weBuild : News Releases

Trust Services, Inc. is now WBENC Certified!

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT

We are officially certified with the WBENC (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council) and GWBC (Georgia Women’s Business Council). This is huge for our company! Being that our company is 60% woman-owned, qualifies us to get certified!

The WBENC, founded in 1997, is the nation’s leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America’s corporations. It also is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the United States. WBENC works to foster diversity in the world of commerce with programs and policies designed to expand opportunities and eliminate barriers in the marketplace for women business owners. WBENC works with representatives of corporations to encourage the utilization and expansion of supplier/vendor diversity programs.

Dedicated to enhancing opportunities for women’s business enterprises, WBENC works in partnership with women’s business organizations located throughout the country to provide a national standard of certification for women-owned businesses.

Through its benchmarking surveys and ongoing interaction with certified women’s business enterprises, WBENC has become the nation’s leading source of information on trends in supplier diversity programs for WBEs at US companies and government agencies.

To be a part of this awesome organization is incredible! With this certification, I am looking forward to seeing Trust Services expanding its customer base along with increasing our agent network.

Encourage the Economy One Truckload at a Time!

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT

During trying times, a shot of optimism is greatly needed to trump the shadow of gloom that has befallen our faces. Our financial leaders have abused the private-public trust leading to the government’s $700 billion fiscal bailout of Wall Street, i.e. “socializing the costs of bank failures onto the taxpayers.” So what! What can we do? This is not the first time, nor will it probably be the last time Americans must scrutinize financial speculations and political shenanigans. One has to question whether the global or national economy is the “shipwreck” the nightly news would have you believe. Historically speaking, there are always people that embrace free trade and ignore negative economic headlines as much as possible, and get back to the basics of business: selling products and services for more than it costs, adding value along the way and finding customers that can afford to pay you for your efforts. Make no mistake about it: succeeding may take more effort over previous economic battles won, but we’re Americans for goodness sakes! It’s in our blood to strive to be the best, and we generally are our best when put to the test.

Many in the trucking industry have been hopeful the economic downturn was isolated to the housing or the automotive markets. While the problems may have originated in these markets, the fallout from these markets, primarily the lack of consumer demand for products and services is directly affecting shippers holding inventory, which in turn has created less freight to move. Bailout promises aside, shippers and carriers must have a plan to survive. As the economy begins to recover, we want our fellow logistics partners to emerge successfully from this economic stumbling block currently under foot.

Be prepared. Be good stewards of what you have been given. Help others in need. Matthew 25: 1-46

Trust Services would like to challenge brokers, shippers and carriers alike to encourage the economy one truckload at a time! The ATA has an excellent article discussing how important trucking is to our nation’s prosperity! Follow this link for more information and remind yourselves to be proud of the part you play in the transportation industry’s success.

Customers Benefit from Broker's Good Business Practices

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Carriers and shippers are vetting the freight brokerage industry more than ever to uncover operating efficiencies that produce greater profitability and less accident-related liability. Carriers want to provide more loads for customers and retain their customer base with fewer company-owned trucks, while shippers want to control costs without sacrificing the high levels of services available to them to deliver their goods to market.

Transportation brokers that develop and nurture professional relationships with both groups can position themselves into a niche market as an expert provider of transportation services. A key component to adding value to these relationships is helping to manage risk for its customers. Risk management practices include performing credit checks, entering contract agreements and verifying safety compliance with truckers prior to any freight moving for the broker.

Trust Services has built its reputation by providing good, quality carriers to perform the job at hand. We understand that our customers appreciate the willingness to evaluate our business practices objectively, and to help prevent problems that may arise by performing due diligence to select business partners. For an expanded discussion on the status of the freight brokerage industry, check out “Brokering the Assets” at http://www.trafficworld.com/newssection/special.asp?id=47421 .

