Driver Recruitment strategies reviewed at GE's Client Advisory Board session

ORLANDO, FL (March 13, 2006) - Dan Baker, a well-known lecturer on Driver Retention strategies, addressed the Client Advisory Board (CAB) of GE's Trailer Fleet Services business, during its quarterly meeting.

Drivers must feel the trust, respect and gratitude of their dispatcher, Baker said. He added that personal recognition and programs that foster a sense of belonging are important factors in driver satisfaction.

The CAB creates an opportunity for top executives from leading commercial carriers to meet regularly with key leadership from Trailer Fleet Services, and offer updates about the climate of the industry and what type of services and solutions from GE would provide the best value to their individual companies.

The companies represented on the CAB are: Jet Express, Dayton, Ohio; Jacobson Transportation, Des Moines, Iowa; Schneider National, Inc., Green Bay, Wisconsin; National Freight, Vineland, New Jersey; Pinole Valley Transport, Ontario, California; Freight Masters Systems, Indianapolis, Indiana; Landstar, Jacksonville, Florida; PepsiCo, Purchase, N.Y.; and Fleetmaster Express, Inc., Roanoke, Virginia.

"The feedback we've received from our CAB members has been candid and enlightening," said Bob Williams, senior vice-president for North American Sales for Trailer Fleet Services. "It's become a true partnership. We are able to share issues, monitor them and help target solutions to real and current industry needs."

Among the issues discussed over the weekend were pressing short-term issues including fuel costs and the driver shortage and strategic issues including measuring and matching transportation assets with supply chain flows, globalization, process improvement, and the impact of asset intelligence on productivity.

The reaction from the industry leaders participating in the Advisory Board has been very positive as well. Kevin Burch, president of Jet Express, mentioned the partnership aspect of the interaction with GE leadership during Advisory Board meetings.

"I'm a firm believer in developing partnerships between customers and key suppliers," said Burch. "The GE Advisory Board has been a great way to share ideas and create better solutions and services that are important to the trucking industry."

According to Joe Monteleone of National Freight, the Advisory Board "has allowed us to have a voice within the GE organization and influence some decisions going forward as to what we need as customers, such as improved billing processes and an enhanced mobile maintenance component."

"This has been a very good experience for me and other members of the Advisory Board," added Monteleone .

"GE is certainly one of the big providers of finance and trailers, and all the other types of business they offer to the trucking industry," said R. Carl Bumgarner, President of Fleetmaster Express, Inc. "I feel it's good for me and my company to take advantage of the opportunities that they bring to us."

About GE's Trailer Fleet Services

Trailer Fleet Services is a single-source provider for trailer leasing, renting, financial services, insurance, maintenance, remarketing and asset tracking. It is a business unit of Stamford, Conn.,-based GE Equipment Services, a global provider of transport solutions for the world's supply chains. Offering a full range of equipment leasing and intelligence-based asset management and logistics services for manufacturers, retailers and shippers, Equipment Services enables the timely movement of raw materials and cargo for the global economy. Its website is www.trailerservices.com.

For a Word version of this release click here.

To view a video from the session click here.

MEDIA CONTACTS FOR MORE INFORMATION:

GE, Trailer Fleet Services, Wayne, PA
Patrick Brennan, Media Relations Manager
484-254-0127 or patrick.brennan@ge.com