America's Service Line

DISPATCHING EXCELLENCE TO THE US FOOD TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY

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AN ELITE FOOD DELIVERY FLEE America’s Service Line is considered the carrier of choice when it comes to delivering both refrigerated and dry food products across the US. President, Scott Willert, tells us more Writer: Lily Sawyer | Project Manager: Scarlett Burke

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ounded in 1996 to support American Foods Group by ensuring the timely and costeffective delivery of its meat products, America’s Service Line (ASL) has been on a steady trajectory of growth to support shippers and suppliers across 48 US states.

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“Our mission is delivering excellence daily to our customers, employees, and stakeholders,” opens Scott Willert, ASL’s President.

“We accomplish this by working to be the Shipper of Choice and Carrier of Choice for American Foods Group and our other business partners,” he adds.

AMERICA’S SERVICE LINE SUPPLY CHAIN

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AMERICA’S SERVICE LINE SUPPLY CHAIN

ASL’s primary role is serving as the private fleet for American Foods Group, the fifth largest beef processor in the US. The company’s sizable fleet boasts over 300 tractors, 600 refrigerated trailers, a fully active truck and trailer maintenance facility, and a professionally staffed office of logistics professionals. All of this is supported by around 400 employees and independent contractors.

“Our private fleets have for-hire authority, which enables us to service other shippers’ freight, allowing us to fully utilize our equipment, provide competitive pay to our employees, and generate revenue for our stakeholders,” Willert explains.

In addition, each of ASL’s trailers is equipped with state-of-theart technology for tracking and temperature control purposes, whilst technologies for GPS, communication, and navigation are also utilized.

Despite challenges within the US transportation industry, such as unstable freight rates and industry capacity shrinkage, ASL remains resilient.

“The key ingredient to ensure our success is being the employer of choice to attract and retain the best employees in the industry,” he asserts.

CULTIVATING GREATNESS Taking great care to hire the right people for its team, ASL prides itself on having cultivated a company culture and work environment that its people appreciate, differentiating it from other employers.

“The number one differentiator for us is our culture. We get many comments from new employees and visitors who say you can feel the difference when you enter the building and from talking to our people,” enthuses Willert.

NORTH AMERICA OUTLOOK: WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY IN NORTH AMERICA TODAY? Scott Willert, President: “The transportation industry remains in a challenging position, even more so for brokers. The spot market is very soft with demand and rates staying very low.

“ T H E S TA U N D E R S TA N D

“For trucking companies that depend mostly on contractual freight, their rates and volumes are a bit more stable.

“Requests for proposal (RFPs) by shippers have slowed down a bit in 2024 compared to 2023. In 2024, freight rates are stabilizing as supply and demand normalize.

“Thousands of trucking companies have gone out of business in the last year or so, and industry capacity is shrinking as demand is starting to increase. Shippers and logistics service providers (LSPs) that are more strategic, and consider their carriers as true partners, understand that trucking companies truly can’t afford to lower their rates anymore.

“Those shippers that are only concerned about price continue to try to push rates down. They will soon find themselves having to depend on brokers and the spot market or face significant increases from their carriers.

“It’s part of the cycle that our industry goes through, but this cycle has been a little different, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Fish team

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A F F AT A S L A R E T H E B E S T I ’ V E E V E R W O R K E D W I T H , A N D T H E Y T H E VA L U E O F T H E W O R K E N V I R O N M E N T A N D C U LT U R E T H AT W E ’ V E B U I LT ” – S C O T T W I L L E R T, P R E S I D E N T, A M E R I C A’ S S E R V I C E L I N E

Driver appreciation group

US Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, meets ASL staff

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AMERICA’S SERVICE LINE SUPPLY CHAIN

Providing development opportunities for its staff at all levels, ASL is confident that its team members’ growth mindset helps them to thrive.

“Our team members have a continuous improvement mindset.

They all understand that we must continue to get better in everything that we do, or our competition will catch up,” he reveals.

Additionally, an open-door policy throughout the company works to ensure that staff always feel heard.

Managers’ and team leaders’ doors are always open, physically and metaphorically.

“Our open-door policy is like none other and brings drivers and staff together to maintain healthy communication,” he explains.

Furthermore, ASL does a lot of work to

Hybrid trucks

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support the communities it serves and the environment around it.

“Our employees enjoy the camaraderie and satisfaction that they get from making a difference,” he reveals.

