Dan Carrano – VP, Fleet Maintenance

Tell us about your background – what led you to get started in the transportation industry?

My trucking career began shortly after I graduated high school and obtained my first job as a truck driver for a local distributor of restaurant supplies. During this time, I connected with owner-operator truck drivers, and I discovered a passion for helping them maintain and repair equipment. Following this realization, I enrolled in the heavy-duty diesel program at Engine City Technical Institute in Union, New Jersey. Following graduation, I spent ten years working as a truck technician.

As my career progressed, my attention turned to management, but with limited experience, I took an entry-level management position with NJ Transit's bus maintenance department. I used this time to further my professional knowledge, and in my spare time, I attended technical, leadership and professional development classes. During my six-year tenure with NJ Transit, I worked my way up through the company, eventually becoming a quality assurance manager for vehicle maintenance.

Despite my success, I have always known that my heart was in the trucking industry, so in 2004, I became a manager of vehicle maintenance for New England Motor Freight (NEMF). I remained in this position for almost seven years before beginning with Pyle in 2011 as the director of fleet maintenance. In March of 2019, I was promoted to Vice President of Fleet Maintenance.

What about Pyle attracted you to work for this company?

The equipment, which really should be of no surprise since that's my area of expertise and interest. As I traveled throughout the northeast during my employment with NEMF, I would always look at the equipment operated by various transportation companies. To this day, I still remember seeing my first Pyle truck in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and I admired the condition and cleanliness of the vehicle, which, in my opinion, speaks volumes about an organization. From that point in time, I started to do some research on Pyle and spoke with many people in the industry, and the feedback I obtained was more than positive.

Describe your role at Pyle.

My position at Pyle is the Vice President of Fleet Maintenance, which entails the purchasing and maintaining of all rolling assets. To help position the Pyle operation team for success, they must have the correct equipment to efficiently and effectively move the customer's freight. To accomplish this task, I have gained an in-depth understanding of the operational functions to spec and purchase the optimal equipment for Pyle. Then there's the assignment of maintaining the equipment, which requires a comprehensive maintenance program and a staff of skilled fleet technicians.

What makes Pyle's fleet maintenance policies different from other carriers?

Most carriers have the same intentions as Pyle's fleet maintenance department when implementing policies, which are generally focused on standardization and uniformity to improve safety, increase reliability and reduce cost. However, at Pyle, we also consider what policies will affect the performance of the vehicle and improve the overall satisfaction of our Pyle people.

What are the most impactful changes you have made to the maintenance of Pyle's vehicles?

In 2014, we implemented a new fleet maintenance software system, which allowed me to tailor the preventive maintenance (PM) intervals. This system factors in the duty-cycle and the requirements of each different make & model of the equipment versus using a broad brush and setting the PM intervals the same across the board, on all tandem axle tractors for example. This gives us the ability to dial-in and maximize the PM-Inspection schedules while staying within each manufacturer's specific guidelines.

Tell us about the importance of fleet maintenance.

Vehicles that are properly maintained will operate more efficiently, seeing improved fuel economy, reduced overall maintenance costs and suffer fewer road-side breakdowns, which ensures the Pyle operation team can provide our customers with reliable service.

Are there any new fleet maintenance initiatives the company is planning to implement this year?

We plan to continue the transition from propane-powered forklifts to battery electric. This initiative has been beneficial for reducing maintenance costs, savings in the operational costs of powering forklifts and an overall improvement in the dock environment due to decreased noise, reduced dust and the elimination of exhaust emissions.

What achievement are you most proud of during your time with Pyle?

I am most proud of the implementation of safety-related features on the trucks. Most of Pyle's trucks are equipped with air disc brakes, collision mitigation with active braking and lane departure warning systems and automated manual transmissions. All of these features working in unison enhances the safety of the vehicle. I continue to evaluate manufacturer options to improve the performance of our vehicles or assist our drivers in performing their job.

Is there any new fleet equipment that is capturing your attention?

Battery electric trucks. Currently, I've implemented two Mitsubishi Fuso eCanter class 4 battery-electric trucks operating out of Pyle's Bronx, New York terminal. These trucks are on a two-year lease, which allows us to experience the different challenges involved with operating and charging a battery electric vehicle (BEV). I am currently researching what new BEV products are available or soon to be released by the different manufacturers, and I believe diesel-powered trucks will continue to be the leading choice of transportation companies for years to come. However, battery-electric trucks will most likely have their place in densely populated urban areas that may be governed by exhaust emission regulations in the future.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned as a leader?

I learned the importance of mentorship and continual training. Fleet maintenance is a complicated business and requires a total team effort to be successful. It takes years to understand the different aspects (equipment, technicians, parts, vendors, manufacturers) and the importance of relationships. Every chance I get, I try to use situations as training or coaching sessions to advance the team members' skills in fleet maintenance.

Any closing thoughts?

The transportation industry is a people business, and it is important to develop and maintain strong relationships. It takes a small army of talented and reliable people to successfully execute what is needed for Pyle to remain the premier carrier in the northeast.

Kris McLennan – VP, Yield Management

Tell us more about your background – how did you get started in the transportation industry?

My start in the transportation industry resulted from my sister coming home from a shift at A. Duie Pyle and asking me if I was free on Friday night – she worked for the company and was looking for additional help. At the time, I was in high school with no social life, so it seemed like a good idea. Little did I know that question would lead me to meet my husband and begin a very colorful career.

What about Pyle made you want to work for this company?

Thankfully, I was introduced to a very patient group of people when I first joined the company. Those people helped guide me from a part-time billing/manifest checker, also known at that time as a rambunctious teenager, to a role in the Rates Department. They fueled my desire to grow and learn, and they were not afraid to show me the ropes, let me stumble a little and pick me back up. Ultimately, they are the reason I wanted to be at Pyle.

Describe your role at Pyle.

I lead the Yield Management Team, which is the team responsible for making pricing decisions. Pricing decisions are impacted by market factors such as driver shortage, economic conditions and our competition. The department’s responsibilities include making sure we understand how much it costs to move each shipment, which is vital to charge the correct price. The Weights and Research Department, also known as W&R, captures key data to ensure customers describe the products they are moving correctly.

Pricing Analysts will take the customer’s profile along with the costing data and will provide Pyle’s sales associates with proposals. From there, our Contracts Team reviews the legal documents from customers for accuracy, and the Rates and Rate File Maintenance Analysts ensure our customers receive accurate invoices.

What factors do you consider when adjusting the prices of Pyle’s services in response to market trends?

