Air Freight + Final Mile: How to Build Routes, Fill Trucks, and Protect Margins

In Episode 44 of the Last2First Podcast, we sit down with Chris Bartley, COO of Fifth Dimension Logistics (New Jersey), to break down what it really takes to run a customized logistics operation from air freight cartage and contract logistics to scaling with an independent contractor (IC) model, managing peak-season uncertainty, and building a weekly KPI dashboard that keeps the business accountable and profitable.We also dig into a big one: broker vs motor carrier structures for IC fleets, why it matters for risk + insurance, and how rigid compliance platforms can create real friction for operators doing things the right way.02:00– Intro: Innovators moving the industry “from last to first”03:05 – Why Chris prefers the COO seat (and what it says about scale)05:10 – What Fifth Dimension Logistics actually does (customized logistics)07:05 – Cartage/air freight vs courier: “two different worlds”09:10 – The origin story: Atlantic Freight, XPO acquisition, and the spin-off12:10 – Why California + remote ops didn’t work (and the operator lesson)14:05 – The Vegas turnaround: giving the station to employees (factoring model)18:10 – Fleet breakdown: sprinters → 26’ box trucks → 53’ trailers20:45 – Growth during COVID: what changed and how they handled capacity24:10 – Why Chris protects speed: “no red tape” ops + fast RFP response27:10 – Air freight tariffs + average shipment economics (and why volume matters)31:35 – Peak season + tariffs: uncertainty, inventory surges, and consumer pressure35:10 – Broker vs motor carrier for IC fleets (risk, misclass, compliance friction)42:15 – Insurance + building requirements: why margins get squeezed46:10 – KPIs & dashboards: weekly pro forma P&L, cost controls, profit sharing52:20 – Automating reporting (bots, dashboards, real-time visibility)56:10 – “Last to First moment”: legacy, family business, and long-term outlook59:05 – Closing + how to connect with Chris / Fifth Dimension📌 Shoutout to our Sponsors! Dropoff Inc.https://www.dropoff.com/[email protected]+1 888-376-7633GigSafehttps://www.gigsafe.com/+1 407-496-9882Deliver Different https://deliverdifferent.com/SCIhttps://sciadmin.com/🎥 Watch, then drop a comment: What’s the #1 KPI you track weekly?Follow + Subscribe:📺 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@Last2FirstPodcast🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3gDS58wo6IWeLl48LHukdP🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/hn/podcast/last2first-podcast/id1778491941🏈 Join the Huddle: www.l2fhuddle.comGuest: Chris Bartley, COO Fifth Dimension Logistics (NJ) https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartleychris/  https://www.5dmlx.com/Host: Jason Burns, Last2First Podcast https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasongburns/#Last2First #Logistics #AirFreight #Cartage #3PL #Courier #IndependentContractors #KPIs #RiskManagement #SupplyChain