Trinity Logistics, a leading nationwide logistics provider, is pleased to announce the recent promotions of two key Team Members, Jake Lafferty and Dylan Banning, to Vice Presidents of their respective Regional Service Centers (RSCs). 

Jake Lafferty, who joined Trinity Logistics in June of 2019, has been promoted to the Vice President of the Texas RSC. In his previous four years of dedicated service as the Director of Sales in Texas, Jake played a pivotal role in driving growth within that Team. His wealth of experience, strategic mindset, and deep understanding of the logistics industry makes him an excellent fit for this elevated leadership position. 

“It’s been an exciting journey over the last four years leading the Texas Sales Team,” said Lafferty. “As I move into my new role, I’m excited to positively impact more people within the company. Trinity has given me and my family so much since I’ve joined. I view this new opportunity as a way to help preserve the culture and opportunities for other Team Members at Trinity, so they may have a similar experience as I did.”

Dylan Banning, a familiar face within the company, is taking on the role of Vice President at Trinity’s Minnesota RSC. Dylan’s journey with Trinity began in 2013 when he joined as an intern. Dylan’s strong dedication and impressive work ethic helped him climb the ranks, serving in various capacities, most recently as Director of Sales at the Delaware RSC, Trinity’s corporate location. Dylan’s proven leadership and commitment to Trinity, along with his familial ties to the Bannings, the original creators and owners of the company prior to 2019, showcases the legacy that still resides within Trinity’s culture today. 

“I feel extremely honored and excited for the opportunity to work with and lead the Minnesota Regional Service Center,” said Banning. “I’m grateful for the five-plus years spent in the Delaware office, where I was surrounded by amazing Team Members and leaders who continuously promoted growth and opened doors to opportunities across the company. I look forward to getting started in Minnesota and can’t wait to see what the Team will accomplish in the future!” 

“Jake has been a standout since his arrival to Trinity Logistics,” said Hayley Dobson, Senior Vice President of Trinity’s Regional Service Centers. “He’s been a major contributor in the development of our sales onboarding and training program, in addition to taking the Texas Team to benchmark performances. As for Dylan, he’s consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovative thinking, and a strong work ethic. He has a proven track record in both operations and sales, as well as a passion for the industry and developing the Team around him. I believe both internal moves will make a positive impact on their respective Teams and the company as a whole.”

Trinity Logistics congratulates Jake and Dylan on their recent promotions. The company looks forward to the growth and success their new roles will bring.  

Interested in working with an organization that is committed to you and your career growth?

About Trinity Logistics

Trinity Logistics is a Burris Logistics Company, offering People-Centric Freight Solutions®. Our mission is to deliver creative logistics solutions through a mix of human ingenuity and innovative technology, enriching the lives of those we serve. 

For the past 40 years, we’ve been arranging freight for businesses of all sizes in truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), warehousing, intermodal, drayage, expedited, international, and technology solutions.

We are currently recognized on Transport Topics’ Top 100 Freight Brokerage List, as a Top 100 3PL by Inbound Logistics, and as a Top Company for Women to Work for in Transportation by Women in Trucking.

Learn how to get the job you want post-graduating by elevating yourself as a candidate and effectively selecting the right opportunity.

Today’s market is complex, both for the employer and the employee. The average skilled candidate has a plethora of options to choose from when it comes to finding a new career. In the face of heightened competition for top talent, many employers have placed a greater focus on partnering with colleges and setting their sights on the recent college graduate.

As a recent college graduate, many might be telling you to consider yourself lucky to be coming into the job market at such a candidate-driven time. Yet, this sense of limitless opportunities can feel overwhelming and stressful.

But I’m here to help you. First, we’ll take a dive into how to best position yourself as a top candidate for your dream job.

Then, once we’ve established those ground rules and you’ve successfully landed some offers, we’ll talk through how to select the best employment fit for you and your future goals. No pressure at all; this is only one of the more important decisions you’ll make. It’ll be fun! Let’s jump in.

HOW TO GET THE JOB YOU WANT PART 1: POSITIONING YOURSELF AS A TOP CANDIDATE

Positioning yourself as a top candidate comes down to a few simple things. I’ll categorize it into three parts: Before, During, and After.

Prep

Many take the “apply to every position you come across with little to no prior research” approach. Law of numbers, and eventually, one of them will bite.

