World Group Announces Acquisition of Pacific Cascade, Bolsters Service Footprint in Pacific Northwest

Cleveland, Ohio – Today, World Group, an American-owned global transportation and logistics organization, announced the acquisition of Pacific Cascade, comprised of Pacific Cascade Distribution, LLC, and Pacific Cascade Trucking, LLC, both headquartered in Sumner, Washington.

Pacific Cascade, founded in 2005 by Jeff Roulst, is an asset-light provider of 3PL services including drayage, warehousing, transloading, fulfillment, and more. They operate over 50 trucks and have garnered multiple motor carrier of the year honors from customers in 2016, 2020 and most recently in 2021. Additionally, in 2015, they were the first drayage provider servicing the ports of Tacoma and Seattle to become fully compliant with updated clean air regulations.

Pacific Cascade CEO Jeff Roulst offered the following comments: “This agreement really made sense for both organizations. World Group’s operating companies have a robust presence east of the Rockies, and their recent significant investments in the Pacific Northwest, including a new distribution facility and an express ocean service, demonstrate a commitment to long-term growth in this region. Our leadership teams share a similar vision, and we are excited to see where this journey takes us together.”

World Group CEO Fred Hunger shared the following: “We are thrilled to welcome Pacific Cascade to the World Group family. Their commitment to customers and focus on core values aligns perfectly with our vision and culture. They bring invaluable experience, a proven track record of success, and deep knowledge of the Pacific Northwest market. Having them in the fold will help us expand the breadth and scale of our existing offerings.”

“This is part of our strategic vision to utilize the Pacific Northwest as a transportation corridor for our customers and do it using all World Group companies,” added Hunger. “Housed within our portfolio, we now have the perfect trifecta of capacity for our customers in the PNW – ocean, warehouse and distribution, and trucking.”

Just this year, World Group’s top-10 U.S.-owned NVOCC and freight forwarding brand, UWL, in collaboration with Swire Shipping, launched a direct ocean express service with guaranteed capacity and market-fastest transit times between Southeast Asia and the U.S.

Hunger continued, “In addition to the launch of the Sun Chief express service, we also recently opened a distribution facility in Tacoma just a short 20-minute drive from Pacific Cascade’s 267,000 sq ft distribution facility and headquarters. We have quite the synergy within our offerings for this region and we believe it will be the next big thing for customers looking for alternative transportation corridors to LA/Long Beach.”

World Group’s distinct operating companies span the spectrum of supply chain and logistics, including:

  • ContainerPort Group (CPG®), a national top 10 intermodal drayage company that operates 29 terminals and provides nationwide coverage at every port and every rail with its three trucking brands: ContainerPort Group, Bristol Transportation and Middle Bay Transportation.
  • UWL, a top-10 U.S.-owned NVOCC freight forwarding organization that offers ocean and air freight solutions, customs house brokerage, and more.
  • World Distribution Services (WDS), providing warehousing and distribution across eight facilities totaling nearly two million square feet.
  • World Shipping, Inc., which provides vessel husbandry services for ships sailing the Great Lakes.

“Having Pacific Cascade as part of our roster will truly boost World Group’s strength,” added Hunger. “They will help us build on the momentum and investments from the last 12 months in the Pacific Northwest, and together we can continue to accomplish incredible things for our customers.”

Hat Trick: World Group Selected as Top Workplace for Third Straight Year

Hat Trick: World Group Selected as Top Workplace for Third Straight Year  

Continued emphasis on culture keeps company growing year over year  

 

July 6, 2022 – Cleveland, Ohio – World Group is honored to be named a Top Workplace for Northeast Ohio by The Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com. This is the company’s third straight appearance on the list, which is based solely on employee feedback.  

“As an organization, the culture we have is what drives our business,” said World Group Chairman Fred Hunger. “Our core values are what we use to hire, make key business decisions, and really operate on a day-to-day basis. It’s humbling to me to know that our employees feel so positively about what we’ve built and what we’re continuing to build.” 

