Built to Last: Inside Holman Logistics with Mike Gardner
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
Release Date: 07/30/2026
Why the Future of Freight Has No Driver's Cab with Eyal Cohen
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “Why the Future of Freight Has No Driver's Cab”, speaks with Founder and CEO of Humble Robotics, , about how cabless, electric autonomous haulers are reimagining commercial logistics from the ground up. About Eyal Cohen is the Founder and CEO of Humble Robotics, an autonomous electric trucking company that recently closed a seed round and emerged from stealth with the Humble Hauler – a fully autonomous, cabless, electric Class 8 truck built from the ground up. Cohen spent his career at the frontier of autonomous vehicles and electrification: he was inside Apple's self-driving...
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REPOST: Scaling Logistics Innovation at Descartes Systems Group with Dan Cicerchi
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In "Scaling Logistics Innovation at Descartes Systems Group”, and , the General Manager of Transportation Management Solutions at Descartes Systems Group, discuss the strategic integration of trustworthy AI to enhance existing core logistics technology and solve practical pain points across the global supply chain. About Dan Cicerchi is the General Manager of Transportation Management Solutions at Descartes Systems Group, where he leads strategy and innovation for one of the industry’s most widely adopted logistics technology platforms. A seasoned entrepreneur and...
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Scale or Fail: Navigating Trade Volatility for Emerging Brands with Laura Ritchey
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “Scale or Fail: Navigating Trade Volatility for Emerging Brands”, speaks with President and CEO of the Americas region of GEODIS, , about how emerging brands can navigate trade volatility, manage inventory, and build scalable, resilient supply chains. About Laura Ritchey joined GEODIS in July 2025 as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Americas region. Laura is responsible for overseeing the region’s freight forwarding, contract logistics and transportation business units along with engineering and technology, IT, ProVenture (U.S.-based subsidiary of GEODIS focusing...
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The Collision of Capital, Technology & Logistics with Joey Milstein
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “The Collision of Capital, Technology & Logistics”, speaks with Founder & Managing Partner of Gamma Point Advisory, , about how the intersection of private equity, artificial intelligence, and operational execution is reshaping the future of supply chain M&A. About Joey Milstein has spent more than 35 years inside the machinery of global trade, leading commercial organizations for ocean carriers, freight forwarders, and venture-backed logistics technology companies before moving to the advisory side. Having built businesses, sold technology, raised capital, and led growth...
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Eliminating EDI Headaches: Managed Integration vs. Ticket Queues with Mitch Bernet
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “Eliminating EDI Headaches: Managed Integration vs. Ticket Queues”, speaks with Co-Founder and Leader of Atadex, , about how fully managed EDI and API integrations eliminate operational bottlenecks, speed up customer onboarding, and drive supply chain profitability. About Mitch Bernet is the Co-Founder and Leader of Atadex, bringing decades of supply chain expertise and executive leadership to the role. Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, he earned a degree from Providence College, an MBA in Finance from Creighton University, and launched his career at Union Pacific Railroad before taking...
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The Infrastructure Autonomous Delivery Needs with Dan O’Toole
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “The Infrastructure Autonomous Delivery Needs”, speaks with Chairman and CEO of Arrive AI, , about why smart endpoint infrastructure is the missing link to scaling autonomous logistics. About Dan O'Toole , CEO of Arrive AI, can speak to why endpoint coordination networks and logistics software are becoming the unresolved infrastructure problem—and the most durable value driver—in commercial autonomous logistics. Drawing on clinical-grade deployment data that reveals what the market actually needs to scale, he offers actionable lessons on how these operational insights translate...
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How Nordian's Platform Enables Long-Haul Autonomy with Michael Schramm
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “How Nordian's Platform Enables Long-Haul Autonomy”, speaks with Co-founder and CEO of Nordian, , about how Nordian enables long-haul autonomy by combining precise positioning, satellite connectivity, and edge intelligence into a single platform. About Michael Schramm is Co-founder and CEO of Nordian, the positioning and connectivity platform for Physical AI, delivering centimeter-level GNSS corrections, satellite connectivity, and fleet lifecycle management to some of the largest industrial OEMs in the Americas. A serial entrepreneur with 15+ years of executive leadership, he is a...
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REPOST: Trimble's Perspective: The Future of Freight is Connected with Rob Painter
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “Trimble's Perspective: The Future of Freight is Connected”, and , Trimble's President and Chief Executive Officer, discuss how Trimble connects the freight ecosystem—people, data, and workflows—to navigate the difficult truckload market and drive customer efficiency using AI and integrated commercial solutions. About Rob Painter became Trimble's president and chief executive officer in January 2020. From 2016 through 2019, he served as the Company's chief financial officer. Joining the Company in 2006, Painter held a variety of leadership positions, including...
