Roadrunner has revamped its business model in a major way over the past few years. The company – which describes itself as “transportation’s greatest comeback story” – has taken several ambitious steps in order to become the well-respected national LTL carrier it is today.
Roadrunner’s strategic shifts included exiting both the truckload and rail markets in order to focus its full attention on expanding its LTL network and providing superior service to its clients. In 2020, the company opened new facilities in Chicago, Southern California and Philadelphia.
Thanks to these expansions, Roadrunner has reduced transit times five times over the last 21 months, according to Roadrunner Vice President of Longhaul Operations Shari Leon.
Earlier this year, the company expanded its footprint even further with service to Denver, opening up a wide array of new routes.
“At Roadrunner, our value proposition is long haul metro-to-metro shipping,” Roadrunner Head of Technology and Operations Tomasz Jamroz said in a recent media release. “Opening service to Denver fits our strategic goal of becoming the best carrier moving freight directly from one part of the country to another and is really an important step in optimizing our network and further reducing transit times.”
The company has announced plans to expand into Kansas City and Portland later this year, doubling down on its growth plan.
This hyperfocus on LTL has allowed Roadrunner to direct its attention toward improving its service levels, which has been a critical component in the organization’s rise to the top.
“Customers appreciate service,” Leon said. “You have a commitment to your customer. If you commit to getting something there on a specific day, they hold you to what you say.”
In the past, when Roadrunner integrated rail into its offerings, meeting those on-time expectations was difficult due to the unpredictable – and often uncontrollable – nature of the mode, according to Leon. With its current LTL model, the company has gained a new level of control and visibility, leading to serious service gains.
Roadrunner primarily partners with owner-operators to move freight, affording the company – and the drivers – more freedom and flexibility than many of its peers. In addition to providing adaptable capacity, Leon noted that owner-operators tend to take greater pride in their service since they are business owners themselves.
Currently, Roadrunner boasts over 900 independent operator partnerships.
It is an exciting time for LTL, and Roadrunner has positioned itself as a leader in the space – growing to meet the evolving needs of its clients both today and in the future.
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