Staff Updates

Somerset monthly examines all facets of our business as well as assesses our strategic plan for growth. In our periodic evaluations of our long term strategy for continued growth Somerset has initiated several changes. The changes involve Brandon Ward and Samantha Whitesell. Recently, Brandon and Sam have been given new job titles and responsibilities.

Brandon Ward. Brandon has been promoted to Vice President of Operations for Somerset Logistics. Brandon has performed a myriad of functions for Somerset, first as an account/sales manager, agent recruiter and later as the Director of Business Development. Brandon is a TIA Certified Transportation Broker (CTB) and has been with the company for nearly 10 years. His new title and role describes his daily responsibilities as well as his future with Somerset. Brandon will be over all Somerset operations to include being involved in strategic growth initiatives. His importance to the organization is invaluable and we are excited for him to continue in his new position of leadership with Somerset Logistics.

Samantha Whitesell. Samantha will be assuming a new title as Support Specialist with Somerset. She has been with Somerset for 5 years, is a CTB, and fully understands all facets of the transportation industry. Sam will be the "go to" person for all our outside offices. She will provide oversight on Somerset's Onboarding initiative as well as provide support and assistance with carrier registration and relations. She will be involved in claims management, customer verification, agent recruitment as well as other necessary support functions. Lastly, Sam will be added to our after hours support team in being available to provide assistance outside of normal business hours. Sam has a deep drive and desire to help those who need assistance. She is excited about her new role and will be reaching out to all of you in the near future to introduce herself and ensure you know she is available if you need any assistance.

In closing, Somerset believes that both of these individuals are an important part of our company and future growth. Not only are their new titles and responsibilities deserving, they are necessary as our company continues to grow and evolve. They along with other various support staff from accounting to operational personnel strive to provide the best support possible for all our customers.

Memorial Day

As we approach Memorial Day it is a time to reflect on those that gave the ultimate sacrifice to their country. As a country and individually we at Somerset ask others to think about the magnitude of the sacrifice and the magnitude of our nation's loss. As we think about the many white markers in cemeteries around the world we understand not only the loss of those individuals, but the impact. Behind every simple white marker is a parent that lost a child, a brother or sister that lost a sibling, a wife that lost a partner, a son or daughter who lost a parent, birthdays that were never celebrated, degrees that were never achieved, dreams that were never realized and the list goes on and on. We at Somerset invite you to join us, to reflect on these many sacrifices. To close, we believe an inscription from the Luxembourg American Cemetery pretty well sums up what Memorial Day is all about. An inscription attributed to General Eisenhower that states, "All who shall hereafter live in freedom will be here reminded that to these men and their comrades we owe a debt to be paid with grateful remembrance of their sacrifice and with high resolve that the cause for which they died shall live eternally." May God bless our fallen, their families and all who serve and may he continue to bless the United States of America.

Somerset Logistics and Middle Tennessee State University Student Internship Opportunities

On February 24th Somerset Logistics participated in MTSU's Internship Fair. The Internship Fair provided students majoring in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Management, and Marketing the chance to learn about different internship opportunities. Somerset Logistics has long provided students internship opportunities. Somerset Interns conduct a training program focused on transportation/logistics knowledge, sales techniques and how to be a professional in today's dynamic work environments before transitioning to sales representatives. As an academically approved Internship Sponsor Somerset provides interns unparalleled opportunities to develop professionally, acquire real-world managerial/entrepreneurial experiences, in a hands-on dynamic sales environment.

Students and Sponsors (Employers) have to have the following to qualify for the program (per MTSU requirements and taken from their website).

Student (Intern) Qualifications

• Entrepreneurship or Management majors
• Entrepreneurship major: Junior standing (80+ semester hours)
• Management major: Senior standing (90+ semester hours)
• Must have at least a 2.5 overall grade point average
• Student must earn the internship position by securing part-time employment with an academically approved Internship Sponsor (employer)

Company Internship Position

• Must be academically approved by the Internship Coordinator and Department of Management
• Part-time position requires a student to work between 15 and 25 hours per week during Fall or Spring semesters. Summer semesters may be full-time
• Work should be a new learning experience for the student intern (i.e., should not be a job the student holds currently of has held previously)

The Student (Intern) agrees to:

• Meet with Internship Coordinator as requested
• Work a min of 225 hours for 3 hours of college credit (12-25 hours per week)
• Summer - work a minimum of 2 months in the summer regardless of the number of hours earned (must work until July 15th)
• Fall - work a min of 3 months the fall semester (must work until Dec 1st)
• Spring - work a min of 3 months in the spring semester (must work until April 1st)
• Work in a company approved by the Internship Coordinator
• Perform in a professional manner and comply with the employing company's regulations and policies
• Maintain employing company's confidentialities
• Submit an Internship Portfolio Project to the Internship Coordinator by the designated due date
• Ask the employing company to complete and submit Employer's Performance Evaluation of Intern form

If you have questions on how to become a Somerset intern, employee, or an independent freight broker/agent please contact Somerset Logistics at www.somersetlogistics.com. We challenge you to come and be a part of our team of transportation professionals.

Somerset Visits the Middle Tennessee State University Job Fair

Somerset recently attended the Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) Job Fair.  Somerset, along with over a 100 other employers, provided students first hand knowledge on how to join one of the fastest growing companies in the Middle Tennessee area and the United States.

"The Fall Career Fair is the largest on-campus fair for the academic year with over 1,000 students and 100 employers and 20 graduate/professional schools typically attending. The fair is for entry-level professional positions, supervised career-track internships and co-ops, and graduate/professional school programs."
- MTSU Career Development Center 

Somerset appreciates MTSU and prefers to hire local talent. Over 70% of our current work force has ties to MTSU. We are currently hiring entry-level Sales Representatives and Logistics Account Managers.  We are looking for individuals to fill both part-time and full-time sales positions.  If you want a career in sales we will provide the training, tools and resources to be as successful as you desire.
If you have questions on how to become a Somerset employee or an independent freight broker/agent please contact Somerset Logistics at www.somersetlogistics.com.  We challenge you to come and be a part of our team of transportation professionals.

Veterans Day - 2015

Somerset Logistics is proud to be a veteran owned and operated business.   Our Somerset leadership team is not only veterans, we are second generation veterans.   On this Veterans Day we would like to honor those that have served our nation.  We would also like to take the opportunity give a special veteran's salute to an individual who was instrumental in our success, Colonel Raymond C. Smith.  Murfreesboro's Daily News Journal published this special article for Veterans Day.  

The Somerset team has a combined military experience of over 90 years of service to our country.  Somerset has and continues to strive to hire and retain military veterans.  Many of the values and principals ingrained in our business practices and policies were developed through military experience and from mentors such as COL Ray Smith.  

To close, Somerset Logistics strives to provide the best service possible to all our customers.  We believe the values, ethics, and leadership traits formulated while serving our nation have assisted in our ability to better serve our customers, carriers and partners.  On this Veterans Day or for that matter every day reach out and thank a veteran for their service to this great nation.