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As we head into the final quarter of 2024, I want to share some exciting developments within our association and future opportunities for your companies.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our membership survey. Your invaluable feedback helps shape our future initiatives. You expressed a strong desire for more access to industry-specific resources to help you stay competitive in the ever-evolving final mile landscape. You also want more networking and peer-to-peer opportunities to learn from each other.
The CLDA Board of Directors and team are already working hard to implement new programs and enhance existing offerings to meet those needs. At the end of September, we had the first CLDA Connect in Atlanta. This networking event brought together industry leaders, board members, local carrier companies, and drivers to meet and network, expanding their opportunities. Don’t worry if you missed it; we are planning more events like this in 2025.
To support the continuing development of your teams, we are launching a digital on-demand series later this month to provide more education tailored to foster your company’s growth. This series offers opportunities to improve your operational efficiency and increase your bottom line. As a CLDA member, you gain free access to these valuable resources.
Speaking of opportunities, our 2025 Annual Sponsorship opportunities are still available, and time is running out. These sponsorships offer year-round exposure to a highly targeted audience and will close on December 31, 2024. If you want to enhance your visibility and position your company as a leader in the final mile space, I encourage you to secure your sponsorship today.
Additionally, don’t miss out on the chance to showcase your brand at our premier event, the Final Mile Forum. Both Exhibit and Sponsorship Opportunities are available for this must-attend event with the best and brightest in our industry. Whether you want to network, generate leads, or increase your presence in the final mile sector, the Final Mile Forum is the prime platform to achieve your business goals.
As always, our mission remains steadfast. As we plan for 2025 and adjust our strategies to meet your needs, CLDA will continue to provide you with the education, advocacy, and networking necessary to succeed in the final mile logistics industry. Together, we will continue to grow and thrive in this dynamic community.
Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement, and I look forward to what’s ahead!
Indianapolis, IN, Nov. 12, 2025 – Final Mile Forum registration is now open, presented by the Customized Logistics & Delivery Association (CLDA). The annual gathering of those involved in the supply chain will be held from Wednesday, Feb. 19, to Friday, February 21, at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina.
“The FMF is all about making connections that improve the bottom line,” says CLDA President Joel Pinsky. “Year after year, those who attend tell us about the ROI they have received from attending. Attendees value being about to meet the trailblazers and technology visionaries in the last mile. Those involved in the conference share their experience, the tools and the knowledge it takes to meet the challenges of the modern logistics landscape.”
The conference will also feature roundtable events where shippers and carriers can connect and networking opportunities where those in the industry can share ideas.
Sponsorships and booths in the Exhibit Hall are also now available, with more information available on clda.org
The conference will offer fuel for growth and knowledge to succeed and provide an investment for those in the final mile. It will feature information and opportunities for carriers, freight forwarders, freight brokers, 3PLs, suppliers of products and services to the logistics industry, shippers, retailers, manufacturers, distributors, drivers and independent contractors.
CLDA members and exhibitors receive discounted registration rates, and an extra $100 is available for those registering by Jan. 8, 2025. For more information about Final Mile Forum registration and to register, please go to the event page.
About The CLDA
The Customized Logistics and Delivery Association (CLDA) represents the first to final miles of the supply chain in the US and worldwide. This non-profit professional association serves the needs of its 2,900 essential service members: logistics professionals, carriers, shippers, drivers, air cargo logistics providers, 3PLs, and vendors servicing today’s supply chain companies. The CLDA gives its members access to a diverse network of logistics professionals looking to create new business opportunities and share decades of practical insights. They provide an avenue for amplifying members’ voices on critical issues and help them participate in the regulatory discussions shaping the industry. The CLDA keeps members informed and educated on trends, current issues, and best practices. For more information, see clda.org.
Media Contact
Andrea Obston
aobston@aomc.com
1. Can you share a specific example of how your involvement with the CLDA board has positively impacted your career or business?
