2005 Winter Amplifier - Atlas Van Lines

Cover Story“IT’S NO ACCIDENTTHAT ‘QUALITY’HOLDS THE CENTERPLACE AMONG OURCORE VALUES...”MIKE SHAFFERCHAIRMAN AND CEOATLAS WORLD GROUPsays Sr. Vice President & Chief Marketing OfficerGreg Hoover. “Our expansion of the Atlas brandwas a logical step to bring the perception ofAtlas World Group into alignment with thereality of who we had become.”What Atlas had become was a highlydiverse family of companies dedicated tothe transportation of people, products andlifestyles—and sharing core values of integrity,quality and solutions.“Sometimes, the best thing you can do foryour customers is to remind them of all youcan do,” says Greg. “For us, that simply becamea matter of effectively communicating thatAtlas comprises a complete range of relocation,transportation and management services.We represent a true, single-source solution.”Quality: Linchpin of Success“It’s no accident that ‘quality’ holds the centerplace among our core values,” says Chairmanand CEO Mike Shaffer. “It is the engine thatdrives continuous improvements in serviceand, we believe, our most essential tool forcompetitive advantage.”The Atlas quality ethic is unlike any otherin the transportation industry. The Atlas BoardThe Atlas Mission“To become the leading worldwide marketer and provider of qualityspecialized transportation, distribution and relocation services tocorporate clients, the general public, and government agencies througha network of superior agents, while providing excellent shareholder value.We consider added value to the customer as our primary advantageand reject economies achieved by diminished service or integrity.”of Directors, which sets policies and proceduresat the highest level of the organization, iscomposed of Atlas agents to ensure that thecompany answers the “real world” needs ofthose it serves.“Agent ownership is fundamental to ourbusiness,” says Mike. “Atlas agents themselvesset the priorities. They are the people who areresponsible to the customer—and responsiveto the customer.”The fruits of quality are evident in solidgrowth. But several other measures substantiatejust how deeply quality runs throughout theAtlas organization.Again this year, Atlas has earned the Questfor Quality Award sponsored by LogisticsManagement magazine. And, according to itsown stringent internal criteria, Atlas this yearrecognizes 46 agents with the annual Milt HillQuality Award—the most to earn this ultimatedistinction, tying with 2003.Atlas continuously assesses ways to improvequality. “This year we became the first domesticvan line to implement labor screening for allpermanent new-hire laborers and rider-helpers,”says Mike. “This policy gives our customers onemore assurance of quality.”What’s more, the company has addeda technology standard to its quarterlymeasurements of agent quality.“This new standard helps ensure our agentsare taking advantage of the very best tools forenabling superior customer service,” says Mike.Exercising CitizenshipWith so much evidence of success, one mightbe tempted to think that Atlas entrepreneursand employees have little time for anything butgenerating income. But numbers do not tell thewhole story of what Atlas really is.“At its core, Atlas is a company dedicatedto serving others with integrity, quality andsolutions,” says Jim Stamm. “This dedicationalso takes the form of being responsive not onlyto our customers, but to the special needs ofothers in our communities.” For examples, Jimpoints to the recent outpouring across the Atlasfamily to aid storm victims on the Gulf Coast(see page 2); the Swim Across America event inNew York that raised over a million dollars thissummer for cancer research and treatment(see page 34); the Habitat House that Atlasemployees built last year; Atlas Headquarterssuccessful United Way campaigns; and to theongoing support of the military being carriedout in a number of ways by employees(see page 30).“I’ve heard it said that you make a living bywhat you get, but you make a life by what yougive,” says Jim. “I am proud to say Atlas—as acompany and as individuals—practices goodcitizenship. I believe that makes us successful inthe best sense of the word.”“THIS DEDICATION [INTEGRITY, QUALITY, SOLUTIONS]ALSO TAKES THE FORM OF BEING RESPONSIVE NOT ONLYTO OUR CUSTOMERS, BUT TO THE SPECIAL NEEDS OFOTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.”JIM STAMMPRESIDENT AND COOATLAS WORLD GROUPMake that “Eight Straight”For the eighth consecutive year—and for the ninth timein ten years—Atlas is proud to have again earned theQuest for Quality Award sponsored by LogisticsManagement magazine.This award is the industry’s most esteemedmark of excellence. More than 2,000 buyersof transportation services ranked providerson five performance criteria. Thoseresponding in the Household and HighValue Goods category selected Atlas forexcellence based upon:• on-time performance• value• information technology• customer service• equipment & operations.“Atlas is pleased to accept this prestigious honor onbehalf of its agents, employees and customers who help make Atlas thewidely recognized transportation choice for integrity, quality and solutions.”- Jim Stamm, Atlas President and Chief Operating Officer10 Atlas Amplifier • Winter 2005 Atlas Amplifier • Winter 2005 11