From Driver Shortages to Smarter Operations: Distributor Insights
How Beverage Distributors Are Boosting Productivity & Service Despite Labor Shortages
The beverage industry is under pressure: driver shortages, rising costs, and higher customer expectations make it harder than ever to deliver on-time and in-full.
But leading beverage distributors aren’t waiting for the workforce to catch up. They are turning to modern technology to do more with less. By optimizing delivery planning and execution, they are unlocking new efficiencies, reducing strain on their teams, and improving the customer experience.
In this NBWA-hosted webinar, Silver Eagle distributors, Mitchell Distributing, and Pepin Distributing join Descartes to share how they’re transforming delivery operations to keep pace with demand.
“Less time on the road means more time face-to-face with customers. Happier drivers lead to happier customers.”
— Matt Fannon, Director of Routing, Silver Eagle Distributors
Watch the recording to hear how top beverage distributors are overcoming today’s toughest delivery challenges and discover how you can turn labor constraints into opportunities through smarter orchestration, greater visibility, and data-driven decision making.
What to Expect
Real-Time Visibility
Reduce “where’s my order?” calls with live tracking for sales teams and customers
Leverage Data
Turn stop-time, service window, and performance data into actionable insights that improve planning and execution
Driver & Labor Productivity
Balance workloads, improve retention, and give drivers more time with customers
Customer Experience
Align deliveries with merchandising to improve execution and meet service expectations
Watch On-demand
Meet the Experts Driving Smarter Beverage Distribution
Hear directly from leading beverage distributors and industry specialists who are solving driver shortage challenges every day.
With decades of combined experience in routing, sales execution, and retail service, they share real-world strategies that can help you strengthen operations, boost efficiency, and keep customers happy even when resources are tight.
Matt Fannon
Matt holds a business degree from the University of Houston and an MBA from Rice. With 10+ years in operations leadership, he previously served as Operations Leader at UPS, leading the Houston warehouse to #1 in cost reduction per piece during peak season 2021-2022. Since joining Silver Eagle in 2022 as Director of Routing, Matt has transformed routing operations, focusing on data, technology, and analytics while leading a team of route engineers and coordinators.
Will Woodall
Will joined Mitchell Distributing in 2016 and has played a key role in route optimization and sales operations since 2019. He has overseen multiple re-route initiatives, supported technology rollouts across states, and helped modernize delivery through data-driven strategies. With experience in both operations and sales, and an MBA in Project Management, he bridges efficiency with customer-focused solutions.
John Barton
John Barton, Retail Service Manager at Pepin Distributors, brings over 30 years of beverage industry experience. He collaborates across departments to boost efficiency, resolve challenges, improve underperforming accounts, and strengthen communication. Focused on growth and customer-driven solutions, he’s dedicated to building long-term partnerships. John holds a Business Management degree from George Mason University.
Cyndi Brandt
Cyndi Brandt serves as the VP of Fleet Solutions at Descartes, where she drives go-to-market strategy in routing, mobile, and telematics, ensuring alignment with industry demands. With 23 years of experience in transportation technology, Cyndi has specialized in optimizing last and final mile operations, dispatch and tracking, telematics and ELDs, video-based safety, and data analytics. Her extensive work with both last mile and over-the-road companies gives her a nuanced understanding of the unique and shared challenges in these areas.
Nick Rider
Nicholas Rider is a Senior Account Executive at Descartes, focused on helping businesses, particularly beverage distributors, improve fleet efficiency and overcome last-mile logistics challenges. With over 15 years of experience in the logistics and transportation industry, Nicholas joined Descartes through the GreenMile acquisition in 2021, bringing a wealth of expertise to drive operational improvements for leading beverage distributors.
Deliver on time, in full, every time.
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