Erica N. Guy

CAMBRIDGE, Ontario, Canada — Challenger Motor Freight has announced the expansion of its asset-based operation with Challenger USA and the opening of a state-of-the-art terminal in Detroit.  According to a news release, “This strategic expansion is a testament to Challenger Motor Freight’s commitment to meeting the growing demands of its intra-US customers and enhancing its footprint in the United States.” Along with Challenger Logistics International, Challenger USA will also provide comprehensive dedicated asset transportation and supply chain solutions to customers within the U.S. “The company shows its relentless commitment to excellence and a reputation for reliability, and Challenger Motor Freight aims to continue to set these new standards in the industry by offering more innovative and efficient services,” according to the news release. Key features of the Challenger USA division and Detroit terminal include: Expanded Service Offerings — Challenger USA offers a wide range of transportation services, including full truckload, less-than-truckload, and specialized freight solutions. The division will leverage Challenger Motor Freight’s decades of experience in the industry to provide tailored and reliable services to meet the diverse needs of customers. Strategic Location — The Detroit terminal’s strategic location positions Challenger USA to efficiently connect major cities and industrial centers across the United States. This central hub will facilitate faster transit times and cost-effective solutions for customers. Advanced Technology — The Detroit terminal is equipped with the latest technology and logistics systems to ensure real-time tracking, secure data management, and efficient operations. This commitment to technology-driven solutions will enhance customers’ visibility and control throughout the shipping process. Commitment to Sustainability — Challenger USA is dedicated to promoting sustainability in transportation. The Detroit terminal is designed with eco-friendly practices, incorporating energy-efficient systems and promoting environmentally responsible operations. Job Creation — The establishment of the Challenger USA division and the Detroit terminal will create jobs in the local community, foster economic growth, and provide opportunities for skilled professionals in the transportation and logistics sector. The second part of the announcement states that the new Detroit terminal will serve as a central hub for Challenger USA assets. It is strategically located to optimize transportation routes and streamline customer services, the company says. “As we embark on this journey, we remain committed to our core values of safety, reliability  and customer satisfaction,” the news release states. “Challenger Motor Freight has a proud history, and this expansion is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team, who continue to drive our success.”

RENTON, Wash. — PACCAR Parts has chosen Weller Truck Parts as the company’s 2023 Supplier of the Year. Weller was recognized with the award for its dedication to producing quality re-manufacturing, inventory expansion and shipping efficiency, according to a news release. “Weller has been a long-standing trusted partner of PACCAR Parts for over 20 years,” said Laura Bloch, PACCAR Parts’ general manager and PACCAR vice president. “Their dedication to consistently improving manufacturing processes and shipping capabilities has led them to this achievement.” In the news release, PACCAR stated that throughout 2023, Weller “contributed to PACCAR Parts’ overall network performance by exceeding 17% year-over-year in growth, producing an on-time shipping rate of over 99% and strengthening PACCAR Parts’ customer satisfaction and trust.” Weller President Terry Stranz said the company is proud to receive this recognition. “We’re confident that our offerings will continue to expand and strengthen our partnership with PACCAR Parts in the next year and beyond,” Stranz concluded.

O’FALLON, Mo. — Flat World Global Solutions recently announced that Steve Comerford will become the company’s new vice president of sales and marketing.  According to a news release, “Comerford brings a wealth of experience in sales, transportation and distribution, along with a proven track record of leading teams in the logistics marketplace. With 38 years of transportation experience, Steve’s background is deeply rooted in the logistics industry. Steve’s past experience on the carrier side includes collaborating with Flat World on client solutions during his tenure in the LTL industry.” Comerford said he’s looking forward to the promotion. “I am excited to be a part of Flat World’s successful trajectory and look forward to providing solutions for current and future customers,” he added. Brian Wenck, CEO at Flat World Global Solutions, spoke highly of Comerford. “People are the foundation of Flat World’s Excellence, and we are fortunate to add Steve to our team of Excellent people,” Wenck said. “With his solution focused perspective, industry understanding, and dynamic leadership experience, we are looking forward to Steve’s leadership with our Flat World Sales and Marketing team in bringing that Excellence to our clients — current and future.”

