Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/616038
24 l FIRST CLASSCLASS Woody Bogler Trucking "They said, 'How many trucks can you get here today? We need 20 of them.' So literally within three days we started our dry van hauling division." That dry van division comprises about half the fleet today and runs the 48 states, whereas the end dump division remains regionally focused in Missouri and the neighboring states. "The clay haul is still our bread and butter, just like it was back then," says Bogler. "It's amazing to think that Grandpa started the company with a load of clay, and just last week alone, we deliv- ered 270 of them." Bogler's primary focus lately has been improving the performance and prof- itability of his end-dump fleet, and the Model 579 with the 58-inch sleeper and EPIQ package fits into his leave-no-stone- unturned fuel-economy intitative. End dumps already achieve an average of 7.3 mpg in the Bogler fleet with some days as high as 7.6, a remarkable figure consider- ing the frequent idle time and aerodynam- ic challenges of the configuration. "That's pretty darn good," says Bogler. "I don't know many end dump fleets get- ting 7.6 driving down the highway." Bogler says he's gone all-in on the EPIQ aerodynamic performance package despite perceptions that an end-dump configuration is already a losing aero- dynamic proposition. And the lowered profile of a 58-inch sleeper struck just the right note in optimizing both comfort and aerodynamic performance. "On our end-dump side, that's more of a regional haul, and our regional guys don't need quite as much room in the sleeper," he says. "But at the same time, you want to give them creature comforts. "So they get space, but not so much that we gain much weight. We all get paid by the ton in this business." An additional bonus is that the 58-inch sleeper is actually lighter than the 52-incher of competitive OEMs, according to Bogler. And with the extra 6 inches, a 58-inch sleeper can accommodate a refrig- erator that the shorter sleeper can not. "That 6 inches is room enough to make a difference," Bogler says. "You know, we pressed Peterbilt to come up with a right- sized sleeper for this application. They did it. "And they kept it light. We spec super singles, Flex Air suspensions and shortened the wheelbase to save weight. And Peterbilt did their job — the trucks are light." Drivers "excited" Bogler notes that with a better truck often comes a better driver, many of whom are "excited" to be stepping into new Model 579s. "We set a high standard on hiring," he says. "A driver needs good quality, verifiable experience with a good record to be consid- ered here. We're finding that our standards and our equipment are paying off. We're getting more referrals from our best drivers to other high-quality drivers. "We invest a great deal in our trucks, and when we offer that caliber of truck to a driver, we expect — and receive — a higher caliber of performance." Bogler was also impressed with the performance of Peterbilt personnel when tasked with meeting his specific needs. He owns the first 58-inch sleepers to come from the factory. "From the factory guys to the deal- ers, Peterbilt is a class act. We worked closely with all of them to make sure they understood my theories on achieving fuel economy along with providing the crea- ture comforts, and they wanted to make sure they got it right, especially with these 58-inch sleepers." The result is a product that will help ensure the success of Woody Bogler Trucking into the future. "Dad always said that if you take care of the pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves," Bogler says. "So we watch every penny, and that's especially true when we spec out these trucks. We need them as light and as fuel-efficient as we can get them, and at the same time give our drivers something that they can be proud to operate." Tracy Bogler is the third generation of leadership at the company that was founded by his grandfather, William Bogler, in 1924. FC