Member Spotlight Richard Kurtz, PeopleNet
ABOUT YOU... Hometown: Longwood, FL
College: University of Florida What was your first car? Ford Bronco Favorite color: Orange & Blue (they just naturally go together!) Favorite movie: Anything with Al Pacino in Favorite ice cream flavor: Chocolate BlackBerry or iPhone? iPhone What is the last thing you Googled? Rays 2014 schedule
On which reality show do you most wish to be? None- let’s just say, I’m not a fan of reality shows
Who, living or deceased, would you most like to meet? Ben Franklin- I’d like to get all my questions answered about the “intent” of the Constitution and I suspect the stories he could tell are hilarious.
Which super power would you prefer to have? Ability to fly What’s the last movie you saw in theaters? Man of Steel- no kidding What is the farthest you’ve been from home? Seattle, WA Favorite vacation spot: Anywhere the fish are biting
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Steak
YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE... Current Title: Regional Account Manager
Why did you go into trucking? Prior to PeopleNet, my background was in management and GPS technology. So when PeopleNet was looking for someone in the southeast to work with fleets to show them how their technology could help them improve efficiency and reduce operating expenses, I jumped at the chance.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received? Work hard and play harder!
What is your business philosophy? Treat people the way I want to be treated.
What is the biggest challenge currently facing the trucking industry? Recruiting and retaining good drivers.
What improvements have you seen in the industry? By far, the improvements in Safety and MPG performance are the biggest improvements I have seen in the last 13 years. These improvements are not just the results of developments in technology but the performance of the folks behind the wheel and the fleets making it a priority for their people.
What are the greatest benefits of membership in the Florida Trucking Association? I think it is important whether you are a fleet or allied member to be involved in your industry at least at the local level. You can stand on the sideline and complain or get in the game and have an impact on the outcome. FTA enables its members to enact change and be a part of the solution rather than just dwelling on the problems.
YOUR COMPANY... When was it started? How long has it been in operation? We were founded in 1994 and now have more than 300 employees in North America.
What are the challenges facing your business today? One of our biggest challenges is helping fleets understand the difference between a comprehensive fleet management solution and a low-cost electronic log system. A complete telematics solution not only is designed to help fleets maintain compliance, it has tremendous potential to make the entire operation more efficient – everything from maintenance and safety to finance and operations. It’s exciting to talk with fleets and help them see this potential.
Where do you see growth coming from in the future? I see it coming from fleets that want to grow without necessarily adding more employees. With the right technology, fleets can position themselves for growth without adding more staff. Also, I work with many fleets that want to get ahead of government regulations – they adopt fleet management/telematics solutions for ROI benefits that come in addition to compliance. FTN
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Florida Truck News Q1 WINTER 2014
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