2025
Q4
The Bridge A Trailer Bridge Newsletter
A Lesson Learned
Embracing the Suck In my letter closing out 2024, I shared Three Guiding Truths for 2025: Trust Your People, Know Your Customers, and Get ‘Lucky.’ It was an optimistic look ahead after what had been a tough year.
This is where I come back to those Three
Guiding Truths. Trust your people. Be relentless about building
As I write to you now, preparing for 2026, that optimism remains. But I also want to give myself - and you - permission to embrace the suck.
a team you believe in; one that shares your vision, challenges the status quo, and is committed to making it happen. Navigating tough moments is always easier when you’re surrounded by people you trust.
Because in all honesty, 2025 wasn’t a banner year. It challenged me in ways I didn’t see coming, both professionally and personally.
Know your customers. And I mean really know
In a world filled with filters, it can feel like we’re expected to have it all together: perfectly curated, polished, and smiling for the camera. This year reminded me that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. Sometimes it’s about navigating the chaos of uncertainty and owning decisions that aren’t your first choice. When faced with hard things, we have a choice: buckle under pressure or stay calm and focused on finding the solution. I faced that choice more than once this year, from making the difficult decision to sell a division I spent more than a decade building to refocus our strategic direction, to managing the unprecedented looting of one of our barges near the Bahamas following a weather event. Like I said, it’s been a year. Over the past few months, members of my team have commented on my ability to remain calm in the face of adversity. The truth is, it’s not always easy, but it is my responsibility. As leaders, we set the tone not only during exciting milestones, but especially in moments of uncertainty. That doesn’t mean we have to pretend some days don’t suck.
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them. Let them know you, too. Strong relationships matter most when things don’t go according to plan, and they help guide smarter, more inclusive decisions about where and how you grow. And finally, get ‘lucky.’ The kind of luck that happens when preparation meets opportunity. This industry isn’t handing out easy wins. It demands grit, adaptability, and continuous learning. Invest in sharpening your skills, adding to your toolbox and never forget that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. So, if you, like me, are counting down to a new year, I hope this letter offers a little solidarity. Give yourself permission to embrace the suck—but don’t get stuck there. Write down the lessons. Learn from them. Use them to reset for the year ahead because there’s opportunity and plenty of good still waiting to happen. Thank you for being part of the Trailer Bridge journey.
– Mitch
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I CY M I
Leadership Insights on Puerto Rico Strategy Trailer Bridge CEO Mitch Luciano and President of Ocean Tony Kvasnicka recently discussed the company’s continued investment in the Puerto Rican trade lane. The conversation highlighted why Puerto Rico remains central to Trailer Bridge’s legacy and future, the evolving needs of shippers on the island, what’s ahead for the Caribbean trade lane, and how TB continues to deliver a service-first culture on every voyage.
Watch the recording to hear the full discussion.
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30+ Years Connecting Jacksonville & Puerto Rico Trailer Bridge was recently featured in a JAXPORT blog highlighting Jacksonville’s role in supporting Puerto Rico’s rebuilding. For more than 30 years, Trailer Bridge has transported essential cargo, helping keep critical projects on schedule. In the blog, Jacob Wegrzyn, Vice President of the Caribbean, explains how Trailer Bridge combines reliable shipping with a personal commitment to Puerto Rico.
Read the full article here.
Strengthening Our Commitment to Puerto Rico Trailer Bridge has sold its Logistics Division to ATS Logistics Services, allowing us to sharpen our focus on our core asset-based services to Puerto Rico, expand international freight forwarding, and grow government support services. We remain committed to connecting Puerto Rico with the U.S. mainland, ensuring cargo moves safely, efficiently, and reliably every week.
Read more about our realignment here
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Mentorship & 49.65% Inclusion in the Supply Chain 60% Women make up
of Trailer Bridge’s workforce.
Of these women,
Leaders from Trailer Bridge recently participated in the Women in Supply Chain (WISC) Forum, an event focused on empowering supply chain professionals through education, networking, and thought leadership. The forum highlighted the importance of diversity, inclusion, and collaboration in building high-performing teams. CEO Mitch Luciano joined the first-ever all-male “Partners in Progress” panel, sharing how mentorship and authentic connection can advance women’s roles in the supply chain.