Pyle’s ability to provide a high level of on-time delivery service is the key factor to consider when adjusting the prices of Pyle’s services. Our services allow our customers to have their products in their customers’ hands faster, which in turn grows their business. We do not react to low-cost, low service providers.

We must also pay close attention to increasing bridge tolls, highway tolls and fuel costs. As states and regulatory costs increase, we need to cover those costs by adjusting our prices.

What market trends do you anticipate seeing in the trucking industry over the next 18 months?

E-commerce, home deliveries and the desire to speed up how fast customers receive their shipments will increase. The rapidly growing driver shortage will cause greater strain on the supply chain. These two opposing conditions will allow strong, nimble carriers to be successful – meaning providers such as Pyle, with Driver Training Academies and Leadership Development programs, will be the most successful.

Have you implemented any new technology systems or processes to assist with yield management?

I collaborated with writing, improving and installing Pyle’s proprietary costing system, a tool that arms the Pricing Team with the information they need to make pricing decisions.

What advice do you have for other women working in male-dominated industries, like the supply chain?

Be true to yourself. Individuals, both men and women, bring their unique style to any situation. This holds true in both our work and home lives. Do not think you have to change yourself to fit into any male-dominated industry. Your uniqueness is what others are seeking.

What achievement are you most proud of during your 33-year career with Pyle?

I’m most proud of training and recommending many pricing analysts for various promotions within Pyle and other industries. As I know people advocated for me early in my career, I am also proud to help others learn, grow and further their careers in transportation.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned as a leader?

Be honest. Everyone makes mistakes. It is how you own your mistake, correct your mistake and learn from it that will determine your path in life.

Any closing thoughts?

I have learned something from every challenging experience or clashing personality that I have come across in my career. Every encounter can be a building block for the next experience in life, and I am blessed to share those experiences with a group of people that I consider family.

John Coleman – Chief Information Officer

Tell us more about your background – how did you get started in the transportation industry?

My career path was never directly transportation related. However, looking back (way back of course) I was always part of the supply chain – working to do exactly what A. Duie Pyle continues to do today; moving goods from one point to another. In high school, I worked at a local lumber yard picking orders, loading the flatbeds and chaining down those loads. During college, I was presented with a few more opportunities to work in transportation. A unique experience was working on a union dock picking perishable food orders and loading the reefer trailers for a large east coast ‘high-end’ restaurant chain. The following year, I parlayed that experience and moved to a snack food manufacturer, working nights jockeying trailers and loading the vans with the next day deliveries. This experience working with a family-owned small business paved the way to my future. Before I graduated college, I was offered an opportunity to manage the entire plant with 65 employees. This plant manager role was the most rigorous learning experience of my career. I learned about people, people and more people. After a year of plant management, I moved to an office position with the same company, where I was able to leverage my full understanding of the manufacturing and distribution process to kick-start my software development career.

My position prior to accepting a developer role at A. Duie Pyle was again at a small, family owned and operated, manufacturer and distribution business. This operation included manufacturing, wholesale distribution and a retail store. I wore many hats in that position. I first developed a full, custom software application suite before becoming a controller. As a controller, I was responsible for purchasing business, health insurance and managing and preparing all the company’s financial reports.

My career background includes many diverse job roles, but there has always been a transportation or supply chain element along the way.

What about Pyle made you want to work for this company?

After 13 years at my previous position, where I was the lone IT professional, I felt my skills were stagnating and began looking for a new opportunity where I could build my skill set and resume. I started looking for companies where there was a team of IT professionals and an opportunity to learn and grow professionally.

Before long, I had two job offers - one with a paint manufacturer and the other with Pyle. Pyle was a much longer commute, but I sensed during the interview process that Pyle was unique and had an environment where I could thrive. I did the research and found that Pyle was a family-owned and operated business, which was appealing to me. When I decided to accept the Pyle offer, I did not think at the time it would be a long term position, rather a good opportunity for me to learn. After my first few weeks in West Chester, getting to know the Pyle People and their culture, I knew I made the right decision and was in for the long haul. Eighteen years later, I can confirm that Pyle’s core values and dedicated family owners make Pyle a superior employer.

Describe your role at Pyle.

My role as the CIO is the culmination of a management and software development career. While I had some experience in computer networking, system administration and system operations, my career path was always focused on system design and development. I am fortunate to have a dedicated staff of IT professionals that have helped me grow my IS technical portfolio. While I make the final decisions, every decision is a collaboration of input from each stakeholder or team member, who has the responsibility of maintaining those system choices.

Aligning the IT roadmap with the business initiatives is my primary responsibility. Having the technical experience is key, but I have found my financial management background to also be extremely helpful. Ensuring the cost/benefit analysis of IT related projects and expenditures is much more than just moving levers or pushing buttons. Building on industry relationships and networking with peers inside and outside of the trucking business helps to keep the wheels in motion.

Since you started as a Programmer over 18 years ago, what advice do you have for young professionals looking to grow within the company?

Taking the time to learn the business is extremely important. Bits and bytes are what you learn at school but having knowledge of how they are going to be used by our end-users is most important. Get out of your comfort zone and take some time to make contacts outside of your department. If you are working on a dock management related project, ask your leader if you can observe how the application is currently being used by working a shift with them. Request a ride along with a driver if you are working on a P&D handheld assignment to understand how the drivers utilize the software. When an opportunity is presented to you, seize it, own it and provide the best solution available.

We work in an environment with a quick development cycle to production, which will allow you to see how your efforts directly impact the Pyle People. There are not many companies where you will see your efforts converted so quickly into usable functionality. This satisfaction is a hidden benefit of working at Pyle and is priceless.

What new programs or technologies have you implemented at Pyle that resulted in streamlining the supply chain?

When I started at Pyle, the extent of the operational software was limited to printing delivery receipts, scanning barcodes and printing reports. This system had the capability to manage the entire process, with the built-in resiliency of committing all efforts to paper. It worked, and it worked well. My first assignment was to work with a third-party software supplier that would enable us to automatically create the most efficient delivery routes. The system would replace the upfront delivery receipt printing and route the freight electronically. During this process, I took it upon myself to create a backup system, which allowed leaders to continue to electronically route their deliveries in the event of a third-party system failure. This ‘back-up’ system became what is currently known as the route planning system or RPS.

Subsequently, my team and I have designed and developed a full, custom operations suite that includes all aspects of the LTL Operation – including outbound planning, line-haul planning and execution, route planning, dock management, dispatch and a handheld P&D workflow app for our drivers, which includes signature and BOL capture. The Pyle HUID/PRUID shipment identifiers are good examples of my team’s innovative approach to business solutions.

