Bob and I spent two-years looking for our business partner as we needed a partner that had truck smarts. Our future business partner needed to fit a professional image, had to have business smarts as we did not need a silent partner that could empty our bank accounts, and we needed a business partner that could accompany us when we decided to take a break from trucking and become tourists.
We were not content to choose our future business partner based solely on good looks and manners, we needed to perform a background check. We started our search in earnest during the 2009 Mid America Truck Show (MATS) while we learned about DEF. Next we headed up to Detroit Diesel to tour the engine plant. While there we watched as the DD13 engine blocks were brought to life and also spent time learning about the years of research that had went into creating the DD series before they came into production. We talked with engineers, sales professionals, and drivers, finally our background check was complete and we signed on our business partner, our 2012 Cascadia.
First is our business and the face of our business is the Cascadia pulling onto a customer’s lot. The right impression is immediately set before Bob steps out of the truck wearing a uniform sporting a tie.
Our Cascadia has affectionately been dubbed the "Caffcadia" by many of our peers in the Expedite world. We were away from home over 300 days last year and use our truck to work hard and play hard. Our business partner is always ready to pickup and deliver a load and the next day enter a truck beauty contest.
The Cascadia is an extension of our personalities. One moment we are pulling into an RV Campground for a relaxing weekend and the next pulling on FedEx Corporate property. Our Cascadia has met Fred Smith, CEO and Founder of FedEx as well as Bill Logue CEO of FedEx Freight. Both were very impressed with our business partner’s lifetime fuel mileage average of 11.451.
To wrap it up the Caffcadia was a very truck smart choice for us as she has been virtually maintenance free, looks natural backed into a dock or sitting next to a Prevost. We are able to stay out on the road longer to be more profitable and at the same time enjoy the many of the sites the country has to offer. It is much easier now to perform a background check on your future business partner using the Freightliner Team Run Smart web pages.