GPA Logistics Group is transforming the logistics landscape with innovative technology and personalized service
With decades of hands-on experience, the team at GPA Logistics Group (GPA Logistics) addresses every logistics challenge with dedication and a deep understanding of its customers’ needs. While large enough to offer all the services of enterprise level 3PLs, the company is still at a size that allows its owners and executives to be actively involved and easily accessible every day. This accessibility encourages the development of strong, personal relationships with customers. GPA Logistics manages all aspects of consumer goods and products storage and delivery, from warehouse operations to timely shipping, taking care of every logistics detail, thereby freeing clients to focus on growing their businesses. Transportation & Logistics International had the pleasure of interviewing Chief Executive Officer, Bill Drummer, to gather valuable insights into GPA Logistics’ operations.
“In business since 2016, GPA Logistics is the second 3PL I have owned. I previously established and operated a 3PL in New Jersey for 20 years before relocating to
California a little before 2016. I then partnered with Brian Cantrell, an experienced senior executive for various 3PLs, to purchase a small struggling 3PL, and we immediately implemented a transformation, professionalizing training and procedures. In 2018, one of our customers was GPA Global, a large multinational retail packaging manufacturer. They appreciated what we were doing for them and chose to partner with us. This led us to rebrand as GPA Logistics. We have since expanded the company from 70,000 square feet to over 2,000,000 square feet today,” he begins.
Under Bill and Brian’s expert leadership, GPA Logistics has substantially broadened the scope of its service offerings. “We provide warehousing and fulfillment services for both business-to-business and direct-to-consumer clients, shipping to major retailers like Walmart, Kohl’s, Target, and other major American retailers. Approximately 50 percent of our business focuses on direct-to-consumer shipments, where we pick up and ship over 40,000 unique orders a day across our network. We have particular expertise in apparel, as a large percentage of our customers are apparel wholesalers and retailers. Apparel is a particularly difficult vertical due to its complex inventory needs. For instance, some of our customers stock and sell as many as 20,000 active SKUs (stock keeping units). In addition to apparel, we support a wide range of consumer products, including health and beauty items, fitness equipment, toys, pet supplies, accessories, electronics, and more. We also manage a large volume of co-packing projects, where we assemble, build and fill display units commonly found at retailers like Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s Wholesale club,” Bill says.
Each aspect of GPA Logistics’ operations is effectively managed and optimized, thanks to the company’s continuous investments in cutting-edge technology and automation. “Technology has become a particularly strong point of ours. We have a highly competent IT team with expertise in coding, programming, cybersecurity, networking, and various other domains. Additionally, we utilize a very powerful and modern warehouse management system, which serves as the nerve center of our business. We also employ various AI programs, such as Retailer Hub, which ingests all retailer routing guides, making retailer compliance simple. It allows any of our employees to ask questions through a simple chat box and receive immediate responses and directions. For instance, they can inquire about the exact correct label placement for Macy’s or the dimensions for building a pallet for Kohl’s. Another AI program we have adopted is Returns Desk, designed for managing all our returns and reverse logistics processing. This tool is highly customized for each customer and guides our employees through the process one step at a time. 
Additionally, we utilize a program called Lully, which is particularly interesting as it analyzes each batch or wave we need to pick, assessing both the SKUs in the wave and the warehouse locations. It then optimizes the pick path for us, ensuring that every wave has its own individually optimized route. Lastly, we use Octup to gather data from multiple sources and produce granular KPI and revenue reports, so we can track our profitability on a day-to-day basis.
“Alongside AI, we have been looking into robotics. We believe robotics represents the next big advancement in logistics. Although robotics can be impressive, we approach this technology with caution as few systems currently offer a solid return on investment, so there is still room for improvement. Many robotic solutions are very accurate but tend to be quite slow, which could hinder our operations if we were to implement them. However, they are just reaching a point where certain robotic systems are proving to be worthwhile. We have ordered one such system, a robotics sortation machine, which will be installed next month in two of our warehouses. We anticipate that this system will significantly enhance our productivity, particularly in the direct-to-consumer shipping side of our operations. For the moment, we remain focused on continuously improving our AI capabilities, all while keeping an eye on advancements in robotics to see how we can effectively integrate this technology into our operations, as it is poised to be the next big step for us,” Bill concludes.
GPA Logistics represents a new breed of logistics provider, one that leverages cutting-edge technology while maintaining the personal touch that builds lasting partnerships. As the logistics industry continues its rapid evolution, the company demonstrates that success comes not from choosing between scale and service, but from thoughtfully combining both. With its strategic adoption of AI, careful approach to robotics, and commitment to accessible leadership, GPA Logistics is not just keeping pace with industry change; it is helping to define what modern logistics excellence looks like.