ISSUE 53 FEBRUARY 2024
THE BRIDGE IN THIS ISSUE: Team Spotlight: Maintenance | Sales Conference The Road Ahead: Eric Masotti’s Predictions | Building Bridges Program
T E AM
S P OT L IG HT:
maintenance
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If you’ve ever seen a Trailer Bridge container while driving down the road, it’s guaranteed that TB’s Maintenance team, located at the corporate headquarters, has had their hands on it at some point. Led by Director of Maintenance & Security, JJ Mendez and Shop Lead and Building Foreman, Catfish, this team makes sure our company-owned assets stay moving. This is a big job, requiring every single container and chassis that leave our yard to be inspected, repaired, and maintained to be suitable for transport on our barges and over the road. It also includes building out custom equipment to accommodate specific commodities, like in their most recent project. With a higher demand to move paper goods, the maintenance team converted nearly 100 40ft. P4 containers to be able to handle the additional weight. By replacing
the typical plywood flooring used in containers with maple tongue-ingroove flooring, they were able to more than double the containers’ weight capacity – from 25,000 lbs. to 54,000 lbs. Maple’s flexible quality also allows it to handle the considerable weight of industrial paper rolls by bending under strain without breaking. There is also growth in sight after the acquisition of new assets including fifty 53’ chassis, and fifty 40’ chassis. As they arrive, the maintenance team is working to get them unloaded, marked and ready for use. What does this mean long-term for Trailer Bridge? The new and specialized equipment is expanding the company’s capabilities and capacity, allowing us to increase our fleet of owner-operators and move more cargo for our customers, ultimately growing our operation.
ISSUE 53 FEBRUARY 2024
2024 SALES
CONFERENCE This month, members of the sales team and company leadership gathered in Jacksonville, FL for the annual Sales Conference. The presentation shown at the event drew inspiration from Shoe Dog, a memoir by the creator of Nike, Phil Knight. Like Nike, who went from a startup to an industry leader in 18 years, Trailer Bridge has BIG dreams for its future. And we believe in our sales team to rise to the challenge and make those dreams a realty. Here are some of Trailer Bridge’s sales goals for 2024: • • • •
Reach 350+ employee headcount Break $400 million in revenue Hit 500 loads per day in peak month More Expansion: TB Mexico, TB Canada, and more
While these are big goals, our team proved how resilient they are in 2023, increasing the number of customers and load count PAGE 4
year over year amid a tough market. With a better freight market expected this year, the same efforts should lead to even more growth for Trailer Bridge.
To support these efforts, representatives from our lines of business reviewed the ideal type of accounts for each service and equipped the team with selling points to use when building relationships with customers.
HERE’S TO A RECORD BREAKING 2024! DREAM AUDACIOUSLY. HAVE THE COURAGE TO FAIL FORWARD. ACT WITH URGENCY. – Phil Knight, Founder of Nike, Inc.
SEBASTIAN AUERBACH AWARDED THE TB WHALE SPEAR Drayage Manager Sebastian Auerbach received TB’s Whale Spear at the Sales Conference after a standout performance in 2023. Last year, Sebastian brought in 9 new accounts and grew several others which put him in the top 10% of sales staff. His efforts were also key to growing Trailer Bridge’s drayage division by over 100% and bringing in warehousing revenue in an especially difficult market. Sebastian is a true team player and invested an exceptional amount of time and effort into to selling drayage and intermodal accounts even when the sales credit wouldn’t be in his name.
Congratulation Sebastian on the well-deserved honor! ISSUE 53 FEBRUARY 2024
THE ROAD AHEAD:
ERIC MASOTTI P R E D I C T S W H AT ’ S O N T H E HORIZON FOR 2024 It’s no secret that 2023 was more than a little rough on the logistics industry, so President of Logistics Eric Masotti was eager to look ahead when we discussed his predictions for 2024. As is tradition, he also revisited the predictions for 2023 to evaluate his accuracy. Check out what Eric got right (and wrong) for 2023 and what he expects for the year ahead by clicking here.
Trans-Pacific Container Pricing
TEU Capacity
CONTAINER RATES TO RISE AND AVERAGE BETWEEN...
CAPACITY WILL INCREASE TO..
$3K-$4K
2.5 million
DAT Monthly Dry Van Spot Rates
Class 8 Truck Orders
BASED ON THE END OF 2023, RATES WILL PEAK AT
PEAK ORDER VOLUME WILL INCREASE TO..
Peak Deisel Fuel Price
Sports
PEAK FUEL PRICES WILL RISE TO...
