With more than three decades in freight forwarding and customs, Derrick Sones has seen supply chains evolve through deregulation, globalization, disruption, and consolidation. Now joining BBE as Director of Freight Forwarding & Customs, Derrick shares his perspective on where the industry is headed and why integrated logistics models are becoming essential.
Q: You’ve spent more than 35 years in freight forwarding and customs. How has the industry changed over that time?
When I started, supply chains were far more linear. You had separate providers for freight, customs, warehousing, and final delivery, and the expectation was that each piece would somehow connect on its own.
Today, supply chains are far more interconnected and far less forgiving. Regulatory oversight has increased, border processes are more complex, and customers expect predictability even in volatile environments. What hasn’t changed is that delays, errors, or misalignment usually show up at the worst possible moment—often at the border.
The biggest shift I’ve seen is that logistics is no longer just about moving goods efficiently. It’s about managing risk, compliance, and accountability across the entire journey.
Q: What major trends are you seeing right now in supply chains?
There are a few that stand out. First, complexity is increasing, not decreasing. More regulations, more trade compliance requirements, and more scrutiny at borders.
Second, companies are under pressure to simplify their vendor landscape. Managing five or six providers across sourcing, procurement, customs, freight, and delivery creates fragmentation and fragmentation creates risk.
Third, resilience has been challenging cost as the primary concern. Organizations want partners who can anticipate problems, not just react to them.
That’s why you’re seeing more aggregation and consolidation in logistics. Companies want fewer handoffs, clearer accountability, and better visibility across the entire supply chain.
Q: You currently serve on the National Board of Directors for CIFFA. What have you learned from that role?
Being involved with CIFFA has reinforced just how important professionalism and compliance are in our industry.
At a national level, you see the challenges that not only freight forwarders and customs brokers are facing but also load brokers, drayage operators, and warehouse operators, whether it’s regulatory change, technology adoption, or talent development. You can see how critical education and standards are to maintaining trust with regulators and customers alike.
It’s given me a broader perspective on where the industry is heading and why licensed, knowledgeable, and accountable operators matter more than ever.
Q: Why was this the right time for you to join BBE?
BBE is at a very deliberate stage of growth.
They’ve always operated in complex environments, remote logistics, regulated industries, time-sensitive freight but now they’re bringing key capabilities together under one roof.
What stood out to me was the focus on accountability. BBE isn’t trying to be everything to everyone. They’re building an integrated model designed for customers who can’t afford failure at the border or in transit.
That alignment made this a natural next chapter for me.
Q: From your perspective, what’s the value of having customs, freight forwarding, and upstream logistics with one company?
The value is clarity.
When sourcing, procurement, customs, and freight forwarding are managed by different parties, responsibility gets diluted. When something goes wrong, it’s often unclear where the issue originated and resolution takes longer.
An integrated model allows you to:
- Identify compliance requirements earlier
- Align documentation and freight planning
- Reduce rework and last-minute interventions
- Assign clear ownership when decisions need to be made
We’re seeing more companies recognize that simplicity is a competitive advantage. Fewer vendors, fewer handoffs, and better coordination reduce both cost and risk.
Q: How does this integration benefit customers in practical terms?
It means fewer surprises.
When customs and freight are planned together, issues are identified before a shipment moves, not after, it’s already delayed. That’s especially important for regulated goods, project cargo, and shipments moving into remote or constrained regions. Customers benefit from a single team that understands the full picture from origin through to final delivery and can make informed decisions quickly.
Ultimately, it’s about protecting outcomes, not just moving freight.
Q: What excites you most about this next phase at BBE?
The opportunity to build something that reflects where the industry is going.
Supply chains are becoming more integrated, more regulated, and more outcome-driven. BBE’s approach recognizes that reality. By aligning customs, freight, and logistics strategy, we’re better positioned to support customers navigating today’s trade environment and whatever comes next.
That’s an exciting place to be.
As supply chains continue to evolve, experience, integration, and accountability are becoming essential, not optional. Derrick’s leadership strengthens BBE’s ability to deliver on those expectations.
Have questions about optimizing your logistics? Reach out to our team today for a free consultation.