Home | Press Release
CLDA Members are encouraged to share news about their company. CLDA may share on social media, in newsletters or the Customized Logistics & Delivery Magazine.
Ready to share your news with CLDA or the industry media? Learn from these tips and tricks on how to get noticed.
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.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN, Jan. 4, 2023 – Mark McSweeney, CAE has been appointed Interim Executive Director of the Customized Logistics & Delivery Association (CLDA). McSweeney is the Vice President of Association Strategies for Raybourn Group International (RGI), which assumed management of CLDA on Jan. 1, 2023.
McSweeney has been with RGI for 10 years and has served in CEO capacities for 29 years, including national and international trade associations. He is a Certified Association Executive and received the Executive of the Year award from the Indiana Society of Association Executives. He is an active member of the American Society of Association Executives, Indiana Society of Association Executives, and Association Societies Alliance.
“We look forward to working with Mark and the rest of the RGI team,” said Jason Burns, CLDA’s president. “We chose to work with them because of their impressive record of growing membership, member engagement, member retention and the net assets of the associations they manage. We were particularly struck by their track record of increasing membership among those ages 18 to 40 by 60% over the last five years. These younger members of our last-mile community are the future of our industry and our association.”
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 throughout the world.
“I am excited to work with the CLDA to help them achieve their membership and association goals,” McSweeney said. “After meeting the Board of Directors and several members, I am confident RGI is well-suited to drive membership growth, provide strategy, and a high level of service to the membership.”
An experienced transitional leader, McSweeney will serve in the role until a permanent executive director is identified. In the coming months, RGI will establish a staff team with the ideal skillsets needed to serve the CLDA priorities and ensure long-term best-in-class service in membership, marketing, meeting planning, financial, and association management.
About the Customized Logistics and Delivery Association
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 who are 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 key issues and helps 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 www.clda.org.
Media Contact
Andrea Obston aobston@aomc.com
(860) 803-1155
WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 15, 2022 — The Customized Logistics & Delivery Association’s (CLDA) Final Mile Forum & Expo will be held from February 9 to 11, 2023 in New Orleans. Mardi Gras will be in full swing during this, the industry’s largest gathering of last-mile providers and shippers. It will be held at the Hyatt Regency, which is minutes from the historic French Quarter, Arts District and Mississippi Riverfront.
The three-day event will be built around the theme of “Winning the Next Mile.” “The current final-mile environment continues to challenge many of us in this space,” says Event Chair Thomas Jowers. “This conference will be the year’s best opportunity for last-mile providers to expand their knowledge, connect with shippers, build their networks and explore the latest products and solutions to take on these challenges.”
Educational sessions will include:
In addition, there will be intimate round tables with shippers where couriers can discuss how to gain their business and learn more about what they are looking for. The conference will also offer ample opportunities for couriers to network with each other, to expand their footprints and to pick the brains of their peers to solve common problems.
Registration is now open at clda.org with discounts for CLDA members. Members receive more than a 45% discount. The conference also has a special rate for non-members who join when they register. Twelve vendors have already reserved their spots in the CLDA Exchange Hall, but there are still a few booths available on a first-come, first-serve basis. To reserve one of those spots, contact info@clda.org
About the Customized Logistics and Delivery Association
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 who are 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 key issues and helps 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 www.clda.org.
Media Contact
Andrea Obston aobston@aomc.com
(860) 803-1155
WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug. 15, 2022 – The Customized Logistics & Delivery Association (CLDA) recently awarded its third annual CLDA Scholarships to three students who are the children of members of the association. Each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship to pursue education beyond high school.
This year’s recipients are
• Brody Bernecker, the son of Jim and Mindy Bernecker. Jim is the president of Relay Express.
• Taryn Bilchik, the daughter of Bryan and Sandy Bilchik. Bryan is the Director of IT at Need It Now.
• Kylie Jowers, the daughter of Thomas and Kimberly Dawn Jowers. Thomas is the Chief Operating Officer at ADL Delivery.
Bernecker graduated from Archbishop Alter High School in Spring Valley, OH with honors. He plans on attending Miami University in Ohio in the fall with an eye towards a career in business, finance, or entrepreneurship. He was Vice President of his high school’s Investment Club and a member of both the Key Club and the National Honor Society. He served as the captain of the schools’ Food For All effort, coordinating transportation and food for the school’s annual food drive. He played on the school’s varsity basketball and soccer teams. He was recognized as the Employee of the Month at his job at the Dayton Country Club.