Over the last 18 months, World Group has experienced record growth, leading to an expansion of employees across the country. The employee base today is 25% larger versus two years ago, and still the culture has remained strong in all areas.  

“Being in honored in this way, by our employees, tells us that we are doing some things very well from a people standpoint,” says Chief Culture Office Michael Smith. “Growing at the rate we have can sometimes damage an organization. I’m thrilled that we have been growing with focus and a commitment to those core values and our culture. It’s critical that we continue this way into the future.”  

The organizations ongoing success can be attributed also to its longevity. In 2020, World Group’s founding company, World Shipping, celebrated 60 years of business on the Great Lakes. And in October 2021, ContainerPort Group (CPG®) celebrated 50 years of operation in the intermodal drayage space.  

Added Hunger: “To me, we are still just getting started on our journey. There’s a lot more to do and we have the people, the technology, and the know-how to get it done.” 

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World Group was founded over 60 years ago as a pioneer in vessel agency services on the Great Lakes. Today, we’re home to a portfolio of globally trusted brands that deliver customers end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions, including ContainerPort Group, UWL, World Distribution Services, and World Shipping, Inc. With industry-leading products in ocean drayage and domestic trucking, freight forwarding and air freight, customs house brokerage, vessel husbandry, and warehousing and distribution, customers around the globe use our services to simplify their supply chains and reliably move freight.  

 

They offer career opportunities across the country for innovators in the transportation industry. Their award-winning culture is anchored in people who live and breathe the core values daily. Learn how you can join the World Group family by visiting their careers page. 

 

World Group Named to Northeast Ohio’s 2021 Top Workplaces List

Second consecutive appearance highlights strong start to 2021

Cleveland, Ohio – For the second time in as many years, World Group has been named a Top Workplace for Northeast Ohio by The Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered and administered through a third-party partner, and measures a variety of culture drivers including alignment, execution, and connection, among others.

World Group Named Top Workplace for the second year in a row - award presented by The Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com

“What makes this so special for me as a leader is that our people fueled this award,” says CEO Michael Smith. “Despite the challenges of COVID, and the subsequent challenges in our industry, they kept showing up and doing outstanding work. They kept our culture going, even when we were remote.”   

In 2020, our founding company, World Shipping, Inc., celebrated 60 years in business on the Great Lakes. After its founding, the company grew and supply chain technology evolved, so we expanded into inland container movement by founding what is known today as ContainerPort Group, or CPG®. Later this year, CPG® will celebrate 50 years of operation. These two organizations, along with UWL and World Distribution Services, make up what is known as World Group.  

Specializing in transportation and logistics, we have experienced robust growth throughout the last 12 months. With over 600 employees, including 190 in Northeast Ohio, we continue to expand our profile and presence both regionally and nationally by providing reliable transportation solutions and exceptional customer service.   

 

About World Group  

World Group was founded over 60 years ago as a pioneer in vessel agency services on the Great Lakes. Today, we’re home to a portfolio of globally trusted brands that deliver customers end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions. Our platform includes industry leading products in ocean drayage and domestic trucking, freight forwarding/NVOCC and air freight, customs house brokerage, and warehousing and distribution. Customers around the globe use our services to simplify their supply chains and reliably move freight. Learn how you can join our family by visiting our careers page. 

 

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WSI 60 Year Anniversary

World Shipping Announces 60th Anniversary, Celebration Throughout 2020

CLEVELAND, Ohio – World Shipping, Inc. is proud to announce and celebrate its 60th anniversary on the shores of Lake Erie. From its founding activity of vessel agency services on the Great Lakes, the company has grown to become an international organization managing complex international supply chains.

Founded by Jack E. Hunger in 1960, the company has adapted its business offerings through the years to meet the needs of its customers in an ever-changing logistics and transportation landscape. An intense focus on customer-driven solutions and a commitment to being an employer of choice continue to drive World Shipping to this day.

“World Shipping has been built from the ground up here in Cleveland, and now we truly have global reach.” offers Jackie Csiszar, Vice President of Operations. “We’ve sustained our success thanks to great employees with a passion for excellence, and we are positioned to continue that success for another 60 years.”

