Since joining CPC Logistics in 2022, Director of Operations Landon Reef has focused on helping some of North America’s most recognizable brands launch, strengthen and expand their private fleets. With more than 20 years of logistics experience and a master’s degree in technology from Purdue University, Landon brings expertise in supply chain management, business analytics and technology integration to CPC and its customers.
In this Q&A, Landon shares how he delivers private fleet solutions built on CPC’s promise of safety, service and customer success.
Q: Describe your role at CPC?
A: First and foremost, I’m a problem solver. I figure out ways to strengthen customer relationships and capture new growth opportunities. I spearhead strategic projects and collaborate with our sales team to identify and secure new partnerships, implementing lasting solutions that improve efficiency and service. By rethinking processes and guiding cross-functional teams, I help CPC retain current customers and attract new ones.
Q: What’s your approach to identifying new customers and developing relationships?
A: Securing new business starts with empathy. With more than two decades working in transportation and logistics, I understand our customers’ pain points — whether that’s safety, cost, compliance or service gaps.
Being a good listener helps me continue building trust as well as gain valuable insights into customers’ unique needs. There’s a reason we have two ears and one mouth. Once I have a grasp on the challenges a customer is facing, I apply my experience and problem-solving skills to secure early wins. The more I can prove myself, the more they trust me and CPC, leading to a successful, long-term partnership.
Q: How do you ensure these relationships last?
A: I’m always thinking about how CPC can be indispensable to customers. By finding innovative ways to drive efficiency, safety and long-term growth, we become so sticky — like an octopus — that it’s hard to pull away from us. The stickier we get, the more value we can provide.
Q: What are some of the lessons you’ve taken away from leading operations across multiple private fleets?
A: Managing private fleets in industries from retail and healthcare to auto and hardware has taught me to stay ahead of shifting demands and regulations. I focus on:
- Balancing long-term capacity planning with the realities of daily dispatch and equipment needs.
- Integrating financial goals, safety standards and customer commitments so each supports the others.
- Translating proven practices such as driver recruitment and retention programs from one fleet to another, tailoring them to unique needs and market requirements.
Q: What is most rewarding about your role with CPC?
A: I enjoy relieving customers of the stress of managing private fleet operations. From restoring trust after the breakdown of a previous relationship to delivering measurable results, my focus is always on making their operations more effective and efficient. This helps them sleep better at night with the knowledge their private fleet is in good hands.
Q: What should companies know about starting a private fleet?
A: Launching a private fleet doesn’t require a major upfront investment. It can begin with a low-risk pilot of just one truck. And CPC makes getting started simple with short-term contracts, expert consultants and guidance, and the ability to expand at your own pace. In my experience, many companies choose to scale up when they see the benefits of having a private fleet for themselves.
Q: What are the benefits of operating a private fleet?
A: With a private fleet, you have greater control over the most important aspects of your transportation and logistics, including safety, cost and service. They also guarantee availability regardless of market conditions and for-hire capacity. In my previous role as a fleet manager at a global tire manufacturer, there were occasions when dedicated carriers would fail to deliver raw materials to plants. Without the raw materials, you can’t make tires, and without tires, you can’t make sales, so every minute of downtime carried enormous costs. Fortunately, having our own private fleet allowed us to act immediately — assigning a reliable driver to the job, putting them in one of our trucks and getting the materials to the plant within hours.
Q: Why should companies choose CPC to manage their private fleet?
A: With more than 50 years of experience, CPC is proven. Customers benefit from a full range of advantages, including unmatched safety standards that save lives and cut costs by reducing the likelihood of accidents before they happen. With a safety rate that is three times better than the trucking industry average, customers can be confident they are choosing the right partner.
Interested in learning more?
Discover how CPC can help your company reach its goals. Contact Landon at l.reef@cpclogistics.com.