“We’re continually testing new products and technologies for improved safety, cost savings, and to be more environmentally friendly or green,” Willert shares.

As a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay certified

carrier, ASL made the EPA’s high performer list for being a progressive and environmentally minded trucking company in 2023.

“The requirements to be a SmartWay certified carrier are stringent, and to be considered one of their best is a very big accomplishment,” he tells us.

AMERICA’S SERVICE LINE SUPPLY CHAIN

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AMERICA’S SERVICE LINE SUPPLY CHAIN

EMPOWERED EXPANSION Having moved into its flagship site in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 1996, ASL had no idea how rapidly the business would grow. Fast forward to today, and the company has expanded its already vast site.

“Our building remodel created more and better space for our office staff and drivers when they’re at the terminal. We have a full kitchen, lounge, training room, exercise equipment, washers, dryers, and showers that our drivers enjoy and appreciate,” Willert details.

The expansion and renovation have also allowed ASL to provide space for future growth and improve the aesthetics of the site.

Looking towards future growth, American Foods Group is currently in the process of building a new plant in Warren County, Missouri, due to open in January 2025.

“ASL and the transportation team are working on plans to support the new plant. This is exciting for all our people and provides a lot of opportunity for our people and our business,” Willert outlines.

To support the new plant, the company’s leadership team is working on a long-term strategy. The team will support the new facility, support the current business and customer base, and grow organically and inorganically.

SUPPORTING STAFF AND SUPPLY CHAIN To empower its employees, ASL integrates many staff recognition drives. The company provides recognition for milestones, often celebrating achievements daily.

“Everyone is different in what they want and value in recognition, and we try to understand that,” Willert comments.

Therefore, a range of different initiatives take place at ASL, including an awards banquet geared towards

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AMERICAN FOODS GROUP – AT A GLANCE • As a small-town food group on a national scale, American Foods Group is more than just a beef processing company – it considers itself a support network for the communities in which it thrives.

• Employing over 4,500 staff across the country, American Foods Group has been family-run for over 70 years. The company brings common sense into every aspect of its beef production and prides itself on not taking shortcuts or cutting corners.

• ASL’s values and ethos align closely with American Foods Group, as it strives to work in unison with employees to provide safe, wholesome meat.

• With nearly 20 years of experience in the transportation industry, ASL is American Foods Group’s choice for moving both refrigerated and dry products that require time-sensitive attention.

drivers, an annual truck rodeo, and even a Fun Committee.

“We have different committees to make sure we’re always getting better and having fun doing it. We’re always trying to enhance how we provide recognition for our people and our team,” he details.

In terms of upskilling staff, all of ASL’s drivers are encouraged to participate in a defensive driving course through a local technical college, whilst new drivers take part in a Smith System course administered by a certified in-house trainer.

ASL also provides cloud-based training for its drivers, focusing on safety topics. Leadership development is also emphasized.

“We take leadership development very seriously. Our leaders and aspiring leaders participate in internal and external training to develop and hone their skills,” Willert expounds.

In terms of its supply chain, ASL has many long-term partnerships with vendors and suppliers, which it values greatly.

“We try not to be short-term thinkers or be shortsighted in our relationships with our partners, and we generally get the same in return,” he summarizes.

TRUCKING ALONG Looking to the future, and as 2024 unfolds, ASL is refreshing its strategic plans and evaluating how it can bring more value to customers, business partners, and team members.

“We understand that change will happen regardless of whether we want it to or not, and we want to control our own destiny,” reveals Willert.

ASL intends to grow its fleet to support American Foods Group’s recent growth. This growth could include the acquisition of an additional trucking company.

“We’ll also be growing our carrier and supplier bases to help us with this as well, and we’re carefully evaluating these companies to make sure that we partner with the right people,” he explains.

An important part of ASL’s future expansion will include growing its logistics business, America’s Logistics.

Of late, capacity requirements within the transportation industry have not benefited brokerages, meaning ASL hasn’t put a lot of focus on logistics activities.

“Now that volumes are starting to grow, and the market is swinging back, we’ll put more effort there and work to add to the shippers and customers that America’s Logistics manages transportation for,” Willert concludes.

Tel: (800) 345-0293 swillert@americanfoodsgroup.com

www.americasserviceline.com

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Tel: (800) 345-0293 swillert@americanfoodsgroup.com www

PRODUCED BY NORTH AMERICA OUTLOOK MAGAZINE