GNet Farmhouse Feature: How Transportation Companies Automate Affiliate Networks (2025 Guide)

Learn how LaCosta Limousine reduced dispatch time from 10 minutes to 10 seconds using GNet’s revolutionary Farmhouse automation system

The ground transportation industry has undergone dramatic changes since the pandemic, with companies struggling to balance reduced fleets, increased demand, and the need for operational efficiency. One solution that’s making a significant impact is GNet’s Farmhouse feature – a game-changing automation tool that’s helping transportation companies streamline dispatch operations and eliminate time-consuming phone calls.

What is GNet’s Farmhouse Feature?

GNet Farmhouse automates the distribution of trips to your affiliate partners. It’s a geographically aware system that connects trips to partners in the vicinity of the pickup location, allowing you to create customized hierarchies for distribution. As transportation industry experts describe it, “this feature is as close as you can get to on demand” transportation management.

The system works by broadcasting available trips to tiered groups of affiliate partners, eliminating the traditional back-and-forth phone calls that plague dispatch departments. Instead of dispatchers making multiple calls to find available drivers, Farmhouse automatically distributes jobs based on pre-established hierarchies and pricing agreements.

Real-World Transportation Automation Success: Lacosta Limousine Case Study

Darren Croasdale, General Manager of Lacosta Limousine in San Diego, shared his company’s transformative experience with GNet Farmhouse during a recent industry webinar. With 27 years of experience in business operations management, his insights provide a clear picture of how this transportation technology is reshaping dispatch operations.

The Post-Pandemic Transportation Challenge

Before the pandemic, Lacosta was farming out about 10% of their daily work. Post-pandemic, that number jumped to 40-60% on any given day. “We took our local network from about 10 operators to 55 local operators,” Croasdale explained, highlighting the industry-wide need for expanded affiliate partnerships in ground transportation.

This dramatic shift reflects broader industry trends where companies must rely more heavily on independent operators to maintain service levels while managing reduced internal fleets.

Lacosta’s Four-Tier Affiliate Management System

Lacosta implemented a sophisticated tiered approach using GNet Farmhouse:

• Platinum Tier: Top 10-12 operators they trust implicitly for premium service
• Gold Tier: Reliable operators with proven track records
• Silver Tier: Starting point for most new transportation partners
• Bronze Tier: Entry-level partners working to prove service capabilities

Each tier receives 5 minutes to respond before the job automatically moves to the next level, ensuring quick coverage while maintaining quality standards. This automated escalation eliminates the manual process of calling multiple operators.

The Competitive Protection Advantage

One of Farmhouse’s most valuable features for transportation companies is its randomization system. “We’re not creating our next competitor,” Croasdale noted. The system prevents any single operator from receiving all the work, reducing the risk of affiliates building enough client knowledge to become direct competitors.

This strategic approach helps established transportation companies maintain their market position while still leveraging affiliate networks for capacity expansion.

Dispatch Automation Impact: Dramatic Time Savings

Manny, Lacosta’s lead dispatcher with 30 years of transportation industry experience, highlighted the dramatic operational improvements: “Before Farmhouse, you’re picking up the phone and calling your affiliate to see if they’re available. If they’re not available, then you call the second guy and then the third guy. Now you’re spending 5-10 minutes on the phone trying to cover a job.”

With GNet Farmhouse, that process is reduced to seconds. “You just throw it in there and whoever’s in that first tier – let’s say six of the guys – will get that text message, and whoever’s closer to the airport grabs it.”

ASAP Transportation Response Excellence

For true “ASAP” requests – those last-minute airport pickups where clients need immediate service – Farmhouse has proven invaluable for transportation dispatch operations. The system broadcasts to multiple operators simultaneously, with the closest available driver accepting the job within seconds.

This capability allows transportation companies to say “yes” to more last-minute requests while maintaining service quality – a critical competitive advantage in today’s on-demand economy.

Three Strategic Modes for Transportation Operations

GNet Farmhouse offers three distinct operational modes to accommodate different transportation business needs:

1. First Come, First Serve (Most Popular for Transportation)

This is the mode Lacosta uses successfully. Pricing is pre-negotiated with affiliate partners, and the first available operator in the tier accepts the job. It’s fast, efficient, and based on established trust relationships – perfect for high-volume transportation operations.

2. Fixed Price Model for Specialty Transportation

Companies can set specific pricing for jobs, with partners accepting based on the offered rate. This works particularly well for specialty vehicles, luxury transportation, or unique requests where standard pricing may not apply.

3. Availability and Pricing Requests

For longer lead times, transportation companies can broadcast requests asking “Can you do tomorrow morning 9:00 for a passenger van from airport to downtown, and if so, how much?” This mode helps with planning and price comparison for corporate transportation accounts.

Transportation Technology Requirements and Setup

The beauty of GNet Farmhouse lies in its simplicity for transportation companies. As Croasdale emphasized, “The farmhouse piece took minutes” to set up. However, there are key technical requirements:

For Transportation Companies:

• Must use compatible dispatch software (currently LiveryCoach and FastTrack)
• Create a customer profile called “Farmhouse” in their transportation management system
• Set up tiered affiliate groups in the GNet portal
• Establish pricing agreements with transportation partners

For Independent Transportation Operators:

• Must register on GNet as an Independent Operator (IO)
• Need to use an IO app (TranspoApp, LimoApp, or equivalent)
• Must have pinger functionality to broadcast availability to dispatch centers
• Agree to automated operations (no phone-only operators accepted)

The Technology Adoption Challenge in Transportation

One key insight from transportation industry leaders was the importance of requiring technology adoption. Lacosta made automation a non-negotiable requirement for their affiliate network. “If you’re not automated with us, then we’re just not sending you our work,” Croasdale stated firmly.

