THE BRIDGE
Trailer Bridge Employees
‘Make it Happen’ During ILA Work Stoppage
Trailer Bridge was the only Puerto Rican carrier in Jacksonville impacted by the ILA’s labor union work stoppage at the start of October. However, our team pulled together to implement a contingency plan to ensure we maintained our duty as a Jones Act carrier to deliver goods to the people of Puerto Rico.
In the three days of impact members from the following teams stepped up to ‘Make it Happen’: Employee Services, Logistics, Sales, Marketing, Government, Truck Ops, Customer Experience, Owner Operators, Maintenance, Safety, and the Executive team. Thank you to EVERYONE who stepped up to serve the needs of our neighbors on the island and our customers!
TB Leaders Share Tips for Navigating Disruption
Trailer Bridge CEO Mitch Luciano and President of Logistics Eric Masotti recently sat down with Whitney Ennis, VP of Marketing, to discuss the importance of supply chain adaptability and offer their leadership tips for navigating disruption.
The conversation covered a wide variety of topics including responding to a natural disaster and prioritizing your employees, the importance of communication in times of uncertainty as well as their lessons learned in 20+ years in logistics.
Did you miss it? Watch the full webinar on-demand here
Where in the World is Trailer Bridge?
Teams from across TB Nation were busy this past month attending industry events to promote our service offerings by connecting with prospects and building relationships with current customers. Here’s a quick round-up of all the events attended in October!
The Government & NVOCC teams were in St. Louis for the National Defense Transportation Association’s (NDTA) Fall Meeting where they met with military leaders as well as key stakeholders at our partner organization who handle military contracts and government freight.
Jason Trubenbach, Director of Trailer Bridge Europe, leads a dynamic panel during NDTA on ‘Collaborative Approaches for Rapid Response in Europe & Africa,’ discussing strategies to strengthen military transportation and civil preparedness through seamless government-industry collaboration.
NDTA Fall Meeting
In the booth photo from L to R: James Cox, Chad Yarbrough, Coulson Vaughn, Zach Monger, Chris Goss, & Jason Trubenbach
Our VP of Marketing & Communications Whitney Ennis attended the Transportation Marketing & Sales Association’s Executive Summit in New York where she learned key strategies for account-based marketing to help grow the business. A TB-customer, CoAqua, was featured on the event’s exclusive shipper’s panel where they shared their perspectives with sales and marketing leaders.
Members from across our Logistics offices as well as our Sales team were in Atlanta for the Global Produce & Floral Show. The team spread out across the show to meet with all types of food and beverage businesses to talk about our dry van and reefer service offerings.
In the booth photo from L to R: Samuel West, Patrick Cioffi, Jake Langlois, Sidney Klimko, Mike Preamble, Kyle Jones, & Sebastian Auerbach
We Make Breakbulk Happen!
Trailer Bridge recently helped facilitate the movement of this oversized electrical turbine to Puerto Rico on our roll-on, roll-off barge supporting the ongoing efforts to restore sustainable energy on the island.
The piece was trucked to the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) by our partners, ATS International, where it was transferred to a mafi trailer for the ocean portion of its transport.
Tony Kvasnicka, Vice President, Ocean Operations, and his port team reinforced the barges lower deck to allow it to handle this overweight and over dimensional piece, opening more opportunities for TB to grow our breakbulk business. Great job team!
Whitney Ennis Featured on TMSA On the Move Podcast
Trailer Bridge’s VP of Marketing & Communications
Whitney Ennis was recently featured on an episode of the Transportation Marketing & Sales Association’s On the Move podcast. In her conversation with TMSA Executive Director Jennifer Karpus-Romain she talks about her career path, why she believes in the power of networking groups like the Propeller Club, and shares a lesson she’d give her younger self.
Click here to watch the interview on-demand.
Trailer Bridge supports the Taylor Farms inaugural Charity Golf Tournament!