Personally, I advise against this method. Instead, sit down and write out what things you enjoy in life to pinpoint the type of role you would thrive in. Next, do a Google search of “best places to work” in your desired work location. Then put those two things together to find jobs you would actually enjoy with a company that aligns with your goals and values.

This will take a little extra time at first, but it’s worth it. In the law of numbers approach, you end up interviewing with any company that replies. Whereas here, you’ll spend more time dedicated to companies you are truly interested in.

Apply

Take a moment to tweak your resume to the job in question. Look for keywords in the job posting and find ways to add relevant ones to your skillsets and prior responsibilities.

I can’t stress this one enough, update any cover letter or objective so it aligns with the job you’re applying for! There’s nothing a recruiter dislikes more than opening a resume for a logistics sales position and reading that your goal is to land a medical billing job.

Ask for details

Ask for the details of your interview from whoever you initially speak with. Make sure you know who you’ll be meeting with, their title(s), the structure of the interview, and if there is anything you should bring with you.

Arrive early

Get there 5-10 minutes before the interview…not after.

Eye contact

Make lots of eye contact during the interview. Make it weird…but not too weird.

Be engaged

Show passion and excitement to be there and be considered for this position!

Follow-Up

Make sure to get emails from those who interview you. Shoot them a follow-up email later that day or the following to thank them for their time and consideration.

If you haven’t heard anything several days later, reach out once more to the most relevant point of contact, expressing your excitement about the opportunity and asking if there’s anything else they need from you.

If you receive a declination from a company, always handle it with grace. Thank them for the opportunity and express interest in being considered for future roles. This will leave the door open for something down the road versus burning any bridges by handling it poorly.

HOW TO GET THE JOB YOU WANT PART 2: SELECTING THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY

You’ve done it. The offers are rolling in, and now the ball is in your court. You have a couple of days to a week or two to make your decision. Here are some key factors you should use to select the best employment fit for you and your future goals.

Research

Look up company reviews through Indeed and Glassdoor. Any company will preach a positive culture but current and past employee reviews will give you a window into the real-life practice at that company. Most importantly, look for patterns. You’ll always have one or two who have a bone to pick but the patterns can show you if there is a real issue.

Stability

Now more than ever, people want stability in their careers. Research the company on current or past layoffs. This can provide insight. If a company has had some layoffs over the last several years, chances are they are quicker to go that route when the future is uncertain.

Culture

Take a look at the company’s mission statement and overall values. Ask questions during the interview process about promotion opportunities and ask those you interview with for their story.

This can provide insight into how the company views offering internal advancement opportunities. As someone going on 10 years with Trinity, having many lateral and vertical opportunities to promote to different positions and find my true passion in recruiting, it’s very easy to provide candidates with my stories and explain how attainable it can be for them as well.

Once you’ve gathered those stories and that information, use it in your decision-making process. Yes, the initial job and pay matter, but if your goal is long-term career growth, setting yourself up with a company that encourages and supports you will ensure you only have to read this blog once for a job hunt.

Benefits

Money matters, but make sure you find out about the full benefits package and take it all into consideration. For example, a higher base pay with significant out-of-pocket cost in benefits might come in under the slightly lower base offer of another company.

Ask to see the benefits package and ask about their 401K offering and company match. Ask about the company’s paid time off policy. These things might seem insignificant during the interview process, but trust me, they will become very important, very fast, once you start using them.

NOW YOU KNOW HOW TO GET THE JOB YOU WANT – GO GET IT!

Now that I’ve overwhelmed you with details let’s have a quick recap. Whenever this career search starts to feel like it’s too complicated, make it simpler. Go back to the basics.

It’s all about you thinking of the things you enjoy (and also the things you don’t enjoy) and coming up with jobs that would allow you to do those things. It’s about researching each company and remembering it’s the little things that will set you apart from your competition. People want communication. They want intentional action and passion for not only the job in question but your own personal goals and how you plan to achieve them.

At the end of the day, everyone involved in your interviewing process will be just that, people. So, shake off the nerves, update your resume objective, and go find your dream job. And, since you asked, yes, Trinity is hiring. 😊

Trinity Logistics is proud to share that it has received Comparably’s Best Company for Work-Life Balance and Best Company for Perks and Benefits Awards for Small/Medium sized companies for 2022.

