Page 4 - BusinessWest January 23, 2023

Going the Extra Mile
As a Shipping-solutions Company, AST Delivers for Its Customers
BY GEORGE O’BRIEN
[email protected]
illy Kingston says the global shipping busi- ness has historically been an ultra-chal- lenging, often-misunderstood sector of the economy, one defined by heavy competi- tion, demanding customers, unseen twists and turns, and a landscape that can, and
does, change quickly and often.
And that was before COVID and the manner in
which it eventually turned the supply chain on its ear, inflation, the war in Ukraine, higher tariffs on many
goods, a workforce crisis, soaring fuel prices, remote work, and everything else that has happened over the past few years.
Summing it all up, Kingston, president of All States Transport, better known as AST, said this has certainly been a tumultuous and very difficult time for this industry, one that AST has withstood because of all it can bring to the table, especially (in his case) a half-century of experience, but also a deep, talented core of employees, connections around the globe, and, most importantly, a commitment to delivering for cus- tomers and going the extra mile.
Those are both industry terms, sort of, but they
4 JANUARY 23, 2023 << FEATURE >> BusinessWest
AST President Billy Kingston, center, with his sons, Chris, left, vice president of International Services, and Tim, vice president of Domestic Services.