Phoenix-based national executive search and recruiting firm, founded in 2012, with dedicated logistics, supply chain and 3PL practices covering freight brokers, carrier sales and executives.
Services
Who it serves
Overview
Blue Signal Search is a national recruiting, executive search and staffing firm based in Phoenix, Arizona. It was founded in 2012 by Matt Walsh, who still leads it as founder and CEO. The firm works across more than 25 industries, and logistics and supply chain is one of its named specialties, along with a separate 3PL recruiting practice.
For freight companies, the 3PL practice is the relevant part. Blue Signal says it recruits for freight brokerage, managed transportation, contract logistics, warehousing, distribution and e-commerce fulfillment providers, and its role list includes freight brokers, carrier sales representatives, brokerage operations managers, freight brokerage sales leaders and C-level executives. The firm offers several engagement models, from contingent search that is billed only when a hire is made to retained executive search.
Compare with other Recruiting providers: Keller Executive Search, SCOPE Recruiting and Kimmel & Associates, or see all Recruiting.
Services
Blue Signal lists retained, engaged and contingent search, plus staffing and a recruiting as a service (RPO) option. It also offers confidential search for sensitive replacements and fractional executive recruiting. A sister company, Resume and Career Services, provides outplacement support.
On its 3PL page, the firm groups roles into a few buckets. Freight brokerage and managed transportation covers freight brokers, carrier sales reps, brokerage operations managers and managed transportation leaders. Sales covers business development executives, brokerage sales leaders and strategic account directors. Operations covers warehouse and distribution center leaders, fulfillment managers, transportation and carrier managers and site managers. Executive search covers CEOs, presidents, COOs, chief commercial officers and VPs of operations. It also recruits technology, finance, solutions design and customer success staff for 3PLs.
Outside logistics, its executive search practice covers CFO, CIO, CHRO, CMO, CTO and CRO roles, which can matter for a growing brokerage that needs finance or technology leadership.
Who it is for
Blue Signal fits brokerages, 3PLs and logistics-heavy shippers that want one firm able to handle both front-line commercial roles and senior leadership. Because the firm offers contingent search, a smaller brokerage can try it on a single sales or carrier role without paying upfront. Companies hiring for a sensitive replacement, or an executive role where the search needs to stay quiet, can use its confidential search option.
It is a generalist firm with industry practices rather than a logistics-only shop. Buyers who want a recruiter that works nothing but freight should ask how many of the firm's recruiters sit on the logistics and 3PL desks.
How working with them works
The firm publishes a four-phase search process with ten steps. Phase one, define the opportunity, covers discovery and intake on role priorities, success metrics, compensation, timeline and how to position the job. Phase two, identify the market, covers target company research, talent mapping, passive candidate outreach and compensation feedback. Phase three, interview the talent, uses structured interviews on experience, motivation, compensation and fit, followed by a shortlist. Phase four, secure the hire, covers interview coordination, offer support, resignation and transition guidance, and onboarding. Candidates go through what the firm calls a 12-point interview process.
Clients get weekly progress updates in most search models, along with interview summaries and market feedback. The firm says timelines depend on the role, industry and market.
On pricing, the homepage says contingent search is free to start and billed only when a hire is made. Fee amounts for any model are not published. The firm states a one-year replacement guarantee for permanent hires, and its homepage describes the 12-month replacement guarantee as an available option, so confirm whether it applies to your engagement.
Questions to ask before you sign
Which model do you recommend for this role, contingent, engaged or retained, and what is the fee for each? The site does not publish rates, so get the percentage and any upfront retainer in writing.
Does the one-year replacement guarantee apply to contingent placements, or only to certain engagement types? What triggers it, and is it a replacement or a refund?
Who on your team works the 3PL and freight brokerage desk, and what brokerage roles have they filled recently? Ask whether they understand the difference between a carrier sales rep, an account manager and a full-desk broker.
For broker and sales hires from competitors, how do you screen for non-compete and non-solicit agreements? Ask whether the recruiter collects that information before presenting a candidate, and have your attorney review any agreement before an offer.
How will you keep a confidential search confidential, and who sees the job description?
If we hire through your staffing option instead of direct hire, what are the conversion terms?
Company background
Matt Walsh founded Blue Signal in 2012, according to a company post about his 2024 Phoenix Titan 100 recognition, and he has more than two decades in recruiting. The firm's headquarters is at 4545 East Shea Boulevard in Phoenix. Its About page lists a leadership team that includes a vice president of executive search and technology, a CFO, a general counsel and a vice president of marketing, and it profiles more than 30 staff across recruiting, operations, marketing and support functions.
The firm reports more than 3,800 completed searches and an average 12-month retention rate of 94 percent for permanent placements, both company-reported figures. Its About page lists recognition from Forbes, Inc. magazine, the Phoenix Business Journal and AZ Big Media, and it notes that Walsh has been interviewed by CNBC on hiring topics. The firm states its core values as help others, do the right thing, be excellent and champion change.
Sources
Information compiled from public sources. Last verified November 2026. Confirm details directly with the company.
