Ferguson Announces First Annual Carrier of the Year Award Winners (original) (raw)
Celebrating Excellence in Service and Innovation Across the Transportation Network
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Ferguson is proud to announce the recipients of its inaugural Carrier of the Year Award. This award celebrates the top carriers in our network for their exceptional service, strong operational skills, and smart use of technology to boost efficiency. Their achievements show how essential dedication, innovation and teamwork are in moving the logistics and transportation industry forward, setting a standard that inspires everyone across the field.
Michael Jacobs, Senior Vice President for Supply Chain at Ferguson, expressed excitement about celebrating these remarkable companies. “Each winner has played a vital role in strengthening our supply chain and supporting our customers with quality service. Consistently going above and beyond, they have proved themselves as standout leaders. Dedicated to operational excellence, they drive meaningful improvements across the industry, and we’re proud to honor their contributions as they continue to shape the future of logistics."
Ferguson chose recipients based on their performance in critical areas such as customer satisfaction, continuous improvement, communication, on-time delivery and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) compliance. Here are the recipients for this year:
Truckload Carrier of the Year: Werner
Werner demonstrated operational excellence, achieving a 98% controllable on-time delivery rate while evolving its fleet to meet Ferguson's project success vision. Their flexibility to add box trucks, lift gate trailers, and Power-Only capacity has significantly improved efficiency. In critical moments like Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Werner showcased its ability to adapt through responsive, on-site management and proactive communication.
“We are honored to be named Ferguson’s inaugural Carrier of the Year in the Truckload category. This award recognizes our unwavering commitment to safety, reliability and exceptional service. We're proud of our collaboration with Ferguson, a company who shares the same dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction. Together, we're delivering beyond expectations.” – Derek Leathers, CEO, Werner
Photo courtesy of Ferguson: Werner – (from left to right) – Front Row: Michael Jacobs, SVP of Supply Chain Ferguson; Pat Kortus (holding the award), Operations Supervisor; David Simons, VP of Global Logistics Ferguson. Back Row: Jim Waszak, Senior Vice President – Dedicated; Eric Downing, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer; Pete Mullenburg, Director – Dedicated; Kevin Schwarting, Vice President – Dedicated.
LTL Carrier of the Year: Estes
A long-time partner of over 20 years with Ferguson, Estes has consistently delivered excellent customer service and top-tier performance, maintaining a 95% on-time delivery rate, which is well above the network average. Their executive involvement, proactive business reviews, and collaboration on projects like density scanners and liftgates have improved efficiency. Estes' local terminals have built strong relationships with Ferguson's distribution centers, ensuring smooth operations and timely pickups.
"I am so honored that Ferguson has named Estes its 2024 LTL Carrier of the Year. We have been partners with Ferguson for the past 20 years, and I believe our long-term collaboration speaks to the level of trust we've built as our companies have grown and evolved these past two decades. This ongoing partnership has allowed us to provide high quality service, innovative technology solutions, and exceptional support to Ferguson's customers over the years and we're thrilled that these efforts are being recognized. I am so proud to share this news with our amazing team of 24,000 Estes strong teammates!" – Webb Estes, President and COO, Estes
Photo courtesy of Ferguson: Estes – (from left to right) – Front Row: Michael Jacobs, SVP of Supply Chain Ferguson; Rob Estes President and CEO Estes (holding the award); David Simons, VP of Global Logistics Ferguson. Back Row: Nick Palmucci, Director of Domestic Transportation Ferguson; Mike Gebhard, Director of Corporate Accounts; Rick Owens, Senior Corporate Account Executive; Mark Watson, VP of Corporate Accounts.
International Ocean Carrier of the Year: Schenker
Schenker raises the bar for international logistics, consistently going above volume allocations and coordinating across origins to minimize delays. The company's proactive communication and solution-driven approach, from managing export projects to adjusting pricing, make it a trusted partner in the global supply chain. With an 87% EDI performance score, Schenker remains a leader in international logistics.
“We are truly honored to be recognized as Ferguson’s International Ocean Carrier of the Year. This award reflects our team’s commitment to excellence, our drive for innovation in logistics technology, and our dedication to delivering exceptional service. Our close collaboration with Ferguson has been instrumental in achieving streamlined supply chain efficiencies and impactful results, making this partnership one we greatly value. We look forward to continuing our partnership and achieving even greater results in the future." – Peter Nordstrom, Head of Ocean Services, Americas Region, Schenker
Photo courtesy of Ferguson: DB Schenker – (from left to right) – Michael Jacobs, SVP of Supply Chain Ferguson; Steven DeBrabander, Director Corporate Accounts; Cassandra Stoffle, Operational Key Account Manager (holding the award); Peter Nordstrom - Executive Vice President (holding the award); David Simons, VP of Global Logistics Ferguson.
The awards were presented on December 10 during a special ceremony in Newport News, Virginia, home to Ferguson’s headquarters. The event brought together industry leaders, executives, and representatives across the logistics sector.
Jacobs added, “In an ever-changing transportation landscape, these carriers have redefined excellence in the logistics industry.” Their leadership extends beyond our network, setting new standards for innovation and efficiency that challenge us to think bigger and deliver better results. By integrating advanced technologies with outstanding service, they are propelling the entire industry forward.”
As Ferguson grows and evolves, the Carrier of the Year Award will become a yearly tradition, recognizing those who truly represent the excellence that fuels the progress of the logistics industry.
Let’s Talk Logistics Excellence
Accredited media are invited to schedule an interview with Michael Jacobs, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain, or one of our award recipients. We’d be delighted to discuss how these exceptional carriers are shaping the future of transportation and setting new standards for service and efficiency. Due to the volume of inquiries, please note that non-media inquiries, including sales calls, will not be forwarded. We appreciate your understanding.
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Post 1: 🎉 Celebrating Excellence in Logistics! 🎉
Ferguson announces the winners of its first-ever Carrier of the Year Awards! 🏆 Werner, Estes and Schenker have set new standards for service, innovation and teamwork, proving what’s possible when dedication meets operational excellence. 👏
Check out their stories and how they’re shaping the future of the transportation industry:👉 https://tinyurl.com/fergcarrierofyear2024 #Logistics #SupplyChainExcellence #Innovation #FergusonAwards 🚛⚓✨
Post 2: 🚚 Cheers to Our Outstanding Carriers! 🚢
We’re thrilled to honor Werner, Estes and Schenker as the inaugural recipients of Ferguson’s Carrier of the Year Awards! 🏆 Their commitment to innovation, efficiency and exceptional service inspires us and drives the logistics industry forward.
📖 Discover how these leaders are making a difference:👉 https://tinyurl.com/fergcarrierofyear2024 #CarrierOfTheYear #ExcellenceInLogistics #Teamwork #Innovation 🚛⚓🌍