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS WIN SUPER BOWL LVIII.
$2.39
$4.75 PAGE 6
45K
K A C Y
S WA N S O N
I S
A
2 0 2 4
WOMEN OF INFLUENCE
Hot off the presses! It was recently announced that VP of Employee Services, Kacy Swanson, is a 2024 Woman of Influence! She is one of just 20 women that were chosen by the Jacksonville Business Journal for her professional success, involvement in the community, and positive impact on Northeast Florida. Congratulations, Kacy, on this milestone! ISSUE 53 FEBRUARY 2024
INTRODUCING THE BUILDING BRIDGES MENTORSHIP PROGRAM Along with the new year, Trailer Bridge has officially launched it’s brand-new mentoring program, Building Bridges. This group mentorship program offers guidance in 9 areas of expertise, with participants divided into cohorts based on shared interests. Each cohort is led by a member of company leadership who has demonstrated professional success on the given topic. It’s an exciting opportunity for participants to network with company leadership and their peers, while getting career guidance from experts in their area of interest. You can find more details about Building Bridges here. If you have any questions, please reach out to Employee Engagement and Training Specialist, Becky Simon, at bsimon@trailerbridge.com. PAGE 8
The program will begin by offering 9 areas of expertise: 1. Personal branding 2. Cultural awareness in business 3. Customer success 4. Effective communication 5. Executive presence & leadership 6. Tips for navigating your career 7. Finding success in business 8. Thinking Strategically 9. Public speaking
T R A I L E R
B I R D G E
H O S T S
FIRST NEW EMPLOYEE ONBOARDING OF 2024 We hit the ground running in 2024 with the first New Employee Onboarding taking place the second week of the year. Trailer Bridge’s Corporate office was thrilled to host new team members from around the country as they learned all about the industry and what it means to be part of the TB culture.
ISSUE 53 FEBRUARY 2024
SHARING THE LOVE WITH
TBUCKS
Do you know someone who goes above and beyond? Maybe they go out of their way to check in and make people smile. Or maybe they are always the first to volunteer when a teammate needs a hand. TB Bucks are how we recognize our peers who live the TB12, provide excellent customer service, or display a servant’s heart.
room as soon as she walks in every morning and I consider her to be an essential member of our team. It is always a joy to work with Amy. “
Congratulations to some of our recent TB Bucks recipients!
Robert Hill: “Fast, Accurate, and Helpful.”
Miguel Sanchez: “Gives great customer service with attention to detail.” Amybeth Rodriguez: “Amybeth creates a healthy and fun work environment. She lights up the
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Jeremy Kohn: “He is always present physically and mentally to take on all his workload and his teammates’ and puts in work and stays on course. Strong work ethic!”
Want to send someone a TB Buck? Fill out the form here or find it under Quick Links on the Bridge.
QUARTERLY
AWARDS Congrats to all TB team members who were recognized as this quarter’s award winners! CUSTOMER SERVICE Giovanni Nieves Dency Montalvo Aren Sassounian Audrey Rigney Roberto Trevino Clay Poole Luis Ramirez Jillmari Aviles
SAFETY Anthony Hardy
O P E R AT I O N A L Becca Simpson Morgan Cox Sebastian Auerbach Lindsay Brunson Alec Noble Peter Masterson Chad Yarbrough Brandie Venson
ISSUE 53 FEBRUARY 2024
Q4 Please join us in celebrating these Trailer Bridge team members who were recognized in Q4’s customer service responses for embodying our TB12 core value of ‘Deliver Exceptional Service to Everyone.’ Keep up the incredible work! Here are some of the Q4 Customer Survey Response Highlights:
“Crystal Diaz You’re such a whiz. Definitely an expert in her field. We know we can always trust her to do the right thing. She has such a great work ethic.” – Florida Import Export Trading Corp “I joined the GEM division of Reckitt in 2023. And since I’ve been on the team, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Justin, Coulson, James, Tripp, Kari & Diana. They all have been amazing. I truly am looking
CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE forward to the upcoming year. They make a demanding job much easier to navigate on a daily basis.” – Reckitt Benckiser “Lynnette Delgado our National Sales Account Executive is always willing and available to help with any questions and issues that we may have. She is always attentive to everything related to our account and available to answer all our questions in a timely manner.” – Windmar Home “The best asset Trailer Bridge has is its people. Alicia Gamez is phenomenal and handles our account amazingly. She along with Tracy Rigney & Morgan Cox make shipping with Trailer Bridge such a pleasure. I know I can always count on both Alicia & Tracy to help me out with any request I have.” – Propper International
“The Nashville, TN office including Justin Myatt, Blake Hornbrook, and Wes Purcell have given Royal Fresh Cuts excellent customer service. Royal Fresh Cuts will continue growing our partnership with Trailer Bridge’s Nashville office.” – Royal Fresh Cuts
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TB REACHES 200+ DAT REVIEWS In July of 2023, Carrier Relationship Manager Mike Davis began an initiative to improve Trailer Bridge’s DAT Reviews. DAT is a technology platform that serves carriers, brokers, and shippers. And carriers can leave reviews that are reflective of their experience working with a company.
