However, the company’s current impressive operation, boasting 70 tractors, 125 trailers, a modern corporate headquarters, and a substantial 30,000-square-foot warehousing and cross-dock facility, had humble beginnings. Founder Fenn Church vividly recalls the challenging early days when success was far from guaranteed. “There were plenty of dark days,” he acknowledged, “but come hell or high water we were going to get through them. I just had the mindset of ‘Never Give Up.’”
Humble Beginnings and Unwavering Determination
Church’s journey into the transportation industry began with his experience in the less-than-truckload (LTL) sector. Initially, he explored acquiring existing companies, but when a suitable opportunity didn’t materialize, he decided to forge his own path. Starting with a single truck and one driver, Church embarked on his entrepreneurial venture. This marked the beginning of a relentless pursuit of growth and improvement.
That initial single-truck operation quickly expanded. Within the first couple of years, Church Transportation & Logistics grew to encompass two trucks, then four, and subsequently eight. During this period of rapid expansion, Fenn Church supplemented his burgeoning business with a part-time night job driving a handicapped bus in Birmingham, demonstrating his unwavering commitment. A significant milestone was reached when the daytime trucking operation grew to a point where a full-time dispatcher became necessary.
“I stepped out and just concentrated on trucking,” Church stated, marking a pivotal moment of full dedication to his company.
Strategic Growth and Expansion
“We just grew it,” Church explained, emphasizing the organic and persistent nature of the company’s expansion. “We had to go out and find more customers. When you get so far invested in it, you can’t turn backward. You’ve just got to keep pushing forward. What wasn’t profitable, we found a way to make it profitable or we quit doing it. I put every bit of my personal savings into this thing. I just couldn’t back up. Failure was not an option.” This relentless drive and pragmatic approach were instrumental in navigating the challenging early years and establishing a sustainable business model.
These challenging early years paved the way for the robust and thriving operation Church Transportation & Logistics is today. The company now supports a workforce of nearly 90 employees, including 10 new hires in 2014 alone. By the end of 2012, the fleet had grown to 50 trucks, and further expanded to 74 trucks the following year with the establishment of a dump-truck division in partnership with Mid-South Paving, which also brought on three additional drivers.
Customer-Centric Service and Specialized Freight Handling
While dry-van operations remain the core of Church Transportation & Logistics’ services, their reach extends across the United States. However, in recent times, the company has strategically focused its territorial operations within the eastern half of the country, as noted by Gene Sweeney, Vice President of Operations since 2005.
Their customer base includes many Birmingham-area businesses who, according to Church, “know who we are and they don’t mind paying a little more, but they expect a higher level of service.” Church Transportation & Logistics has also carved a niche in handling freight that many carriers find challenging or avoid altogether, such as furniture, soft drinks, building products, and appliances.
“We want to take on those, because that’s where the higher revenue is and that’s where the higher potential for profits is,” Church elaborated. “It is a niche business. I don’t think there are a whole lot of options who can babysit it the way we do or give it the attention.” This specialization allows Church Transportation & Logistics to cater to specific client needs and capitalize on market segments that demand a higher level of care and expertise.
Church Transportation & Logistics trucks and facility
Leveraging Technology for Safety and Compliance
Church Transportation & Logistics has made significant investments in technology to enhance its operations and ensure safety. This includes independent satellite tracking on every truck and trailer, and the implementation of electronic on-board recording devices (EOBRs) across the entire fleet. These technological advancements not only appeal to customers with sensitive shipments, offering enhanced visibility and security, but also ensure adherence to increasingly stringent federal and state regulations regarding driver hours and safety compliance.
Sweeney proudly mentioned that April would mark the fourth consecutive year of achieving 100 percent compliance with electronic logging device (ELD) mandates and related regulations. This commitment to safety and compliance is a cornerstone of their operational philosophy.
“We’re able to walk into our customers with confidence and tell them, ‘We are a safe organization,’” Sweeney emphasized. “We also walk in and explain to them, ‘Hey, don’t ask us to do 1,000 miles between 5 in the evening and 9 tomorrow morning. It’s not possible legally and we just make sure they understand our role. What does that give them? It gives them the confidence that they can go to bed tonight and know that my driver is not going to be overtired. He’s not going to drive into a busload of nuns carrying orphans. He’s going to get that product there safely and on time and we give them a realistic ETA. That’s huge in this litigious society. Liability is not just housed with the trucking company now.” This transparent and safety-focused approach builds trust and provides peace of mind to their clientele.
Future Vision: Continued Growth and Diversification
The straightforward and pragmatic approach that defines Church Transportation & Logistics’ safety protocols also extends to their future aspirations. The company has set ambitious yet sensible goals for continued growth and expansion.
Reaching a fleet size of 200 trucks by the end of the decade is a primary objective, alongside consistent growth in monthly sales revenue, targeting an increase from the current $1 million to $1.5 million range to $2 million to $2.5 million. Further diversification into related transportation business sectors is also under consideration, signaling a forward-looking and adaptable business strategy.
“That will not be possible if we can’t manage it at the same level that we’re managing right now,” Church cautioned, highlighting the importance of controlled and sustainable growth. “We’re not going to just go and add trucks if we can’t keep the control. Keeping the same personality of the company as we grow is a tremendous goal. You don’t want to get away from what brought you to the dance, so to speak. We’re trying to maintain a steady course.” This emphasis on maintaining their core values and operational excellence while expanding is central to their long-term vision.
“We kick ideas around all the time when we all talk. At the end of the game, just knowing we’ve had a successful company is what we’re after,” Church concluded, encapsulating the company’s ultimate goal of sustained success and industry leadership in church transportation and logistics.
