Dillon Transportation is proving that with the right equipment and supplier support, success can still be found in the truckload motor carrier market

Dillon Transportation LLC is a model of the type of success that can still be found in the trucking business. Founded almost 10 years ago on Oct. 31, 1997, the family-owned truckload carrier had just eight tractors in 2003. Today, the Ashland City, Tenn.-based operation started and nurtured by Angela and Donnie Dillon, who serves as company president, fields 100 tractors and 212 trailers.

Dillon Transportation provides continuous freight service throughout the United States and Canada with a majority of its shipments moving from east to west coast. Its primary customers are involved in time-sensitive industries, including producers and distributors of consumer, retail and automotive goods. Services include plant-to-plant and retail delivery of finished and unfinished products.

“We are a value-oriented carrier with a drive to outperform the competition,” says Ross Hand, vice president of operations. “Our growth has demonstrated that customers want a carrier where a commitment to service is first. As a result, we are always developing new traffic lanes, especially in the southern, central and eastern regions, and we continue to see unprecedented growth.”

Effective choices

The determination to meet customer needs and to manage rapid growth has led to some significant and effective equipment choices at Dillon Transportation, notes Phillip Bales, director of safety. That’s especially true for trailers, he adds, which include more than 150 53-ft dry vans for hauling general commodities and about 60 drop-frame models. All of the latest trailer equipment in the operation has been supplied by Great Dane Trailers, including 2006 model year P-Series dry vans and Classic Drop Frame units.

“All of our trailers are equipped with air ride suspension, swing doors, e-track and logistics posts for securing shipments, and the ability to rise to standard dock height,” Bales says. “The ability to raise the trailers allows shipments to be delivered at loading docks or remain lowered for job site deliveries.

“Our drop frame trailers allow customers to reduce transportation costs for high-cube, low-density shipments,” Bales says. “These trailers have an additional 526 cu. ft. of cargo space and can handle loads up to 42,500 lbs. For things like appliances, filters, some paper goods and any product that requires more cube, our drop frame trailers are an excellent way to produce cost savings by reducing the total number of loads.”

The Dillon power unit fleet currently includes 2004 to 2007 model year Freightliner Columbia tractors. “When we first started to expand from eight tractors, we leased units from Ryder Transportation Services to meet customer needs and fill any shortages,” Bales says. “Today, we purchase new equipment and are working toward standardizing the fleet and replacing tractors on a five-year/500,000-mile cycle.”

Focusing on growth

While moving from leased to company-owned power units, Hand says, Dillon’s maintenance relationship with Ryder has continued. “Ryder has been a good fit for us, allowing us to focus on growing the company and providing timely service to our customers,” he says. “We continue to oversee our maintenance program by using an AS 400 program and Excel spreadsheets to track preventive maintenance and repair costs, but all work is done by Ryder Transportation Services.”

Dillon maintains close relationships with other suppliers as well, including Best One Tire and Pilot Travel Centers for fuel purchases, which are processed through ComData. Hand and Bales also cite the company’s close working partnerships with Neely-Coble Freightliner and the Nashville Branch of Great Dane Trailers.

“Early and ongoing partnerships with suppliers have been one element of Dillon Transportation’s ongoing growth and success,” Hand says. “With that support and our own determination to meet the needs of our customer base with effectively specified equipment and well-maintained equipment, we continue to succeed.”