2014
Chicago, IL
30+trucks
Chicago to the East and Southeast regions
About Universe Cargo Group
Established in 2014, Universe Cargo Group, Inc. specializes in dry van freight, providing reliable service to its customers. With a fleet of 36 dry van trailers and a commitment to providing exceptional service, they primarily run routes from Chicago to the East and Southeast regions. Known for their dedication to shipper and broker partners, Universe Cargo is always seeking innovative ways to streamline operations and maximize profitability.
After hearing positive industry word-of-mouth about Flock Freight, Universe Cargo became an official carrier partner in 2024. Since joining, they’ve successfully hauled over 100 STL shipments, relying heavily on Flock’s platform to secure loads efficiently and consistently.
Operational challenges lead to missed revenue
Despite their expertise and strong operational processes, Universe Cargo faced operational challenges before adopting Flock Freight’s STL model.
- Missed revenue: Without an automated solution, capturing additional income from underutilized trailer space was a significant challenge.
- Time-intensive load search: Dispatchers often spent an entire day searching for matching partial truckload (PTL) loads to fill trailers, sometimes without success.
- Operational complexity: Working with multiple brokers presented difficulties, as processes varied greatly and were time-consuming to learn.
- Managing customer requirements: Combining multiple appointment times, commodities, and shipment sizes was challenging.
- Duplicate and unorganized communication: Duplicate emails and unclear shipment details made coordinating loads inefficient and error-prone.
Prior to Flock, they experienced inefficiency, lost time, and strained resources spent navigating fragmented load-sourcing processes.
Universe Cargo’s Flock Freight experience
Leveraging the easy-to-use Flock Platform, Universe Cargo Group had the tools to overcome these challenges.
Shared Truckload (STL)
Unlike traditional PTL options, Flock Freight’s Shared Truckload model pools shipments from multiple shippers into a single optimized multi-stop load. The benefits for Universe Cargo Group included:
- Accurate shipment details: Ensuring exact dimensions, weights, and delivery requirements allowed for seamless pickups and drop-offs.
- Streamlined processes: Flock’s user-friendly platform enabled dispatchers to quickly find, track, and book loads, eliminating inefficiencies tied to outdated broker systems.
- Better utilization: The Shared Truckload model made it easier to fill trailers with optimized routes, maximizing space and earnings.
“Flock Freight’s system is well-organized and saves us so much time. We’re proud to grow alongside them and recommend their platform to anyone looking to modernize their fleet's operations.”
President | Universe Cargo Group
STL AddOnsTM
Flock Freight recently introduced STL AddOnsTM, a new product that dynamically fills remaining trailer capacity by matching compatible loads to already-booked shipments. Universe Cargo Group particularly loved:
- Real-time notifications: Automated notifications alerted them to AddOn load opportunities along their current route, allowing quick action.
- Quick bookings: With STL AddOnsTM, dispatchers could secure additional loads moving in the same direction in minutes, avoiding the extensive time previously spent searching.
- Efficiency gains: By filling available trailer space, they minimized wasted capacity and increased operational profitability.
Universe Cargo found STL AddOnsTM incredibly effective for quickly and efficiently filling trailer space.
“When AddOn load notifications come in, we can place a bid right away and secure the load,” Roman Zabolotovskyy, President of Universe Cargo Group, explained. “It’s not just faster than searching for separate loads—it takes the stress out of trying to piece everything together at the right time and at a competitive price.”
This streamlined approach allowed their team to stay ahead, maintain efficiency, and maximize profitability.
Seamless onboarding & support
Universe Cargo's team quickly adapted to the Flock platform’s intuitive design, with dedicated support from their Flock carrier representative. “Flock has been really helpful in providing quick assistance. We can book most of our loads online without needing constant back-and-forth communication,” said Roman.
Results
Since adopting Flock Freight’s STL AddOnsTM, Universe Cargo Group has achieved:
- 88% Increase in earnings: By leveraging STL AddOnsTM, Universe Cargo boosted earnings significantly on their Flock loads.
- $1,136 Additional revenue per AddOn load: Each AddOn load provided Universe Cargo with substantial incremental revenue, contributing to higher overall profitability.
- Time saved: Universe Cargo went from spending nearly a full day searching for PTL loads to finding matching AddOn loads within minutes via Flock’s notifications.
- Higher trailer utilization: Universe Cargo saw more consistent and profitable trailer utilization, filling their trucks more effectively thanks to the added flexibility of STL AddOnsTM. "With other brokers, we spent more time booking loads, but with Flock, we can fill our trailers faster and more efficiently,” noted Roman.
Partnering with Flock Freight has allowed Universe Cargo Group to overcome longstanding operational hurdles and create lasting efficiencies across their business. By integrating Shared Truckload into their business, they now enjoy streamlined load sourcing, improved earnings, and maximized trailer use.
