585: Holman Logistics on Longevity, Loyalty, and a People-First Approach

In this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Kevin chats with Brien Downie, President of Holman Logistics, a family-owned third-party logistics company that has been operating continuously since 1864. Brien shares Holman’s remarkable 161-year history, its values-driven leadership style, and why a people-first culture has been the company’s “secret sauce.” From investing in employee development to supporting long-term customer partnerships, Holman Logistics proves that success in logistics isn’t just about automation or strategy—it’s about people who care.

From Drayage to Distribution: The Holman Origin Story

Holman Logistics began with horses and carts on the docks of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. Over the decades, the company evolved from draft horses to trucks, and then to warehousing. Today, Holman operates across the United States, with long-term clients such as GE Appliances, Hills Pet Nutrition, and Kimberly-Clark. Some of these partnerships date back over 50 years.

The company’s continuity is rooted in both adaptability and leadership. Brien explains, “It’s the grace of God that we’re still in existence as a family-owned business.” What started with Edward Holman in the 1860s is now a national operation built on trust, consistency, and client service. Holman’s strategy has always been to serve clients so well that they invite Holman into new markets. “We just do a really good job, and they ask us to go more places.”

Culture at the Core: Safety, Respect, and Personal Growth

At Holman, culture isn’t a buzzword—it’s a way of operating. The company trains every employee on its culture card, which features core values such as a safety focus, showing respect, serving others, and helping each other be better. Brien emphasizes that everyone, regardless of title, deserves equal dignity. “Just because my title is President and someone else is warehouse sanitation, doesn’t mean they’re any more or less valuable than me.”

This mindset shapes everything, from monthly Zoom sessions with new hires to leadership’s focus on name recognition. “We have a rotating video wall with the photos of all 1,600 employees. I try to remember names so that when I visit, I can greet people personally. That matters.”

Longevity reflects this approach: Holman recently celebrated an employee’s 50th work anniversary and has multiple staff members with over 30 years of service. Their retention is high because the workplace is human-centered. “We want Holman to be a place where people can come and be a better version of themselves.”

Automation, AI, and the Future of Human Work

Holman isn’t just people-focused—it’s also forward-looking. The company is actively investing in automation and artificial intelligence, including partnerships with technologies like Third Wave and Fulfilld. However, Brien is clear: automation should support, not replace, human work.

“I’m committed to not laying people off because we’ve automated their jobs. If we have the right people, we’ll find something meaningful for them to do.” He views AI as a tool to enhance efficiency and expand opportunity. In fact, Holman is an early adopter of shared autonomy tools and AI-powered warehouse management systems that improve decision-making without removing the human element.

Even in a high-tech future, warehousing will still rely on trust, consistency, and care. “80 to 90% of productivity is about people showing up and caring about what they do.” At Holman, that’s not just a slogan—it’s a strategy.

Why Holman Logistics Stands Out

• 161 Years Strong – Operating since 1864 with long-standing client partnerships
• People-First Culture – Grounded in safety, mutual respect, and human dignity
• Extraordinary Retention – Multiple employees with 30-50 years of tenure
• Strategic Tech Adoption – Targeted investments in automation and AI
• Service Beyond the Transaction – Warehousing as a relationship, not a commodity

Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments.

Guest Information

For more information on Holman Logistics, click here.

To connect with Brien on LinkedIn, click here.

To hear more stories like Holman Logistics, check out the episodes below.  

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537: Delta Fulfillment’s Approach to 3PL Partnerships and Growth

478: Exploring Cold Chain Logistics with the Team from Cold Chain 3PL