Page 243 - BWM March 2013

March 2013 | Business World Magazine | 243
Van Lines will be integral to the company’s
strategy to secure more national accounts.
“We find Atlas Van Lines to be an excellent
partner.”
Gilbert says in wanting to fulfill market
needs involving relocation of executive and
employees, there were synergies in the stan-
dards embraced by both EDC and Atlas,
which resonated into his reasoning to align
with that service. “Atlas in well known inter-
nationally, and we’ve met their standards to
become an authorized agent,” says Gilbert,
adding that in order to qualify, companies
must demonstrate their adherence to safe
operational standards and rigorous attention
to detail when hiring, assuring that drivers
pass drug screens and criminal background
checks. And at the end of every move, the
EDC personal touch includes their signa-
ture follow-up. Gilbert again asserts, “We
go back after move is completed and make
sure all is OK.” At EDC, there is something
just as critical as the job with which they’re
tasked – it’s assuring the customer is happy
with the way they went about performing
the job.
As much as clients demand the fulfilling
of performance expectations, Gilbert has
made that an essential aspect of operations at
EDC. He routinely gathers staff for annual
celebrations, where staff in each department
are acknowledged and honored for their
accomplishments as well as their service to
customers as well as the company. The mis-
sion of EDC is to provide a profitable part-
nership with its customers and maintain an
environment where employees strive to be
everything they can be. To be sure, Gilbert
doesn’t simply insist on quality performance
of his staff, but he demands the same of him-
self. He says that he is less interested in talk-
ing the talk, but actually walking the walk
and leading by example.
Through Gilbert’s exemplary commit-
ment to service, hard work and disciplined
integrity, Electronic Data Carriers has grown
into one of the most dynamic companies in
the transportation industry. Gilbert offers
this insight that serves well in any business.
“You have to be absolutely honest with the
people you work with. You cannot lie. You
cannot cheat them. People have to trust you.
They have to know that you’re a man of your
word, and when they do... it makes it easier
for them to want to work with you.”