In the last two years, Pyle has shown incredible resilience. What are some key lessons learned from last year’s cyberattack and this year’s COVID-19 pandemic?

The cyberattack of June 2019 displayed the IT’s team tireless approach to supporting the company’s infrastructure. While previous planning had us in a good place for recovery, no one could have anticipated the stress associated with the actual recovery process. The No. 1 reason for our survival through the recovery process was people. Not just IT people, ALL Pyle people. The ransomware event further proved that people, not technology, are most important.

The ransomware event tested our incident response program and has allowed us to substantially enhance our security posture moving forward. It also highlighted the need to add more systems resources to our team. Security awareness training for our employees was also made a priority. Cybersecurity awareness training and testing will continue for as long as there are bad actors out there that are trying to steal and/or lock up our information.

COVID-19 certainly changed the way IT serves the Pyle People. When many of our employees had to work remotely, we were once again placed in the spotlight, coordinating the remote work effort and ensuring Pyle’s ability to continue running efficiently and securely. With a considerable team effort, we were able to pull it off and provide an excellent level of full support to all our users.

The constant cat and mouse game of cybersecurity has us on a good path to be fully prepared for the future, but unfortunately, no one can predict the next incident. With the recent investments in infrastructure, security and people, I feel confident that we will continue to be prepared to handle any situation that is thrown our way.

What achievement are you most proud of during your 18-year career with Pyle?

While I am proud of my own professional growth within the organization, nothing makes me prouder than the realization that programs that were incorporated in our department during my early years are continuing to pay dividends today. The original IT training program was established in 2005. Creating a mentoring process for newly graduated students with IT backgrounds paved the way for our current leadership in the department. Whether they were mentors or the early mentees, they are the current and future leaders of the IT department.

The program has most definitely changed over the years, but the results have consistently been the same - excellent graduates with the skills to move the company forward in all facets of technology. Throughout the years, we have continued to retain and enhance our development resources group with the best and brightest talent in the industry.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned as a leader?

Look into the mirror and tell yourself you are not the smartest person in the room. Listen to your peers. Listen to your teammates. Listen to your customers, and most importantly, hear what they are saying. If you can take this lesson and apply it to your role, you are on the launching pad to a successful and satisfying career.

It all comes down once again to people. Surround yourself with good people, follow the core values, and lead according to those core values. Make yourself a leading example of those core values.

Any closing thoughts?

The exciting and ever changing world of technology and its impact to our business is paramount to my experience at Pyle. What I have seen in my first 18 years has been nothing short of remarkable. What I look forward to in my next 18 years is seeing how we are going to top our current technological milestones and continue to remain industry leaders in the technology of transportation.

Dave Demedio - Chief Financial Officer

Tell us more about your background – what led you to move into the transportation industry after working in the fintech industry?

My path into the transportation industry is a little different than many of my colleagues. Prior to joining Pyle, I spent 16 years at a disruptive fintech company that changed the way consumers purchased goods. I started with the company when it was in the startup phase, and as CFO and a member of the senior management team, we grew the business and took it onto NASDAQ.

Macroeconomic changes related to e-commerce, supply chains, consumer purchasing habits and technology are driving similar disruptive impacts on the transportation industry. Therefore, when looking for the next phase of my career, the future of the transportation and logistics industry presented an exciting opportunity.

What about Pyle attracted you to work for this company?

The transportation industry is ever changing and consistently presenting new growth opportunities. For companies that correctly position themselves, they will be rewarded and will capture that growth. Pyle’s leadership and vision, such as our Integrated Logistics operations, sets us up to capitalize on certain opportunities.

Another thing that attracted me to to Pyle was the culture. Those who have worked at multiple companies know how important culture is to establishing a winning environment for all stakeholders. Pyle’s ownership, leadership and core values represent a company you want to join and work for.

Describe your role at Pyle.

As CFO, I am responsible for Pyle’s financial operations including accounting, reporting, payroll and treasury functions. Also, as a member of the leadership team, I participate in strategic planning, operational decision making, and risk management to help establish the direction and operating environment for Pyle to be successful.

Are there any new programs or technologies that you have implemented at Pyle that have resulted in improved efficiencies for Pyle?

When I first joined Pyle, the accounting department had just purchased an Oracle financial reporting and forecasting module; however, implementation had not begun. Within a few short weeks, the module was in full swing of implementation. Once implemented, the product improved the quality and timeliness related to the dissemination of financial reports. We are currently in the process of onboarding an AP Workflow system that will improve efficiencies in multiple processes. We believe this will provide an enhanced platform for financial reporting, budgeting and cost management.

How do you motivate the entire Pyle team to work together to meet operating results each year?

Fortunately, the Pyle team does not need enhanced motivation to meet the goals that are established each year, as the whole team is aligned and onboard with achieving the collective goal. I work to make sure my team provides Pyle executives with timely reporting and data as to where we stand against those goals, allowing for ample time and any information needed to make operational changes.

No one ever expects to work through a global pandemic. What efficient ways were you able to monitor Pyle’s finances as well as reduce impact on the company and the Pyle family?

A global pandemic was not something anyone anticipated, nor is there any playbook that exists on how to operate your business and manage finances in the midst of one. Our company implemented a number of measures to meet these challenges. The measures ranged from health and safety concerns, such as ordering face masks or hand sanitizer, to employee benefits, such as additional COVID-19 paid time off. We also implemented cost containment measures to help maintain the financial strength of the organization. While some of the decisions were not easy to make, I’m really proud of the way the Pyle team responded and pulled together to put these measures into action. Once we are on the other side of the pandemic, I think we’ll conclude that we did a pretty good job writing our own playbook.

During your time with Pyle, what achievement are you most proud of?

Working in a startup, I was forced to deal with many challenges and I considered myself fairly adept at managing through crisis. That theory was tested twice within the first year of becoming Pyle’s CFO. First, a ransomware attack that took down many of our systems, and second, a global pandemic. We have a great team at Pyle, and I’m proud to be part of the team that led the company through both crises. With that said, I hope to not encounter another major crisis event anytime soon.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned as a leader?

You’re only as good as the team you build around you.

Any closing thoughts?

Pyle is coming up on its 100th anniversary as a family-owned business. For any company to remain in business for so long, it is a testament to the ownership, leadership and employees over the years. I’m proud to to be a part of helping that legacy grow.

Pete Dannecker – VP, Risk & Integrated Resources

Tell us more about your background – what led you to get started in the transportation industry?

