Covenant's freight brokerage poised to grow with new executive

In this Oct. 26, 2015, staff file photo, Gary Helms, a master trainer for Covenant Transport, prepares to transport a load of soda ash from Chattanooga to Atlanta.
In this Oct. 26, 2015, staff file photo, Gary Helms, a master trainer for Covenant Transport, prepares to transport a load of soda ash from Chattanooga to Atlanta.

Another Chattanooga freight broker is positioning itself for rapid expansion in the growing logistics shipping market by hiring a truck shipment veteran from Memphis to undertake what he says will be an "aggressive growth mode."

Covenant Transport Solutions, a subsidiary of Covenant Transport Services headquartered in Lookout Valley just west of downtown Chattanooga, has hired Ben Caplenor as vice president of customer service. Caplenor comes from U.S. Xpress Enterprises, where he worked for the past eight years as director of customer service for the company's brokerage division.

A transplant from Memphis, Caplenor brings 20 years of experience in truckload and less-than-truckload logistics to Covenant Solutions.

"I love growing things," Caplenor said in an announcement of his appointment. "I love building teams and developing people."

Caplenor will have ample opportunities to build and grow at Solutions as the brokerage prepares to add more workers and expand and relocate its facilities in the future.

Caplenor, who studied business marketing at Mississippi State University, said technology and the injection of young workers into the transportation industry is driving a lot of positive changes in the industry.

"Technology has made it easier for people who are not familiar with logistics to get involved," he said. "It's leveled the playing field."

Covenant Transport Solutions is among more than a half dozen freight brokers headquartered in Chattanooga, many of whom are staffed by former employees of Access America which quickly grew to more than $500 million in revenues before merging with Coyote Logistics which later combined with UPS.

In Chattanooga, Coyote still operates a freight brokerage office, along with local startups Trident Transport, Steam Logistics, Logistics Made Simple, Avenger Logistics and Lync Logistics, each of which helps companies arrange truck shipments throughout North America. Four of those companies were on INC. magazine's list of the 5,000 fastest growing companies in America last year and Avenger Logistics is expected to also be on the list next year.

Covenant Transport Solutions has an advantage in that it is backed up by the resources of the Covenant Transport Services family of companies, one of the biggest trucking companies in the United States with nearly $816.5 million in sales last year.

"We have great brand recognition with shippers of all kinds," Caplenor said. "They're comfortable with us. They know who we are."

And that "gives us the confidence to say yes to our customers, knowing we have that support in our back pocket," he added.

Paul Newbourne, chief operating officer at Covenant Transport Solutions, said Caplenor brings experience and knowledge of today's logistics landscape to the company.

"This industry is changing daily, and it's important we have the right people in place to ensure we're not only up-to-speed, but ahead of the curve," Newbourne said in a statement. "Ben knows this business and knows how to establish and build good relationships, whether with employees or with our customers, which is essential to drive Solutions' future success."

Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 757-6340

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