HG Logistics LLC, a transportation freight broker servicing the United States, Canada, and Mexico, celebrated the 4th of July with its second annual company picnic held on July 3, 2010. The day’s festivities included plenty of food, swimming, fishing, cornhole, and a wiffle ball game. The night ended with a fire works display put on by our very own General Manager, Doug Bierman.

Company picnics are not only fun, but I believe they serve as a valuable tool in building company morale. Company picnics give employees the opportunity to meet each other’s families and to get to connect outside of work. There is no pressure but just a time to relax and have fun. Company picnics can also be quite an eye opening experience, revealing hidden talents you did not know employees possessed, like athletic skills or the ability to grill a mean hamburger.

Other activities are reminders that some of us are not as young as we use to be. I, for one, managed to pull a calf muscle trying to run to first base during the wiffle ball match between the “Young and Old Timers” vs. the “Joe Jocks” teenage boys. I did not care I was in pain. I was just ecstatic that I even hit the ball and had reason to run. Of course, I had to have a seven year old pitch run for me the rest of the game, and he managed to steal second, which I am sure I could not have done even with two good legs. Believe it or not, the “Young and Old Timers” were ahead most of the game, but then the “Joe Jocks” managed to tie the game and score the winning run in the last inning during their last at bat. We have already challenged them to a rematch next year. After all, a little friendly competition is good for the soul.

I know I thoroughly enjoyed HG Logistics’ Company Picnic, as well as the rest of the employees who attended. Company picnics definitely have my vote, and I would encourage other businesses to schedule an annual picnic. It is just a fun way to get to know each other from a whole different prospective.

Lee Marucci has recently joined our Cincinnati transportation brokerage firm, HG Logistics LLC. Lee comes to HG Logistics LLC with years of experience in the trucking industry. He started out in this business just working part time to help pay his way through college. Since then, he has taken on many roles in the transportation world, including operations manager. His business endeavors have traveled him as far as Greensburg, Pennsylvania, but he eventually made his way back to the greater Cincinnati area.

Lee grew up in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and now resides in West Chester, Ohio with his wife, Julie. He has four children, Cassandra, Heather, and twins, Kyle and Derek. He is also a proud grandfather of one granddaughter and a grandson who is expected to arrive later this month. In his spare time, Lee enjoys working outdoors, golfing, cooking, and following college football and basketball.

Lee is a welcomed addition to the HG Logistics’ staff, and we anticipate his contribution to the continue growth and success of HG Logistics.

I ride the bus almost every morning to work. Therefore, before I ever arrive at HG Logistics LLC, a third party logistics company located in Cincinnati, Ohio, I cross paths with some interesting people. My journey to work begins with a mile walk to the bus stop, and on that walk, I take whatever shortcuts I can find. One of those shortcuts is through McDonald’s parking lot where every morning sits an older gentleman in his car drinking his coffee.  He wants me to stop and talk to him. Some mornings I do not mind, but other times I am thinking…”I don’t have time. I am in a hurry. I am going to miss my bus.” Regardless of what I am thinking, I am always compelled to stop and mingle for a few minutes. When I first met this gentleman, my first impression was that he was a dirty old man wanting to flirt with younger women. He often offered me rides to the bus stop, but I never took him up on his offer. However, over time as I got to know this gentleman, I realized my first impression was far from correct.

This gentleman is just a lonely man looking for someone to talk to and the topic he likes to share the most is his old war stories. As a young man in his late teens, early twenties, he fought in the Korean War. I do not know about you, but personally, I do not know much about the Korean War. I have heard a lot about Vietnam and World War II but not the Korean War. During the winter months when I was complaining about the cold and the few inches of snow, he would tell me stories of how the temperature often dropped to 35 degrees below zero in Korea. As soldiers, they had to be very resilient to withstand such conditions. He also tells me stories of his recent trips to VA Hospital where he is being treated regularly for a form of leukemia. He says with each visit, he sees hundreds of veteran suffering from all kinds of ailments many of them caused by Agent Orange. I can tell his heart really goes out to these fellow soldiers.

Sadly, I have to admit that at one time I considered this gentleman an interruption to my busy schedule, but today I can say I truly appreciate his life’s experiences that he has shared with me. He has taught me to appreciate what I, for so long, have taken for granted.

Next week we celebrate the 4th of July, and there is no better time than now for us to reflect on what our independence truly means. Our independence came with a cost, and that cost often equates to lost lives. Our founding fathers and their loyal followers fought for our independence and today, soldiers are still making sacrifices to protect that freedom.

So next week on the 4th of July in between all the activities and the picnic lunches and the fireworks displays take a few moments to thank a soldier. I know of one veteran sitting in McDonald’s parking lot that I need to thank. Never again will I consider him an interruption. Instead, I see him as one of the many heroes that have helped preserve my freedom.