I never thought that I would work in the transportation industry, but once I started, I was addicted to the pace. Because I worked my way through school, I was able to jumpstart my career while still in college. I double majored in economics and business administration while working different jobs my first two years. In my last two years at college, I landed a full-time job in the Admissions Office. The Dean of Admissions regularly organized events to attract school benefactors, including concerts, dinners and business roundtables, which I would help set up. Through my job as an Admissions Counselor, I met Don Schneider and other leaders of Schneider National, a truckload carrier based in De Pere, Wisconsin. Those relationships ultimately led to an interview, and after I graduated, I joined the transportation industry as a dispatcher for Schneider National. In the ensuing years I was given opportunities with different organizations within the industry to grow my career and broaden my responsibilities. I enjoyed leadership roles in operations, driver recruiting, labor relations and safety all over the country.

What about Pyle attracted you to work for this company?

I was blown away by the people. Let me give that some context, because I really had something to compare it to. During the .com boom and five years prior to joining Pyle, I worked as President of a boutique software company that catered to trucking. The owners were interested in selling the company outright if they could get the right price. I was accountable for assuring the business stayed on a profitable growth path, among other things, as “Salesperson in Chief.” I set my own schedule and was often on the road for all but a few days a month. Being young and single, I loved being on the road and was excited by the company growth. Once I got married, I began to struggle with the realization that I was seldom home. My professional devotion to what I was achieving with my travel schedule was short-changing my most important relationship; and I needed to fix that. In the meantime, the possibility our business would be acquired was on the rise. We were cautiously exploring options with a couple of prospective buyers.

Naturally, I started giving some thought to my future career options. As the situation evolved, a buddy asked me if I had any interest in coming off the road to work at Pyle. I sent in my resume and was invited in for an interview. While I was nervous walking into the interview, my fears quickly dissipated. Having spent the previous five years meeting with, talking to and working with hundreds of people from various companies across the industry, I had a real sense for the people in our business. When I met the Pyle People, I knew I had stumbled into something special. My final interview was a couple of hours with 3rd generation owner, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Peter Latta. While Pyle had been around for decades, I had the strong feeling that I was being presented with yet another chance to get in on the ground floor of something big, and I wanted to be a part of this team. I walked out of the office enthusiastic about convincing Pyle to offer me a position. I am grateful they did.

Describe your role at Pyle.

In a nutshell, my role as VP of Risk and Integrated Resources is to support our Operations team as they serve our customer. I am ultimately accountable for results in fleet maintenance, customer service, billing, freight claims prevention and safety. Fortunately, each of these functions has a strong department leader and my real job is to help each of these leaders continue to succeed. In addition, as a member of the leadership team I participate in strategic planning and in helping to establish the direction for Pyle to be successful.

What makes Pyle’s safety and risk management policy different from other carriers?

We approach managing risk from within our culture and we see it as a strategic pillar of profitable growth. We tend to be pragmatic. It is evident that accepting or failing to recognize risk has destroyed many companies in this business. We also embrace the reality that if there is no risk, there is no business. Resources are limited, prioritization is important and communication with Operations is paramount. When we are getting it right, the program helps serve our customers, protects our employees, the public and the environment, and gives us a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Since customers prefer to partner with solutions providers who control costs and protect their product, proper execution of our risk strategy helps us add and retain customers. In what is a symbiotic relationship, it also helps us add and retain the best people. Good people want to be healthy, safe and cared for, and desire to make a meaningful contribution to a profitable growing company that offers challenges, opportunities and long-term job security. A robust, enterprise risk management program helps achieve those objectives. That’s why an important part of managing risk is assuring we maintain our culture and follow our core values. Our culture ties it all together and helps drive it forward.

What results have you seen from the in-house Truck Driving Academy?

In terms of the day-to-day operation, one of our Regional Operations Directors recently shared with me that the Academy saved him. Within that Director’s Region, we struggle to recruit good drivers at a couple of key locations. The Academy helped us create the capacity we need, where we need it, in order to serve our customers. From a bigger picture perspective, the Academy supports our company culture of developing people and promoting from within. A high school graduate can start out on our dock or in our warehouse as a forklift operator and over time with our support move up to making deliveries in a smaller vehicle, then move up again to a CDL Class A professional tractor trailer driving position. For those who want to put in the time and effort to take on the responsibilities of Leadership, we have our Leadership Development Program. We have a number of terrific success stories of people who have worked their way up through our Leadership Development Program and our Truck Driving Academy.

Were there any changes in Pyle’s safety protocols due to COVID-19? Will any of these changes be implemented long-term after the pandemic subsides?

COVID-19 changed the world and Pyle changed along with it. As an essential business, we continued to operate in order to deliver the supplies America needs. The list of changes we implemented in short order to protect our employees and customers is long, but I’ll mention a few. While we put a short-term stop to hiring, we stood by job offers we had already made. Within days, the team at Pyle converted our hands-on week long classroom safety orientation to a video conference, enabling us to cover the material and still respect physical distancing requirements.

Our contract cleaning crews added rigorous disinfecting routines to normal cleaning rituals, and we increased the amount of fresh air intake into our office heating and air conditioning systems. We ensured our drivers were safe by implementing procedures to enable drivers to make deliveries without collecting a signature, as well as issuing disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer and masks as soon as we could get our hands on them. Unnecessary travel was banned and we activated a work-from-home program, moving 80% of our non-operations staff out of the office with priority given to parents who needed to help their children learn remotely. We also shared a steady cadence of COVID-19-related information to ensure everyone was aware of the CDC hygiene and physical distancing guidelines.

It’s hard to say what we’ll keep when the pandemic is finally behind us. I expect routine disinfecting rituals are likely to continue. I expect we’ll make better use of online remote collaboration tools, like video conferencing. More significantly, we now view work-from-home through a different lens. Because we are so people focused and believe that personal interaction helps people to learn and understand our culture, we have been cautious about remote work scenarios. COVID-19 forced remote work upon us to protect our employees, giving us an opportunity to re-think our approach. We may be more open to the idea in the future.

Tell us about the importance of superior safety and security.

A good safety program is the price of entry into this business. A company that isn’t committed to the safety of its employees is not going to make it long term. A superior safety program can be a market differentiator that helps the company deliver a better service offering at a lower cost.

Security is another matter. For the longest time, the primary function of a transportation security program had been to deter and detect freight theft. Because Pyle People are our best security system and we have such a great team, we have a leg up on our competitors. In the past couple of years, information security has become a front-burner issue with relentless malware attacks that can cripple a company. We survived a ransomware attack, and we will continue to invest heavily in protecting our customers’ information. Personal security has changed the most as people do not feel as safe as they once did with unfortunate, high-profile events taking place nationwide. As we continue to build our security systems and design security protocols to protect products and assets, we are also taking into consideration people’s heightened concern for their personal security.