Transportation Policy Uncertain as ‘O8 Election Approaches

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Here at Trust Services, like many of our fellow shippers and carriers, we are eagerly anticipating the direction transportation policy will take for the foreseeable future under the leadership of a new administration. Partisan politics aside, it is a perplexing task to determine which candidate will serve the interests of the transportation industry best, since transportation-related issues garnered little attention through the primary season by either candidate. As the general election cycle gains momentum, we would like to see each candidate send clear policy signals to the transportation industry, to help determine what policy actions can be expected in January 2009 and how these actions will affect everyone moving forward.

With the Republican Party’s candidate, Senator John McCain, having served as the chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee from 1997 to 2001, we can observe that he has a record of voting against infrastructure funding initiatives that he perceives as fiscally irresponsible. In contrast, the senator supports free trade and has developed influential relationships in the transportation industry, with powerful allies in the broader business world that support his philosophy on the role of government regulation and its relationship with private industry.

Alternatively, the Democratic Party’s candidate, Senator Barack Obama, remains untested leading in this industry, but to critics of NAFTA’s policies and the DOT crossborder trucking program, his candidacy inspires those that perceive candidate McCain as a continuation of Bush administration policies.

Regardless of your political leanings, Trust Services encourages you to get informed of each candidate’s policy positions, and help determine the direction of this industry. Make your vote count on Election Day! For more information, check out “Transportation Eyes McCain” http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-34854286_ITM

Trust Services attends the WBENC Convention in Atlanta, GA

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Our agent, Gayle McClendon, and I attended the 9th Annual WBENC Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) conference and business fair is the largest event of its kind in the nation for women’s business enterprises. The WBENC certification for women-owned businesses is also one of the most widely recognized and respected certifications in the nation. It was an exilerating experience to attend such a huge convention with hundreds and hundreds of nationally-knowned exhibitors.

WBENC is accepted by thousands of corporations within the country and a number of federal and government agencies. I am very eager and excited to start the certification process. As I toured, introduced myself and birthed relationships at the convention with potential customers, I was very proud to be able to represent the woman population of owning a business. Trust Services and TSI Express has worked so hard during our years of operation to maintain the integrity and respect that our customers and carriers so much deserve.

As we grow our business, it is exciting to me that we are in the process of being a part of such a wonderful organization, the WBENC. I am forcasting a wonderful future for my company and giving God all the glory for it!

Trust Services Attends TIA Convention

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

TIA (Transportation Intermediaries Association) held their annual convention in Washington, DC from April 9-12. As an active member of TIA, Trust Services sent Darryl Duerr, CTB, as a representative of our company. The goal was to learn about new rules and regulations affecting the industry, opportunities for us to expand and improve our business, and to source potential new software possibilities for the company.

The agenda for the convention was very tight, offering a multitude of seminars, business meetings, and Trade Show attendance. TIA had over 600 members in attendance from all over the US and Canada representing transportation brokers, freight forwarders, 3PL's as well as numerous vendors for the industry.

One of the main topics of the seminars was, naturally, the current fuel situation ravaging truckers across the US and Canada. At a Plenary Session held Friday, April 11, two members of the Senate Transportation Committee and two members of the House Transportation Committee were present to offer their assessment of the industry, legislation facing the industry, and where the federal government fits in with the current fuel situation. It was an eye-opening experience, albeit frustrating, to listen to how a bureaucracy works, even from a bi-partisan group of committee members. The Highway Transportation Trust Fund is nearly broke (this is where we get money for highway repairs, improvements, and new roads); legislation the committees have been working on for nearly 3 years was finally passed through, only to be up for renewal in Sept. 2009 - opening the door to start over; new HOS rules should be in effect shortly (we've been hearing that for 5 years); and basically, there is nothing the government can do about the current fuel crisis. I believe the comment was made "truckers will just have to adjust to current conditions." Folks - we're on our own.

There were, however, other worthwhile meetings and the Trade Show offered a terrific opportunity to see new products and services. We feel that we will be able to step forward in our industry and implement some new services and features, while at the same time enhancing our current operations.

We will attempt to update you further concerning ideas and opportunities learned at the TIA convention. Check back here often.