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The Fictitious Pickup Boom: How Fake Drivers Steal Freight with Jillian Kossman
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “The Fictitious Pickup Boom: How Fake Drivers Steal Freight”, speaks with Chief Operating Officer at IDScan.net, , about how modern fraudsters use fake CDLs to execute fictitious pickups—and how automated identity verification at the gate can stop them. About Jillian Kossman is Chief Operating Officer at IDScan.net, an identity verification firm helping businesses combat fraud and build trust in digital and in-person transactions. As COO, she leads the company’s day-to-day operations, scaling processes, technology partnerships and customer delivery to support organisations...
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Built to Last: Inside Holman Logistics with Mike Gardner
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “Built to Last: Inside Holman Logistics”, speaks with President and COO of Holman Logistics, , about how the company's 162-year heritage, safety-first culture, and long-term customer partnerships drive sustainable growth in today’s supply chain landscape. About Mike Gardner is the President & COO of Holman Logistics, a national third-party logistics company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. With a 40-plus-year career in supply chain management, Mike has held executive roles at GATX Logistics, APL Logistics, and DHL Supply Chain, previously serving as CEO of Kane Logistics...
info_outlineIn “Built to Last: Inside Holman Logistics”, Joe Lynch speaks with President and COO of Holman Logistics, Mike Gardner, about how the company's 162-year heritage, safety-first culture, and long-term customer partnerships drive sustainable growth in today’s supply chain landscape.
About Mike Gardner
Mike Gardner is the President & COO of Holman Logistics, a national third-party logistics company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. With a 40-plus-year career in supply chain management, Mike has held executive roles at GATX Logistics, APL Logistics, and DHL Supply Chain, previously serving as CEO of Kane Logistics before advising in 3PL, real estate, and venture capital. At Holman, he oversees 1,400 team members, over eight million square feet of distribution space, and a nationwide transportation network. Mike holds an MBA from Southern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Science from Miami University, where he serves on the Center for Supply Chain Excellence board. Passionate about empowering family businesses, he is also a founding board member of ALAN. Beyond logistics, this former high school chef, Cincinnati native, father of three, and marathoner has raised $7.4 million for cancer research over 16 years through Pelotonia.
About Holman Logistics
Holman Logistics is a national third-party logistics (3PL) provider offering multi-client warehousing, manufacturing support, and nationwide transportation solutions. Founded in 1864 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the privately held company manages over eight million square feet of distribution space and operates a network spanning 20 locations across nine states. Operating with over 1,400 team members, Holman specializes in high-exacting verticals, including consumer packaged goods (CPG), food and beverage, ingredients, pet food, and major appliances. Its core capabilities range from contract warehousing, plant sub-assembly, and Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) services to private fleet shipping, dedicated shuttles, freight brokerage, and direct-to-consumer ecommerce fulfillment. Grounded in a culture prioritizing operational safety and long-term customer partnerships, Holman balances its multi-generational heritage with modern operational capabilities—incorporating advanced automation, continuous improvement programs, and AI-enabled site tools to deliver consistent, high-performance execution.
Key Takeaways: Built to Last: Inside Holman Logistics
- In “Built to Last: Inside Holman Logistics”, Joe Lynch speaks with President and COO of Holman Logistics, Mike Gardner, about how the company's 162-year heritage, safety-first culture, and long-term customer partnerships drive sustainable growth in today’s supply chain landscape.
- Safety as an Operational Strategy ("Journey to Zero"): Holman Logistics treats safety not as a metric compared to industry averages, but as a non-negotiable core value targeting zero incidents. Operational safety sets the foundation for service quality, and every associate is empowered to "own the stop button" to pause unsafe operations.
- 162+ Years of Adaptability: Founded during the Lincoln administration and family-owned for over a century, Holman’s longevity is proof of continuous adaptation—navigating world wars, recessions, deregulation, and eccommerce growth by staying close to customer needs.
- Culture Drives Retention and Service Consistency: In an industry plagued by high turnover, Holman relies on a people-first, performance-driven culture—reinforced by leadership orientations and awards like the Bob Downie Legacy Award—to retain experienced associates who know the customer’s business inside out.
- True Strategic Partnership Over Transactional Service: Holman builds long-term, embedded relationships (some lasting since the 1960s) using open communication, system integration, and gain-sharing models that align financial incentives around mutual cost savings and continuous improvement.
- Nimble Innovation Without Tech Hype: Holman balances legacy heritage with modern capabilities. As a privately held "thinking company," it rapidly adopts practical technology—such as AI vision tools on forklifts for training—while quickly discarding tech that doesn't add operational value.
- Private Ownership as a Strategic Advantage: Unlike 3PLs beholden to private equity exit timelines or quarterly public earnings, Holman’s multi-generational family leadership offers stability, long-term capital planning, and agility when customizing solutions for mid-market shippers.
- Focusing on Core Complex Markets: Holman deliberately specializes in high-exacting verticals—including CPG, ingredients, pet food, and major appliances—providing tailored services ranging from plant sub-assembly and store-door delivery to Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) support and final-mile execution.