For decades, Eagle Air Freight has been moving goods throughout New England and beyond. What began as a family trucking and logistics business has evolved into something much bigger: a specialized, technology-driven operation built to support the growing life sciences and pharmaceutical industries.
Today, under the leadership of President Mike O’Brien Jr., Eagle Air Freight is creating a new path forward while honoring the foundation built by previous generations.
“We knew that moving into this vertical would create longevity for our business,” said O’Brien. “Traditional trucking has always been part of who we are, but we saw an opportunity to build something much more specialized.”
The company is transforming its operations to become a comprehensive cold-chain logistics provider, helping pharmaceutical and life sciences companies safely transport temperature-sensitive materials with precision, transparency and full regulatory compliance.
“Hundreds of thousands of dollars of materials can be lost if equipment, processes and handling aren’t done correctly,” said O’Brien. “Our goal is to become the trusted hub that companies rely on for customs clearance, warehousing, transportation and complete visibility throughout the supply chain.”
That transformation required significant investment.
With support from Newburyport Bank, Eagle Air Freight was able to retrofit its facility to create specialized cold and clean spaces necessary to support its growing pharmaceutical operations.
“Launching a startup while continuing to run a trucking company is a tremendous undertaking,” said O’Brien. “The loan allowed us to invest in the infrastructure we needed while continuing to operate our existing business.”
The transition wasn’t just operational; it required a cultural shift.
“We had to help everyone move their mindset from being general truckers to becoming a specialized cold-chain provider,” he said. “There were long hours and growing pains, but everyone bought into the long-term vision.”
Today, Eagle Air Freight has assembled a talented team of professionals committed to building something different.
“We’ve been fortunate to make key hires that have accelerated our growth,” said O’Brien. “The complexity of what we’re doing is what separates us from the competition.”
As the business evolved, so did its banking needs.
The O’Brien family had longstanding relationships within the banking industry, but they were intentionally looking for a community bank that could provide both personal service and the ability to scale alongside their growth.
“I wanted a Loan Officer I could pick up the phone and call,” said O’Brien. “Life and business can be complex, and there’s tremendous value in having someone who understands your business and can help you navigate challenges.”
For O’Brien, that accessibility matters.
“Larger banks often mean more customer service lines and more layers to work through,” he said. “Newburyport Bank has the community feel but punches above its weight class.”
The partnership has become an extension of Eagle Air Freight’s team.
“Working with the Newburyport Bank team has been exceptional. They make things easy, they’re willing to think outside the box and they educate their customers. They know what we don’t know, and we value hearing their perspective.”
The vision for the future is ambitious.
Eagle Air Freight plans to replicate its model in additional markets, creating a network of quality-driven logistics hubs that support life sciences companies throughout the country.
“We believe there’s a significant gap in the market right now,” said O’Brien. “There are transportation providers that are missing the mark from a quality perspective. We want to build an all-encompassing solution that companies trust.”
At the center of that growth strategy is something increasingly rare in today’s business world: human connection.
“In an industry driven by technology, people still matter,” said O’Brien. “It’s similar to banking. Having a partner I can call, have a conversation with and know they’ll be there gives me confidence to do my job without feeling like I’m operating without a safety net.”
That’s what partnership looks like.
And that’s what it means to Journey Well.