Answer extracted from the Empowering Industry Podcast - A Production of Empowering Pumps & Equipment podcast — listen to the full episode below.
How should companies evaluate and select a logistics provider for their operations?
Start by clearly identifying your specific needs—whether you prioritize cost control, creative routing options, or a one-stop solution encompassing air, ocean, customs clearance, and crating services. Mid and larger clients benefit most from a freight forwarder that consolidates all services while enabling direct relationships with consistent service professionals.
Understanding your operational priorities
Every company's logistics requirements differ fundamentally. Some organizations are laser-focused on minimizing freight spend, while others value flexibility and creative problem-solving over rock-bottom rates. Identifying which factor drives your business is the foundation of selecting the right partner.
A logistics provider that excels at cost optimization may not offer the breadth of services you need for complex international shipments. Conversely, a full-service forwarder might carry overhead that inflates your costs if you only need basic domestic trucking. Understanding where your company stands on this spectrum—and what pain points matter most—shapes every decision that follows.
The relationship factor and service continuity
Consistency of human contact matters deeply in logistics. When your shipment is critical, knowing you'll always speak to the same knowledgeable professional who understands your account history and preferences is invaluable. This is where mid-sized and smaller freight forwarders often outperform massive global networks, where your inquiry might be routed through three departments before reaching someone familiar with your operation.
As Chet Piazza explains in the episode, clients increasingly seek partners who can think beyond standard solutions. Building a real working relationship with your logistics provider transforms how problems are solved—especially when an unusual shipment (say, a rare art piece or specialized equipment) requires outside-the-box handling.
"I pride myself on being able to think outside the box and present them with multiple options—like a travel agent for the cargo."
Chet Piazza — Logistics Professional, Pro Cargo USA. With nearly four decades in the industry since 1986, Piazza has mastered ocean, air, and domestic freight alongside customs operations. Based in Houston for over 18 years, he applies deep expertise across complex international shipments and non-standard cargo handling.
This "travel agent for cargo" mindset reflects how serious forwarders differentiate themselves. Rather than forcing every shipment into a standard lane, they explore creative routing, cost-saving combinations, and service bundles tailored to your unique constraints. That flexibility—and the trust built through repeated positive interactions—is why relationship-driven logistics partnerships often outdeliver on value despite potentially higher unit costs.
The selection process ultimately hinges on ruthless honesty about your needs and your company's growth trajectory. A small shipper might thrive with a nimble regional provider; a mid-size operation expanding internationally needs integrated services covered in the full episode discussion. The wrong fit—choosing a giant when you need agility, or a boutique operator when you need scale—compounds into months of friction.
To dig deeper into how real-world experience across multiple logistics channels directly informs better service delivery, listen to the episode for concrete examples of how Piazza's background in everything from ocean freight on the Panama Canal to customs clearance to crating operations shapes his approach to client problem-solving today.
See also
What value does relationship-based logistics management provide compared to large-scale forwarding operations?
Working with a mid to small forwarder provides continuity because clients build rapport with the same individuals servicing their accounts, avoiding the impersonal nature of large-scale operations where expertise and accountability can get diluted across multiple touch points.
How does experience in multiple logistics channels inform service delivery for complex shipments?
Chet learned every aspect of logistics including ocean, air, domestic shipping, and customs examinations early in his career in New Orleans. He applies this comprehensive foundation to handle complex, non-standard shipments that require creative solutions and deep operational understanding.
Why was Lubbock, Texas selected as the location for TACO's custom skid manufacturing facility?
Lubbock became a natural next step because TACO already had a facility there doing fabrication work for vertical turbine products with welding experience and existing infrastructure, making it the logical expansion point for custom skid operations.