Pathways to Purpose with Carlos Llanes

Everything Is Up

Join Tammera Hollerich, the host of Everything Is Up, as she interviews Carlos Llanes, the founder of Spartan Carrier Group. Carlos shares his story of leaving his job at Ryder due to the pandemic's impact on the supply chain and creating his own agile, adaptable, and responsive logistics company. They discuss the challenges and opportunities brought about by the pandemic, including the shortage of drivers and materials required for electrification. Carlos also shares how his military experience prepared him for entrepreneurship and how he aims to make a positive impact on others. Tune in to this captivating podcast episode for an insight into the world of logistics and the automotive industry, and as always, remember, "Everything is up."

Timestamps

[00:00:01] Starting a Logistics Company During the Pandemic

[00:03:24] Supply Chain Opportunities During Pandemic

[00:06:31] Building Mid-Sized Carriers through Consulting

[00:10:35] Adapting to Pandemic-Related Disruption in the Transportation Industry

[00:13:56] The Controversy of Automotive Electrification

[00:17:36] Sustainable production of electric vehicles

[00:21:02] Manufacturer Strategy for Reducing Emissions

[00:24:39] Skilled Driver Shortage and Autonomous Vehicles

[00:27:48] Profitability of In-House Vehicle Production

[00:31:28] Faith, Power, and Humility in a Changing World

[00:34:42] Strengthening faith in a chaotic world

[00:37:51] Military Experience and Logistics Building

[00:41:05] Military mindset: Scaling, SOPs, & problem-solving

[00:43:54] Leadership and Logistics in the Military

[00:46:52] Investing in Children's Education

[00:49:50] Academic Success and Preparing Gifted Children

[00:52:46] Closing segment and call to action

Best Quotes

[00:09:02] With disruption, comes great opportunity

[00:09:15] You know, the thing about opportunity though is and for all of you guys listening, you have to act. You cannot sit and think it's gonna be handed to you

[Unknown] I helped one company land a $20,000,000 deal with GM, another company and helped them land a funny story of $40,000,000 deal with Home Depot

[00:07:45] Within a year's time of building our trucking company, we were able to go from $0 to $40,000,000 pretty much overnight

All Quotes

[00:01:21] I knew that the impact of semiconductors and other components were going to significantly expand the ability to manufacture goods and services

[00:04:47] Knowing that, I saw these large corporations that were sitting on all of these massive amounts of equipment They didn't have the personnel to vacuum

[00:05:45] I had to create a consulting firm because I had just left corporate America. I had made that decision. Everybody thought it was crazy

[00:01:05] After the pandemic hit I realized that there was gonna be an issue at the macroeconomic level, the shutdown of governments, it was gonna affect lead times and really destroy supply chain

[00:08:41] Toyota, the largest manufacturer of automobiles in the world, is a Fortune 10 company. and we're 1 of 12 carriers. So -- Wow. -- amazing up. Amazing

[00:03:15] So you had guys leveraging their relationships with some of these other companies trying to maneuver getting this additional capacity

[00:13:20] I knew the rates would be outrageous, and I knew that if I called the cost to cost, if I was transparent, if I was quick, if I was agile, if I could shift it with the market conditions, that's exactly the flexibility that these manufacturers were needing

[00:09:02] With disruption, comes great opportunity

[Unknown] I helped one company land a $20,000,000 deal with GM, another company and helped them land a funny story of $40,000,000 deal with Home Depot

[00:05:13] Well, somebody, this is a driver somewhere. They need to just disappear off the face of the planet, and there was an impact. Right? A third of the driver work force during the pandemic retired

[00:14:13] So there's a hellacious political push. In my opinion, it is a political push. Sure. It's political. I don't call anything. It's 100% political

[00:12:27] If I could shift, like, a military organization and drop ship my people anywhere, I could adjust to the market conditions. I could shift it to any region within the country that made me very dangerous, and they never saw it coming

[00:07:45] Within a year's time of building our trucking company, we were able to go from $0 to $40,000,000 pretty much overnight. We went from one location to 11 territories, and now in the international market, we support Mexico train transportation

[00:09:15] You know, the thing about opportunity though is and for all of you guys listening, you have to act. You cannot sit and think it's gonna be handed to you

[00:01:34] I thought it was the perfect opportunity to leave corporate America in order to file and create a company that was agile responsive, quickly adaptable, and able to maneuver in the post pandemic arena where you are going to live in this contingency type environment

[Unknown] So I'm competing against companies that have been around for 80 years. 80 years worth of sense. That's 80 years worth of business cycles, 80 years worth of infrastructure if I was liking the house

[00:09:41] I can guarantee, just from me knowing you, that fail you not making this work was never even a thought on your brain

[00:04:10] I saw that prices were gonna skyrocket on used vehicles, and there not being a capacity. I not even trucks or trailers

[00:02:39] If you were serving the automotive sector in an automotive stop, well, guess what? Food still has to get delivered. Medical supplies, building goods and supplies still have to be delivered

[00:06:13] I took the knowledge that I had. By me leaving, 20 other executives followed, they saw that I had an idea that I had plan that I was ready to execute the plan

Blog Post

Article 1: The Rise of Small and Agile Businesses in the Post-Pandemic World

In the latest episode of Everything Is Up featuring host Tammera Hollerich and guest Carlos Llanes, Carlos shared his story of starting Spartan Carrier Group, a ground-floor logistics company. Carlos saw the opportunity to start an agile and responsive company that could quickly adapt to the post-pandemic environment where supply chain disruptions were common.

