Along the meandering bends of the Mississippi River is the growing Port of New Orleans, gateway to the Gulf and receiver of foreign imports from around the world. Now, C&K Trucking has opened a New Orleans (NOLA) terminal location to support the current drayage needs of port customers and grow alongside the port’s plans for expansion.
In 2022, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards approved a $1.8 billion deal to create the Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) at the Port of New Orleans. The new shipping container facility is expected to handle two million TEUs and create thousands of jobs by 2050. Construction is tentatively set for 2025, with the first berth opening in 2028.
C&K Trucking currently serves customers with drayage services from their new convenient terminal at 3501 France Road and is poised to handle the increased traffic from the LIT. Our NOLA terminal offers two acres of secured yard space. The terminal will receive ISO containers of all sizes and cargo, along with flexitanks that store liquids like oil and water. They hope to have 50 contractors by the end of next year.
Sitting at the head of this new opportunity for C&K Trucking is NOLA’s new terminal manager, Brian Blakely. Brian has more than ten years of experience in trucking. Before working in the transportation industry, Brian served 15 years in the U.S. Army and retired as a Staff Sergeant (E6). He was airborne and participated in air assaults in his six-month deployment to Bosnia and two tours of duty in Iraq. Brian was wounded in his arm and wrist in the line of duty but declined his Purple Heart award in deference to the many who had suffered and died in the same campaigns.
As to his managerial style, Brian takes his cue from his military training, applying the acronym LDRSHIP as a guide to working with others. He explains the acronym as loyalty (to the mission), duty (to fulfill obligations), respect (to treat others well), selfless service (to put others first), honor (to live C&K values), integrity (to do what’s right), and personal courage (to face fear). Brian admits that the most rewarding experiences are often the ones that are the most challenging, like onboarding a new software system or leading a new venture.
“Active listening is also important to gain trust and build a good team,” Brian says. “Good managers find out what their employees need to be successful and adapt to their needs.”
Welcome to New Orleans, C&K Trucking! We hope the new terminal will make a splash in the “Big Easy” by simplifying operations for our drayage customers. If you are looking for drayage service in New Orleans, contact us at 888-209-3837.
