Aim News

Aim Transportation Solutions proudly welcomes Kaleel Brothers into its growing family of dedicated fleet customers spanning the nation.

Aim Transportation Solutions delivers unparalleled commercial fleet solutions to business of any size in any industry. But there’s one defining quality that truly sets Aim apart from its competitors: the close, one-on-one relationships we forge with our valued customers. That kind of close-knit and trusted connection was exactly what top-notch food distributor Kaleel Brothers was looking for in their dedicated fleet provider.

Like Aim, Kaleel Bros. is family owned and operated and headquartered in Youngstown, OH. It’s in these family roots that both companies share an unwavering commitment to exceeding customer expectations through individualized service and support.

A big part of why Kaleel relies on a dedicated fleet is drivers. More specifically, the Midwest food distributor, delivering within a sweeping 600-mile radius around Youngstown, requires a type of driver that’s one of the toughest to hire and retain: they have to handle the freight, have multiple deliveries and are over the road. Add that challenge to the era of the unrelenting driver shortage and you can see how keeping these positions filled would be exponentially difficult but no less important.

Pictured (l-r) are Aim-Kaleel Driver Caston Kungoin, Aim-Kaleel Driver Deon Santiago, Aim Field Supervisor Ralph Wilson and Todd Tatarka Aim Account Supervisor.

“We brought in a couple of companies, Aim being one of them, to talk to us,” said Terry Kaleel, Owner and Vice President of Operations at Kaleel Bros, “and after meeting with two or three dedicated carriers, we thought it was a good fit to make the change so we had peace of mind that we didn’t have to worry about the drivers because a company like Aim has a footprint of multiple drivers in multiple locations.”

With a mission focused on developing long-lasting partnerships built on honesty and integrity, Kaleel Bros. must not only provide high-quality products at a fair price, which they do, but they also have to deliver those goods accurately and on time every time. The latter part of that promise is, of course, where Aim enters the scene.

“Speaking with the amazing leadership team at Kaleel Brothers—and because they were so open and honest—I immediately identified areas where Aim could add a ton of value to their operation,” said Aim Business Development Manager Trisha Mossor, who initiated talks between the two companies. “A big value-add for them—and with many of our customers—was that both of our companies, being family owned and operated, share the same customer focus and goals as well as a unified vision on how to achieve them.”

“Another big piece of the puzzle was the flexibility we offer and our willingness to truly cater to the specific needs of the customer’s operation,” Mossor added. “Our logistics experts sat down with the Kaleel team and worked hand-in-hand to develop a system that made the most sense for their operation and overall customer-first mission.”

For the uninitiated, a dedicated fleet service (also known as dedicated contract carriage), at its most basic, provides businesses with trucks and drivers. However, the division of Aim that offers dedicated fleet services, Aim Integrated Logistics (a Top-25 Carrier in the nation according to Transport Topics), is unique in that it elevates this basic principle. Our Integrated experts work hand-in-hand with customers, engineering unique solutions that increase efficiency and maximize profitability. So, rather than force businesses into a specific, pre-determined logistics model, Aim Integrated Logistics builds the model around businesses and their specific needs.

Not only that, but Aim Integrated Logistics is where big business meets family-owned care and support for its customers. More specifically, Aim offers the personal touch, control and transparency Kaleel felt they were missing.

“We’re very pleased with Aim,” Terry Kaleel added. “They have done a fantastic job us. We have not missed a beat. We have had not any issues with transportation. Every one of our routes have been cover in full.”

“Fantastic group of people to work with,” Mr. Kaleel continued. “One thing I do like—because I will tell you the other companies that we looked at were ‘big guys,’ big national chain guys—Aim is a locally-owned company, family-owned company like ourselves, and we felt it was a better fit for Kaleel Brothers, and we were 100-percent right.”

Kaleel delivers to a lot of heavy hitters: MetLife Stadium, Dairy Queen, A&W and DiBella’s Subs just to name few. To ensure they’re meeting the expectations of their customers, The Aim-Kaleel operation is getting off the ground with 10 tractors, 10 drivers, an on-site supervisor and refrigerated trailers for temperature-sensitive products.

“With an amplified industry focus on hiring and retaining drivers, one key aspect both parties were committed to was ensuring the drivers came out as winners,” said Tom Reda, Vice President of Business Development for Aim Integrated Logistics. “We worked closely with Kaleel to make sure the drivers were set up with a pay structure they would be happy with but that also would promote the high level of productivity and of service Kaleel’s customers expect.”