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Optimizing Freight Brokerage Recruitment Processes Our latest State of Logistics report shows that market forces in the logistics industry have pushed organizations to invest more in “sales-oriented” roles. Sales skills like high-converting cold outreach, technological proficiency, negotiation, problem-solving, and relationship-building are especially vital today. This “change” pressures new hires at freight brokerages to develop skills …

Managing logistics has always been about managing costs, and costs keep rising. The latest State of Logistics Report from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals shows that total U.S. business logistics costs soared 19.6% to a record-breaking $2.3 trillion in 2022. While the latest LMI data indicates positive outlooks on industry growth, the costs …

Costs of Turnover – Did You Know? Did you know that the costs of turnover for an employee with a base salary of $60,000 is between $120,000 and $180,000 (2-3x their base) to replace them? (Source: Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)) When you factor in: • HR Expenses • Onboarding and Training • Lost …

How the LMI Explains the State of Logistics The following is an excerpt from our “State of Logistics – Q1 ’24” report regarding the Logistics Managers’ Index (LMI). To read our full “State of Logistics” report for Q1, you can download it for free here. What is the Logistics Managers’ Index (LMI)? One of the …

Crosstown Ventures Acquires Top Talent, LLC Fishers, IN – Crosstown Ventures, an operationally focused private investment firm, is thrilled to announce its acquisition of Top Talent, LLC, a distinguished talent acquisition firm based in Fishers, Indiana. Founded in 2014, Top Talent, LLC has spent the last ten years establishing itself as a leader in talent …

State of Freight – 2023 Welcome to the “State of Freight – 2023” a comprehensive guide for decision-makers to expertly navigate the next twelve months in Logistics. In this report, we’ll reveal the truth behind recent layoffs, share the rate fluctuation we see, uncover Air, Ocean, and Warehousing’s potential, and decide whether our industry can …

The Fallout From Yellow Corp – 4 Observations In Early August of 2023, Yellow Corp. officially declared bankruptcy sending ripples throughout the Logistics and Transportation industry. What’s next for Yellow Corp’s employees? On top of that, shippers still need to move their products via LTL, so where is that going to go? Let’s find out! …

Improving Work-Life Balance in Logistics When you engage in discussions about “work-life balance” with executives in the Logistics industry, you might notice a disheartened or puzzled expression on their faces. Is achieving work-life balance even possible in this fast-paced, demanding field? The answer is technically “yes,” but the reality is that many individuals struggle to …

Halfway through the year, it’s important for Logistics companies to take note of their bearings and market conditions so they can make the most out of the latter half. Here are five headlines within the Logistics and Supply Chain world with our CEO (Mike Monson)’s “Top” takeaways you can implement in your own firm. 1) …

In a surprising move that has left many industry observers intrigued, Krispy Kreme, the beloved donut chain, has embarked on a transformation into a logistics company. Mike Tattersfield, the CEO of Krispy Kreme, highlighted the company’s strong performance during the first quarter of 2023, emphasizing the impact of global holiday campaigns and the significant growth …

Spring is a season of growth and renewal, and for many companies in Logistics, it’s also a time to hire new employees. Whether you’re looking to fill your entry-level roles or build out your leadership team for the long term, here are some tips to help you make the most of your springtime hiring efforts: …

Employees & Their Freedom of Speech Having an opinion and expressing it to a massive audience has never been easier in this age. Americans have always had the freedom of speech, but often times what people share isn’t always positive. Every media known to man has become crowded with loud voices with even louder and …

Are you underpaid, overpaid, or paid just, right?  Sounds a bit like the children’s story of The Three Bears.  The most common theme I see about compensation is that most people feel they are underpaid.  In addition to being less satisfied at work, depressed, anxious, and resentful – being underpaid impacts your long-term earning potential—and therefore …

Why Everyone Needs a Rolex Rolex: the pinnacle of watches in today’s society. If you know someone who has one, chances are they didn’t get it by accident. Most people who are reading this are never gifted a Rolex. Instead, those people who aspire to be great must work tirelessly until they can acquire one. …

No industry is immune to mergers and acquisitions, not even Logistics. In December 2022, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) acquired Bolloré Africa Logistics SAS and its affiliates. MSC wanted to further penetrate Africa’s supply chain, but despite its good intentions, a normal and expectable outcome will inevitably ensue: job loss. MSC will most likely trim redundant …

