By many indications, the rapid growth in e-commerce and the resulting need for last-mile home delivery services accelerated by COVID-19 is likely to become the “new normal.” Local delivery business, in fact, is one of the trucking segments that has actually received a boost during the pandemic.

Without a doubt, changing purchasing practices have led to increased demand for local delivery services by online retailers, noted Kyle Chapman, vice president and COO of ASAP Movers. “Making home deliveries for online retailers is exactly what we are perfectly prepared to provide,” he said. “Our fleet, our operations, and our staff are geared for that kind of service.”

Headquartered in San Luis Obispo, Calif., ASAP Movers fields about 15 trucks. Its core business—local and long-distance residential and commercial moving service—is now being supplemented by home delivery operations. Online retailers deliver goods in truckloads to the company, and ASAP Movers handles final-mile deliveries, Chapman explained. Currently, the fleet is running between two and six of those routes daily. About 70% of its trucks return home every night, while one-third of the fleet operates long-distance routes across the lower 48 states, including runs to the East Coast a few times each month.

“Home delivery service is the fastest-growing segment of our business,” Chapman related, “but when it comes to equipment, there’s not a lot of difference between providing door-to-door service for personal or business moving needs and making deliveries for online retailers. The same investment in our fleet and professional people allow us to safely, efficiently and productively handle and deliver a variety of home and office goods.”

The ASAP Movers fleet includes 2018 through 2020 model-year Class 7 Hino 338 conventionals rated at 33,000 lbs. GVWR and equipped with the manufacturer’s 8-liter, 260-hp. JO8E VB diesel engine. The fleet also comprises several Hino 195h hybrid cabovers. “We’ve had good results with the Class 5 diesel-electric units,” Chapman related. “They have been a key part of our effort to become more efficient and environmentally friendly.

“We decided to replace our fleet with all Hino models after reading reviews of the trucks and because we have a good relationship with our local dealer, Hino of Santa Maria,” Chapman continued. “In addition to recommending body and liftgate manufacturers, they handle all of our maintenance and warranty work.

“If we have a breakdown,” Chapman added, “we also use the HinoWatch program to find an authorized service location nearby. With Hino’s INSIGHT Case Management program, our dealer can coordinate the service process and get progress updates. That can be a challenge otherwise.”

Other standard features on Hino models that help ASAP Movers operate more efficiently are the built-in INSIGHT telematics and INSIGHT remote diagnostics for fault code alerts. All of that information on the fleet is integrated with the company’s Samsara fleet management, driver safety, and compliance solution. The fleet uses the platform for vehicle tracking, fault code monitoring, and its electronic logging device to track and manage driver hours of service and duty status.

“With real-time diagnostics on all of our trucks, we can more effectively manage routine maintenance,” Chapman said. “At the same time, there’s a lot of value in having data on fuel efficiency and safety because we can easily address issues with speeding and hard braking. We also have a driver scorecard that we use as part of an incentive program to promote safe driving practices.”

ASAP Movers takes pride in its staff of full-time, experienced professionals. “We ensure everyone meets our high standards of service,” Chapman stated. “Our crews work together daily, so they are extremely efficient and well organized, and all of our supervisors have years of experience in the field.  Our trucks are reliable, clean, organized, and full of every tool necessary to complete deliveries safely and efficiently.

“Whether a delivery is local or a few states away, ASAP Movers understands how important it is to our customers,” Chapman added. “As a smaller company, we’re able to focus our attention on communication and customer satisfaction and take every step necessary to ensure goods are properly protected and transported.”