Learn more about our commitment to mentorship, inclusion, and leadership
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are minorities, reflecting the company’s dedication to fostering diversity.
79% of women at Trailer Bridge are over 30, and 34% have been with the company for 5 or more years, showing strong career longevity.
Importantly, in most roles where men and women hold the same title, there is no wage gap, reflecting the company’s commitment to pay equity.
Recognized as One of Jacksonville’s
Check out more awards and recognitions from 2025!
Best Places to Work Trailer Bridge was named one of Jacksonville’s Best Places to Work again! We ranked 6th in the Large Business category in the annual Jacksonville Business Journal award. This recognition celebrates the hard work and commitment of our team in building a culture grounded in service, to each other, our customers, and our community.
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Arthur Roszkowski OCTOBER 8
Gilbe Roman
NOVE
erto Santos
EMBER
Kevin Riordan DECEMBER 9
Celebrating the Season in Puerto Rico
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Holiday Cheer in Jacksonville
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2025 President’s Award Winners
James Cox & Aimee Taule Presented annually by Mitch, the President’s Award honors individuals who exemplify Trailer Bridge’s culture of honesty, integrity, and respect in every interaction, from customers to colleagues. This award recognizes those whose actions and character make a lasting impact on the company. “It is truly an honor to receive this year’s President’s Award. Having my wife and daughter there to share the moment made it even more meaningful. It reinforced that Trailer Bridge is more than a workplace, it’s part of my family, and for that, I am forever grateful.” – James Cox, Government Logistics Sales and Operations “Trailer Bridge has always been close to my heart, a place where I’ve grown as a person, as a mother, and as a professional. Being part of this amazing team fills me with joy every day.” – Aimee Taule, Marine Operations Coordinator (PR) Congrats James and Aimee and thank you for all you do!
Learn More!
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mes ox
Aimee Taule
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2025 Kerry Shugart Award
Cheryl Gurrliaccio
Please join us in congratulating Cheryl Gurliaccio, Senior Manager, Safety, our 2025 Kerry Shugart Award recipient! Named in honor of Kerry Shugart, whose 18+ years of service left a lasting legacy at Trailer Bridge, this award recognizes someone who truly embodies the TB spirit, bringing their full self to work, showing love for Trailer Bridge, and spreading a little fun along the way. Cheryl shares, “Kerry Shugart was a legend, loved and respected by everyone lucky enough to know him. To know that Mitch thought enough of me to present me with this award is beyond words—it hits my heart. It’s an absolute honor to receive this award and work alongside the people who ‘Make it Happen’ every day.” Congratulations, Cheryl, and thank you for everything you do to make Trailer Bridge exceptional!
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2025 Bad Ass Honorees
JJ Mendez & Christopher Hearn
Each year, Mitch recognizes a Trailer Bridge team member(s) who go above and beyond—and this year, JJ Mendez and Christopher Hearn earned the honor of the Bad Ass Award for their dedication and commitment. “I’m very grateful for the recognition. Receiving the Bad Ass Award makes me proud of my crew, I couldn’t even come close to this without my team. I’m honored to receive this award, and even prouder to be a Barge Boy!” – Christopher Hearn, Team Lead, Vessel Ops “This award is largely thanks to my team. Knowing that I can step in to help with unexpected problems and trust that the team will handle the day-today tasks allows me to focus on the work at hand. This recognition was completely unexpected. I do my job to the best of my abilities every day and never expect to be recognized for it. But it was a wonderful surprise! Sometimes we think people don’t notice what we do… but they do.” – JJ Mendez, Director, Maintenance and Security Well done, JJ and Chris! We appreciate all that you do.
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We’ve compiled a list of our top blogs from 2025, featuring insights, trends, and practical takeaways that can help guide your work in the months ahead.
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Trailer Bridge’s Golden Rule for Supply Chain Workforce Stability: Love TB is redefining workforce strategy with peoplefirst leadership, focusing on thoughtful onboarding, skills-based hiring, meaningful mentorship, and tech adoption that supports (not replaces) humans. Read More!
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Anchored In Trust: Moving Puerto Rico Forward Decades of partnership between Trailer Bridge and Plaza Provisions demonstrate how steady communication, dependable service, and genuine human connection keep essential goods moving and customers confident. Read More!