Bilchik graduated from Sickles High School, Tampa, FL in the top 10% of her class. She plans on attending the University of Florida in the fall with an eye toward veterinary medicine. She got a head start on that career by becoming a Certified Vet Assistant in her Junior year of high school. This enabled her to volunteer at a local nonprofit animal clinic. She also earned the school’s Greenhand award, served as Color Guard Captain and was a member of the National Honor Society. A passionate horseback rider, she also volunteered as a counselor-in-training at Girl Scout camps and was an involved member of the Future Farmers of America.
Jowers graduated Cypress Ranch High School in Cypress, Texas with honors. She will be going to Texas State University in the fall with an eye towards a career in directing or playwriting. She graduated Cum Laude from her high school and earned recognition with membership in the International Thespian Society. In high school she was involved in theater, Color Guard, the school’s Peer Assistant Leadership program, Hero Club, and the Senior Women Club. She was an involved member of the Texas Association of Future Educators.
Those applying for the scholarship had to be associated with a CLDA member and planning on attending college, a trade school or trucking school in the fall. Applications were reviewed by the CLDA Cares Committee, and the decisions were made based on their backgrounds, grades, and their essays. The scholarships were funded by donations from CLDA members, vendors, and affiliates.
The CLDA Scholarships are awarded annually. Submissions for the 2023 awards should be submitted by April 1, 2023. For more information go to the CLDA Cares tab on clda.org.
About the Customized Logistics and Delivery Association
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 who are 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 key 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
WASHINGTON, D.C. Aug. 10, 2022 — Industry executives and the supply chain’s next generation of leaders will gather virtually on Oct 6 to build the skills to take on today’s challenging times. CLDA’s annual Executive Leadership Summit (ELS) will be an interactive, online workshop featuring industry experts, logistics pros and successful CLDA members. The online event will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 pm (Eastern).
This is the fifth year for the CLDA’s Executive Leadership Summit. The conference is designed to offer skill development to c-suite executives, young professionals, and managers in the leadership pipeline. Together they will build skills to take on today’s runaway inflation, to win the war for talent and to prepare for the possibility of a recession.
“This is an annual event that helps build the next generation of leaders in the last-mile industry,” says Conference Chair Brian Surber. “It is the perfect opportunity for up-and-coming executives to learn strategies from experts in the field and from our most successful and seasoned CLDA veterans. Every year we present to strengthen the talent pool in our industry and support the logistics leaders of tomorrow.”
Participants will take active roles in the sessions including participating in individual break-out rooms where they will discuss shared challenges and ways to take them on. In addition, participants will get a chance to network at a virtual happy hour at the end of the day.
Registration is now open to all in the industry with a discount for CLDA members. For more information and registration, go to the events tab at CLDA.org.
About the Customized Logistics and Delivery Association
The Customized Logistics and Delivery Association (CLDA) is a non-profit professional association that connects and leads members of the time-critical logistics and delivery industries. The association serves the needs of its 2,900 essential service members who are 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 key issues and helps 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
WASHINGTON, DC., Feb. 7, 2022 — What can providers learn from today’s disrupted supply chain? And how can they use those lesson to re-engineer today’s flawed supply chain? Two logistics veterans say it’s all about taking in those lessons and using them to change the ways goods flow through the system.
“Supply chain disruptions have become our new normal, and we should expect and plan for them in the foreseeable future,” says Chuck Moyer, a 40+ year logistics veteran and a former president of the Customized Logistics & Delivery Association (CLDA). CLDA’s 2,900 members include logistics professionals, carriers, shippers, drivers, air cargo logistics providers, 3PLs and vendors servicing supply chain companies. Moyer is currently Chief Executive Officer at Pentagon Final Mile & President at ROVA (Transportation Platform Company).
Adam Hill, President & Chief Operating Officer for the Scarbrough Group of Companies agrees that disruptions are here to stay, at least for the near future: “I expect us to see a least another year of this. I think 2022 is going to give us a little bit of a reprieve but I don’t think we’re going to see anything approaching ‘normal’ until sometime in 2023. And even then, I think we’ll need a new definition of normal.” The Scarbrough Group is a full-service international and domestic logistics provider, and a U.S. and Mexican Customs Broker. The group includes Scarbrough International, Scarbrough Logistics, Scarbrough Transportation, Scarbrough Consulting, and Scarbrough Warehousing.