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — FedEx Corporation reports that Robert B. Carter, executive vice president of FedEx Information Services, chief information officer at FedEx Corporation and co-president and co-CEO of FedEx Services, will retire at the end of June after 31 years of service to the company. Carter will remain with the company as a senior advisor until Dec. 31 to help ensure a successful transition, according to a news release. “Carter spearheaded cutting-edge technology that differentiated FedEx in the industry, such as real-time tracking and transactions,” the news release states. “When the Internet became more popular in the 1980s and 1990s, he recognized the power behind these transactions. He knew how to play an instrumental role in launching tools to provide customers with visibility into that data.” Raj Subramaniam, president and CEO of FedEx, praised Carter’s abilities. “Rob has had a distinguished career at FedEx, most recently leading FedEx in modernizing our IT infrastructure for our network that ships 15 million packages per day around the globe,” Subramaniam said. “I am immensely grateful to Rob for his numerous contributions in establishing FedEx as an innovative, data-driven and people-focused company and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.” Effective July 1, Sriram Krishnasamy, the current executive vice president and chief transformation officer for FedEx Corporation and the president and CEO of FedEx Dataworks, will begin his tenure as chief digital and information officer. In this role, Krishnasamy will lead the FedEx IT and FedEx Dataworks teams. He will also retain his role as executive vice president and chief transformation officer. Since joining FedEx in 1997, Krishnasamy, a 20-year company veteran, has worked at multiple FedEx operating companies and held leadership positions around the globe. “Under the leadership of Sriram, FedEx launched Dataworks, which focuses on harnessing the power of our data, while leading our DRIVE effort, the most significant transformation in our company’s history,” Subramaniam said. “His leadership will be critical as we continue to leverage our extensive operational expertise to become a data-driven, digital-first company that provides transportation and digital solutions for everyone, from everywhere.”

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Montgomery Transportation Group has announced its appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, Joe Jaska. Jaska began his tenure on March 7, according to a news release. “We are incredibly pleased to have Joe join and lead our Company into its next phase of growth,” said Rollins Montgomery, the founder of Montgomery Transportation Group. “Joe has a driver-first approach, placing the well-being and professional development of our drivers at the core of our success. He offers a wealth of experience in establishing and enhancing operations at transportation companies that handle a diverse range of specialized freight. Joe has strong industry relationships and extensive knowledge of logistics and trucking, combined with a genuine commitment to prioritizing the needs of our drivers, customers and safety.” Jaska came to Montgomery Transportation Group after leaving DB Schenker, where he served as the executive vice president of Land Transport in the Americas Region. In that role, Jaska had full P&L management responsibilities. He was also responsible for the strategic direction and leadership of all land operations in North, Central and South America. Jaska has held other corporate positions that have prepared him for his tenure as CEO at Montgomery Transportation Group. “I am honored and thank both Rollins and One Equity Partners for the opportunity to lead Montgomery Transportation Group into its next phase of growth,” Jaska said. “Over the last 13 years, the Company has become a well-regarded industry player in flatbed trucking and transportation of over-dimensional loads with both safety and logistical efficiency at the core of its values and business practices. I am pleased to take on the leadership helm at Montgomery and continue its growth trajectory by working alongside our exceptionally talented drivers and staff who have my full support.”

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Mack Trucks North America has named Nextran Truck Centers of Tuscumbia, Alabama, the North American Dealer of the Year for 2023. The announcement was made at the recent Mack annual dealer executive meeting in Indian Wells, California. Mack awards the Dealer of the Year award to dealers that exceed business and score highly among customers for satisfaction, according to a news release. “Congratulations to Nextran Truck Centers in Tuscumbia and the entire Nextran team for being the Mack Trucks North American Dealer of the Year,” said Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. This dealer is one of our best when it comes to team selling, and they have the results that prove it. They have a ‘win-and-grow’ mentality and practice it every day, and their customer-centric approach exemplifies why the dealership remains successful.” Currently, Nextran Truck Centers has 25 locations in several states: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri and Wyoming.  Mack Trucks also named other dealers 2023 winners for its sales divisions based on their regional location and for other dealers of the year.