Nashville Branch Manager, Clark Elkins, and Chris Nelson, Logistics Sales & Ops, attended the event to connect with customers, meet new contacts and enjoy a day on the greens with friends old and new.
Congratulations to Lynette Delgado on her recent engagement and marriage in October to her partner of four years, Jose Manuel Cruz! This joyous milestone marks a beautiful new chapter in their journey together. Wishing them all the best as they embark on this exciting adventure!
Our friends at Priority RORO stopped by for a visit in Jacksonville, to connect with the team and strengthen our ongoing partnership with exciting opportunities ahead.
When he’s not supporting our logistics customers, Morgan Mashburn, Logistics Accounting Coordinator, is the drummer in the band, Graves B’hamala that plays around Jacksonville. Congrats to Morgan and his bandmates on the recent release of their new song on Spotify, ‘Platinum Morning’! Click here to learn more about his band and their upcoming schedule.
The Marketing team with the help of their friends at the Corporate Office in Jacksonville recently held a ‘Sprinkle’ for Senior Creative Services Specialist Alejandro ‘Ale’ Rodriguez as he prepares to welcome a baby girl to his family. Baby Milena is expected to arrive in late November and is already so loved by her TB Family!
Our team members in the Dominican Republic, Nicole Tolentino and Jariel Marte, recently participated in a project created by the Ferries Foundation to support a Health Event held in the country on October 19. Our partner, Marine Express – via their Foundation of Ferries del Caribe – participated in the event which brings doctors, medical staff and medicine to the DR to help those who have medical conditions there. Thank you to Nicole and Jariel for helping the ‘Make it Happen’!
From Miss to Mrs! Join us in celebrating Account Manager Christy Mull, who tied the knot with her husband, Rand, on 10/19/24 in beautiful St. Augustine, FL! Wishing the newlyweds a lifetime filled with love, joy, and happiness.
Fall Festival Fun!
We kicked off the Thanksgiving season with a Family Fall Festival held at our corporate location at the end of October. Team members from across our Jacksonville locations enjoyed tasty treats, fun games and a family-photo opp. The afternoon’s festivities were filled with smiles, hugs and lots of fun for kids of all ages. Thank you to Catherine Boyer Porter for organizing the event and to all those who helped facilitate the activities.
Celebrating our Drivers in Puerto Rico
The team in Puerto Rico recently celebrated the drivers who ‘Make it Happen’ on the island with a special Driver Appreciation event! Our Director of Safety & Risk Management, Jimmy Raulerson, and Cheryl Gurliaccio, Senior Safety Manager, attended the event and helped the team pass out some new swag to our partner drivers. The event was well attended and included delicious food and drinks, and a lot of smiles and laughter.
TB Well Highlight
Diabetes Awareness
November is National Diabetes Month, a time to raise awareness about diabetes and emphasize the importance of prevention, management, and support. With millions affected, it’s essential to focus on:
• Understanding risk factors and how they can impact your health.
• Early detection through regular screenings and monitoring.
• Healthy lifestyle choices like balanced nutrition and regular exercise to reduce the risk and manage diabetes.
Let’s use this month to encourage one another to prioritize wellness and support those living with diabetes for a healthier future.
Here are a few resources to help you find additional information:
• American Diabetes Association
• CDC | Diabetes
• NIH | Diabetes
Wellness Champion Spotlight
Congratulations to Becca Sutton on being named a 2024 Wellness Champion by Healthiest Employers! Kacy Swanson shares, “Becca’s passion for our team’s well-being shines through every day. She’s always learning, energizing our culture, and motivating us to stay engaged. From finding the right resources and partners to fine-tuning what really works, she’s constantly moving our wellness goals forward.” Thank you, Becca, for making our team’s well-being a top priority!
It’s that time of year. Open Enrollment! Benefit Minute
This year’s Open Enrollment window will take place from November 22 to December 2. During this window, the Employee Services team will provide information about the benefits packages being offered to you for 2025 and help you make your selections.
