D.G. Coleman’s fleet tackles mountain roads with modern trucks and TMS efficiency

For more than 50 years, D.G. Coleman Inc. has been a fixture of the Colorado construction market, hauling aggregate materials, bulk products, and liquids throughout the state and into Nebraska. Headquartered in Commerce City, Colorado, the fleet fields more than 150 pieces of equipment. 

“Across the Rocky Mountain region, our drivers navigate steep and windy mountain roads, requiring training and experience to ensure safety,” Jimmy Coleman, operations manager, said. “Hauling bulk loads over this type of terrain is a learned skill, even for experienced drivers, so training is a cornerstone of our safety program.” 

No matter their level of experience, new drivers at the carrier undergo classroom and on-the-road instruction, including mountain training where they ride with and observe experienced drivers. They follow a driver trainer for another week after taking the wheel. In addition, D.G. Coleman holds regular safety meetings, and a dedicated safety team meets to review incidents and address potential issues. 

“Many of our drivers are used to 18-speed manual transmissions, but now everything is automated,” Coleman said. “We also focus on teaching them how to operate the new gearboxes, along with handling the terrain safely.” 

D.G. Coleman also invests in safety technology, including lane-mitigation and forward-collision warning systems, as well as Drivewyze Safety+, which helps monitor vehicle speeds and compliance on steep mountain passes. “With Drivewyze Safety+, we can set speed and safety zones,” Coleman explained. “If a truck is over the company limit, the system alerts the driver. It’s a great tool for enforcing safety in the mountains.” 

Complementing its safety focus, D.G. Coleman implemented the multi-tenant BeyondTrucks transportation management system in 2024. “Our systems and processes were highly inefficient,” Coleman noted. “The BeyondTrucks TMS is not only built for specialty and bulk fleets. It has streamlined dispatch, billing, and payroll operations that were handled manually.” 

The BeyondTrucks system automates load planning, driver and equipment assignments, workflow processes, billing, rating, detention and fuel charge calculations, and payroll for D.G. Coleman. It allows the fleet’s drivers to receive daily dispatches, upload photos and proof of delivery, and digitally record detention time. The TMS is accessible on mobile devices and in-cab tablets through an integration with the Platform Science unified platform. 

Since implementing BeyondTrucks, D.G. Coleman has realized measurable improvements. “We’ve eliminated load, equipment, and driver compatibility issues, and we’ve vastly improved our planning and payroll reconciliation processes,” Coleman said. “Automated processes ensure accurate load, equipment, and driver matching, eliminating costly dispatch errors. 

“With seamless data integration, administrative workloads and paperwork have decreased,” Coleman continued. “We’ve also seen faster billing cycles and more accurate driver pay by replacing physical trip sheets with digital workflows. 

“BeyondTrucks was the right choice because it was designed to meet our needs for local operations and for hauling multiple loads per day with our equipment,” Coleman added. “We needed a TMS that would give us both the management tools and data we could dial in on to be more competitive. Now we have more time to focus on strategic operations and customer service.” 

D.G. Coleman’s fleet mainly consists of Kenworth W990 tractors powered by Paccar 13-liter engines, sourced through MHC Kenworth, the company’s longtime dealer. The trailer lineup includes Travis, Stephens, and Heil pneumatic, tank, and end-dump models. 

Maintenance operations are handled at D.G. Coleman’s Commerce City shop, which is staffed by eight technicians. “We outsource warranty work to our dealer,” Coleman related. “In-house, we handle preventive maintenance and repairs to lights, dump liners, dome lids, and all tire work.” 

Like many fleets, D.G. Coleman faces challenges in finding qualified drivers in a competitive economy like Colorado’s construction market. Still, the company has built a strong reputation by offering hourly wages and consistent schedules. “Drivers want to be home at night, and that’s something we can offer,” Coleman said. 

What began in 1972 with a single truck leased to Ruan Transport Corp. has grown into a third-generation, family-owned operation that covers more than 6 million miles hauling nearly 40,000 loads annually. 

Coleman noted that the growth and efficiency of D.G. Coleman can be attributed to its  commitment to fielding modern equipment and maintaining it effectively, employing rigorous safety standards, and investing in new technologies to enhance its reputation for quality and reliable service.