BTX Blog

It is with great excitement that BTX Global Logistics is celebrating 40 years of service! What began as a single airfreight terminal in 1980 has grown into a renowned, worldwide freight-forwarding organization with more than 30 branches across North America.

Four decades later, excellence and innovation are still the cornerstones of BTX Global Logistics. BTX’s branches and team members are committed to going above and beyond to deliver a world of service to our customers with every shipment.

“It is truly humbling to reflect and look back at how far we’ve come,” said Ross Bacarella, President and CEO of BTX Global Logistics. “Building lasting relationships with our customers by providing value is as important to us today as it was on day one, especially in these unprecedented times.”

Part of BTX’s ongoing growth and success has been its ability to leverage proprietary technology to support BTX’s regional branches and provide customers with unparalleled visibility into the shipping process.

“We continue to adapt by thinking ahead and finding innovative ways to streamline processes and provide additional services to our client base,” said Bacarella. “Our goal is to make life easier for our staff, branches and customers.”

Below is a timeline that captures some of BTX’s key milestones over the last 40 years, reminisce with us.

Key BTX Milestones from 1980-2020:

1980:
BTX is founded as Bacarella Transportation Services, Inc. (BTS) when Anthony (Tony) Bacarella opens a freight-forwarding company in the heart of Fairfield County, Connecticut. With years of experience as a JFK forwarder, Tony bring his talents to the CT area and establishes a market presence between JFK and BDL.

For the first 14 years, BTS acts as an Independent Contractor (IC), first for WITS Air Freight Inc., then Expedair International and lastly AirGroup Express. In a very atypical fashion, the domestic service lines are sold as WITS Expedair and Airgroup Express, while global service lines are sold under Bacarella Worldwide Express.  

1984:
Eldest son, Ross Bacarella, joins his father, Tony, at BTS. He brings with him a passion to harness technology to enhance the customer experience in the freight forwarding business.

1994:
BTS rebrands itself as BTX Air Express and becomes a standalone forwarder headquartered in Connecticut with its sights set on national expansion. With a dedication to a customer-centric and technology-based business, Ross Bacarella is named Vice President and the company begins to franchise under its own name. 

Bridgeport and Hartford (BDR/BDL) joins BTX.

1995:
Ross Bacarella becomes President and CEO of BTX Air Express. He devotes his first two years to developing a proprietary IT platform that provides information to its clientele.

1999:
Houston (IAH) joins BTX Air Express as an Independent Contractor.

2000's:
During this decade, ten new branches join BTX, including: Allentown (ABE), Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Denver (DEN), Detroit (DTW), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Salt Lake City (SLC) and San Francisco (SFO).

2005:
Under the leadership and direction of Ross Bacarella, the BTX Air Express in-house technology team develops and launches proprietary shipping software, BTXShip and MyBTX. Technology ultimately becomes one of the cornerstones of the ongoing success of the company.

The company establishes a National Call Service Center (NCS) at its headquarters and staffs the department with a skilled and diverse operational team, supporting its newly formed National Account Managers – diversifying its business from an all-IC model.

2006:
BTX Air Express celebrates 25 years in the freight forwarding business with a lot to celebrate: Over a dozen branches from East to West and more growth on the horizon.

2008:
Founder Anthony Bacarella passes away, leaving behind a 28-year legacy continued by his children – Ross Bacarella, Len Bacarella and Claudia Bacarella-Ghitsa.

2010:
Throughout this decade BTX experiences significant growth and welcomes eighteen new branches across North America, including: Austin (AUS), Boston (BOS), Charlotte (CLT) now Rock Hill (CAE), Dallas (DAL), Fresno (FAT), Greensboro (GSO), Kansas City (MCI), Nashville (BNA), Newark (EWR), New York (JFK), Orlando (MCO), Phoenix (PHX), Reno (RNO), Roanoke (ROA), Teterboro (TEB), and three branches in Canada – Montreal (YUL) and Toronto (YYZ and YTZ).

2011:
BTX Air Express rebrands itself as BTX Global Logistics to better represent the company’s place in global logistics.

2015:
BTX Global Logistics proudly celebrates its 35^th year in the freight forwarding industry in late 2015. With offices strategically located throughout the country and a robust network of international partners, the company is set for growth in the upcoming years.

2016:
BTX is named a Top Connecticut Workplace by Hearst Connecticut Media Group for the first time.

2018:
BTX experiences an outstanding year of exponential growth across all levels of the business with the opening of new regional branches, the addition of personnel, the expansion of service offerings and the creation of BTX Cares. BTX Cares was created to help BTX with its local and global relief efforts.

BTX expands its National Customer Service center to support national accounts and is staffed with a robust team focused on premier support and communications.

BTX inaugurates its 72,000 square-ft. world headquarters in Shelton, Connecticut. The environment-friendly facility was designed to offer BTX staff the best amenities and to provide customers with an in-house, specialty e-commerce solutions center.

BTX President & CEO Ross Bacarella is honored by Hearst Connecticut Media Group’s Top Workplaces for his leadership skills and BTX is named a Top Connecticut Workplace for the third consecutive year.

BTX expands its e-commerce service offerings to provide clients with additional customer acquisition services, such as: Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Video Engine Optimization (VEO), App Store Optimization (ASO) and Pay Per Click (PPC) consultation.

2019:
BTX closes out its third consecutive year with over 25-percent year-over-year growth in sales and market coverage.

BTX hosts a Systems Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, with over 30 branches present and is named a Top Workplace for the 4^th consecutive year by Hearst Connecticut Media Group.

Ross Bacarella is inducted into the Junior Achievement Hall of Fame for “excellence in business, vision, innovation, inspiring leadership and community-mindedness.”

2020:
BTX kicks off the year with the opening of its in-house Customs Brokerage Division and the expansion of its Customs Brokerage service offerings.  

In spite of the initial challenges brought on by COVID-19, BTX remained opened as an “essential business” servicing customers’ critical shipping and logistics needs throughout the pandemic. BTX remains an industry leader by expanding its service lines to adapt to the times and enhancing its technology to streamline operations and optimize the customer experience.

BTX Global Logistics is a full-service shipping and logistics organization known for providing creative and flexible solutions to its customers. BTX's services include expedited shipping, air freight, ground freight, sea freight, white glove, tradeshow, ecommerce, fulfillment, distribution and much more.