Pilot Salt Lake City Hosts Customer Appreciation Event

Bees, baseball and bonding! Pilot Salt Lake City recently hosted more than 75 people at its customer appreciation event held at a Salt Lake Bees baseball game. The large crowd turned out for a family-friendly evening of baseball and dinner. “This is a great way for us to thank our customers for their loyalty and business," says Shawn Burrell, district manager. "It's also a chance for our customers and station team to get to know each other on a personal level and in a fun, casual setting. Plus, we get to connect face-to-face, and we love meeting our customers’ family members.” The first-place Bees play minor league baseball in the Pacific Coast League and look to be in a great spot to play post-season playoff ball. The team is also the Triple A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels. Shawn says that a great time was had by all.

Pilot's Newest Offering: Airport-to-Airport Ground Service to Mexico

Pilot recently introduced an alternate, cost-effective way for customers to ship freight to Mexico. The

airport-to-airport ground service functions in the same manner as air service, but the cargo moves on the ground at an economical rate. Launched in May, it is currently available through the Dallas gateway (DFG) to the following stations: GDL, MEX and MTY.

With this ground option, the cargo clears at the destination airport (GDL, MEX or MTY) and not at the U.S./Mexico border, which avoids any potential congestion there, resulting in quicker clearance and faster overall transit time. “This service should appeal to shippers with smaller shipments and low volume of traffic,” says Abe Achackzad, executive vice president, operations and transportation. “By providing a predictable transit time, we’re also helping customers better manage their supply chains.”

Since freight transportation to and from Mexico is somewhat complicated, these shippers are guaranteed Pilot’s expertise on requirements and formalities during the process. Pilot looks to target both manufacturers and retailers that conduct trades between the two countries. “Since Mexico is the United States’ third largest trading partner, it’s important for Pilot to offer any and all kinds of solutions to our customers,” says Abe. Plans are for the program to roll out at the Los Angeles gateway (LAG) later this summer.

Schedule: Transit Times from Dallas Gateway (DFG)
Guadalajara (GDL)
Monday– Friday: 1 Day Transit 

Mexico City (MEX) 
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 2 Days Transit 

Monterrey (MTY) 
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 2 Days Transit

Pilot Makes Aviation Logistics Take Flight

If size matters, then Pilot’s latest logistics venture is the one to beat. The operation—which eventually will grow to 200,000 square feet and could potentially more than double when the program is final—supports a world-leading provider of aviation jet engines and components. Pilot now manages this company’s largest global logistics facility, providing the type of creative solutions other 3PLs were struggling to resolve. 

Since assuming control in mid-March, Pilot now has more than six full-time employees managing the warehouse operations, which contains both tools and parts required to support grounded aircraft. These tools and parts, which must be ready to ship anywhere in the world in less than 24 hours, can be massive as well as very sensitive. 

The scope of the program changes almost weekly with the provider bringing new global and domestic opportunities to Pilot for solutions. “Eventually, it will grow to a worldwide focus with Pilot managing in some capacity multiple global centers, handling various degrees of field support, including facility solutions, IT solutions and unique scopes of work,” says Stephen Bullard, vice president, logistics services. The most immediate next steps will focus on solutions in airport support centers in the U.S., U.K. and Europe.

Working with a Top 100 Great Supply Chain Partner

Who helps power your supply chain? Pilot Freight Services works with customers to effectively help improve efficiency, customer service and overall performance. In fact, Pilot’s outstanding service and solutions in this area have prompted industry professionals to recognize us as one of the 100 Great Supply Chain Partners as compiled by SupplyChainBrain, a comprehensive supply chain management information resource. All of Pilot's efforts focus on helping our customers succeed, thrive and grow. And since partnership is the core of everything we do, success only comes when we’ve made a significant impact on a customer’s efficiency and supply chain productivity. Pilot employees nationwide work hard to deliver value to customers every day. We couldn't be prouder of this recognition!

Pilot Freight Services: Your Retail Logistics Expert

You may know and trust Pilot to get your freight from point A to B, but our services extend much further than just delivery. Take our retail services program for example. Pilot’s expertise in retail logistics delivers solutions that generate sales and success across a variety of areas. 

Pilot provides customers with the highest level project-specific standard operating procedures managed solely by Pilot throughout the entire project. Meyers, a valued Pilot customer for five years, designs and produces innovative large-format graphics, displays, labels, cards and coupons for its own retail customers. Whether it’s highly-sensitive and secure deliveries for the video gaming industry or a retail project with many different components and shipping requirements, Meyers trusts Pilot to handle the challenge by accommodating schedules, minimizing downtime, preempting potential problems and preparing for any contingency. Plus, Pilot's technology infrastructure gives Meyers the visibility it desires and the timely, accurate information it needs.

New store openings, new display rollouts, remodeling of one store or many – Pilot’s retail services team will help your brand stay fresh, relevant and profitable in the retail market. To learn more, please email Bill Welsh or visit pilotdelivers.com.