Pilot Freight Services introduces new ground services airport-to-airport offering into Mexico

Full service 3PL and non asset-based 3PL services provider Pilot Freight Services said late last month that it has rolled out a new service that will transport ground cargo across the United Stated border into Mexico in a cost-effective manner.

Company officials said that freight originating from the East Coast will move through Dallas/Fort Worth, with Midwest and Western U.S. origins moving through Pilot’s Los Angeles gateways. And they also added that the aviation alternative freight shipping is available weekdays at one of three Mexican destination airports: Guadalajara (GDL), Mexico City (MEX) or Monterrey (MTY).

A Pilot spokesperson told LM that there were multiple drivers for rolling out this service.

“Based on our customers’ feedback, Pilot recognized there was a demand for airport-to-airport ground service and created a cost-effective and reliable solution,” the spokesperson said. “We introduced a new, favorable service to provide our customers a viable and affordable alternative to moving their goods by air.”

The spokesperson explained that in the past, Pilot’s product offerings were focused on more traditional means of moving cargo – either by air, or by a full trailer load. And prior to Pilot providing in-house services to fit a specific client need, Pilot, like many other providers, relied on outsourcing the transportation through an agent or partner network in order to meet its clients specific needs.

Advantages of providing the new service range from cost-effectiveness to shorter transit periods, the spokesperson said. First, Pilot noted it ensures consistent transit time between Pilot’s gateways and Pilot’s stations in Mexico, while providing customers with more predictable and timely solutions for their supply chain needs. Secondly, by keeping cargo on the same vehicle, Pilot said its trailers clear customs in a timelier matter avoiding congestion at the border that happens when multiple trailers are utilized. 

When asked what the main competitive advantages of this service are for Pilot, the spokesperson cited developing an enclosed process within the Pilot network, and ensuring complete integration from transportation to documentation provides for expedited service, along with the gateway service also affording its customers greater visibility to their supply chain, increasing the confidence of Pilot’s partnerships within its logistics network.

“We’re pleased to announce the addition of these services from our DFG and LAG gateways to better serve our current clients and also expand with new customers,” said John Hill, president and chief commercial officer for Pilot. “Streamlining and consolidating efforts will further allow us to better serve our expanding customer base and continue to create the reliability and value our company has been delivering for nearly five decades.”