Background

Sharp Transportation, founded in 1970 by John T. Sharp in Wellsville, Utah, has grown from a small family-owned operation into a leading nationwide logistics company. Located in Cache Valley, just 75 miles north of Salt Lake City, Sharp Transportation remains rooted in its small-town values while expanding to include 200 trucks, 500 trailers, 25 outside carriers, and a dedicated team of 170 employees. 

Sharp sought an innovative solution to optimize fuel expenditures and improve operational efficiency. With their fleet covering extensive routes daily, reducing fuel costs and minimizing manual decision-making were top priorities. 

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Challenges

Before implementing Boon’s Fuel Recommendations, Sharp Transportation faced several challenges:

1. High Fuel Costs: Identifying the most cost-effective fueling stations was time-consuming and often led to higher fuel expenses.
2. Driver Communication: Continuous communication between dispatchers and drivers regarding fuel stops created inefficiencies and consumed dispatchers’ time.
3. Driver Decision-Making: Drivers had to make on-the-spot decisions about fueling, which sometimes resulted in suboptimal fuel purchases.

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Solution

Boon’s Fuel Recommendations directly addressed these challenges by delivering real-time notifications to drivers about the lowest-cost in-network fuel stations along their routes. Seamlessly integrated into Sharp Transportation’s daily operations, this solution ensured that drivers received clear, optimized instructions, reducing the need for dispatcher intervention and minimizing decision-making for drivers.

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Results

Since implementing Boon’s Fuel Recommendations, Sharp Transportation has achieved substantial benefits:

1. Significant Cost Savings: Boon identified $5,900 of savings per month to be realized via Boon’s Fuel Recommendations.
2. Improved fuel station selections: After implementation, Sharp observed improved fuel station selection by their drivers. After implementation, Sharp now had more than ⅓ of their drivers fueling at the optimal fuel stations.
3. Streamlined review process: The management team spends less time auditing fueling decisions manually, as the system automatically directs drivers to the lowest-cost stations along their routes.
4. Driver Satisfaction: Drivers receive standardized fueling notifications directly. This consistent communication has been well-received, enabling drivers to make informed decisions with minimal disruption to their routines.

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Conclusion

Boon’s Fuel Recommendations have delivered significant cost savings and operational efficiencies for Sharp. By automating and optimizing the fuel decision-making process, Sharp can focus more on core business operations while benefiting from reduced fuel costs and streamlined communication with its drivers.

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