JAXPORT Partner Spotlight: Shoreside Logistics

3 MIN READ

Written by – Marcia Pledger

Jacksonville-based Shoreside Logistics offers a broad range of logistics services, including warehousing and drayage between JAXPORT terminals and destinations across the Southeastern United States.

Lisa Diaz, Shoreside Vice President of Regulatory and Compliance, specializes in foreign trade zone regulations, U.S. Customs operational compliance, and new business development. She says cargo customers benefit from the company’s resources and global reach.

Shoreside is a member of the Saltchuk Logistics family, a privately-owned global business that owns more than 30 companies involved in various services, including air cargo, ocean service, drayage, trucking, freight forwarding, warehousing, and logistics service for government agencies.

 “I am passionate about providing our clients with the attention and care of a small business, matched with the backing of a large corporation,” Diaz said.

The company operates about 800,000-square-feet of warehousing in multiple locations located less than seven miles from JAXPORT’s Blount Island and Dames Point marine terminals. The team manages a foreign trade zone, bonded warehousing, intermodal logistics, and its own fleet of trucking.

“Customers appreciate our consultative approach in finding solutions for their supply chain,” Diaz said. “We listen, advise and guide the client on next steps.”

With 20 acres of yard space located near JAXPORT’s terminals, along with brand-new company trucks and cutting-edge technology, Diaz said Shoreside is primed to meet all sorts of logistics needs.

“We’re a small company, so we have to be prepared for more business. We took our time, but now we’re ready to market more of our services,” she said.

The company also offers a full-service maintenance shop equipped with certified mechanics, welders and fabricators to service trucks, containers, and chassis, Diaz said, noting that they provide this service for their own company and offer it to others as well.

“All of our facilities meet U.S. Customs bonded security standards, including our yard, which offers 24/7/365 security and one-way in and one-way out service controlled by a security guard,” Diaz said. “When companies use our yard, they have around-the-clock access to support their operational needs.”

Shoreside is growing its capabilities beyond the Southeast U.S. for existing customers with increased logistical services in Alaska and Hawaii through Shoreside’s sister companies under the Saltchuk brand. Diaz said this new opportunity is a result of listening to large retail clients that have a presence in those areas.

“If customers who work with us in the Southeast want to reach those markets, we can set them up with our sister companies,” she said. “Whether it’s just to reach the islands of Hawaii or the state of Alaska, or if its inland distribution in either of those areas, we can help them. Customers trust us in the Southeast, and we’re just getting started sharing that we can play a role with opportunities in those regions.”

The company also offers the country’s first and only third-party logistics foreign trade zone on the Mexican border. The 10-acre site is used for companies to bring cargo into the U.S. and out of the U.S., whether it’s ready to export to Mexico or go to a final destination in the U.S. They use the area to store containers and high and heavy cargo.

But what Diaz gets most excited about is when she finds ways to come up with tailored options for customers to create efficiencies based on their unique needs. For instance, she recently talked to a customer about repackaging pallets. Instead of offering a quick quote, she asked a lot of detailed questions and if special equipment or materials are needed to get the job done. She also asked for a photo and offered to do test runs first before moving forward with a bigger order.

“My goal is not to get a short-term customer but to keep a customer for years,” she said. “It just makes sense to find efficient, sustainable solutions that meet their business needs for the long-term.”