They shipped what?! Inside one company’s strangest and biggest freight jobs

In this episode of Connected Nation, we sit down with Heneways Freight Services executives Larne Davis and Caleb Buchel to explore the fast-moving world of global shipping — and the role it plays in keeping broadband projects on track.

From tariffs and supply chain challenges to family business traditions, they share an inside look at the industry that keeps goods — and networks — moving. And yes, they answer the big question: what’s the strangest thing they’ve ever shipped?

Recommended links:

Caleb Buchel's LinkedIn

Larne Davis' LinkedIn

Heneways Freight Services

Transcript

Jessica Denson (00:08):

On this episode of Connected Nation, I talk with representatives from Heneways shipping company. We discuss the needs of the broadband industry in the US and around the globe. Plus, we find out how they're keeping the business in the family and I ask them, "What is the most interesting things you've shipped?" I'm Jessica Denson and this is Connected Nation.

We are back at Connected America taking place in Dallas, Texas. And I was walking through the vendor hall and one gentleman stopped me, was excited to talk about his company, so I asked if they would join us on our podcast. And they are, that is Caleb Buchel, who is the head of sales of Heneway, right?

Caleb Buchel (00:53):

Yes, no, that is, uh, correct. I'm head of, uh, sales at Heneways USA.

Jessica Denson (00:58):

Also joining us is Larne Davis, who is the vice president of Heneway. Say hi.

Larne Davis (01:04):

Hi, good afternoon. Pleasure to be here. <laugh>

Jessica Denson (01:06):

So between the two of you, I think we can figure out a little bit of what Heneway's does. I'm gonna start with you, Larne. Um, talk about what your company does and why you are here at Connected America.

Larne Davis (01:17):

Thank you for that. Yeah, so my name is Larne Davis. I'm VP of operations for Heneways USA. I've been with Heneway's now for 17 years. Um, started off originally in South Africa at the Johannesburg office and then went across to the Durban branch ran that branch. Uh, got the opportunity to come through to New York. Um, and I've been running, uh, the operations at Heneway's USA for the last four years.

Uh, absolutely love what I do. Very passionate about moving freight, making sure customers are well taken care of, creating solutions for our customers, um, in terms of warehousing, customs clearance, international freight forwarding, import, exports, air freight, ocean freight, you name it, we do it. Um, and yeah, so very happy to be at Connected America. In fact, some of our customers, preexisting customers are already here. Uh, so we came to visit them as well as, you know, off our services and truck and some new business.

(02:12):

So that's why we're here. Um, absolutely fantastic expo and we'll be coming back every year going forward for sure.

Jessica Denson (02:20):

So you can't talk about exports imports without me asking you about the, the tariff world right now. Is it drive you a little nuts that's gone back and forth?

Larne Davis (02:29):

Absolutely. I'll tell you what, our customs brokers are ready to, uh, drive off the Verizono bridge at the moment. <laugh> Um, insane. It really is. And as you can imagine, every one of the importers of record, you know, have been spun a story in terms of when the regulation's gonna hit, uh, when the tariffs are gonna be impacted and then, you know, two weeks later something changes.

So there's a lot of volatility, um, all over the marketplace at the moment. Everyone's sort of still trying to find out exactly when they're gonna be getting their refunds. Um, yeah, it's all over the place at the moment. So really creating a lot of pressure for everybody right now.

Jessica Denson (03:05):

I can imagine it has to be difficult to try to be so flexible with that right now. And, uh, for you, Caleb, give us the sales pitch of what Heneways does overall.

Caleb Buchel (03:15):

Yeah, so we do imports and exports, uh, globally and we also do domestic, uh, trucking, customs brokerage, uh, cargo insurance and, uh, uh, warehousing and distribution nationwide.

Jessica Denson (03:32):

And your official title though is National Business Development Manager. So how is business going? <laugh>

Caleb Buchel (03:38):

Uh, yeah, no, business is, uh, going great at the moment. Uh, I'm, uh, not, uh, too, uh, new to the business. Uh, um, I've been in Heneways now for five, uh, years now. Um, but yeah, I mean, it's, uh, been, uh, great, uh, growth, um, and yeah, we just, uh, trying to work hard.