AVON, Ohio — Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems is reporting that its team members exceeded the company’s 2023 goal of 9,000 employee volunteer hours, awarding more than $1 million in grants and donations. Bendix team members volunteered close to 9,500 service hours to company-sponsored volunteer events or through personal endeavors, an increase of close to 10% from 2022, according to a news release.  “Our community support efforts are firmly rooted in our culture,” said Maria Gutierrez, Bendix senior director of environmental, social, and governance, noting that employee participation numbers are once again up 10% from the previous year. “Employees across the organization dedicated more volunteer hours to more projects in more ways. It shows that our community support efforts are not one-off events but are part of who we are as an organization.” In 2023, Bendix employees gave approximately $492,000 in grants, donations, employee fundraisers and Dollars for Doers incentives from the company and its employees to multiple diverse nonprofit organizations and community initiatives in the areas where Bendix operates in North America. The Dollars for Doers incentives reward employees who volunteer with nonprofit organizations of their choosing.  “Bendix’s philosophy of corporate responsibility centers on social cohesion, underserved youth and families in its communities,” the news release states. “This support prioritizes projects linked to four focus areas: education, the environment, health and wellness and social issues. It takes the form of financial support through grants, fundraisers, donations and volunteer efforts from employees across the company’s North American locations.” In addition to its local outreach efforts, Bendix provided ground-level support for the corporate mission of Knorr-Bremse Global Care North America Inc. (KBGCNA), its parent company’s philanthropic organization in North America. KBGCNA disbursed $559,090 in grant funding for projects and initiatives. This funding and other targeted Bendix programs and initiatives resulted in community support funding totaling approximately $1,051,000. “The people of Bendix went above and beyond in 2023, volunteering in person and virtually,” Gutierrez said. “We donated funds and so much more at a corporate level and individually. We built homes, made blankets, and gave blood during blood drives. We gave toiletries, toys, food, school supplies, and clothing. Local Care teams gained new members, and they shared a wealth of ideas. All in all, it was an inspiring year for Bendix’s support to our communities.” According to the news release, through employee engagement, Bendix employees were divided into local care teams and charged with ensuring each location in North America hosts one or more corporate-sponsored volunteer events, sponsors additional events in the community, and connects employees with volunteer opportunities. The teams identified community-specific initiatives large and small, selecting a wide cross-section of projects that fit with the company’s community support goals. Local Care teams awarded around $200,000 in donations and grants to a variety of organizations and initiatives in the communities near Bendix facilities in Acuña, Mexico; Avon, Ohio; Bowling Green, Kentucky; Hanover, Pennsylvania, the home of Bendix subsidiary R.H. Sheppard Co., Inc.; and Huntington, Indiana.

KIRKLAND, Wash. — Kenworth Truck Company recently held its annual dealer meeting, which focused on technician training and connected services as pathways to provide superior customer uptime and continuing to drive the transition to zero emissions. During the meeting, Kenworth named the 2024 members appointed to its Dealer Council and Parts Council to support the World’s Best customer experience throughout the Kenworth dealer network, according to a news release. The Kenworth Service Council will be announced this spring. The Kenworth Dealer Council features executives representing 480 Kenworth dealerships in the United States and Canada from seven different dealers who work in partnership with Kenworth to provide leading-edge customer support and strive to maximize uptime for fleets and truck operators. The 2024 Kenworth Dealer Council members include: Chairman Bill Kozek, CSM Companies (Madison, Wisconsin); Kyle Treadway, Kenworth Sales Company (Salt Lake City, Utah); Jared White, MHC Kenworth (Leawood, Kansas), Andrew Johnston, Inland Kenworth (Burnaby, B.C.); Carl Herzog, CIT Trucks (Normal, Illinois); and Mike Levering, Truckworx Kenworth (Birmingham, Alabama). In addition, Jodie Teuton of Kenworth of Louisiana (Gray, Louisiana) serves as the Kenworth line representative for the American Truck Dealers (ATD). The 2024 Kenworth Parts Council is comprised of leading parts directors and managers from Kenworth dealerships in the United States and Canada focused on further enhancing parts quality and customer support for truck operators and fleets. PACCAR Parts supports Kenworth dealerships in efforts to expedite repairs and increase customer uptime by helping to maintain industry-leading parts availability throughout the Kenworth dealer network, and by providing access to parts in 24 hours or less through its network of distribution centers strategically located throughout North America. Kenworth Parts Council members for 2024 are: National Chair Eric Bontrager, CSM Companies (Windsor, Wisconsin); Ryan Colby, Kenworth Sales Company (Salt Lake City, Utah); Sébastien Letendre, Kenworth Maska (La Présentation, Quebec, Canada); Patrick Lisconish, Kenworth Northeast Group (Syracuse, N.Y.); Jacob Herzog, CIT Trucks (Mokena, Illinois); Scott Lockhart, MHC Kenworth (Denver, Colorado); Jeff Weaver, Truckworx Kenworth (Birmingham, Alabama); Clayton Zuchotzki, GreatWest Kenworth (Calgary, Alberta); and Kenworth Dealer Council representative Mike Levering, Truckworx Kenworth (Birmingham, Alabama).  

