The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Translogistics takes top spot on Business Excellence Awards
Company was No. 9 on Greater Reading Chamber Alliance's 2021 Top 50 businesses list
Scott McDevitt credits the success of his business, Translogistics Inc., to excellent employees and customer loyalty.
“We’ve got some of the best employees you’ll find anywhere, and we always recognize the importance of our customers because we wouldn’t be here without them,” he said.
Based in Birdsboro, Translogistics also benefits from a culture of excellence that McDevitt has cultivated throughout the company, emphasizing the traits of trust, loyalty and integrity.
“I think it’s a combination of all those things that’s enabled us to do well,” McDevitt said. “We were really able to grow the business over the last few years in spite of everything that’s been going on.”
That growth was recognized Wednesday, May 11 during the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s (GRCA) 109th Annual Dinner at the Santander Arena in downtown Reading. The Chamber Alliance presented its Business Excellence Awards, which are intended to recognize large and small companies that have demonstrated a positive influence on the future of greater Reading.
Intentional and well planned growth
McDevitt, who founded the company in 1994, is proud of the growth Translogistics has experienced in recent years but noted that logistics is a growing field with an increasing number of manufacturers outsourcing the handling of their products. Demand for logistics services increased significantly as delivery of products to homes escalated dramatically during the pandemic.
Having the right technology in place is crucial to Translogistic’s success, he said, adding that the company has developed software to help improve customer performance.
“The technology has changed so much since we started almost 30 years ago,” said McDevitt, who recalled stopping at pay phones to check on shipments. “We’re able to do so much more for our customers than we were even just a few years ago.”
He described Translogistics as “a travel agency for freight,” helping shippers manage their freight programs and make them more efficient while reducing costs. In recent years the company has added a brokerage department and an international component, increasing its customer base and enabling it to expand operations.
“We’ve been growing, but the growth has been intentional and well planned,” McDevitt said.
Plans for continued growth are in place, with the company hoping to expand its services as well as its geographical presence.
Since the start of the pandemic the company has been hiring remotely and has acquired employees in various parts of the country, a move that will pave the way for geographical expansion, McDevitt explained.
“That really created the opportunity for us to get the best people and consider the possibility for expansion,” he said.
About the Company
Translogistics employs 64 people, most of whom live in or near Berks County. Two of McDevitt’s sons, Joseph and Benjamin, are partial owners of the company. Joseph serves as director of sales and marketing, while Benjamin is director of information technology.