U.S. Region

Phil Cotter
Vice President & General Manager

There is a simple, driving force behind the rapid growth of the U.S. Region.

"It’s all in response to our customers," said Phil Cotter, VP and General Manager. "We are here to serve them. When one of our customers requests service in an area where we had not previously been, we do everything we can to make it happen."

But that is not the only reason for the steady expansion of Courier Express U.S. Region, which Cotter says will eventually reach across the country. "We have brought in new customers by establishing third-party logistics in areas where we have not previously operated," he said. "And once we get established in a new location, we build a foundation that we then continue to expand." And it is the reason the region has managed to grow steadily, even through difficult economic conditions. Courier Express maintains a focus on customer service that is practiced from the loading docks to the executive offices.

"When I have a difficult customer to deal with, I turn to Courier Express. The bigger the challenge, the better they respond," said John Morrell, Senior Transportation Manager of Office Depot. "When there are challenging conditions, like bad weather or high-volume loads to deliver, they go above and beyond."

In addition to operating facilities in eight cities in six states, the U.S. Region also has been developing third-party logistics to serve customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas. "The key for us is finding third-party logistics partners who share our values and can meet our high standards," Cotter said. "We are going to do things a certain way and have exact specifications. We cannot afford to have our reputation sullied by a third-party vendor who doesn’t understand how we operate. So, we are careful to only do business with reliable, first-rate partners."

Cotter, who had 11 years of experience in transportation before joining Courier Express in 2007, believes that it is a commitment to excellence that has allowed his division to grow while so many competitors in the industry have not fared so well recently. Next on the horizon in 2010, the region will be expanding its Midwest operations. Cotter explains the Courier Express culture this way: "We try to handle every customer, no matter how big or small, like someone special. They all get the same personal care and treatment."