“Quiet Quitting.” Videos like this have sprung up everywhere this year talking about it. The question is, is it a valid phenomenon, or is it nothing more than catchy clickbait?  Before we attempt to answer that question, we must realize that whether it’s “valid” or not is irrelevant. Today, we are going to use this …

Before you know it, the holiday season will be here! For most, the holiday season is a time of celebration. People spend time with loved ones, reflect on the past year, and set goals for the next year. The end of the year also signals the traditional time for annual performance reviews.  This can be …

5 Recruiting Tips We Use While Headhunting Logistics Talent Last week, our team members joined 400+ other individuals in the staffing industry in Dallas, Texas to attend the Sanford Rose Associates (SRA) annual conference. As we get back into the swing of things and continue to look for the best and brightest in the Logistics …

One of the strongest value propositions a leader can give to an employee is the ability for that person to grow in all dimensions of their life. Professional and Personal development are the two most obvious dimensions, but what about Financial growth, Mental growth, or even Spiritual growth? Many leaders stop at the first two, …

With potentially tough economic times ahead,  getting the right job will depend on the strength of your professional network. What most forget to do is to manage and maintain their professional network even when they are currently and happily employed. “It is very tempting in these understaffed times to do the work at hand simply …

The Origin of Waymaker: It was Christmas time 2020, and Jacob Besicker enters the quiet woods of Florence, South Carolina with his brother Peyton. They were excited to go duck hunting and spend some quality time together.  Jacob had no idea he would leave the woods with his life changed forever. In the process of …

Every workday, as soon as the clock strikes “5:01 PM” a shuffle in the office occurs. Your 9-5 employees pack up, the lights turn off, the doors are locked, and their workday is over. But something deep inside me wonders if they could’ve done more… Back in the ‘80s, I was having a hard time …

Spring is in the middle of the year so it can be easy to coast in your current job situation. What candidates often forget is that it is actually the best time to apply for jobs and find internships. Today, we cover tips for candidates to utilize in order to land a solid job this …

Alton Maiden played Defensive Tackle for The University of Notre Dame under legendary Coach Lou Holtz. In late October 1996, the Fighting Irish arrived in Dublin, Ireland to prepare for the first-ever Shamrock Classic – a November 2 football game between Notre Dame and the United States Naval Academy.  During their time in Ireland, the …

When a prospective employer conducts an interview they want to learn about your accomplishments, skills, and leadership ability, but that’s not all! They are also interested in how you think, make decisions, and solve problems. Today we cover how to answer the ten most difficult interview questions. Find a way to knock these questions out …

Trying to figure out if a job opportunity is right for you can be a challenging and gray process. I once knew a candidate who sat in a conference room for five hours for his job interview. Some might think that means that the interview went well, but it was actually telling of the opposite. …

When someone is in the right role at a company, they usually thrive. Can you imagine if Tom Brady was a kicker or if Mozart was a janitor? Neither can I! Everyday companies like yours probably have qualified and talented candidates in the wrong roles. There are Accountants that should be working with clients, managers …

No matter what size or amount of success your company has, chances are that your company has had to deal with some difficulty when it comes to staffing in recent years. This is mostly due to the shift to a “candidate-driven” market. There are more open positions than candidates willing to make a change. So …

Bullying is something that many of us unfortunately experience at some point in our life. A common misconception people have is that bullies somehow evaporate after high school or college when they in fact continue on into the workplace. They wreak havoc on culture, decrease morale around the office, and even cause some of your …

Nobody wants to be the bearer of bad news, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.  Regardless of what negative situation comes your way, you need to be prepared to handle it. Mistakes can be valuable learning tools but they can also be costly to your company. If left unaddressed, they can …

So you are about to start your first week at your new job huh? Congrats! But what if you mess up your first thirty days with your new boss? First impressions are everything, right? Now the anxiety is starting to creep in, but don’t worry! We’ve got you! Here are seven tips to nail your …

On the surface, conducting an interview can seem like a simple enough task, yet it is one that few are formally trained to do. Introduce yourself, make the prospect feel welcome, ask questions, answer questions, and evaluate the candidate. But…how do you make sure your questions lead you to the best possible individual for your …

