The city of Chattanooga has been recognized by many publications and organizations in the past half-decade for achievements in business and its economy. Among those achievements was a strident effort at solidifying and growing the logistics market in Chattanooga and surrounding communities.
As businesses began to establish their footprint in Chattanooga and then expand their growth into communities across the region, state, and even the country, transporting goods and other facets of logistics became a crucial element of our economy.
That emphasis has greatly benefited Chattanooga, according to Kevin Alfultis, Staff Accountant here at Market Street Partners. While the logistics market — and many others for that matter — have been shaken in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, he believes the solid status it held prior to the pandemic will provide a place to re-emerge and grow.
“I would say that before the COVID-19 pandemic, the logistics market in Chattanooga was very strong and growing quickly,” Kevin says. “The pandemic has been very chaotic for the industry, not just in Chattanooga but as a whole. There are many trucking companies that have been unable to stay open and, unfortunately, the pandemic may lead many small companies and owner-operators/lease-operators to conserve money in order to make it through this tough time.”
What will come next will likely shadow the re-emergence of other businesses in the Chattanooga area at large. As more and more businesses reopen and begin a “new normal” of operations, logistics will also begin to recover. But it may be a long regrowth process.
“Everyone needs trucks to get their goods,” Kevin says. “Because of that, logistics will always bounce back. It’s just a matter of time.”
A View from the Driver’s Seat
Because of the logistics industry’s growing presence in the Chattanooga area, we were intentional about seeking team members with specific experience in the industry — and when Kevin joined our team, he brought industry knowledge that even included several years as a driver.
His expertise in the space is immense — and he brings with him a depth of knowledge around logistics only achieved by literally sitting in the driver’s seat. This first-hand knowledge helps Kevin navigate the unique challenges our trucking clients face.
“I have about two years of experience as a lease-operator driving over the road, which is where I learned many of the important facts about how to file taxes as an owner-operator/lease-operator,” Kevin says. “The remainder of my time in the industry was as a local driver for about four years transporting hazardous materials ranging from liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen all the way to explosives.”
So, what made him decide to step into accounting after a successful venture in trucking? In good part, he made the move because he could still have a hand in logistics.
“I looked for a job that would help me get away from the long hours driving but that would allow me to put my industry knowledge to work,” Kevin says. “As a lease-operator, I really enjoyed working through the financials of my own company. So finding a role where I could continue to utilize and grow my logistics knowledge was a natural fit.”
We are proud to have Kevin on our team and know that our current and future logistics customers will benefit from the high level of knowledge he brings to the table. If you’re looking for an accounting firm with experience in the logistics space, request a consultation today.