by logisticsplus | Aug 18, 2015 | News
Businesses that ship less-than-truckload (LTL) freight shipments would benefit from using a transportation management system (TMS). Most large companies with big freight expenditures are already using a TMS, either with or as a part of their enterprise systems. However, those same benefits are also available to smaller companies with lower freight spending. This is often done by working with a reliable third-party logistics (3PL) partner (such as Logistics Plus). Contrary to what many may believe, most transportation management systems today are web-based and can be inexpensively integrated with a company’s back office or order management system.
There are many benefits to using a TMS. The use of a TMS will help ensure your LTL freight loads are matched to the ideal carrier so that you can get the best rates without sacrificing the service you need. More specifically, here are five key benefits to using a TMS for LTL freight management:
- Streamlined visibility to carrier rates and services: With a robust TMS, you can enjoy instant, real-time access to freight rates and transit times for multiple carriers. Not having to call multiple carriers or access multiple websites is a real time-saver. A TMS can also be customized to your specific shipping patterns and lanes, which leads to greater efficiencies for LTL carriers and better rates and service for you.
- Simplified data entry and the elimination of manual steps: TMS automation features allow you to save your customer, vendor, and product data in an easy-to-retrieve database. This creates bills of lading and other shipping documents fast and easy with little need for manual entry. It also improves document accuracy, which alleviates many downstream issues.
- Improved visibility to your shipments and documentation: Knowing your freight location allows you to be more responsive to your customers or monitor routing compliance with your vendors. Being able to pull bill of lading copies, standardized invoices, and proof of delivery documents not only creates back-office efficiencies but fosters better communication and builds better relationships with your customers and vendors.
- Freight invoice consolidation and auditing: LTL freight pricing and auditing can be complex with fuel surcharges, freight classifications, minimum density rules, and more. A good TMS should house all carrier pricing, rules, and shipment information for easy access and to provide reporting and auditing on variances between quotes and actual freight invoices.
- Availability of analytics and data: With reports generated from your TMS, you can gain better insight into your LTL freight shipping activity, costs, and service trends. Better information allows you to make future business decisions based on facts and not gut or opinion.
As mentioned earlier, smaller companies that don’t have access to a TMS today should consider partnering with a reputable 3PL with a robust TMS. If you choose to partner with Logistics Plus, you’ll receive free access to our online eShipPlus™ TMS platform. Our eShipPlus platform is a proven TMS which customers have been using for nearly a decade. In addition to all of the LTL benefits described above, eShipPlus also provides shippers with access to truckload shipment quoting, booking, and reporting functionality.
If you’re new to Logistics Plus, become our customer, and we’ll provide you complimentary access to eShipPlus. If you’re interested in integrating eShipPlus with your ERP or order management system, please email nadops@logisticsplus.com for more information. If you have general questions about our LTL freight services or tools, please click the button below.
by logisticsplus | Jul 31, 2015 | News
Thank you to the Logistics Plus (LP) customers and non-customers that recently responded to our “logistics survey” request. Your feedback is extremely helpful and will allow us to examine some of our services and processes to make improvements where we can. While we cannot share all of the results or individual details, here are a few high-level insights from the survey:
- 80% of the respondents were LP customers; 20% were non-customers
- Half of the respondents were manufacturers, while the other half were mostly retailers and distributors
- Almost all respondents require domestic trucking services, and nearly half require international freight services
- Customers gave LP an average overall satisfaction rating of 8.8 on a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being most satisfied) – a great score (but always room for improvement)
- Half of LP customers, frequently or occasionally, log in to our eShipPlus or eWorldPlus freight management tools
- The majority of LP customers would enthusiastically recommend our services to other businesses (we had a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 64 which is fantastic!)
- Among non-customers, the most cited reason for not working with Logistics Plus is that current providers are doing a good job
- Nearly half of non-customer respondents indicated a possible openness to working with Logistics Plus in the future (Yay!)
That’s about all that we can share publicly at the moment. Thank you again to everyone who participated in our survey! If you missed out and still would like to share some feedback with us, feel free to send it to marketing@logisticsplus.com at any time. And if you have any upcoming shipments we can help you with, please let us know (just click the button below).
PS: Congratulations to Michael K. for being our random, lucky winner of a $100 Amazon gift card. We’ll be contacting you shortly.
by logisticsplus | Jul 24, 2015 | News
The United States International Trade Commission just released its updated “The Year in Trade 2014” report. The report, which covers global trade trends and activities, indicated that the value of U.S.-India two-way merchandise trade has increased 5% since 2013. In 2014, merchandise exports to India were valued at $21.6 billion. Leading U.S. exports to India included diamonds, aircraft and parts, gold, and coal. 2014 imports from India were valued at $45.2 billion, with non-industrial diamonds, certain medicaments, petroleum-related products, food, apparel, chemicals, and steel products all leading the way. The report went on to say that the U.S. and India continue an ongoing dialogue to improve trade relations going forward.
