April 2021
Spring has sprung and Easter is knocking on the door! We are so glad to have gotten through the winter with only a few minor setbacks as far as the weather goes.

Things are looking up and vaccines are being given, we are starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel, and a long tunnel it has been! Last year around this time we were in the beginning stages of Covid and all of the confusion and uncertainty that it brought to us. Learning to maneuver through this pandemic has been a struggle, but it has proven that we are resilient as well as persistent. We banned together and got through some very unsteady waters, and for that we are grateful!

We want to say thank you to all of our readers and welcome all the new ones of our "Airways Insider" newsletter. We have a lot happening this month at Airways, including our newest "Employee of the Month", Hunter Waddle.
Employee of the Month
Say Hello to Airways Freight Employee of the Month, Hunter Waddle!

Here is what a few of Hunter's colleagues had to say:
 
"Hunter started in 2004 and has been a vital part of our International Fairs & Exhibitions department, a very complex segment of the International transportation industry that requires an ability to organize and communicate with partners & clients from across the globe, as well as meet all the necessary deadlines required.

"Hunter has traveled to many events, and has been a great representative to our foreign colleagues & clients. He is always willing to step out of the box, and assist with any type shipment.

"During the Covid slowdown, he helped other departments on a regular basis. He always goes above & beyond to ensure our clients and agents get top-notch service. He can handle any type situation that arises with ease, whether domestic, Canadian, international, whatever.. he can do it! We’re lucky to have him on our team!" ~ Patty Osburn, Manager, International Trade Show Services

 
"Obviously Hunter and I work in two different hemispheres here at Airways and we don’t work directly on a lot of things in-office, however I’ve worked with Hunter countless times on the road at showsite. I can tell you this, when it comes to needing someone onsite that knows the job and is quite literally where you need them when you need them, Hunter is unrivaled. He’s both international and domestically sound in operations. His attitude and report with customers is oustanding. 

"Both in work and outside of work, Hunter is a pleasure to be around. Work or play, he’ll make sure it’s a good time.  Any time I have a question about anything to do with international operations, I go to Hunter (truth be told, he probably gets tired of me bothering him!)

"A great co-worker, even better friend, and a true asset to Airways… Hunter is most deserving of employee of the month." ~ Josh Collins, Exhibit Specialist, Trade Show Services


"Hunter is very competent in all aspects of foreign trade shows, as we know, this industry has suffered over the last year with the Covid cancellation of all events. Hunter has reached out across the isle to tackle commercial import and export traffic. He has not missed a step in this process. He has also expanded his knowledge learning how to prepare export documents that are associated with letters of credit; something he had no prior experience with. 

"He is also willing to help anyone outside the office if you need a lift or need a hand with anything." Dan Helton, Manager, International Commercial Air Services
at Airways!
Want to know how to become an Airways Sales Agent? Visit our website at www.airwaysfreight.com or call 800.643.3525!
Welcome to April and Spring!  The highly anticipated season that brings us a new and much warmer outlook on life!  Here are 10 fun facts about Spring, that I bet you already knew. 

  • Spring fever is a real syndrome. When the temperature rises during the warm spell after a long winter, there is a dilation of the blood vessels so blood can be carried to the body surface where heat can be lost quickly. People experience an energetic feeling when this happens.   
                                                             
  • Benjamin Franklin was the first person to propose daylight savings time in 1784. It wasn't fully implemented until the end of the World War II.

  • The first day of spring is called the vernal equinox. What does that stand for you ask? ‘Vernal’ is Latin for spring while ‘equinox’ is Latin for ‘equal night’.

  • The first spring flowers are typically daffodils, dandelions, lilies, tulips, iris and lilacs to name a few.

  • Baby birds learn to sing during spring. Although they are born with the ability to sing, they must learn the specific songs of their species. They often learn their songs within two months of being born.

  • Arizona and Hawaii do not follow daylight savings. They already have enough sunlight and hot weather, so it doesn't make sense to confuse the sleeping cycle of their residents.

  • April is named after the Greek Goddess of Love, Aphrodite.

    April 4th is Easter 

    April 21st is Administrative Professionals Day

    April 22nd is Earth Day

    The birthstone for April is the diamond

    The birth flower for April is the Sweet Pea or Daisy
NO BACKLOG HERE!

Are your shipments feeling the backlog from other shipping companies?

Let our service representatives come up with creative solutions to provide the service you require.
CPR Training at Airways!
Last month a number of employees at Airways participated in a First Aid CPR class that included learning skills in controlling severe bleeding, CPR, and AED. Those employees received an AHA HeartSaver CPR/AED Card that is valid for two (2) years. We are happy our employees took the initiative to learn CPR and the rest of us at Corporate feel safer already!
Final Thoughts...
If there is one thing that is constant in transportation, it is that few things stay constant.  Economic shifts, pandemic restrictions, a dismal 2020 that had trucklines selling off assets, or even a winter storm that shut down half the country… it can all drastically rearrange the needs of the shipper, the capabilities of the manufacturer, and a carrier’s ability to serve.  But we always roll with these punches and keep on trucking, pardon the pun.  
 
And yet if there is one constant, it may be that in just about every case involving our chosen industry, at some point there is a driver involved. A driver that gets the freight to an airline, gets it to the line-haul truck, to the departing vessel, or gets it direct to the consignee.  There is a current surge in truck demand, causing shipper needs to far exceed carrier capacity.  This makes the battle for the right driver very real, but we fight it daily and win.  The cheapest option can also give you the least confidence and the most nerve-racking results. 

Our goal is to balance good pricing with fast solutions and stellar service, fighting that battle for the right driver time and time again.  Drone delivery? Self-driving trucks?  Yes, all of that is on the horizon, like it or not.    

Yet we don’t worry because nothing can replace the people factor, especially the Airways people factor. ~ Craig Luttrell, Manager, Airways Truckload Services
 
800.643.3525