Andrew Silver, host of The Freight Pod podcast, talks with Jim Berlin, CEO and founder of Logistics Plus. Jim discusses the company he founded in 1996 and has built into a global logistics powerhouse in more than 50 countries, with $600M in revenue, customers like GE and WeWork, and a global HQ in Erie, Pennsylvania’s Union Station. But success didn’t come without taking risks — and learning from failures. “I dive in with both feet without checking the depth of the water.”
In this episode, Jim and Andrew cover:
The journey of how Jim built his company from a small operation managing GE’s transportation into a global logistics powerhouse.
His biggest lessons, best leadership advice, and hiring mentality at Logistics Plus, which has more than 1,200 employees.
The biggest failure of his career — launching a cargo shipping business on the Great Lakes that nearly sank his entire company.
Stories of how simple gestures, out-of-the-box thinking, and creative problem-solving have sustained his career and the growth of Logistics Plus.
About The Freight Pod
The Freight Pod is a deep dive into the journeys of the transportation and logistics industry’s brightest minds and innovators. The show is hosted by Andrew Silver, former founder and CEO of MoLo Solutions, one of the fastest-growing freight brokerages in the industry. His guests will be CEOs, founders, executives, and leaders from some of the most successful freight brokerages, trucking companies, manufacturers, and technology companies that support this great industry. Andrew will interview his guests with a focus on their life and how they got to where they are today, unlocking the key ingredients that helped them develop into the leaders they are now. He will also bring to light the fascinating stories that helped mold and shape his experiences. Learn more and follow The Freight Pod at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2250931.
Jim Berlin pictured left of Penny Pritzker at the Ukraine Recovery Conference.
G-7 Governments Name 18 Business Leaders, including Logistics Plus CEO Jim Berlin, to New Advisory Council for Ukraine
This new initiative is to support Ukraine’s economic stability and growth and pave the way for future reconstruction.
ERIE, PA (June 13, 2024) – Logistics Plus, Inc. (LP), a global leader in transportation, logistics, and unique supply chain solutions, is proud to report that on June 11 at the International Ukraine Recovery Forum, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the launch of a new initiative to support Ukraine’s economic stability and growth and pave the way for future reconstruction, a Business Advisory Council of 18 business leaders from across the G-7 nations, Ukraine, and key donor states.
Logistics Plus Founder and CEO Jim Berlin is one of three business leaders from the United States appointed to this international Council, alongside fellow US representatives from Northrop Grumman and McDonald’s, under the capable leadership of Siemens CEO Dr. Christian Bruch.
Jim and Derek Berlin at the URC Conference in Berlin.
Jim was joined at the conference by Logistics Plus SVP of Global Government Solutions Derek Berlin. Penny Pritzker, Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery, served as Head of Delegation.
Of the initiative, Berlin said, “The first meeting of the Business Advisory Council brought together a group of committed and proactive business leaders, and I am confident that working together, we can serve as the ‘tip of the shovel’ of international business engagement in Ukraine at this critical time and onward to rebuild the country.”
In his welcoming remarks at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, Chancellor Scholz said, “The recovery of Ukraine is and has to be a business case too, and (those businesses) will be front and center to engage right from the start. Together with the United States, (this is) why we have taken the initiative for the Business Advisory Council. (It) will be the voice of the business community.”
Logistics Plus has over 70 employees across three locations based in Ukraine. Since the 2022 invasion, Logistics Plus has donated and raised over $1 million worth of total relief for Ukraine. Last year, working with an American oil and gas supplier, Logistics Plus managed the complex delivery of 22 thousand tons of gas pipes to Ukraine to help with infrastructure rebuilding efforts (as shown in the photos below).
Audio comments from Jim Berlin:
About Logistics Plus, Inc.
Logistics Plus, Inc. (LP) is a 21st-century logistics company and a leading worldwide provider of transportation, warehousing, fulfillment, global logistics, business intelligence, technology, and supply chain solutions. LP works in the background to help businesses manage their supply chains in a constantly changing world. Founded in 1996, today LP has annual global sales of over $600M with more than 1,200 employees located in 50+ countries worldwide. LP is recognized as one of the fastest-growing privately-owned logistics companies, a top 3PL provider, a top 100 logistics company, a top freight brokerage and warehousing provider, and a great place to work. With a Passion For Excellence™, its employees put the PLUS in LOGISTICS by doing the big things properly, plus the countless little things that together ensure complete customer satisfaction and success.
Logistics Plus and its founder and CEO, Jim Berlin, were featured in the February 21, 2024 issue of Erie Times-News newspaper. Logistics Plus COO Yuriy Ostapyak was also quoted in the article. A reprint is included below, along with a link to the online version.
Logistics Plus founder/owner and CEO Jim Berlin was profiled in the March 2023 edition of Smart Business Pittsburgh magazine. The article, written by Anthony Castrovince, titled “Fulfilling a Mission,” looks at how Jim turned a “whim into a win” when he created Logistics Plus, Inc. over 26 years ago. Last November, Jim was named to the Smart Business Pittsburgh “Smart 50” List. Jim was also previously recognized with a 2017 Smart 50 Award.
Logistics Plus is celebrating its 26th Anniversary this month. As many know, Logistics Plus would not be the successful, global company it is today without the entrepreneurial spirit, practical leadership, and daily coaching from our Founder & CEO, Jim Berlin.
This is the full 11-minute interview (previously shared as 14 separate video vignettes) of JB’s thoughts on leadership, entrepreneurship, growth, and more. The interview was for the upcoming EY Entrepreneur of the Year Program that is intended to recognize past winners (Jim won a regional award back in 2004).
Andrew Silver, host of The Freight Pod podcast, talks with Jim Berlin, CEO and founder of Logistics Plus. Jim discusses the company he founded in 1996 and has built into a global logistics powerhouse in more than 50 countries, with $600M in revenue, customers like GE and WeWork, and a global HQ in Erie, Pennsylvania’s Union Station. But success didn’t come without taking risks — and learning from failures. “I dive in with both feet without checking the depth of the water.”