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How Seasonality in Food Shipping Sets the Table for Transportation in America Seasonal harvest cycles and major holidays have a powerful influence on truckload capacity, freight rates, and overall demand across the U.S. This blog breaks down how reefer availability, regional peaks, and demand surges shape planning for shippers in every industry.
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Read More!
Tracking What Matters: The KPIs That Power Food Logistics Read about the top KPIs food shippers rely on to ensure performance, compliance, and real-time visibility across temperature-sensitive supply chains. Read More!
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Webinar: Mid-Market Update — Navigating the Shifts in Domestic Freight Learn about the big trends shaping domestic transportation in 2025, including tariff impacts, shifting demand cycles, and the technology tools helping teams stay ahead. Read More!
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Our Year in Review
By the Numbers — Here’s What We Made Happen in 2025 —
4,938,978+ M I LE S D R IVE N
by our Owner Operators this year
98%
overall satisfaction rating from our customer
A
87%
of customers rate our communication as exceptional
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$100,000+ raised by the Rally for Kate Charity Golf Tournament
Celebrated 1 Year
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of Trailer Bridge Europe
2 First Missions Completed under the WEXMAC contract and USTRANSCOM PORTS contract with the Government Division
$102,000+ raised by the Rally por Puerto Rico Charity Golf Tournament
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NEW HIRES
Ave
Cheers to Our Team in 2025
94.14%
Average Utilization for RoRo
4.962% Increase YOY
Tony Kvasnicka
Kacy Swanson,
was named President of Trailer Bridge’s Ocean Division.
Vice President of Employee Services, was named to the Jacksonville Business Journal’s Class of 2025 40 Under 40.
Whitney Ennis,
Vice President of Government & Projects and Vice President of Caribbean were named 2025 Rock Stars of the Supply Chain by Food Logistics.
89.81%
Average Utilization for LoLo
3.0446% Increase YOY
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Vice President of Marketing, was named the Transportation Marketing & Sales Association’s Member of the Year
Chris Goss
Jacob Wegrzyn
erage Reefer Count per Sailing Read more about our 2025 highlights here.
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Every Townhall we celebrate standout sales achievements from across Trailer Bridge! These highlights showcase the dedication and hard work of our team members as they continue to ‘Make it Happen’ every day.
Joisy Rivera
Congratulations, Joisy! “Your work with Coca Cola has driven impressive growth, reaching 195 loads this year compared to 104 last year, with all new volume won from competitors and most moving northbound. Your new Southport NC to San Juan PR lane, already running at 5 loads per week, is projected to add about 260 additional loads in the coming year. Excellent job!” said Kyle Jones, Vice President, Sales
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Rosanna Amarante
Congratulations, Rosanna!
“Your work with Hayco delivered a 23% increase in volume across both northbound and southbound lanes, driving revenue to $4.5 million. That represents a 17% increase over 2024 and a fantastic achievement. Great work!” said Kyle Jones, Vice President, Sales
Congratulations to
Jason Trubenbach NDTA President’s Award Winner
Jason Trubenbach, Director of Trailer Bridge Europe, has been awarded the NDTA President’s Award for his outstanding leadership in strengthening collaboration between the U.S. Government, NATO, and industry partners. Jason, a 21-year NDTA member and current President of the Europe/ Africa Region, established the first Europe/Africa Regional Committee, unifying logistics and transportation efforts across airlift, sealift, surface, and passenger travel. Congratulations, Jason, on this impressive achievement!
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Jacksonville Daily Record Honors
Mitch Luciano as 2025 Trailblazer
CEO, Mitch Luciano, was recognized as a 2025 Trailblazer by the Jacksonville Daily Record. The award honors leaders whose exceptional achievements, leadership, and success set them apart and positively impact their communities. Congrats, Mitch!
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Here are a Few Recent Shoutouts!
TB Bucks
Annette Moldonado: “She is a rockstar on our team, she is always willing to lend a helping hand & when we are short staffed, she always does everything to make it happen. she is great at what she does & I love having her as my colleague!”
Each month, you have the opportunity to recognize a teammate whose dedication, positivity, or support made a difference. Whether they made your day brighter, your workload lighter, or simply made the workplace better, send them a TB Buck and let them know their efforts matter!
TB12: Be Fast and Accurate
Going the Extra Mile
Click here to submit a TB Buck today!
