National Logistics Day 2021

Today is National Logistics Day! A day of extra significance for all of us at Kingsgate, because we have the opportunity to increase awareness about the importance of the industry we work in and are passionate about. As we discovered last year, into this year and even in the present day, the logistics industry is vital to the survival and success of our global economy. COVID-19 has presented many challenges for essentially every industry and our industry is no different. In fact, the issues COVID has caused to the supply chain have trickled causing additional issues for a multitude of industries, including retail stores, restaurant food shortages and delays/issues across the board.

The transportation and logistics industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that touches all of our lives. It’s one of the reasons we love what we do and why we restlessly look for ways to improve the industry. In 2019 and 2020, we asked our team why they like working in the logistics industry, but this year I asked a series of questions to Kingsgate’s leadership team (including myself).

Here’s what we all said:

JEFF BECKHAM | Owning Partner

1. What is your favorite thing about working in the logistics industry?
   • The velocity of change in this industry over the last decade has been extremely interesting. The changes and advancements in data analytics, predictive analytics, and connected technologies have happened at a pace that I've never seen in my entire career. Right now, we are a part of that change, and that's my favorite part of being in our industry.
2. If there was one thing you could teach the general public about the importance of logistics, what would it be?
   • If we learned anything in all industries over the last 15 months, it's the fragility of our nation's supply chains. We have become so dependent on imports for nearly everything we use in our daily lives. I think we will see a shift of strategy in our nation's supply chains and supply chain security. I would educate the general public on the importance of maybe paying a little more to have more security in all our supply chains.
3. What's the biggest lesson the logistics industry has taught you?
   • The old saw and oft-repeated story every person in logistics says at least once (or 100,000 times) in our careers, "everything around you, what you're sitting on, typing on, eating, or eating on; at one point, it was on a truck." As we learned during COVID, it is an essential industry.

AMY BARNETT | Owning Partner

4. What is your favorite thing about working in the logistics industry?
   • There is something new every day. I love developing new relationships with customers and streamlining their shipping needs.
5. If there was one thing you could teach the general public about the importance of logistics what would it be?
   • Logistics can increase efficiencies, lower costs that give you better production rates. We handle the supply chain management of transportation from the shipper to the delivery point. We can meet the customer demand with first-rate service.
6. What’s the biggest lesson the logistics industry has taught you?
   • Logistics has taught me to be proactive. You need to be on your toes at all times and be prepared for the constant changes.  

TOM CUREE | Senior VP of Strategy and Innovation

7. What is your favorite thing about working in the logistics industry?
   • The logistics community has some of the most dedicated, passionate people in it. We are fortunate to be connected with so many competitors in the space and are active co-laborers in trying to make this industry the best it can be.
8. If there was one thing you could teach the general public about the importance of logistics what would it be?
   • When I first started in this industry, there was something that has really sunk into me, and it’s that everything you taste, touch, smell, was likely at one point, on a truck. Logistics/transportation is likely the most important industry to our entire country, even more than healthcare, because without it none of our other services/industries would be able to function.
9. What’s the biggest lesson the logistics industry has taught you?
   • Expect the unexpected. There’s not a week that goes by that I don’t hear some other crazy situation that’s happening in the space that will end up changing your plans.

RIAN BECKHAM | Director of Communications

10. What is your favorite thing about working in the logistics industry?
    • I love that the work we do helps people solve problems and gets goods delivered to the places they need to be.
11. If there was one thing you could teach the general public about the importance of logistics what would it be?
    • If I had the opportunity, I’d teach people that the work we do affects every aspect of how the world functions. Without the logistics industry, the global supply chain would completely fall apart.
12. What’s the biggest lesson the logistics industry has taught you?
    • I’ve learned that problems often arise in the logistics industry. Being able to pivot and problem solve is essential, and it’s a great skill that I’ve learned over the past few years.

To those of you who work within the logistics and transportation space – thank you for all you do today, and every day to make our industry truck along!

All the Best,

Jeff Beckham