Compass Forwarding Co., Inc.

Our History
Born in Brooklyn

In 1947, Joe Shelala received an honorable discharge after serving in the United States Air Force. Like many veterans of his generation, Joe used the skills from his training to create a successful career for himself.

Due to the abundance of Air Force trained pilots following World War II, the commercial aviation job market was extremely competitive. Joe wanted to be a pilot, but could not find a job. With a wife and plans to start a family, he needed to quickly devise a way to earn a living.

Joe decided to start a business to support the transport of surplus military aircrafts. He arranged for aircrafts to arrive in Brooklyn, then he removed the wings and propeller. From there he put the aircraft in a crate and prepared it for shipment to the next destination. He re-purposed a storefront and opened up shop in Cobble Hill, a section of Brooklyn. The business was a success and thus, Compass Fowarding was born.

Throughout the Years

Three generations later, Joe Shelala's one-man company is still family owned and operated. Success over the years forced Joe and his team to move to a new 25,000 square foot facility near John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, NY.

Joe has since retired, but Compass Forwarding has remained true to its roots as a major player in military and aerospace logistics. The company has continued to expand over the years to accommodate a wide variety of other specialty services.


Our Philosophy

Quality Over Quantity

Many companies will try to cite impressive numbers or top accounts in an effort to bolster their image, but quantity does not mean quality. At Compass Forwarding, we know that a successful logistics plan is driven by clear communication, mutual understanding and exemplary customer service.

We make a point to build relationships with all of our partners. Through an in-depth understanding of your business goals and specific requirements, we are able to cater to your specific to your objectives. From there, we are able to create a bespoke transportation plan that makes sense, while also positively impacting your bottom line. It's a win-win situation that will make everyone on your team happy, from logistics to accounting.

We Have People, Not Machines

Compass Forwarding has a team of dedicated account representatives so you'll never be directed to automated phone message or anonymous call center. When you call our office, you'll speak with a real person, which means your questions will get answered, and your concerns will be our concerns.

We care about you and that's why our partners have done business with us for an average of 25 years. Call us old-fashioned, but we believe this approach is crucial to the overall success of a business.

Servicing a Happy Planet

While we may be old-fashioned in regards to our business philosophy, we are proud technophiles. That's why we developed Compass Nexus, a shipping portal that provides to-the-second information and unprecedented transparency through a security-guarded portal.

Our technology also helps us positively impact the planet. Our head office is entirely solar-powered, which significantly reduces our dependence on fossil fuels to power our facilities. We've also gone paperless, which not only makes the environment happy, but also creates a digital workflow so our representatives can shift their focus away from data entry and towards customer service.

As a global forwarder, we believe that we have a responsibility to the world in which we service. Due to this, Compass Forwarding implemented several programs to support and conserve of our planet. These programs include:
A paperless operation that favors automation and electronic files and workflows
Powering our 25,000 square foot head office and warehouse with solar energy
Shifting away from disposable coffee cups and sundries in our cafeteria towards reusable mugs, plates, and flatware

In addition, we support several charities and encourage employee donations through a donor match program. The list of organizations to which Compass contributes includes:
The Wounded Warrior Project
The 9/11 Memorial
Project Hospitality
City Meals on Wheels
Operation Smile
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
The American Health Assistance Foundation for Alzheimer's Disease Research
The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
The American Museum of Natural History