Posted on Wed, Jan 11, 2012 @ 01:57 PM
Love is in the air, and this month, OnTrac wants to show you just how much we care!
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, and all of our wonderful customers, OnTrac is giving you the chance to win a $250 dollar gift card to Amazon!
Starting January 16 we will be posting video updates on Monday morning for the next four weeks, with winners announced every Friday and a grand prize drawing on February 14, Valentine’s Day.
To get started, all you have to do is “Like” us on Facebook.
From there, it’s easy.
Play the video, head over to our website and find the answer to the questions.
Leave a comment with the right answer and you’ll be entered into the drawing for that week.
There’s a $50 Amazon gift card winner every Friday!
But, in order to be entered into the drawing for the $250, you must answer all four questions correctly, within the allotted time.
We can’t wait to get started!
Keep an eye on our Facebook page to make sure you’re up-to-date with all the OnTrac News and contest information.
Some exclusions apply—OnTrac employees are not eligible, so make sure to tell your friends!
Posted on Tue, Jan 10, 2012 @ 10:18 AM
All the presents have been unwrapped. The food has been eaten, and the holidays are finally over.
But even with the in-laws gone, and all of the decorations packed away, there is still work to be done.
A recent study by comScore Inc. reported online sales up 15 percent, a grand total of $35.3 billion in sales this past November and December.
But with online buying, so too comes online returning.
Inevitably, some of your customers received gifts that weren’t on their wish lists—sweaters that were too small, too festive or too... much.
And if customers were already insulted by their mother-in-law’s fashion tastes (and all three of the festive new sweaters they received) why make them pay more to ship gifts back?
This year, let us help keep your customer’s budget on track.
With our competitive rates and lower fees and surcharges, OnTrac will get your shipment from point A to point B, hassle free.
It’s the gift that keeps giving.
OnTrac offers ground shipping that will save a transit day, and go easier on your wallet. This means you and the buyer can rest easy knowing that you are getting maximum savings—and getting rid of all those sweaters.
Want to read more about the "return season" in the shipping industry? Click here for the New York Times article.
Posted on Fri, Dec 30, 2011 @ 10:34 AM
It was a big year here at OnTrac; we saw a lot of growth and expansion, as well as innovation. We expanded our service area into new states, added new facilities, improved upon old ones, and even launched a brand new service. It truly has been a great year for us. Let’s recap the big stories for OnTrac in 2011:
Colorado
OnTrac now serves Colorado! Adding Colorado to our service area grew the population we service to nearly 60 million people within our 7 state service area. Our addition helps you by covering more people, allowing you to serve more customers in more areas with faster transit times.
Ground
Ground just got faster with OnTrac. OnTrac Ground is the faster, more affordable alternative for parcel delivery in California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Utah, and Colorado. Shipments that may take 2 days to deliver with national carriers arrive next-day with OnTrac Ground. Adding Ground gives our customers the option to offer faster shipping without the cost burden.
New Facilities
OnTrac added several new facilities and upgraded many others this past year. The following facilities were added to our network this year:
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Menlo Park, California
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Ventura, California
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Monterey, California
On top of the new additions, several of our larger facilities received major upgrades to boost our efficiency. The following facilities were upgraded:
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Reno, Nevada
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Petaluma, California
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Phoenix, Arizona
Continued Attention to Lowering Costs for You
We continue to boost your bottom line by cutting out additional costs and offering fewer fees than the national delivery companies. OnTrac still offers a FREE Signature Required option and we won’t charge you a Daily Scheduled Pickup Fee for accounts that ship more than $100 per week. The savings don’t stop there, either. Check out our rate comparison to learn about even more savings you could be receiving!
It has been an exciting year for all of us here at OnTrac, and we hope it has been for you as well. Here’s to a prosperous New Year!
Posted on Wed, Dec 28, 2011 @ 01:05 PM
On any other morning the slight breeze wouldn’t have mattered.
This is Arizona and even in the early morning hours residents appreciate the refreshing reminder that cooler weather is on the way.
But on this day, it was a little different.
November 1 marked the kickoff of KNIX and St. Vincent de Paul’s Million Can Crusade—an effort that invited customers at over 100 Safeway stores to donate nonperishable food items to the needy during the holiday season.