A Flawed System That Finally Broke
Moyer points out that none of the current disruptions are especially new. Many industry observers have pointed out just how frail the supply chain was, even before the pandemic. “Many of the systems in use are antiquated, lack supply chain visibility and the ability for proactive planning.”
Moyer also pointed out that there were pre-existing weaknesses in the supply chain that finally gave way when faced with rising consumer expectations intensified by the pandemic. “What’s happening now only exposed the weaknesses in the supply chain,” he says, “Everyone in the supply chain knew the ports and labor models were fragile. It’s been reported and discussed for many years. What happened with the pandemic just exposed what was already know and the lack of planning. There were problems below the surface, and they just hadn’t reached the breaking point yet. We’ve been talking about these issues forever, but very few companies have really done a good job preparing and taking a proactive approach in dealing with them.”
It Didn’t Start With the Pandemic
Both of these logistics pros saw the roots of today’s issues preceding the pandemic by decades. One of the big drivers was the change in consumer expectations. “It goes all the way back to FedEx and Amazon. They changed consumer expectations,” says Moyer. “Before that, the delivery companies would tell the consumer when to expect their orders (known as the “push model”). Then companies like FedEx and Amazon started to put that power into the hands of the consumer (known as the “pull model”). Changing from the shipper telling the consumer ‘Your package will be delivered in three weeks’ turned into empowering the consumer and shippers asking consumers ‘When would you like it delivered?’ That put stress on the entire supply chain and is here to stay. The expectation of fast delivery, shipment tracking, excellent customer service combined with a flexible return policy and free or low-cost delivery options has everyone reevaluating their solutions.
Hill pointed out that another of the big weaknesses in the supply chain can be traced back to the Recession in the early 2000s. “We’re going have to go all the way back several decades to get a full picture of where we are now.”
The Pandemic Domino Effect
When COVID hit in China, cancelling Chinese New Year celebrations in 2020, the final stressor on the supply chain fell into place. “China was locked down for nine weeks due to the virus,” points out Hill. “Factories were shut down. Production ceased. That caused the steam ship lines to stop servicing those ports. Then, COVID started making its way around the world. Europe shut down. The US shut down. And just as manufacturing in China picked up again, we started to see skyrocketing consumption in the US fueled by lockdowns. Fast forward now and we’re seeing the ports in LA and Long Beach trying to handle a 30-plus percent increase in traffic from their pre-pandemic numbers. Those goods are locked up even now as things ease a bit, but it’s still chaos. The warehouses on the coasts are 130% full. We have more than 20 loads for every individual truck that’s available to come out on the West Coast. It’s just a perfect storm of problems. In the past, we may have had one of these problems and the rest of the supply chain could figure a way around it. We can’t do that now. That’s why I describe what’s happening as chaos. Not disruption. Chaos.”
What Can We Do?
“Disruptions are ongoing and somewhat unpredictable but planning now and changing the way we do business will position companies to take advantage of those disruptions in the future, and gain market share” says Moyer.
Given that many of the supply chain issues are baked into the system, what can logistics providers do? Moyer advises getting as much visibility of the whole process as possible. “When I look at the supply chain issues of today, I believe the root cause is that most companies lack visibility and measurements in their supply chain. What they need is a Control Tower – a way to gain full visibility all the way from the manufacturing of the goods through every leg of the supply chain. That way everyone along the way can spot disruptors in real time and adjust. So, if manufacturing is ahead or behind in their schedule, those picking up the goods can modify their schedules and judge the impact on their warehouses and ultimately how and when they will be able to deliver goods to their destinations. Having real-time systems that are linked to all of your stakeholders, monitors weather, and industry issues (including labor and bottlenecks) will help everyone in the supply chain to plan accordingly. This will allow optimization of every component in the supply chain. If you have that Control Tower you can optimize everything from your agreements to your scheduling, insurance, inventory control, placement of facilities and adjust as needed and keep your customers informed. Creating a pro-active culture and solution is an investment and provides a distinct advantage and ROI”.
