July 16, 2024 — Transport Specialists was founded in Cincinnati in 1971 as a trailer service shop, and over the course of the next 50-plus years, it has expanded to include six locations and nearly 100 employees. Today, the company is an exclusive Thermo King dealer; and selling, installing, and servicing refrigerated units is the core of their business. Notably, the company plays a vital role in the supply chain, keeping essential goods like food and medicine at safe temperatures until they reach their destinations.
Corporate Controller, Tom Buckman, explains that purpose is at the heart of everything the company does and accounts for the exceptional longevity of its staff. “Transport Specialists is a great company to work for. So many of our team have been here for 20, 30, or even 40 years, and get along so well. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The Search for a Modern DMS and a Long-Term Partner
While the majority of Thermo King dealers use the same dealer management system (DMS), Transport Specialists found it wasn’t meeting their growing needs. They were looking for a more modern solution, one that was continuously advancing to keep pace with the industry and their business. They had also grown frustrated with the support they received and were looking for a DMS provider that was more invested in a long-term partnership and that would be more responsive to their needs.
Transport Specialist’s head of IT had heard of Procede Software and reached out. After learning more about Excede, he could see its value and determined it was well worth making the switch. The initial implementation took place in June of 2020 at the height of COVID-19, and the two teams primarily interacted over video conference calls. But through Procede’s comprehensive onboarding programs and their “train the trainer” approach, the Transport Specialist team was able to get up-and-running quickly.
The Excede Advantage—A DMS Tailored to a Trailer Dealership’s Needs
The impact of Excede was immediately apparent, with Transport Specialists realizing efficiencies across all dealership departments. Buckman explains, “Excede is designed for trailer dealerships. You’re not just buying an off-the-shelf accounting system and trying to make it work.” He continued, “With Excede’s comprehensive parts inventory capabilities, we’re able to do more frequent cycle counts, so we always know exactly where we are and when to order. We can compare it to our books on an almost daily basis, if needed, so there’s never a big surprise at the end of the year.”
In his role as Controller, Buckman also weighed in on the impact of the Excede Accounting solution, saying, “From an accounting perspective, there are so many features that have enabled us to work faster, more efficiently, and with greater accuracy. With Excede’s journal entry capabilities, I can see if something is out of balance or if fields are missing before it posts. Between that and the bulk upload functionality, we save so much time, especially over the course of a year.”
On-Site Shadowing Drives Efficiencies
After three years of using Excede, the Transport Specialists team was ready to level up their use of the solution by participating in Procede’s on-site shadowing program. Prior to the engagement, the two companies had several calls, and Transport Specialists filled out a survey so Procede could identify where the areas of greatest opportunity were.
Once on-site, members of each team met in small, department-focused groups to problem solve and learn new skills. Then, the Procede team shadowed people as they went through their daily activities and provided hands-on training.
“Having the Procede team on site for job shadowing was a game changer for us. We learned so much more about Excede’s capabilities and discovered new, more efficient ways of working,” said Buckman.
A Long-Term Partner with a Cutting-Edge Solution
Transport Specialists found the modern DMS solution they were looking for—one tailored to the needs of the trailer industry. “Excede is truly a cutting-edge solution. Procede is continually innovating and adding functionality that trailer dealerships like Transport Specialists need,” said Buckman.
Transport Specialists also found the responsive partner they were looking for. As Buckman explains, “The biggest differentiator for us is Procede’s customer success and support teams. Whether we go to the website to search the support materials or submit a ticket, we’re always able to get the help we need. And if something isn’t straightforward to resolve, they are incredibly responsive and keep us in the loop while they’re working on getting us answers.”
At Procede, we are grateful to be a part of Transport Specialists’ journey and to support them in the important work they do. Now that we’ve had the opportunity to meet the team in person and work side-by-side with them, we can say firsthand, they truly are a special group.
To learn more about leveraging Excede for your dealership, please reach out to sales@procedesoftware.com.