Are there any new safety and security initiatives the company is planning to implement this year?

Yes – everyone at Pyle is committed to continual improvement in all aspects of the business. We currently have plans for continued investments in security. Safety and security are woven in to the fabric of the organization. Our programs evolve organically. We take a strategic approach to identifying hazards, assessing risk and working on managing our prioritized risks. We measure our results and then loop back to tweak the plan to see how else we can improve. Our plans are designed for and in step with our Operations Leadership team. Over time, we always expect our safety and security program results to advance because our Operations team has established a superior track record of executing the plan.

What achievement are you most proud of (during your time with Pyle)?

I have had the pleasure of watching people I work with develop and grow personally and professionally. They have increased their income, improved their quality of life and exponentially increased their contribution to the team. While each success story involved an individual making the commitment to dedicate themselves to the effort of personal improvement, it’s tremendously satisfying when I know I have helped facilitate that growth.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned as a leader?

I want to name a dozen. If I have to choose one, it is to lead by example.

Any closing thoughts?

Answering these questions reminds me how incredibly lucky I am to work with people who consistently amaze me. Pyle is a remarkable team and I am grateful to be on it.

Russ Miceli – VP, Integrated Solutions Sales

Tell us more about your background – what led you to get started in the transportation industry?

It seems like yesterday, but I started in this business in 1981 working for Spector Freight System – a National LTL carrier, where I unloaded and loaded trucks at one of their distribution centers. This was right after deregulation. In 1982, Spector decided to close its doors. Their Distribution Center Manager provided a great reference to a DC Manager at Yellow Freight System. At the time, YF had one of the best mentor-trainee programs in the industry. After several years in operations, I was fortunate to take on a sales role as a sales representative in Orange County, NY. It was shortly after that time when I realized sales was a role where I could make a valuable contribution to the company. During my years at Yellow Freight System, I held several sales roles, including several managerial roles such as a City Sales Manager, National Account Manager, Corporate Account Manager and Director-Sales. As a Director of Sales, I was responsible for sales teams in western MA, CT, NJ and NY State, which included NYC Metro and Long Island, NY.

What about Pyle made you want to work for this company?

During the late 90s, there were senior level changes at YF and I could see the company starting to move in a different direction. During the summer of 2000, Del Bilbao and I had dinner one night in NJ. I knew Del from my Yellow days and it had been awhile since we last caught up. During dinner, Del made me aware that Pyle was looking to expand their leadership team. After several conversations with Kevin Gearin (retired VP Operations), I had the pleasure of meeting Peter Latta one Saturday morning in West Chester, PA. We talked for quite some time about the industry and, more specifically, about Pyle as a family business and the company vision to develop into a Northeast Regional carrier. It was after that meeting I remember speaking with my wife, Pam, about my conversation with Peter and saying that Pyle was a company that seemed very different. I could tell that culture, work ethic, integrity and service were core and very important to the success of Pyle, which lined up very well with my values. This was the primary reason I made the decision to move my family and join A. Duie Pyle.

Describe your role at Pyle.

When I joined the company, I was leading our sales efforts as VP-LTL Sales. In early 2019, ownership and senior leadership asked me to take on a role as VP-Integrated Solutions. In this role, I am responsible for leading the sales efforts in deploying our company strategy, which is to diversify our company revenues by growing our Dedicated, Warehouse and Brokerage Services. We are accomplishing this by leveraging our Enterprise Sales Team’s customer relationships coupled with our company resources and assets. Conversations today with customers are centered on supply chain management. This allows our conversations to fully integrate all the services we provide and to create more value for our customers.

What really sells Pyle’s services? Is it Pyle’s core values, the promptness of deliveries, etc.?

Over the 96 years the company has been in business, the Pyle team has built a solid reputation in the marketplace. Even when a customer does not know much about Pyle, the one thing most will tell you is that they have heard of our service reputation. We are known in the LTL marketplace for providing quality, high-level, on-time service. While we are mostly known for our LTL service, we are gaining market share within other areas of our customer’s supply chain by leveraging our relationships in order to provide additional value with our other service offerings in the Dedicated, Brokerage and Warehouse space. This has made us more relevant in customers’ eyes and in the supply chain field. Today we can provide customers with more supply chain services, putting us in position to say to YES to most opportunities. In addition, our entire Pyle team engages in prompt follow-ups to customer requests or issues. We believe this is another differentiator that separates us from most competitors.

With close to 20 years working with Pyle under your belt, what are some of the major ways the company has improved over the years?

Today, our company operations and sales are more diversified than ever before. Over the last 5 years, we have transformed the company from what was known as mostly an LTL carrier with warehouses to a Northeast Asset-Based Supply Chain Solutions provider that offers customers a wide portfolio of transportation and warehousing services. Through our engineering efforts, we now provide integrated solutions that drive operational efficiencies and increase customer value. Our Integrated Solutions, when truly leveraged, make it very difficult for any competitor to duplicate our service.

What are some of the main benefits of integrated transportation solutions?

Our Integrated Solutions provide customers with tremendous value as customers are able to take strategic, high-level views of their supply chain. Being able to single source with an asset based supply chain solutions provider will help our customer control cost while streamlining their operations. This also allows Pyle to leverage our real estate, assets, technology and people to provide the most efficient and cost effective customer specific supply chain solution.

Are there any new programs or tech initiatives the company is planning to implement this year?

After we are back to some type of normalcy, we will see more clients expand their own e-commerce platforms, which will drive us to think about other services in order to meet those demands. It is critical that our sales team continues to have forward thinking conversations with customers on what they need for go-to-market services and what those services will potentially look like in the future.

What achievement are you most proud of (during your time with Pyle)?

As I look back, I am most proud that we accomplished our Sales growth objectives while maintaining our service performance. This is a true team effort and accomplishment. Our growth objective started early on when we developed a formalized National Account Sales go-to-market program which allowed us to get in front of decision makers who are domiciled across the US and Canada. This helped us to launch Pool Distribution services to customers, engage 3PLs that were just starting to expand their presence in the marketplace, and opened us to a larger, Fortune 500 customer base. Then, as a byproduct of expanding our Sales efforts, we grew our market share by out-selling and out-performing the competition. Our team effort led us to exceed 12,000 shipment for a single day milestone during May 2019. Through all of these strategic objectives, Pyle has become a dominate Northeast Regional service provider.

