From Sales Rep to Logistics Addict

A Decade of Lessons Learned and Adventures in the Industry

Picture this: I was a fresh-faced, wide-eyed sales representative, just starting out in the world of logistics. I stumbled into carrier factoring and quickly found myself engrossed in conversations with drivers and owner operators, listening intently to their stories and experiences on the road. I was hooked. But it wasn't until a year later, when a rapidly growing FTL team in Overland Park, KS caught my attention, that I knew I had found my true home.

Walking into the interview, Kendrick Lamar blasting from the speakers and a fully stocked bar in sight, I was already grinning from ear to ear. It was like walking into a party, and I knew I wanted in. I applied for an account manager position, but it was the carrier sales representatives who really caught my eye. As I made my way down the hall to meet them, I could hear the buzz of energy and excitement growing louder and louder.

And then I saw it. It was like stepping into the Wolf of Wall Street. People were shouting out bids left and right, one hand holding a phone receiver and the other waving in the air. There were even coworkers playing catch in the open space, which was yet to be filled with desks for new hires. The music was blaring, the energy electric. In that moment, I knew without a doubt that I wanted to be a carrier sales rep.

But the road ahead wasn't easy. I faced setbacks and failures, constantly being outbid and struggling to secure loads. But with the help of my manager, who took me under his wing and taught me the ropes, I gradually got better and better. I began to win competitions for margin and load count, and eventually reached Major account rep status faster than any other rep in the history of the company.

And then, after months of hard work and dedication, I achieved my greatest triumph yet: I became the top rep for five consecutive months, and won the Q3 Truckload contest for most growth in a quarter. I was on top of the world.

Now, nearly a decade into my logistics career, I look back on those early days with a sense of gratitude and amazement. The growth and learning I've experienced has been incredible, both professionally and personally. And I am determined to use my knowledge and experience to help others in the industry, just as I was once helped. Logistics isn't just a career for me – it's a passion, a way of life. And I wouldn't have it any other way.