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In discussions with one of my mentors and past supervisors in many years past, we often lamented on how the new generation wasn’t prepared for the multiple crises facing us in the supply chain as they haven’t been through the tough times that we have been through. They were frozen and needed help. Often, we discussed we had seen everything and there was nothing new that we would face. Fast forward to today as we emerge from the pandemic and unprecedented times, my leadership lessonsstart with a curious-growth mindset. How best can we all prepare for the new era and influence to shape it? I find myself having many more questions than answers, but with a confidence in the great team around me to stress test new ideas and concepts that will deliver a better future. I believe the world is a much better place than 20 years ago and the gap closing between the developing and developed worlds; however, with growth and change there is much more disruption. While our world is big and complex, human progress is still about life at ground zero, up close and in detail. As I’ve traveled the globe, I find local areas dramatically differ from overall country statistics and averages.
AIST Safety Consulting, recognized as a leading DOT compliance company of 2026, helps motor carriers navigate increasingly complex regulations while strengthening the safety systems behind their operations. Its work extends beyond individual clients through industry education, regulatory advocacy, professional training and technology. Contributing to the Safety Conversation AIST’s expertise has reached the pages of Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Guardian Magazine, a leading publication focused on commercial vehicle safety. In 2025, AIST CEO Anastasiya Chugay authored “Raising the Bar: Should Safety Managers Be Certified?” The article examined whether professionals responsible for fleet safety and regulatory compliance should meet a formal professional standard—reflecting AIST’s broader focus on strengthening the safety profession, not simply individual compliance programs..
Chris Jaynes, President and Zach Dworaczyk, VP and Partner
Getting food, essentials and everyday goods from distribution centers to store shelves is only part of the logistics puzzle. The real challenge lies in what happens behind the scenes—unloading trailers at 4 a.m. and beyond, the fast, precise movements of pallets across busy docks and the seamless handoff between manpower and machinery. It’s the kind of work that keeps shelves stocked, stores running and communities supplied. At the heart of this critical process is Costa Solutions, bringing structure to demanding warehouse operations through labor best practices, compliance and customer-centric operations. Renowned as one of Texas’ most dependable warehouse labor and freight support, the company specializes in delivering high-performance teams that turn supply chains into well-oiled machines of productivity. Precision, Productivity and People Costa’s services include time-tested, innovative and effective solutions for unloading, packaging, production support and warehouse services. The company stands apart through its productivity-based business model, which directly ties team member compensation to performance. “We highly incentivize our team members for their speed, efficiency, safety and attendance. That allows us to have excellent throughput without our customers having to worry about hiring, dealing with insurance/injury claims, lawsuits, or safety,” says Chris Jaynes, president. The company has developed proprietary standard operating procedures (SOP) that every team member follows daily. These SOPs, combined with embedded collaboration in client systems through KPI integrations and communications, enable seamless data exchange and constant visibility. Customers can monitor KPIs, productivity metrics and throughput in real-time through shared dashboards. Such levels of visibility foster a high level of trust and accountability, allowing customers to focus on core competencies like sales and growth while Costa handles the ground game. Turning Risk into Reliability Costa’s service excellence is built on decades of hands-on experience. The company's story began during the “lawsuit era” of the mid-to late-1980s when warehouse operators across Texas were scrambling for legal protection. Back then, warehouse work was largely handled by freelance laborers. The whole system was rife with injury claims, lawsuits and liability nightmares. Chris’ father, who was working for a staffing agency at the time, recognized a market desperate for more structure. In response, he built a bonded, insured business that would offer precisely compliant structured labor for high-risk warehouse environments.