I’m also proud to have been a part of the team rolling out our Pyle Priority Service. I remember early discussions when PPS was questioned as being a viable service offering since the company was already providing a 99% on-time service back in 2002. Based on what we learned from customer behavior, we knew there was a market for those customers who needed 100% on-time service, peace of mind and were willing to pay a premium for this type of service. At the end of 2002, we averaged 12 PPS shipments per day. During 2019, we had a record year with our PPS service offering, handling 311 PPS shipments per day.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned as a leader?

One of the most valuable lessons that I have learned over the years is to never assume anything. While it is very important to learn how to delegate, as a leader you must also inspect what you expect.

Any closing thoughts?

Over the next three to 10 years, supply chains will continue to evolve at a fierce rate. We know customer expectations will continue to increase, as they will continue to push service providers for new and different services. These expectations will force Pyle and the rest of the industry to look at different ways to do things that will drive cost out and improve service. History has taught us that only forward thinking service providers, who provide diversified services and support end-to-end supply chain services will survive.

John Tillison – Sr VP, Sales & Marketing

Tell us more about your background – what led you to get started in the transportation industry?

Upon graduating from Penn State University, I joined Roadway Express as a management trainee, which was my first full-time job out of school. Roadway Express had an excellent leadership development program, where I received extensive training on the basics of trucking, including rating, billing, pricing, freight operations, leadership and more. I spent 27 years at Roadway Express/YRC, rising through the organization from trainee to Group Vice President. I chose to leave YRC in 2010 to join Pitt Ohio Express in Pittsburgh. There, I was Director of Enterprise Solutions and a member of the executive sales management team based at its corporate office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I joined A. Duie Pyle in April 2019 as Vice President – Sales & Marketing.

What about Pyle attracted you to work for this company? Company culture, family-run business, etc.

Prior to joining Pyle, I researched the company extensively for many months. I respected the company as a competitor knowing how good the service product was based on customer feedback. I was fortunate to know some of the Pyle management team who I worked with at Roadway. They assured me that the culture was everything that I had heard about from outside the company. The owners of a company set the standard and expectations for the employee. The Latta family values the employees – those that service the customer. A company that survives into the fourth generation of family ownership is special. I knew I would enjoy working with a team of employees who work hard, are proud of their company and are devoted to servicing the customer.

Describe your role at Pyle.

My role is Senior Vice President – Sales and Marketing. I lead our team of sales and marketing professionals who engage our customers on a daily basis. We deploy both an inside and outside sales organization. The inside sales team primarily contacts new prospects while managing existing customers via the phone. Our outside sales organization meets with customers in their offices on a regular basis. They seek to identify opportunities to deliver value by using the various assets the company manages throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Our marketing team supports all important areas of the company, and are a key link between the company’s brand, values and culture through the use of electronic, print and digital media outlets. They are responsible for our internal and external training and advertising programs across the entire company.

What changes has Pyle made under your leadership to improve Pyle’s relationships with customers?

While no significant changes have been made since I arrived, we have enhanced training to ensure our sales organization is prepared to consult with our customers on the most effective tools needed to compete in their markets. The better educated our sales and marketing organization is on the complexities of the modern supply chain, the more successful we will be in helping to design the most effective solutions. When we are successful in that area, the customer, the employees and the ownership will continue to thrive for many years to come.

What are the most effective methods Pyle uses to develop and maintain strong relationships with customers?

It all starts with the Pyle reputation for outstanding service supported by employees across our network. The Pyle brand recognition in the market supports the sales organization’s goal of enhanced growth and profits. Our sales representatives’ ability to build and maintain strong relationships is based on the execution of goals set by the customer. When we exceed expectations, our customers will seek additional ways to utilize our services.

With around 35 years of experience in the transportation industry, what changes have you seen regarding customer needs?

Customers are seeking to partner with companies who deliver value for their organization. Because of industry consolidation, customers are looking more and more to partner with supply chain providers who offer multiple solutions, such as A. Duie Pyle. Our integrated supply chain solutions strategy, where we leverage transportation with warehousing and/or dedicated, is unique in the market. Owning these assets is a key differentiator when compared to single service providers. The combined services under one company brand, supported by a strong culture, addresses many of the services a company utilizes for the benefit of the customer in their key markets.

How are marketing and sales initiatives in logistics unique compared to other industries?

We are in a service business. The employees at the company engage with customers on a daily basis across the network. Our brand is very recognizable in the areas we operate because our equipment is visible in the cities and towns across our coverage area. The logo is well-respected, providing a unique opportunity to introduce our services to those that see our equipment on the highways and engage our highly trained, professional workforce on a regular basis.

Are there any new programs you’re initiating to better customer relationships?

The best way to improve customer relationships is to seek new products and services to help them achieve their corporate goals. For example, our continued investment in technology (enhancing shipment visibility end-to-end in the supply chain) is a key initiative in 2020. Our customers require full transparency of their products moving through our network beginning with the acquisition of raw material through manufacturing and onto final delivery. Every movement of product and material must be visible at all times. Our IT team continues to upgrade our capabilities in this area. Companies seek a relationship with those who solve problems. Delivering value is our greatest customer relationship tool!

What achievement are you most proud of (during your time with Pyle)?

I have been with Pyle for almost one year. I have tried to meet as many Pyle employees as possible at the various facilities, beginning at the corporate office. I have developed a strong respect for the culture, having gained an understanding on why and how the company has grown and flourished for the past 96 years. As I stated at the beginning, I researched the company prior to joining. I have gained an even better respect for the Pyle family in the past 11 months. I believe I can now say I am a member of the Pyle family.

Any closing thoughts?

We have a great future with many opportunities for growth in the coming months and years. I look forward to working with the entire Pyle team on achieving our goals, which will firmly secure the future of the company for many generations to come.

Peter Latta – Chairman & CEO

Tell us more about your background.

Pyle is a family owned business, and during my summer time off in high school and college, I worked in the family business in our shop, dock, warehouse and driving trucks. I majored in accounting at the University of Delaware, passed the CPA Exam after graduating in 1979, and then went to work for a CPA Firm in Philadelphia. I worked there for a year, and then went to the Dickinson School of Law and graduated in 1983. After passing the Pennsylvania Bar Exam, I joined the law firm of McNees, Wallace & Nurick in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where I practiced with the Corporate and Tax Department at McNees. In 1985, my Dad began to experience some health issues, and I returned to West Chester and joined the Pyle Team.

Describe your role at Pyle.

