Last2First Podcast

In this inspiring Last to First Podcast episode, Jason Burns sits down with AL Baptiste, President & CEO of 24/7 Enterprises, LLC and CLDA board member, to talk about his remarkable journey from Haiti to leading a multi-market final mile company. We cover his entrepreneurial story, scaling into multiple states, breaking into healthcare logistics, navigating government contracts, the power of p...

🔥 This isn’t your typical logistics interview. Welcome to the Hot Seat edition of the Last2First Podcast, where we combine spicy wings with even spicier insights. Jason Burns sits down with Chris Heffernan, CEO of Dlivrd, to talk business, culture, tech — and try to survive five levels of hot sauce. From humble beginnings as a solo founder delivering Philly cheesesteaks, Chris now leads Delivered...

🔥 This isn’t your typical logistics interview. Welcome to the Hot Seat edition of the Last2First Podcast, where we combine spicy wings with even spicier insights. Jason Burns sits down with Chris Heffernan, CEO of Dlivrd, to talk business, culture, tech — and try to survive five levels of hot sauce. From humble beginnings as a solo founder delivering Philly cheesesteaks, Chris now leads Delivered...

AI is here — and the logistics industry better be ready. In Episode 26 of the Last2First Podcast, Jason Burns sits down with George Shultz, a veteran logistics leader and tech-forward thinker, to talk about the AI and robotics wave that’s reshaping the final mile. From Figure.ai’s bipedal robots sorting packages at BMW’s Spartanburg plant to China mandating AI education in schools, this episode ex...

🚨 In-Season Exclusive with Openforce In our first-ever in-season exclusive, we sit down with Wendy Greenland, CEO of Openforce, and Carly Fleisher, VP of Strategic Accounts, for a powerful and eye-opening conversation about risk, compliance, and the future of the independent contractor model in the final mile industry. We cover: ✅How small mistakes — from dispatcher language to payment workflows...

EPISODE 25 – LARRY ZOGBY | RDS DELIVERY In this masterclass-level conversation, Jason sits down with Larry Zogby, the legendary CEO of RDS Same Day Delivery, also known as The Magic Man. With 38 years in the final mile game, Larry drops raw wisdom on everything from knowing your numbers to building a culture that lasts. 🔑 In this episode, you'll learn: Why knowing your numbers is the key to sayin...

Have you ever written a college paper that turned into a business? Mitch Miller did — and it changed his life. In Episode 24 of the Last2First podcast, host Jason Burns sits down with Mitch, VP of Package Express, to unpack his incredible journey from student entrepreneur to respected logistics leader. 02:00 Introduction and Welcome 02:26 Guest Introduction: Mitch Miller 03:36 Mitch's Role at Pack...

We kick off Season 3 with a legend in the final mile industry — Mike Gualtieri, a Hall of Famer, past CLDA President, and the founder of Pro Courier. From starting out in 1980 as a Sky Courier sales rep to building and exiting Connecticut Courier, to launching Pro Courier, Mike has seen the courier industry evolve from paper-heavy overnight runs to mission-critical cold chain and same-day work. 01...

In this Off-Season Exclusive episode of Last2First, we're diving into one of the most talked-about controversies in the final-mile space: the legal battle between two major industry players. Our guest, Pete Fidopiastis, COO at SCI and a former trade secret attorney, brings receipts — literally — and gives us a raw, inside look at what's happening behind the scenes. 🔥 This episode covers: 📍The ri...

What do EDM, hot dogs, and food-grade supply chains have in common? Rob Stevens. In this episode of Last2First, host Jason Burns sits down with Rob Stevens, Vice President of 3PL at McLane Global, to unpack one of the most compelling journeys in supply chain leadership—from slugging it out in CH Robinson’s freight boiler rooms to leading enterprise-level warehousing and transportation in the food...

Tim Cocchia, COO of Excel Delivery Services, joins Jason Burns for one of the most honest and insightful conversations we've had yet. From inheriting his family’s final mile business, scaling it to $20M, losing it, and rebuilding in tech and operations, Tim’s journey is filled with real lessons for operators at every level. We cover it all—pricing, IC vs. employee models, risk management, automati...

Welcome to Episode 3 of our Dispatch Science mini-series on the Last to First podcast! In this final episode, Jason Burns sits down with Arthur Axelrad to explore how the right Transportation Management System (TMS) is more than just software—it’s your competitive edge. We dig deep into: ✅How to quickly import and price RFPs with built-in route simulation tools ✅Why shippers are demanding real-t...