As human beings, we are naturally programmed with an existing set of emotions, habits, perspectives, and opinions. We are sometimes drawn to making decisions for reasons we do not fully understand. You might hire a new employee because it feels right, or promote those on your team because you feel they deserve it. Every day …

According to Harvard University psychology professor J. Richard Hackman the single strongest predictor of a group’s effectiveness is the amount of help that employees give each other. Research shows that in the highest-performing teams, leaders invested extensive time and energy in coaching, teaching, and consulting with their colleagues. These investments allowed leaders to question their …

It’s no secret that hiring managers are facing the challenge of a candidate-driven marketplace. The question is, “How do companies evaluate and improve their ability to recruit talent in this environment?” Let’s find out! Track Effectiveness of Current Methods Before you do anything, we need to take a look at all of your hires over …

Most of us grew up knowing about the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The only problem with the Golden Rule is that it implies the basic assumption that other people would like to be treated the way that you would like to be treated. That is not …

Are you someone who enjoys having deadlines and a packed schedule? You might be addicted to stress! Seriously! For those of you who thrive under pressure and like to be busy all the time these things that others deem as “stressful” can be a driving force that leads to greater productivity. Stress addicts think, “I …

The beginning of the year represents a timely opportunity for employee reviews and providing feedback regarding performance and development. Leaders have the chance to reflect on the milestones achieved in 2021 and create new goals for 2022. Annual reviews allow managers to praise positive behaviors, award well-earned promotions, and bring out the best in each …

As of 2015, Millenials (those born in the ’80s and ’90s) now make up more than half the current workforce. By the year 2030, they will make up 75% of the workforce. The question is, “Is your company suited for the rising age of Millenials?” If not, let’s find out how you can change that! …

Most managers thrive when it comes to evaluating an employee’s success related to the hard skills of a role. Achieving measurable quotas or directly contributing to profit are black-and-white and leave little room for interpretation. The challenge most face is in evaluating the soft skills of every role. The key is to define what those …

The whole recruiting process can be a mystery. As a candidate, you wonder how you can best use a recruiter. How can you get their attention? Why don’t they call you back? Today we answer your frequently asked questions (FAQs) about recruiters and the staffing industry as a whole. 1. What’s the difference between Recruiting …

Congratulations! You have an interview! Now is the time to put your best foot forward. For those of you who are rusty this article is for you. Here is how to prep for a first interview and make that first impression count: The Goal of a First Interview From the employer’s perspective, they created this …

The employment market has shifted to be candidate-driven over the last two years. Second interviews with top-tier candidates are no longer a guarantee. Your opportunity and company have got to be top-notch to make the candidate want to come back for round two. Today we learn how you can improve your odds of a second …

One of the best ways to leapfrog the competition and land yourself a job is through utilizing your professional network. Building and cultivating that network is just as essential as managing your career. Many forget to continue networking once they land their dream job. The reality is that networking never stops and neither should you! …

It’s nice to feel valued by your company. It’s especially rewarding to be told by your boss that you’re so good at what you do that you’ve become indispensable. What if you’ve become so essential that it actually hurts you and your company. Is that possible? “Yes, you can be too essential at your job, …

Being an entrepreneur is an admired title in our society. Ask a candidate in an interview if they view themselves as entrepreneurs, and their responses are almost always “absolutely.” However, these types of questions often reveal what people “aspire to be” not who they are currently. Why is being an entrepreneur in a professional setting …

You may have recently found yourself saying phrases like “I have to go to this team meeting” or “I have to take the kids to practice”. We act like we don’t have a choice, as if we are imprisoned to do the things we don’t want to do. In reality, most of us DO have …

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What is the difference between the elite and everyone else? Genetics? Luck? Pure talent? The answer resides in their discipline. Elite performers have the unique ability to do the same things over and over again without their discipline wavering. Elite athletes and performers feel the same boredom and lack of motivation that you feel. What …

Many are familiar with the hit show Extreme Home Makeover. In less than seven days, the crew rebuilds an entire house. The results are always a sight to see. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an overhaul so significant that it changes the status quo for your business or department? It’s more possible than you …

Making a decision is easy. Making a high-quality decision is a whole other thing entirely. So, how do you do it? How do you make high-quality decisions when the majority of us have never learned how to do it?  Easy access to the internet has made this problem of good decision-making even more apparent. Why …

