Fraley & Schilling’s Midwest hub was a nightmare: drivers waiting hours for loads, dispatchers drowning in paper tickets, and a legacy TMS that crashed daily. When Nicky Cupp, the fleet’s senior manager, finally blew the whistle on the chaos, the company turned his frustration into a tech overhaul that’s now the talk of the industry.
What happened
In early 2024, Cupp documented over 3,200 missed load matches and 1,500 hours of driver idle time across a 200‑truck fleet. He pushed the board to replace the antiquated TMS with a cloud‑based platform that integrates ELD data, real‑time lane pricing, and automated load‑matching. By Q3 2025, the new system reported a 12% reduction in deadhead miles and a 9% lift in on‑time delivery rates. The rollout also introduced a driver‑facing app that lets carriers accept loads with a tap, cutting dispatch call‑time by 45 minutes per shift on average.
Why it matters for dispatchers/drivers
Cupp’s story isn’t a one‑off. Across North America, fleets still rely on patchwork solutions that force dispatchers into manual data entry and drivers into endless radio chatter. The cost is real: the American Trucking Associations estimates that $4.2 billion is lost annually to inefficiencies like deadhead miles and idle time. For independent dispatchers, the lesson is clear—if you can’t prove ROI on a tech upgrade, you’re leaving money on the table. For drivers, a modern TMS means less waiting, more predictable routes, and a better chance to hit HOS limits without scrambling for a load.
My take
The industry has been stuck in a “we’ll fix it later” mindset for far too long. Cupp proved that frustration can be a catalyst, but only if you have the guts to push for change and the budget to back it. Fleet owners who cling to legacy systems are essentially betting against their own profitability. It’s time to stop whining and start investing.
What you should do
- Audit your current TMS: count missed matches, idle hours, and driver complaints. If you can’t hit **90%** on‑time delivery, it’s time for a change.
- Pilot a cloud‑based dispatch platform that pulls in ELD data, lane pricing, and load boards in real time. Look for a **minimum 10%** reduction in deadhead miles.
- Train your team. EK Dispatch Academy offers a **hands‑on curriculum** on modern dispatch tools, pricing strategies, and driver communication. Check out our /curriculum and /pricing pages for details.
—EkJot Singh, Founder, EK Dispatch Academy