Monday, May 17, 2010

Andy Ahern of Ahern & Associates Rally’s Trucking Industry to Fight Hunger Through St. Mary’s Food Bank

St. Mary’s Food Bank benefits annually from group donations procreated by the efforts of Andy Ahern and his many colleagues within the transportation industry.

Phoenix, AZ Known for being the life blood of America, the trucking industry is well adept at transporting food across our nation. But thanks to the perennial efforts of Andy Ahern, CEO of trucking consulting firm Ahern & Associates, Ltd., the trucking industry annually delivers a very valuable payload to St. Mary’s Food Bank which helps fund their cause and provide food for the needy.

Leveraging his extensive list of contacts he’s built through the years, Ahern regularly solicits his colleagues to band together around the holiday season and provide much needed corporate funding to St. Mary’s Food Bank, the world’s first food bank. Ahern has singled out St. Mary’s Food Bank based on the fact that 90% of the aide provided goes to feed families with small children and the elderly. Additionally, for every $1.00 collected by St. Mary’s, .96 cents goes back into the community and ultimately equals $7.00 of food.
This year, Ahern has accumulated sizeable donations from companies like North American Transportation, LLC, Land-Link Traffic Systems, Benesch Law Firm, Lawrence Leasing Inc. and Stan Koch & Sons Transportation among others with donations rolling in weekly. Prior contributors include Paschal Truck Lines, Inc., Fenway Partners, Inc., American Transport, Inc., PGT Trucking and Hogan Transport, Inc. to name a few.
Ahern’s partners in transportation genuinely appreciate his efforts as does the food bank itself. “Andy has been a long time and tremendous supporter of the food bank. He not only makes regular personal contributions, but he continually encourages those in his business and personal networks to donate to St Mary’s. I wish we had many more donors with Andy’s personal commitment to taking care of the less fortunate,” explains Terry Shannon, President and CEO of St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance.
Entering his second decade of service to St. Mary’s Food Bank, Ahern continues to be impressed with the philanthropic efforts of his colleagues. “Every year I call on my friends in the trucking industry to help this very worthy cause and am always amazed with their level of commitment to St. Mary’s.”
If interested in joining Mr. Ahern’s quest for the elimination of hunger in America, donations can be sent directly to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance c/o Ahern & Associates.
About St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance:

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, the world’s first food bank, is a non-sectarian, nonprofit organization that alleviates hunger by efficiently gathering and distributing food to 534 agencies that serve the hungry. Serving 13 of Arizona’s 15 counties, the organization is a member of Feeding America, the national network of food banks, and is committed to volunteerism, building community relationships, and improving the quality of life for Arizonans in need. Last year, the Food Bank distributed more than 67 million pounds of food to families and individuals, provided enough food for 300,000 meals every day, and garnered more than 370,000 volunteer service hours. Web site: http://www.FirstFoodBank.org Phone: 602-242-FOOD.

About Ahern & Associates, Ltd.:
Ahern and Associates is North America’s leading trucking and transportation management consulting firm. The skilled consultants at Ahern and Associates specialize in mergers and acquisitions of trucking and logistics companies as well as the restructuring and evaluation of existing carriers that seek to increase operating efficiency and improve profitability. Since 1987, Ahern and Associates has aided hundreds of buyers in the acquisition of trucking and logistics companies throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as assisting many transportation and logistics companies in reducing their overall operating costs and increasing their profitability. For more information, please call 602-242-1030 or visit http://www.Ahern-Ltd.com
.
XXX
Business contact:
A.W. Ahern
602-242-1030

Media contact:
Jason W. Jantzen
Red Spot Marketing
Jason@redspotmarketing.com
602-282-0202

Trucking Consultants, Ahern & Associates Engaged by IWD Transportation to Facilitate Brokerage Company Acquisition

IWD Transportation, LLC seeks to add an additional brokerage company to their family of companies; appoints transportation consulting firm Ahern & Associates to further acquisition strategy.

Phoenix, AZ Trucking consulting firm Ahern & Associates, Ltd. announced today that their trucking consulting firm has been hired to procure a brokerage company acquisition candidate for Farmington, MO based IWD Transportation, LLC.

