The Logistics of Logistics

[00:37] Please introduce yourself.

I am head of the department of expediting at Virnich Corporation in Chicago. It’s a full-service 3PL and carrier company.

[01:01] Tell us a little bit about your background.

I grew up in Serbia and I earned a mechanical engineering degree before moving to the USA.
I never used that degree, because shortly after graduating I moved to Alaska to be a cook in a national park.
When the season ended, I decided to move to Chicago and my friend suggested I become a truck driver.

[03:36] When did you become a broker?

After three years of driving, I was burnt out.
I was thinking about working as a dispatcher, but I wanted more of a challenge.
I approached the company that I’m still part of and they taught me how to be a broker.

[04:40] What is expediting?

It’s a branch of logistics where shipments need to be picked up and delivered as fast as possible.

[05:36] What kind of equipment do you use in expediting?

The most common assets being used in expediting are straight trucks and Sprinter vans.
Smaller box trucks and Sprinters are not regulated, but it’s still important to use teams and be safe.
Straight trucks start at 12 feet and go up to 26 feet.

[08:45] What is the first key to effective expediting?

Carrier vetting.
In recent years, we’ve seen a huge growth of carriers in the expediting market.
When I started, companies didn’t have to be as competitive. There was more honesty and integrity.
We see a lot of things to be careful of, like underbidding.
Some companies will do anything they can to get the load even if they can’t fulfill the promise.

[11:49] What is the second key to effective expediting?

Communication.
It’s a pretty broad term. Here, I mean paying attention to details.
I see a lot of companies that will do anything to not communicate with the driver.
I always communicated with brokers that reached out to me when I was a driver.
It’s good to under promise and over deliver.

[17:27] What is the third key to effective expediting?

Knowledge of assets, such as expediting equipment.
A lot of newcomers in the industry haven’t been trained or haven’t had a chance to feel the equipment.
You always want to work with someone who has a history of dealing with assets directly.
A lot of companies say they’re an expediter, but they’re trying to be a jack of all trades.

[20:50] What is the fourth key to effective expediting?

Having personal values.
It’s about how people perceive you besides as having great customer service.
We always do the right thing for the customer. That involves saying yes when we can and no when we can’t.
I see a lot of people taking freight without even thinking about if they can make it happen.

[23:06] What is the fifth key to effective expediting?

They are even more important in expediting than in the regular truckload business.
It’s very efficient when you know what the customer wants before they even tell you because your relationship is so strong.
Using the same drivers and equipment is important.

[26:46] Do you have any final thoughts?

If you’re looking for an expediter, my advice is to take your time in choosing the right one. Focus on building a relationship.
I’ve realized that being an expert in all fields makes you an expert in nothing.

Learn more:

Virnich Corporation: https://www.virncorp.com/

5 Keys to Effective Expediting with Alex Pavlovic