Charles Phyle, CEO
In the fast-paced world of grocery and retail, inventory inefficiencies often go unnoticed until they start cutting into profits. From overstocking and stockouts to shrink and waste, these issues disrupt operations and silently chip away at margins. Today’s businesses need more than basic inventory counts—they need real-time visibility, precision, and speed. By turning stock data into actionable insights, companies can catch discrepancies early, resolve issues swiftly, and make smarter decisions that protect both efficiency and the bottom line. That focus on action-oriented accuracy defines PICS Inventory Specialists, who have been reshaping inventory operations since 2005. Powered by Titans, RF scanners, and the CheckPoint IQ platform, PICS delivers real-time visibility into inventory data. Its technology enables same-day reconciliation, turning physical counts into instant, actionable insights. PICS’ legacy of innovation traces back to the 1970s, when founder Charles Phyle helped RGIS develop the first handheld inventory auditing device—pioneering technology in the field. After decades running his engineering firm AST, Phyle launched PICS, bringing over senior RGIS leaders and long-term clients who valued transparency, accuracy, and responsive service. Starting with the underserved grocery segment, PICS grew steadily into the retail, hardware, and specialty sectors, becoming one of the top three inventory firms in the U.S. by focusing on long-term fit over volume and consistently outperforming legacy providers. “The customer comes first. We come second,” says Charles Phyle, CEO. “If the customer isn’t happy, we would not have a company. It’s really that simple.” Driving Success with State-of-the-Art Technology At the heart of PICS’ service lies a seamlessly integrated technology platform that transforms inventory auditing from a delayed, back-room chore into an in-the-moment business tool. Using rugged, ergonomically designed Titans, RF scanners, and CheckPoint IQ, PICS teams capture item-level barcodes—even in crowded stockrooms or on bustling sales floors—and wirelessly stream that data into the CheckPoint IQ system. From a live dashboard, store managers and corporate teams can monitor incoming counts against perpetual inventory files, property management systems, and POS data, immediately flagging any discrepancies. This same-day visibility allows misdirected shipments, scanning errors, or shrink hot spots to be researched and corrected on the spot, preventing minor issues from escalating into costly overstocks or stockouts.
Shipping
Terry Donohoe, Senior Vice President of Freight Forwarding for DP World Americas
Intermodal & Multimodal
Matt Maglio, Regional Vice President, Greyhound Lines
Supply Chain Services
Raymond Morrissey, Head of Supply Chain, 3PL Warehousing and Transportation, Eastern Fish
Fleet Management
Kasey Harris, Director of Distribution and Logistics, ERMCO-ECI
Fleet Management
Gawain Visagie, Director Logistics, GOODLES
Warehouse Management
Adam Spannbauer, Director, Transportation & Logistics, Cornerstone Building Brands
Transportation Management
Joe Perkins, Chief Operating Officer, Carolina Handling LLC
Operational Discipline Driving Safer Transportation Ecosystems
The issue features AIST Safety Consulting as the Top DOT Compliance Services 2026. AIST combines regulatory consulting, compliance technology, professional education and practical safety expertise to help motor carriers strengthen their programs. Its approach includes investigating disputed violations, supporting FMCSA audit preparation and training safety professionals. In one case, AIST reconstructed driver logs and supporting records to challenge four Hours-of-Service violations, resulting in their removal along with 102 SMS points within four business days. Its FCP for Trucking platform further supports compliance workflows, while its Safety Manager Class brings regulatory knowledge and practical experience into professional development.
AIST also contributes to the wider safety conversation through Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Guardian Magazine, addressing issues such as safety manager certification and carriers that attempt to avoid regulatory consequences through organizational changes. Its work reflects a broader emphasis on building informed and defensible safety systems rather than treating compliance as paperwork alone.
Contributor Matt Maglio, Regional Vice President, Greyhound Lines, highlights continuous driver training, performance measurement, coaching and collective responsibility as foundations for operational efficiency and customer service. His leadership perspective emphasizes collaboration and learning across transportation teams.
Adam Spannbauer, Director, Transportation & Logistics at Cornerstone Building Brands, brings attention to talent and diversity in logistics. His perspective connects inclusive workplaces with broader industry needs for adaptable professionals, innovative thinking and stronger talent pipelines as transportation evolves through technology and changing customer expectations.
Together, these perspectives show that transportation compliance depends on more than regulatory knowledge. Effective programs connect accurate records, trained people, practical leadership and continuous improvement to strengthen safety across the transportation ecosystem.