Hoping to add to their profitable mix of Midwestern distribution and warehousing companies; IWD Transportation, LLC looks to acquire an additional brokerage company to further their reach and service capabilities throughout the Kansas City and St. Louis corridor. Brought on to find the perfect mix of quality people, service and profitability is Andy Ahern of Ahern & Associates, Ltd.
“I like the fact that Ahern & Associates is strictly transportation oriented and that their business model allows us to deal directly with acquisition candidates rather than through a third party like a business broker,” explains Walt Bruns, Managing Partner of IWD Transportation, LLC.
Having served the transportation industry for over 20 years, Ahern & Associates has built a long standing reputation for delivering quality results in a timely manner. “Like IWD, we also depend on quality people that always keep the client’s best interest in mind,” said Andy Ahern, CEO of Ahern & Associates, Ltd. “I’m also very confident in our abilities based on our extensive reach in the market to present IWD with brokerage candidates that strongly complement their existing business model.”
About IWD Transportation, LLC:
IWD Transportation, LLC is part of a 3PL company including Innovative Warehousing and Distribution, Inc., based out of Farmington, MO. With an emphasis on serving the construction and landscaping industries among others, IWD Transportation, LLC prides itself on its commitment to service since 1994. For additional information, please visit: http://www.IWDist.com .
About Ahern & Associates, Ltd.:
Ahern and Associates is North America’s leading trucking and transportation management consulting firm. The skilled consultants at Ahern and Associates specialize in mergers and acquisitions of trucking and logistics companies as well as the restructuring and evaluation of existing carriers that seek to increase operating efficiency and improve profitability. Since 1987, Ahern and Associates has aided hundreds of buyers in the acquisition of trucking and logistics companies throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as assisting many transportation and logistics companies in reducing their overall operating costs and increasing their profitability. For more information, please call 602-242-1030 or visit http://www.Ahern-Ltd.com
.
XXX

Business contact:
A.W. Ahern
602-242-1030

Media contact:
Jason W. Jantzen
Red Spot Marketing
Jason@redspotmarketing.com
602-282-0202

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Lily Transportation Hires Trucking and Logistics Acquisition Specialists, Ahern & Associates to Augment Expansion Efforts

Phoenix, AZ— Needham, MA based Lily Transportation Corporation has recently engaged the services of Ahern & Associates, Ltd. to aid them in expanding their dedicated contract carriage operations through the acquisition of logistics companies that harmonize with their current, successful business model.
Since 1958, Lily Transportation Corporation has predicated its contract carriage operations on four basic principles: efficiency, focus, performance and control. Lily now seeks to further expand their shipping and logistics capabilities through the acquisition of logistics companies that share those same core principles.
Called on to facilitate Lily’s expansion efforts are Ahern & Associates, Ltd., the nation’s leading trucking and transportation management consulting firm, specializing in trucking and logistics acquisitions. Ahern & Associates prides itself on having the most extensive network of Trucking Acquisitions and transportation contacts in the industry which often times allows them to create markets which never previously existed.
John Simourian, Chairman of Lily Transportation Corporation expects Ahern & Associates to utilize their vast experience in transportation acquisitions to find the ideal candidate. Simourian explains, “A trusted industry colleague recommended Andy Ahern of Ahern & Associates to us based on his outstanding reputation for getting deals done; in addition, I felt that his firm would be able to offer us deeper access to the overall market which should result in a great fit for our company.”
Andy Ahern, CEO of Ahern & Associates, Ltd. comments, “Seeking out acquisition candidates that meet specific criteria is truly one of our strengths and I look forward to leveraging our experience within the transportation industry to present options to Lily Transportation that meet their requirements and give them the best opportunity for advancement.”
About Network Lily Transportation Corporation:
With over Fifty years of experience operating dedicated contract carriage systems throughout the United States, Lily has continually developed and refined operating systems and processes that insure high level performance. Lily is structured around well-defined operating practices and ingrained with a commitment to documentation and decision processes based on confirmed data points. For more information please visit http://www.Lily.com .
About Ahern & Associates, Ltd.:
Ahern and Associates is North America’s leading trucking and transportation management consulting firm. The skilled consultants at Ahern and Associates specialize in mergers and acquisitions of trucking and logistics companies as well as the restructuring and evaluation of existing carriers that seek to increase operating efficiency and improve profitability. Since 1987, Ahern and Associates has aided hundreds of buyers in the acquisition of trucking and logistics companies throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as assisting many transportation and logistics companies in reducing their overall operating costs and increasing their profitability. For more information, please call 602-242-1030 or visit http://www.Ahern-Ltd.com
.
XXX

