We Are Family: Navigating the Family Dynamics of Burns Logistics with Ed Burns

Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast

In this episode of Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast, host Brent Hutto is joined by Ed Burns, CEO of Burns Logistics.

Join them as they explore:

• The ups and downs of Ed’s entrepreneurial career
• How to navigate family dynamics in business
• Burns Logistics’ unique business model
• And more!

Ed is CEO of his family business, Burns Logistics, a transportation sales agency focused on shipper-carrier relationships. Responsible for the day to day operations, business strategy, and company profitability, Ed is helping to position the business for further growth by facilitating strong partnerships between carriers and shippers. In 2012, Ed founded Melior Websites, which he still has a part-time engagement with.

[10:23 - 16:00] Ed’s experience with his business Melior Websites had several ups and downs. He chose the name Melior due to it being the Latin word for better, but soon realized that many people did not know how to pronounce it and faced many challenges as a result, eventually deciding to rebrand to Ed Burns Group. When he started the business, he sought advice from successful entrepreneurs, building out a strong network of mentors. He would advise any business or career starters to do the same as networking provides a wealth of opportunities. Melior initially struggled but found success around 2017-2019. However, they then experienced a failed business acquisition where the buyer failed to fulfill the agreement. Following this, Ed took back the business and restructured it, mentoring a young associate to take over the company so he could explore elsewhere.

[16:38 - 21:01] Neither Ed nor his father, ‘Big Ed’, expected he would join the family business, but Ed saw potential in the company’s unique business model and the opportunities for growth it held. In order to navigate the family dynamics while working together, Ed and his father sat down to discuss strategies for resolving any potential conflicts early on. Generally, his father was kind and easygoing, allowing Ed to make decisions and trusting his judgment, but Ed valued his father’s input on any big decisions. Their relationship was productive, allowing Ed to grow within the business, eventually taking over as CEO.

[34:31 - 36:34] Burns Logistics connects shippers and carriers directly. They focus on small fleets that operate in specific niches, as this is where enterprise shippers tend to prefer sourcing capacity from. Often, their clients lack sales teams, so Burns Logistics acts as their sales agency. It’s an unconventional model, but it has proven successful in sourcing capacity for repeat contract business as they match carriers with suitable shippers, thus benefiting both parties.

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