 

 

With its longevity comes experience, which World Shipping passes along to its customers through accurate and prompt service. Years of working on the Great Lakes has resulted in a deep knowledge of local conditions, both in the U.S. and Canada, which has allowed its vessel agency division to expand into new fields of business, including cruise ship agency, project logistics, and grain forwarding.

World Shipping, Inc. is a operating entity of World Group LLC.  World Group’s operating entities serve its core import and export customers in the international supply chain with logistics services, ocean freight, air freight, customs clearance, warehousing and distribution, container depots, and drayage, while utilizing its proprietary state-of-the-art freight visibility platform, WorldScope.

 

About World Shipping
World Shipping, Inc. is an independent shipping agency (Great Lakes Vessel Agents & Canadian Vessel Agents) specializing in vessel operations, APIS/AMS/ACI/ENOA/D, grain forwarding and project logistics. Part of World Group, LLC, it is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

 

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World Group Headquarters

World Group Named to Northeast Ohio’s 2020 Top Workplaces List

World Group Named to Northeast Ohio’s 2020 Top Workplaces List

Cleveland, Ohio – The World Group is pleased and honored to be named as a 2020 Top Workplace by The Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com. This award is determined by anonymous employee responses administered, distributed, and analyzed by an independent firm. This is World Group’s first appearance on the Top Workplaces list.

“We’re honored to be named a Top Workplace for Northeast Ohio,” says World Group CEO Michael Smith. “Coincidentally, we’re celebrating the 60th anniversary of our founding company this year. That kind of longevity doesn’t happen without great people to push us along, and this award is proof of how great our people are.”

With a deep focus on its core values, the company has evolved through the years by partnering with customers to meet their needs, while also nimbly responding to an ever-changing marketplace.

 World Group named to Northeast Ohio Top Workplaces 2020

 

About World Group

Founded in 1960, World Group is a leading American-owned NVOCC, freight forwarder, transportation, warehousing, and logistics organization. We move freight through the air, across the oceans, and over the roads, from anywhere. Find out how we can help get your freight where it needs to be by visiting our website.

 

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WSI-Jackie-Csiszar-Great-Lakes-Seaway-Review-Guest-Editorial-Jan-Mar-2018

The First and Last Mile: Jackie Csiszar Featured in Great Lakes Seaway Review

THE FIRST AND LAST MILE
Nurturing partnerships and system growth through innovation

Dennis “Doc” Mahoney retired from his position as Vice President, Operations after 24 years of service with World Shipping last year, which leaves me with some very large sails to fill. Thankfully his unique ability to find creative solutions and his dedication to the shipping industry were something he passed along to me since taking the helm in 2017. I am thrilled to lead the next generation of innovation and to continue World Shipping’s contribution to the Great Lakes ports and the maritime industry.

The beginning of the World Shipping voyage started in 1960, when the St. Lawrence Seaway opened and our founder, Jack E. Hunger, recognized the need for vessel operations. We quickly grew into the leading vessel husbandry company in the Great Lakes shipping industry. Jack’s innovation and success stemmed from a dedication to superior customer service, and we continue that legacy today by creating customer-based solutions. We continue to understand the importance of that first and last mile. We are continually improving efficiencies for our customers around the Great Lakes by having a one-stop-shop with our company.

Connecting the supply chain.

World Shipping’s advantage in the logistics market stems from the ability to coordinate and connect its subsidiary companies, each of which specializes in aspects of the supply chain. Many people—upon hearing ‘logistics’—think the implications of what we do starts and stops with transportation. While that is certainly a part of it, there are many different aspects to this industry.

Continual improvements.

One of World Shipping’s newest examples of innovating the last mile is done by partnering with our sister company, UWL, LLC an asset-based global forwarder. UWL created efficiencies for our customers by coordinating the customs brokerage services for us. A customs house broker (CHB) is a critical service provided by logistics companies to ensure that import cargo is correctly cleared with U.S. customs. They are licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department after passing a rigorous written examination and an extensive background investigation. This is a service we couldn’t have provided on our own, but could easily add through the expertise of UWL.

