JA Frate Welcomes you!
For almost 50 years we've handled freight shipping and distribution throughout North America. Headquartered in northern Illinois, we're central to major markets in Chicago, Wisconsin and northern Indiana.
No matter the industry, we find solutions for all sorts of challenges. Our quality improvement process and 24/7 LIVE customer service provide you with proactive support every day of the year.
From standard less-than-truckload and full/partial truckloads to drayage, white glove, expedited, oversize projects and more, you can count on having live tracking information and the highest quality service for each and every shipment.
Learn More About Our Services
Led by our core values
Customer Focused
Customer Service isn’t a department; it’s an attitude.
Tim Gieseke, JA Nationwide Logistics Coordinator, was in the middle of giving blood one Saturday morning when a customer called needing drums shipped out that day. Tim came into the office and found a cost-effective partner carrier to deliver their product direct to Maine.
Integrity
Do what is right, not what is easy.
Doug asked the staff to take a pay cut after the 9/11 tragedy and the loss of two big customers in 2001. Thankfully within a few months we were getting back on track, but it took a few years to start growing again. Later Doug presented everyone still with JA a check reimbursing them for the missed income during the annual Christmas party.
Team Before Self
If you want to go fast, go alone. if you want to go far, go together.
Driver John Baumstark made a delivery to a customer on a hot summer day when he discovered that they had a policy of no shorts allowed. Rather than call dispatch, tell them he was unable to make the delivery, then send another driver out, John took it upon himself to solve the problem. He drove to the nearest gas station and offered the clerk $10 to borrow a pair of uniform pants. John then made the delivery and promptly returned the pants.
Optimism
The best is yet to come.
Many years ago, the team would rotate who worked Friday night. On one particular Friday night, driver Jeff Jennings received a call from a customer around 10:00pm. They had a hot shipment that needed to be picked up and driven directly to the port in Charleston, South Carolina. He said no problem!
Jeff had the shipment picked up by midnight that evening and with the help of his co-driver they were able to get the shipment delivered on-time, straight to the cargo ship.
