65 years. Three generations. One leader's turn to modernize or get left behind.

In this episode of Last of First Podcast, Jason Burns sits down with David Hardy, President & CEO of Bonnie Speed Logistics, one of the longest-running courier companies in Ohio, founded in Cleveland in 1959.

David's path was anything but straight. Hampton University. Purdue chicken processing lines. New Jersey food manufacturing. Then home — to take over a legacy business that needed a new culture, new systems, and a bold new vision.

We get into:
Taking over a 65-year family business and rebuilding the culture from scratch
Outsourcing night dispatch AND accounting — what changed immediately
Building Cleveland's first DC Level 3 EV fast charging station as a new revenue stream
The 2016 accident that rewrote his entire approach to risk & compliance
Why routes beat on-demand every time for margin and predictability
The medical linen vertical nobody else in the last mile is talking about
A real conversation about legacy, leadership, and what it takes to drag a family business into the future.

👉 Subscribe for real last-mile logistics strategy and courier business growth insights
👉 Comment "LEGACY" if you're building or running a family business
👉 Comment "ROUTES" if predictable margin is your focus right now

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last mile logistics, courier business, logistics entrepreneur, family business, delivery service business

how to grow a courier company, medical courier business, last mile delivery margins, outsourcing dispatch, logistics route vs on demand, how to run a family logistics business

entrepreneurship podcast, family business legacy, third generation business owner, founder stories, CEO mindset, Black owned business

EV charging stations logistics, medical linen delivery, Bonnie Speed Logistics, Cleveland courier company, outsourcing night dispatch, logistics compliance risk, nuclear verdicts trucking, last mile route business

33 years. One partner who went bankrupt. Millions left on the table. And zero regrets.

In this episode of Last of First Podcast, Jason Burns sits down with Steve Howard — 2026 CLDA Hall of Fame inductee, former owner of Esquire Express in Miami, and current Director of eCommerce Solutions at WCA, the world's largest freight forwarder network with 13,500 members across 197 countries.

Steve built his courier business from scratch at 23 years old with nothing to lose — legal courier work, medical runs during Hurricane Andrew, air cartage, big & bulky e-commerce — and watched margins get gutted by three PLs, commoditization and Chinese-backed competitors willing to lose money just to grab market share.

He's seen it all. And he's not holding back.

We get into:
✅Why he walked away from a 33-year business and never looked back
✅How Hurricane Andrew turned a cargo van into his biggest account overnight
✅The three PL model that squeezed his margins from 24% down to 4%
✅What Chinese-backed delivery companies are doing to last mile pricing right now
✅Why volume without value will eventually destroy your business
✅How WCA connects last mile carriers directly to freight forwarders — and why the margin difference is massive
✅The partner who went bankrupt and left him holding millions in SBA loans
✅A masterclass in survival, reinvention and knowing exactly when to walk away.

👉 Subscribe for real last mile logistics strategy and courier business growth insights
👉 Comment "MARGINS" if the race to the bottom is hitting your business right now
👉 Comment "WCA" if you want to learn more about unlocking international freight opportunities

CHAPTER MARKERS
00:00 - Introduction & CLDA Hall of Fame Moment
03:30 - His Dad Surprises Him at the Ceremony
07:00 - What Is WCA? 13,500 Members, 197 Countries
12:00 - World Parcel Alliance: Cutting Out the Brokers
18:30 - Starting Esquire Express at 23 in Miami
24:00 - Hurricane Andrew and the Diesel Run to South Miami Hospital
29:30 - First eCommerce Client: IKEA in 1999
34:00 - How 3PLs Crushed Final-Mile Margins
40:30 - Chinese Competitors Charging $2.20 Per Delivery
46:00 - The Business Partner Collapse That Cost Him Everything
54:00 - Why He Finally Sold Esquire Express After 33 Years
60:30 - Every Account Must Stand on Its Own
65:00 - His "Last to First" Moment

📌 Shoutout to our Sponsors!
Dropoff Inc.
https://www.dropoff.com/
[email protected]
+1 888-376-7633

GigSafe
https://www.gigsafe.com/
+1 407-496-9882

Deliver Different
https://deliverdifferent.com/

SCI
https://sciadmin.com/

CXT
https://cxtsoftware.com/

Primary
last mile logistics, courier business, logistics entrepreneur, delivery service business, freight forwarder network

High-Intent Search
how to sell a logistics business, last mile delivery margins, courier business exit strategy, freight forwarder last mile, WCA logistics network, how to grow a courier company, logistics gross margin benchmarks

Discovery / Viral
entrepreneurship podcast, business exit story, founder stories, CEO mindset, how I built this, logistics Hall of Fame, built from scratch

Episode-Specific
race to the bottom logistics, three PL margin squeeze, Chinese delivery companies US market, CLDA Hall of Fame, WCA World Cargo Alliance, Hurricane Andrew Miami, air cartage logistics, SBA loan business failure

Zero experience. Zero contacts. Zero clue how to run a courier business.
He bought a $1M last mile logistics company anyway , and 14 years later walked away with a private equity exit.

