KC Cann Transport wins multiple awards as Best of the Industry

For many operators in Missouri’s cannabis industry, 2022 was a year of growth and expansion. For transportation and security companies, that growth often means obstacles and working with partners to create informed solutions. In 2022, the vitality of security was made apparent with a rash of burglaries and break-ins around the state, while the importance of secure and reliable transport was made all the more clear as the industry grew to over half a billion dollars in revenue. 

KC Cann Transport has become one of the leaders in the field and has been recognized multiple times by Greenway readers as such. In 2023, KCCT was selected as both Best Security Company and Best Transportation Company for Best of the Industry by Greenway readers..

Greenway recently spoke to Kevin Schnell, President of KC Cann Transport about the changes the company saw in 2022 and what lies ahead.

Tell me about 2022 for KCCT. 

2022 was a wild ride with many ups and downs. We completed over 800 routes, made over 3600 deliveries, and drove over 470,000 miles! We had periods of time where everyone was working overtime weekly and periods of time where there weren’t enough hours to go around. We had clients who were trying to cut back on costs leave us for cheaper options, only to return to us the SAME DAY or the same week because they needed the quality and dependability we provide! We spent a lot of time, like everyone else, preparing for comprehensive use and what that will mean for the expansion of our facility security and transportation services.

What about your company differentiates you from others in Missouri?

Here at KCCT, we feel our customer service and attention to detail is second to none. We employ quality, organized, well-trained and experienced veterans for many reasons. Our veterans know failure is not an option. Corey Randall, our Vice President, came up with a great slogan that depicts our company in a nutshell. “What others can’t, KC Cann”. Generally speaking, I would say the passion for protecting others and mission accomplishment would differentiate us from our competitors. Our veteran employees truly want to provide a service to the industry that makes everyone proud while feeling safe and secure.

What makes KCCT a sought out partner?

We believe what endears our company to others in the industry is clear. The industry likes us as an organization because we meet or exceed their needs at a high standard. We tend to make people feel safe while taking a good portion of the stress off their shoulders because they know they can truly trust us and depend on us. This allows them to focus on their tasks. The industry knows they can depend on us to get their product to them safely, securely, on schedule and delivered with the best customer service. Whether it’s facility security or transportation, our clients receive the best the industry has to offer. If there is an error, regardless of who caused it, we will find a solution. Failure is not an option. Our veterans are problem solvers, protectors by nature and are here to assist each of our clients and their customers succeed.

With the launch of adult use, how do you intend to stay competitive as the Missouri market continues to grow?

    

Staying competitive is the hardest task to endure. There are over 24 licensed transporters with 4 more pending and there are no caps on transportation licenses like there are for all other license types. Our business expenses are extremely high because we are well-insured to protect the assets we transport, and we hire well-trained and experienced people, we pay them what they are worth and provide benefits as well. Because of that, we must charge a little more than some of our competitors who don’t do the same; however, we also feel that we provide “more bang for your buck” with our quality, customer service, and attention to detail. Every CEO/President of each licensed facility will have to weigh the cost vs. the safety and security of their facilities, their product, and their employees to determine what is the right choice for them. If a company can accomplish the task to the standards that licensed facility has and at a lower rate than their competitors, more power to them. It has been our experience they will not get the same quality or safe and secure feeling from companies with lower standards and less training and experience.

What does the legalization of marijuana for adult use mean for your company?

The legalization of marijuana for adult use means for KCCT that business will likely continue to increase. Once the criminal element picks up on the “risk vs. reward” the industry will likely see an increase in crime, specifically theft, burglary, and robbery. It will likely only take one incident of robbery, with or without injury, before licensed facilities realize the value of a quality security company. Criminals tend to focus on crimes of opportunity. If your facility poses a “soft” target vs. a “hard” target, you are more likely to become a victim. Some stores are reporting sales reaching 6 figures a day since adult use commenced. If good procedures are not implemented with the growing intake of sales, a facility may find themselves sitting on a significant amount of cash, increasing the likelihood of being targeted. For KCCT, this means we are more likely to be sought out for our services because the industry knows we are one of few that can adequately fulfill their needs.

Can you tell readers about some of the employees or leadership that drive your success?

KCCT’s employees are truly awesome! I could spend all day telling you about our employees and how each and every one of them plays a very important role in driving our success. They all bring something different to the table, yet they all have strong leadership and communication skills and are team-oriented, which is very important for any successful mission. KCCT leadership leads from the front. We would not have our employees do anything we would not do ourselves. Whether washing vehicles, shoveling snow, driving a route or standing a post, long hours and/or in bad weather, the leadership is right there in the trenches with them. Trust and respect go a long way. KCCT is not only a team, but a family of like-minded individuals coming together to accomplish a common goal.

Can you tell me about the KCCT’s community involvement? 

Community involvement is something we find very important, and we are continually looking for more ways to get involved. We have donated to local schools for sport programs for volleyball and basketball. We strongly believe in health and fitness, team building, comradery and structure and we believe sports generate good leaders. Not all kids have the same opportunities due to financial differences. We like to help bridge that gap. We also like to buy local whenever possible. We purchase all our vehicles here in Missouri. All our vehicle maintenance is done right here in our hometown of Blue Springs. Our window tinting, graphics, embroidery, apparel, garage doors and HVAC repair are all done right here in Blue Springs, MO. If we don’t do it ourselves, we choose to keep our business local. One project we are working on now is offering our services to local Jr. ROTC programs. With our military experience, we want to assist schools with setting up future Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Seamen for success. We have a wide range of knowledge of military operations, Drill & Ceremony, Color guard, health & fitness, weapons deployment, leadership, military history, customs and courtesies, flag etiquette, and many, many more subjects. We feel we can be a huge asset to local schools and in turn, to our country. We have supported a local veteran’s organization, True Warrior Initiative, which provides wellness through outdoor activities that promotes healing for veterans. In the future, we would also like to become more involved in other local veteran’s networks.

What plans are on the horizon for the company? 

Our future plans are always developing. We regularly look at ways to improve our policies and procedures, the quality of our building and vehicles, the technology implemented and more importantly the environment for our employees. Other plans include growth in facilities new to us, increased transportation services to new clients and more brand recognition. We want to implement more team-building events for our employees. These veterans are all work and no play. That is no fun for anyone. We see daily how much the ground level employees are getting overworked. Long hours, tedious work and not enough compensation. Although we cannot control other companies, we feel like we can always do more for OUR employees. What I admire about our employees is how much we receive feedback from our clients and our client’s clients/customers regarding how much KCCT employees step up to take the load off of facility employees. This makes our employees feel like part of the facility’s family, too.