Skip to content

Logistics Executive · Newmarket, Ontario · Serving North America

Every Chair
in the Industry.

Thirty-five years of logistics — from the driver's seat to the general manager's desk. Not theory. Not a slide deck. Every chair, actually sat in.

Driver · Dispatch · Brokerage · Warehouse · Procurement · Sales · Owner · General Manager — across 13+ companies and every corner of the Canada–USA–Mexico freight economy.

  • Tier 1 automotive supply chains — JIT/JIS dedicated operations serving Magna International
  • North American market entry & satellite office launch for international logistics firms
  • Freight brokerage build-out, carrier networks and margin discipline
  • Warehousing, distribution and inventory integrity systems
  • Cross-border Canada · USA · Mexico compliance under USMCA
  • Operations turnaround — dispatch, procurement, sales and P&L ownership
Allan Agnew, logistics consultant -- 35 years from transport truck driver to General Manager.
"If you can run automotive, you can run anything."
35+
Years
13+
Companies Led
Driver → GM
Every Chair
Tier 1 Automotive
Magna
CA · US · MX
North America

The Story

Thirty-Five Years,
One Industry, Every Seat.

Most consultants studied logistics. Allan Agnew lived it — from behind the wheel to behind the P&L.

It started in the driver's seat. Long-haul, cross-border, nights and winters. Allan learned the industry the only way it can honestly be learned: by doing the work that everything else depends on.

Then came dedicated operations serving Magna International — where the delivery window is measured in minutes and a single late load idles an assembly line. Automotive taught a discipline that never left: precision is not a slogan. It's a system.

Dispatch, brokerage, warehousing, procurement, sales, ownership, and finally the general manager's desk — full P&L, multi-site operations, and teams that hold the standard when nobody is watching. Thirteen-plus companies later, the pattern is clear: the operations that win have somebody who can fix the link that's failing without breaking the three beside it.

That's the whole offer: an executive who has sat in every chair, now sitting in yours for a while.

The Route

Driver → General Manager

  1. Driver

    Long-haul and cross-border seat time. Where the industry is actually felt.

  2. Dispatch

    Load planning, hours of service, the daily arithmetic of promises kept.

  3. Brokerage

    Carrier networks, pricing, margin — and the discipline of moving other people's freight.

  4. Warehouse

    Receiving to shipping, inventory accuracy, labour planning, throughput.

  5. Procurement

    Vendor selection, contracts, total landed cost, supplier performance.

  6. Sales

    Winning accounts, pricing to margin, and keeping what was won.

  7. Owner

    Signing the front of the cheque. Payroll, risk, growth, and every consequence.

  8. GM / Director

    Full P&L, multi-site operations, and building teams that hold the standard.

Flagship Capability · Tier 1 Automotive

The Automotive Standard

Tier 1 Supply Chain Operations Serving Magna International

Where logistics precision is measured in minutes, not days.

Dedicated logistics operations serving Magna International — one of the world's largest Tier 1 automotive suppliers, headquartered minutes from Newmarket in Aurora, Ontario.

A stopped OEM assembly line costs tens of thousands of dollars per minute. The logistics provider who caused it doesn't get a second conversation. This is where Allan learned — and later led — logistics at its unforgiving best.

Why this matters for your business: if Allan's teams could hit automotive-grade precision — sequenced to the exact build order of vehicles on a moving assembly line — every operation he consults on is held to that same standard.

If you can run automotive,
you can run anything.

Who this helps

  • Tier 2 / Tier 3 parts manufacturers becoming OEM-ready (MMOG/LE preparation, IATF logistics requirements, JIT capability build-out)
  • International automotive suppliers entering North America — Turkey, India, Mexico corridor expertise
  • Aftermarket and replacement-parts distributors who want automotive-grade inventory discipline
  • 01

    JIT and JIS (Just-In-Sequence) delivery into OEM assembly programs within tightly timed delivery windows

  • 02

    Inventory integrity as an operational religion — cycle counting, FIFO discipline, lot and serial traceability, ERP-driven planning — because in automotive, a parts shortage is a plant shutdown

  • 03

    ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949 quality-system discipline lived daily in operations, not just posted on a wall

  • 04

    MMOG/LE performance — the AIAG global standard by which OEMs score their suppliers' logistics capability

  • 05

    EDI-driven execution — ASN accuracy (EDI 856), release schedule management, label and barcode compliance

  • 06

    Returnable container and rack management, specialty packaging, line-side delivery

  • 07

    APQP timing and PPAP-phase logistics support for new program launches

  • 08

    8D / CAPA corrective-action discipline when a miss occurs: containment, root cause, prevention

  • 09

    USMCA-compliant cross-border automotive freight across the Ontario–Michigan–Mexico corridor

Note: operations were run in dedicated service to Magna International programs and within IATF 16949-certified environments — not as an employee of Magna International.