Thank you soldiers and veterans for all your sacrifices!

Death is always a topic we try to avoid and one I do not particularly care to blog about. Death makes us uncomfortable because it is painful and frightening. However, death is something we all have to face at some point in our lives, and at HG Logistics LLC our hearts are tender this week as we deal with the loss of David Greek Sr. David Greek Sr. was the President of our affiliate company, Hill and Griffith, and on Monday, June 7, 2010, Mr. Greek passed away. Although Mr. Greek’s health had been failing the past few years and his death was not totally unexpected, it does not make it any easier to say goodbye to a father, friend, and coworker.

Having been employed by both Hill and Griffith and HG Logistics LLC, I have a total of 15 years experiencing working for the Greek family, and from experience, I can attest that they are great people to work for. I can recall the first time I met David Greek Sr. His large, what appeared to me to be a 6′ 4″ frame, towered over everyone in the room and his physical presence alone could prove quite intimidating. However, as I got to know him over the years, I personally found Mr. Greek quite approachable. He was someone with a great sense of humor who always made me laugh. He was definitely a determined man and over time I even grew to appreciate his stubbornness. He was not easily swayed, but the fact that the goals he visualized for Hill and Griffith led them to over 100 years of success tells me his vision was right on track.

David Greek Jr. now has the privilege to carry on his father’s vision as he oversees the operations of Hill and Griffith and HG Logistics LLC. Our prayers are with David Greek Jr. as he finds strength to heal and get pass the pain. In the mean time, all of us at Hill and Griffith and HG Logistics LLC can help keep David Greek Sr.’s visions, dreams, and aspirations alive and well as we work to keep his company operating at a level where it will experience another 100 years of success.

David Cooper grew up in Edgewood, KY and graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2007 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and a minor in Economics. After graduating from college, he moved back to Northern Kentucky and bought a house in Erlanger. The week after he moved into his new house, he got married to his college girlfriend in May 2008. David spent two years doing accounting for a large company in Erlanger, KY. However, David wanted to try something different, so he decided to join the wonderful world of logistics.

On May 17, 2010, David crossed the river into Ohio and  joined HG Logistics LLC, a Cincinnati freight broker. David is enjoying his time at HG Logistics, and he hopes to help the company grow an even stronger presence in world of transportation.

This week many of the reality T.V. shows aired their season finales. Did your favorites win? At  HG Logistics some of us are disappointed because our hometown contestant, Chad Ocho Cinco, was eliminated last week from Dancing With the Stars. Chad was the only contestant in the semi-finals that had no dance experience at all. He had made great strides throughout the entire season and just when he mastered the ballroom posture, he was voted off.

What I like about Chad is that he does not shy away from a challenge, but he embraces it. He attacks it fully committed and with great dedication and ambition. During one week’s practice session, Chad told Cheryl, the dance professional, that he did not want her to tell him it was good if it was not. He wanted the truth so he knew what he had to improve on.

Even though Chad did not dance away with the Dancing With the Star’s trophy, he still maintained a winning attitude. I think everyone in the business world needs to adopt Chad’s go-to attitude.

At HG Logistics, a transportation broker in Cincinnati, Ohio, we, like Chad, have learned to stay committed and dedicated to every challenge we face, and in the trucking business, we come across those challenges daily. With each challenge comes more knowledge and  experience and with more knowledge and experience comes improvement and growth. We witnessed Chad Ocho Cinco develop into a dancer this season on Dancing With the Stars and here at HG Logistics LLC, we are developing into a better transportation provider with each business day.

HG Logistics may not be quick-stepping our way across the dance floor, but we are taking the lead and holding our frame in the world of transportation. We set high standards in customer relations, load performance, and carrier safety, and with these standards, we work to get our customers’ votes.

Summer is quickly approaching, and everyone soon will be hitting the road heading towards their favorite vacation spot. I can feel the excitement already as people anticipate plans for some rest and relaxation this summer. However, as you route your course, perhaps, you should also allow extra time in your agenda for some unexpected delays. With Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan stimulating road construction, facing the dreaded orange barrels will be inevitable.

Patience will be a definite virtue you will need as you head out on the road. However, dodging the orange barrels is not the only time you will need to exercise some patience. On occasion, you may find yourself behind a truck hauling an oversized load. Vacationing drivers more than likely view these trucks as a hindrance, a barrier they have to get around in order to reach their destination.