Being on the CLDA board has given me invaluable insight into the logistics industry. It’s helped me refine my strategies for growing Express Errands & Courier by connecting with industry leaders and staying ahead of key trends. Also, being surrounded by peers who have been in the industry for 20+ years has been incredibly valuable. In addition to the professional connections I’ve made through CLDA, I’ve also developed lasting friendships that have enriched my journey.
2. What unique opportunities for networking and education has your role on the CLDA board provided, and how have these opportunities enhanced your professional development?
The networking and educational opportunities have been incredible, by far the best! From attending our annual FMF conference to engaging in deep-dive discussions with industry experts, I’ve gained fresh perspectives that have elevated both my business acumen and leadership skills. As the Membership Chair, I’ve had the privilege of fostering new relationships and promoting growth within the CLDA community, which has been both rewarding and transformative for my own development.
3. How did you hear about CLDA, and what convinced you to join?
I first heard about CLDA through a client who spoke highly of the association’s impact. They couldn’t recall the name right away, but once I found CLDA, I knew it was home for Express Errands & Courier. After attending a few FMF conferences, I realized that joining was the game-changer my business needed. Now, as Membership Chair, I’d love to be of service to others. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn and say hello!
1. Can you share a specific example of how your involvement with the CLDA board has positively impacted your career or business?
Being on the board of the CLDA has opened so many doors for me over the past 2 years. I’m having discussions with other board members I never would have been able to have without this board position. The closer connections have helped me navigate through some challenging times in our industry, and I’m so glad to have several people at my fingertips to call and ask for advice. I’ve known many of them for years, but not at this level, and they are truly a wonderful group of individuals who lead this association.
2. What unique opportunities for networking and education has your role on the CLDA board provided, and how have these opportunities enhanced your professional development?
Because we have such a diverse board, it’s allowed to learn how different size companies, in different markets navigate this ever-changing landscape of the final-mile world. Before the board, I only knew how my company was run, but now I have a much different perspective and appreciation for how companies much larger, and smaller than me operate. There is so much goodness that comes from gaining different perspectives, and this board has given me that, times 10!
3. How did you hear about CLDA, and what convinced you to join?
Being a second generation-owner, I knew about the CLDA through my father. We’ve been members for over 30 years, but it wasn’t until I started going to the conferences, joining committees, and eventually joining the board, that I truly came to appreciate all that the CLDA has to offer. It’s truly a special group.
1. Can you share a specific example of how your involvement with the CLDA board has positively impacted your career or business?
Being a member of The CLDA Board has been a jolt to my professional development as a business leader. The CLDA board looks at trends in the final mile delivery industry, whether it’s education, advocacy or collaboration. Being a board member has given me first hand insight into what is happening in the final mile industry and how to prepare my business for the future.
2. What unique opportunities for networking and education has your role on the CLDA board provided, and how have these opportunities enhanced your professional development?
Serving as a Co Chair on the Final Mile Focus was a unique opportunity to look at Industry Verticals, Industry Affiliates who support Carriers and Shippers and trends in the final mile. Once called the Executive Leadership Summit or ELS, serving as a board member, I chose the unique opportunity to launch with the ELS Chair an educational opportunity to bring carriers, shippers and affiliates in a virtual education format which was a huge success. This was my first opportunity to plan, organize and execute a virtual webinar and the experience was outstanding.
3. How did you hear about CLDA, and what convinced you to join?
Our firm has been a member of the CLDA for many years and my father, George E. Pillow Jr was a board member when the CLDA was called the MCAA. I would like to thank Jason Burns Sr and Steve Howard for encouraging me to become more active in the association and running for the board. The CLDA is the preeminent association for the final mile industry. Serving on the board is a privilege and has truly allowed me to network with the industry’s finest professionals.
1. Can you share a specific example of how your involvement with the CLDA board has positively impacted your career or business?
Being on the CLDA board has significantly enhanced my leadership skills in areas like governance, strategic planning, and decision-making, which are directly applicable to my business. This role has also offered me the chance to collaborate with other industry leaders, allowing us to work together to advance the industry. These interactions have broadened my professional network and provided valuable insights, which have been instrumental in driving my company’s growth and refining our strategic initiatives.
