Embodying “The McClay’s Difference:” Meet Kayla Clementi
Behind every successful shipment is a dedicated team—and Kayla Clementi, a carrier procurement specialist here at McClay’s, exemplifies the heart and hustle that drive our success and yours. With her deep roots in the trucking industry and commitment to creating strong relationships, Kayla embodies “The McClay’s Difference.” Her story is one of resilience, teamwork, and a genuine passion for problem-solving.
But there’s more to Kayla than her professional accomplishments. Whether she’s hiking with her family, cheering on her daughter’s hockey games, or simply enjoying the great outdoors, her love for connection and community shines through in everything she does.
In this Q&A, Kayla shares her journey, her insights into the logistics world, and her thoughts on how to keep moving forward in challenging times. Let’s dive in!
Q: What brought you to the logistics industry, and what led you to McClay’s?
Kayla Clementi: My journey into logistics was influenced by my family. My father and uncle are both truck drivers, so I grew up with a familiarity with the industry—visiting job sites and working alongside them as a kid.
Before joining McClay’s, I was at a big mortgage company but found myself seeking growth and new challenges. I decided to give logistics a shot, starting at another brokerage. When that company faced hardships, I took a step back to reassess. That’s when I discovered McClay’s by chance. Meeting with the VP for my interview was a turning point—his welcoming, laid-back attitude made me feel at home. Now, a year and a half later, I’m proud to be part of this team and excited for the future.
Q: What does a typical day look like in your role?
Kayla: It’s non-stop from the moment we start at 6:30 AM. Our team works in a shared space, which fosters constant communication and collaboration. (We love it, we’re a bunch of weirdos here, so it’s very cool to see us all together and interacting).
My core responsibilities involve sourcing carriers for open loads, ensuring we secure fair rates, and verifying that the carriers are reliable. It’s a fast-paced environment, but we make it enjoyable with our close-knit and supportive team dynamic.
Q: What do you love most about your job?
Kayla: Definitely the people and the sense of hope for the future. Our team’s camaraderie inspires me to push harder and aim higher. There’s a real sense of purpose here—we’re not just clocking in and out; we’re building something together. That’s incredibly motivating.
Q: What challenges do carriers face in the current market, and how do you support them?
Kayla: Market conditions are tough right now, with rising fuel prices, challenging weather, and high operating costs. Many carriers are white-knuckling through these times, just waiting for a break.
My advice to them is to find a broker they trust and build a solid relationship. That’s what we do here. We pride ourselves on being honest and supportive—it’s about ensuring mutual success because, without carriers, we can’t keep moving forward.
Q: What do you love most about the Detroit metro area?
Kayla: I love the diversity of the people and the sense of community. I live just south of Detroit, and it’s been wonderful to share experiences with colleagues who live in different parts of the area. It’s also a great place for team outings—we’ve had some memorable events here.
Q: What’s the most fun you’ve had at a team event?
Kayla: Our recent Christmas party stands out. We went bowling, and for the first time, our spouses were invited to join us. It was such a fantastic way to connect outside of work and share the fun with our families.
Q: Outside of work, what activities help you recharge and unwind?
Kayla: I love reading, and I’ve been trying to do that more these days, and then spending time in nature. Even in the freezing cold, I love hiking with my family. My daughter plays hockey, so we spend a lot of time practicing outdoors, too. In warmer weather, I’m all about gardening and making our home a welcoming space.
Q: Now for the fun stuff! What superpower would help you dominate the logistics world?
A) Super strength? B) Telepathy? C) Teleportation, but you can only teleport in tiny bags, like the ones they carry chihuahuas in—and just to clarify, it’s not just any bag of that size, it specifically does have to have a chihuahua in it.
Kayla: Telepathy, hands down! It would be amazing to know what customers and carriers are thinking, especially when discussing rates. Getting everyone on the same page is really what it’s all about, understanding the customer, and having them understand things from the carrier’s side of things, so telepathy would make communication so much smoother.
Q: Oh no! You’re stuck in traffic forever, but you get to bring one celebrity co-pilot to keep you company on the drive. Who’s riding shotgun?
And the A/C is broken, so may we advise you to bring a celebrity who doesn’t smell bad (Matthew McConaughey, I’m looking at-slash-sniffing-at you).
Kayla: Ryan Reynolds, for sure. His humor would make the time fly by, and I bet he’d have some hilarious stories to share.
Q: Ha ha! The freight gods are granting you the chance to curse your business competitor with a very specific but non-legally actionable curse. What’s your curse?
(Examples such as: All your boxes are made of Swiss cheese, or your truck’s horns all play The Complete Works of Brittney Spears).
Kayla: None of their tracking systems would work! That would really hit them where it hurts.
Q: You’ve been asked to design a videogame based on cross-border logistics. What will it be named?
Examples include: Super Complicated Business Land or Tetris: Oops all Trucks).
Kayla: “Good Luck!”
Kayla Clementi embodies The McClay’s Difference with her dedication, resilience, and sense of humor. Whether she’s solving problems for our customers and carriers, fostering team connections, or enjoying time with her family, Kayla brings her whole self to the table.
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