As an employee of HG Logistics LLC, a Cincinnati, Ohio freight broker, I encourage drivers to respect these trucks and the load they are transporting. HG Logistics has extensive experience in hauling heavy haul and oversized equipment and therefore, can attest that being patience and courteous will help ensure everyone’s safety. Heavy haul and oversized loads are carefully planned: they must travel preplanned routes, must use certain lanes, and travel at certain speeds. The drivers of these trucks are not purposely trying to annoy you. They are just abiding by the predetermined restrictions they are required to follow.

If you are having trouble maintaining your road rage as you sit behind an oversized load, taking up two lanes of traffic, and traveling at a measly speed of 25 miles per hour, think about the truck driver. Before you honk your horn and give him the finger, put yourself in his shoes and think of the awesome responsibility he has of hauling 150,000 pounds across U.S. highways. One slip up, one distraction is all it could take for him to lose control of that load and produce catastrophic results.

Please do not try to zip by them, swing around them, or cut in front of them. If you do, someone could be seriously injured. Practice some patience and common sense, and the worse thing that could happen is you arrive a few hours late to your favorite vacation spot, but at least you will arrive there alive and in one piece.

In the Midwest, the winter freeze has thawed and the spring showers are slowly moving out, and this opens the way for all outdoor activities to begin. One of my co-workers at HG Logistics LLC, a 3PL logistics company located in the home town of the Cincinnati Reds, is already ahead of the game. Duke Heller lives and breathes baseball. Daily he relays stories about his little league coaching experiences, and as he does, I am reminded of America’s favorite pastime, baseball. However, reflecting on this thought, I asked myself, “What is a pastime?” According to Webster’s dictionary, a pastime is something that serves to make time pass agreeably. After reading this, I then had to ask myself, “Is baseball still America’s favorite pastime?”

I did a little research to understand how baseball had originally earned this honor. Baseball rose to popularity during and immediately after the American Civil War. Baseball was what kids played after school and adults played on weekends. There was no television, so baseball literally became America’s favorite way to pass the time. Before long, baseball became the topic of choice at most dinner tables. Baseball became so commonplace, that almost everyone knew enough about the game that they could talk about it with a neighbor or a person sitting next to them on the bus. However, I conclude that in order for something to become a “national pastime” it has to be more than just America’s favorite activity. It must become so intertwined with our society and culture that it just becomes a way of life. It is familiar to almost everyone, if not all. Baseball definitely meets these requirements.

With this in mind, I asked again, “Is baseball still America’s favorite pastime?” Some say that baseball was to the late 19th century and early 20th century as video games and television are to today. Perhaps kids today are spending more time playing video games and watching television than they are out playing baseball in the neighbor’s yard. And perhaps people are discussing with the person sitting next to them on the bus more about who is going to get eliminated from Dancing With the Stars than who won the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals. But I do not think anyone can deny that baseball is America’s longest standing “national pastime.” In a few years, Dancing With the Stars will be replaced with some other reality show and video games will be exchanged for some newer, bigger, and better technical phenomenon. But baseball will still be around. Baseball will still be baseball. People will still be going to games, eating hot dogs, and singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” After all, baseball is a part of America’s culture.

As summer approaches, I encourage you to keep with tradition and live the American way. Get off the couch and go out and toss a ball with your child or better yet take the whole family to the ballgame.

Come on–”Let’s Play Ball!”

HG Logistics LLC is a transportation broker in Cincinnati, Ohio that goes beyond providing truckload services. In addition, HG Logistics LLC is a third party logistics company that also offers extensive LTL services. In the past year alone, HG Logistics has transported approximately 5000 loads and of those 5000 loads 24% of them were LTLs.

HG Logistics’ employee, Michelle Webster, devotes a great deal of her time quoting LTLs , scheduling them for pick up, and monitoring them for delivery. Michelle does an excellent  job making sure all our LTL customers are completely satisfied.

If you are in need of LTL services, contact Michelle Webster at 513-244-3022, and she will be glad to assist you.

HG Logistics LLC Load Percentage

I recently came back into the logistics business after completing a non-compete clause with my prior employer. I landed here at HG Logistics and have found it to be much more of a “team” environment than before. Everybody is very willing to help with any questions, and there is a sense of a close-knit type of connection here between all employees, versus the cold, meat grinder type of feel with past experiences. The opportunity for success here is virtually unlimited, which makes me excited to be part of a growing company where I truly feel as though I can have an impact not only for the benefit of HG Logistics, but also for my personal goals and those of my family.

On the personal side, I am an avid bass fisherman. I also enjoy spending time with my 11 year old daughter, Lilli (who is a pretty good bass fisher herself!!). Other than that, I enjoy golfing, riding bicycles, motorcycles, boating and anything else that is outdoors. When it gets cold outside, I enjoy playing chess, reading, watching movies and enjoying my family.