“Trinity strives to create an environment where Team Members have the ability to focus on both work and  life,” said Jessica Wilson, Team Services Manager. “Company perks and benefits are one part of our company culture that supports flexibility and work-life integration.” 

Committed to being the best People-Centric freight solutions provider, that extends to Trinity’s Team Members who are the foundation to the services provided to shippers and carriers. Trinity’s culture is rooted on the principles of servant leadership and meeting the individual and diverse needs of Team Members.

Trinity offers the perks and benefits one would expect a company to, including medical, health and wellness programs, robust retirement savings plans, career advancement opportunities, tuition reimbursement and paid time off. Part of what makes Trinity different is additional paid time off for Team Members to serve their community, participation in the employee run non-profit, extended on-site education, mental health support, financial wellness programs, health benefits for four-legged pals through pet insurance and annual awards with the opportunity to win an all-expense paid trip each year. 

“Trinity’s leadership is focused on empowering our Team Members to be their best, unique selves and we are proud to be Different on Purpose,” said Megan Morgan, VP of People Operations. “It’s about living our purpose: Improving lives by constantly striving to be our best. We provide the tools for our Team Members to be their best and believe in having fun along the way.” 

0Comparably Awards are based solely on sentiment feedback provided by employees who anonymously rate their employer throughout the year. For both awards, the Top 100 highest-rated companies are recognized by Comparably. 

“According to our studies, having work-life balance and great perks and benefits are significant drivers of what employees want today in their workplaces,” said Comparably co-founder/CEO Jason Nazar. “Trinity Logistics’ award wins in these categories is a testament to the organization’s commitment to the needs of its people.”

Interested in working with an organization that is committed to you and your career growth?

About Trinity Logistics

Trinity Logistics is a Burris Logistics Company, offering People-Centric Freight Solutions®. Our mission is to deliver creative logistics solutions through a mix of human ingenuity and innovative technology, enriching the lives of those we serve. 

For the past 40 years, we’ve been arranging freight for businesses of all sizes in truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), warehousing, intermodal, drayage, expedited, international, and technology solutions.

We are currently recognized on Transport Topics’ Top 100 Freight Brokerage List, a Top 3PL and Cold Storage Provider by Food Logistics, and a Top Company for Women to Work for in Transportation by Women in Trucking.

About Comparably                                 

Comparably is a leading workplace culture and corporate brand reputation platform with over 15 million anonymous employee ratings on 70,000 companies. With the most comprehensive data on large and SMB organizations in nearly 20 different workplace categories – based on gender, ethnicity, age, experience, industry, location, education – it is one of the most used SaaS platforms for employer branding and a trusted third-party site for workplace culture and compensation. For more information on Comparably’s studies and annual Best Places to Work Awards, visit Comparably News.  

It wasn’t that long ago that Trinity acquired Scottsdale, Arizona-based Team Eagle Logistics as our newest and only West Coast office. While we’re excited to now have an office in Arizona, we’re most excited about introducing you to some of our new Team Members! I had the greatest pleasure in meeting and interviewing these folks and I can tell you that they fit right into our Trinity culture. So, let’s dive right into introducing some of our newest Trinity Logistics experts.

“I’m Tom Szoko and I’m a Business Development Representative. I work to find new customers, bring in new business, and work with our existing customers from Team Eagle to keep that relationship going for mutual benefits.”

“I’m Sylvia Kirchner and I’m a Logistics Assistant. I work in tandem with our lead sales representative and I book freight, or more specifically, schedule the appointments.”

“I’m Eugene Jackson and I’m a Logistics Specialist. I bring options and help move freight, by having a truck ready when a customer needs it for the right price.”

“I’m Dax Hunter and I’m now a Logistics Specialist at Trinity.”

“I’m John Meyer and I’m a Logistics Specialist.”

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING IN LOGISTICS? HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN YOUR CAREER?

Tom: “I started as a truck driver with United Van Lines. My dad and brother drove, so I kind of fell into it. I drove over the road for close to 20 years. I was then able to get a position at Atlas Moving Company and worked my way up to Director of Operations over there, but I eventually wanted something different. Team Eagle came up, and it was a good transition to this side of logistics.”

Sylvia: “Almost two years. I started as a social media coordinator for a tire company. And then the pandemic happened, and I decided to quit my job. I then had the opportunity to interview at Team Eagle. Meeting the team, I instantly knew it was going to be a good fit personality and environment-wise. It’s been really cool to see how much we’ve been able to accomplish as an office in the two years since I started working here.”