You know the market is hot and may be wondering what you might get for selling your business these days. And naturally, you’ll want to know what to expect and how to get top dollar for your logistics company when you are ready. Understanding the selling process helps prepare you for a successful merger or …

Think about your path to achieving the professional success you have experienced thus far. What characteristics about yourself helped you get here? What is it about you that separates you from everyone else? Now, is there a chance that the things that got you here are the same characteristics that might hold you back in …

Hoping your employees will stay with your organization out of sheer loyalty is no longer the key to retaining the vital leaders within your team. The days of the gold Rolex for 25 years of service have come to an end. The pendulum continuously swings back and forth from being a candidate-driven to an employee-driven …

Putting your best foot forward in the interview process is a no-brainer these days. Employing offices are tidied up, while both parties are polite, professional, and sporting a game face. When you ask, “What’s your greatest weakness?” candidates respond, “ I work too hard.” In truth, these surface-level questions don’t help you evaluate things like …

When you think about entitlement, many people rush to talk about millennials. Interestingly enough, research has proven many of our assumptions wrong. In a scientific analysis from the University of Western Ontario, researchers looked at 500,000 high-school seniors over a thirty-year period. Their main findings were that teens today are no more egotistical (and actually, …

A freight brokerage merger or acquisition can be a stressful venture for all involved. Business continuity is important for the buyer, your employees, and you. You don’t want a buyer to bail on the deal, and you certainly don’t want the buyer to culture-shock your employees. According to McKinsey and Company, “Cultural factors and organizational …

In order to find the best candidates for your company, you may have to look outside of your zip code. Unfortunately, not all candidates are open to relocation for a few reasons. It doesn’t help that there are many nightmare stories of relocations going poorly. The moving truck breaks down, high school children threaten emancipation, …

The success of any organization is largely reliant on the strength of the leadership. Conveying a vision, formulating a strategy, and driving the company in the right direction is no small task. Thus, having a rock-solid leadership development program can be the game-changer to achieving long-term success. Your first thought might be to bring in …

Inside each of us, a tumultuous war rages. One side offers immediate gratification, the exhilaration of living life in the present, and the excitement of spontaneous enjoyment. On the opposing side is patience to endure the uncertainty of the future, the cognitive ability to remain focused, and the capacity to choose anticipation over impulse. The …

“We do not see things as they are but instead see things as we are.”- Anais Nin It’s not really a secret that we all see, feel, smell, and hear things differently. Being an effective leader requires an awareness of how others see us, not necessarily of how we see ourselves. This does not mean …

Imagine this…a colleague offers to flip a coin and give you $20 if it lands on heads. If it lands on tails, you give him $20. Would you accept that bet? For most of us, the answer is no. Behavioral science experts Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman performed an experiment that resulted in a clear …

If you are the kind of person who needs to read an article on how to be authentic, is the very act of reading such an article in and of itself inauthentic? The topic of authenticity is likely often discussed in counseling sessions but rarely discussed related to the workplace. We live in an era …

“Motivation is when you get hold of an idea and carry it through to its conclusion, and inspiration is when an idea gets hold of you and carries you where you are intended to go.” – Dr. Wayne Dyer Motivation and inspiration…two words often used interchangeably and echoed throughout the minds of leaders today. They …

In recruiting, we often ask candidates a powerful question that typically elicits reflection and authenticity in the answer.  “At what point in your career did you feel most fulfilled? When did you feel you were truly in your prime or at your best?”  Unfortunately, the common answer is a story of the past. Today we …

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As the main person who is responsible for the profitability of my business,  I never seem to have enough time to coach my people consistently. With the average attention span shrinking to a handful of seconds, I often ask myself if they are even still interested in learning these days. While there are still only …

Forming significant connections within the workplace is one of the biggest contributors to high employee contribution and retention. The best employers recognize that loyalty doesn’t solely exist to the company but at a much deeper level between their co-workers. All employees have moments when they examine their professional situation. In the recruiting industry, we speak …

Within many industries, the success of a business relies more on the people you pay rather than the people who pay you. As I’ve said many times before,  people are your most important asset. In some industries, people are your ONLY asset. Many companies have covered the topic of employee retention. Creating quantifiable career paths, …