Keep an eye on your inbox for important information and updates as we get closer to the dates.
Our Skill Enhancement & Employee Development (S.E.E.D.) program delivers microlearning content straight from your Paycor Learning Management System each month to support a culture of learning.
This month’s S.E.E.D. focus is all about Decision Making and Service Excellence. This is a great time to sharpen your skill set and reset to achieve the goals you laid out for the year.
November Courses:
• Making Meetings Matter
• Customer Loyalty
• Helping Yourself & Others Through Change
Find these classes and more in your Paycor portal under the People tab on your left-hand search bar. In this section, you’ll see ‘Learning Management System’ which unlocks these benefits for you.
If you have trouble accessing your learning, reach out to Catherine Boyer Porter at ckporter@trailerbridge.com
Don’t miss our next Smart Meeting, ‘Navigating Logistics Accounting’
hosted by Melissa Morisson, Director of Logistics Support, on Nov. 20, 2-3 p.m. EST.
TB Bucks: Pass Along the Gratitude
Has a coworker made a difference in your day? Take a moment to recognize their commitment to service with a TB Buck! Each month, you can send one TB Buck to someone whose efforts have made your day brighter, your job easier, or the workplace better.
Here are a few of the shoutouts from this past month:
“I just wanted to take a moment to recognize Artemio Agosto and thank you for always being by my side and helping me. Your support and assistance mean a lot to me, and I truly appreciate all that you do. It’s great to have a colleague like you, and I’m grateful for your dedication and teamwork. Thank you so much for everything!”
“Danny Torres has been a huge addition to the KC office and is a big key in us covering the loads that we cover. He is also a great account manager and ensures to keep his customers notified and happy with the service!”
“Blake Brown started just two weeks ago and has fulfilled our hopes for when we made a decision to hire him. He is a great addition to our team!”
“Connor Leach consistently goes above and beyond to ensure all processes are in place with his accounts and helps everyone in the office push for more. Appreciate you and all of your work since I’ve gotten on.”
Sales Spotlight
The following individuals have done a great job building relationships and securing large customers – setting the stage for a strong finish to 2024!
Congratulations to Paola Lanfranco, Logistics Sales & Ops, from our Dallas Branch for being spotlighted this month for her work to land not one but two new accounts since joining the company in July 2024. She is working on drayage and over-the-road trucking solutions for FreightCan Logistics USA and CYC Logistics who have a combined annual projection of 485 loads per year generating an estimated $640,000.
In her new hire interview, Paola shared her superpower is a positive attitude and these results are proof of the importance of attitude.
The 2024 Q3 Customer Survey responses are in with customers giving raving shout outs to team members from throughout TB Nation! Here are the people who were named for delivering exceptional service to their customers:
Adela Hysaj
Aidan Fahey
Alicia Gamez
Andres Santaos
Baylor Sullivan
Christy Mull
Clap Poole
Dallas Team
Dency Montalvo
Denigh Elizabeth
George Moore
Jake Fuelling
Joisy Rivera
Justin Marques
Lynette Delgado
Ruben Montero
Russell Guy
Sebastian Auerbach
Terry Mickey
Here are a few of the customer quotes, a full Q3 report with all the responses will be available later this month:
“I have always had a great experience working with Andre Santos. His transparency and honesty really helps with the ‘trust factor,’” and is very appreciated.”
“My personal experience with TB is very good. I want you to recognize your team member Alicia Gamez. She is always available to help me and give me support in all areas. Alicia is a valuable active in your company.”
“Christy and Adela do a great job responding quickly when we need answers.”
“Clay Poole and Sebastian Auerbach on a daily basis go above and beyond to support my business. Regardless of time, request or type of request they continue to go above and beyond which allows for our business meet daily needs. Sebastians ability to come up with ‘out of the box’ suggestions in order to support our business while looking at overall costs has been a welcome to myself and my teams.”
