As a FedEx Ground contractor, there are several steps you can take to become more profitable:
- Increase your efficiency: One of the most effective ways to become more profitable is to increase your efficiency. This can include optimizing your delivery routes, reducing idle time, and improving your dispatch and tracking systems.
- Manage your labor costs: Labor costs can be a significant expense for FedEx Ground contractors. To manage these costs, you can explore ways to increase productivity, such as implementing performance-based incentives, optimizing your staffing levels, and providing ongoing training and support to your staff.
- Invest in technology: Technology can play a key role in helping you become more efficient and profitable. This can include investing in GPS tracking systems, route optimization software, timekeeping, team chats, in-app safety, geofencing, payroll automation, and fleet maintenance. The right technology can help serve as your primary business management resource and can also prove to be a critical system of record in case of contingency situations. On a day-to-day basis, the software can help you automate daily tasks and keep a check on teams' efficiency and profit margin.
- Control your fuel costs: Fuel costs are another major expense for FedEx Ground contractors. To manage these costs, you can explore ways to reduce fuel consumption, such as implementing fuel-efficient driving practices, purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles, and utilizing fuel-saving technology.
- Improve Route Planning: Effective route planning can help contractors optimize their delivery routes, reducing travel time, fuel consumption, and other related expenses. This can result in significant cost savings for the contractor. Make sure that your BCs are creating a separate plan for each day of the week and updating those every month based on volumes. This can result in better resource allocation, reduced downtime, and improved overall
- Build a Driver Pipeline: This is perhaps the most underrated advice ever. By building a driver pipeline, you can maintain a steady supply of qualified drivers. This can help ensure that you have the drivers to meet your operational requirements. By having a pool of pre-screened drivers who are interested in working for you, you can save on recruitment costs. This is because you don't have to advertise as much or spend as much time and effort screening candidates. By building a driver pipeline, companies can develop relationships with potential drivers early on. This can help create a sense of loyalty and commitment to the company, which can improve driver retention rates. This, in turn, helps reduce the time it takes to hire new drivers and fill any vacancies and ensure that its operations are not disrupted.
- Plan for Contingency: Unexpected events can occur that can disrupt operations. By planning for contingency, contractors can minimize disruptions to their operations when unexpected events occur. This can help ensure that packages are delivered on time, and your ILS score is not impacted. Contingency planning can help contractors reduce costs associated with unexpected events, such as delays or downtime. This can help contractors save money and improve their profitability. Contingency situations can hit your safety, efficiency, or ILS score, which has a direct impact on the medal tiers and your ability to negotiate.