Justin's Journey as a Logistics Guide at Mercury

Meet Our People - Justin Blum

Written By: Narek Hakobyan

In this interview, we will be delving into the experiences and insights of Justin Blum, Logistics Guide for Mercury's Tango Squad. who has been helping clients with their specialized cold chain and freight-related shipments for the past 2 years.

What is your current role at Mercury, and what do you do on a typical day?

I'm currently a Logistics Guide for the Tango Squad. In this role, my responsibilities are setting up specialized cold chain and freight-related shipments. On a typical day, I handle new shipment requests that come in during the day and the previous evening, track ongoing shipments, and maintain crucial vendor communication to ensure the seamless movement of the specialized shipments, ensuring they reach their destinations on time and in top condition.

How did you end up Joining Mercury?

After I graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in May 2021 with a degree in operations and information management, I began looking for jobs. I found a job posting from Mercury that caught my eye. Later, I got in touch with Josh Medow, and after completing the interview process, it was clear that this role was a great fit for me. My academic background, particularly my degree's focus on supply chain, matched well with Mercury's expertise in cold chain logistics and time-sensitive shipments.

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

I find the challenge to be one of the most enjoyable aspects of my job. While we handle many repeat shipments, there is a lot of diversity in the destinations we serve. We often ship to fascinating countries, some of which we don't ship to very often, which keeps the work interesting. I also learned more about what we're sending and explored the complexities of new shipments. Another aspect I enjoy is the challenge of essentially piecing together a puzzle. For instance, take a cold chain shipment that needs to go from point A to point B. In this scenario, we need to identify the most efficient route for it to reach its destination. This often involves researching ahead of time and determining the amount of dry ice required to maintain that frozen temperature.

What specific benefits can customers expect from working with one of our squads?

What sets us apart is the personal touch in our customer service. Unlike big carriers where you might get lost in a 1-800 maze and rely on notes left by previous interactions, we at Mercury keep meticulous track of everything.

"We're on top of each shipment, knowing just as much about it as our clients do. As squad members, we troubleshoot and monitor every step, making sure things run as smoothly as possible. It's not just about tracking – it's about having a dedicated team ensuring a hassle-free experience for our customers."

Can you provide an example of a situation where you successfully resolved an issue to ensure the safe and timely delivery of a critical shipment?

One of the recent challenges we encountered involved a hiccup at the Canadian border. A shipment for one of our clients experienced delays at customs, extending the processing time by a couple of days. To address this issue, we worked closely with our network partners, maintaining consistent communication with customs, and following up for updates. Once the package cleared customs, we coordinated with the local terminal to ensure the replenishment of dry ice before releasing the product, safeguarding its integrity. The main issue was that documents for the shipment were not being transferred, but the open line of communication allowed us to resolve the issue for our client.

What lessons have you learned from your time as a logistics guide?

What hobbies do you have / what do you enjoy in your free time?

I am big into the outdoors, participating in activities such as skiing, hiking, and biking.