AFTER JUST 6 MONTHS, TRAILER BRIDGE HAS:
Knowing how dedicated our team is to service, Mike had faith that we would have no problem bringing in more positive reviews if we just asked. So, we did - and the results have been incredible!
• 138 4 or 5 star reviews
“Thank you Matthew (agent) for getting us not only setup quickly and answering all questions in a timely manner, but for keeping the entire process (from pickup to delivery) clear and simple. Our experience was excellent, and we will work with TB again.”
• 202 total reviews • 3.7 stars (up from 2.6 in July 2023)
Just check out some of these glowing responses from carriers:
“One of the most remarkable qualities of TB is their commitment to customer service. They are responsive, accessible, and always ready to address any questions or concerns we have. It’s evident that they prioritize client satisfaction above all.”
Keep up the good work! If you would like to request a review from a carrier you work with, you can provide this link: https://registry.dat.com/custdir/pleasereview.jsp?coid=11019 ISSUE 53 FEBRUARY 2024
EMPLOYEE NEWS
Congratulations to Caroline Bray on the birth of baby Elio! Her bundle of joy was born January 23, 2023.
Get the Most out of Paycor! Please register for Paycor, our new HRIS system, if you haven’t already. You should have received a registration email from Paycor where you can complete this process. Once registered, login and check your tax setup, emergency contact info, personal contact information, and add a profile photo. If you have any questions, please reach out to HR & Payroll Specialist Jennifer Gutierrez at jgutierrez@trailerbridge.com. Stay tuned for more Paycor trainings coming this month!
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TBWELL: GET MOVING WITH
TRAILER BRIDGES RUNNING CLUB! Go after your fitness goals and have fun doing it! Brand new this year, TB Well is starting a Running Club. What is the TB Running Club? Every quarter, TB Well will choose a local 5K in Jacksonville, FL and sponsor the entry fee for employees that want to participate. For our branches outside of Jacksonville, TB Well will sponsor one 5k per quarter, per employee. Just send the info for your 5k of choice to wellnesscommittee@trailerbridge.com and we will get you signed up! For Q1, Jacksonville’s 5k will be the Jaguars / Novo Nordisk 5K Stadium Challenge! This glow in the dark run includes a 5k course that goes throughout the stadium, an after-party on the field, and one free beer per runner! There is also a 1-mile fun run option available. Jaguars 5k Stadium Challenge Details: Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024 Time: 6:00 p.m. Location: EverBank Stadium
ISSUE 53 FEBRUARY 2024
SALES TIP OF THE MONTH:
BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES When Director of Truck Operations Dan Sheridan noticed a shortage of backhauls for our drivers in the Carolinas, Jeff Vaughn and Kyle Olsen spotted an opportunity with a current brokerage client. They submitted a quote with Laticrete to move their loads using our assets and received the first tender within a week. Not only did they cross-sell our services to get more business, but our drivers are able to backhaul a load instead of returning empty. IF YOU ENCOUNTER A LOGISTICS CHALLENGE, consider if there is a way you can leverage our services to find a solution.
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TB GIVES HIGHLIGHT:
NEW YEAR, NEW OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK
Get involved in Trailer Bridge’s in-house community outreach team! Be a part of our company’s commitment to service and have fun doing it. Even if you don’t join the team, you are always welcome to participate in TB Gives events! Email jgutierrez@trailerbridge.com if you have any questions or if you are interested in getting involved.
