In this episode of the Let's Talk Supply Chain podcast, John Conrad, Chief Revenue Officer at Evans Transportation, shared how the company combines four decades of logistics expertise with cutting-edge technology to help clients succeed.
Founded 40 years ago as one of the first freight brokers in the U.S., Evans became a pioneer in transportation management systems (TMS). Their original platform, “Mother,” laid the groundwork for today's tech-first strategy.
Now, Evans operates as both a people and technology company, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, innovation and customer focus.
Customer-Centric Logistics
Evans’ ideal clients are companies that view transportation as a critical, yet non-core, function. These partners value technology integration and strategic support. Evans’ customer advisory boards reinforce this, inviting open dialogue and helping shape solutions tailored to real business challenges. Their approach prioritizes employee empowerment and breaking free from legacy thinking.
Tackling Industry Challenges
Evans addressed key logistics hurdles:
- Tariffs and evolving parcel expectations demand flexible, reliable strategies.
- Their parcel team provides carrier-agnostic solutions amid rising speed and pricing demands.
- In response to cargo theft, Evans uses GPS, sensors and real-time tracking for added protection.
- For high LTL damage rates, they optimize routes and consolidation to reduce handling and costs.
Balancing Automation with Human Connection
Looking ahead, Evans said he sees automation handling routine tasks like driver negotiations, but emphasized that relationships and trust remain at the heart of logistics.
