National Trucking Week

2013 National Trucking Week • 11 September 1-7, 2013 K eystone Western Inc. steers its success by being more than just a trucking company. Based in Grande Pointe on the southeast outskirt of Winnipeg, the booming business is driven to maintain top-notch relationships with both clients and employees. As manager of driver services, Doug Bowes explains how the company gets in gear to achieve its goals. "Our goal as a company is to start a relationship with our customer. We can come and pick up your load. We can warehouse your load. We can deliver it directly to your customer," Bowes said. "We can be a complete transportation solution provider to you." At the same time, Keystone Western aims to take care of its workers. "There are a lot of companies that say they do things differently, but we truly do things differently. From a driving staff standpoint, we have a very open door policy," Bowes said. "If you're a driver for us and you have an issue and you want to come in and talk to the president, he'll make time for you. In fact, his office is the first one you come to. You get to our president before you get to our receptionist, and that's unheard of in business and in trucking." President and sole owner Norm Curtis started out as a driver himself straight out of high school and has worked in every aspect of the industry since then. "He's a really easy guy to work for. He's unique because he's not only been a driver, but he's also worked in operations," said Bowes, who also started off as a driver. "He's been a dispatcher. He's been a manager of operations, so he knows what your office staff are going through. He's an amazing boss." Curtis and his company approach business using a "blue-ocean" philosophy. "Trucking's a very competitive industry. We're all competing for the same dollars with the same customers. We're also competing for the same drivers. We're all in the same pool," Bowes explains. "So If you start cutting each other's throats to get the new driver or to get the customer, then the waters get very ruddy. It becomes a red ocean." An aggressive red-ocean environment results in a loss of profits, growth and market shares. In contrast, Keystone prefers to operate in clear blue competitive waters by focusing deeply within the client's supply chain. This approach is key to the company's success, which is evident in its impressive expansion. "In the last 18 months, we've purchased 40 new trucks. We've bought 30 Peterbilts in the last year and we just bought 10 more Volvos. That's just over $5 million worth of trucks. We also bought 10 new trailers, which would be another $250,000," Bowes said, adding that the company now has more than 100 trucks. "We're also planning a million-dollar expansion to our office because we're growing. We keep growing and we keep adding people. Our plan is to grow by 20 per cent in the next 12-18 months." With its ever-expanding fleet of equipment, Keystone Western offers service to clients across the country from Victoria to Newfoundland, as well as throughout the United States. "We offer pickup of their freight and delivery of their freight. We have warehouse capabilities. We have the ability to offload freight and consolidate it with other freight to maximize the amount of product that we have in a trailer. That makes it more efficient for the driver. It makes it more efficient for both your customers because now they're both not having to pay for a full load," Bowes said. "We have quite a partnership where we haul snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles and quads. We haul lumber. We haul steel. We haul grain. We haul whatever we can add to benefit to us and to the customer. That's what we're looking for." The company also looks for employees that fit in with its upbeat corporate culture. "This is a very unique company. It takes a unique person to fit in here because you have to be willing to come to work and have fun, but at the same time, you need to be able to knuckle down and do your work. So it's a really nice combination," Bowes said. "At the end of the day, we're successful and we all have a few laughs. It makes it easy to get up and come to work in the morning." By JENNIFEr MCFEE For the Free Press More than just a trucking company Keystone Western It takes an exceptional individual to commit to such a demanding profession. What you do as a truck driverisessentialtothelivesof somanypeopleand Arnold Bros. Transport would like to commend you onallyourefforts. We would also like to extend our appreciation to every employee at Arnold Bros. Transport and their families who provide support and understanding in an industry that operates 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Wearegratefultohaveyouaspartof ourteam. Thankyou! FredArnold GaryArnold

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