Historically, upper management has always wanted individuals who are able to fail, learn and find success shortly thereafter. In order to find these people, you’ll commonly hear this question during an interview from the hiring manager,  “Tell me about a time when you failed and what you learned from that experience.” Take a second and …

Chances are if you’ve been watching the news lately, you’ve likely started to see a shift in headlines from what we have been through, to what’s to come. Though it’s impossible to predict the future, it certainly seems reasonable that the forecast of a mass employee exodus is coming. The question becomes, “Do you want …

Well-respected business coach Peter Drucker was once quoted as saying: “Do what you do best and outsource the rest.” What comes to mind when you hear that? Most likely it’s a long list of things you should be outsourcing and don’t deserve your time and energy! In the 15 seconds, you’ve just spent thinking about …

I always get a kick out of people who see others succeeding and say “They are just lucky”. I then remember this quote from Roman philosopher Seneca that said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”  Preparation is the act of planning, training, and studying with a goal in mind. Dressing up before a …

One of the most important tasks that senior leadership has within any organization is identifying the next generation of future leaders at their company. We look for passionate individuals who wake up each day craving success but channel that passion into action and results. We seek creative thinkers who are intensely curious, identifying those who …

I have a question to ask you but you have to slow down to answer it. Stop scrolling, take a moment, and breathe. Knowing what you know now, having all of life’s experiences behind you, what would you do differently? To better manage your time, let’s take a look at how we act in the …

Resiliency. It is one of the secrets to survival, both professionally and personally. It is what’s gotten you to where you are and will define who you will become. Looking back at some of the most challenging situations you’ve endured, you may have felt there was no other choice. All you had was your instinct …

“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.”–John Maxwell There are times in life, both personally and professionally, where circumstances can change at such a rapid speed that our opinions, perspectives, and course of action can change at an equally rapid pace. When faced with such circumstances, there are generally three groups of people: Those who take …

Back in the Industrial Revolution, time was money. Systems were designed for maximum efficiency, and effectiveness was measured by how much time could be dedicated to any given process. A perfect example of this was the assembly line. In today’s world, attention is now the most valuable currency a person can earn or spend. The …

Don’t you dare say these things in an interview… I am amazed at some of the things candidates say in an interview, especially during their first interview. While I certainly can appreciate a candidate being inquisitive and prepared to ask questions, I’ve compiled a list of 10 things to NEVER say in an interview. If …

Picture this: You’ve finally gathered up enough courage to walk into your boss’s office and hand them your resignation. Much to your surprise, rather than scream and yell,  they say, “I didn’t know you were unhappy.  Why didn’t you come to me sooner? “They then propose you a counteroffer that you accept. Welcome to the …

What happens when you don’t take what you wear to a job interview seriously? Let’s find out… One hopeful entrepreneur was fresh out of college looking for his first REAL adult job. He had a promising virtual interview lined up for a dream position with an amazing small family business. In order to put his …

In today’s world, everyone wants the high margin deals, and the transactions that are easy to handle, but nobody wants the “hard sell”. In the freight world, people say “I want the easy loads to cover from Boston to Chicago.”, but when it comes to the harder freight, people shy away. Most say, “Well, I’m …

The easiest sell you will ever make is selling a new product/service to an existing client. After all, they have previous experience dealing with you, and already know the quality of product/service that they can expect from you.  But what happens when you don’t have a new product/service to offer your clients?  Your next easiest …

Growing up as a kid, my mother used to say,  “Ahh… Ye of little faith!” She’d say this phrase to me when things weren’t going my way in life and I never realized how important of a role that faith plays in being successful.  Author Charlie “Tremendous” Jones got his nickname from calling everyone  “tremendous”. …

Going from good to GREAT takes commitment. The question you need to ask yourself is:  “Are you willing to make the commitment to be great?” There are some people who believe that being an entrepreneur means you have to be involved in two or three businesses that generate revenue at one given time. One friend …

Way back in the 1980s, I was fortunate enough to start my logistics career at the biggest and baddest logistics company in the country. At the time, they were doing about a billion dollars in sales, had 50 offices scattered across the country, and the Boston office (which is where I worked) was the number …

Your signature is a powerful thing! It binds you to contracts. It can make a worthless check turn into money. An athlete can put it on a football and increase its value a hundredfold. A judge can control someone’s entire future with a stroke of a pen. But did you ever consider looking at the …