The TA Difference: Lessons from TA Leadership – Chris Bahr, VP, Brokerage Operations

The last stop on our Lessons from Leadership series is a Q&A with Vice President of Brokerage Operations, Chris Bahr. In this final interview, we chat with Chris about our achievements over the last 35 years and get a glimpse of what is to come for TA Services.

Q: Chris, during your journey to TA Services, you held various roles at Coyote Logistics, Access America Transport, and Transfreight. Your career in logistics has spanned many roles from brokerage and sales to pricing strategy and business intelligence. Because of your in-depth knowledge of multiple aspects of the logistics industry, you’re able to maximize operational efficiency throughout the entire TA Services organization – something we discussed as being of utmost importance in warehousing logistics during our most recent interview with VP of Warehousing Operations, David Bowers. Since joining TA, you’ve led a team dedicated to providing value-adding solutions and exceptional customer service, leading to sustainable relationships with both customers and carrier partners. Can you tell us what makes TA Services a top 3PL provider of choice for customers in need of logistics services?

A: The answer to this question can be summarized in one word: SERVICE. In an age where digitization of freight has become the new hot topic in our industry, these models lack the human element of customer service that our customers and carrier partners have grown to expect. That’s not to say there’s not a place for automation to help drive efficiencies, but we view these tools as supplemental to our most important asset – our people. We will continue to adapt and evolve but our team members will always be what sets us apart from our competition.

Q: What’s the most pivotal change you’ve witnessed to date – technological or otherwise –that has helped shift the supply chain industry as we know it?

A: Real-time visibility into a shipment’s location has become essential for both shippers and transportation providers over the last 10 years. The evolution of tracking capabilities has allowed both shippers and transportation providers to react quickly to potential delays and implement solutions to mitigate the negative impacts to freight brokerage and warehouse logistics operations. From a pure brokerage perspective, Real-time tracking has allowed our team members to spend less time on the tedious task of continuous phone calls to determine a shipment’s current location and instead spend their time developing relationships and providing value for our customers and carrier partners.

Q: TA Services has changed in many ways from our humble beginning as a freight brokerage back in 1986. Since joining the PS Logistics family in 2014, we’ve seen a merger of Sellers Logistics (referred to now as our Managed Transportation division) and acquisitions of Celadon Logistics, Top Gun Freight, and most recently Scout Logistics. We’ve been named a Top 100 Third-Party Logistics Provider for 2020 by Inbound Logistics, a Transport Topics’ Top 50 Freight Brokerage Firms 2 years running, and most recently we were recognized as a Bronze Stevie Award Winner in the 2021 Stevie Awards for Great Employers. Reflecting back on our accolades and our journey to becoming a full service 3PL provider, what stands out to you and makes you most proud to be a part of the TA Team?

A: The growth of TA Services over the last several years has been remarkable to witness and be a part of, but being recognized as a Great Employer by our team members is what makes me most proud. Generally speaking, as a company grows, it becomes more difficult to maintain employee satisfaction. TA Services will continue to ensure that our people are engaged and satisfied with their work experience, and we will also continue to create opportunities for our team members to grow both personally and in their respective careers.

Q: It’s clear TA Services has much to be proud of when we reflect on our last 35 years of servicing North America’s freight logistics needs, but we’d love a lookahead. Where do you see TA Services headed in our next 5 years?

A: TA Services will continue to focus on creating the best experience in the industry for our customers, carrier partners and employees. We will continue to grow and adapt to the ever-evolving logistics industry by adopting and creating value-adding technologies, all while never losing sight of what differentiates TA Services from other logistics providers – our amazing team members.