Jessica Denson (03:57):

So Caleb is here in front of his boss trying to do this interview and, um, but just so you know, he did get my attention. I did want to learn what you guys did, so good job, Caleb. Caleb gets points. Um, Caleb, so you've been with the company for a few years. Um, where is it based? Is it only, is, is it, is it all global or is it only in the US?

Caleb Buchel (04:20):

Yeah, so we have, uh, offices in, um, New York, Chicago, Italy, UK, and also South Africa and then we have agents in every, in every other country globally.

Jessica Denson (04:35):

And I notice your little tagline is always Heneways. Very great. And so you guys, do you, you ship all kinds of things. It's not just broadband, right? Broadband items.

Larne Davis (04:44):

That is correct, yeah. So, I mean, you can imagine every kind of commodity, everything from, uh, tiles, stone, um, electronics, you name it we do it.

Jessica Denson (04:55):

And we already, I already brought the tariffs issue, so I'm gonna give you something else hard. <laugh> What about the gasoline thing right now? Since you, I imagine there's a lot of, with transport, how do you set your prices and handle that?

Larne Davis (05:07):

Yeah. So unfortunately, you know, for the consumer at the end of the day, they're gonna be obviously, um, receiving these increases. So I think it's all about communication. You know, we're gonna go back to our customers and let them know that it's unfortunate, um, but you, you obviously gonna have to take on the additional increase.

So yeah, like I say, it's really just about the communication, transparency, honesty. Um, everybody knows what's going on, you know, it's all over the news and, uh, everyone's being impacted by it, so yeah. So

Jessica Denson (05:32):

Henry's is an international company, um, but you do work, so you do work in multiple company, or multiple countries. So talk about, uh, is there a different approach in each place that you work

Larne Davis (05:46):

In? Um, not necessarily. So, you know, like Caleb was mentioning, we have an agent network across the world. Um, so say, for instance, somebody needed to move something from Spain, for instance. We'd reached out to our partners there, who are effectively like an elbow extension of our business. We'd ask them for rates, um, make sure that they can actually provide the service in terms of getting us a booking, for instance. 

So if one of our customers here in the US needed to move a 20 foot container, for instance, um, from the supplier's location, we would speak to our partners that side, they would obviously then make contact with the, um, the shipper, arrange the booking, um, and the same applies across the globe. I mean, if this is from China, Korea, you name it, um, same approach, you know? What we do do though, however, and where our strong point is, is that we turn around rates within a 24 hour, um, period, which makes us extremely competitive.

(06:33):

So that is, you know, one of the niches that we have, um, and one of our strengths for sure.

Jessica Denson (06:38):

So I'm looking at some of your, your brochure here and it says privately owned, um, TSA certified. Uh, why is it important that you're privately owned?

Larne Davis (06:49):

Um, not necessarily important, it's just, you know, sort of the way it is. In fact, Caleb's, uh, grandfather started the company and we just turned 50 years, 50 years in, uh, 2025 October. Um, so Caleb is third generation. Um, Caleb's father is in fact now the chairman of the, of the business. He just stepped down from CEO, um, and it's just been a family driven business.

Jessica Denson (07:16):

Okay, Caleb, you hit that from me. I don't appreciate that at all. That is an important nugget. So we're gonna have to talk about this a little bit. So what was it like growing up in the family that is doing this and now working for the family business?

Caleb Buchel (07:30):

Yeah, so I mean, it, uh, feels like I've done it pretty much like I'm all my life. Um, so, uh, basically learning from my dad and, uh, also from my cousin, um, and <laugh> so, uh, so yeah, so I mean, it's, uh, kind of just run through like the business, um, and also through like the family and, um, I mean, like, um, we've just been learning about it pretty much, uh, all, uh, all our, uh, lives, you know? So it's, uh, it's been like I'm really great to see, like, the growth and it's, uh, yeah, very, very proud.

