CarrierDirect CEO McCandless resigns to focus on project44

Jett McCandless, the chief executive officer of transportation consulting firm CarrierDirect, will be replaced by current Managing Director Peter Rentschler as he transitions to a full time position with data exchange startup project44.    Jett McCandless, the chief executive officer of less-than-truckload (LTL) sales and transportation consulting firm CarrierDirect, LLC, is stepping down from his position in order to focus on data exchange startup project44.
   McCandless, who founded CarrierDirect in 2011 and co-founded project44 three years later, said in a letter to customers he made the decision after realizing he could “no longer be an executive at multiple companies at the same time.”
   CarrierDirect’s current Managing Director Peter Rentschler will replace McCandless as CEO.
   In creating project44, a provider of automated programming interface (API) software, McCandless aimed to connect shippers, LTL carriers, and third-party logistics providers across various transportation management systems and warehouse management systems.
   “I’m proud of what I’ve helped build at CarrierDirect, but the truth is that I’ve been on the sidelines for quite some time now,” he wrote. “In 2014, with CarrierDirect running smoothly, I set my sights on building project44. At that point, I was able to step away from the day-to-day management of CarrierDirect because firm’s talented leadership and consultants were working tirelessly to build and grow the firm.
   “In fact, CarrierDirect’s current executive team has been responsible for driving its largest, most impactful consulting projects — helping the firm’s top carrier and 3PL clients implement long-term organizational change and operational efficiencies.”
   Both CarrierDirect and project44 are based in Chicago, Ill.