"In 1980, we weren't logistics experts—we were shippers. We founded FLI because we knew that no one could understand the unique demands of a shipper better than a shipper themselves.
"Today, we aren't just moving freight; we’re optimizing entire supply chains. From a small team in 1980 to managing thousands of shipments for Fortune 500 companies, we remain committed to the simple idea that logistics should be transparent, personal, and efficient."
From our roots in manufacturing to becoming a global leader in freight management, our history is defined by one goal: making shipping easier.
Our parent company, Scotwood Industries, is an industry-leading manufacturer of both dry and liquid ice melt. Demand for their products and a need to source their materials both nationally and internationally quickly turned freight into a key factor of their overall success.
Scotwood Industries knew that no one could understand the unique needs and demands of a shipper better than they could. They knew that they weren’t freight experts. With the right people on their team they could create a centralized freight management program that would exceed anything they’d experienced since their start in 1980.
With that in mind they acquired the logistics companies they had been working with and, in 2003, founded FLI Transportation and Logistics. They realized what they had created was unique to the transportation industry. A third-party logistics company owned and operated by people who actually understood the demands of a shipper was a new concept. This was the pivotal moment when our parent company decided it was time to take FLI to the next level. They were ready to create a corporate identity and offer their much-needed services to the public.
In 2004 they hired Lance Turner as the Director of Sales and Operations for FLI. With Lance on board they established the FLI corporate headquarters in Overland Park and began their mission. With an extensive background in carrier operations and sales, Lance worked to build the business from the ground up. FLI grew from a handful of customers and four employees in 2004, to a resume that includes Fortune 500 customers and over 35 employees and growing.
A new and improved Transportation Management System (TMS) called TotalVision launched. This cutting-edge TMS was built to integrate truckload, LTL and parcel shipping in one place. TotalVision has control-tower visibility to compare rates, select carriers, track shipments, and view dashboards.
With year-over-year growth from inception, FLI - now a team of 50 employees and growing, entered a new chapter under the guidance of a fresh leadership team: Susie Guerra, Director of Finance and Accounting Operations; Daniel Brodie, Director of Pricing and Carrier Relations; Kirsten Riggs, Director of LTL Operations and Technology; and Tiffany Bears, Director of Sales. The Directors have ushered in a renewed growth mindset and exemplified FLI’s core values: Remember the Human, Commitment, Integrity, Empowerment, and Balance.