In this episode of Last of First Podcast, Jason Burns sits down with Walker Allen, founder of A3 Holdings and former owner of Specialty Freight & Courier — a logistics entrepreneur who built a medical courier network from scratch, survived a recession, fought an independent contractor misclassification lawsuit, and managed 1,500 drivers inside a PE-backed last-mile platform.

We get into:

-Why $10M is the danger zone for every courier business
-The gross margin benchmarks every logistics operator needs to know
-What private equity REALLY looks like inside a last mile company
-The misclassification lawsuit that changed everything
-Why you can NOT save your way to profitability in last mile delivery
-Where AI and consolidation are taking the courier industry

👉 Subscribe for real last mile logistics strategy and courier business growth insights
👉 Comment "EXIT" if you're building toward a sale
👉 Comment "MARGINS" if profitability is your focus right now

📌 Shoutout to our Sponsors!
Dropoff Inc.
https://www.dropoff.com/
[email protected]
+1 888-376-7633

GigSafe
https://www.gigsafe.com/
+1 407-496-9882

Deliver Different
https://deliverdifferent.com/

SCI
https://sciadmin.com/

CXT
https://cxtsoftware.com/

What if you could build a profitable business from scratch—without experience, tech skills, or a huge investment?

In this episode, Rebecca Massicotte, founder of Red Fox Medical Courier, shares how she went from Wall Street burnout to building a multi-city healthcare logistics company—serving critical patient care operations across the U.S.

You’ll discover:

• 
  How she started with just a website and one client
• The truth about the medical courier industry (and why it’s booming)
• How she scaled to 25+ cities and 100+ drivers
• The mindset shift that took her from “delivery service” to patient care business
• Hidden opportunities in last-mile logistics most people overlook
  
  

This isn’t just a business story—it’s a masterclass in thinking bigger, moving faster, and building something that actually matters.

👉 Whether you're an entrepreneur, looking for a new income stream, or curious about the logistics industry… this episode will open your eyes.

KEYWORDS

Primary

last mile logistics, medical courier business, courier company, delivery service business, logistics entrepreneur, healthcare logistics

High-Intent Search

how to start a medical courier business, how to scale a courier company, courier business tips, logistics company growth strategy, how to grow a delivery business, operations management small business

Discovery / Viral

entrepreneurship podcast, business success stories, founder stories, startup to scale, CEO mindset, real business talk, woman entrepreneur, Wall Street to entrepreneur

What does it really take to take over a family business and scale a logistics company?

In this episode of Last2First Podcast, we dive into last-mile logistics, delivery service businesses, and business growth with a second-generation owner who stepped into leadership and transformed operations.

We talk about:
•Taking over a family business the right way
•Scaling a logistics company in a competitive market
•Leadership transition and real challenges
•Why most delivery businesses struggle to grow
•How service becomes your biggest advantage

This is a real conversation about entrepreneurship, logistics, and building a business that lasts.

Subscribe for real founder stories and business growth insights
Comment "GROWTH" if you're building or scaling your business. 

📌 Shoutout to our Sponsors!
Dropoff Inc.
https://www.dropoff.com/
[email protected]
+1 888-376-7633

GigSafe
https://www.gigsafe.com/
+1 407-496-9882

Deliver Different
https://deliverdifferent.com/

SCI
https://sciadmin.com/

CXT
https://cxtsoftware.com/

Amanda Factor is a third-generation logistics leader, sales expert, and now VP of Sales & Business Development at Hackbarth Delivery Systems. In this episode of the Last2First Podcast, she breaks down what it really takes to grow, price, and scale a last mile business in today’s market.

From growing up in the Chicago Messenger legacy to helping scale a $50M operation, Amanda shares real-world lessons on sales, operations, pricing strategy, and navigating industry disruption.

This episode dives deep into:

✅Building a logistics company from the ground up
✅Why most salespeople fail in last mile
✅The reality of razor-thin margins
✅Family business vs PE-backed companies
✅What it takes to scale across markets
✅And how to actually win in logistics sales
✅If you're in the final mile, delivery, or logistics operations this is a must-watch.

