3PL Perspectives
Jason Beardall, President, England Logistics
Ramona Hood, Vice President, FedEx Supply Chain
England Logistics provides non-asset transportation solutions through six business segments and is among the largest and most diverse third-party logistics (3PL) companies in the world. Jason Beardall has served in various positions with England Logistics, including Brokerage Sales Manager, Director of Brokerage Services, Vice President of Sales and Business Development and Vice President of Sales and Operations. As President, he has oversight over England Logistics including its many branch offices and freight agent locations.
In addition to his personal employment duties, Mr. Beardall further serves the transportation and logistics community as Chairman of the Board of Directors for TIA and has been chosen to be a keynote speaker at 3PL Technovations in Tucson, AZ.
“As industry leaders,” he said, “we need to be more aggressive in implementing available technologies within our organizations and teams. The third-party logistics’ industry is ripe for the efficiencies that blockchain can offer. But it’s going to have to come in ‘bite size’ chunks with some near-term opportunities in automating and standardizing the way in which we bill customers and pay carriers.”
As for the future, “I’ve yet to find a player in our space that, once educated, is without enthusiasm for what the future holds for us. But that future, for all of us, is predicated on not just our embrace of evolving technologies, but the execution of leveraging them on the market’s behalf.”
Ramona Hood, Vice President, FedEx Supply Chain, started in 1991 as a receptionist for Roberts Express, later purchased by FedEx. Twenty-six years later, she has risen to become one of the most influential leaders in the industry. While working at FedEx, Hood obtained a BA in Business Management from Walsh University and an Executive MBA from Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management – all while raising two daughters.
Honored with numerous awards (including the 2016 Woman of Influence from Women in Trucking), Hood is also Chair of TIA Technology Committee. As a keynote speaker at 3PL Technovations she will address new technology trends in the industry.
“Technology, as a whole, is very fast paced and growing at a rapid rate. You can get inundated with new technology. And there’s no right technology for every business,” she added. “You can’t take a cookie-cutter approach to what businesses need.”
Hood acknowledged the expectations of customers for instant gratification – the “Amazon Effect,” – a concept pioneered by her employer, FedEx, and said she believes it’s important to understand your customer base, and their needs.
“The speed in which technology has changed is something I’m excited about, and I look forward to sharing my insights with our members. This conference will be one of many we will do for the membership,” Hood added.
