Total Quality Logistics Explained

Total Quality Logistics
Type:Private
Founded:Cincinnati, Ohio (August 1st, 1997)
Key People:Ken Oaks (CEO)
Kerry Byrne (President)
Industry:Logistics
Revenue:$4.1B (2020)[1]
$7.8B (2021) [2]
$8.8B (2022) [3]
$6.7B (2023)
Num Employees:9,000+ (April 2024)
Location City:Union Township, Clermont County, Ohio
Location Country:United States
Locations:60+ offices (2024)

Total Quality Logistics (TQL) is a North American freight brokerage and third-party logistics firm.[4] It was founded in 1997 by Ken Oaks in Cincinnati, and is headquartered in nearby Union Township, Clermont County, Ohio.[5] [6] [7] As of 2021, TQL is the largest private company in greater Cincinnati according to the Cincinnati Enquirer and American City Business Journals.[8] [9]

TQL is the world's 19th largest third-party logistics provider (3PL)[10] that provides global transportation services including full truckload (FTL), less-than-truckload (LTL), intermodal, warehousing, drayage, drop trailer, oversize/overweight, Mexico cross-border, customs, Canada cross-border, hazmat, partials and other specialized logistic services.[11]

As of 2023, TQL was ranked the second-largest freight brokerage firm in North America by Transport Topics magazine, posting $2 billion in net revenue off gross revenues of $8.8 billion.[12] TQL has 56 offices in 26 states with more than 9,000 employees.[13]

TQL has been ranked a Greater Cincinnati Top Places to Work 12 times.[14] [15] This year,[16] and in 2019 and 2020, TQL was ranked a Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For.[17] The company is a five time winner of the Fortune Best Workplaces for Millennials award.[18]

In February 2022, TQL and the Government of Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet announced intentions to create 525 new jobs across the state.[19]

In March 2022, in partnership with the state of Ohio, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, JobsOhio, REDI Cincinnati, Clermont County, Ohio and Union Township, Clermont County, Ohio, TQL announced the intention to create 1,000 new jobs in southwest Ohio and expand their headquarters.[20] Also in 2022, The Journal of Commerce ranked TQL the 19th largest Global Third-Party Logistics Provider in their “Top 50 Global 3PLs” Special Report.[21]

Supply Chain Crisis Response

In September 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company pledged $1 million dollars through its Moves That Matter program which covers the cost of transportation of donated freight.[22] The company later upped the commitment to $2 million.[23] The company received recognition from the American Chemistry Council for outstanding COVID-19 response.[24] In 2021, TQL also committed to hiring over 1,000 new employees nationwide in response to the transportation demand that was caused by the pandemic. [25] [9] [26]

In February 2023, TQL was awarded as a finalist for the Engage for Good Halo Awards for "Emergency Crisis/Initiative" for their Moves that Matter charitable program, which moves donated goods at no cost.[27] Other finalists were United Parcel Service; PayPal; Humble Bundle, Razomfor Ukraine, International Rescue Committee,International Medical Corps and Direct Relief.

Headquarters Campus

In 2021, the company grew its corporate headquarters in Union Township, Ohio with a $20 million 133,000 square foot expansion.[28] The expansion includes the biggest American flag (30’x60’) and tallest flagpole (160’) in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.[29]

In December 2022, the company broke ground on a headquarters expansion, which is expected to open in summer of 2024. [30]

Sponsorships

In 2021, the company announced stadium naming rights for TQL Stadium, the home of Major League Soccer's FC Cincinnati.[31] [32] [33] [34] [35]