Jessica Denson (08:08):

So you're his cousin and you're his cousin. Yes. But you're also the son- Of the

Caleb Buchel (08:15):

Chairman.

Jessica Denson (08:16):

Of the chairman and your grandfather started the company. Yeah. Did I have that right? So there's something to be said for it being a family business in that, you know, <laugh> how, how do you take a break from the business if you're, you know, at the table, dinner table also it's there? Is it just always prevalent or are you guys understand that sometimes you just need to have fun?

Caleb Buchel (08:36):

Um, so, uh, business to us actually is, uh, um, is, uh, fun, you know? So chatting at dinner, I mean, we'll, um, chat about work. That's because we really, we really, really like what we do, you know, and we like to serve, uh, people and also companies, you know, so chatting at dinner and also family, uh, functions is just something that we do and chatting about work is, is, uh, because this is what we love to do, you know?

So, um, yeah, I mean, it like, um, hasn't really been a really big, uh, a big, uh, thing for us to kind of like separate our personal and business lives out because we all love what we do and we get on really well so I mean, it, uh, hasn't been any issues

Jessica Denson (09:19):

I believe you because when you said it, Lauren just, he, he, Lauren just like nodded and said yes and, uh, I know the audience can't see that, but I did. <laugh> And how is it for you? Is it, is it, um, something that you've always had in your fam- I mean, in your side of the family as well?

Larne Davis (09:36):

So craziest story, I actually studied law, um, a qu- qualified attorney in South Africa and my uncle Mark, the chairman now, had said to me, um, "Would I like a, a job at Hanaways?" And I said tom, "Sure, you know, why not? " I mean, there was so much corruption in South Africa, there still is in fact. Um, so the opportunity, you know, presented itself and I decided to join the company, uh, absolutely love what I do, very passionate about what I do.

And coming back to like not switching off, you know, I was on vacation last week at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with my family and, you know, I was answering emails on the phone. Um, it's just a part of life for us, you know, it really is. It's to keep things moving, make sure our customers and clients are, are happy, um, and yeah.

Jessica Denson (10:17):

Well, at Connect Nation, we're celebrating 25 years. So you guys are, you've got a little bit on us, but <laugh> we also love this industry. So talk about the broadband industry a litle bit. Are, is there a unique approach you take to it or is it, how are you involved in, in it? Um, I'll let you both answer that question. Uh, do you, uh, Caleb approach broadband companies or you generally approach like, "Hey, we need some help with this.

Caleb Buchel (10:43):

" Um, so we, so I mean, we are a very tech driven company and we, uh, try to keep up with what is going on in the world, uh, with AI and also softwares and also the whole broad, broad, uh, band. Um, so we would, uh, journey reach out to companies to try and, like, help them grow, uh, cities, um, um, and also companies, but then also to, like, I'm kind of, like, I'm help us, you know? So, uh, we trying to always, like, um, keep up and, uh, yeah, and we kind of use our own customer bases to, uh, do that as well.

Jessica Denson (11:18):

And how would you answer that?

Larne Davis (11:21):

Yeah, so we actually had, um, one of our overseas agents in the UK reach out to us with, um, a vendor here at Connected America called Connectix and we got the introduction from them about five and a half years ago. So we started doing the international freight forwarding for them, moving the shipments internationally, doing the warehousing and distribution. Um, you know, they're great clients of ours.

We've got a really good partnership. Um, there's actually, uh, three or four others that we've already signed up. Um, Caleb's got, like, 60 business cards, maybe more. Um, so yeah, you know, we do the warehousing distribution, we do the international freight forwarding and we're the only sort of freight forwarder here at this, uh, expo, you know? So I feel we nicely positioned to acquire additional business.

Jessica Denson (12:08):

So I have to ask, since you guys ship things, what's the strangest or most interesting thing that you guys have shipped?

Caleb Buchel (12:17):

So, uh, kind of depending on which industry you're in, I mean, we, uh, once, uh, shipped 10, uh, tons of, uh, chocolate. Um, so I mean, that was a pretty, uh, good one. Um, and then we've, uh, also done stuff for the motor, the, uh, motor GP where we've, uh, shipped all of the barks. Um, and then also just, um, engines and then also fiber cable. I mean, we've, uh, pretty much done it all, you know.