Today, UWL is no longer just clearing traditional containerized imports and air-freight, but are now clearing the international bulk vessels coming into the Great Lakes. This type of service takes on a whole new level for their brokerage team and opens a new opportunity previously not being explored. Our big advantage is that we work seamlessly internally, we know the exact movement of the vessels and our customs brokerage team is just down the hall from my team, so we all work in unison. Most importantly, keeping it all in one company makes efficiencies for us and for our customers.

Adding CHB as a service takes us from the first mile to the last mile and gets product closer to its destination. The shipowners get an agent, broker and logistics company in one. They can then pass that convenience onto their customers, as well. It’s a win for everyone. It is this type of innovation, stemming from providing better service for our customers, that I hope to initiate and encourage as I lead this next generation for World Shipping, Inc. It is important to me that I continue to represent the values of our founder, the culture of my predecessor and, as a result, continue to help make the Great Lakes a mainstay of the global economy.  ■

Jackie Csiszar is the Director of Vessel Operations for World Shipping, Inc. headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. World Shipping, Inc., a World Group Company, is the Maritime Concierge for Canadian and U.S. Great Lakes ports. The World Group includes World Shipping, Inc., ContainerPort Group, UWL, LLC and World Distribution Services.

GREAT LAKES/SEAWAY REVIEW  January-March, 2018
Special thanks to Harbor House and the Great Lakes Seaway Review for featuring our article!
Click here to view the full publication.

CPG-ASF-Merger

Press Release: ContainerPort Group and ASF Transportation Group Announce Merger

CLEVELAND, OH – January 4, 2018 – ContainerPort Group, Inc. (CPG) and ASF Transportation Group, LLC (ASF) are pleased to announce a merging of the two enterprises effective January 1, 2018. The combination of CPG and ASF will form an intermodal drayage powerhouse with over 1,300 power units in most key markets east of the Rockies.

Michael Smith, founder and president of ASF Transportation, will move forward as President of ContainerPort Group, Inc. “We began a search process nearly two years ago to retire the late Russ Graef, who was a veteran of our company for 45 years,” said Fred Hunger, CPG’s Chairman. “Michael brings exactly the type of hands-on, genuine, and no-ego type of management style which we were patiently looking to bring to the organization. His executive leadership from the transportation space, combined with his entrepreneurial spirit is a perfect combination to lead our now 1,300 plus strong fleet, and our Midwest intermodal depot locations.”

CPG & ASF 2018 Network Map

CPG & ASF 2018 Network Map

“Kudos go out to Tim McNamara, head of the Transportation Infrastructure Practice at global search firm of Odgers Berndtson, who led the search process,” said Hunger. Prior to ASF, Michael worked with Southern Cal Transport, and also many years with Schneider National.

ASF Transportation – comprised of ASF Intermodal, ASF Truckload, ASF Brokerage, and Middle Bay Transportation – brings a fleet of nearly 600 independent contractors and a very talented group of managers, dispatchers, customer service and support teams to the combined enterprise. “We are very excited to join the CPG team in blending our respective strengths into a dominant force in the intermodal drayage space,” said Michael Smith. “Our strengths as a South, mid-Atlantic, and US Gulf operator are a great strategic fit to CPG’s strengths in the Midwest, mid and North Atlantic markets.”

The combined company, to be operated under the ContainerPort Group brand, will be comprised of 24 terminals, 1,300 plus trucks, and over 400 professionals. With this merger, the company remains focused on providing superior service to fulfill customers’ needs in intermodal drayage, depot, truckload and brokerage operations.

The merger involves only the Intermodal/Transportation arm of the ASF Group. The Forwarding/Ocean Division, trading as ASF Logistics and ASF Global, will remain independent and under the existing management structure.

The combination is effective January 1, 2018 – and the two companies will work, in parallel, until such time as it can provide for an orderly combination of the operations.

