Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/315150
D R I V E R ' S D I G ES T #2 /2014 3 5 John Paugh is president and CEO of Carter Express, a 750-truck fleet dedicated to the auto industry. Company: Carter Express Location: Anderson, IN Operation: Runs over 70 million miles per year and hauls regionally from Michigan and Canada down through Laredo, Texas, serving auto manufacturing plants. JOHN PAUGH "We have seen increases in fuel efficiency up to 15%." Tell us about your fleet operation. Carter Express is a transportation logistics company dedicated to the auto industry. Our sales are just under $200 million per year. Our primary lane is along the NAFTA Highway. We pick up regionally in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana and take compo - nent parts down through Laredo into Mexico. We have six locations includ- ing Laredo, Texas, Paragould, Ark., Knoxville, Tenn., Vandalia, Ohio, Anderson, Ind., and our home office in Romulus, Mich. How important is fuel economy to your bottom line? Obviously fuel is our largest single line item. irty percent of our revenue goes for fuel. It's everything. If we can get a truck that gets seven miles to the gallon or better we can make money. If we have a truck that makes less than six, we don't make money. What has been your experience with I-Shift? My experience with I-Shi has been excellent. We get better fuel efficiency, longer life and our drivers really like it. We have been purchasing it in 100 percent of our Volvos since 2007. e Volvo 670s with the 13-liter engine and 425 horsepower with the I-shi transmission have worked really well for us. We have seen increases in fuel efficiency up to 15 percent. e Volvo I-Shi is our transmission of choice. How is the relationship with your dealer? We have been buying through Gen- eral Truck Sales In Muncie, Ind., since 1992. We have a good relationship with them. e customer service is excel- lent and the prices are fair. We buy the Volvo cab, engine and transmission. I like the fact that if we have trouble on the road it is one call; you don't have to fight with this guy or that guy, you just call Volvo. Will you continue to buy Volvos in the future? Yes. We have some Volvos on order now. We are very happy with the prod- uct and will continue to buy it. View Carter Express' video on YouTube: http://youtu.be/l2iew9BEW74