Pros
When I first started at PLS Logistics as an intern I assumed that 3PLs were just the middlemen of the transportation industry, but what I came to realize is that we do provide real value to our customers through helping them navigate the spot market and find trucks for their shipments.
In the 2 years that I've worked here, I went from a college student making minimum wage to a salaried employee making decent commission with full health insurance and a retirement account. I was able to move out of my parents house into my own place, buy a car, develop new hobbies, etc. During my time at this company I've also become a skilled leader and negotiator, and have had the opportunity to work directly with big companies who move hundreds of truckloads of product a day.
One of the great things about PLS is that they are accepting of people from all backgrounds and experiences. Success here is really determined by your willingness to work hard and put in the effort--they will not baby you or hold your hand, there are a lot of areas where you will need to teach yourself and learn by doing, but the upside of that is that there is a lot of freedom and tools available, and management will help you help yourself to succeed. It's very possible here to make six figures as a sales person, I know multiple people who are doing that, but its not easy. It's an uphill battle and takes time and lots of effort. But if you have an entrepreneurial mindset and can handle lots of over-the-phone rejection it is possible.
There is also a good community of Logistics Coordinators, and lots of LCs from PLS go on to work for large companies as Directors of Transportation. Being a Logistics Coordinator is a good path for people who want to focus more on management and problem-solving rather than closing on accounts. There are still good incentives like bonuses and commission, but there is a tradeoff in that it is more stable than a sales role but makes a little less in net. As an LC, you're responsible for finding drivers, making sure trucks are on time, and scheduling appointments etc. On the operations side the company is great for learning about the logistics industry--in my time here I've learned about full truckloads, LTLs, drayage, intermodal, and international shipments.
Cons
The main con is that there has been significant turnover. As I said in the Pros section, this job is like running a small business and requires you to think outside of the box and produce results. People who come in to do the bare minimum and get a paycheck eventually either quit or are let go. To stay employed here you really have to be a hustler and grind out phone calls and emails.
The current management really does care about helping people grow and creating a good work environment, so there is honestly not much to complain about.
