As a business owner, you know just how important it is to stay ahead of the game—especially when it comes to your transportation business. After all, technological innovations seem to be revolutionizing nearly every industry on the planet! But you may not know where to start when it comes to tapping into modern technologies and using them effectively for growth. Joining us on The Future of Ground Transportation is Demarco Thomas to share how MetroMax Group leverages innovation to maximize their operations’ potential and how you can use technology as a powerhouse tool for moving your transportation business forward. Here are some power takeaways from today’s conversation: Improve driver retention Inspire your people to grow Maximize innovation and technology Diversify your labor force Episode Highlights: [6:42] Struggling with Driver Retention The most complex issue they are facing is driver retention. Delivering large amounts of packages a day causes a lot of stress on the body. There are three things they do to mitigate that risk: Screening and hiring upfront Providing retention bonus Giving drivers flexibility Most of his drivers are minorities. Do not just seek to employ; strive to inspire and help your drivers reach their goals. Seek to help the people in your community. [12:54] The Rewards of a CEO His personal reward is learning and gaining experience. He also learns about different people and different cultures. As for his professional reward, he is able to influence others and watch them grow. [14:50] How MetroMax Group Started MetroMax Group started from scratch. His FedEx company was his first acquisition. He is keen on mergers and acquisitions right now. But their focus is on service and technology, such as offering a Metro Map and software development. [20:24] Transportation in Ten Years FedEx will evolve its model a lot, especially since Amazon is ramping up their infrastructure. They will likely start getting into expediting and same-day delivery. On the other hand, Amazon will lean heavily into electric and autonomous vehicles at scale. Overseas outsourcing is also going to be embraced more. Diversifying labor force and using technology are two levers you can use. Notable Quotes: [11:25] “A big part of my job is not just to employ but to inspire and help them reach the goals that they have. And I like the fact that I’m helping people in my community.” [13:25] “The personal reward is I get to continuously learn. And I get to learn about different people in different cultures, which is amazing.” [27:05] “Change brings opportunity.” Resources Mentioned: MetroMax Group Connect with Mark: LinkedIn About the Guest Demarco Thomas is the Founder and President of MetroMax Group. They strive to go beyond the boundaries of excellence by leveraging innovative technology-based solutions, betting on global talents, and focusing on a deep domain. You can connect with Demarco on LinkedIn.