When I started in 1985, we had one LTL Terminal, two Warehouses and our legacy Steel Hauling business comprised of owner operators and agents. In 1985, our Consolidated Revenue was $12M. When I started, I worked in the operation, began to do most of the hiring, was involved in any legal issues and worked closely with our controller on any financial related issues. As Pyle has grown from Revenues of $12M in 1985 to $492M in 2019, my role has evolved to focusing on real estate & financial matters, strategy planning & execution, family business continuity & sustainability, and ensuring our Leaders embrace our Pyle Core Values to foster the trust of our team members and earn the engagement and discretionary effort of the Pyle People.

What are you most proud of that Pyle has accomplished within its history?

I am proud of many things our Pyle People have accomplished, but I will call out three of their watershed accomplishments in particular. First is the 3 month strike we endured in 1979 when my Dad sought to negotiate a few of the terms of Jimmy Hoffa Sr.’s Teamsters National Motor Freight Agreement. The strike culminated with 42 Pyle strikers resigning from the Teamsters, crossing the picket line, returning to work and voting the Teamsters Union out of Pyle. I will never forget working thru the strike, and the Pyle People ultimately placing their trust in the Latta Family and rejecting the Teamsters.

The Second defining accomplishment of the Pyle People was not just surviving the Deregulation of the Motor Carrier industry that started in 1980, but growing company revenues almost 5,100% from 1980 thru 2019. When I reflect on the fact that in 1980, there were over 125 carriers that operated in parts of the Northeast Region, and that only 5 are still in business today, it speaks directly to the tenacity, dedication and durability of our Pyle People.

Finally, I would point to the Cyber Ransomware Attack that started on June 15, 2019. The ransomware attack brought us to our knees, as it severely impacted the technology we use every day to operate our business. Words simply cannot describe the valiant and sustained effort The Pyle People put forth to fight back from this devastating event.

Tell us your favorite story/memory throughout your time at Pyle.

I have been blessed to have many special memories during my time at Pyle. With that said, my fondest memory is the opportunity I had to work with, and learn from, my Father. He was a very special person, as were most from the Greatest Generation who I have had the honor of knowing. My Father and I never had a cross word, and while we only worked together for about 6 years after I returned to Pyle to work full-time until his health began to fail, these were 6 very special years of my life. If my Father could return to Pyle today for a visit, I hope he would be pleased with what he finds.

Anything unique about your approach to being CEO in the trucking & logistics industry?

People outside our industry, and surprisingly many inside our industry, think success in this business depends on the relative competitive standing of your technology, facilities and fleet equipment. While these tools of the trade are necessary and important, at the end of the day, ours is a people business, and it is the engagement of the people that ultimately determines the relative quality of your service and sustainability of the business. Over the years, I have seen many carriers who at one time had a solid culture because they valued their people, drift away from placing priority on earning their on-going trust and engagement. And once they drifted away from this centerline priority, they begin a downward spiral that in many cases ended with the failure of the business. At Pyle, we are committed to keeping at the forefront of our thoughts and actions that it is The Pyle People who are the source of the success we have enjoyed, and we must never lose sight of this and neglect to value our people.

What are some major ways the trucking and logistics industry has changed over the years?

As noted earlier, the Deregulation of the Motor Carrier Industry that started in 1980 was a game changing event. Of the Top 60 Motor Carriers in 1980 as measured by annual revenue, only 5 are still in business today. Of these Top 60 Carriers in 1980, 56 were Teamster carriers and only 4 were non-union. By contrast, of the Top 30 LTL Carriers today, only 3 are Teamster and 27 are union-free. Another big change has been the emergence of 3PL’s, who have displaced the historical direct relationships that existed between Carriers and Shippers. Finally, rapid advancement of technology has been a great enabler of carrier efficiency, while at the same time yielding real-time in-transit shipment visibility to users of motor carrier services.

What are some market predictions that you believe will be shaping the future of the trucking and logistics industry?

I believe the LTL sector will continue to consolidate, and the stronger will grow at the expense of those carriers who do not value their people, lag in technology and do not have a healthy cultural compass setting. The asset-based carriers will figure out how to leverage their strengths and technology, and in so doing will displace 3PL’s whose value proposition will diminish. Cyber security will continue to elevate in importance at a rapid pace, as cyber-criminal incidents of supply chain disruption continue to proliferate in both number and severity.

What major challenges in the industry do you see on the horizon?

A major challenge for our industry will be to attract new emerging talent into our business sector. The consolidation within our industry during the last 35 years made experienced leadership talent available to the survivors who grew and prospered during Deregulation. With the fallout from deregulation largely completed, this source of readily available experienced industry leadership is essentially gone. As such, forward thinking carriers will need to effectively recruit, develop and retain new talent to support their growth. The challenge to do so should not be underestimated, given our industry’s shift and hours variability demands. Beyond the future leaders required to support profitable growth, forward thinking carriers will need to invest in the development of qualified CDL Drivers and Fleet Technicians to combat the shortage of these skilled resources.

Pyle has focused on making its operations more environmentally friendly. Tell us how you believe the trucking industry as a whole will become more eco-conscious.

As we have done at Pyle, leaders will continue to recognize the reality that our natural resources are finite, and we must be good stewards of the consumption of these resources and our environment. It is for these reasons that Pyle has deployed solar power technology, is an early user of electric and hybrid trucks, is converting to electric forklifts in our Warehouses and on our Docks, and has designed energy efficient technology in our Pyle facilities.

Anything exciting on the horizon for Pyle in 2020?

Lots’ of exciting things on the Pyle Horizon. We will continue to grow our supply chain services as we creatively integrate our LTL, Dedicated, Warehousing & Distribution, and Brokerage Services thru our Engineered Design Solutions and leverage our real estate, technology and people resources to create a best-in-class cost and service value proposition for our Customers that equip our Customers with a competitive advantage in their respective markets. In 2019, we invested over $98,000,000 in new facilities, fleet equipment and technology, and we will follow on the heels of this in 2020 with another $100 Million in Capital expenditures. We are underway developing a new technology stack that will bring many new and innovative solutions to further enhance our operating systems and processes, while also bolstering our already strong service performance. Finally, and most importantly, we will do these things and more in a manner that honors our Pyle People with the respect and attention they deserve, and which will preserve our Pyle Culture and earn the Trust of our Team Members.

Any programs you’re helping initiate to help promote employee appreciation/company culture?

The best thing we can do to promote our employee appreciation and company culture is to embrace our Pyle Core Values at all levels within the Company. Embracing our Core Values sustains a durable and healthy culture, which earns the trust of our Pyle People and our Customers. In today’s world where cynicism and skepticism are more the norm than the exception, our environment at Pyle is refreshing and invigorating.