“I like working with Justin Marques, because he replies fast and provides the things that I need.”
Emiliano Robles
For the month of October, the Truck Operations Department would like to congratulate Emiliano Robles. Emiliano is a very responsible and helpful driver. He is very flexible at the time we offer any loads to him and he “never say no”.
We recognize and express our sincere appreciation for your contributions to our company, your hard work and dedication. We say thank you because we are grateful to have you on our team.
This month the Truck Ops team shared a special quote for us all to consider as we celebrate our Driver of the Month:
“A truck driver always knows how far he is from home. No matter where he is at.” -Johnny Napier
TB12 of the Month:
Build Open & Honest Relationships with Communication
“To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.”
– Tony Robbins
Glossary Term of the Month:
Demurrage:
Definition: A charge applied to containers that are left at the port or rail yard longer than their allotted free time, or past the “Last Free Day.”
Marcellis Jewett from our Kansas City is in the ‘Chicken Lights’ this month for fearlessly stepping into Carrier Sales and ‘Making it Happen’ for our customers. Here are some key stats that show why he was featured this past month:
• To-date, Marcellis has booked 1,245 loads this year; 144 last month alone
• He booked 100 cross-booked loads in September
• He averaged 14.8 bounced loads –this number is lower than our average top 25 rep.
• He used 71 carriers for every 100 loads for the month of September. Lower numbers for this stat are key, and Marcellis continues to move this number down from where he started in January 2024.
When Carrier Relationship Manager Mike Davis asked him what motivates him, Marcellis said this, “The only way to do great work is loving what you do. I love what I do and doing what I love for a company that I am grateful to be a part of.”
New Hires
Jason Farmer
LOGISTICS SALES AND OPERATIONS
Brokerage Jacksonville
Tristan Elkins
LOGISTICS ANALYST
Brokerage Corporate
Vinny Manzi
LOGISTICS SALES AND OPERATIONS
Brokerage Jacksonville
Hannah Willingham
LOGISTICS SALES AND OPERATIONS
Brokerage Jacksonville
Raicel Rodríguez
TRAILER MECHANIC, I
Equipment Maintenance, Corp
Promotions
Zachary Smith
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Brokerage Intermodal-Dallas
November 2024 Upcoming Birthdays
NOV 2
Trey Oliver
NOV 3
Tom Mayfield
NOV 4
Terry Mickey
November 6TH
BOOK CLUB SESSION 1: UNREASONABLE HOSPITALITY
November 11TH
VETERANS DAY
November 20TH
BOOK CLUB SESSION 2: UNREASONABLE HOSPITALITY
November 20TH
SMART MEETING: NAVIGATING LOGISTICS ACCOUNTING
2:00 PM
November 28TH
THANKSGIVING
November 29TH
US OFFICES CLOSED
Brian Mullins
Ryan Giblin
NOV 6
Kiet Chau
Monica Gutierrez
NOV 8
Inga Hysaj
NOV 10
Randall Womack
Erica Grigg
NOV 11
Jeff Vaugh
Jasmine James Ruben Montero
NOV 13
Carissa Latorre
NOV 14
Karelis Cardona
Will Harrison
Cole Larsen
NOV 16
James Cox Paola Lanfranco
NOV 17
Jamie McLennan
NOV 18
Patrick Cioffi
Work Anniversaries
Trevor Bearup
Steve Lee
Mitch Luciano
Jeff Vaughn
Mike Preamble
Tony Kvasnicka 7
Bailey Ellington 6 Years
Roberto Trevino
Juan Díaz
Joe Hardy
Diana Mejia
NOV 21
Greg Kleffner
NOV 23
Raul Reyes
Chase Smith
NOV 24
Robert Flockerzi
Aren Felix
NOV 25
Jacob Wegrzyn
NOV 27
Sylvia Torres
NOV 29
Miguel Sanchez
Scott Clay
NOV 30
Dahlia Sarmiento