Driven to Connect

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Glovis America is on the fast track to lead global logistics and shipping

Every day is a new day for Glovis America. A leader in global logistics, trading, and asset-based shipping thrives on the cusp of new horizons as the ultimate supply chain partner.

“There's never a dull day. Glovis is always taking the forward view, finding new and exciting ways to take our business segments forward,” company COO Scott Cornell said.

That forward motion is driving the enterprise beyond their deep roots in the automotive industry. Founded in 2001 as Hyundai Glovis, they have grown from their initial purpose as an international logistics powerhouse for Hyundai and Kia to become a full-service provider to a vast and diverse customer base. While they are an affiliate of the Hyundai Motor Corporation and publicly traded on the Korean Stock Exchange, Glovis is a standalone enterprise with the world quite literally at their feet.

With a mission to move the world faster as they deliver the pinnacle of customer service, Glovis operates a comprehensive network of intermodal transportation, marine ports, and shipping facilities and owns and runs their own transocean fleet of high-capacity pure car truck carriers and bulk carriers. Whether handling imports or exports, Glovis has impressive capacity for haul away transport, port terminals, and ocean transportation. They’re also a leading commodity bulk cargo carrier, a business segment that is growing with particular alacrity.

Their inland operations consist of an increasing fleet of vehicle carriers and long-haul trucks, and maintains close relationships with all of the Class 1 railroads in North America. With the acquisition of three trucking companies in the last two years, Glovis is serious about building its over-the-road asset-based fleet, further solidifying its position as a standalone 2- and 3PL provider.

When it comes to logistics, Glovis is retaining and building on their dominance in the automotive industry, handling inbound logistics to manufacturing facilities and consolidation centers. They are responsible for the outbound movement of finished Hyundai and Kia vehicles from factories in the U.S. to dealerships and exchange points around the world, delivering roughly 3.5 million vehicles every year. “In terms of automotive 3PL we handle everything from supporting the inbound parts to the delivery of the finished vehicle to its next selling point,” Cornell explained.

“We are a top performer for the Hyundai Motor Group, but at the same time — as we've demonstrated with other OEMs that we've engaged with either by ocean or inland operations — we are a full logistics provider to all,” he added. “We’re continuing to strengthen all of our segments in logistics, including last-mile delivery and distribution, because our goal is to have no limitations to what we can achieve.”

Commanding an electrifying future

Cornell credits the firm’s success to its innate entrepreneurial spirit and vibrant leadership. “We get the best of both worlds: that entrepreneurial spirit and the conservative, long company history and the culture to do things right, do them ethically, and with regard to profit and growth. We’re given the opportunity to build from a strong foundation in the right way,” he said.

“In every mode and methodology within logistics and trading, Glovis finds the right solution for our partners,” Cornell said. The organization’s partnership view is one of mutual benefit, where carefully chosen partners can grow shoulder-to-shoulder as Glovis pursues its mandate to connect the world. (The same goes for the company’s supplier relationships, which are cultivated with the utmost care.)

“Quite a few suppliers are now declaring exclusivity to Glovis, and that demonstrates that real partnership. They trust that Glovis will grow with them and we’ll be ethical and do right by them as our relationship continues through the years.”

Those years will continue to bring tumultuous change, driven on the automotive side by the hotly anticipated EV segment.

“There's quite a few new companies putting together capital and commercial plans, and a company like Glovis is a great support to these startup companies,” he stressed. “We can get them going with their finished vehicles, and they won’t need to build a very large logistics operation within their organization. We really can be a one-stop shop for these startup companies.”

One such startup, a luxury EV maker, selected Glovis to build a full distribution program with them before their first car rolled off the line.

“This startup is a perfect example of a company that is extremely strong in engineering and in their commercial goals, and we’re very proud of the program we developed with them,” Cornell said. From operating state-of-the-art covered auto haulers to exploring last mile delivery strategies, the effort was completely customized for them.

Other EV manufacturers are also collaborating with Glovis to meet their market objectives. “We'll be able to provide the ocean, the port, and the transportation to their desired commercial setup,” he added. “We’re just about to launch services for two more EV companies, designing their entire flow. We work on design together from Day One; in some cases they’re able to piggyback on our existing program, and in some cases we’re able to jump in and find something even better for them because of the lack of a legacy operation.”

Although only 2% of the vehicles sold in 2020 were electric, it’s likely that every vehicle on the road will be replaced by an EV or alternative fuel vehicle over the next decade. “Our ability to take a very grounded, solid company and put so many new ideas around it and being in a business segment that’s going through a once-in-a-lifetime change means not only opportunities and ebbs and flows with the manufacturing of those vehicles and the companies that will be commercially providing them, but also in the logistics around it,” he said.

Being a triple threat — a logistics, trading, and shipping giant — makes Glovis a fascinating company to build a career with. They are a Great Place to Work, having been awarded that distinction for several years. “We give prospective employees the chance to hear our vision, and to see that there really is no glass ceiling in terms of where we will grow into and expand,” he said.

“It means change. Our employees see that automotive is a core business, and then as they see our potential to keep expanding and perfecting and growing around it, and then when they hear that we can take the same kind of thought process toward intermodal activities and freight-forwarding operations, there's never a day where it's to be stagnant.

“Buying a trucking company, buying a ship, those things are all exciting, so it keeps people very motivated to keep expanding.” The motivation to create lasting connections in a changing world is powerful, and it’s certain to keep Glovis America on a trailblazing path for many years to come.