What He Does

Engagements

Nine ways a senior operator changes the trajectory of a logistics business. Most engagements start with one and grow into three.

Flagship

Market Entry & Satellite Office Launch

Turnkey North American presence for international logistics companies — entity, location, authority, partners, people, first 90 days.

Tier 1 Automotive Logistics

JIT/JIS operations design, MMOG/LE readiness, IATF-aligned logistics discipline for suppliers entering OEM programs.

Freight Brokerage Build-Out

Start-up or turnaround: authority, bonding, carrier vetting, pricing model, margin control and sales process.

Warehouse & Distribution Design

Layout, slotting, receiving-to-shipping flow, labour standards, WMS selection and inventory accuracy programs.

Cross-Border & Compliance

USMCA-compliant freight, customs partner selection, PARS/PAPS discipline, C-TPAT/PIP readiness across CA·US·MX.

Procurement & Vendor Management

Sourcing strategy, RFP and contract negotiation, total landed cost analysis and supplier scorecards.

Fleet & Dedicated Operations

Asset vs. brokered analysis, dedicated fleet design, driver retention, maintenance and cost-per-mile control.

Sales, Pricing & Margin Strategy

Account targeting, pricing to margin instead of to volume, RFP response discipline and retention systems.

Operations Turnaround & Advisory

A senior operator in the room: assessment, sequencing of fixes, and hands-on implementation alongside your team.

Sector Expertise

Where the Experience Lives

Thirty-five years does not spread evenly. Here is exactly where the depth is — and what it buys you.

Automotive (Tier 1 / Tier 2 / Tier 3)

Experience: Dedicated operations serving Magna International programs

Value: JIT/JIS execution, MMOG/LE readiness, IATF-grade inventory integrity

Freight Brokerage & 3PL

Experience: Owner and general manager across multiple brokerage operations

Value: Carrier networks, pricing discipline, margin recovery, sales build-out

Warehousing & Distribution

Experience: Floor to director level across multi-site operations

Value: Throughput, labour standards, inventory accuracy, WMS selection

Retail & Consumer Goods

Experience: Big-box compliance, DC delivery windows, chargeback avoidance

Value: Routing guide compliance, on-time-in-full performance

Industrial & Manufacturing

Experience: Inbound materials, production support, outbound distribution

Value: Line-side supply, min/max planning, supplier performance

Cross-Border Canada · USA · Mexico

Experience: Decades of daily border freight

Value: USMCA compliance, broker selection, delay elimination

Global Clients

North America Is the Destination. The Clients Come From Everywhere.

Logistics companies and manufacturers in Turkey, India, Pakistan, the Middle East, Mexico and Asia-Pacific all want the same thing: a real North American operation, run properly, from day one.

World map of Allan Agnew's source markets — Canada headquarters connected by trade routes to Mexico, Turkey, Pakistan, India and Asia-Pacific.

Turkey

Bursa and Gebze automotive suppliers, plus stone, steel and textiles, entering the North American OEM and retail corridors.

India

Chennai, Pune and Gujarat auto-component makers and forwarders building a compliant North American footprint.

Pakistan

Textiles, surgical instruments and parts exporters needing consolidation, compliance and retail distribution.

Middle East

Forwarders and project-cargo specialists opening a North American office and carrier network.

Mexico

Bajío auto corridor suppliers and carriers scaling northbound volumes under USMCA.

Asia-Pacific

Manufacturers and 3PLs needing a North American operating partner rather than another sales agent.

The Common Questions

  • Do I need my own authority, or should I partner with an existing North American carrier?
  • Where should the first office and first warehouse actually be located?
  • How do I get vetted as a supplier by an OEM or a Tier 1 buyer?
  • What does it really cost to run a North American operation for the first twelve months?
  • Who do I trust as a customs broker, carrier and insurance partner?
  • How do I hire and hold a North American operations team from ten time zones away?

Free Resource

The North America Market-Entry Checklist

For international logistics companies and manufacturers — the sequence of decisions, filings, partners and costs required to stand up a North American operation, with an annex for automotive suppliers targeting OEM programs.

Request the Checklist

Career Highlights

The Record

Condensed. The full history runs longer — these are the chairs that shaped the method.

Dedicated Automotive Logistics Operations — Magna International programs

Led dedicated logistics operations serving Magna International programs. JIT/JIS delivery performance, inventory integrity under IATF 16949 environments, MMOG/LE-aligned logistics capability, EDI/ASN compliance, and launch-phase support.

BASS Marketing — Logistics Leadership

Sales, account development and operational oversight across a diversified freight book. Built and defended margin in a commodity market.

