Pilot Exhibits Retail Logistics Expertise at ShopX! National Meeting

Today, Pilot's Bill Welsh, national account manager, special services/home delivery, is exhibiting at the ShopX! 2018 National Meeting in New Orleans. This meeting brings together decision makers and experts in the retail industry, who relate the best practices that they employ to keep operations relevant. “From state-of-the-art lighting setups to digital technology displays, this show will run the gamut of ideas that retailers use to add value to the in-store customer experience,” says Bill. “Retailers are investing more in that experience—whether it’s in a supermarket, big box, boutique or chain store—as a way to not only increase foot traffic, but also compete with online sales.” Bill will speak with attendees about Pilot’s expertise in retail logistics and our flexibility to provide services when others can’t. “We are willing to deliver to the store at 3 a.m. when the store is closed,” he says. “We take pride in tailoring a solution that fits a customer’s unique requirements and situation, even if that means delivering in the middle of the night.”

Pilot's CTO Leads Technology Modernization Efforts

Mark Baker, Chief Technology Officer, is modernizing Pilot's technology, internal and customer facing, so that communications remain efficient and customers receive superior service. This includes managing, directing and selecting cutting-edge logistics software and technology that drive Pilot’s core business processes. Baker brings more than 23 years of senior IT management experience to Pilot, operating exclusively in the transportation and logistics industry since 2003.

https://www.ajot.com/news/pilot-freight-services-welcomes-chief-technology-officer-mark-baker

Pilot Hartford Management Honored for Role in Relief Shipments

Pilot's Earl McClain, left, and Kim Gajewski, middle,
joined Pratt and Whitney's disaster team
 when the entire crew was honored with the company's
Leadership Award, recognizing their joint efforts
to get relief shipments to Puerto Rico
shortly after Hurricane Maria hit last year. 

Congratulations to Kim Gajewski, regional vice president, and Earl McClain, international operations manager, BDL, who recently joined employees from Pratt and Whitney to accept a leadership award honoring the team’s efforts to get relief supplies to Puerto Rico shortly after Hurricane Maria hit last year. For their part, Kim and Earl sourced and coordinated supply pickups in five different U.S. locations and also secured three separate charters to get much-needed provisions out. “That was a wild couple of days and not without hiccups caused by the ground handlers and charter operators,” says John Hill, president and chief commercial officer. “In situations like these, it is all about the communication through the execution even when it means not sleeping and giving hourly information through the night. Kim and Earl were all over this and simply amazing!” 

Two Pilot Teams Give Back to Texas Community

Pilot’s Dallas team recently participated in the annual Cinemark charity dinner and auction in North Dallas at the historic Southfork Ranch where the television series “Dallas” was filmed. Throughout the night, the team was also able to contribute to charitable organizations, including the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation, Carry the Load, the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum and Variety's Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children.

In El Paso, Pilot was the title sponsor for the annual Highlander golf tournament held at Butterfield Trail golf course. The tournament is a fundraiser to provide college scholarships to underprivileged high school teens in the El Paso area. Over 100 players participated, raising more than $20,000 for scholarships.

Pilot Moves and Expands Columbus-Based Facility

Pilot recently moved its combined station and logistics facility in metro Columbus, OH, to a new, expanded location. The CMH warehouse occupies about 35,000 square feet of the new building, has nine dedicated dock doors and a drive-up ramp. The remainder of the 85,000-square-foot space is dedicated to logistics customers, who utilize Pilot for a variety of supply chain services. The larger facility, now at 6540 Port Road, Groveport, OH, better positions Pilot in this region for linehaul recoveries and transfers. In fact, the new building is located less than half a mile from Pilot’s NET facility, where the company consolidates nationwide-bound freight, providing a value for its customers with less time-sensitive shipments. Also close by is a hub for Forward Air, one of Pilot's largest transportation partners. The building is also under one mile from the cargo access point at Rickenbacker Airport (LCK), where many international freighter and charter flights arrive. “Positioning ourselves close to the ground linehaul hubs and the growing amount of distribution centers in this area, makes recovery and tenders of freight much quicker and more convenient for our CMH staff,” says Tom Drake, executive vice president, domestic & Canadian operations & traffic. “It also brings our station much closer to Pilot’s core customer base, which will be a huge service improvement in the CMH market for us.”

Pilot Provides Forwarder Perspective on E-commerce Panel Discussion

John Hill, president and chief commercial officer, will participate in a panel discussion on Thursday, October 11, during the Cargo Facts Symposium in San Diego. John will represent the forwarder’s perspective in a dialogue about e-commerce and global expectations around package delivery, implications for freighter aircraft cargo and how airlines, airports and handlers are responding to industry demands of this category. At Pilot, e-commerce delivery in the H3D (heavy and hard to handle) category will account for at least 30 percent of overall business in 2018. Pilot recently integrated new last-mile-only solutions into its service offerings as a result of purchasing Minneapolis-based Manna Freight Systems this summer. The symposium is jointly produced by Cargo Facts Consulting and Cargo Facts.

Bravo National Customer Service!

It’s National Customer Service Week! Pilot would like to thank our talented and dedicated national customer service staff that works tirelessly to answer our clients’ needs and requests. They make sure each and every call is handled with an attention to detail unmatched in the industry. If fact, a hallmark of Pilot’s national customer service is hearing a friendly—not automated—voice on the other end. This team is prepared to answer the phone within the first three rings, even during peak times like the holiday season. Their ability to respond knowledgeably and resolve issues quickly are a big reason why Pilot is considered a world-class organization. So, thank you, Pilot national customer service team, for all you do to give Pilot customers the best experience possible!