Dedicated transportation leader Haroon Syed named a Rock Star of the Supply Chain

Key Terms

cold chain technical

A cold chain is the continuous temperature-controlled system used to store and transport products that must stay cold, such as vaccines, biologic medicines, and some foods — think of a refrigerator on wheels and in warehouses that keeps items at specific temperatures from factory to customer. Investors watch cold chain strength because failures raise product loss, regulatory trouble, and extra costs, while reliable cold chains protect sales, margins, and a company’s reputation.

multimodal technical

Multimodal describes an approach, product, or system that uses two or more different types of inputs, methods, or channels — for example combining text, images and audio in a technology product, or blending drugs, devices and therapy in medical care. For investors, multimodal solutions can broaden market reach and competitive differentiation but also add development cost, operational complexity and regulatory hurdles; think of it like a hybrid car that offers more capabilities but requires more parts and oversight.

temperature‑controlled technical

Keeping goods at a specified, monitored temperature during storage and transport so they remain safe and effective, like keeping milk in a refrigerator rather than leaving it on the counter. For investors, temperature‑controlled handling matters because it protects product quality, meets regulatory rules, and reduces the risk of costly spoilage, recalls or delivery delays that can hurt sales, margins and a company’s reputation.

precision-based logistics technical

Precision-based logistics is a data-driven approach to moving goods that uses real-time tracking, analytics, and tight timing to get the right item to the right place exactly when it’s needed. For investors, it matters because better precision cuts waste and carrying costs, speeds delivery, and reduces missed sales or stockouts—improvements that can boost profit margins and make a business more competitive like upgrading from a paper map to a live GPS system.

Refrigerated Center of Excellence technical

A refrigerated center of excellence is a specialized facility designed to store, handle and sometimes process temperature-sensitive products—such as vaccines, biologic drugs or perishable goods—under tightly controlled cold conditions. For investors it matters because these centers reduce product spoilage and regulatory risk, improve supply-chain reliability, and can command premium pricing or long-term contracts, much like a climate-controlled vault preserves a valuable collection.

backhaul optimization technical

Backhaul optimization is the process of improving how data or cargo is moved from local access points (like cell towers, branches, or warehouses) back to a central network or hub. For investors, it matters because better backhaul reduces operating cost, increases capacity and reliability, and enables faster rollout of services—similar to widening a highway so more cars move faster and with fewer traffic jams, which can boost revenue and margins for network operators.

zero emission technologies technical

Technologies that produce little to no greenhouse gas emissions during their operation, such as power generation, transportation, or industrial processes that avoid releasing carbon dioxide or similar gases. Investors care because these technologies can reduce regulatory and climate-related risks, tap growing demand and incentives, and affect long-term costs and asset values—think of them as upgrading from a gas-guzzling car to an electric one to avoid fuel costs and future fines.

reefer fuel technical

Fuel used to power refrigerated shipping containers, trucks, or on-board cooling units that keep perishable goods cold during transport. Like the gasoline for a car that keeps the engine running, reefer fuel is a routine operating cost that directly affects the profitability of cold‑chain logistics and businesses that move food, medicine, or other temperature‑sensitive products; changes in its price or availability can raise costs, squeeze margins, or disrupt supply chains.

Award honors Schneider Vice President of Dedicated Services’ leadership and innovation in driving cold chain efficiency and reliability for food and beverage shippers

GREEN BAY, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Schneider Vice President of Dedicated Services Haroon Syed has been named a Rock Star of the Supply Chain, honoring his leadership in delivering innovative, reliable cold chain solutions for food and beverage shippers.

Syed, a supply chain leader with more than 30 years of experience, has helped position Schneider National, Inc. (NYSE: SNDR), a premier multimodal provider of transportation, intermodal and logistics services, as a top provider of temperature‑controlled, on‑time and visibility‑driven transportation solutions.

With Syed at the helm of Schneider’s Dedicated growth, the refrigerated fleet has expanded significantly while maintaining an elite 99% on-time performance record. His commitment to precision-based logistics and network scale earned him the prestigious 2026 Rock Star of the Supply Chain award from Food Logistics.

“When a grocer or manufacturer partners with Schneider, they’re not just hiring a carrier—they’re joining a network built to solve the toughest links in the supply chain,” Syed said. “This award proves that by designing smarter ecosystems, we can protect the cold chain and eliminate the 'empty miles' that lead to waste. We’re not just moving freight; we’re making the entire journey more efficient and sustainable.”

Syed and his team leverage Schneider’s Refrigerated Center of Excellence, associates dedicated to temperature‑sensitive freight, to advance data‑driven solutions that support freshness, reduce variability and enhance visibility across a customer’s network.

Refrigerated Center of Excellence initiatives include:

• Backhaul optimization to improve asset utilization.
• Customized equipment that helps protect product quality.
• Exploration of zero emission technologies to increase efficiency.
• Fuel‑saving process improvements, including remote cooling solutions that reduced refrigerated trailer (reefer) fuel consumption for a major grocery shipper.

These advancements reinforce Schneider’s commitment to building a flexible, technology‑enabled cold chain that supports the nation’s food and beverage supply.

“Haroon exemplifies how we help food and beverage customers build stronger, more capable supply chains,” said Schneider Group Senior Vice President and General Manager of Van Truckload Erin Van Zeeland. “By partnering closely with customers and vendors, his team turns opportunity into execution that drives efficiency and long‑term value.”

Syed stands out for having led collaborative initiatives focused on developing deep customer and vendor relationships to uncover optimization opportunities. For example, together with a refrigerated trailer vendor and grocery shipper, his team was able to significantly reduce the amount of reefer fuel consumed in the grocer’s supply chain. The team collaborated to increase visibility and implement fuel-saving process improvements, such as creating remote cooling solutions to meet loading times without wasting reefer fuel.

Schneider operates one of North America’s largest refrigerated fleets, using real‑time visibility tools and easy‑to‑use temperature‑control technology to ensure consistency, reliability and transparency for food shippers. The company delivers 24/7/365 monitoring, flexible capacity and strong customer collaboration to support a safe, efficient and sustainable cold chain.

To learn more about how Schneider’s Dedicated Services can optimize your cold supply chain, visit https://schneider.com/freight-shipping-solutions/refrigerated-freight.

About Schneider

Schneider is a premier multi-modal provider of transportation and logistics services. Offering one of the broadest portfolios in the industry, Schneider’s solutions include Regional and Long-Haul Truckload, Expedited, Dedicated, Bulk, Intermodal, Brokerage, Warehousing, Supply Chain Management, Port Logistics and Logistics Consulting.

Schneider has been safely delivering superior customer experiences and investing in innovation for over 90 years. The company’s digital marketplace, Schneider FreightPower®, is revolutionizing the industry giving shippers access to an expanded, highly flexible capacity network and provides carriers with unmatched access to quality drop-and-hook freight – Always Delivering, Always Ahead.

For more information about Schneider, visit Schneider.com or follow the company socially on Facebook, LinkedIn and X: @WeAreSchneider.

Source: Schneider SNDR

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Source: Schneider SNDR