In this episode of the Last2First Podcast, host Jason Burns sits down with Carly Fliesher, Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships at Walmart. Carly shares her incredible journey — from early days at DDI to now managing over a million drivers through the Walmart Spark Driver program! 🚚✨ 3:06 Introduction and Guest Welcome 4:03 Carly Fleischer's Career Journey 5:09 Walmart's Same-Day Delivery In...

🚀 Episode 3 of the GigSafe Mini-Series Is Live! In this powerful final installment, Jason Burns sits down with David Pickerell, CEO of GigSafe, to talk about where the puck is going in the final mile—and how GigSafe is becoming the system behind growth for tomorrow’s logistics leaders. 🎯 Topics in this episode: How GigSafe is saving delivery companies 20–30 hours/week in compliance time Why ship...

🔥 Episode 3 — The Final Chapter in the ADLINC Mini-Series On this episode of the Last2First Podcast, Jason Burns wraps up the powerful 3-part series with ADLINC founder Dave Douglas, diving deep into what really sets their workforce solutions apart in the final mile space. 👉 What we cover in this episode: Why compliance & training are non-negotiable How ADLINC’s centralized team model builds...

What happens when the business you helped grow... lets you go? In this raw and revealing episode, Jason sits down with longtime friend, mentor, and former second-generation logistics leader Eric Donaldson. It’s one of the most transparent and personal episodes of the season. Whether you're a founder, family business owner, or final mile operator — don’t miss it. 01:47 Introduction and Special Gues...

In Part 2 of our Last2First mini-series with CUI Insurance, Jason Burns sits down again with Tanner Owens, one of the nation’s leading brokers in captive insurance. If you're a Final Mile business frustrated with rising premiums and feeling like your strong safety record gets you nowhere — this episode is for you. We unpack: 🔒 What captive insurance actually is — and how it’s different from tradi...

Welcome back to Part 2 of our exclusive Last2First tech mini-series, sponsored by Dispatch Science. In this episode, Jason Burns sits down with Arthur Axelrad, Co-Founder and CEO of Dispatch Science, to dig deep into the real operational pain points delivery business owners face daily. We’re talking about: ✅ Route optimization for multi-vertical delivery models ✅ Reducing dispatch staff burden t...

In this episode of the 'Last2First' podcast, host Jason welcomes Amit Gir, the co-founder and CEO of PHOX Health. Amit shares his extraordinary journey from being a board-certified internal medicine physician to creating an innovative tech-enabled logistics company. Discover how PHOX Health integrates technology with operations to streamline complicated medical deliveries, ultimately enhancing pat...

🚨 Episode 2 of the GigSafe Mini-Series is live! In this episode of Last2First, host Jason Burns and GigSafe founder David Pickerell take a deeper dive into the real reason insurance rates are crushing final mile companies — and how GigSafe is helping businesses and drivers save money through smarter compliance, tech integration, and access to affordable, tailored coverage. From Occupational Accid...

💼 Back with Part 2 of the ADLINC Mini-Series! In this episode of Last2First, host Jason Burns and David Douglas from ADLINC break down exactly what happens after you decide to partner with a remote logistics coordinator — and why final mile companies are turning to ADLINC to scale faster and smarter. 🔑 Whether you're struggling to staff overnight dispatch, driver recruiting & onboarding, or...

From the Dock to the Top: Richard Whitlock’s 50-Year Journey in Final Mile Logistics 🚚 In this episode of Last to First, Jason Burns sits down with Richard Whitlock, President of CX Logistics, a division of Courier Express and one of the largest 3PLs in the final mile space. Richard’s incredible 50-year journey — from sweeping trailers and driving trucks to running a national logistics operation...

🚨 Welcome to Episode 1 of our exclusive CUI Insurance Mini-Series on the Last2First podcast! If you own or operate a final-mile delivery business, this episode is a must-watch. Host Jason Burns is joined by Tanner Owens, President & CEO of CUI Insurance Agency, to break down why the final mile space is considered one of the riskiest sectors in transportation — and what you can do about it. 💡...

How to solve the Last mile delivery problem, How to solve the final mile problem, Last mile delivery, Final mile Delivery business Welcome to a special mini-series on the Last2First Podcast! In this sponsored episode, Jason Burns sits down with David Pickerell, Founder & CEO of GigSafe, to explore one of the most pressing challenges in the last-mile industry—driver onboarding, compliance, and...

Welcome to Season 2 of the Last2First podcast, where we dive deep into everything Final Mile — from your first delivery to your last. In this special mini-series on technology, sponsored by Dispatch Science, Jason Burns sits down with Arthur Axelrad, Co-Founder and CEO of Dispatch Science. They unpack Rod's journey into the logistics space, the game-changing ideas behind Dispatch Science, and how...