ISSUE 53 FEBRUARY 2024
Welcome New Employees
LEANDRO DIAZ
ALEJANDRO CABREJA
CHADWICK GOSS
VINH TRAN
Support Services Coordinator Jacksonville
Trailer Mechanic I Jacksonville
Trailer Mechanic I Jacksonville
Logistics Sales & Operations II Los Angeles
CHRISTIAN CASSITY
ROBERT WATSON
FREDDY LOPEZ
DANIEL TUIT
Trailer Mechanic I Jacksonville
Trailer Mechanic I Jacksonville
Logistic Sales Executive Atlanta
Logistics Sales & Operations II Los Angeles
KENAN ZELIHIC
GRANT MACNEIL
ISMAILY SULTANI
SAMUEL WEST
Logistics Sales & Operations Jacksonville
Logistics Sales and Operations Atlanta
Logistics Sales & Operations Dallas
Logistics Sales and Operations Los Angeles
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YAZMIN CEJA
AREN FELIX
KYLE EDWARDS
Carrier Sales & Ops Los Angeles
Logistics Sales & Operations Raleigh
Logistics Sales & Operations Raleigh
Promotions & Changes
CHAD HENSON
Logistics Claim Manager Jacksonville
COULSON VAUGHN
NVOCC Logistics Team Lead Jacksonville
MAGGIE CABRERA
International Account Manager Jacksonville
KARI GOMEZ
NVOCC Logistics Team Lead Puerto Rico
INGA HYSAJ
Logistics Collections Manager Jacksonville
MAGGIE CABRERA
E M M A WA G N E R
ISSUE 53 FEBRUARY 2024
GLOSSARY TERM OF THE MONTH
TB12 OF THE MONTH
Bobtail
Customer service shouldn’t just
The term used for a semi-truck that doesn’t have a trailer attached to it.
be a department, it should be the entire company. – Tony Hsieh
TB SOCK DESIGN COMPETITION Theme: Unleash Your Creativity Submission Deadline: Friday, February 9th by EOD Guidelines: Designs must be submitted as a PDF or high-quality JPG, and please ensure they align with our company values. Prizes: The winning design will not only be the NEW TB Sock but will also receive a $100 gift card!
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To participate, submit your design to marketing@trailerbridge.com by Friday February 9th. All the designs will be compiled and put to a vote, with the final approval coming from our executive team. If you have any questions or need further information, reach out toSenior Creative Services Specialist, Michael Leary at mleary@trailerbridge.com. We can’t wait to see what you create!
February 2024 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
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Click the committee logo to view upcoming events!
SATURDAY
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2 Groundhog Day
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Galentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day
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Branch Manager Meeting
Branch Manager Meeting
Branch Manager Meeting
Extreme Leadership Group 11 Kickoff
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Super Bowl Sunday
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Pokemon Day
WORK ANNIVERSARIES
UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS
Robert Flockerzi
23 Years
Dan Cox
2 Years
2
Mitch Luciano
14
Clay Poole
Ramon Rivas
6 Years
Ryan Hunter
2 Years
5
Becky Simon
16
Emma Wagner
Rosanna Gonzalez
5 Years
Emma Wagner
1 Year
5
Adela Hysaj
17
Whitney Ennis
Leonardo Chaboudy
4 Years
Julia Chambers
1 Year
6
Alex Damske
17
Mitch Wilson
Giovanni Nieves
4 Years
Pablo Londono
1 Year
6
Luis Ostolaza
19
Luis Rosario
7
Jose Montalvo
20
Chadwick Goss
7
Marcellis Jewett
21
JP Priestley
10
Baylor Sullivan
22
Ashley Allen
10
Daniel Tuit
22
Brandon Hooks
11
Anthony Hill
24
Mackenzie Laveck
12
Matthew Lowery
25
Amybeth Rodriguez
12
Jake Hoffman
25
John Marquez
12
Kari Gomez
25
Ike Forrester
13
Austin Tagner
27
Ryan Hunter
14
Alida Hamidovic
27
Chad Yarbrough
ISSUE 53 FEBRUARY 2024
DRIVER OF THE MONTH
AUGUSTIN MENENDEZ Here is what the Truck Ops and Safety team had to say about TB’s Driver of the Month: “Agustin Menendez started with Trailer Bridge in July of 2013. In his time here he has proven to be a safe, reliable, and respectful part of the Trailer Bridge family. He is always willing to help cover the most difficult loads and he does it with a smile. Whenever Agustin is in the office he is always telling jokes and getting us to laugh. He is an overall asset to Trailer Bridge and that’s what makes him January’s Driver of the Month.”
DON’T FORGET TO FOLLOW TRAILER BRIDGE!
WHAT DO YOU THINK? The Marketing Team wants your feedback, suggestions or stories for next month’s Bridge Please send to @Group–Marketing PAGE 22
PIC OF THE MONTH There is a lot of visual talent at TB, and we want to showcase your skills! We would like to feature a TB “Pic of the Month” submitted by a TB rockstar. Please send to @Group–Marketing