Case Study: Waste Management, Inc. achieves higher efficiency and lower fleet costs with Ruan's Dedicated Contract Carriage

Ruan And Waste Management Share A Common Color: Green

Waste Management, a national waste disposal and recycling leader committed to aggressive sustainability goals (including a 15% emissions reduction target and testing hybrid equipment), faced a capacity challenge when rapid growth in Reno in 2006 forced a choice between heavy capital investment and outsourcing. With aligned environmental priorities, Waste Management partnered with Ruan to address the surge in service demand efficiently.

Ruan implemented a Dedicated Contract Carriage solution, promoted an on-site dispatch manager from Waste Management’s drivers, and introduced incentive pay that raised daily turns from about 5–6 to 8–10. Customized 50-foot trailers increased payloads 10–15%, and within three months driver count fell from 24 to 18 while equipment was reduced from 22 trailers/25 tractors to 17 trailers/17 tractors. Ruan absorbed additional routes at no extra labor or equipment cost, added a recycling lane, expanded into California, and delivered measurable P&L and operational efficiencies.

Waste Management, Inc

Greg Martinelli

Business Development and Contract Manager