Meet James Manning
James Manning is a logistics and supply chain expert and the founder of STS Now.
About James
I've spent more than 30 years helping companies stop overpaying to ship their products.
In 1993 I founded MCG Logistics in Mission Viejo, California, and ran it as CEO for 28 years. We were early to bundle carrier contract negotiation with full invoice auditing and reporting, so clients didn't just get a better rate on paper; they kept the savings. MCG grew into one of the leading transportation consulting firms in the country, serving apparel and footwear, consumer products, beauty, home goods, beverage and medical device companies, including some of the most recognizable brands in the US. MCG made the Inc. 5000 in 2014, and TransImpact acquired it in August 2021.
Today I sit on the TransImpact board and advise C-level executives on parcel and freight strategy. Through STS Now, my daughter Isabella and I work directly with brands on parcel contract negotiation, LTL and the surcharges that quietly take back most of a published discount. That work has driven six- and seven-figure annual savings for our clients.
The biggest savings rarely come from the headline rate. They come from residential, fuel, dimensional weight and peak surcharges, from minimums, and from contracts that get renewed every year instead of renegotiated.
Isabella and I also host Leading Through It, conversations with leaders of consumer brands about how they make decisions when costs keep moving. If you run a brand and want to compare notes, send me a message.
Before logistics, I started in telecommunications, earning the President's Circle Award three years running at Centex Tele Management (now part of Verizon) and then founding MCG Solutions, a telecom consulting firm.
Outside of work, I've had a successful career as a recording artist, including a Neil Diamond tribute show. I live in Orange County with my wife, Tiffany.