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction to Amanda Factor02:15 – The Chicago Messenger legacy (family business origins)
05:30 – Growing up in logistics & leadership lessons
09:10 – Learning the business from the ground up
13:45 – What actually makes a great salesperson
17:30 – Pricing strategy: “Know your numbers”
22:10 – Scaling refrigerated & specialty logistics
26:40 – Selling the family business (Needed Now deal)
32:15 – Transition to Geodis & culture shifts
38:20 – Running a 400-driver operation
44:10 – Why a profitable business was shut down
49:30 – Moving to Florida & starting over
 53:20 – Building a sales strategy from scratch
 58:10 – How to scale across 45 markets
 1:02:30 – Why diversification is critical in logistics
 1:07:00 – Margin pressure & industry challenges
 1:12:15 – Gig economy vs traditional delivery
 1:17:40 – Women in logistics: then vs now
 1:21:30 – Reputation, leadership & long-term success
 1:25:10 – Amanda’s “Last2First” moment

🎧 Listen & Subscribe:
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@Last2FirstPodcast
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3gDS58wo6IWeLl48LHukdP
🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/hn/podcast/last2first-podcast/id1778491941
🏈 Join the Huddle: www.l2fhuddle.com

📌 Shoutout to our Sponsors!
Dropoff Inc.
https://www.dropoff.com/
[email protected]
+1 888-376-7633

GigSafe
https://www.gigsafe.com/
+1 407-496-9882

Deliver Different
https://deliverdifferent.com/

SCI
https://sciadmin.com/

CXT
https://cxtsoftware.com/

In Part 2 of this Last2First Off-Season Mini Series, we go deeper with Chuck Moyer, President of Task4Pros, into a topic most operators overlook:

👉 Risk. Liability. And the true cost of labor.

From workers’ comp exposure to OSHA compliance to misclassification risks, this episode breaks down what’s really at stake when you don’t have the right labor model in place.

In this episode, we cover:

Why using 1099 labor in warehouses can create serious liability
How Task4Pros protects companies with a W2 workforce model
What happens when accidents occur—and who is actually responsible
How to reduce workers’ comp exposure and improve safety outcomes
The true cost of labor (beyond hourly rates)
Lessons learned from real operational challenges and turnarounds

This is a must-watch for anyone operating in final mile, warehousing, or supply chain.

📅 Part 1https://youtu.be/TZhi63gPSao?si=28cOGVYGQJzOyPs8
📅 Part 2 (this episode) – NOW LIVE

👉 Watch the full episode + join the Huddle:
www.l2fhuddle.com

Start your 7-day free trial and connect with industry leaders like Chuck Moyer inside the community.

#Last2First #Task4Pros #ChuckMoyer #Logistics #SupplyChain #Warehousing #RiskManagement #WorkersComp #FinalMile #3PL

In this special Last2First Off-Season Mini Series, we sit down with Chuck Moyer, President of Task4Pros and CLDA Hall of Famer, to break down one of the biggest challenges in logistics today: labor.

This isn’t just about staffing.

It’s about building real operational capacity in your warehouse and supply chain.

In Episode 1, we cover:

Why labor shortages are getting worse in logistics

✅The difference between staffing, gig labor, and true workforce solutions
✅How Task4Pros helps companies improve performance, reduce risk, and scale faster
✅What most companies are getting wrong about labor strategy

Task4Pros is redefining how companies think about labor by combining technology, workforce management, and operational expertise.

📅 Episode 1: March 17
📅 Episode 2: March 31

👉 Learn more about Task4Pros: https://www.task4pros.com/
👉 Connect with Chuck Moyer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crmoyer/

🔥 You can also connect with Chuck inside the L2F Huddle
Start your 7-day free trial: https://www.l2fhuddle.com

#Last2First #Task4Pros #ChuckMoyer #Logistics #SupplyChain #Warehousing #FinalMile #Staffing #LaborStrategy #3PL

In this episode of the Last2First Podcast, Jason sits down with Lance Dearborn, founder & CEO of Take 2 Logistics (Central Florida), for a masterclass on people, numbers, and scaling the final mile the right way.
Lance shares his origin story dropping out of high school, rebuilding his life with a plan, earning an accounting degree and Master’s in Taxation, then making the pivotal decision that changed everything: buying a courier company instead of becoming a CPA.

From there, he breaks down how he grew a business from ~$1M to $25M, expanded to multiple states, built proprietary tech that unlocked scheduling scale, and why “the scoreboard” matters more than opinions. He also opens up about selling Fast Mile to Need It Now, the transition into a big-company structure with Geodis, and why he came out of retirement to launch Take Two Logistics driven by loyalty and the people who built the journey with him.

