Few distribution companies realize the importance of continuously improving transportation technologies like Golden Eagle Distributors. Golden Eagle did not become one of the largest beer distributors in the country by waiting for transportation management solutions to be widely accepted by other distributors. Rather, they sought out and embraced the latest technology available.

Golden Eagle Distributors is headquartered in Tucson, AZ, and manages their 2,400+ accounts from six distribution centers. They handle roughly 11 million cases per year and are ranked the 9th largest exclusive Anheuser-Busch wholesaler. Additionally, Golden Eagle has been ranked 24th out of all US beer distributors in terms of volume.

Golden Eagle manages this large customer base by dividing their routes into distinct categories. While the majority of their routes are pre-sale, they also have a number of driver sale, chain routes (for large accounts) and draft only routes. Golden Eagle relies on the Roadnet^® Transportation Suite from UPS Logistics Technologies to produce standard and dynamic routes for each of these categories. In less than 45 minutes a day, Golden Eagle can complete all of their daily routing tasks.

Golden Eagle's Executive Strategy Team decided that they needed to take their technology investment a step ahead of their competitors, by adding wireless dispatch and tracking. With the MobileCast system, also from UPS Logistics Technologies, Golden Eagle gained access to real-time delivery information. The team selected the MobileCast system to help build driver accountability, improve driver communications and help the executive team manage proactively.

Each driver carries a Nextel^® phone which supports the MobileCast delivery application. As they make their deliveries, the precise arrival and departure times are captured on the phone. That information is transferred real-time back to Golden Eagle. GPS data for the truck's location is also relayed immediately to the dispatcher. This allows their dispatcher to monitor the day's routes on the MobileCast Server. The dispatcher can quickly see actual vehicle locations against the route plan. MobileCast gives Golden Eagle's executive team the ability to manage by exception.

And the dispatcher is not the only person who has access to this information. By utilizing UPS Logistics Technologies' unique application, Roadnet Info Center, delivery information can be made available to everyone in the organization through a user-friendly Java^TM application. This allows Golden Eagle's customer service team to respond quickly and accurately to customer inquiries.

With this information readily available, Golden Eagle can compile a variety of reports to track their costs, route exceptions and delivery efficiencies. MobileCast even creates a report which Anheuser-Busch distributors can use for their brewer-mandated "Time to Sell" report.

Bill Osteen, Vice President of Business Development, has been very pleased with the results. He stated that they have been able to reduce overtime and make better decisions for driver staffing. He also reports:

• 10-12% reduction in mileage
• Over $100,000 in overall savings
  - Eliminated one sales position
  - Cancelled two vehicle leases
• Less than 1% of customers complained after switching from standard to dynamic routes
• Significant time savings to produce "Time to Sell" report

According to Osteen, UPS Logistics Technologies' software has revolutionized Golden Eagle's daily operations. "By selecting solutions from UPS Logistics Technologies, we were able to get an entire transportation management package from one vendor. They offered a suite of solutions and made it easy to determine that it was the right solution for our organization."

"With these solutions, we not only have a heightened awareness of costs, we have significantly improved our delivery operations," Osteen said. "And since UPS Logistics Technologies frequently releases product enhancements we have been able to continue to improve the quality of service we provide our customers."