Industry Insights with Route Consultant

Ford P-series Chassis Update with Hello Truck Lease

On Industry Insights with Route Consultant, host Josh Gregory interviews Grace Bay, CEO of Hello Truck Lease, about Ford discontinuing the F-59 chassis with no new production after 2027 and what that means for FedEx Ground contractors who rely on Ford-based step vans. Grace explains what the F-59 is, why the change affects new purchases, parts availability, and long-term maintenance costs, and why used step van values may keep rising as supply tightens. She shares near-term options to secure remaining production (including allocation through 2026 and into 2027), discusses contractor orders being canceled elsewhere, and outlines alternatives like a Mercedes sprinter-front box unit with cab access, roll-up door, diesel efficiency, and longer service intervals. They also cover how leasing and subleasing can reduce risk amid other changes like FedEx 2.0, common mistakes like panic buying, and the importance of matching the right truck to the right route. • Learn more about route-based businesses: routeconsultant.com/learn • Register for a free event: routeconsultant.com/events • Contact our team: routeconsultant.com/contact

State of the FedEx P&D Industry - LIVE with Amy Buyers

Route Consultant’s Josh Gregory and guest Amy Byers (COO of Slicker Trucking) host an Industry Insights Live webinar where they give an update on FedEx Express/2.0 changes affecting five P&D contracts, describing territory and stop shifts, truck up-sizing, staffing, and a building move, plus coordinating with co-contractors while designing their own operating plans. They discuss ongoing workforce challenges, retention through tailored benefits and support programs, and managing performance expectations. The episode explains how FedEx fuel supplements float versus a base rate and why they don’t fully cover fuel, and breaks down large-package pay as a prior-month percentage affected by small-package injections and seasonal sales. They cover operational tactics for bulk/IC surges, planning for Prime Days and peak, scale considerations, and typical route-business valuation multiples based on EBITDA. • Learn more about route-based businesses: routeconsultant.com/learn • Register for a free event: routeconsultant.com/events • Contact our team: routeconsultant.com/contact

Insurance Essentials for Bread Route Entrepreneurs

On Industry Insights with Route Consultant, Josh interviews Michael Jones and Jeff Jones of RouteWay 360 about insurance in bread and snack distribution and why many owners misunderstand their coverage until a claim happens. They break down RouteWay 360’s platform for distributors, including incorporation, banking, accounting and tax support, and their new “Drive My Route” app for finding route relievers. The episode covers common insurance requirements, the risks of relying on personal auto policies, compliance and COIs, and major exposures like uninsured motorists and 1099 worker injuries without workers’ comp. They also explain how proper rating, garaging, remarketing, and telematics can help route owners manage premiums and reduce risk.  • Learn more about route-based businesses: routeconsultant.com/learn • Register for a free event: routeconsultant.com/events • Contact our team: routeconsultant.com/contact

Running Bread Routes The Right Way

Recorded live at the Route Consultant Expo 2026, host Josh Gregory and broker Steven Rhine break down what it really takes to run and scale bread routes, covering staffing strategies like vacation runners, referrals, and retention, along with retail execution including merchandising, Walmart relationships, and display placement. They also explore fulfillment KPIs tied to online ordering, hiring pipelines, compensation structures, handling sales and overages, holiday planning using historical data, and how to grow through independent accounts, offering a practical look at the day to day realities of route ownership.  • Learn more about route-based businesses: routeconsultant.com/learn • Register for a free event: routeconsultant.com/events • Contact our team: routeconsultant.com/contact

Inside the Amazon DSP Model

Recorded live at the Route Consultant Expo 2026, Josh Gregory and Andrew Polito (CFO at GoHQ) break down the realities of owning an Amazon DSP, including the application and “bench” process, stand-up timelines, and the capital needed to launch. They cover key cost drivers like payroll, fleet/rentals, insurance deposits and renewals, and how claims management and safety culture impact long-term premiums. Andrew explains Amazon’s pay structure (route-hour blocks, per-package pay, and fixed monthly fleet payments), the scorecard tiers and bonuses tied to safety and quality metrics, and why controlling labor hours versus allotted route hours is critical. They discuss staffing models, dispatch/rescues, management roles, cash forecasting, typical profitability and revenue ranges, growth opportunities like rural expansion, pop-ups, and the Pinnacle Program, and the outlook tied to Ship with Amazon and new terminal investment. • Learn more about route-based businesses: routeconsultant.com/learn • Register for a free event: routeconsultant.com/events • Contact our team: routeconsultant.com/contact