ContainerPort Group, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio is a leading service provider to the containerized cargo shipping industry and is celebrating its 47th year of operation. Today, CPG provides intermodal container trucking, inland CY Terminal and transloading operations, warehousing and logistics, and container repair, modification, sale and rental services.

 

About ASF

Based in Mobile, Alabama, ASF Intermodal is a full-service drayage provider and full transportation broker focused on providing common cargo, flat racks and overweight load freight services throughout the Southeastern United States through a strong network of import/export triangulations and port-to-door trucking. Services provided by ASF Intermodal include vendor management, chassis management, import/export triangulation, cargo management and flow optimization, transport management, cross-docking, trans-loading and distribution.

About ContainerPort Group

ContainerPort Group, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is a leading provider of services to the container shipping industry and is celebrating over forty-five years of operation.  CPG provides both motor carrier services and terminal services (container depot, CY, equipment maintenance) to ocean carriers, railroads, shippers/receivers, and freight intermediaries.  CPG operates facilities and terminals in twenty distinct geographic markets throughout the Midwest, Ohio Valley, Northeast, Southeast and Gulf regions.

For more information, please visit www.containerport.com

CONTACT:

Michael Smith
Email: Michael.Smith@containerport.com
Tel: 251-287-8152

Russel A. Graef - President, ContainerPort Group

ContainerPort Group Announces Passing of President and Co-Founder Russel A. Graef

CLEVELAND, OH – October 30, 2017 – ContainerPort Group, Inc. announced today that its President and long-time company veteran, Russel A. Graef, passed away on October 26, 2017. It is with great sorrow that we share the loss of one of the intermodal industry’s founders, pioneers and collaborators.

Since CPG’s founding in 1971, Graef held executive positions in all divisions of the business, including terminal operations, sales, logistics, fleet safety, trucking, depot/CY and M&R operations.  Fred Hunger, CEO of World Shipping, CPG’s parent company says, “Russ was a true company man focused on ContainerPort Group’s mission: To become intermodal’s best by achieving excellence in all we do. He was capable of operating lift machines, dispatching trucks, presenting to the Board of Directors and everything in between.”

Graef’s leadership, dedication, and ability to get into the day to day details helped bring the company to its leadership position in the market. Hunger continues, “Having been active in the industry for over 45 years – Russ has touched many lives, enjoyed countless friendships and made a lasting impact on many with his creativity and passion for solutions.”

Bob Leef, Senior V.P. East, commemorates Graef stating, “Russ valued people, employees and family above anything else. He would always go the extra mile when anyone needed help or guidance. I will miss a great boss, mentor and friend.”

It was Graef and his team’s vision to provide customers with nimble and responsive intermodal solutions – a concept which took off, propelling CPG to become a leading provider of container drayage throughout the United States.  “Russ was a visionary long before the term was widely used in our industry. We are all very fortunate and blessed to have had him as a fearless leader – one who always led by example,” states Jim Kramer, Senior V.P. Midwest, embracing Graef’s legacy.

Graef forged the organization’s culture of operating as a national company run by local talent. It is this culture which has been one of CPG’s greatest keys to success, empowering the company to stand the test of time.  Kramer remarks, “Russ believed in all of us, believed in our ability to be great. He would see people not as they are, but what they could become. He was our teacher, and the lessons he taught us will always live on within CPG.”

Throughout his career, Graef was also very active in a number of industry associations.  ContainerPort Group’s CFO Glenn Fehribach states, “Russ was also a tremendous contributor to the trucking industry, serving on various boards and committees, offering unique perspectives and passionately challenging the status quo! I will sorely miss Russ’ passion, partnership and friendship.” Graef held leadership roles with the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) and served on the Board of Directors of the American Trucking Association’s Intermodal Motor Carrier Conference (IMCC). He was also a founding board member of the North American Chassis Pool Cooperative (NACPC).

Graef’s enduring ambition for ContainerPort Group was to build a visionary company dedicated to providing innovative cargo transportation and freight services while delivering the highest level of customer service available in the industry. We will continue on with his legacy, embracing the unique culture he created that will sustain us for many years to come.

Notes of remembrance can be sent to the company at info@www.worldshipping.com.

