Since its inception in 1953, Idaho Youth Ranch (IYR) has helped more than 31,000 children overcome problems with abuse, neglect, family conflicts, mental illness and drug/alcohol abuse. It does this regardless of the ability of the child’s family to pay, thanks to proceeds from a network of 29 thrift stores located throughout Idaho and donations from private donors.
IYR’s fleet of trucks pick up donations – such as appliances, clothing and furniture from homes and businesses – and delivers the donated items to three distribution centers in the Gem State where they’re sorted by quality and grade before being delivered to the stores.
Proceeds from the thrift stores help about 70 percent of the half-dozen programs Idaho Youth Ranch operates at three campuses located across Idaho. The success rate of its evidence-based treatments means in more than four out of five instances, children leave to lead happy, productive lives free of issues with crime and drugs and with healthy relationships.
Horses
The “Ranch” in the IYR name comes from just that – a 260-acre horse ranch where the organization uses equine therapy along with functional family and skills-based therapies to help at-risk kids overcome their trauma.
“Since horses can pick up on human emotions and reflect them back, they tend to reflect the same issues and emotions these young people struggle with,” said Gregg Crow, IYR director of distribution. “The horses help troubled youth recognize those things in themselves that often get in the way of successfully moving past or letting go of their anger.”
Vehicle Mishmash
Several years ago, IYR turned to PacLease through its local franchise, Trebar PacLease (which changed its name to Kenworth Sales Co. in 2012), to replace a hodgepodge of used trucks plagued by numerous mechanical issues and resulting bills. With the old trucks, IYR suffered from large repair bills, lost time and revenue.
Moreover, with the aging trucks, driver morale was low and the constant breakdowns and the conditions of the trucks frustrated drivers, resulting in high driver turnover.
“Every dollar we spent fixing broken trucks was a dollar that could have gone to a kid in need,” Crow said. “Every time a delivery was late, we missed sales goals. It was just killing us.”
Cost Reductions
The leasing package from PacLease turned the tides for IYR as it immediately cut the non-profit organization’s maintenance and operating costs by more than 20 percent.
But as the leases for those original Kenworths neared the end of their terms, Crow had a new challenge for PacLease and Kenworth Sales Co. He wanted new trucks that not only offered his drivers the comfortable work environments they had come to appreciate, but also helped them be more productive while saving the organization even more money.
“We use 88 percent of our money to fund programs,” Crow said. “With the ever-growing need for our services among at-risk kids in the state, it is crucial we always look for more ways to save costs.”
In response, Jamie Schaefer, PacLease manager at Kenworth Sales Co., spoke with Crow and his drivers to re-analyze their routes, as well as discuss driver amenities. He then conferred with Kenworth engineers and presented IYR with the following features for their new trucks:
- A lighter Kenworth T270 chassis, equipped with a more fuel-efficient Paccar PX-7 engine that provides ample power for the operation.
The T270s are under 26,000 pounds GVW, so they don’t require a commercial driver’s license to operate. That, said Crow, makes it easier for IYR to hire or recruit new drivers.
- An Allison 6-speed automatic transmission which makes driving the truck easier and contributes to improved fuel economy.
- A 26-foot long van body that provides two feet of additional hauling space, allowing drivers to pick up more donations per trip.
- Kenworth Air Glide Suspension which offers a smoother ride.
- A premium Maxon GPTLR liftgate that tucks under the van body instead of folding against the back of the van. This allows drivers to unload the trucks directly into the distribution centers via the docks. The lift also remains level and lays completely flat against the ground making it easier for drivers to pick up heavy items and to move pallets on and off the truck when they visit the stores.
A Difference
The nine new Kenworth T270s, which replaced older PacLease units, have made a difference as the new trucks are getting better fuel economy compared to the trucks they replaced. The additional room in the van body allows drivers to load one extra pallet of donations per trip.
The liftgate also helps them load and unload more quickly at the distribution centers and stores, saving them valuable time and reducing the strain on their backs and knees.
“The trucks, starting with the ones we leased several years ago, have meant more to us than just the efficiencies,” Crow said. “These trucks have made it possible for us to keep our drivers, who are our ambassadors when they go out into the community.”
Mobile Maintenance
Crow said the benefits IYR enjoys don’t just come from the trucks, they also come from the maintenance support PacLease and Kenworth Sales Co. provides for those trucks.
“With Kenworth Sales Co.’s new mobile service truck we have our trucks serviced on site at our convenience,” Crow said. “This is a big time saver and keeps us from shuttling trucks back and forth to be serviced.
“What’s more, any trucks that need roadside service can usually be back up and running quickly with the work completed by the mobile service truck. This saves us hours, if not days in some cases.
“Keeping our trucks running means we can pick up more donations, which results in increased sales at our thrift stores and more revenue to help fund our programs.”
Editor’s note: Gregg Crow, IYR director of distribution, recently retired. Jason Whitley now has the position.
