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Leadership
Jim Thomson, CEO and President
Eccentric. Creative. Passionate. But most of all, an insatiably hard worker.
Those are just a few of the many words that friends, industry colleagues and family effortlessly offer up to describe Jim Thomson, co-founder and CEO of trucking and warehousing powerhouse Thomson Terminals and the esteemed winner of the Omnitracs-OTA Service to Industry Award. The prestigious award, which represents the highest honour that can be bestowed on a member of the trucking industry, was presented to Jim and his wife Sally last night at the Ontario Trucking Association’s 93rd annual executive conference in Toronto.
“He ticks a lot of the boxes of the type of carrier that you want participating in your industry,” says Scott Smith, president of JD Smith & Son and chairman of the Canadian Trucking Alliance. “I met Jim very early in my start (in the industry), and I learned quite quickly that Jim is very focused on business values and helping others.” Jim met his wife Sally in 1962 in grade 9 science class. He went to work for her family delivery service business as a mechanics apprentice at 15 years old. In 1985, he and Sally ventured independently with a single truck and started Thomson Terminals. Today, it is a leader in freight transportation, full-service logistics and warehousing services, with over 150 trucks in Etobicoke, Ont. “The relationship they have is a fantastic one. It’s tough for a husband and wife to work together as closely as they do,” says long-time friend and partner on many charitable causes Eric Conroy. “They work so well together and know each other so well that they can finish each other’s sentences.”
A proud Ontario Trucking Association board of directors member for many years, Jim has been passionate and vocal about many industry causes. Still, highway safety and technology have been of particular interest. Jim champions on-road safety for all vehicles and is a key driver of the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, whose mission is to stamp out transportation-related injuries such as those due to lack of training and distracted driving. Jim is renowned in the trucking industry for his strong work ethic and charitable goodwill. “He never stops working; he’s a machine. It’s in his DNA to never stop,” says his daughter Samantha Thomson, director of Thomson Terminals. “He loves trucking; he is definitely a trucker through and through. He started as a driver, so he loves to be with them. It’s like family for him.”
Speaking on behalf of the membership of the OTA, President Stephen Laskowski expressed how proud he was to present Jim with the honour. “Jim is truly one of the good guys in our industry. “Always innovative and thinking outside the box, Jim has been a thoughtful and influential advocate of many of the association’s and industry’s causes.”
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Jim Thomson
CEO and President
Jim Thomson is the founder and co-owner of The Thomson Group of Companies. Jim is a graduate of the University of Toronto. Thomson Terminals is one of the first firms in Canada to establish a full-service 3PL provider, offering warehouse, consulting, transportation, and design-build.
Sally Thomson
Co Founder
Sally brings over 35 years of experience in her position as owner and co-founder of the Thomson Group of companies. She has gained a reputation for being one of the first women to be involved with the North American logistics industry and is responsible for overseeing finances, policy and corporate strategy.
Samantha Thomson
Director
Sam started her career in the industry as a warehouse manager and has since progressed to her current leadership position. Today, she is responsible for supervising the daily operations and driving logistics excellence for the Thomson Group. Collaborating closely with Jim and Sally, Sam has played a pivotal role in advancing Thomson's logistics and quality control efforts.
Jeff Wilder
Director of Sales and Marketing
Jeff has over 20 years of experience in transportation and warehousing operations. He has been instrumental in managing the day-to-day operations and driving the growth of the transportation division at Thomson Group.
Moona Bedi
Controller
In June 1994, we welcomed Moona Bedi, CGA, as our Corporate Controller. Moona Bedi holds an Honours degree from the University of Toronto and brings with her a wealth of experience in financial management and accounting.
Garry Wilkes
Director of IT
With over 35 years of experience in computer networking, infrastructure building, administration, and software development within the logistics industry, Garry is responsible for designing, developing, and implementing numerous transportation and warehousing-focused software and hardware solutions.
Stacey Jenkins
Traffic Manager
Stacey has held various positions in the company for over 15 years and is now responsible for transportation traffic. He is currently on the Board of Directors for the Toronto Trucking Association and the North American Transportation Council.
Gabriel DePede
Director of Maintenance
Gabe leads Maintenance and Safety Compliance. He delivers 1,000 truckloads daily and has received HACCP training from the Guelph Food Technology Centre. He leads the Maintenance and Safety Compliance division. He has received HACCP training from the Guelph Food Technology Centre.