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Intro: “Numbers guy” + why Lance is respected
01:10 What is Take Two Logistics? (on-demand + point-to-point in Central Florida)
03:10 Coming out of retirement in 26 days
04:30 Doing it with his wife, Tina
06:10 Lance’s origin story: dropping out, then rebuilding with a plan
08:10 Accounting degree + Master’s in Taxation (CPA path)
09:25 The pivot: buying Fast Mile at 26 years old
11:10 The early model: rush/on-demand in the pre-email era
12:45 On-demand declines → the shift into “Final Mile” before it had a name
14:25 First warehouse + “I’ll never fill it” moment
16:05 Scaling to 250k sq ft in Orlando + multi-state growth
17:25 500+ drivers + the $25M run
18:40 Leadership: “Right people on the team, right positions”
20:15 How Lance identified the Florida distribution model
22:20 Aggregating lanes + making the numbers work
24:30 The key: anchor customer to support the warehouse
26:10 Contractor model vs W2 (and why it mattered)
28:10 The real struggle: scheduling, missed appointments, route blowups
30:00 The breakthrough: taking over the software + building a scheduling module
33:05 Why software is the most important tool in logistics
35:10 Numbers don’t have bias people do
36:40 The “scorecard vs scoreboard” story (and how it changed everything)
40:20 Exit strategy: valuing the business + improving EBITDA
43:10 “Urgent vs Important” + working from home on Fridays
45:40 Selling Fast Mile to Need It Now (and knowing the number)
48:10 Need It Now model: keep entrepreneurs running their markets
50:20 Cross-selling: making 1+1=3 without forced integration
52:00 Building Final Mile Complete (nationwide 3PL)
54:10 Geodis acquisition: what Geodis wanted + contract logistics explained
56:10 Big-company structure vs entrepreneurial speed
58:40 Why Lance launched Take Two: loyalty is a two-way street
1:01:10 Lessons from 40 years + “meetings to discuss meetings”
1:03:10 The book: “It IS Whether You Win or Lose… AND How You Play the Game”
1:07:10 Lance’s Last2First moments (3 pivotal decisions)
1:09:30 Closing: Take Two Logistics + final thoughts

🎧 Listen & Subscribe
📺 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@Last2FirstPodcast
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3gDS58wo6IWeLl48LHukdP
🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/hn/podcast/last2first-podcast/id1778491941
🏈 Huddle: www.l2fhuddle.com
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Website: www.dropoff.com | Email: [email protected] | Phone: (512) 291-8883
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Website: www.deliverdifferent.com
SCI
Website: https://sciadmin.com/

In this special, unplanned studio session, Jason sits down with Dr. Dominic Morais, a longtime friend from Vanderbilt and a leader in talent development and organizational culture (San Antonio Spurs).

This episode goes beyond the “X’s and O’s” of business and gets into what most leaders avoid: the person behind the company trust, care, accountability, emotional intelligence, and the internal drivers that shape performance.

Dom breaks down practical frameworks leaders can actually use:

• Trust = competence, care, character
• Work = results, processes, relationships
• Why leaders must coach instead of control
• How to build a culture people buy into (and perform in)
• Operating from love vs fear and why that changes everything

⏱️ Timestamps 

00:00 – Surprise studio session: “No notes, no cards, not even the branding”
02:00 – Meet Dr. Dom Morais: Tesla, Spurs, culture & people development
06:10 – The #1 leadership struggle: forgetting it’s always about people
09:30 – “Work is results, processes, and relationships”
12:20 – Trust framework: competence, care, character
16:40 – Why data alone doesn’t persuade (and what actually does)
20:30 – Vulnerability, fear, and leading from love vs fear
26:10 – Internal motivation vs external validation (and identity cliffs)
31:40 – Why leaders avoid self-reflection (and how trust opens it up)
36:20 – Emotional intelligence: self-awareness → self-management → social awareness
42:10 – Coaching vs telling: “That’s not a question, that’s a suggestion”
47:40 – Building leaders who can operate without you
52:20 – Burnout, culture measurement, and why it impacts the bottom line
56:30 – Accountability gets easier when people know you care
01:00:40 – Dom’s coaching clinic (Feb 26): building sustainable high performance
01:04:10 – Carl Jung quote: roots, darkness, and integration
01:09:20 – Dom’s “Last to First” moment + redefining success
01:13:30 – Final message: check in with yourself then lead your people

🎧 Listen & Subscribe:
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@Last2FirstPodcast
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3gDS58wo6IWeLl48LHukdP
🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/hn/podcast/last2first-podcast/id1778491941
🏈 Join the Huddle: www.l2fhuddle.com

📌 Shoutout to our Sponsors!
Dropoff Inc.
https://www.dropoff.com/
[email protected]
+1 888-376-7633

GigSafe
https://www.gigsafe.com/
+1 407-496-9882

Deliver Different
https://deliverdifferent.com/

SCI

https://sciadmin.com/