Growing trucking company JRayl Transport Inc. of Akron — dealing with the country’s truck driver shortage — has contracted with one of the region’s largest marketing and communications companies to help it rev up its hiring of drivers and with other marketing.
Marketing company Hitchcock, Fleming & Associates of Akron, now called hfa, will provide JRayl, which operates a fleet of more than 200 trucks, with various services, including website design, planning and buying advertising and public relations.
This is the first time that JRayl, founded in 1985, has hired an agency to help provide comprehensive marketing services, officials with hfa and the trucking company said. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Matt Selby, general counsel for JRayl, noted the company is establishing Akron’s first open-to-the-public compressed natural gas filling station later this year, and will work with hfa to get the message out about the station.
Last year, Smith Dairy in Orrville opened its compressed natural gas fueling station to the public. It’s just off Main Street, near the Smith Dairy corporate headquarters in the Wayne County city.
JRayl already is using its filling station — at the old Rex Salvage store property on South Arlington Street in South Akron — for some of its own trucks. The company plans to eventually convert its fleet of trucks from diesel to either natural gas or a combination of diesel and natural gas. The conversion will involve modifying some existing trucks and buying new vehicles.
Natural-gas powered trucks are more expensive than traditional trucks. However, the conversion is expected to save the company money, with natural gas significantly less costly than diesel.
Dale Elwell, vice president of account services for hfa, said the marketing company also will help JRayl with recruiting new drivers and retaining them.
“They’re trying to grow their business and expand their business,” Elwell said. “And there’s a driver shortage.”
Elwell said hfa also will aim to help grow the logistics side of JRayl’s business, getting the word out that “they’re not just a trucking company” and can help ship “anything, anywhere.”
JRayl has about 270 employees, including about 200 in Akron at its headquarters on Triplett Boulevard in Akron, adjacent to the compressed natural gas station. JRayl has terminals in Ohio, Virginia, Texas, Illinois, Indiana and Delaware (which services Pennsylvania) and plans expand to Louisiana.
Beacon Journal business writer Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com.