2. What unique opportunities for networking and education has your role on the CLDA board provided, and how have these opportunities enhanced your professional development?
My role on the CLDA board has provided extensive networking opportunities, allowing me to connect with other members and gain a deeper understanding of their business challenges and concerns. This exposure has enabled me to advocate effectively for the industry’s interests and contribute to its advancement. The professional relationships and exchanges of advice have been invaluable for my personal and professional development, enhancing my industry insights and developing close friendships.
3. How did you hear about CLDA, and what convinced you to join?
I first learned about CLDA through the company I worked for before starting my own business, as they were a member. One of my mentors, Phyllis Apelbaum – a past president – strongly encouraged me to join, emphasizing its value. Her recommendation convinced me to become a member right away, and I’ve since found it to be an incredibly rewarding experience and continue to finding value.
Summer is in full swing and I want to share what’s happening with your association the first half of 2024. There’s a lot to report since we last connected at February’s Final Mile Forum.
As CLDA’s new executive director, thank you for your warm welcome. I’ve enjoyed meeting some of you and look forward to meeting many more of you soon, either online or in person. Enjoy summer!
INDIANAPOLIS, IN, April 4, 2024 — The recent collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge will dramatically impact last-mile carriers and their customers throughout the country. That’s the prediction from the president of the Customized Logistics & Delivery Association (CLDA), Joel Pinsky. “We’re already hearing from our customers asking us what this will do to their costs and delivery times. I’ve heard from others in the association that the same thing is happening to them,” says Pinsky, who is also the CEO of Global Messenger and Logistics in Baltimore.
While much of the reaction has been focused on the ships that go in and out of the harbor, Pinsky expects the impact to quickly spread to many of the last-mile providers who are part of the CLDA.
“30,000 vehicles go across that bridge every day, including 4,900 trucks. All of them will face diversions, congestion and longer travel distances,” he says. “Many of our members use independent contractors who depend on making a certain number of deliveries daily. If they have to drive farther and spend more time in traffic, it will cut down on the number of deliveries they can make and the money they can earn.”
He points out that there are a limited number of ways to deliver in, around and through Baltimore.
“Those doing deliveries will have to skirt the city on the beltway using I-695, go through either the Fort McHenry Tunnel or Baltimore Harbor Tunnel or drive through the already-jammed streets of the city,” he said. “And for some of those deliveries, the tunnels are not an option because there are restrictions on vehicles that are transporting hazardous materials or have oversized dimensions. These vehicles will have to go all the way around the Baltimore Beltway or go through the city. This will add at least an hour. Not only will that delay them, it will also mean more traffic competing for the city’s streets.”
The impact will affect many of the 2,900 members of the CLDA, not just those in Baltimore, he observes.
“The Baltimore Harbor is one of the busiest in the country, and this will affect the supply chain up and down the East Coast,” he points out. “This is where $23 billion worth of autos and light trucks arrive and $5 billion in construction machinery, agricultural implements, iron and steel, and other material handling equipment lands. That must be diverted to other East Coast Ports like Newport News, New York and New Jersey. The result will be significant competition for last-mile providers to get trucks, chassis and power units. And to find the drivers to make those long-distance deliveries.”
What can last-mile carriers do? Pinsky offers this advice to courier companies:
Pinsky expects the members of the last-mile sector to look for ways to help each other respond to this situation.
“This will affect many of our members, up and down the East Coast and throughout the country,” he points out. “We learned how critical it was to work together during COVID. CLDA members rose to the challenge as essential workers picking up and delivering millions of test kits, vaccines, and PPEs. We know how to pull together in difficult times, and we’ll do it again after what promises to be a tremendous stress test for the entire supply chain.”
