How far can mentorship, grit, and people-first leadership really take you in the logistics industry? Matt West proves it can take you all the way to the top.

In this episode of Miles and Mentors: A Trucking Podcast, host Alex talks with Matt West, CEO of Route Consultant, about his journey from entry-level roles to leading one of the most dynamic consultancy firms in the route-based logistics space. With over 20 years in the automotive sector before jumping headfirst into logistics, Matt shares what it took to start over, scale fast, and lead with vision.

Listeners will get real insights on how Route Consultant helps buyers, sellers, and operators build successful delivery businesses — whether it’s FedEx, Amazon, bread routes, or waste and medical logistics. This is a masterclass in mentorship, smart scaling, and navigating logistics without burning out.

 

 

Episode Highlights:

📍 00:00:00 – Meet Matt West, CEO of Route Consultant 📍 00:01:05 – From automotive to logistics: Matt’s career pivot 📍 00:02:54 – Starting at the bottom and climbing to the top 📍 00:03:20 – Route Consultant's origin: By contractors, for contractors 📍 00:04:57 – Key mentors who shaped Matt’s leadership 📍 00:06:00 – Why how you treat people defines your success 📍 00:07:40 – Clients, verticals, and how Route Consultant diversifies 📍 00:08:51 – Why it all starts with education and training 📍 00:10:06 – Helping new business owners lay the right foundation 📍 00:12:09 – Free resources, real value: Why mentorship matters 📍 00:15:14 – Burnout to breakthrough: Making a career feel right 📍 00:16:00 – Why logistics is a stable industry worth betting on 📍 00:17:02 – Bringing people-first leadership into logistics 📍 00:18:22 – When (and how) to know you’re ready to scale 📍 00:21:53 – Common pitfalls when growing too fast 📍 00:25:13 – The best time to bring in a consultant? Before you start 📍 00:30:18 – Autonomous trucks and drones: Hype vs. reality 📍 00:34:41 – Why contractors will always be essential 📍 00:36:23 – How to get started with Route Consultant

 

 

🎙 About Our Guest:

Matt West is the Chief Executive Officer of Route Consultant, a leading consultancy and brokerage firm specializing in logistics businesses. With a background in automotive and a passion for leadership, Matt rose through the ranks at Route Consultant from broker to CEO. His focus today is on helping owners scale sustainably, stay compliant, and lead with intention across FedEx, Amazon, bread, medical, and waste logistics verticals.

📍 Website: https://routeconsultant.com📍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-west-a88961129/ 

 

 

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