 

About ContainerPort Group

ContainerPort Group, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is a leading provider of services to the container shipping industry and is celebrating over forty-five years of operation.  CPG provides both motor carrier services and terminal services (container depot, CY, equipment maintenance) to ocean carriers, railroads, shippers/receivers, and freight intermediaries.  CPG operates facilities and terminals in twenty distinct geographic markets throughout the Midwest, Ohio Valley, Northeast, Southeast and Gulf regions.

For more information, please visit www.containerport.com

CONTACT:
Jenna Porostosky (ContainerPort Group, Inc.)
Tel: 440-895-8228
Email: marketing@worldgrp.net

Dennis Mahoney - WSI

World Shipping Announces Retirement of Dennis Mahoney

Great Lakes Seaway Review

 

CLEVELAND, OH – August 22, 2017 – World Shipping, Inc. announced today that Dennis “Doc” Mahoney has elected to retire from his position as Vice President, Operations, after 24 years of service with the company.

“Over his long career, Mahoney has assembled an unrivaled reputation for his passion and devotion to building our Vessel Operations Division into what it is today,” said Frederick Hunger, World Shipping’s CEO. “The industry as a whole has been the true beneficiary of his talent. We wish him and his wife Debbie all the best as they enjoy the fruits of retirement.”

Mahoney has worked in the maritime industry for over 40 years and has spent his career as a vessel agent with Great Lakes Overseas, worked as a stevedoring foreman at Great Lakes International, and managed the Cleveland office of Fedmar International. Since 1993, Mahoney has lent his talents to the World Shipping team, where we have all benefited from his persistence and dedication to finding solutions.

Mahoney enjoyed the diversity of the job, stating, “it takes an appreciation and understanding of what it takes to get the job done to realize the importance of everyone’s role.” He was instrumental in expanding the vessel operations department in Chicago, and more recently in Hamilton, Ontario (Canada). With the leadership of Jackie Csiszar, Director of Vessel Agency Operations, World Shipping will continue its success as the maritime concierge for all Great Lakes Ports.

About World Shipping, Inc.

Since 1960, World Shipping has been active in serving shippers and receivers of international cargo operating in multiple segments, including vessel agency operations, freight forwarding, ocean freight, trucking, rail operations, warehousing and distribution, bulk liquid international logistics, and customs clearance.  Headquartered in Cleveland, OH, The World Group includes World Shipping, Inc., ContainerPort Group, UWL, Inc., World Distribution Services, and NewPort Tank Containers.

 

For more information, please visit www.worldshipping.com.

 

CONTACT:

Jenna Porostosky (World Shipping, Inc.)

Tel: 440-895-8228

Email: marketing@worldgrp.net

Jack E. Hunger

Jack E. Hunger, founder of World Shipping, Inc., passes away

FEATURED IN

CLEVELAND, OH – June 19, 2017 – The global shipping industry lost one of its early pioneers recently with the passing of Jack E. Hunger. Hunger, a graduate of the US Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point) in 1957 went on to form World Shipping, Inc., one of the industry’s pioneering companies in the Great Lakes Vessel and Liner Agency business. Over the years, World Shipping represented many premier liner companies in the US Midwest. The company now has a global reach through its forwarding operations (UWL), and is active in the warehousing (WDS) and trucking (CPG) sectors though its subsidiary operations. Notes of remembrance can be sent to the company at info@www.worldshipping.com.

 

About World Shipping, Inc.
Since 1960, World Shipping has been active in serving shippers and receivers of international cargo operating in multiple segments, including vessel agency operations, freight forwarding, ocean freight, trucking, rail operations, warehousing and distribution, bulk liquid international logistics, and customs clearance. Headquartered in Cleveland, OH, The World Group includes World Shipping, Inc., ContainerPort Group, UWL, Inc., World Distribution Services, and NewPort Tank Containers.

For more information, please visit www.worldshipping.com.

CONTACT:
Jenna Porostosky (World Shipping, Inc.)
Tel: 440-895-8228
Email: marketing@worldgrp.net

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