Kyle Johnson serves as CEO and co-owner of Leonard’s Express and its sister companies, Johnson Equipment, Canandaigua Driving School, and Integrated Logistics. Johnson, alongside co-owners, Ken Johnson and Kevin Johnson, has strategically grown Leonard’s Express from a small, one-shop brokerage-based firm to a nationwide logistics and asset-based trucking company that employs approximately 800 people nationwide with 15 offices in 12 states. Johnson's day-to-day responsibilities include setting the vision and strategic direction, and balancing the unique needs of the brokerage, warehousing and asset-based businesses. He's also an active participant in shaping and maintaining the Leonard’s Express “family” culture. Johnson began his full-time career in the transportation industry in November 1996 working in the IT department of KJ Transportation. Upon the sale of KJ Transportation in 1998 to Transit Group Transportation, Kyle relocated to Groveland, Fla., to work with the Transit Group as director of IT communication. In 2000, he was named director of IT for Transit Group and remained in that position until September 2001, where he became president of Johnson Equipment Sales and Service and director of IT for Leonard’s Express, Inc. He remained in that role until becoming chief information officer in 2012. He was named chief financial officer in March 2016 and CEO in November 2023.
His deep background and expertise in IT has helped with the proliferation of AI and other technologies shaping the future of transportation and logistics. And he maintains a continuous focus on building a culture of learning and development through operations-specific training and professional development.
Looking ahead, Johnson aims to enhance the operations structure, including implementation of Optimal Dynamics to make better routing decisions and enable drivers and dispatchers to deliver higher levels of service to food shippers. He also wants to further implement and utilize the new features ISAAC, the company's ELD system, to elevate communications with the driving force and provide transparency to customers. Johnson also looks to maintain the company's 4-year trade cycle for tractors, and augment its culture of learning and development through operations-specific communications training and professional development.
Food Logistics talked exclusively with Johnson about creating a culture of learning and development, applying an engineering background to supply chain and why transportation professionals should think outside the box.
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