Ben Emmrich spent 10 years at Google managing parcel carrier relationships for Google Shopping before leading carrier partnerships at Shippo for four years. He discovered that alternative carriers could save shippers 30–40% on small parcel — but nobody could access them at scale. In 2021, he founded Tusk Logistics to solve that problem. Recorded live at BGSA 2026 in West Palm Beach.

TOPICS COVERED:

- From Google Shopping to Shippo to founding Tusk: how Ben discovered the alternative carrier ecosystem

- What alternative carriers are: regional operators like GLS, UDS, CDL, and DoorDash that deliver for 30–40% less than UPS or FedEx

- Zone skipping explained: when it makes sense, how to back-load trailers with multiple carrier stops, and linking freight tracking to final mile

- Volume thresholds: local alternatives first, zone skipping at 10,000+ parcels per day

- Chinese 3PLs entering the US market: zone skipping at massive scale with regional last-mile delivery

- UPS margin optimization under Carol Tomé: closing facilities, prioritizing margin over volume

- The Fast Group collapse: what happens when PE-backed carrier consolidation fails

- Anti-fragile shipping: why single-source UPS shippers were panicking during the 2024 Teamsters near-strike

- 3PL billing pain: unified invoicing across multiple carriers

- Dynamic parcel pricing: negotiating rate caps with carriers who flex down

- Ship with Walmart at $6.90 all-in vs. $15 loaded through traditional carriers

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Introduction: Live at BGSA 2026 in West Palm Beach

2:30 Ben's Story: Google Shopping, Shippo, and Discovering Alternative Carriers

9:10 What Tusk Is: Shipping Infrastructure for Alternative Carriers at Scale

10:10 China's Inroads: Chinese 3PLs, Zone Skipping, and Regional Last Mile

13:57 Zone Skipping Explained: How It Works and Multi-Stop Trailer Strategy

16:12 Volume Thresholds: When to Start with Local Alternatives vs. Zone Skips

21:43 Tracking Visibility: Linking Freight Tracking to Final Mile Across Carriers

27:04 Rate Comparison: $10 Retail to $6.50 Loaded with Alternative Carriers

30:23 Carrier Consolidation: The Fast Group Collapse and Ecosystem Dynamics

34:12 UPS Strategy: Carol Tomé's Shift from Volume to Margin

37:35 Anti-Fragile Shipping: Why Optionality Beats Single-Source Risk

41:20 3PL Billing Pain: Unified Invoicing and the Smart Zack File

49:01 Dynamic Parcel Pricing and the Future of Rate Shopping

55:35 What Keeps a 3PL Operator Up at Night

1:04:04 When Carriers Pitch Your Clients Direct: How to Handle the Conversation

1:13:18 How to Work with Tusk and Closing Thoughts

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Ben Emmrich is the founder and CEO of Tusk Logistics. He spent 10 years at Google and four years at Shippo before founding Tusk in 2021 to make alternative parcel carriers accessible at scale.

KEY TERMS:

Tusk Logistics, alternative carriers, regional carriers, zone skipping, small parcel, GLS, UDS, CDL, DoorDash, Shippo, Google Shopping, FedEx, UPS, USPS, carrier performance, unified invoicing, dynamic pricing, PLD, parcel level data, anti-fragile, Carol Tomé, Fast Group, BGSA

Supply Chain Saga is produced by Mark Taylor, CEO of Warehouse Republic, a 3PL serving omni-channel e-commerce brands that sell through marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, and Shopify, as well as retail partners like Nordstrom, Scheels, and Bass Pro Shops.

Website: warehouserepublic.com
Podcast: supplychainsaga.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/warehouse-republic
Host: linkedin.com/in/marktaylor

Have a logistics question? Email mark@warehouserepublic.com