manage maintenanceoperations and monitor parts usage,” Sharp-Schwalb relates. “Under Staggs’direction our technicians are constantly looking for ways to help us save moneyon replacement parts. He has also implemented a program that replaces partswe’ve used as they are taken out of inventory and to track our parts costs on adaily basis.”
Critical difference
Those efforts, notes Sharp-Schwalb, are a perfect example ofhow Sharp Transport’s employees are dedicated to making a critical differencefor the company. “We see each of our employees as an asset,” she says. “They’rethe difference in how well we perform, and through their hard work and efforts,they separate Sharp Transport from its competitors.
“Our mission is to keep costs as low as possible withoutever sacrificing customer service,” Sharp-Schwalb continues. “Our customers arethe reason we exist, so we all strive every day to go above and beyond theirexpectations and to be continually responsive to their changing needs.
“All of these efforts,” Sharp-Schwalb concludes, “are whatit takes to survive and thrive in the current economic climate. Our successdepends on uptime and on being able to make on-time deliveries. We intend toride out this economy and meet that challenge, and succeed during these tryingtimes the old-fashioned way –– with excellent customer service and qualityequipment.”
Sharp Transport Trailer Specifications
Models: Lufkin, Utility; 53-ft. dry van
Landing Gear: Jost 401
Axles: Dana Spicer
Suspension: Reyco Granning Dockmaster 2; airride
Oil Seals: Stemco
Brakes: Meritor WABCO
ABS: Meritor WABCO
Automatic Slack Adjusters: Crewson-Brunner
Tires: Goodyear G314
Wheels: steel disc
Lighting: Truck-Lite LED
Sharp Transport Tractor Specifications
Model: 2008 Kenworth T2000; 75-in. Aerodynesleeper, Diamond interior
Wheelbase: 228-in.
Engine: Caterpillar C-15, 475 HP
Clutch: Eaton Fuller
Transmission: Eaton Fuller RTO16910b Gen 3UltraShift
Driveshafts: Dana Spicer
Front Axle: Dana Spicer E-1322I
Power Steering: TRW TAS65
Rear Axle: Dana Spicer DSP40, 3.36 ratio
Wheel Seals: Chicago Rawhide Scotseal Plus
Brakes: Bendix ES
ABS: Bendix
Automatic Slack Adjusters: Haldex
Parking Brakes: Anchorlok Life Seal
Rear Suspension: AG 380K Air Glide
Wheels: Alcoa, aluminum
Tires: Bridgestone; R280 steer, M720 drive
5th Wheel: Jost
Air Compressor: Caterpillar 270, 16.1 CFM
Air Dryer: Bendix AD-IS, heated
Air Cleaners: Donaldson
Fan Clutch: Horton Drivemaster
Batteries: Group 31
Alternator: 130 amp
Block Heater: Kim Hotstart
Mirrors: heated
Lighting: Truck-Lite LED
Seats: Kenworth Air Cushion Plus
Fuel Tanks: 140-gal. aluminum
Paint: Dupont Imron
