PTL Learn Newsletter: 2023 Outlook, Mobile Fueling Comes to SoCal, PTL Team Members Earn Numerous Awards, New Customer Service Series and more!

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So far, 2023 Isn't Short on Crystal Ball Articles

Some Are Sunny, Some Are Green

Reporting with their outlook stories for the new year, several reputable news outlets have looked into the crystal ball and have made their prognostications for 2023. We wanted to share a few with you and delve a little deeper into one specifically. First, the outlook for lubricants manufacturers and distributors looks back at 2022 with its supply chain challenges and cost pressures. Pilot Thomas and it's growing SPX Brand met demand and helped many new customers affected by the port challenges along the West Coast. Thomas Glenn, President, Petroleum Trends International, gives us a peek at why lies ahead. His outlook column in JobbersWorld can be found HERE.

Second, a robust and must read blog post from Fidelity's Sector Portfolio Manager, Maurice FitzMaurice, suggests that another banner year may be ahead for the Energy sector. FitzMaurice suggests that the dynamics of tight supplies and rising demand are likely to continue given the long lead time it takes to ramp up new supply and refining capacity. His full article can be found HERE.

Finally, we don't need a crystal ball to know that the industry will continue to head toward greener practices and so we point you to a well-written op-ed by Michael Breslin, Director – Safety and Sustainability, The American Waterways Operators. Both team members and customers of PTL's Marine Division, PTL Marine will want to check out his column entitled The Towing Industry is Green and Getting Greener breaks down the impact of the America’s waterways and quantifies the industry’s efficiency down to the tractor trailer. He argues that the efficiency itself helps to make the industry the most environmentally friendly mode of domestic freight transportation existing today. He highlights AWO’s efforts to help accelerate the global drive for decarbonization. You can read the full op-ed at MarineLog HERE.

Mobile Fueling Service Comes to SoCal

PTL’s Popular Service Offered Soon in Los Angeles County

PTL’s mobile fueling solution, sometimes called on-site fleet fueling or even “wethosing”, is serving clients in an effort to bring greater efficiency and control to managing fleets.

This quarter, we're pleased to announce the service is now coming to Southern California, specifically Los Angeles County. Harry Merlo, Business Development Manager, PTL, says, "Our leadership saw great potential for the offering here in Southern California, and we’re excited to begin serving customers in the very near future. We are fielding calls and receiving questions from operators so we expect to hit the ground running with this solution."

The basic idea behind mobile fueling is that PTL brings the fueling process to the customer's location rather than sending the fleet out to retail locations with a company credit card. In other words, instead of having your drivers find the nearest fuel station to fill their tanks while on the clock, PTL fuels your fleet on-site at any time of day – even overnight - enabling clients to maximize productivity and keep drivers on the road.

PTL offers mobile fueling solutions in several markets across the country led by a team of professional sales representatives, drivers and technicians and is supported by best in class invoicing and reporting capabilities that provide transparency and accountability for your fuel spend. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity or being contacted by one of our representatives, please click here. You may reach Harry Merlo specifically about Los Angeles County here.

Company-wide Awards Announced

PTL Team Members Recognized at Annual Meeting

Last month, Pilot Thomas Logistics announced its Journey to Greatness Award Winners at its Annual Meeting held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Five awards correlated to the company’s P.R.O.U.D. values, an acronym that stands for the following values:

Passionate Award Criteria: Embrace and become the role model for the change they want to see in the organization. Aim to inspire with their insights, take initiative and are the best in all they do. Winner: Nneka Ladday.

Responsible Award Criteria: Responsible for their actions and avoid causing risk or harm to themselves, others and the environment. They adhere to our belief of Safety First, Last and Always. Winner: Alan Hansen

Outstanding Award Criteria: Delight our customers and partners with outstanding experiences. They nail the fundamentals, sweat the details and never stop short of delivering an amazing customer experience. Winner: Justine Cherwick

United Award Criteria: Motivate and encourage each other in pursuit of our goals. They act upon the belief that by working together, we are one PTL. Winner: Payton Ray

Dependable Award Criteria: Always operate with the highest level of integrity and are the people everyone can count on to do the right thing with exceptional follow-through. Winner: Jared Cardenas

In addition, two special awards are given in the categories of Sales and Operations. Outstanding Sales Person Award Criteria: Defines the overall culture of PTL. They excel in their daily performance but also possess unquantifiable qualities; drive, integrity, excellent communicator, character, and interpersonal skills. Winner: Brittany Mason

Outstanding Ops Person Award Criteria: This person defines the overall culture of PTL. They excel in their daily performance but also possess unquantifiable qualities; drive, integrity, excellent communicator, character, and interpersonal skills. Winner: Stacy Wagner

“We are proud of our Team Members and the products and services we deliver to exceed our customers' expectations each and every day,” said Dennis Cassidy, Pilot Thomas Logistics President & CEO. “Our success is built upon living our PTL P.R.O.U.D. values every day and we want to congratulate all of this year's winners.”

Revenue Manager Aims to Keep Business Transactions "Easy"

E-News Series Aims to Highlight Customer Service Focus

In this new year, we are excited to introduce a new e-newsletter series highlighting the customer service principles of team members from our operations around the United States. This quarter we explore what Customer First. Customer Always. means to Lucia Ambriz-Hallbauer, Revenue Manager for the Marine Division of Pilot Thomas Logistics. Based in California, Lucia has been a team member within our family of companies for more than 20 years. This includes working under the banners of PTL Marine, Maxum Petroleum and General Petroleum, the latter where she began her career in the industry.

“My position collaborates well with other departments inside our company to reconcile billing transactions and to take care of any customer questions,” remarks Lucia. “It’s always a pleasure to speak with our customers, but if we’re doing our job well, communication with them is really quite minimal.” Lucia went on to say that she has worked diligently alongside other team members in the billing group and accounting office to put systems into place for timely and accurate billing, and ultimately perfection. “Although this is admittedly a lofty goal with all the moving parts, it is truly our aim,” said Lucia.

“I also support our sales team during a good portion of each day and really enjoy working with these dynamic people to implement competitive pricing to our customers," she continued. “Customers understand that pricing is dynamic, especially in the last year where we have experienced significant volatility, but it is excellence in our service, with high regard to timelines, safety on each delivery and timely invoicing that keeps them returning time and time again.”

Much of Lucia’s communication with customers is handled through e-mail. Asked if she had any best practices to offer, she replied, “As a courtesy, I’m always very concise and strive for accuracy. I also make certain to thank them for their business.” She went on to say that customers have choices about with whom they want to do business and expressing our appreciation for their business by making their concerns a priority shows our "Customer First. Customer Always." philosophy.

Pilot Thomas Logistics

1051 Mustang Drive, Suite 600, G rapevine, TX 76051

817.877.8300

pilotthomas.com