Last-mile appliance delivery has been commoditized to the point where price, not service, usually wins the contract. In this episode Eddie Valdez explains why the small operators doing the best work are the ones who refuse to compete on price. Eddie is the President of Mega Brothers Logistics, a family-owned white-glove appliance delivery company his father founded in 2012 and grew from a handful of trucks in South Florida into an operation spanning 17 states, 30 cities, and Puerto Rico.
Eddie has spent nearly two decades in last-mile logistics. He came up through FSA Logistix, the same network his father worked in, spent years in operations and management at large carriers including XPO, and then left a stable corporate position to go all-in on the family business when it was five trucks deep and could not yet afford to pay him. He came to the United States from the Dominican Republic at 16, never went to college, and learned the operation from the truck up.
The argument at the center of the conversation is that last mile has been devalued by billion-dollar public carriers that buy up small companies, control close to 70 percent of the retailers, and price every stop to nothing because they move more than a million deliveries a day. Eddie’s position is that scale is not the only way to win. Mega Brothers survives and grows by doing what the giants will not: owning every mistake instead of passing the blame, taking the claim headache off the retailer and the client, and being completely transparent with contractors about margins and pay, to the point of losing money on a route to keep a good installer.
He makes the case that the delivery driver is the last and most important part of every transaction, the person who closes the deal inside the customer’s home, and that retaining those people is the real competitive advantage in this business. He breaks down how a small bench of certified master installers protects the company on 30,000 dollar built-in luxury jobs most companies avoid for the liability, why a pre-site measure beats guessing, and how honesty keeps his best contractors loyal for eight years and more.
This one is for anyone operating, contracting, or building in last mile, final mile, appliance delivery, and white-glove logistics.
What is Last2First Podcast?
Welcome to Last 2 First, the podcast dedicated to exploring the final mile in logistics and the unique challenges faced by business owners in this vital industry. Each episode features insightful conversations with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders who share their experiences, strategies, and innovations shaping the future of final mile delivery.
Join us as we dive into topics like optimizing delivery routes, enhancing customer satisfaction, navigating regulatory hurdles, and leveraging technology for efficiency. Whether you're a seasoned logistics professional or a business owner looking to improve your operations, Last 2 First offers valuable insights and actionable advice to help you lead your business to success.
Tune in and discover how to turn the last mile into your first priority!