My name is Steve Zeff and I am the founder of the industry leading company that is FreightGuard. The foundation of FreightGuard is built on my belief system which guides me, and I work with people I like and trust. I believe your clients should mirror the values you hold dear. I learned the importance of being trusted the hard way when I was young.
Many years ago, I was late for a club soccer match. When the team captain berated me for this, I lied and told him that I had reviewed the fixtures and that the match was scheduled to start when I arrived. He asked me again to verify that I had seen the fixtures. I did, and he left it at that. Some weeks later, when we next met up, he informed me that he regarded me as a good player and person and that he would have liked to be friends with me…. but he could not befriend a liar.
He explained that the fixtures had not been posted that week. I blanched with embarrassment and made him a promise that I would never lie again to anyone. It is a promise that has caused me a lot of grief over the years and sometimes made me unpopular, as not everyone wants to hear the truth, but it has earned me a reputation for blunt honesty.
A quote which resonates with me since this moment is “He had a heightened sensitivity to the promises of life” (Fitzgerald, 1925). I have carried this life promise to be honest through my whole career.
From providing freight warranty solutions in 1994 by myself to 2024 where we have a whole team working to provide you with the fantastic service of FreightGuard, I am overwhelmed with the most amazing sense of pride. Working through all the changes in laws, regulations and legislations and battling the everyday struggles of founding a new business, I have always stuck to my core “promises of life” (Fitzgerald, 1925).
After 38 years of marriage with six children and eight grandchildren, I know that family and friendships remain my anchor, reminding me that true success lies in the bonds we cultivate.
I am passionate about my career and take tremendous satisfaction knowing I have made a difference in the freight industry on three continents and have positively impacted the bottom line of numerous freight companies who have adopted the FreightGuard Service Guarantee program.
