About Us
Our Network, Your Global Supply Chain… Delivered
JZI was started in 2009 by founder Robert Fox, from his kitchen table. Robert was a single father of two young sons, Josh & Zach, and needed the flexibility that only owning your own company could provide. He began by forming JZ Expedited Logistics, a domestic logistics company named after his sons. In 2012 international freight forwarding and NVOCC authorities were added to the JZL umbrella.
After a few successful years operating JZL, Robert decided to diversify into asset-based trucking by opening JZ Expedited Trucking. This endeavor solidified JZ’s ability to service our local clients with fast, reliable trucking on controlled by JZ. At this point the dream of JZ becoming a singular solution for international logistics was born.
Next stop was warehousing. With a philosophy of excellence and meeting any potential need of the client, we didn’t just open a warehouse. Robert launched a high security, US Customs Bonded, Foreign-Trade Zone that can handle the most basic to the most complex and regulated commodities. At inception North Florida Warehouse FTZ was a 32,000sft warehouse but has since grown to over 350,000sft of warehouse space and more than 20-acres of outdoor storage. With on-site heavy lift of up to 100,000 lbs., NFW offers the most diverse and heavy lift capabilities in Northeast Florida.
With a thriving domestic logistics company, asset-based trucking operation, international freight forwarder/NVOCC and a growing warehouse operation, the final piece of the supply chain puzzle was a licensed customs broker and consulting company. In 2019, JZI was born. This final step completed The JZI ability to provide the entire global supply chain in-house. Consistent with the family focus, JZI includes the initial of Robert and Maria’s daughter, Ivanna.
Today we maintain the family focus present on day one (albeit with a larger, extended, family consisting of our employees) and our commitment to excellently meeting any logistics need of our clients.
Robert Fox is a native of Oregon, Ohio and has been in transportation and logistics for more than 30-years. During this time Robert worked in virtually every aspect of domestic transportation. including FTL, LTL and distribution. His early years were spent with an operations focus and included FTL, LTL and distribution. In college he loaded trucks for Roadway Express, was dock supervisor for Yellow Freight Systems, and operations manager for Watkins Motor Lines.
Fox then joined Link Logistics in Detroit, MI as assistant terminal manager of a multiplex automotive logistics operation dedicated to Chrysler Corporation,. There, he was responsible for servicing 35 plants in U.S., Mexico, and Canada; and later oversaw all operations and labor relations.
Robert moved into a sales role at Pilot Air Freight, in Jacksonville, FL, and expanded his knowledge to include expedited air, ground and international transportation. Fox later joined EGL [now CEVA Logistics], as a sales representative for a year before joining Crowley Logistics as Account Executive concentrating on trucking and equipment re-positioning. Finally, Robert served as Vice President of General Transport before opening JZI Expedited Logistics in 2009.
Fox cites his operations background and breadth of experience as reasons JZI has been successful, “At JZI we provide operational excellence and outside the box thinking to solve customer problems. This is a cornerstone of the JZI philosophy and continues to serve us well.
As of January 5, 2021 the JZ Expedited Companies was acquired by RoadOne. Robert Fox continues to run the operation in Jacksonville as part of the RoadOne family.
Chris Sloope has been in International Transportation for more from than 24-years. With a career that began at Crowley American Transport, Chris learned international transportation from the Steamship Line perspective. His time at Crowley culminated as a Sr. Account Executive and Manager of Inside Sales & Project Cargo. For the next 10-years Chris expanded his horizons to global trade and transportation by joining Americas World Group in Tampa, FL. AWG was a building materials importer and exporter as well as an NVOCC. Starting as Director of Sales for Kompas Line, the in-house NVOCC, Sloope later became Vice President and Partner of the holding company, AWG.
His tenure at AWG provided invaluable experience marketing U.S. products in other countries, including product development, market analysis, transportation and distribution. AWG additionally imported foreign-made products and distributed them in the United States, including manufacturing, importation, compliance, sale and distribution.His tenure at AWG provided invaluable experience marketing U.S. products in other countries, including product development, market analysis, transportation and distribution. AWG additionally imported foreign-made products and distributed them in the United States, including manufacturing, importation, compliance, sale and distribution.
This experience has resulted in a unique perspective encompassing importers, exporters, logistics companies and steamship lines. Chris leverages this knowledge in his role as COO of JZI, striving to always add value to our diverse client base.
As of January 5, 2021 the JZ Expedited Companies was acquired by RoadOne. Chris Sloope continues to run the operation in Jacksonville as part of the RoadOne family.
JZI seeks to attract and retain the most talented employees in the business. Each business unit has an experienced leader responsible for overall success of their division.
With a mix of industry veterans and newcomers to the industry we’ve created a culture steeped in years of experience but open to new ideas and embracing technology.
JZI is just getting started and with this team, anything is possible.