Last2First Podcast

Ladies and gentlemen, Last2First family… we’re closing out Season 4 with a heavyweight. Jeff Thomas is the President & CEO of Priority Dispatch, a second-generation leader who helped turn a one-vehicle operation serving Procter & Gamble in 1973 into a nearly $100M regional powerhouse in the Midwest. In this Season 4 finale, we sit down in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio to unpack: ✅The l...

Episode 40 – Daniel Gonzalez, President & CEO of US Messenger & Logistics Management Group + President of Olympic Logistics In this episode of the Last2First Podcast, Jason Burns sits down in Chicago with Daniel Gonzalez, a second-generation leader who now runs US Messenger, one of the dominant last mile providers in the Chicago market – and has recently acquired Olympic Logistics, a 3PL f...

What does it take to grow automotive delivery revenue from $300K to $1.6M in 90 days… and still sleep at night? In Episode 38 of the Last2First Podcast, Jason Burns sits down with Tony Carter, VP of Business Development at Principal Distribution and EVP of Axion Professional Solutions, to unpack a lifetime of lessons from the baseball field, the warehouse floor, and the final mile. Tony breaks dow...

In this episode, Jason sits down with Jim Bernecker, President & Chief Sales Officer of Relay Express, to unpack how a regional courier scaled across Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, and Louisville—and how they balance on-demand, medical/pharma routes, and a large-vehicle distribution arm. You’ll hear how Relay built density with cross-dock operations, why they’v...

Episode 36 is OUT TODAY! Host Jason Burns sits down in Chicago with Assif Hussain, Founder & CEO of Great American Delivery Service, for an unfiltered look at last-mile entrepreneurship: the immigrant grind, that first dock-door win, riding out cash-flow pain, and the real math behind 3PL vs direct customers. Assif came to the U.S. with $40 and big dreams. He learned the streets from a map boo...

In this episode of the Last2First Podcast, host Jason Burns sits down with Joel Pinsky, CFO of Global Messenger & Logistics and the current President of the Customized Logistics and Delivery Association (CLDA). Joel’s journey is anything but traditional — from starting as a CPA, then becoming a restaurateur, to finding his way into the final mile industry through a consulting role that changed...

This week Jason Burns sits down with Chuck Moyer — President of Task4Pros, CLDA Hall of Famer, and one of the most respected leaders in the final mile industry. With over 40 years of experience, Chuck has seen it all — from dispatching with wall cards and map books to leveraging AI, automation, and innovative labor solutions to scale businesses nationwide. In this episode, Chuck shares: ✅ How he...

Season 4 of the Last2First Podcast kicks off with Ryan Schwalbach, President at NOW Courier. Ryan’s journey as a second-generation owner is full of highs, lows, and tough decisions—including firing his largest customer just years after acquiring the company from his parents. In this conversation, Ryan shares raw insights on leadership, resilience, and navigating a courier business through change,...

n this Off-Season Exclusive, Jason sits down with Andy Tryba (Co-founder & CEO, Ionic Partners, the new owner of CXT Software) to answer the big questions: Why acquire CXT? What changes now? And where is last-mile tech headed next? We dig into: ✅How Ionic plans to double down on CXT’s product velocity (weekly releases, automated testing, AI-first engineering) ✅A vision for a truly autonomous...

In the third episode of our CUI Insurance mini-series, Jason Burns sits down with Tanner Owens, President of CUI Insurance Agency, to dive deep into trucking compliance, risk management, and how final-mile carriers can learn from trucking best practices. From CAB reports and FMCSA safety scores to workers’ comp E-Mod analysis, telematics, and return-to-work programs, this conversation breaks down...

Welcome to our first international episode of Behind the Mile! 🌍 In this special Bahamas edition, Jason Burns sits down with Ceri Howells, CEO of CLX Logistics, to explore how the islands are redefining last mile logistics. From the historic role of MailBoats to pioneering new tech-driven solutions like DomesticFreight.com, Ceri shares how The Bahamas is solving challenges unique to island econom...

Season 3 Finale with Mark Cossack (CEO, Priority Courier Experts). We dig into scaling a mixed fleet (“tissue samples to tractor trailers”), winning with on-demand dock trucks, lease-purchase programs, IC compliance, government affairs, and why “trends favor our industry”—but not the timid. Direct quotes from this episode: • “We can deliver freight at courier speed. They deliver freight at truckin...

Episode 31 of the Last2First Podcast features Ruth Correa, founder and CEO of Cheetah Final Mile and Tempo Courier. Ruth’s story is one of resilience, strategy, and growth. When the housing crash of 2008 wiped out her career, she pivoted into logistics while pregnant and built two successful delivery companies across South Florida and Kansas City. Today, she leads operations spanning final mile, m...

In this episode of the Last to First Podcast, Jason Burns sits down with Noah Alvarez, CEO of Alvy Delivers, to talk about building one of California’s fastest-growing final mile delivery companies. From launching a business with his brother, to navigating early struggles, to becoming a leader on the national CODA board, Noah shares his journey and the mindset that helped him rise quickly in the l...

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...