Peter Cockle owns SHIPFR8, a third-party logistics provider. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

Getting from one place to another is not always easy.

Peter Cockle should know. He’s from London and now calls Maricopa home.

Moving freight from one place to another can be a real headache, especially for those who are not in the shipping business but need to send a truckload or even less to a customer.

He launched his company SHIPFR8 five years ago to help businesses with their shipping logistics.

SHIPFR8 is a third-party logistics provider (3PL).

“The simplest definition of a 3PL is a company that works with shippers to manage their logistics operations,” Cockle says.

As a transportation supply chain manager, SHIPFR8 works with national carriers and service providers to move goods across the country. Cockle has seven employees and calls Maricopa a “great place to live and work.”

His own career started with FedEx as a truck loader, and he later worked for DHL. He’s been working in the industry for 29 years.

“I’ve had the good fortune to experience working for small, medium and large companies,” he says. “At each company I have picked up good practices, knowledge and experience.”

This summer, he moved SHIPFR8 into offices at The Suites, 44400 W. Honeycutt Road, Suite 102.

“I wanted a business that would be independent, which would allow me flexibility in serving my customers, each customer is different, so I can tailor-make a solution to ensure their needs are met,” he said.

Cockle’s plan over the next five years is to “grow in the right ways” by continuing to develop service offerings and SHIPFR8’s own call center.

OWNER PROFILE
Peter Cockle, SHIPFR8

PERSONAL
Age: 47
Hometown: London, England
Now live in: Rancho El Dorado
Education: Schooled in England
Family: Married to Diana, Mum (Susan)
Pets: Stallone (Belgium Malinois), Scooter AKA Rat Dog (Corgi)
Pet Peeves: People with no morals or values
Car: Dodge Ram 1500
Hobbies/Interests: Soccer, Dutch Hunter (Lost Dutchman Mine), camping, fishing
I wish I was …: With my wife, Diana, sipping a cold beer watching the sunset
Currently Reading: “Jacob’s Trail – The Legend of Jacob Waltz’s Lost Dutchman Gold Mine” by Jesse James Feldman

BUSINESS
First job: Loaded trucks for FedEx
Favorite job: Delivery driver for FedEx; I loved getting out and meeting people, seeing smiles on people faces when they got a package!
Why this business: I suck at singing!
Why Maricopa: I love this city, have volunteered for the police deptartment and Emergency Response and want to continue to give back to the city.
Greatest challenge: Lack of commercial property in Maricopa
Greatest opportunity: As we grow we can re-invest in people and keep the jobs here in town.
What was the best business advice you ever received: People, Service, Profit (PSP) – Frederick W. Smith, Founder, FedEx Corp. You put people first because it is right to do so and because it is good business as well. These people will offer great service, then the profits will come.

FAVORITES
Food: Toad in the Hole (English Dish … Google it!)
Beverage: Strongbow Cider and a nice cuppa tea!
Movie: Robin Hood with Errol Flynn
TV show: “Criminal Minds”
Musician: Queen’s Freddie Mercury, the greatest showman ever!
Athlete: David Beckham
Sport: Soccer
Sports team: Charlton Athletic in England and Arizona United Soccer Club
Charity: Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Travel destination: Sedona
City: London, England (greatest city on Earth)
Book: Anything to do with the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine
Quote: Live each day as if it was your last, because one day it will be!

This story appeared in the Fall Edition of InMaricopa the Magazine.