Roy Craigen on Building Smarter Fleets Without Load Boards | A Trucking Podcast

21/05/2025 31 min Episodio 41
Roy Craigen on Building Smarter Fleets Without Load Boards | A Trucking Podcast

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Episode Synopsis

What if scaling your fleet meant skipping the load board altogether? In this episode of Miles and Mentors: A Trucking Podcast, Roy Craigen, founder and president of Transcom Fleet Services, delivers decades of wisdom from the cab to the C-suite. Raised in the industry and seasoned through transforming trucking companies across North America, Roy explains why most startups fail and how to build lasting, compliant, and efficient operations instead. From managing small fleets to overseeing 200 terminals, Roy shares tactical, real-world insights on fleet structure, compliance risks, and the power of direct customer relationships. Whether you're running one truck or twenty, this episode is packed with mentorship gold for trucking entrepreneurs ready to grow the right way. Like what you hear? Be sure to like, subscribe, and share the show with others in the trucking world. ๐ŸŽง Episode Timestamps ๐Ÿ“ 00:00:00 โ€“ Meet Roy Craigen, President of Transcom Fleet Services ๐Ÿ“ 00:01:04 โ€“ Roy's start: born into trucking and driving trucks at age six ๐Ÿ“ 00:04:05 โ€“ From pulling A-trains to managing national fleets ๐Ÿ“ 00:07:30 โ€“ The story behind Transcom and what sets them apart ๐Ÿ“ 00:09:00 โ€“ Why Transcom gets behind management, not in front ๐Ÿ“ 00:11:01 โ€“ Helping small and massive fleets, from 6 vans to 200 terminals ๐Ÿ“ 00:13:35 โ€“ Why 90% of new fleets fail and how to prevent it ๐Ÿ“ 00:15:57 โ€“ Hidden compliance costs and fines every operator should know ๐Ÿ“ 00:17:52 โ€“ The dangers of scaling without structure ๐Ÿ“ 00:20:12 โ€“ Why Roy never used load boards, even when scaling to $150M ๐Ÿ“ 00:22:09 โ€“ Build local customer relationships, not broker dependency ๐Ÿ“ 00:26:01 โ€“ Key advice for launching a fleet today ๐Ÿ“ 00:27:06 โ€“ The hidden value in reading trade publications, including the ads ๐Ÿ“ 00:28:10 โ€“ "Float the boat" and how to reduce equipment wear and fuel waste ๐Ÿ“ 00:29:25 โ€“ The moral duty of every driver on the road ๐Ÿ“ 00:30:33 โ€“ How to contact Roy and learn more about Transcom ๐ŸŽ™ About Our Guest Roy Craigen is the President and Founder of Transcom Fleet Services (https://transcomfleetservices.com), a hands-on operational consulting firm serving trucking fleets across North America. With over 20 years of leadership in award-winning logistics operations, Roy helps companies, from small local outfits to multinational carriers, build better systems, stay compliant, and avoid costly missteps. LinkedIn (Roy): https://www.linkedin.com/in/transcom-fleet-services-inc-6095576a/ย  Website: https://transcomfleetservices.com ๐Ÿ”— Follow Miles and Mentors: A Trucking Podcast Website: https://milesandmentorspodcast.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/milesandmentors LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/miles-and-mentors-podcast ย Like and subscribe for more real-world trucking mentorship. ๐ŸŽค Want to be a guest or sponsor the show? Miles and Mentors isn't just a podcast. It's a movement built on real stories, tactical insights, and mentorship that fuels the next generation of trucking leaders. ย Reach out: [email protected]

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