3PL Perspectives
Kelly Del Percio | Transportation Intermediaries Association
THE TIA MEMBER Services team is always looking for new ways to further the relationships that we have with our members. While this past year has made in-person networking difficult, we have utilized some new ideas to foster a sense of community among members and TIA Staff.
While we are grateful to have made relationships with legacy members who have worked closely with the Association for years, we wanted to create opportunities to interact with new members as well. To foster these new relationships, the Member Services team began work on the New Member Interview Spotlight Series.
New members to TIA are not always new freight brokers. Some companies have years of experience abroad and decide to begin operating in the United States. Others have worked as freight agents for brokers before starting their own companies. There are also new members that are completely new to the third-party logistics industry and are looking for some guidance as they start their brokerage.
Learning more about TIA Member companies, and what makes the individuals that work at each company so special, can assist TIA Staff in making instrumental changes to the organization to better serve them.
Read on for spotlights of some of the newest members to the TIA community!
Bellemare Specialized Logistics — Indiana
Joining TIA in May 2020, Bellemare Specialized Logistics Corp. is an entity of the Bellemare Group of companies. The Canadian-based Bellemare Group was established in 1959, and in early 2020 established their first non-asset based U.S. Brokerage division of Bellemare Specialized Logistics.
Bellemare Specialized is a 3PL with a heavy focus on the transportation of truckload, over-dimensional, heavy haul and super-load freight. Their American team focuses on servicing transportation needs throughout the U.S. and Canada.
With a constantly evolving technological and regulatory landscape, Bellemare’s new office in the U.S. was eager to join TIA. They hope to work with TIA’s Highway Logistics Conference, and to network with other 3PLs throughout North America.
In the future, Bellemare aspires to be recognized as a vital resource in the movement of oversize shipments in the U.S. and Canada. They would like to utilize their TIA membership to net-work with other members in helping them reach this goal.
Search2Transport — Ohio
Formed in 2018, Search2Transport began as an independent freight agency for Kopf Logistics. After some time, with assistance from Kopf, they decided to break off and obtain their own authority. President Nick Hamilton has prioritized transparency within his organization, and continues to strive to have clear, open channels of communications with shippers and carriers alike. Their goal is to be as transparent with carriers as they are with their customers.
Hamilton said he flourishes in the 3PL industry because of the day-in, day-out changes that brokers face. In the future, he hopes that technology within the industry will continue to improve, allowing customers to directly track the progress of their shipments.
TIA’s model contracts and frameworks appealed to the Search2Transport team, but it is the people behind the Association that really stand out to Hamilton and his team. “Having a bunch of small brokers come together and actually work together…is what I like best about it,” Hamilton said.
Tradecycle Capital — Indiana
Based in Indianapolis, Tradecycle Capital is a supply-side finance company that funds payable operations. They have clients throughout various industries, but in recent years discovered that their business could be functional to those in the third-party logistics industry.
Founded four years ago, Tradecycle believes that smaller companies should have access to financing opportunities that are usually only provided to larger companies. Their team strives to be entrepreneurial and flexible so they can provide the best services for their clients.
Tradecycle was first introduced to the 3PL industry when they were referred to a freight broker that needed additional funding beyond their bank’s ability. The broker was very pleased with the innovative services that Tradecycle offered, and their team realized that they could make many more successful business relationships within the 3PL industry.
While Tradecycle is not a transportation-based company, they wanted to join TIA to have the opportunity to learn more about the third-party logistics industry and to be able to connect with new brokers.
Sheltered International — Florida
Sheltered International is a freight broker that focuses specifically on Customs brokerage, air freight, and ocean cargo. The company focuses on utilizing technology to streamline the brokerage process by providing quick quotes to those interested in their products and services.
Sheltered International’s Andrew Ciccarone, President of Sheltered International, said it’s the company’s technology offerings, including global GIS Tracking of ships and other data-collection systems, that make his brokerage unique.
Sheltered International hopes to continue developing technology products and to work with brokers internationally.
Kelly Del Percio is a Member Engagement Specialist at TIA. She can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at (703) 299-5700.