What achievement are you most proud of?

I would rephrase your question from “the achievement I am most proud of” to “the achievement I am most thankful for.” The achievement I am most thankful for is that our Company has been able to provide good secure livings for thousands of Pyle People and their families over the 95+ years Pyle has been in business. The people who have contributed to Pyle’s growth and success have realized the personal satisfaction that comes from purchasing homes, raising families, enjoying vacations, funding educations for their children and in many cases enjoying well-deserved retirement with the financial benefit of a secure retirement plan.

Any closing thoughts?

In just four short years, A. Duie Pyle will celebrate its 100th birthday as a family owned business grounded on family based values. We are a blessed company to enjoy this milestone, and we are thankful for the enduring support of our Customers and the many Pyle People over these past 9+ Decades who haves made all of this possible.

John Luciani – COO LTL Solutions

Tell us more about your background – what led you to get started in the transportation industry?

My introduction to the transportation business is similar to that of many of my co-workers. I was supporting my way through college when I went to work for my first trucking company. During that time, I fell in love with the people and pace of the business. No two days are exactly alike and that has kept the business challenging and fun for more than 30 years.

What about Pyle attracted you to work for this company? Company culture, family-run business, etc.

Pyle has a great business strategy that is built around the engagement and discretionary effort of the team. The dedication and loyalty of the Pyle team starts with the Latta family and their commitment to developing and maintaining the culture. During 95 years of ownership, the Pyle and Latta families have always taken a long term approach to business and, in doing so, have earned and continued to build the trust of the team. The owners' “stewardship” business philosophy, coupled with their commitment to the future, has been the foundation of our company culture, making it a very attractive place to start or continue a career.

Describe your role at Pyle.

As the COO of LTL Solutions at Pyle, I get to wear many hats to help the organization be successful. However, I feel my most significant contributions to our future are achieved by engaging with our customers and Pyle team. After speaking with our customers, I’m able to plan strategically for our future. By engaging and working with our Pyle leaders, many that are just starting their careers, I can help motivate them to see the opportunities available at Pyle and help them be the best leaders they can be. Mentoring the team to navigate through the inevitable challenges and then celebrating their successes is extremely rewarding.

Anything unique about your approach to LTL and Integrated Logistics operations?

I’m not sure my personal approach is unique, but I believe by leading our LTL business unit and feeling strongly about our integrated business strategy is the best approach for the long-term growth of Pyle. Having four disparate business units – Dedicated, W&D, Brokerage and LTL – that can successfully work together for the benefit of our customers is unique within the industry. As a result, there is a requirement to balance resources, be creative and have more flexibility than any other point earlier in my career.

With decades of experience under your belt, what are some of the major ways truckload and logistics operations have changed over the years?

During my 30-plus years in the transportation industry, the advancements in technology have had the greatest impact on efficiency and driver safety. It has been interesting to be engaged in route optimization, the AOBRD and ELD migration to manage driver hours of service, on-board cameras and, more recently, having the ability to leverage document scanning as we strive to become completely paperless. As soon as we implement something new, it seems the next thing is being launched.

What are some market predictions that you believe will be shaping the future of the trucking and logistics industry?

As our customers look for creative and reliable solutions to eliminate delays in their supply chain, I believe Pyle is ideally positioned for the future with our comprehensive supply chain offerings. I believe that a combination of our culture and unique infrastructure can provide a superior cost and value proposition to our customers while providing growth opportunities to the Pyle team.

Frank Granieri – COO Supply Chain Solutions

Tell us more about your background – what led you to get started in the transportation industry?

When I was a freshman at Penn State, I took a job as a part-time seasonal package handler at UPS. My tenure with UPS lasted 10 years, and I credit the company with providing me with an invaluable education in leadership, hard work and operational discipline. I then left the transportation industry for a few years and tried my hand at a company that provided document management services and distributed copiers. It was there that I met my wife, who happened to be a member of the 4th generation ownership group of Pyle. I like to say that I was recruited to A. Duie Pyle by way of marriage!

What about Pyle attracted you to work for this company? Company culture, family-run business, etc.

I was attracted to the idea that I could dedicate the remainder of my career carrying forward a legacy that was established through the hard work and efforts of several generations of men and women before me. I also believe great progress and innovation can be made in flat organizations where people are empowered to enhance processes and drive results. Pyle’s lean structure fosters a nimble culture that is able to quickly pivot when opportunities exist to enhance our operations and better service our customers.

Describe your role at Pyle.

I am responsible for Pyle’s Supply Chain Solutions Group which includes Contract Dedicated Transportation, Warehousing & Distribution, and Brokerage (Non-Asset TL, Drayage, and Managed Transportation Services.) My role is to recruit, develop and serve the Pyle People by removing obstacles that have the potential to limit progress in fulfilling our value proposition to our customers.

Anything unique about your approach to Dedicated and Warehousing & Distribution operations?

Our transportation and warehousing engineering group is engaged with every prospect and pursues consultative partnerships with our clients. We shy away from traditional RFP’s where companies are simply comparing costs between providers. We believe the greatest value can be derived from reviewing raw transportation data. This enables us to make suggestions regarding optimization of transportation and distribution including geographic location, vehicle and driver class, and productivity standards. We believe our role is to provide our customers with expertise derived from our 95 years of moving and storing goods.

In the next five years, what are some market predictions that you believe will be shaping the future of the trucking and logistics industry?

I believe we will continue to see the market move towards greater collaboration between Carriers, Shippers, and Brokers to drive out inefficiencies. Customers will look for providers that offer multiple services and can effectively integrate those services to provide seamless support of multi-facets of a company’s supply chains, in a manner that limits cost increases. I also believe that the C-Suite will view their transportation and warehousing strategy as a vital role to their future revenue growth and competitive differentiation.

Any logistics or operational challenges you see that are on the horizon?

I believe attracting and developing talented logistics professionals will continue to be a critical need to support the positive evolution of the industry.

How does Pyle plan to close out the year – any exciting updates to mention?

We are very excited with the progress of the construction of our Integrated Logistics Centers in Hagerstown, MD and Westfield, MA. Walls are being erected and customers are increasingly securing capacity in advance of our opening in 2020.

What achievement are you most proud of (during your time with Pyle)?

My greatest sense of satisfaction comes from seeing people develop and progress in their professional careers. The countless number of customer service reps, dock workers and various other positions that have worked hard and progressed to positions of greater responsibility in the organization as a result of their ambition and abilities speaks to both the company’s culture as well as the caliber of the Pyle People. People are our greatest competitive differentiator.