A chance Meeting on a golf course in New Jersey seven years ago changed International Transportation on the East Coast. It was there that Richard Lombardi met Joseph Iacopella.
        Richard Lombardi had been running a small domestic trucking operation and had operated in the domestic trucking for 17 years. For about the same amount of time Joseph had been operating a small Container Freight Station called AZ.
        Rich and Joe immediately hit it off. Their common Brooklyn, NY. roots, love of golf and a good sense of humor ( A quality that would serve them well in this industry ) founded what time would prove to be a solid partnership and invigorating friendship.
        After the greatest round of golf New Jersey had ever seen, Joe explained to Rich over drinks that the Israeli and European communities  were now demanding integrated distribution from all their import containers. Although Joe and his staff had a very well controlled and competent warehouse, their experience in long haul transportation was limited. Rich on the other hand, had no experience in running a Container Freight Station, but was very intimate with long haul and multi modal transport.
The following Monday they continued their discussion at Joey's office. Rich had many questions. At the top of the list - just what is a CBM, and how many of them would be going to various destinations? Joey took him through the answers he had, others they guessed at.
        Over the next several weeks Rich brought his operation over to AZ along with his partner, James Napolitano. AZ Carriers Inc. was born and the team cannoned into action.
Rich and Joe prepared fax presentations, created rate structures and developed relationships with destination freight stations, while James began the coordination of import cargo throughout the country, a very difficult task at first. They had to move 10 to 15 cbm's at a time and make it cost effective. Before long the international community began to hear about them and 10 to 15 cbms grew into full truck loads. AZ Carriers Inc. had now become the trucking arm of AZ Container Freight Station. Service as well as profitability naturally improved, so much so that their competitors were asking if they could "ride along" on their program.
        The CEO of one of our biggest customers once said to us that anyone can unload a container, but it takes real talent to thoroughly integrate the distribution. Of course this has to be done cost effectively. We at AZ have been successfully meeting that challenge head on for 7 years now and today AZ handles more CBM cargo on the East Coast than any other station.
         So what does the year 2000 bring for AZ? One might and should expect a lot from a company whose history proves a reputation for growth and innovation. The salient point of the AZ philosophy is that it is our customers who make us great, and in the next millennium AZ will continue to meet the fundamental challenges that got us where we are today while incorporating a wide range of new programs to better serve our customers. Here are a few:
        * Availability checks and house bill releases via the Internet through our Web-site.
        *Real time tracing of IT shipments also via our Web-Site.
        * Opening up in the Chicago marketplace ( We're very excited about this one ).

        We hope you enjoyed our little story and will enjoy the rest of the web-site. We encourage your E-mail comments @ rlombardi@azcfs.com