Business contact:
A.W. Ahern
602-242-1030

Media contact:
Jason W. Jantzen
Red Spot Marketing
602-282-0202

Monday, April 5, 2010

Trucking and Logistics Consulting Firm, Ahern & Associates Facilitates Additional Agent Location For Network F.O.B.

Rock Hill, SC based Tandem Transport Co., Inc. becomes the 84th agent location overall for Network F.O.B. and the sixth agent sign on as a result of Ahern & Associates’ efforts.
Phoenix, AZ— Rapidly growing shipping and logistics provider Network F.O.B., a non-asset based, cross country network of independent freight agents, continues their expansion efforts by signing on Tandem Transport Co., Inc. as its newest agent location. As a result, Tim Taylor, president of the Eagan, MN based company expects to further enhance their level of service and shipping capabilities throughout the south eastern part of the country.
Securing their latest agent sign on is Andy Ahern of the transportation and logistics consulting firm, Ahern & Associates. Drawing upon decades of experience within the trucking and logistics acquisition industries, Ahern & Associates was able to present Network F.O.B. with an additional agent sign on for the sixth time in less than three years.
Andy Ahern, CEO of Ahern & Associates explains, “We’ve had a long standing relationship with Network F.O.B. and are pleased to be considered a trusted partner of theirs that they can count on to aid them in their expansion efforts.”
Taylor explains why they continue to call upon Ahern & Associates, “Andy Ahern is unstoppable—his firm is extremely competent and are very determined to get deals done; they excel at seeking out agents that properly align with our business model.”
By offering very attractive agent deals and capitalizing upon the economic hinderers effecting their competition as a result of the recession, Network F.O.B. plans to continue expanding their network well into 2010.
About Network FOB:
Network FOB is based out of Eagan, MN and has been in operation since 1987. A 100% agent operation, Network FOB is a growing company with annual revenues of 40MM and a coast-to-coast network of 84 independent agents. For more information please visit http://www.NetworkFOB.com
.
About Ahern and Associates:
Ahern and Associates is North America’s leading trucking and transportation management consulting firm. The skilled consultants at Ahern and Associates specialize in mergers and acquisitions of trucking and logistics companies as well as the restructuring and evaluation of existing carriers that seek to increase operating efficiency and improve profitability. Since 1987, Ahern and Associates has aided hundreds of buyers in the acquisition of trucking and logistics companies throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as assisting many transportation and logistics companies in reducing their overall operating costs and increasing their profitability. For more information, please call 602-242-1030 or visit http://www.Ahern-Ltd.com
.
XXX

Business contact:
A.W. Ahern
602-242-1030

Media contact:
Jason W. Jantzen
Red Spot Marketing
602-282-0202

Transportation Consultants, Ahern & Associates to Quadruple Thomas & Sons’ Existing Freight Brokerage Services

