Today I’m joined by Premier Trailer Leasing – driven by integrity, they’ve been on the road since 2005.
Premier Trailer Leasing is a leading trailer leasing and rental company in the US, specializing in long-term leasing and short-term rental services for a wide range of semitrailers, including over-the-road vans, flatbeds, refrigerated equipment, and chassis. With one of the largest fleets in the industry and a growing nationwide network of locations, Premier are committed to providing exceptional service and value to their customers.
Today, Craig Barth, Chief Financial Officer at Premier Trailer Leasing, joins me to talk all about Premier Trailer Leasing and what they do; understanding whether your business needs to buy, rent or lease; the cargo tracking innovations moving the needle for transportation visibility; and leveraging fleet management to position for success.
Guest bio:
Craig Barth first joined Premier Trailer Leasing in 2017 as Vice President and General Manager, and assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer three years later. Throughout his career, Craig has taken on financial leadership roles at prestigious organizations including Ford Motor Company and Citigroup. Craig serves as an integral member of the Premier Trailer Leasing executive team as the company grows its operations and scale for continued success in the trailer leasing and rentals industry.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
[05.31] An overview of Premier Trailer Leasing – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers.
[06.07] What sets Premier apart, and the secret to their success as they celebrate 20 years in business.
“There are several companies that will rent or lease you a semitrailer. So why do people come to Premier? The reality is: it’s the people. It’s the partnerships we form, the services we provide – we take a very personal approach, and we look to help the customer solve a problem first.”
[07.57] From economic issues to continued overcapacity, the biggest challenges in the transportation industry right now.
“It’s one of the most challenging environments we’ve ever been in. The transportation industry, depending on your measurement, is between two to three years into a recession… And now we have mass uncertainty. Our customers don’t know what’s happening from one day to the next, they don’t know how much their goods are going to cost – or if they’re even coming!”
[10.31] Premier’s inventory of over 65,000 trailers and network of locations across the US, and how customers can work with them.
[12.51] The difference between trailer renting and leasing, the benefits to each, the factors businesses need to consider when they’re deciding whether to buy, rent or lease, and how Premier help businesses decide what’s right for them.
“Most companies should own a portion, lease a portion, and rent a portion of their fleet. And we help customers understand where those lines are.”
[17.08] The ideal client for Premier Trailer Leasing.
[19.18] Premier’s trailer and cargo tracking solution, and an overview of some of the most promising innovations they’re seeing in the space, from cargo sensors and volume metrics to weight and door sensors.
“There’s almost too much data available. It’s all about helping the customer understand what data they need and what they can actually use.”
[24.51] How Premier find the balance between supporting clients and managing their own business in uncertain times, and how Premier data gives clients a competitive advantage.
[27.55] A case study detailing how Premier helped a large packaged goods company, that had always owned 100% of their fleet, cut their maintenance costs in half through strategic trailer leasing.
“They’ve taken a far more proactive approach based on what we were able to demonstrate through the leasing side… Trailers for them were a small piece, so they weren’t really paying attention. We were able to save them millions of dollars.”
[32.18] What we can expect from the industry as we look towards the second half of 2025.
“We’re approaching the second half of the year cautiously optimistic. There are going to be a lot of opportunities out there, we hope there will be some resolution to a lot of the chaos and uncertainty that’s in the market. But we are going to see some price increases.”
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:
Head over to Premier Trailer Leasing’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Premier and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook or YouTube, or you can connect with Craig on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more about trucking, check out 460: Discover the Limitless Value of Dedicated Freight in Today’s Market, with Werner, Where are trucking rates headed in 2025? 7 execs weigh in – Supply Chain Dive, or 429: Women In Supply Chain, Kameel Gaines.
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