About The CLDA
The Customized Logistics and Delivery Association (CLDA) represents the first to final miles of the supply chain in the US and worldwide. This non-profit professional association serves the needs of its 2,900 essential service members: logistics professionals, carriers, shippers, drivers, air cargo logistics providers, 3PLs, and vendors servicing today’s supply chain companies. The CLDA gives its members access to a diverse network of logistics professionals looking to create new business opportunities and share decades of practical insights. They provide an avenue for amplifying members’ voices on critical issues and help them participate in the regulatory discussions shaping the industry. The CLDA keeps members informed and educated on trends, current issues, and best practices. For more information, see clda.org.
Media Contact
Andrea Obston
aobston@aomc.com
(860) 803-1155
Indianapolis, IN, March 27, 2024 — Joel Pinsky was recently elected president of the Customized Logistics & Delivery Association (CLDA). Pinsky is the CEO and CFO of Global Messenger and Logistics. The election took place in December and newly elected positions took office at the CLDA’s Final Mile Forum.
Three new board members were also elected to the Board of Directors and took office at that meeting:
Pinsky has been involved with the CLDA since 2010, serving on multiple committees, including Member Benefits, Membership, Vendors, Final Mile Forum, Government Affairs, Final Mile Focus, and its predecessor, the Executive Leadership Summit. He has been a member of the association’s Board of Directors since 2017.
“I joined my first committee and then the Board of Directors because I wanted to give back to the logistics industry,” he says. “This association has provided networking and educational opportunities that helped my business and me get to where we are today. As President, I hope to lead the CLDA onward and upward so that the diverse members of our industry can receive the opportunities I have been lucky enough to have.”
The Customized Logistics and Delivery Association (CLDA) represents the first to final miles of the supply chain in the US and worldwide. This non-profit professional association serves the needs of its 2,900 essential service members: logistics professionals, carriers, shippers, drivers, air cargo logistics providers, 3PLs, and vendors servicing today’s supply chain companies. The CLDA gives its members access to a diverse network of logistics professionals looking to create new business opportunities and share decades of practical insights. They provide an avenue for amplifying members’ voices on critical issues and help them participate in the regulatory discussions shaping the industry. The CLDA keeps members informed and educated on trends, current issues, and best practices. For more information, see clda.org.
Media Contact
Andrea Obston
aobston@aomc.com
INDIANAPOLIS, IN, Feb. 26, 2024 — Mary Ann B. Passi, CAE, has been appointed Executive Director of the Customized Logistics & Delivery Association (CLDA).
She brings her more than 30 years of association management experience to this position. For the past 22 years, she has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporate Housing Providers Association (CHPA). She has also held leadership positions in the Society of Nutrition Education & Behavior, the Society of Nutrition Education & Behavior Foundation, the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Chicago, the Advocate Healthcare Foundation, the Women’s Council of Realtors©, the Association of Women Surgeons and the Computer Measurement Group.
Passi was recently honored with the Industry Impact Award by the Corporate Housing Providers. She is the only non-member of the association to receive this honor. In 2022 she was recognized as the Executive of the Year by the Indiana Society of Association Executives. Passi has been a Certified Association Executive (CAE) since 1997. She is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, the Indiana Society of Association Executives, and the Association Forum.
“Mary Ann’s breadth of experience in guiding international professional member societies, leading fundraising efforts, and managing operations impressed us,” says CLDA’s newly elected president, Joel Pinsky. “Under her leadership, these associations increased membership, revenue, and the impact they had. That made her a perfect fit for CLDA’s ambitious goals. We are pleased to have her aboard.”
Passi is part of the senior leadership team at the association management company Raybourn Group International (RGI). RGI’s Vice President of Association Strategies, Mark McSweeney, CAE, has held the post of Interim Executive Director since the group assumed management of CLDA in 2023. RGI is an accredited full-service Association Management Company. The organization has managed associations with members in 107 countries that serve over 60,000 members. Headquartered in Indianapolis, RGI is one of just 15% of association management companies accredited by the AMC Institute. Since 1988, they have worked with trade and professional associations, individual membership societies, foundations, nonprofits, and other membership-based organizations worldwide.
