(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) — Crowley Logistics has announced the reorganization of its inland transportation group to further enhance its service to customers, build a foundation for growth and create greater strategic focus for four key areas, including the company’s U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) Freight Transportation Services (DFTS) project and its intermodal, logistics transportation and customized trucking lines of business.
“We are excited to enhance the supply chain solutions we provide for our government and commercial inland transportation customers. This new operating structure will ensure the proper alignment and collaboration among teams across Crowley’s businesses, enhancing the customer experience, and furthering our commitment as a world-class logistics provider,” said Crowley’s Bob Weist, vice president, North America transportation.
Leading the DFTS contract execution is Shiju Zacharia, who has been promoted to senior director, transportation, reporting to Weist. In this new role, Zacharia has responsibility for executing the multi-year, $2.3 billion contract, which provides transportation and related services supporting DOD activities in the U.S. and Canada. The contract, which was formally approved in 2017, encompasses all forms of truck transportation, including less than truckload, full truckload, expedited and refrigerated services. Under Zacharias’ leadership, the DTFS team will leverage technology and operational expertise to provide solutions that enhance the efficiency and reduce the cost of these critically important services required by DOD.
A 2013 recipient of the Thomas Crowley Award, the company’s highest honor, Zacharia joined the company in 2009, bringing more than a decade of technology experience developing, deploying and integrating state-of-the-art solutions to support high-level business objectives for major enterprise customers. He most recently was director, technology, and remains based in the company’s Jacksonville headquarters. He also consulted at Florida Blue, General Electric Transportation and General Electric Aircraft Engines. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from VJTI, University of Mumbai, and a master’s degree in modeling and simulation from the University of Central Florida. He is an IBM-certified specialist for rational unified process, PMI-certified project management professional and GE-certified Six Sigma Green Belt.
In addition, Kara Bryant has been promoted to director, intermodal services, reporting to Weist. Under Bryant’s leadership, the intermodal team will focus on providing innovative intermodal services for the company’s liner customers. The team will also prioritize the development of carrier partnerships and craft intermodal solutions in an increasingly challenging trucking market. Bryant, who remains based in Jacksonville, most recently was manager, logistics. She joined Crowley in 2010 as an account manager, and she holds a bachelor’s degree in transportation management from the University of North Florida.
Leading the logistics transportation team is Greg Durr, who has been promoted to director, transportation, reporting to Weist. In this new role, Durr supports cross-dock, spot and over-the-road operations for logistics customers, with a focus on leveraging the company’s national transportation network and growing its logistics footprint. Durr, who relocated to Jacksonville from Cincinnati, Ohio, most recently was manager, broker services, which tasked him with growing the company’s third-party logistics (3PL) business in the Midwest. Prior to joining Crowley as a senior freight broker in 2011, Durr worked for six years for two other transportation and logistics companies, NYK Logistics and TQL. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Western Kentucky University.
The inland transportation organization will continue to report to Frank Larkin, senior vice president and general manager, logistics and commercial services.