Vendors started arriving around 4am— radio DJ’s set up their booth, news stations unpacked their cameras, OnTrac pitched its tent, and the regulars made their coffee runs.
But there was another new sight off in the distance.
Silhouetted against a brilliant backdrop of purples and oranges was a man standing in the grated basket of a crane.
Hoisted ten stories above the ground, KNIX’s “Barrel Boy” gripped the rail of the basket and made his best effort not to move.
This would be his spot until KNIX and St. Vincent de Paul raised 10,000 cans.
As he stood there, looking out over the city, the combined efforts of local customers, and country music singers Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, and Dierks Bentley donation of 4,000 cans, Barrel Boy was down before noon.
That’s when OnTrac really got involved.
We worked with 11 Safeway Stores this year to pickup and deliver 84 boxes full of supplies to the St. Vincent de Paul facility on December 21, free of charge.
“Although I know it was more, helping just one family is worth the effort,” David Forward, General Manager of the Phoenix Facility, said. “We realize that the small efforts we put forth goes farther than we can imagine for people in need. Both the driver and I have enjoyed being of service to Saint Vincent de Paul.”
The OnTrac sponsored boxes have made their way to several businesses and schools, and Saint Vincent de Paul continues to reuse them for various food drives.
“For me it serves as a reminder of the generous support the OnTrac family has provided to St Vincent de Paul, and especially the people we serve,” Jamie Bethune, Drive Coordinator, said.
Posted on Mon, Dec 12, 2011 @ 11:01 AM
For most of us, Christmas is a vacation, a holiday getaway from the hustle and bustle of the work week, a chance to catch up with the family, open presents, and create memories.
It’s a time for traditions, lights, snowmen, and holiday cheer— a celebration of all we have accomplished and an escape before ringing in a new year.
For the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve, it’s a little different.
With the holidays, so too comes a three month initiative for their Toys for Tots program and a promise to collect new, unwrapped toys to distribute as Christmas gifts to needy children.
For them, the holidays aren’t always a vacation, but they are a chance to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas.
The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters, and this year, OnTrac is helping out.
Leslie Hodges, General Manager of OnTrac in the Los Angeles facility, has teamed up with her property manager and other corporate residents in the neighborhood to participate in this year’s program.
“I really think it is a good idea for a company to give back to the community,” she said. “We can make a big impact by participating in the efforts for an organization like Toys for Tots.”
Pictured (Left to Right): Randy Kelch, Ann Nelson, Leslie Hodges, and Jenifer Barnes.
In addition to Toys for Tots, Hodges has worked with St. Jude’s Foundation, United Way, AIDS Ride LA, and the Susan G. Komen Foundation— organizations that she holds close to her heart.
“It makes me feel like I can make a difference for someone who needs help,” she said. “The organizations that I have participated in have a personal meaning. I volunteered for them because I know someone who has suffered. I just know someone, in some way, is going to benefit from these causes— so if I can help, I will.”
The Toys for Tots box at the Los Angeles facility has already been filled up and was retrieved by the USMC Reserve December 9.
OnTrac Driver Luis Neitro.
Posted on Thu, Nov 10, 2011 @ 02:43 PM
It’s about that time—Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just around the corner, so it’s time to start planning. Consumers are becoming increasingly accustomed to free shipping, and if you don’t offer it, comScore says you may have some reconsidering to do. According to their July 2011 survey, 82% of consumers consider free shipping “somewhat important” or “very important” when making a purchase online. Yet, only 43% of online retailers are offering free shipping as of Q2 2011. Could this be your chance to leap ahead of the competition?
The eCommerce industry is booming—there’s no doubt. Since last year, online sales dollars are up 14%, the number of buyers is up 17%, and the number of online purchases is up an astounding 22%. With more people turning to the internet to get their shopping done, offering free shipping allows you to separate yourself from the competition. With trends like Free Shipping Day on the rise, can you afford not to offer free shipping?
That’s where OnTrac comes in. We’re here to help you get your shipments from point A to B, and as quickly as possible. OnTrac not only lowers your shipping costs by offering lower rates and fewer fees, but we also allow you to save a transit day over the national carriers. OnTrac Ground Service is a great option for people who don’t want to wait to get their purchases, as most shipments arrive in two days. For those who cannot wait to get their shipments, we also offer earlier deliveries with our Sunrise and Sunrise Gold services. All of our shipping services are backed by our Money-Back Service Guarantee.