Corey Richards: “Even on days he is extremely busy, or his team is shorthanded, Corey ALWAYS shows up to support. He is always there to answer my questions and does so with an infectiously positive attitude!” TB12: Deliver Exceptional Service to Everyone
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TB Supports Wreaths Across America Trailer Bridge Drivers Kenneth Fooshee and Thorin Bratton joined the Wreaths Across America convoy this year, helping deliver wreaths for the annual ceremony honoring our nation’s veterans. This year marks Kenneth’s 11th time participating, while Thorin is joining for the first time.
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TB Collects Coats for Job Corps Students This month, Trailer Bridge collected 12 coats to support students at Job Corps, an education program for young adults that we proudly partner with. Many students live oncampus with limited resources, and warm clothing is something they often go without. Thank you to everyone who donated and helped make a difference this winter.
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2026 Vision Board Workshop Kick off the new year with creativity and intention! Join us for our 2026 Vision Board Workshop on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 12:30 PM in Conference Room 100. Can’t make it at lunch or want extra time? Stop by Conference Room 100 from 5:00–7:00 PM to work on or finish your board. Please note: Lunch will not be provided, feel free to bring snacks. Email Becca for More Information!
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Woman’s Self Defense Class with JSO Join us for an empowering Women’s Self-Defense Class hosted by JSO on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, from 4:00–6:00 PM in Conference Room 100. This upbeat, confidence-building session is open to all experience levels and focuses on practical skills in a supportive, fun environment. Remember to wear comfortable clothes! Email Becca for More Information!
Medicare Education and Q&A Webinar Navigating Medicare can feel complicated…but you don’t have to do it alone! Join our Medicare Education and Q&A Webinar hosted by Hylant on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, from 2:00–3:00 PM. This session is open to Trailer Bridge employees and their family members approaching Medicare age. Email Becca for More Information!
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Common Reasons to Update Your Tax Setup
Tax Tips
Update Your Tax Info in Paycor Accessing Tax Forms Download your tax forms in Paycor by clicking W2 above your alerts when you log in.
Updating Your Tax Setup Your tax setup determines how much federal and state tax is withheld from each paycheck. You can review or update your information at any time under Pay & Taxes > Taxes in your employee dashboard. *Important W-4 Reminder* There will be a new W4 form in 2026.
What’s New Child Tax Credit: The Child Tax Credit has increased to $2,200 per qualifying child. Employees with eligible children should review Step 3 of their W-4.
• Had a baby? Adjust your dependents to claim eligible child tax credits (up to $2,000 per qualifying child under 17). • Changed marital status? Update your federal filing status (e.g., “Married filing jointly” or “Single/married filing separately”). If both you and your spouse work, be sure to review the “multiple jobs” box. • Multiple jobs or household income changes? When income comes from more than one source, each job may withhold as if it is your only income, which can result in underwithholding. You may want to adjust your W-4 or add additional withholding. • No federal taxes withheld? Consider adding extra withholding to help avoid owing taxes or potential penalties at year-end. • Received a large refund or owed taxes last year? A large refund may mean too much was withheld during the year, while owing may indicate not enough withholding. Updating your tax setup can help better align withholding with your actual tax liability.
New Deduction Options: Employees may now account for: • Overtime or tip income • Interest paid on a personal car loan
Even without major life changes, reviewing your tax setup once a year can help prevent surprises at tax time.
Click Here for More Information
This information is provided for general informational purposes and is not intended as legal or tax advice. The payroll team can process updates entered into Paycor but cannot advise on how to complete your W-4. You should consult your personal tax advisor before or use IRS resources for individualized guidance.
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UPCOMING EVENTS December 31 New years Eve
January 1 New Years Day Offices Closed
January 7 TBWELL: Vision Boards
January 20 Women’s Self Defense Class
February 3 Medicare Education Webinar with Q&A
REMINDER
January is National Mentoring Month Learn how Trailer Bridge approaches Mentoring through our Building Bridges program, here. Registration for our 2026 Building Bridges Program will open in January! Be sure to sign up to lean into your professional and personal growth in the new year ahead.
The Marketing Team wants your feedback, suggestions or stories for next month’s Bridge please send to @Group–Marketing
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Don’t Forget to Follow Trailer Bridge!