General Manager / Director of Operations

Full P&L responsibility across multi-site transportation and warehousing operations. Team building, KPI systems, customer retention and cost control.

Owner — Transportation & Brokerage Operations

Founded and ran independent operations: authority, insurance, carrier network, customer base, payroll and every consequence that comes with the front of the cheque.

Brokerage, Dispatch & Warehouse Management

Load planning, carrier procurement, receiving-to-shipping flow, inventory control and staff supervision across multiple operations.

Professional Transport Truck Driver

Long-haul and cross-border. The seat that teaches you what every downstream decision actually costs the person executing it.

13+ Companies

Operations Led & Built

  • Magna International programs (dedicated operations)
  • BASS Marketing
  • Regional LTL carrier operations
  • Cross-border truckload brokerage
  • Independent brokerage ownership
  • Third-party warehousing & distribution
  • Dedicated fleet operations
  • Retail distribution support
  • Industrial inbound logistics
  • Freight forwarding operations
  • Procurement & vendor management
  • Owner-operator fleet management
  • Executive consulting practice

Company names and dates available in full on request or in a formal résumé.

Questions

Straight Answers

The questions owners and executives actually ask before they pick up the phone.

What is JIT and JIS delivery in automotive logistics?

Just-In-Time delivers parts exactly when the line needs them; Just-In-Sequence delivers them in the exact order vehicles are being built — right-hand blue doors arriving for the right-hand blue vehicle. OEMs enforce this through timed delivery windows measured in minutes, because a stopped assembly line costs tens of thousands of dollars per minute. Allan ran dedicated Tier 1 operations under these requirements serving Magna International programs.

What is MMOG/LE and why does my OEM score matter?

MMOG/LE is the AIAG/Odette global standard OEMs use to evaluate their suppliers' materials and logistics capability. A weak score can jeopardize sourcing decisions and new program awards. Allan has operated inside MMOG/LE-aligned environments and prepares Tier 2/3 suppliers to meet OEM logistics expectations.

What's the difference between ISO 9001 and IATF 16949?

ISO 9001:2015 is the universal quality management standard. IATF 16949:2016 layers automotive-specific requirements on top — traceability, PPAP, error-proofing, and launch discipline. Automotive suppliers operate under IATF; Allan brings that operational culture to every client, automotive or not.

Can you help my company open a satellite office in North America?

Yes. Market entry and satellite office launch is the flagship engagement. That covers entity and location strategy, carrier and customs partner selection, authority and bonding requirements, staffing and training, technology stack, and the first ninety days of live operations — built so your North American office runs to the same standard as your head office.

Do you work with companies outside of Canada and the United States?

Yes. A large share of inquiries come from logistics companies and manufacturers in India, Pakistan, Turkey and the Middle East that want a North American presence. Work is delivered remotely with on-site engagement in North America, and on-site worldwide by arrangement.

What size of company do you work with?

From owner-operators scaling into brokerage, to Tier 2 and Tier 3 manufacturers preparing for OEM programs, to established carriers and 3PLs restructuring operations. The common factor is an owner or executive who wants direct, senior-level advice rather than a junior consulting team.

How do engagements typically start?

With a short discovery call at no charge. From there most clients begin with a focused operational assessment — a written picture of what is working, what is leaking money, and the sequence of fixes — which then becomes the roadmap for either advisory support or hands-on implementation.

Start the Conversation

One Call. Thirty-Five Years of Answers.

Discovery calls are free and direct with Allan — no intake team, no junior consultants. Bring the problem you'd rather not put in an email.

Allan Agnew — Logistics Consulting202 Emma Broadbent Court
Newmarket, Ontario L3X 3K9 Canada

Serving all of North America — remote and on-site worldwide.

Allan Agnew

Logistics Executive & Supply Chain Consultant · Newmarket, Ontario

Standards & Authorities Referenced

External references are provided for context only and do not imply endorsement, partnership or employment. Operations described were delivered as dedicated service to Magna International programs and within IATF 16949-certified environments.

Logistics consultant North America · automotive logistics consultant · Tier 1 automotive supply chain consulting · JIT JIS delivery consulting · MMOG/LE consultant · IATF 16949 logistics · OEM-ready supplier consulting · Tier 2 supplier North America market entry · freight brokerage consultant · warehouse and distribution design · cross-border USMCA freight Canada USA Mexico.

Serving international clients: Turkish automotive supplier entering North America · Indian auto parts company Canada USA · how to supply OEM plants in North America · Pakistan and Middle East freight forwarders opening a North American office · Mexico Bajío corridor suppliers. Based in Newmarket, Ontario — minutes from Aurora.

© 2026 Allan Agnew — Logistics Consulting. All rights reserved.