Bells are ringing, children singing, and you’ve got a big smile on your face—all because you know you’re saving a sleigh-full of cash this holiday season.
Posted on Wed, Nov 02, 2011 @ 11:12 AM
National carriers are often difficult to negotiate with, and when you finally settle on a contract, you are often left with a document that you have to dig through with a fine tooth comb to figure out what the terms and conditions of your contract are. UPS recently changed the landscape for volume shippers, adding 5 words to their contracts: “subject to all applicable minimums.”
Essentially, if your shipment costs the minimum charge, you get no discount, no rebate, and because of the length of your contract, you probably have no idea. If you are a lightweight shipper, you’re very likely to be affected by this change. Say your quarterly transportation charges are $100,000, with a 6% contracted return. If half of your portfolio is made up of lightweight shipments (thus meriting a minimum charge), your rebate can shrink from $6,000 a quarter to $3,000. That’s $12,000 a year in lost rebates.
With OnTrac, we don’t keep you waiting for rebates—nor is there an applicable minimum. What’s better? Our ground service saves you a transit day, and is more affordable than the national carriers. There has never been a better time to go OnTrac and get on time delivery for less.
To read more of the article from Retail Online Integration, click here.
Posted on Thu, Oct 06, 2011 @ 11:38 AM
OnTrac is proud to announce the opening of its newest sort facility located in Menlo Park, California! The new Menlo Park facility was added to support growth and boost the quickness and efficiency of the network, especially in the greater peninsula area. Neighborhoods serviced by the new facility include: Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Mateo, San Bruno, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, and the San Francisco Airport.
Opening this facility improves efficiency throughout the Bay Area, allowing shipments to be distributed closer to their end destination. The building itself features 12 dock doors and 50,000 square feet of space, which allows for a more rapid parcel throughput rate. The new Menlo Park facility puts drivers closer to delivery locations throughout the area, accelerating transit times. Addition of this facility to the OnTrac network will also help to reduce vehicle emissions.
“This facility helps to reduce the time and distance our drivers have to travel to make deliveries, which in turn gets packages to the customer in a more expedient and efficient manner,” said Mark Cronkrite, vice president of operations for OnTrac. “The Menlo Park facility will help us significantly reduce our carbon footprint in the Bay Area,” he added.
With the recent addition of Colorado to its service area, OnTrac is expanding rapidly throughout the Western United States. Adding this new Menlo Park facility helps manage growth by spreading the high volume of packages that come through the Bay Area more evenly, increasing efficiency and decreasing emissions by shortening driver routes.
Posted on Mon, Oct 03, 2011 @ 05:12 PM
With the announcement that UPS is changing their rate structure, more and more people are turning to regional carriers to give them high-quality package delivery service at affordable rates. There is a growing list of accessorial fees with national carriers that are continually costing you more on your shipping bill. With OnTrac, there are only a few. Conservative estimates of FedEx and UPS list over 40 accessorial fees.
Sure, you may be getting a “discount” with a national carrier, but you are also paying more fees on top of the shipping costs. OnTrac delivers your shipments on time, and with fewer fees and surcharges—all at a lower rate. Save a transit day, and get next-day service at ground rates—go OnTrac.
Read more about regional carriers at DC Velocity »
Posted on Thu, Sep 01, 2011 @ 04:06 PM
OnTrac is proud to announce the addition of Colorado to our service area! We’re offering service in the major metropolitan areas of Colorado to and from the rest of our service area—meaning your shipments get to California a full day faster than with national carriers.
Adding Colorado to our service area allows you to serve more customers in more states, and at faster transit times! Colorado not only grows our service area to 7 states, but it grows our population serviced to nearly 60 million people. We also service all of California, and all the major metropolitan areas of Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah and now, Colorado. OnTrac is the solution for your regional carrier needs in the West!
With OnTrac, you know you’ll get lower fees, fewer surcharges, and faster transit times than the national carrier options. To make it even easier for you, our new Ground Service uses the same zones as national carriers, making it easier to integrate OnTrac in to your existing shipping workflow.