Founded 2020
John Ferguson, Owner & & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Established in 2020, Pivot Supply Chain Solutions has actually promptly made its mark in the products brokerage firm market. From a basement startup to a growing firm with offices in Tennessee and Illinois, Pivot’s story is one of perseverance, community, and huge passions.
Building a business from scratch
Pivot was established by John Ferguson in 2020 After spending years at Circle 8 Logistics and later on browsing the culture changes of an acquisition of a large nationwide brokerage firm, Ferguson wished to construct something that recaptured the rate, decision-making, and feeling of community that made him love logistics to begin with.
“I missed out on working in an atmosphere where every choice mattered and where you had a terrific area of people around you,” Ferguson recalls. “After the procurement, that power was gone. I knew I wanted to develop something different.”
What began in his cellar swiftly transferred to a small co-share workplace. As Pivot grew, Ferguson had the ability to prompt relied on colleagues from his Circle 8 Logistics days. With each other, they developed credit score, expanded their provider network, and grew their client base. Today, Pivot operates from workplaces in Chattanooga, TN, and Lisle, IL, with a solid team society at the facility of its success.
Getting rid of startup obstacles
Like numerous brokerages, Pivot’s biggest early challenge was not consumers, it was debt. Nearly 90 % of U.S. carriers use factoring firms, and for a brand-new broker agent, the absence of a credit report can be crippling.
“Initially, I was paying carriers out of my very own checking account,” Ferguson explains. “Sometimes half upfront, half on shipment. Various other times I was calling factoring experts and asking for a $ 1, 000 credit limit simply to get a tons relocated.”
The timing was similarly tough. Launching in the middle of COVID indicated that products chances existed, however obtaining providers to trust a brand-new broker agent without well established credit report certainly was not. Pivot tackled it lots by tons, working with regional plastics and scrap companies, confirming dependability, and gradually building reliability in the marketplace.
Transforming early threats into expertise
A few of Pivot’s earliest successes originated from taking threats that may have avoided. Among their initial major consumers used cooled lots with 7 to 10 quits, something Ferguson had actually never done before.
“Somebody on my group informed me, ‘No way we’re estimating this.’ However at the time, those were the only tons we had an opportunity at. So, we quoted them, figured it out, and made it function,” claims Ferguson.
That choice repaid. Today, Pivot has deep proficiency in chilled, multi-stop products, whether it is 2 declines or 10. The desire to step up to difficult difficulties aided shape Pivot’s reputation as a problem-solver for venture carriers.
Devices that drive success
Innovation has actually been main to Pivot’s development, and DAT has actually been a cornerstone from the start.
“We utilize DAT for every little thing: score and pricing estimate, bids, uploading loads, searching for carriers. Truthfully, I have actually used it given that I came into the sector in 2011, and it is still among one of the most important devices we have today,” Ferguson states.
Past DAT, Pivot leverages Trucker Devices for GPS monitoring and presence, making sure the transparency that customers expect. Together, these tools develop the foundation of Pivot’s capability to offer big, complicated accounts.
Ferguson includes, “We are likewise really excited regarding DAT’s current procurement of the Convoy System We are anticipating getting in touch with that item as it presents, and seeing exactly how it can reinforce our ability to match products and carriers in the future.”
Looking in advance: big objectives and larger growth
Pivot’s future aspires. In 2025, the firm is on track to strike $ 25 million in profits. Yet Ferguson and his group are not stopping there.
“Our objective is to be among the top 5 products brokerages in the U.S.,” Ferguson claims. “It is a soaring objective, yet with my experience and the team’s experience, I believe it is something we can attain. We will get there by remaining to invest in sales, advertising, and enterprise-level service.”
For Pivot, the vision is clear: grow smart, remain customer-focused, and develop a team society that can scale along with the business.
From its modest beginnings to its vibrant objectives, Pivot Supply Chain Solutions exemplifies the grit and vision that define effective startups in logistics. With the best individuals, the right tools, and the ideal mindset, Pivot is showing that even in a competitive market, big dreams are accessible.
Prepared to see how DAT can help grow your broker agent?