Jessica Denson (12:45):

Is there anything that you remember that was really interesting or unusual? <laugh> I just, I can imagine shipping chocolate would have to be, you have to have a refrigerated truck or something and there's lots of some logistical things that ...

Caleb Buchel (13:00):

Yeah, so I mean, Lawn would be able to comment based on this one.

Jessica Denson (13:04):

It went on a plane? <laugh>

Larne Davis (13:06):

Yeah, that's correct. And it's right in what you're saying in terms of the refrigeration. Uh, the airlines obviously arrange all of that, you know, you pay high dollar to get that moved, but, uh, yes, yeah, we've moved that. We've moved some, uh, crazy things. I mean, you know, from live animals, uh, dead bodies, um, yeah, like Caleb was mentioning, you know, um, automobiles, yeah, all of it. All of it.

Jessica Denson (13:29):

So obviously you guys have an accent. I don't have an accent <laugh> if you do. I'm just kidding. But so did you both grow up in South Africa or different places or ...

Caleb Buchel (13:40):

Yeah, so we both, uh, grew up inside of South Africa, um, in, uh, at Johannesburg.

Jessica Denson (13:45):

And are, do you both live in the US now?

Larne Davis (13:50):

Yeah, so I'm based in, uh, New York and Caleb is based in Chicago

Jessica Denson (13:55):

And how does that compare for someone I've never been to South Africa, how does it compare? Is ... Johannesburg is a big city, right?

Larne Davis (14:02):

Yeah, correct. It's a big city. Um, in terms of comparing to New York, it's nowhere near. Um, you know, there's a lot more diversity here in the US, especially on the New York side. Um, you know, where, whereas on the, the Midwest side is, you know, not as much diversity, um, but absolutely love being here. Not gonna be turning back anytime soon. Uh, love my life here, you know, I've got, uh, the misses and my four year old boy, uh, and obviously the family's the side as well. So yeah, no, it's incredible to be here.

Jessica Denson (14:28):

And what, what part of the country did you say you lived in now? Chicago. Chicago, yeah. And what do you, how does that compare for you?

Caleb Buchel (14:36):

Uh, yeah, I mean, I absolutely love it here so my, um, so my brother also moved here, so family is this side, um, so that's, uh, great and, uh, just like a better lifestyle in general. So we absolutely love each other inside of the States.

Jessica Denson (14:51):

Well, Chicago's my favorite US city and they've got great pizza, great hotdogs. It's wonderful in the summer. The winter, it's a little cold. <laugh> Little too cold. I grew up in Texas though, grew up here in Texas. Well, I wanna, uh, last question for each of you guys, if you could both could answer it. Where would you like to see Henaway's be in five, 10 years down the road? I'll let you go first, Lauren, and Caleb, since you're the one who pulled me aside, you can go last, okay?

Larne Davis (15:19):

Thank you. Yeah, I think just as a, a global player, you know, we've obviously got a couple offices, uh, around the world. We would obviously love to just increase our footprint here in the US. Um, you know, we've got a lot of 3PL partners with warehousing and whatnots, but essentially it would be nice to be asset owned with, uh, you know, a lot of our own offices and trucks and whatnots across, um, the US.

Jessica Denson (15:42):

And you, Caleb?

Caleb Buchel (15:44):

Personally, I mean, I would like to make a, a, a difference globally, you know? So, um, moving, uh, goods to people that's needed, um, whether that's food or networks, you know, um, just changing, uh, people's lives. That's what I want to do in the next five, 10 years.

Jessica Denson (16:03):

That's a fantastic answer. Thank you guys. Larne Davis, the vice president of Heneways and Caleb Buchel, who is the national ... Let me make sure I get this right, National Business Development Manager. Thank you both guys. On future episodes of Connected Nation, we'll bring you more details from Connected America taking place in Dallas, Texas. Until then, I'm Jessica Denson and this is Connected Nation.