Hill points to the human side of the equation when it comes to coping with disruptions in the supply chain. “Partnerships matter. Providers need to do business with people who are like-minded. They must do business with people they trust and know they can depend upon. This is the time where service wins and good partnerships are how you provide a high level of service. The world relies on those of us who make the supply chain work and we need to work together to make that happen.”
When it comes to providing the best service, Hill says that communications are key. “Many of these disruptors will be with us for a very long time and if we’re going to keep our customers it’s going to be all about communication. Communication skills are the key to delivering good service, no matter what disrupts the process. And when those things hit, servicing the client may include having to tell them that something’s not going to happen. Providers will need to be honest when something’s gone wrong and offer solutions to the customer how they’ll take care of it.”
Lastly, Moyer advises that everyone in the supply chain will need to evaluate how they do things. “We’re going to have to streamline operational strategy at every stage of the supply chain,” he says. “That will include improving manufacturing and inventory control, evaluating carrier relationships, searching out vendor management solutions, modifying demand requirements and focusing on workplace environments. Companies will need to invest in their people, artificial intelligence, automation and analytics to find creative solutions to streamline tasks, improve forecasting, gain visibility and improve efficiency. These are complex issues and companies must put strategies in play today and not just hope that the issues will resolve themselves. They won’t.”
Opportunity From Chaos
Hill concludes his observations about disruptions in the supply chain on a positive note. “There are always opportunities created by chaos,” he says. “Find the right opportunity and look for ways to make the most of it. There will always be storms and those that figure a way to make the most of them will come through stronger.”
Looking for ways to flourish in the midst of supply chain disruptions? Turn to the CLDA for webinars, conferences, best practices and support from members in the industry. Contact the association at info@clda.org or visit their site at clda.org.
About the Customized Logistics and Delivery Association
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 who are 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 key issues and helps 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 www.clda.org.
Media Contact
Andrea Obston
aobston@aomc.com
(860) 803-1155 – cell
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 20, 2022 – The 2022 CLDA Final Mile Forum & Expo has been postponed until June due to the resurgence of the COVID virus. The three-day conference will be held from Wednesday, June 29 – Friday, July 1 at the Hyatt Regency Miami.
For anyone who had registered for the event in February, those reservations will remain valid or may be cancelled with no penalty. Those who had booked their hotel reservations will be contacted with more information.
“Given the impact of the Omicron variant, we felt it was prudent to move the event,” says Final Mile Forum and Expo Chair, Tom Jowers. “This event is all about connecting, and we didn’t want any health concerns to get in the way. The Final Mile Forum has a track record of making a positive impact on our members’ bottom lines and that’s what we want them to focus on. The June event will, once again, be a great opportunity for members of the industry to expand their knowledge, grow their businesses, meet shippers, learn about best practices from their peers, build their networks and explore the latest products and solutions. We are particularly excited to welcome the next generation of logistics professionals through our Next Gen Logistics Challenge for college students.”
The event, titled “Staying Relevant in the Final Mile: B2B, B2C, Be Prepared,” will feature educational sessions, meetings with shippers, networking events and a look at the newest industry trends and innovations.
A keynote called “Eruption Not Disruption” will tee up the first day’s educational session. It will feature the secrets of attracting the customers and workforce to grow in today’s disruptive business environment. This program will present insights from bestselling author and IBM Futurist Brian Carter whom LinkedIn dubbed “an expert you should listen to.”
Kicking off Day #2 will be a keynote presentation called “The Great Resignation.” will tee up the first day’s educational session. Conference participants will learn how to attract and retain the best personnel in a post-COVID world from columnist and business management author Gene Marks.
Educational programs will include:
Two roundtable discussions will bring together shippers and carriers, forwarders and brokers from around the country to discuss new business, business strategies and best practices.
The three-day event will also include seven hours of networking opportunities and a look at the future of the industry with innovative solutions showcased in the Exhibit Hall.
The Education and Events tab on the CLDA website will be homebase for changing registration or signing up for the conference for the first time. CLDA members receive a discount on their registration. The association is currently taking reservations for booths in the exhibit hall and there are a variety of sponsorship opportunities available. To reserve a booth or learn about sponsorship opportunities, contact info@clda.org.
About the Customized Logistics and Delivery Association
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 who are 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 key issues and helps 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 www.clda.org.