In the podcast, Carlos talked about the impact of shutting down governments, reducing lead times, and geopolitical issues that were taking place at the time. He saw three things happening - first, the displacement of drivers due to furloughs from large corporations. Second, the creation of new motor carriers and non-asset-based brokerages by those drivers. Finally, the rise of small and agile businesses like Spartan Carrier Group that could quickly adapt to the changing environment.

Here are three tips on how small and agile businesses like Spartan Carrier Group can succeed in the post-pandemic world:

1. Focus on niches - Spartan Carrier Group focused on the automotive niche, which allowed them to have a specific understanding of the industry's needs and requirements. The focus helped them quickly adapt to the changes caused by the pandemic.

2. Be agile and responsive - Small and agile businesses can quickly respond to disruptions in the supply chain and adapt accordingly. By being nimble, they can stay ahead of the competition and survive in the post-pandemic world.

3. Hire the right people - small businesses heavily rely on their workforce to succeed. Hire individuals who are adaptable, have a diverse skill set, and are passionate about their work. These individuals can help grow the business and adapt to changing market conditions.

With Carlos's insights on starting a small business, and Tammera's guidance throughout the podcast, this episode is a must-listen for those interested in entrepreneurship and logistics.

As Carlos said, "running a business is about navigating changes and being able to pivot in a myriad of different directions." Tune in to Everything Is Up and learn from Carlos's experiences about starting and running a business in the post-pandemic world.

Article 2: How to Maneuver in the Post-Pandemic World: Lessons from Spartan Carrier Group

In a recent episode of Everything Is Up featuring host Tammera Hollerich and guest Carlos Llanes, Carlos provided insights into starting Spartan Carrier Group - a logistics company that can adapt quickly to changes caused by the pandemic. Carlos's story is inspiring, and it's a must-listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship.

In the podcast, Carlos shared his thoughts on the impact of the pandemic on businesses, particularly the logistics industry. He understood that the pandemic would lead to the displacement of drivers and that large corporations would furlough a significant percentage of their capacity. If these drivers did not find work, it would severely damage the economy and hurt the supply chain. Carlos decided to start his own company that could adapt to the changing environment.

Here are three tips on how to maneuver in the post-pandemic world, inspired by Carlos's journey:

1. Look for opportunities in change - Carlos saw an opportunity in the changes caused by the pandemic. He believed that by starting a small and agile logistics company, he could take advantage of the situation and help the economy.

2. Focus on customer needs - Carlos understood that every customer has different needs, and it's essential to understand those needs to succeed in the logistics industry. By focusing on customer needs, Spartan Carrier Group has built a reputation for providing high-quality services.

3. Build a supportive community - Starting a small business can be challenging, and having a supportive community can help you succeed. Carlos built a community of drivers, staff, and customers who support Spartan Carrier Group's mission.

In the podcast, Carlos stated, "you have to be in tune with how to navigate changes and adapt to the changes that are taking place." Tune in to Everything Is Up

Social Post

1. ��� Ready for some real-life success stories? Tune into Everything is Up podcast featuring Tampa Hollerich and Carlos Llanes from Spartan Carrier Group. Learn how Carlos turned the pandemic into an opportunity to create an agile and responsive company. Don't miss this inspiring conversation! #EverythingisUp #SpartanCarrierGroup #RealLifeSuccessStories

2. ���️ Join Tampa Hollerich and Carlos Llanes on Everything is Up podcast to discover how Carlos transitioned from working at Ryder to starting his own company. Learn about the impact of shutting down governments on the supply chain and how Carlos turned it into an opportunity. Tune in now! #SupplyChain #Entrepreneurship #EverythingisUp

3. ��� Are you fascinated by logistics and the impact of the pandemic on supply chains? Listen to Carlos Llanes from Spartan Carrier Group share his insights on the Everything is Up podcast with host Tampa Hollerich. Discover how he started his own business, and you might just get inspired! #Logistics #Entrepreneurship #SpartanCarrierGroup

Resources:

• The Everything is Up Podcast

Connect with Tammera Hollerich

• Website
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

Connect with Carlos Llanes

• LinkedIn
• Website

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