Logistics Technology Innovation

Logistics technology for tarpaulin securement on the go

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The Technology Innovation:
We are developing a logistics equipment cargo and securement technology innovation suitable to be indoctrinated
within the United States Department of Transportation. The Tarp Assist System (T.A.S.) is a mechanical assistive system made
from a mixture of durable materials and stored conveniently on the back and underneath the flatbed to enable drivers to tarp (securely cover and uncover)
 flatbed tractor-trailer loads safely, quickly, and without physical strain on their bodies. It was developed in
response to difficulties expressed by drivers/owners regarding tarping flatbed trailer loads of various
configurations. Tarping is a physically demanding procedure that becomes more difficult with age,
increasing the risk of injury. Inclement weather, limited availability of assistance, and dock restrictions
require the driver/operator to tarp a flatbed load unassisted. Tarping under ideal conditions takes
approximately one hour but can take as long as four hours, a delay that could be detrimental to
time-sensitive shipments. Furthermore, some shippers will not allow drivers to tarp on-premises. This
can result in drivers missing their dock time slot and forcing a reschedule, which could impact other
shipments. Per Department of Transportation regulations, drivers are limited in the number of hours they can drive each day, and
tarping counts against these limits, impacting drivers' pay and productivity. The risks to health and
productivity have led drivers to seek technology-based solutions for tarping.

The Problem: 

Tarping flatbed trailer loads is a physically demanding procedure that becomes more difficult with age, increasing the risk of injury:
  • Median age of long-distance truck drivers is 46, while the median age of private fleet drivers is 57.  Both are older than the average age of all United States workers, which is 42. 
The dangers of tarping: 
                      
  • Gusts of wind: These can catch tarps, causing falls from ladders or cargo load tops, resulting in severe to fatal injuries.
  • Inclement weather conditions: Slick surfaces, and missteps into voids on the top of cargo can lead to broken bones, slips, and other severe injuries. 
The costs of a time-consuming process: 
  • Tarping can take from 1 to 4 hours to complete, depending on outdoor conditions. 
  • Some shippers will not allow drivers to tarp on -premises, cutting into their daily drive time allowance mandated by the Department of Transportation, thus reducing their actual time on the road and, therefore, their earnings.     
The Solution: 
  • TORC Logistics' Tarp Assist System (T.A.S.) will allow drivers to tarp in approximately 20 minutes without assistance, accommodate a wide range of loading scenarios, and improve safety and efficiency of covering and uncovering cargo. 
  • This innovation represents the first standardized method for securing various flatbed cargo. The universal system will have the potential to be retrofitted to most commercial  flatbed types and brands. The T.A.S. will be lightweight, durable, portable, and easily stored. 

Market Opportunity:
The primary end-user profile for this product is the independent hauler or small trucking
companies who rely heavily on billable hour efficiencies and who could benefit from the retrofit
version of the Tarp Assist System, creating a Total Available Market of over 1,000,000 customers
in the United States. The Serviceable Available Market is represented by the number of haulers
in the Tri-state area: Atlanta metro (32,000 drivers), Florida (77,500), and North Carolina
(21,220), or 130,700 initial potential customers. The Serviceable Obtainable Market is
represented by the 75th percentile of earners in this geographic market who can afford to
purchase new tools for their flatbeds, or 98,025 customers. The ability of a sole operator to
cover and uncover a load efficiently, aided by the mechanical assist and lighter weight per yard
of the tarp fabric, would be very attractive to small or private haulers who seek to improve
profit margins and reduce losses due to falls, accidents, injuries, and medical leave. It could also
potentially reduce insurance rates for both driver and cargo. A secondary; but potentially
lucrative market would be the larger or corporate haulers, who can specify unique features on
their new tractor and trailer purchases that would accommodate a custom-tailored Tarp Assist
System. This would enable 12 Spies to market directly to flatbed manufacturers, allowing the
product to be an automatic accessory for all flatbeds for fleets, corporations, and
owner-operators.

Distribution Plan:
To effectively saturate the available markets, we plan to initiate a series of zoom testing sites in
various demographic locations and weather conditions. Not only will our targets be the trucking
companies but also the Department of Transportation (D.O.T) commercial flatbed division.
These zoom tests will be by invitation allowing participants to get a detailed overview of
our Tarp Assist System (T.A.S.) and see how it performs in real-time scenarios. All interested
companies will then be afforded the opportunity to initiate pre-orders for the system at their
leisure.

The Management and Advisory Team:
The Visionary & Founder James E. Spence, Jr. along with the company's
Advisor, Tim Tower has over 1 million miles of flatbed
the operational experience between them, discovering firsthand that
employing a tarp manually is too time-consuming, costs trucking companies
more money when tarps become warn and unserviceable, and increase risk
and liability to shipping customers as well as life-threatening hazards
for flatbed operators. James E. Spence, Jr., M.B.A. is the CEO and
Founder of 12 Spies Management. Mr. Spence is also the founder of TORC
Investments, LLC. and has ample experience with project and company
management, including ensuring that all management, operations, and
developments are structured accordingly and that each transaction is
accomplished according to federal and state guidelines. Tim Tower will
act as an advisor.  Mr. Tower has nearly a decade of experience in the
transport industry and is currently a certified trainer at Roehl
Transportation, teaching entry-level truck drivers how to operate
flatbed trucks. Mark Bendit will act as a Product Development Engineer
and will be responsible for the Tarp Assist System concept and design.
Mr. Bendit brings multi-industrial knowledge and engineering experience
that is vital for our product to revolutionize tractor-trailer equipment
cover and concealment operations. Marketing and Development efforts
will be accomplished by contracting company IdeaPros, Inc., a marketing
and investment company that creates product deliverables for
entrepreneurs to maximize the opportunity for a nationwide product
launch. IdeaPros, Inc. has an extensive portfolio of prototypes and
projects that have been designed, developed, and introduced to numerous
industrial markets. 

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