Year-End Project Includes Annual Survey

One of the most requested resources from our members is up-to-date statistical industry data. This however, has proven to be some of the most difficult information to obtain. With that in mind, in January of this year, we launched the new Annual Survey, in which a focus group of members updated many of the questions, in addition to the Survey being available to be completed online or by mail. Results of that Survey were shared with those who provided data earlier in year. (Example from the 2011 Survey shown below.)

The 2012 Annual Survey will again collect valuable information, not only for our shortline manufacturers, but also for bankers, that compare your own company’s results with similar firms in the industry. This includes everything from critical operating ratios, marketing costs, inventory turns, operating expenses, and software used, to average pay levels and employee benefits.

We will be using the same Survey format and questions this year, which will give us the additional benefit of being able to compare responses to the prior year.

The Survey will once again be tabulated and results prepared by Advantech Consulting Group in St. Louis, MO. We have worked with the company’s owner Brent Natzke over the last two decades and each of his employees are under strict confidentiality agreements with this Association. Individual data will never be viewed or handled by either the Association staff or officers and directors of the organization. In addition, all data will be destroyed by Advantech Consulting Group after tabulation. We have full trust in Advantech’s ability to not only handle the Survey, but even more importantly, in their reputation of protecting the confidential responses of our members.

Our timeline for the Annual Survey is to have the questionnaire, both in print and electronic form, in Regular Member’s hands by January 3, 2012. Early results will be available online by March 1. Those results will be continually updated until the Survey is closed on April 30, with final results mailed on May 1. The Survey questionnaire will be sent to the prime contact of each Regular Member company, and will allow you to select who the results will be sent.

As in the past, results of this Survey will NOT be made public and will only be available online with a special password provided only to members that participate in the Survey and provide data. As 2011 comes to a close and the year-end tasks are being scheduled, please remember to add this Survey to your list.

Our very best wishes and thanks go out to all of our members during this wonderful holiday season. We look forward to serving our members in 2012.