FAQ

In a word: teamwork. First Logistics was founded by Dennis Cole in 2003. The initial team members included a group that had formerly worked together at Sterling Logistics, a company that was sold to a private equity company. The majority of our employees have worked seamlessly together since the early 1980s. You’d be hard pressed to find a level of teamwork and experience like ours anywhere else.

Every company in business has situations that fall outside the normal supply chain operation. First Logistics is unmatched in the industry from an experience and responsiveness perspective.

Likely, you’ve had experience with big companies that promise the moon…until they get your business.  Or, many of the large 3PL’s don’t want this business because it disrupts their operation and requires customization. We welcome your business. Even though we’re small, we’re mighty. We can offer just about anything they can, from well-equipped, spacious buildings and knowledgeable management systems to labor and equipment.

And we can give you something they can’t: responsiveness. First Logistics can ramp up for a project immediately when required.  In addition, you will get your rate quotation quickly – no red tape, no layered management structure to require approvals. When you call First Logistics with an issue, you will speak directly to an owner who will make decisions immediately, saving you time and money.

We do both. We have a base of highly-trained full-time employees that are experienced on all types of specialized service projects, supplemented with temporary employees. The temporary staffing company we use has been in close partnership with us for years.

Every project and/or account is measured under a standard set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which is determined at the onset together with the customer.

Space has never been a problem at First Logistics because of our close relationships built with brokers and Realtors in the Chicagoland area for the last 35+ years. There simply isn’t anyone more equipped to find a solution at a reasonable cost than we are.

We will work with you to create a training guide that clearly outlines all the required steps.  Many times, customers will be onsite at the onset of the project to support the training. We use a Train-the-Trainer approach and keep a consistent team of employees working on any given project.

Like most warehouses, First Logistics carries general liability and warehouseman’s legal liability insurance. You must also provide your own insurance for product loss or damage related to storage in 3PL warehouse.

The warehouseman’s legal liability insurance covers a portion of losses caused by any negligence on the part of First Logistics. The coverage is subject to limitation of liability stated in your rate quotation and contract. This is the most efficient and inexpensive way to insure goods against loss.

Talk to us about your specialized services project. Typically, we prefer that a customer maintain enough volume to cover our fixed cost of managing a piece of their business.

Our holiday schedule includes New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and the day before and after Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Over the decades our team has worked together, we have served hundreds of customers. The chances are very high that we have handled challenges very much like yours. We are happy to provide references.