Eugene: “A little over a year as I started in February 2021. Funny story about how I got into it. Michael Gentile (owner of Team Eagle) and I both go to the same barber. I graduated college, and I let Michael know I needed help finding a job. I went to school for business law, and I’ve always had an interest in logistics but by the time I figured that out it was too late to change my degree. But I still found my way here!”

Dax: “Eight years now. I had a family member that was in logistics and when I graduated high school, she got me an interview. I failed my first interview but then got called back a month later and got my first job at Global Tranz. I was there for almost five years, then at Team Eagle for three years before becoming part of Trinity.”

John: “Since May 2021. I graduated from Iowa State University, and I wanted to move somewhere warmer. I started in customer service, working at places like Target, serving drinks somewhere else, but I wanted to find something in sales, particularly in Arizona. In May, I went through a recruiting process, and then Michael offered the job to me.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE JOB?

Tom: “Honestly, the relationships I build with customers, along with loving what I do; helping people. It’s what keeps me driving and going every day.”

Sylvia: “My coworkers. It’s lame how much I love these guys; they are like brothers to me. We all get along and it’s a great team environment. It’s nice to have that relationship because then we have a good flow when we work together.”

Eugene: “I love all the people I work with, both in the office and over the phone.”

Dax: “I love talking to people every day. I’m very shy in person but on the phone, it’s different. I’ve been a big gamer my entire life, so I guess the online stuff is easy to me, I like talking to people online, it’s fun.”

John: “My favorite part is conversing with people and the back and forth, like between the carriers, negotiating rates. The push and pull is a fun aspect for me.”

IF YOU DIDN’T WORK IN LOGISTICS, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE DOING?

Tom: “Life outside of logistics? That’s a great question because I don’t know. My entire career has been in logistics in some nature, it’s what I love, it’s what I do. It’s a good career, and I couldn’t see myself anywhere else.”

Sylvia: “I would probably be working in social media and hating my life. Social media was a 24/7 job, and I was getting burnt out.”

Eugene: “Maybe a mortgage loan officer because those guys can make some money! But I can’t see myself anywhere else.”

Dax: “I’d be living in Austin, gaming. I always wanted to be a streamer, online gamer, so that’s what I’d probably be attempting to do.”

John: “It would probably be anything in sales or commission-based. A big motivation for me is an incentive. I’m also big in investing so maybe I’d invest in more stocks, start a small firm, something like that.”

WHAT WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING THING YOU’VE FACED WHILE WORKING IN LOGISTICS?

Sylvia: “It’s unpredictability. There are a lot of things that can happen, so learning to be proactive. It’s taught me to lean into critical thinking and find out different ways to solve things, and it’s taught me how to be patient too. Logistics is like a bunch of puzzles and well, I like to solve them.”

Eugene: “One time there was this receiver who had a pipe burst in their ceiling and they couldn’t receive for two days. This was an unexpected situation and there was no other facility to load at. In the end, that’s freight sometimes. Sometimes it’s nobody’s fault and there’s always a level of liability and risk with moving freight.”

Dax: “When I was newer, I had a truck break down and there was a learning curve on how to handle a situation like that and make sure everyone is happy and compensated fairly.”

John: “Learning to be more assertive sometimes. When I was newer, I was more passive and would say “okay” in most situations without a second thought. For example, if the customer requests you must be on time for delivery and the carrier says they broke down and can’t be there until 2 pm the next day, I know to ask for proof for the customer to show that the carrier is abiding by their agreement for their delivery time and something unlucky happened.”

DO YOU HAVE AN INDUSTRY THAT YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH MOST?

Sylvia: “Most of my clients are in the beverage industry and it’s great when they come out with new flavors. It’s cool to see when they’re on shelves here and I can see my friends drinking them and know I was a part of that. The other cool thing about working with liquids is during natural disasters. A lot of companies will help ship water with FEMA, so that’s another enjoyment to know I’ve helped that.”

Eugene: “I enjoy flatbed freight. I’ve met a lot of flatbed carriers that I enjoy working with and the actual freight that gets loaded is interesting to me as well. Just random stuff you’re putting on a flatbed, like giant metal cogs, like, what kind of machine does that go to?! They’re huge and weigh 12,000 pounds. I love seeing pictures of the different kinds of flatbed freight loaded.