This stance ensures service quality and operational efficiency while pushing the entire transportation industry toward modernization.

For many smaller transportation operators, this requirement actually opened new opportunities. As participants noted, operators “all went out and got it, and they love it too because now not only does it open for us to give them work, but it opens avenues for them on other ends also.”

Transportation Industry Implementation Best Practices

Based on Lacosta’s successful experience, here are key recommendations for implementing Farmhouse in transportation operations:

1. Start Local, Build Transportation Networks Strategically

Focus on your local transportation market first where you can establish strong relationships and clear pricing structures. As Ken Luchi, M&A expert with 40+ years in transportation, noted: “You cannot own every piece of equipment to do every single job.”

2. Establish Clear Affiliate Tiers

Carefully select your tier placements for transportation partners. Most new operators should start in silver and work their way up or down based on performance. Your platinum tier should be reserved for operators you trust to deliver your company’s standard of service.

3. Maintain Transportation Service Standards

Implement automated customer feedback systems and GPS tracking requirements for all affiliate partners. “Our clients expect it,” Croasdale emphasized. “If they’re not getting those real time updates, now I get a complaint call.”

4. Keep Top Transportation Partners Happy

While Farmhouse provides fairness through randomization, remember to maintain relationships with your best affiliate partners. “Your platinum and gold guys are the ones you’re leaning on the heaviest, so you want to keep them satisfied.”

The Competitive Advantage in Ground Transportation

Transportation industry expert Ken Luchi emphasized the strategic importance of systems like Farmhouse: “The most important thing you can have at a dispatch department is to have it as clean and quiet as possible.” By eliminating the constant phone calls and manual coordination, Farmhouse allows dispatchers to use their time more efficiently.

From a financial perspective, Luchi noted that transportation companies doing high degrees of farmout should track “the number of phone calls that need to be made and the back and forth that Farmhouse really does go a long way to eliminate.”

Transportation Industry Transformation Trends

The webinar session revealed broader transportation industry trends that make Farmhouse increasingly valuable:

• Reduced Fleet Sizes: Most large transportation networks now have 20% of their pre-pandemic equipment
• Increased Farmout Dependency: Companies are covering more trips with independent operator networks
• Technology Expectations: Transportation customers now expect real-time tracking and immediate confirmations
• Competitive Pressure: Transportation companies must be able to say “yes” to remain competitive against rideshare alternatives

ROI and Business Impact for Transportation Companies

Transportation companies implementing Farmhouse report significant operational improvements:

• 80% of jobs are typically filled in the first (platinum) tier
• Dispatch time reduced from 5-10 minutes to under 10 seconds
• Ability to say “yes” to more last-minute transportation requests
• Reduced dispatcher stress and improved efficiency
• Better client satisfaction through faster response times

Getting Started with Transportation Automation

Currently available for LiveryCoach and FastTrack users, GNet Farmhouse implementation is straightforward for transportation companies:

1. Set up affiliate tiers in the GNet portal based on partner reliability
2. Establish pricing agreements with transportation partners
3. Require partners to adopt compatible IO apps for automation
4. Create the “Farmhouse” customer profile in your dispatch software
5. Begin automated trip distribution and monitor performance

Software Integration Timeline

Transportation companies using other dispatch software can request Farmhouse integration. As GNet developers noted, the modification needed is “very minor” – LiveryCoach implemented it in “less than half a day” when requested by users.

Transportation Industry Expert Recommendations

Ken Luchi’s advice for transportation companies: “You have to build systems that give you the ability to say yes all of the time to reasonable requests. The most profitable companies have the ability to farm out 30-40% of their work because from a profitability perspective, it’s actually almost neck and neck if you pay your IOs the right way.”

Darren Croasdale’s implementation tips: “Pick your tiers carefully. Train your partners on the technology. The guys that are your bread and butter – your platinum and gold tiers – you want to keep them satisfied while maintaining operational efficiency.”

The Future of Transportation Dispatch

As the transportation industry continues to evolve, automation tools like GNet Farmhouse will likely become essential for competitive operations. The question isn’t whether to adopt this technology, but how quickly transportation companies can implement it to gain the operational advantages it provides.

Companies that embrace transportation automation now position themselves to:

• Handle increased demand without proportional staff increases
• Compete effectively with technology-driven transportation alternatives
• Build sustainable affiliate networks that support growth
• Deliver the real-time service expectations modern clients demand

Conclusion: Transportation Technology as Competitive Advantage

GNet Farmhouse represents more than just a technological upgrade for transportation companies – it’s a strategic tool for business sustainability in the modern transportation landscape. As Croasdale concluded, “Farmhouse has been a godsend” in managing the post-pandemic challenges of reduced resources and increased competition.

For transportation companies looking to reduce dispatch workload, expand service capacity without fleet investment, maintain competitive response times, and build sustainable affiliate networks, Farmhouse offers a proven solution with measurable results.

The transportation industry is at a critical juncture where technology adoption separates thriving companies from those struggling to compete. GNet Farmhouse provides the automation foundation necessary for modern transportation operations to succeed.

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Ready to automate your transportation dispatch operations? Learn more about implementing GNet’s Farmhouse functionality at GRiDD Technologies or join the GNet Users Group on Facebook for ongoing discussions with transportation industry professionals already using the system successfully.