Like the rest of the transportation industry, our logistics company has had to tighten its belt and navigate carefully through the obstacles presented by the long-running national recession. Fortunately, we have found a way to rise up to these challenges – and even post a 14 percent increase in revenues for the current year.

But as much as I would like to take the credit, I must admit that GTO 2000 did not achieve this success all on our own. Like never before, this Great Recession has given me a greater understanding and appreciation of “the power of relationships.”

The ‘Agent-Partner’ Model

Our Georgia-based company has been around since 1975. We have done a lot of things right to stay in business that long – a commitment to quality, a passionate focus on customer satisfaction, and a constant push to improve technologies and everyday business practices.

Nevertheless, our true story of success began a little over 14 years ago when we decided to explore a new business-growth model. Taking advantage of the Internet and advanced communications, we began to reach out across the country to smaller but successful transportation specialists, with whom we proposed to share resources and ideas.

Today, acting as the hub in a network of agent partners, GTO 2000 constantly nurtures this special relationship. Though they are our partners, we treat our agents like customers, too. For instance, we recently began investing in continuing education for our agents with a series of training webinars on best industry practices and current transportation trends – all designed to enhance their capabilities and expertise, while allowing our company to stay on the cutting edge.

Thanks to this high personal touch and passionate commitment to our partners, the GTO 2000 network of agents has been extremely stable through the years with multiple offices across the country.

Partnership with customers and carriers

I recognize, however, that our success – and the power of relationships – doesn’t rest solely with one group. It results from multiple partnerships, including those with our own base of customers and carriers.

Over the course of our long history, our company has seen capacity rise and fall. We have witnessed good times and bad. But the one constant that never wavers is our solid relationships with customers and carriers, who represent the true focus of why we are in this business.

With our Quick Pay program and other similar offerings, we truly back up our commitment to carrier partners, which allows us all to better serve customers with a higher level of service.

TIA affiliation

Another partner to whom we – and so many other companies like us – owe our success is the Transportation Intermediaries Association. The importance of our 15-year affiliation with TIA cannot be understated.

Here are just a few reasons:
  • The Platinum Performance Program.  (P3)  We modeled much of our company’s business ethics after this valuable tool for success;
  • Legal support. TIA helped our company develop a successful carrier compliance program and standardized shipper/broker contracts;
  • Lobbying. Most recently, for example, TIA was instrumental in supporting passage of the federal Motor Carriers Protection Act of 2010.

Last but not least – employees

Of course, our most important resource – and that of any company in our industry – is each and every employee. Without their unconditional support and dedication, none of us could survive in this extremely competitive industry.

Employees. Agent Partners. Carriers and customers. TIA.  Together, we demonstrate the power of relationships and the building blocks for success – no matter what the economy or other forces may throw our way. Believe in it, nurture it, and you’ll grow with it.