12 Apr 2024
Arrive Logistics is truly a one-of-a-kind organization because of the people who work here. We sat down with John Thomas, Coverage Team Lead on the Coverage Team, to hear more about his role and why he loves being at Arrive.
How did you learn about Arrive and start working here?
I learned about Arrive through a friend who I worked with at a previous job. We both had worked in logistics before, and we were so sure we would never get back into the industry. He then left our company to work at Arrive and told me how much he loved it. He was so happy he went back into logistics and convinced me to check out Arrive. When I came to interview, it felt like a breath of fresh air. All my worries and concerns of working in logistics went out the window. The people I interviewed with and the energy in the office was amazing. I accepted a position and started working here in January 2018.
What does your daily routine look like?
I was previously in the military, so I’m naturally an early riser. I start my day at about 5 a.m. I have some coffee and listen to trap music, it gets me motivated for the day and ready to give 100%. I take my time gathering my thoughts and checking social media, and then I like to get to work as soon as possible so I’m prepared for my team to come in around 7 a.m. After a busy day, I come home and spend time with my kids and cook up dinner. I love to cook! I’ll also try to get in some time outside or playing on my guitar and keyboard.
What does an average day in your role look like?
An average day in my role starts with analyzing data, looking at my team’s metrics and checking freight on the board. I like to take care of these items before my team comes in so I know where the focus needs to be for the day and how to delegate responsibilities. Most of my day is spent doing one-on-one training with team members, checking in on their performance, answering questions and identifying everyone’s strengths and weaknesses. I have about four or five new people every week who I’ll get up to speed on how to book freight, understand logistics and the coverage team. I find ways to overcome challenges and improve our team as a whole. I also work closely with the business development team and zone managers to make sure their freight gets attention.
What do you prioritize in your work?
My biggest priority is to learn something new each day. Aside from my everyday tasks, I like to pick up on something new whether it’s knowledge about the market, the industry, my team or building a new relationship with someone.
How has your role at Arrive evolved?
I started here as a Carrier Sales Representative for about a year and a half. I was okay at sales, but my real strength was service, organization and responsiveness. I then moved into a role as a Utilities Specialist where I learned about the business development operations side of the company, which I did for about a year. Now I’m a Coverage Team Lead which allows me to utilize all my experience from different sides of the business and really put my best skills to use.
How has Arrive grown since you first started?
Since I first started at Arrive in 2018, I’ve seen the company almost triple our numbers. We’ve become more structured and organized when it comes to sourcing capacity and accepting freight. We’ve really streamlined our processes.
Tell us about your role in the Arrive Black ERG and why you’re passionate about it.
Arrive ERGs are employee identity or experience-based groups that build community for the identity group and their allies. I am one of the leads for the Black ERG along with Rob Greer. I originally wanted to be part of this group because I know what it is like to feel left out of an organization as a minority. With all the things that happened in 2020 dealing with racial inequalities, I felt it was my duty to get involved. Pre-pandemic I might have marched and protested, but since COVID-19, I took a realistic approach to my service. I felt like being a voice within an organization that I am a part of and already adore is much more valuable and feasible given the current climate of the world.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I love music. I play the guitar and keyboard and have an in-home studio. I love to create. I also enjoy spending as much time as possible outside and with my family. Another big hobby of mine is cooking. My family is originally from Louisiana, so gumbo is my go-to dish. Aside from those hobbies, I like to use my knowledge and expertise from life to help others. I want to be a beacon of light to people and be someone to offer advice and lend a listening ear.
How do you consume your news?
I don’t rely on any specific media outlet, but I consume a lot of my news through social media and online articles. I focus more on entertainment news to help make light of any negative news going on in the world.
What are your goals for 2021?
My professional goals for 2021 are to continue to grow my team, create a recognizable sales force and work myself into a management position. As far as personal goals, I would love to learn to play a new instrument, potentially the violin. I love how emotional that sound is.
What keeps you at Arrive?
The culture and the people keep me here. It’s not about the work or the money for me, it’s about how I feel when I walk in the door. Arrive doesn’t care about how I look on the outside, but is more concerned about who I am as a person. I always tell everyone, you’ll have to tie me up and drag me out the door when it comes time for me to leave.