Trucking consulting firm, Ahern & Associates hired by Thomas & Sons Distributors to aggressively expand their regional freight brokerage services up and down the west coast.
Phoenix, AZ—Trust, honesty and integrity have been the calling card of Oregon based Thomas & Sons Distributors since 1956. When current President, Aaron Thomas began vetting firms to aid him and his company in their aggressive expansion efforts, he applied those same principles to his search.
Assigned with the job of growing Thomas & Sons’ freight brokerage services is Andy Ahern of Ahern & Associates, North America’s leading trucking and transportation management consulting firm. Thomas expects to quadruple their thriving brokerage services over the next five years and looks to Ahern & Associates to seek out and deliver quality agent partners that share their same core values.
Andy Ahern, CEO of Ahern & Associates explains how his firm expects to actualize Thomas’ goals. “Our firm has literally worked with hundreds of trucking companies over the last twenty-two years and has amassed the largest database of trucking and logistics contacts in the industry--we will draw upon those contacts coupled with our experience to align Thomas & Sons with the perfect agent partners.”
Thomas also comments on their expansion plans, “Thomas & Sons has been strategically planning our expansion efforts by investing in technology and infrastructure for quite some time in anticipation of managing a considerable increase in business mix for our company.”
Within five years, Thomas & Sons expects to add nearly twenty new agent partner locations.
About Ahern and Associates:
Ahern and Associates is North America’s leading trucking and transportation management consulting firm. The skilled consultants at Ahern and Associates specialize in mergers and acquisitions of trucking and logistics companies as well as the restructuring and evaluation of existing carriers that seek to increase operating efficiency and improve profitability. Since 1987, Ahern and Associates has aided hundreds of buyers in the acquisition of trucking and logistics companies throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as assisting many transportation and logistics companies in reducing their overall operating costs and increasing their profitability. For more information, please call 602-242-1030 or visit http://www.Ahern-Ltd.com.

About Thomas & Sons Distributors:
Thomas & Sons is a third generation, family owned and operated business founded in 1956. They currently operate a Trucking Division that includes company trucks and a dedicated fleet of owner operators. Thomas & Sons has built the company over the years by reinvesting in our core businesses while focusing on long-term profitable growth. For more information visit http://www.ThomasAndSonsInc.net.
XXX
Business contact:
Andy Ahern
602-242-1030

Media contact:
Jason W. Jantzen
Red Spot Marketing
602-282-0202

Monday, March 22, 2010

Newly Released Transportation Software From Ahern & Associates Helps McKelvey Trucking Cut Costs, Assess Profitability

McKelvey Trucking markedly improves profitability when using newest version of Financial I.Q. 2.0 trucking software
to take the guesswork out of lane analysis.

Phoenix, AZ, —Fluctuating fuel costs, declining freight rates, increasing insurance requirements and escalating government regulations are all factors that make profitability assessment within the trucking industry critical to a trucking company’s survival. Recognizing the importance of customer rate profitability and staying abreast of current technologies is what has helped make McKelvey Trucking an industry leader for over fifty years.
Hoping to improve overall profitability when assessing potential and current customers, Dale Fink, CEO of McKelvey Trucking called on long time trucking analyst; Andy Ahern of Ahern & Associates for a solution. Fink found that solution in the latest release of Financial I.Q. 2.0 trucking software.
Financial I.Q. 2.0 transportation software is a windows based application which works directly off of the company’s actual financial statements to provide the user with keen insight on individual loads, shipping points, lanes, rates for bids, customers, round trips and equipment. When analyzing these individual segments, Financial I.Q. 2.0 generates a profit and loss statement that accurately details total revenues, total expenses, bottom line profit, profit percentages and operating ratios.
In addition, this version of Financial I.Q. 2.0 has an outstanding “what if analysis” capability for measuring the bottom line effect of any changes in rates, costs, productivity, miles per gallon and business volume.
Fink and McKelvey Trucking regularly use Financial I.Q. 2.0 to perform lane analysis when considering placement of a potential customer and to determine profitability. Fink explains, “Financial I.Q. gives us accurate analysis when we run a current or prospective customer through certain lanes; we can see if it’s profitable or not, then we can make adjustments.” Fink explains how they are able to make those adjustments, “It (Financial I.Q.) also gives us a handle on equipment by assisting us in determining who we put on certain loads; depending on the analysis, the software helps us decide whether we use an owner-operator or a company truck.”
Mark Gwynn, VP of McKelvey Trucking oversees the operation of Financial I.Q. 2.0 and knows its effects first hand. “Financial I.Q uses our actual company data to help us gain a better understanding of what types of costs are associated with our customers’ lanes and gives us the ability to rate accordingly—it’s a tremendous tool which has made a real impact to our bottom line.”
Financial I.Q. is profitability software customizable for all sizes of truckload, LTL and freight broker firms; a free demonstration can be found at http://www.ahern-ltd.com/offers/financialiq .
About Ahern and Associates:
Ahern and Associates is North America’s leading trucking and transportation management consulting firm. The skilled consultants at Ahern and Associates specialize in mergers and acquisitions of trucking and logistics companies as well as the restructuring and evaluation of existing carriers that seek to increase operating efficiency and improve profitability. Since 1987, Ahern and Associates has aided hundreds of buyers in the acquisition of trucking and logistics companies throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as assisting many transportation and logistics companies in reducing their overall operating costs and increasing their profitability. For more information, please call 602-242-1030 or visit http://www.Ahern-Ltd.com.


