Strong leaders are critical to the success of any organization but are especially important in an industry as volatile as global logistics. A steady leadership group can stabilize an entire organization when things get rough as we’ve seen over the past year. When things become unpredictable, employees look to their leadership to provide a calming influence through turbulent times.

From both a resource and a well-being standpoint, it is critical to have the right leaders in place who understand what their people need the most. Whether it is equipping them with the right tools to keep them producing at their best or providing incentives and benefits to keep people refreshed and knowing they are valued at work, there is much more to effective leadership than simply overseeing a team.

At Scarbrough, we believe that we have some of the best leaders in the industry in part because of our commitment to the human side of logistics. There’s no magic formula of skills and experience our people must meet. We simply look for those people who care deeply, work hard, and ensure we treat our clients the best we can. Going above and beyond for our clients is truly the Scarbrough way, and we take pride in the fact that our team embodies that from the top down.

Some of the best leadership comes in forms that are rarely seen or acknowledged but make a large impact. A prime example of this can be seen in Scarbrough’s Warehouse Operations Manager, Dustin Pickett. In the words of Mark Harding, Scarbrough Warehousing’s Director of Operations, Dustin’s leadership of his warehouse team is one of the most powerful examples of strong, effective leadership:

“When people think of leadership, they often picture someone in front of a room, giving orders, motivating teams, or making big sweeping decisions. However, the most powerful leadership is rarely that visible. It’s found in the early mornings, the late nights, the quiet sacrifices, and the countless unnoticed decisions made for the good of the team.

Dustin Pickett lives in that space. For those who work alongside him, his name doesn’t just carry authority, it carries trust. Not because he demands it, but because he earns it, quietly and relentlessly, day in and day out. While others may seek recognition or the spotlight, Dustin is doing the hard work that truly matters - building people, shaping culture, and creating environments where success is shared and sustained.

Long before most alarms go off, Dustin is already working. His days often begin before dawn – reviewing customer requests, anticipating challenges, and checking in on issues before they become problems. While others wind down in the evening, he’s still at his desk or on a call, ensuring no detail is missed and no person forgotten. He doesn’t clock in and out based on a timesheet - he works until the job is done and done right. His time is given freely, not for accolades, but because he believes leadership is about service, and true service doesn’t punch a clock.

Leadership isn’t just about major milestones. It’s the thousand small acts that no one records: a warehouse conversation that lifts someone’s confidence, an extra 20 minutes helping a team member problem-solve, or the decision to let someone else shine in a client-facing position, even when the credit could be his. Dustin is a master of these moments. They may not show up in a report, but over time they create loyalty, unity, and a standard of excellence that elevates everyone around him.

There’s a weight that comes with leadership, a quiet burden that most will never see. It means missing family dinners to meet a deadline, carrying the pressure so others can focus on their work, and absorbing frustration so the team doesn’t have to. Dustin carries that weight with humility. He doesn’t talk about the hours he sacrifices or the plans he changes. He just shows up fully, consistently, and willingly. It’s not about being the hero, it’s about being dependable. In today’s world, that’s a rare quality.