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) on March 11 released its annual list of Top Women to Watch in Transportation. “This year’s list is comprised of 75 impressive women who have excelled in their career in a male-populated industry,” said Brian Everett, group publisher and editorial director of WIT’s Redefining the Road magazine. “We are pleased to take this opportunity to shed light on the incredible achievements of these accomplished professionals.” According to a statement from WIT, the magazine’s editorial staff selects individuals on the list based on their accomplishments in the past 12 to 18 months and their efforts to promote gender diversity throughout the industry. “For eight years, we’ve been pleased to recognize the accomplishments of women in transportation who make a significant impact to the industry and those around them,” said Jennifer Hedrick, WIT president and CEO. “These women exemplify the mission and values of the Women In Trucking Association and truly are top women to watch in our industry.” WIT’s 2024 Top Women to Watch in Transportation are: Jessica Bennett, remarketing sales manager of Premier Truck Group Jennifer Biehn, vice president of human resources at The Evans Network of Companies Hannah Bryan, fleet solutions sales manager at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Heather Callahan, director of logistics at Daimler Truck North America Frances Craig-Watson, transportation feeder division manager-south Florida at UPS Katrina Cribbs, manager of national accounts customer support at Old Dominion Freight Line Brittany Cutler, business development manager at Crossroads Equipment Lease & Finance Christina Davis, vice president of marketing & business relations at AMX Jenny DeArmond, corporate recruiter at Stoops Freightliner-Western Star Christina Denvit, senior director of dedicated contract solutions (DCS) operations at J.B. Hunt Transport Tracy Derival, marketing assistant at Fleet Advantage Tonyah Dillahunt, public relations and marketing communications manager at Peterbilt Motors Co. Tanika Dunlap, software development manager at Southeastern Freight Lines Sydney Emrich, senior manager of customer experience at J.B. Hunt Transport Abbi Failla, vice president of business operations at EASE Logistics Angela Fish, executive vice president of human resources at Schneider Tena Fisher, service center manager at XPO Melissa Forman, president and executive vice president at TriumphPay Melanie Franklin, group director of sales at Ryder System Inc. Paula Frey, chief human resources officer at Echo Global Logistics Lori Fulmer, vice president of enterprise human resources at Covenant Logistics Rosa Gamboa, business development manager at Crossroads Equipment Lease & Finance Lauren Gassmann, operations manager at Booster Vanessa Gauci, senior transportation efficiency manager at Frito-Lay North America Armida Gonzalez, assistant plant manager of Peterbilt Motors Co. Angel Grable, manager of business operations learning at Werner Enterprises Mandy Graham, COO at Great West Casualty Co. Jodanna Hall, senior director of customer logistics transportation management at Ryder System Inc. Debra Hamlin, director of operations at Bridgestone Commercial Dealer Network-Bridgestone Americas Abby Hamm, vice president of sales at Covenant Logistics Lynne Hansen, national accounts sales executive, PLM Fleet Lauren Harper, senior strategist for business operations at Kodiak Robotics Gwen Hill, senior vice president of transportation and compliance at Clean Harbors Selin Hoboy, vice president of EHS and compliance at GFL Environmental Shannon Jedlicka, recruiting and compliance at ADM Trucking Megan Knight, director of product marketing at PACCAR Parts Hannah Koury, senior customer success manager, TA Dedicated Amy Lester, vice president of quality at Navistar Monica Maez, senior project manager at Standard Logistics Sylvia Mahfouz, director of recruiting at TCI Transportation Sue Maier, vice president of sales systems and analytics at Penske Truck Leasing Christina Mannella, senior director of the west transportation command center at Walmart Kelley Martin, director of pricing strategy at Daimler Truck North America Samantha McCracken, strategic operations manager at Bridgestone Americas Kris McLennan, vice president of yield management at A. Duie Pyle Megan Miller, director of commercial sales channel development at Bridgestone Americas Sarmona Miller, director of revenue management at Saia LTL Freight Leah Miller, director of culture and communication at Trimac Wendy Mitckes, tax manager at Navistar Alyssa Myers, vice president of technology at RXO Jill Nash, vice president of national accounts and brokers at GFL Environmental Nicole Neumann, vice president of human resources at XPO Cari Olive, people operations in human resources at Armstrong Transport Group Kaitlyn Olsen, director of human resources at Christensen Ann Peng, patent agent at Plus Caitlin Powell, director of communications and marketing at TA Dedicated Sarah Quick, associate vice president of safety and compliance-USA at Day & Ross Cassie Quien, director of business development at FreightVana Logistics Jessica Ramirez, vice president of human resources at Velocity Vehicle Group Beverly Ringstaff, vice president of brand & design at Conversion Interactive Agency Michelle Roberts, lead CDL instructor at FleetForce Truck Driver Training Lissette (Lisa) Rodriguez, talent acquisition supervisor at Air Products Martha Ross, account resolution team leader at Volvo Financial Services Suzanne Scalone, director of fleet operations at Performance Food Group Mary Schreiber, benefits and payroll manager at Tri-National Inc. Andrea Sequin, director of regulatory services and driver training at Schneider Heather Shirazi McAfee, engineering and strategic analytics manager at Saia LTL Freight Cindi Smith, operations specialist at Candor Expedite Pamela Stine, district manager at Waste Connections Abby Szafranski, head of product management-fleet at Irdeto Alexandria Uribe, senior director of total talent management at WM Raquel Urtasun, founder and CEO at Waabi Khristine Vanzuiden, surface network planning manager at UPS Natalie Williams, vice president of client operations at Ancora Training Jaimie Wilson, learning and development manager at Atlantic Logistics This year’s recognition program is sponsored by PACCAR.