Dax: “I like to arrange shipments of everything. What’s most interesting is I don’t know what I’m going to arrange every day. I’ve even helped arrange a shipment of dinosaur bones in the past. Everything is interesting!”

John: “I kind of prefer flatbed shipments a bit because the pick-up and drop-off times are easier to coordinate. I do also want to learn more about hazmat or intermodal, all these other ways to transfer freight.”

WHAT’S A FUN FACT ABOUT YOU OR AN INTERESTING HOBBY YOU HAVE?

Tom: “I ride a motorcycle, own a Harley. I get out and ride that whenever I can. It’s a good stress reliever.”

Sylvia: “For about seven years I worked for a top photography studio in Arizona and helped photograph more than 1,000 women. I believe that style of photography was one of the best expressions of self-love and throughout that journey, it was awesome getting to see how many different women were moved by it.”

Eugene: “I like to sail boats. Not like the big boats, but beach catamarans. It’s fun and I even tried to qualify for the Olympics back in 2016, but I didn’t make it. But I could have been an Olympian!”

Dax: “I’ve never seen snow. Born and raised in Arizona. The town I grew up in never got any and I’ve never gone to play in it. I’ve seen it fall but never enough to stick or anything.”

John: “I’m obsessed with sports and sports betting. I’m a big Minnesota Vikings fan and Iowa State fan. One year when I was 14, I impressed the VP of Smithfield with my knowledge of the Minnesota Vikings that he flew me out to suite tickets in Washington DC. I got to sit with Brett Favre’s family and meet them. It was crazy.”

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF NOW BEING A PART OF TEAM TRINITY?

Tom: “I love that the core values of Trinity are almost the same as what we had a Team Eagle; very family-oriented, very customer-oriented, and driven. It’s also great because we’ve spoken with some Trinity Team Members and it’s great to hear people with tenure at Trinity still loving their job. You can tell it’s heartfelt and true.”

Sylvia: “The culture seems so awesome. I love seeing all the different things that Trinity offers, like the team-building events, the office get-togethers, and even the food. It’s amazing when I see all the anniversary emails that people have been here for 25 years. That’s mind-blowing to me. I would love to have that kind of tenure at an office. I also appreciate that there are a lot of opportunities for growth at Trinity and you don’t have to feel like you’re stuck in one position.”

Eugene: “I like how much opportunity there is at Trinity. It’s a much larger company and a lot more networking is available. I’ve had carriers reach out to loads that I never would have had available before. It’s nice being able to have that kind of capacity and career growth. “

Dax: “Having a bunch more friends and being able to expand my horizons. There is so much that Trinity does that we didn’t do before so it’s cool being able to learn and do more.”

John: “One of my favorite parts is how people-centric they are. I saw some of the recent interns were doing videoconferencing with the CEO. That’s so significant that some interns are interacting so personally with the leadership of the company. It’s cool that people higher up in the company will take the time to meet regular Team Members or newer ones starting out. That’s not something you see every day.”

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE TO OFFER THOSE CONSIDERING LOGISTICS AS A CAREER?

Tom: “Be flexible and patient. There are a lot of moving parts that come with logistics. Especially on our side of things. Don’t be afraid to ask tons of questions.”

Sylvia: “If a person is considering a career in logistics, 100 percent do it. It’s a great industry with tons of growth, the people are great, and find the right company. I’m pretty sure why a lot of people look to logistics is because of dependability. It’s not going anywhere. People need to move freight, we need to get goods and services to people, that’s never going to change.”

Eugene: “It can be a lot of work at times so be ready to work. But the rewards to work ratio is great. You get what you put in and it’s a great job to have”

Dax: “Don’t give up on what you want if it’s in logistics. Keep pushing. I kept trying and finally got the job. I love it now. I love logistics, it’s a fun career to get into.”

John: “You’ll learn something new every single day. You learn about people, navigation, and critical thinking. It makes you a better communicator too. Also, remember what people say to you in the industry because remembering those things will help build strong relationships.”

INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR NEWEST MEMBERS AS PART OF TEAM TRINITY?

Scottsdale, Arizona is just one of our seven office locations! If a career in logistics and the Trinity culture seems like the right fit for you, take a look at our current openings.  

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