Due to its cyclical nature, the logistics industry is always changing and facing new challenges. At Terminal49, we know that staying ahead means bringing in the best people with the right mix of talent, experience, and deep industry expertise.
That's why we're excited to welcome Kyle Blount to our team as our new Customer Success Manager. Kyle is a seasoned logistics pro with a deep understanding of global supply chains. Before joining us, he worked at digital freight forwarder Flexport as an Enterprise Account Manager, helping customers streamline their shipping operations.
Intermodal shipping involves coordinating sea, rail, and truck transport while managing risks like delays, customs holds, and weather disruptions. Smooth transitions and real-time visibility are complex and require deep knowledge.
Kyle's expertise in these environments makes him perfect for the Customer Success Manager role. He will be a true partner and trusted consultant to our customers, helping them navigate challenges and optimize operations. We’re thrilled to have him on board.
From the Front Lines of Freight Forwarding
While Kyle's journey in logistics spans over a decade, he considers his stint at Flexport as one of the more challenging experiences.
There, he navigated the dual roles of operations and account management, where the hybrid position provided him with a unique perspective, bridging the gap between the technical aspects of moving containers and the crucial relationship-building with clients. "I wore two hats at Flexport," Kyle explains. "One day, I'd be deep in the details of setting up sailings and tracking containers across oceans. The next, I'd be strategizing with clients on how to optimize their supply chains and overcome challenges."
At Flexport, he was responsible for setting up sailings, managing delivery orders, and meticulously tracking containers from origin to destination.
This hands-on experience gave Kyle a unique understanding of the shipping challenges faced by businesses across different industries because he worked closely with all sorts of stakeholders, each with their unique set of logistical demands.
Navigating the Ever-Changing Market Landscape Where Timing is Key
Throughout his time at Flexport, Kyle witnessed first-hand the dynamic nature of the freight market and the unexpected shifts that have plagued the industry in recent years.
He managed a diverse client base, including shippers from various industries, each with unique logistical requirements. However, one of his most interesting clientele was the retailers, as visibility and delivery timing meant everything to them. "Ensuring containers arrived on time for product launches or major sales like Black Friday was absolutely critical," Kyle recalls. "Especially for direct-to-consumer brands with leaner inventory models, a delay of even a few days could significantly impact their bottom line."
Kyle's expertise in coordinating these intricate timelines ensured that products arrived at warehouses just in time, minimizing storage costs and optimizing inventory management.
This heightened awareness of timing and the need for precise coordination underscores Kyle's approach to customer success at Terminal49. He understands that every day counts in the fast-paced world of commerce, and he's committed to providing clients with the tools and insights they need to stay ahead of the curve.
Beyond Tracking: The Power of Predictive Visibility
“Tracking is super critical for everything we do with logistics. Flexport is very good at tracking shipments that move through its platform because it monitors all the information. However, it still wasn't perfect, as tracking could be difficult, especially with edge cases,” Kyle explains. “This was particularly challenging during the chaotic periods of 2021 and early 2022. Issues like containers getting demurrage or being pulled into customs hold without immediate knowledge would cause storage problems that we had to resolve after the fact.”
While tracking is still a work in progress everywhere, accessing information ahead of time, as we do at Terminal49, is mission critical. Unlike Flexport, Terminal49 is freight forwarder agnostic, as it integrates directly with terminals and leverages multiple data sources to provide shippers and stakeholders with a comprehensive view of the entire supply chain operation.
"It's about anticipating potential disruptions and proactively addressing them," he says. "That's where Terminal49's unique approach comes in. Through this multi-layered approach, the company ensures that clients have the most accurate and up-to-date information, allowing them to make informed decisions and avoid costly delays.”
Terminal49: A Game-Changer in Supply Chain Visibility
Kyle sees Terminal49's unique approach to tracking as a significant advantage for clients. By integrating directly with terminals and leveraging multiple data sources, Terminal49 ensures clients receive the most up-to-date and accurate information through its dashboard, even when carrier data might be delayed or incomplete. He believes incorporating weather data and rail tracking — a tracking system that details essential data such as milestones and attributes, including pickup availability, LFD, and rail ETA for North American rail carriers; into the predictive ETA model will further enhance the platform's reliability and value for shippers.
Prior to Flexport Kyle worked at StormGeo and worked with shipping companies to update their schedules based on the weather, ensuring the vessels arrived to port safely and on time. Using his over decade long experience in the shipping industry we at terminal49 are looking forward to improving our reliability and providing our clients with industry leading ETA accuracy".
As Terminal49 continues to innovate its shipment tracking solutions, Kyle's dedication to customer success and passion for innovation will profoundly impact the company. We envision a future where supply chains are more transparent, efficient, and resilient, and Kyle will play a significant role in making this vision of ours a reality.
