Case Studies > Doubling Fleet and Expanding Business with No Increase in Office Staff: A Case Study on Mihm Brothers, Inc.

Doubling Fleet and Expanding Business with No Increase in Office Staff: A Case Study on Mihm Brothers, Inc.

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Fleet Management Systems (FMS)

Applicable Industries

Buildings
Telecommunications

Applicable Functions

Maintenance

Use Cases

Personnel Tracking & Monitoring
Time Sensitive Networking

Services

System Integration

About The Customer

Mihm Brothers, Inc. is a family-owned business that has been operating since the 1960s. The company is based in Fort Atkinson, Iowa, and hauls a variety of goods, including livestock, refrigerated products, and hopper products. The business has been passed down from father to sons, maintaining its family-owned status for decades. The company has grown significantly over the years, expanding from 30-40 trucks to 50 trucks. In addition to their core business, they have also added a shop and repair station. Despite the growth and expansion, the company has managed to maintain the same number of office staff, thanks to the implementation of Axon software.

The Challenge

Mihm Brothers, Inc., a family-owned business operating out of Fort Atkinson, Iowa, was facing challenges in managing their growing and constantly changing business. The company, which has been in operation since the 1960s, hauls a variety of goods including livestock, refrigerated products, and hopper products. As the business grew, they found their old system was not able to keep up with the changes. The trucking world is always changing, with rates constantly fluctuating, requiring frequent adjustments to invoices and orders. Their old system made these changes difficult and time-consuming, often requiring them to leave incorrect entries and make notes for future reference. Additionally, the support for their old system was limited and not always readily available. The company also wanted to expand their business by adding a shop and repair station, but with their old software, this would have required hiring additional office staff.

The Solution

In 2015, Mihm Brothers, Inc. started using Axon, a software system designed to handle the complexities and constant changes of the trucking industry. Axon provided the company with the ability to easily make changes to invoices and orders, eliminating the need for manual journal entries and notes. The software also offered robust support, with a team of professionals readily available to answer questions and provide assistance. With Axon, the company was able to add a shop and repair station to their business without needing to hire additional office staff. The software also made it easier for dispatchers to input orders into the system, saving time and improving efficiency. Additionally, Axon provided customizable reports, allowing the company to easily access and analyze their business data. The software also improved customer service, enabling staff to quickly answer customer queries without needing to call back.

Operational Impact

The implementation of Axon software has brought about significant operational improvements for Mihm Brothers, Inc. The ease of making changes to invoices and orders has streamlined their operations, eliminating the need for manual journal entries and notes. The robust support provided by Axon has also eased their concerns and ensured that help is always readily available. The software has also enabled the company to expand their business without needing to increase their office staff. The improved efficiency in order processing has saved time for the dispatchers, allowing them to focus on other tasks. The customizable reports have also provided valuable insights into their business, aiding in decision making. Furthermore, the software has improved their customer service, enabling them to quickly answer customer queries, enhancing their customer relations.

Quantitative Benefit

The company increased their company drivers and lessors by 50% with the same office staff.
The company added a shop and repair station to their business without needing to hire additional office staff.
The software's easy invoicing system saved a significant amount of time for the dispatchers.