While these numbers may seem impressive (India is the 11th largest foreign trading partner with the U.S.), some economists forecast that these numbers could double in the next five years. Contributing to this growing trend is the fact that India is the world’s largest democracy and the second-most populous country in the world. The country has a burgeoning urban middle class and has made great strides in fields such as information technology. Its large, skilled workforce makes it a popular choice for international companies seeking to outsource work.
If your company imports or exports merchandise from India, you should consider working with Logistics Plus. In the U.S. we have more than a dozen locations around the country that can help you with your transportation and logistics needs, and our Customs Broker Solutions staff can also help you clear customs for imports at any port in the United States. Additionally, we have six offices in India located in the cities of New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Jalandhar, and Mumbai.
If you’re located in the U.S. and interested in learning more, please contact us or use our international quick quote form if you have an upcoming shipment. You can also call 1.866.564.7587 or email quotes@logisticsplus.com with any questions. If you’re located in India, you can complete our India logistics solutions request form or use our international quick quote form if you have a shipment. You can also call our New Delhi main office at +91.124.474.9200 or email sundreysh.sarup@logisticsplus.com with specific questions.
As always, you can find any of our worldwide employees in our online global directory.
by logisticsplus | Jul 13, 2015 | News
Logistics Plus was recently profiled by WiseTech Global – one of our key technology partners that is a multi-award winning global developer of cloud-based software solutions for the international and domestic logistics industries. Its leading product, CargoWise One, provides the most sophisticated and comprehensive end-to-end logistics solution in the world and forms an integral link in the global supply chain.
To develop the profile, WiseTech Global interviewed Jim Berlin and various stakeholders involved with the implementation and use of the CargoWise technology solution at Logistics Plus. CargoWise provides a foundation for our international freight forwarding operations (including our online eWorldPlus application), warehouse management system (WMS), customs brokerage solutions, and corporate finance. The profile includes an online overview of our company, a professional video segment, and a downloadable PDF flyer.
To view the online profile, click the image below or visit at www.wisetechglobal.com/customers/logistics-plus.
by logisticsplus | Jul 9, 2015 | News
When you work with a capable logistics partner, door-to-door international shipping shouldn’t be complicated for shippers; but it’s a complex process behind the scenes. A shipment exported from the United States to a foreign country becomes a maze of modes and regulations before it arrives at your customer’s door. According to Emily Grein, international manager for Logistics Plus, “We try to make shipping internationally no different than shipping domestically. From our customer’s perspective, it should be simply a matter of picking up the shipment, transporting it to the destination, and then delivering it to their customer.”
So what should you look for when selecting a door-to-door logistics partner? If you look hard, you might find many options for international door-to-door delivery services. With exports on the decline due to the higher dollar valuation, the competition is intense. But buyer beware – not all logistics companies are the same. Some providers may outsource the bulk of the work to five or six different vendors, from trucking to warehousing to customs brokerage. Other logistics companies may outsource only a portion of the responsibility, providing more internal expertise and control. Having fewer parties involved reduces a shipper’s loss, damage, and security risk. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before selecting a door-to-door international freight forwarder:
- Are they large enough to be credible but not so large that they ignore my individual requirements?
- Do they have global trade compliance and customs clearance expertise in-house?
- Do they understand compliant packaging regulations (such as ISPM 15 and HT)?
- Do they have offices and people located around the world with local knowledge of the country to which I am shipping?
- Have they established strong relationships with air, ocean, and ground carriers to secure capacity and affordable rates for my shipment requirements?
- Do they have the ability to warehouse and distribute my product according to a set schedule if needed?
- Do they have an online technology solution that provides me with shipment visibility?
- Will I have a dedicated logistics specialist working with me every step of the way?
Okay, now that you’ve selected a capable door-to-door freight forwarding partner (hopefully it’s Logistics Plus), you need to prepare your shipment for the big move. Preparing an international door-to-door shipment can sometimes require planning up to a year in advance. The main factors affecting the shipment’s transportation mode and cost will be the size, weight, and dimensions of the cargo being moved and the final destination. Packaging will also be a factor, both in terms of cargo security and shipment dimensions and cost. Remember, you don’t want to “pay for air,” so make sure your shipment is optimally packaged for secure and safe transport.
You should start by compiling a detailed packing list and itemizing every piece of the shipment, including both description and dimensions. This will allow your logistics provider to provide you with an accurate rate estimate. Armed with a detailed understanding of your shipment and its final destination, your logistics provider will find the appropriate shipping line and shipping ports for optimal results. Once your shipment is en-route, you should have the confidence that your logistics provider will be able to provide you with frequent shipment status updates, if needed, and will notify you once your shipment has been delivered. They should also explain to you how to select the best Incoterms for your shipment to ensure your total transportation costs and any applicable tariffs or duties are minimized. They should also be able to provide you with a consolidated, itemized invoice for the entire transaction.
“There’s often a lot of steps and documents involved with international door-to-door shipping,” says Emily, “But our goals is to make importing and exporting easy for our customers simply.” If you’re ready to learn more about Logistics Plus door-to-door international shipping services, please email us at quotes@logisticsplus.com or click the button below to get a quick quote on your next international shipment.
**Please note: Due to liability issues, we do not ship personal effects or belongings.**
