What does it really take to rebuild your career from the ground up — and lead a national logistics consultancy?
In this episode of Miles and Mentors: A Trucking Podcast, host Alex welcomes Matt West, CEO of Route Consultant, for an in-depth conversation on career transformation, mentorship, and the evolving landscape of route-based logistics. After spending two decades in the automotive industry, Matt made a bold move: starting over in logistics from an entry-level broker role. Today, he leads a company that supports FedEx contractors, Amazon DSPs, bread distributors, and other route-based operators nationwide.
Matt shares his personal journey, including the mentors who shaped his leadership style, the lessons he carried from the car business, and how Route Consultant has grown to become a go-to resource in the logistics space. He walks listeners through his progression from broker to sales director, VP, and ultimately CEO — all within a few years.
The conversation dives into the structure of Route Consultant, which offers consulting, brokerage, and educational services to buyers, sellers, and owners of delivery operations. Matt highlights how their team helps clients lay a solid foundation, prepare for ownership, and scale their businesses the right way. The episode also touches on market diversification across industries like EMS, waste, and the bread route space, including an exclusive partnership with Flowers Bakeries.
In addition to business insight, Matt gives candid thoughts on industry trends — from the hype around autonomous vehicles and drone delivery to the real-world infrastructure issues that stand in the way. Whether you’re a company driver dreaming of ownership or a seasoned fleet operator looking to expand, this episode is packed with actionable advice, long-term vision, and a whole lot of heart.
