PARTNER:
CUSTOMER SINCE: FREIGHT SOLUTION:
KEY RESULTS
Increased load bookings
5X
Gares Investments hauls 5X more loads after joining Flock’s carrier network
CASE STUDY
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Gares Investments LLC
August 2022
Shared Truckload
The search for profitable loads as a new carrier
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Hector Garcia, owner-operator at Gares Investments, saw an opportunity for a career shift to the trucking industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was optimistic he would earn the money he needed to support his family and other business ventures while maintaining the flexibility to prioritize family time.
At first, Garcia followed the advice of other drivers and signed up for DAT, a well-known load board, to find freight. His goal was to haul three partial truckloads (PTL) per week, but he struggled to find even one or two consistently. As a new carrier, lacking history and authority, the odds seemed stacked against him. Often, when he called to book a potential load, shippers would refuse, referring to the brief time he’d been operating in the industry.
When he did score loads, rates were low and shipment deliveries were inefficiently planned. “I could easily do three individual loads, but I’d be driving around all over the place,” said Garcia. Frustrated and earning much less than he had hoped, he knew he needed to find a freight provider who could supply more loads. Fortunately, about 6 months after getting on the road, he came across Flock Freight on a DAT posting and signed up right away.
More freight, better routes, and greater efficiency than typical load boards
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Getting set up with Flock was quick and easy. Garcia used Flock’s web-based platform to complete onboarding and was approved in less than 30 minutes. Once his account was activated, he started bidding and booking loads immediately – all from the convenience of his smartphone. He checks postings daily and appreciates how easy it is to locate important information. Details about the origin, destination, travel miles, weight, and price are available at
his fingertips 24/7, so he can make instant decisions when it’s time to book a load. The best part is Flock’s platform is free while DAT can charge upwards of $295/yr to join their load board.
Since he is already vetted by Flock, shippers on the
platform never turn him down. Even with limited experience, he quickly worked his way up to four weekly loads – a
huge milestone for him and his new business. “Flock definitely helped me get on the road, get busy, and start making money.”
With tailored load suggestions on the platform, Garcia doesn’t have to waste time scrolling through irrelevant freight, and he’s able to find many loads in his preferred
lane between Los Angeles and San Diego. He appreciates being able to plan ahead, sometimes booking a week or more in advance.
Before partnering with Flock Freight, Garcia would haul partial loads, but he was frustrated by the extra miles he
put on to make various deliveries. With terminal-free,
direct delivery and the potential for shared truckloads
(STL), he can fill his truck, earning more with fewer stops
and less handling.
According to Garcia, Flock’s patented technology ensures pickups and dropoffs are perfectly timed. “As soon as I booked my first shared truckload, I could see how it would streamline my business, make things more efficient, and keep me busier,” Garcia said. “STLs are higher paying and great for the customer and the carrier. Everyone is on the winning side with shared truckloads.”
“STLs are higher paying and great for the customer and the carrier. Everyone is on the winning side with shared truckloads.”
Hector Garcia
Owner / Operator
Gares Investments LLC
Gares Investments increases efficiency and revenue
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With the help of Flock, Garcia has been crushing his goals. He quickly met his first objective of 4-5 loads per week. Then, he went on to book 2 loads per day, 5X as many as when he first signed up. He has already achieved his first goal of $1,000 per week and has set a new goal of $3,000 – with no doubt he’ll be able to meet it.
Garcia has already delivered 58 loads with greater than 95% on-time delivery. His high performance and 95%
auto-tracked loads make Gares Investments a valuable asset to Flock.
For Garcia, who is very family focused, the flexibility of
STL is a key motivator. “I can decide when I want to work, when I don’t, and where. I can always be close to home
for whatever they need and that’s really important to me.”
Shared truckloads have played such a role in Garcia’s success to this point that he’s given up his DAT subscription. Now, 99% of his business comes through Flock Freight.
With the platform and support from his dedicated account representative, Adam, Garcia continues to unlock new levels of achievement for his business. “I can’t say enough nice things about Adam,” he said. “The platform, Adam, and his team are the combination that has made my business efficient and successful so far.”
According to Adam, the feeling is mutual. “This partnership we’ve built illustrates the benefits for carriers willing to
give shared truckloads a chance. We’re helping carriers
move more efficiently to provide phenomenal service for
our shipper clients. It’s an absolute pleasure working with Hector. We can’t wait to see him reach his next milestone.”
Garcia’s ultimate goal is to hire drivers to haul for him and earn enough profit to invest in commercial real estate. With Flock’s team handling the details, he’s confident about the future.
Ready to learn how STL can help you haul more efficiently?
Let's Talk.
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Follow Gares Investment’s footsteps and see the STL difference for yourself.
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Total loads delivered,
including 6 STLs
58
Over 95%
of loads
auto-tracked
95%
95%
Over 95%
OTP & OTD
99%
Of loads
booked via
Flock's Platform
01/05
02/05
03/05
04/05
05/05