About McKelvey Trucking:
McKelvey Trucking is a Phoenix, AZ based truckload dry van carrier that operates within seven western states; primarily between Arizona, California and Nevada and has been in operation since 1957. With a fleet of over 200 tractors, McKelvey specializes in direct to store/customer delivery with Qualcomm-equipped tractors and drivers experienced in providing customers with the service their business demands. Utilizing the most current shipping technologies, McKelvey offers state-of-the-art EDI as well as Internet-based Track and Trace to aid customers in monitoring their shipments. For more information, please visit http://www.McKelveyTrucking.com .

Trucking Consultant, Andy Ahern to Join Esteemed Panel of Speakers at Upcoming TransForum 2009 Conference

Andy Ahern of Ahern & Associates to deliver expert insight about transportation mergers and acquisitions on speaking panel collaborated by James M. Hill of Benesch Law at TransForum 2009.

Phoenix, AZ --TransForum 2009 by TMW Systems, Inc. is the premier national conference for those utilizing trucking and logistics cost containment strategies via TMW’s enterprise transportation software. The conference will feature educational breakout sessions, networking opportunities and guest speakers delivering valuable messages on leadership and the viability of mergers and acquisitions within the trucking and transportation industries.
Commenting on the current state of transportation mergers and acquisitions will be James M. Hill, Executive Chairman of Benesch Law, in conjunction with expert panel members David Hallett of Lazard, Ltd and Andy Ahern of Ahern & Associates, Ltd.
Mr. Hill, a keynote speaker, expects attendees to gain specific knowledge on exactly how the current economy has affected the proposal of a merger or acquisition within the transportation industry and how these deals are getting done. Selected to deliver a portion of that message is Andy Ahern of Ahern & Associates; a twenty-plus year veteran in aiding hundreds of companies through the often times, risk laden proposition of mergers and acquisitions within the transportation industry.
“Andy has a deep knowledge of the transportation industry and an equally deep knowledge of the types of transactions taking place within the transportation industry—particularly in relation to pricing, terms and the overall viability of the transaction,” explains Hill.
TransForum 2009 takes place at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN and runs from September 20 to September 23, 2009.
About Benesch:
With offices in Cleveland, Columbus, Philadelphia, Shanghai and Wilmington, Benesch’s practice and industry groups include Business Reorganization, the China Group, Compensation & Benefits, Construction, Commercial Finance & Banking, Corporate & Securities, Litigation, Energy, Health Care, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, Polymer Industry, Private Equity, Public Law, Real Estate & Environmental, Tax, Transportation & Logistics, and Estate Planning & Probate. For more information, visit www.beneschlaw.com.
About Ahern and Associates:
Ahern and Associates is North America’s leading trucking and transportation management consulting firm. The skilled consultants at Ahern and Associates specialize in mergers and acquisitions of trucking and logistics companies as well as the restructuring and evaluation of existing carriers that seek to increase operating efficiency and improve profitability. Since 1987, Ahern and Associates has aided hundreds of buyers in the acquisition of trucking and logistics companies throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as assisting many transportation and logistics companies in reducing their overall operating costs and increasing their profitability. For more information, please call 602-242-1030 or visit www.Ahern-Ltd.com .