Media Contact
Andrea Obston
aobston@aomc.com
(860) 803-1155 – cell
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 29, 2021 — Keeping up with record backlogs and the traditional gift buying season will make this Holiday Rush one for the books. That’s the consensus of two industry veterans, one, the owner of a logistics company and the other a supply chain service provider.
Steve Howard is president of the Customized Logistics & Delivery Association (CLDA) and the president of Esquire Logistics, Inc in Florida. Chris Kane is the CEO of Drivv powered by Courierboard & CBDriver also based in Florida.
Both men acknowledge that the unique challenges facing carriers this holiday season make preparing for it a challenge. “It’s a big unknown,” said Howard. “We have been extremely busy all year with peak numbers every day. There are so many unidentified variables that could impact this year’s Holiday Rush. People are already buying on-line in record numbers, so there’s every reason to expect they’ll do the same with holiday gifts. And let’s not forget the last few Holiday Seasons when the big three, UPS, Fed-EX and USPS, struggled with volume. I have every reason to believe that they will be hard-pressed again in handling this holiday season’s volume. That will most likely mean more work for our members, who are mostly regional providers.”
Kane confirmed his expectations of increased volume this year. “I believe we are going to continue to see a huge increase in on-demand deliveries this holiday season from companies, retailers and individuals,” he said. “Everything is being delivered today as people shy away from in-person shopping. There are also backlogs and shortages of building materials that need to be delivered ASAP as they become available. This will be another drain on capacity. There’s also pent-up demand because everyone has been home for over a year. Add those together with holiday gift buying and we’ll see a tidal wave of delivery demand in November and December.”
There are also lingering issues from the pandemic that will have an impact on the 2021 Holiday Delivery Season. The most significant will be getting a large enough workforce. “There is a real challenge at the moment when it comes to hiring drivers and employees,” points out Howard. “We typically ramp up our hiring in October, but we have not stopped hiring all year. It appears that things are starting to normalize again, but with COVID raging in South Florida at the moment there is still a lot of concern about the effects it will have on the available work force.”
Kane has a front row seat on the driver shortage. His company, Drivv, is an online driver recruiting platform for courier companies to engage new drivers. They also have a driver contract website where independent contractors can search driver contract ads from courier companies called CBDriver. “Driver availability is the critical factor that will impact the 2021 holiday season,” he says. “The extended pandemic unemployment benefits have negatively affected the driver population. There are more companies advertising for drivers than ever before on our platform. The competition for professional drivers is intense with an increase in driver ads featuring incentives and sign on bonuses. To respond to these issues, Drivv has added new recruiting features including a search for Master Contractors, so companies can search our database for Master Contractors and see how many drivers and vehicle types they oversee.”
Both men expect to ramp up the search for drivers. “We are planning on a hiring blitz a month earlier than normal,” says Howard. “Our goal is to have an excellent team in place well before the historic beginning of peak which is usually around Black Friday.” The CBDriver platform will be rolling out a new online driver community forum, DriverTalk, which will help drivers connect, find new driving opportunities and share information with other drivers.
This escalating race to find, train and get more drivers up to speed will put tremendous pressure on logistics companies for the holiday season. “Bringing on staff early can be a challenge because of the cost of adding them well before you need them. The reality is that the company that has the delivery staff will most likely win!” says Howard. Drivv and CBDriver is already seeing that trend. “Demand is up for courier delivery services and drivers,” says Kane. “The volume of driver ads posted on Drivv /CBDriver is up by over 300% versus last year.”
Flexibility and early recruitment will be the keys to surviving Holiday Rush 2021, according to these two industry pros. “Start recruiting now!” advises Kane. “Drivers are essential to handle the anticipated high demand this Holiday Season and companies should use as many different resources as possible to recruit them.” Howard adds: “My advice is to be ready to adjust quickly. None of us knows what this season will look like but being prepared is critical to your survival.”
About the Customized Logistics and Delivery Association
The Customized Logistics and Delivery Association (CLDA) is a non-profit professional association that connects and leads members of the time-critical logistics and delivery industries. The association serves the needs of its 2,900 essential service members who are 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 key issues and helps them participate in the regulatory discussions shaping the industry. The CLDA keeps members informed and educated on trends, current issues and best practices.
Media Contact
Andrea Obston
aobston@aomc.com
(860) 803-1155