“I’m a big advocate of communication,” says Mark R. Warsofsky, president of M&M Transport Services Inc. “We build good relationships with our suppliers and we are a very loyal customer in return. If there is an issue, we work through it together, talk about it, agree on a fix and move on.”
Warsofsky applies that approach to every aspect of the equipment and maintenance programs at the company he founded in 1990. Headquartered in Quincy, Mass., M&M Transport Services has grown into a nationwide, dedicated transportation provider for a diverse customer base of some of the biggest retail, manufacturing, distribution and logistics companies in the country. The truckload carrier’s operation includes terminals in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Indiana and Arizona and a fleet of 360 tractors and 1,200 trailers.
“Our newest tractors are Mack Pinnacle day cab and sleeper models,” Warsofsky relates. “We buy other makes but we chose Mack products a long time ago. We have built M&M on that nameplate because we have excellent relationships with the manufacturer and its dealers, which have always stood by its products.”
Mack’s ‘Special Delivery’
M&M Transport’s latest Macks were delivered to the company at the OEM’s new Customer Center in Allentown, Pa. “The new facility is well thought out, the setup is great and the people who work there are friendly and knowledgeable about Mack products,” Warsofsky says. “I think Mack made a very good move investing in that facility and in the Allentown area.”
Hands-on
A former driver, Warsofsky is hands-on when it comes to new equipment for his company’s fleet. The newest Macks in the operation feature the manufacturer’s mDrive transmission built exclusively for Pinnacle tractors. He personally put the automated manual 12-speed, two-pedal transmission to the test.
“I drove a new tractor equipped with an mDrive transmission and a fully-loaded trailer on the Allentown test track,” he reports. “It performed very well. This transmission is a game changer in all respects. Our younger and older drivers really like them. While it’s hard to prove, we also believe there’s a safety factor when you can keep both hands on the wheel.”
Warsofsky also pays close to attention to engines. The fleet has been buying Mack MP7 SCR engines, and has some with over 100,000 miles on them. “We haven’t had any problems,” he says. “Mack made some software adjustments initially and from everything we’ve seen, they operate at the right RPM and produce the right MPG.
“Our biggest concern was how to supply DEF for the new engines,” Warsofsky continues. “We had to consider storage and access for our drivers. Availability of DEF wasn’t an issue, so at each of our locations, next to the fuel island, we built storage facilities with 1,000-gal. tanks and installed heated pumps. We also have 2.5-gal. jugs for drivers who will be on the road for extended periods of time.”
Regular opportunities
Fuel economy is addressed at M&M Transport in several ways. The company is a proud member of the SmartWay Transport Partnership and adopts as many of the program’s recommendations as possible. With a tractor trade cycle of about five years and up to 600,000 miles, the carrier has regular opportunities to upgrade its specs.
“We’re going to test a couple of sleepers from Mack with full aerodynamic packages and see how they do in our environment of multi-stop operations,” Warsofsky notes. “We’re not generally a long haul operation, so we have to spec fuel-saving equipment that works best for us.”
The same is true for the M&M trailer fleet, which includes new Great Dane Champion dry vans. Those trailers and some older units have been fitted by the carrier’s shop with TransFoil Aerodynamic Trailer Skirts. “We installed the fairings on trailers that are in a dedicated loop hooked to specific power units,” Warsofsky says, “and we’re seeing improved fuel mileage with those combinations.”
Suppliers also are central to M&M Transport’s fleet maintenance operation. The company has a main shop in Putnam, Conn., and another facility in Indianapolis. Manufacturers are routinely invited to give classes to mechanics and keep them updated about changes to new tractors and trailers.
Service management
M&M Transport Services is also making extensive use of MVASIST, the service management platform from Mack that is now included at no charge with new trucks. The communications and management solutions keeps the fleet in close contact with its primary dealers, including McDevitt Trucks and Ballard Truck Center in Massachusetts and M&K Quality Truck Sales of Indianapolis, as well as dealers at other locations if a truck needs service or repair on the road.
Developed for Mack by Decisiv Inc., MVASIST is a web-based system that allows fleet managers, service providers and dealers to work together in real time to expedite repairs and maximize uptime. Through an online portal, M&M Transport is able to effectively communicate with dealers, initiate repairs, access a complete service history, approve and monitor repair status and manage repair expenses. Dealers use MVASIST to assemble consistent, accurate estimates of service and repair needs based on fleet and vehicle-specific information, including a customer profile and warranty coverage.
“MVASIST improves communications with our dealers,” Warsofsky says. “Along with the on-board PeopleNet systems in our tractors, it brings everyone into the conversation. Anytime a driver reports an issue or a shop sends a tractor to a dealer, MVASIST is central to the effective communication we need to manage costs and reduce downtime.”
For Warsofsky, communication on all fronts is the key to the ongoing success of M&M Transport Services.
Tractor Specs
Model: Mack Pinnacle
Wheelbase: 180 in.
Engine: Mack MP7, 395 HP
Transmission: Mack mDRIVE
Driveshafts: Dana Spicer
Front Axle & Suspension: Mack taperleaf springs, 12,000 lb.
Power Steering: TRW TAS-65
Rear Axle: Meritor; 40,000-lb., 3.36 ratio
Rear Suspension: Meritor
Brakes: Bendix Spicer
ABS: Bendix
Automatic Slack Adjusters: Haldex
Wheels: Hayes Lemmerz steel disc
Tires: 11R22.5 Bridgestone; R280 steer, M726 EL drive
5th Wheel: Fontaine Air Slide
Air Compressor: Meritor WABCO
Fan Clutch: Borg Warner Cool Logic
Batteries: (3) Mack, 1,950 CCA
Alternator: Denso, 130 amp
Block Heater: 1,500 watt
Seats: Bostrom Talladega
Trailer specs
Model: Great Dane Champion dry van
Length: 48 ft.
Rear Frame: Great Dane EnduroGuard
Rear Door: Whiting, roll up
Landing Gear: Great Dane Model 60
Axles: Hendrickson
Suspension: Hendrickson, air slide
Wheel Ends: Stemco Platinum Plus
Brakes: Hendrickson
ABS: Meritor WABCO
Automatic Slack Adjusters: Meritor
Tires: 295/75R22.5 Bridgestone R195F
Lighting & Electrical: Grote Long Life; LED lamps
