CCJ

September 2015

Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal

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COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2015 51 INNOVATORS FREYMILLER, INC. Oklahoma City you weren't a trucker, that you were the owner of the company!' " Freymiller still enjoys hauling the occasional load to get out and meet drivers on the road, and during his phone call with Kilroy late last year, he relayed his desire to start his own digital radio station for truck drivers. Kilroy put him in touch with Pat Fant at Houston-based RFC Media, and Freymiller Radio was formed last February. Freymiller hired Kilroy to produce a trucking-themed country music show every weekday from 8 a.m. until noon from its corporate head- quarters in Oklahoma City. Drivers are invited to call in and talk to Kil- roy on air. RFC Media produces and prepares the drop-in messages and advertisements from the refrigerated carrier to its drivers. "We use the drop-ins after every two or three songs to say thanks for being in the industry and that we appreciate it if you drive for us," Freymiller says. The company chose digital radio for its universal reach, something that satellite radio lacks. "Most new trucks today have Bluetooth, so all a driver has to do L ast winter, Don Freymiller, chairman of Oklahoma City-based refrig- erated carrier Freymiller, Inc. (CCJ Top 250, No. 214), was driving down the road and listening to all the truck driver recruiting adver- tisements that frequent XM Radio. Facing the same driver availability issues that plague so many truckload carriers today, Freymiller realized his company was missing an opportunity by not placing ads on satellite radio stations. But he also noticed that the various ads sounded the same, all promising more miles, money and home time. Suddenly, Freymiller had an "a-ha" moment. "I wanted to differentiate Freymiller and do something different that was for the drivers and not just about recruiting," he said. Freymiller Radio is born Freymiller called longtime friend Eddie Kilroy, producer of XM Radio's Wil- lie's Place (formerly Hank's Place) station, whom he'd met 12 years ago. "I remember I was listening to his station, and I called in and told him I was on I-40 headed to Nashville with a load and wanted to say hello to all my Freymiller drivers," says Freymiller. "Kilroy called me back after his show that morning and said, 'Who are you? My switchboard lit up with callers saying The company launches a 24/7 digital station dedicated to country music and drivers. In-house radio helps Freymiller promote driver appreciation BY JEFF CRISSEY

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