Dive Brief:
- Parcel carrier Better Trucks has added 1,100 additional ZIP codes to its delivery coverage area in the U.S., co-founder and CEO Andy Whiting told Supply Chain Dive.
- The new ZIP codes are located in and around Better Trucks' existing coverage areas, filling in current gaps. The company has a strong foothold in the Midwest, along with coverage in the Southeast, New York and Texas.
- The additional ZIP code coverage is "effectively available immediately" for Better Trucks shippers, with the company working on a customer-by-customer basis to deliver into the new areas, Whiting said in an interview.
Dive Insight:
Better Trucks expanded into new ZIP codes that aligned with customers' needs and competitors aren't covering as effectively, Whiting said. One example of ZIP codes involved in the expansion is in Indiana, with the company adding in more coverage in communities between Indianapolis and South Bend.
"We don't want to just add markets that we can't service," Whiting said. "They need to touch or are ancillary to our existing markets."
The expansion marks a continuation of Better Trucks' network growth since the COVID-19 pandemic fueled interest for FedEx and UPS alternatives.
Last year, the company expanded its coverage area to include 32 markets across 20 states with the addition of Texas. The company also has a partnership with western U.S.-focused parcel carrier GLS, allowing customers for one carrier to access the coverage area of the other.
Whiting said he could see Better Trucks expanding its delivery coverage into more ZIP codes prior to the 2024 peak holiday shipping season. However, the company will approach any further growth in a strategic manner as shippers become more discerning with their carrier mix.
"This year, the speeds and expectations are a little bit different than they were in the last couple of years, so we're just trying to make sure our network is correct for that," Whiting said.
