What does it mean to be a thought leader? The term has become common corporate-speak for just about anything involving advice on how to do business, but we set out to look for the executives who have ushered in new eras, quickly and creatively adapted to changing landscapes, and reinvigorated age-old challenges with innovative thinking and focused approaches. We invited 3PLs to submit candidates, and of the entries collected we found 13 that, in our opinion, were out in front.

These thought leaders range in style and substance—from Bradley Jacobs of XPO Logistics who, as a highly successful career CEO, saw a fragmented industry ripe for consolidation; to Kristy Knichel of Knichel Logistics, who takes employee treatment seriously, and to the next level. Others have accomplishments that illustrate points in their careers when they led their teams into uncharted territories and left behind a road map for others to follow. In all cases, there is something to be learned that you can bring to your own operation.