In 2023, TQL announced a contribution and partnership with University of Cincinnati athletics. [36]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Top 50 Companies: Total Quality Logistics. Transport Topics. American Trucking Associations. 9 September 2021. 9 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210909130456/https://www.ttnews.com/logistics/freightbrokerage/2022. live.
  2. Web site: Top 3PLs: A&A's Top 100 Domestic Transportation Managers/Freight Brokers List .
  3. Web site: 2023 Essential Financial and Operating Information for the 100 Largest Logistics Companies in North America . April 21, 2023 .
  4. Web site: 2021 Top Freight Brokerage Firms. Transport Topics. 2021-09-10. 2021-09-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20210909130456/https://www.ttnews.com/top50/freightbrokerage/2021. live.
  5. News: Tweh. Bowdeya. TQL picks Tampa for carrier services office. August 10, 2015. Cincinnati.com. May 6, 2015. September 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210910232729/https://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2015/05/06/tql-cincinnati-tampa/70882124/. live.
  6. News: Demeropolis. Tom. Rapidly growing TQL plans yet another Ohio office. August 10, 2015. Cincinnati Business Courier. April 27, 2015. July 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150710205807/http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2015/04/27/rapidly-growing-tql-plans-yet-another-ohio-office.html. live.
  7. Web site: Levington. Chelsey. Total Quality Logistics expands nationwide in search for talent. August 28, 2015. Dayton Daily News. April 19, 2015. September 23, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923230904/http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/total-quality-logistics-expands-nationwide-in-sear/nkwTP/. live.
  8. Web site: Caproni. Erin. TQL moves into a new state with its latest office. Cincinnati Business Courier. Gannett. 9 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20160514231000/http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/05/02/tql-moves-into-a-new-state-with-its-latest-office.html. 14 May 2016. live.
  9. Web site: Archived copy . 2021-09-10 . 2021-09-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210910232729/https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2021/04/01/cincinnatis-largest-private-company-sets-its.html . live .
  10. Web site: Top 3PLs: A&A's Top 50 Global Third-Party Logistics Providers (3PLs) .
  11. Web site: TQL | Logistics Services. 2021-09-10. 2021-09-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20210909124718/https://www.tql.com/logistics-services. live.
  12. Web site: Logistics Rankings . April 21, 2023 .
  13. Web site: TQL | About Us. 2021-09-10. 2021-09-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20210909130824/https://www.tql.com/about-us. live.
  14. Web site: Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Top Workplaces 2021. Top Workplaces. 2021-09-10. 2021-09-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20210909124719/https://topworkplaces.com/award/cincinnati/2021/500-plus/. live.
  15. Web site: Total Quality Logistics - TQL Profile. Top Workplaces. 2021-09-10. 2021-09-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20210909143416/https://topworkplaces.com/company/total-quality-logistics/cincinnati/. live.
  16. Web site: 2023 Fortune 100 . .
  17. Web site: Total Quality Logistics. Fortune. 2021-09-10. 2020-09-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20200918113317/https://fortune.com/best-companies/2020/total-quality-logistics/. live.
  18. Web site: Total Quality Logistics. Fortune. 2021-09-10. 2021-09-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20210910232730/https://fortune.com/best-workplaces-millennials/2021/total-quality-logistics/. live.
  19. Web site: Team Kentucky .
  20. Web site: Total Quality Logistics Adding 1,000 New Jobs in Southwest Ohio .
  21. JOC Top 50 Global Third-Party Logistics Providers (3PLs) . Journal of Commerce.
  22. Web site: Total Quality Logistics pledges $1M to help with transit costs for charities. Jeanne. Houck. The Enquirer. 2021-09-10. 2020-09-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20200922173724/https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2020/09/10/total-quality-logistics-pony-up-1-m-costs-deliver-donations/3457835001/. live.
  23. Web site: May 18, 2022 . Donation doubled: Moves that Matter makes $2 million commitment . tql.com.
  24. Web site: TQL | TQL Business News, Press Releases, Awards & Mentions . 2021-09-10 . 2021-09-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210910143206/https://www.tql.com/about-us/press-releases/tql-is-american-chemistry-council-partner-of-the-y . live .
  25. Web site: The 9 jobs making a comeback this year. April 12, 2021. WCPO. September 10, 2021. September 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210909145256/https://www.wcpo.com/rebound/the-9-jobs-making-a-comeback-this-year. live.
  26. Web site: Archived copy . 2021-09-10 . 2021-04-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210406203552/https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2021/04/05/tql-hiring-nearly-100-in-louisville.html . live .
  27. Web site: Campaigns with Heart Honored as 2023 Halo Award Finalists . February 14, 2023 .
  28. [Union Township, Clermont County, Ohio|Union Township, Ohio]
  29. Web site: Tallest flagpole in Tri-State installed in Cincinnati on Veterans Day. WLWT Digital. Staff. November 12, 2020. WLWT. September 10, 2021. January 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210121235724/https://www.wlwt.com/article/tallest-flagpole-in-tri-state-installed-in-cincinnati-on-veterans-day/34647436. live.
  30. Web site: TQL announces expansion plans, addition of 600 new jobs over next five years .
  31. Web site: FC Cincinnati's new home in the West End has a name: TQL Stadium. Sharon. Coolidge. The Enquirer. 2021-09-10. 2021-04-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20210430113608/https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2021/04/21/naming-rights-sold-fc-cincinnati-play-soccer-tql-stadium/7200836002/. live.
  32. Web site: FC Cincinnati to soon debut new soccer stadium in the West End. John. London. April 29, 2021. WLWT. September 10, 2021. April 29, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210429222031/https://www.wlwt.com/article/fc-cincinnati-to-soon-debut-new-soccer-stadium-in-the-west-end/36291875. live.
  33. Web site: FC Cincinnati Set To Open TQL Stadium, Debut MLS Stadium Firsts. Tim. Newcomb. Forbes. 2021-09-10. 2021-05-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20210501080829/https://www.forbes.com/sites/timnewcomb/2021/04/26/fc-cincinnati-set-to-open-tql-stadium-debut-mls-stadium-firsts/. live.
  34. Web site: StackPath. www.citybeat.com. 2021-09-10. 2021-04-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20210421190057/https://www.citybeat.com/news/sports/blog/21151611/fc-cincinnatis-west-end-stadium-gets-a-new-name. live.
  35. Web site: FC Cincinnati introduce TQL Stadium in new partnership | MLSSoccer.com. mlssoccer. 2021-09-10. 2021-04-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20210427202213/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/fc-cincinnati-introduce-tql-stadium-in-new-partnership. live.
  36. Web site: Total Quality Logistics and UC Announce Long-Term Partnership .