In case you missed it, Jim Berlin, Founder and CEO of Logistics Plus, was featured in a recent airing of Business Spotlight on WPSE AM 1450/FM 107.1 Radio. Business Spotlight is a 30-minute program airing Fridays at noon. Each segment focuses on a business or organization that is making an impact across the region.
In this segment, Jim discusses the tremendous growth of the company, keeping local talent in Erie, recent awards and recognition the company has received, and more. You can listen to a replay of the interview on the Logistics Plus YouTube Channel below.
Gretchen Blough, Licensed Customs Broker and Brokerage Manager for Logistics Plus, was featured on a recent airing of the Marketplace podcast hosted by National Public Radio (NPR). Gretchen has made several appearances on Marketplace Podcast in the past few months due to her unique insight into the ongoing U.S. trade wars and tariff changes. In this latest segment, Gretchen discusses the difficulties she faces keeping up with tariff changes, the complexity of tariff lists, and why it may be smart to finish your Christmas shopping early this year.
Marketplace® is on a mission to raise the economic intelligence of the country. Its core programs — Marketplace®, Marketplace Morning Report®, Marketplace Tech® and Corner Office® — are broadcast on more than 800 public radio stations nationwide and heard by over 14 million listeners every week.
Erie never gave up the ship* … and Logistics Plus never gives up theshipment! In that spirit, Logistics Plus was the proud sponsor of the Picton Castle, one of many vessels that participated in the 2019 Tall Ships Erie Festival from August 22nd to the 25th. The Tall Ships festival is a three-day maritime celebration hosted at various Erie waterfront locations. The event offered the opportunity for people to sail away on select ships, enjoy live music and entertainment, try out local food vendors, host children’s activities, and much more.
* “Don’t give up the ship” was the famous dying command of James Lawrence in 1813 aboard the USS Chesapeake
In addition to the three-day Tall Ships event, Logistics Plus hosted its 23rd annual anniversary party Friday night at the Erie Maritime Museum where the Picton Castle was docked. Logistics Plus employees were joined by customers, partners, and guests who were able to tour the Picton Castle, explore the Maritime Museum, and enjoy light food and beverages. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped us celebrate this special occasion!
Logistics Plus has proudly partnered with WPSE AM 1450/FM 107.1 Radio to help bring a full slate of area high school football games – and Cleveland Browns professional football games – to radio airwaves in Erie, PA. As a presenting sponsor, Logistics Plus will be mentioned prominently throughout each broadcast starting with today’s Browns game at 3:30 pm and again on tonight’s Mercyhurst Prep versus Meadville game at 6:30 pm (streaming only). The sponsorship was a natural fit for Logistics Plus which has already been a marquee sponsor for Best of Varsity Cup the past three years: the annual event that celebrates and honors the accomplishments of District 10 All-Area high school student-athletes and top performers.
Game schedules are included below, as well as a couple examples of the Logistics Plus “commercials” that will air during the games.
The Logistics Plus Ontario, CA Warehouse recently celebrated Safe and Sound Week by offering lunch, games, prizes, bingo, and quizzes to our employees. Safe and Sound Week is an annual event that was held from August 12th to the 18th. Check out some photos below from the event:
What is Safe and Sound Week? A nationwide event held each August that recognizes the successes of workplace safety and health programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America’s workers safe. This year, there were about 2,450 participants that registered for Safe and Sound Week. Learn more here: www.osha.gov/safeandsoundweek
According to the “30th Annual State of Logistics Report” recently released at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., and covered by Logistics Management (LM) magazine, U.S. logistics costs rose 11.45% over the course of 2018. That puts U.S. business logistics costs for 2018 at $1.64 trillion—or 8% of gross domestic product (GDP) for the year. The 8% cost of logistics as a segment of GDP was the most since 2014.
According to the report, as reported by LM, overall supply chain costs are rising due to several factors:
retooling of supply chains to account for more e-commerce sales, as online purchasing increased by 14.2% last year to reach 9.9% of all retail sales. The need for smaller, more costly warehouses has spiked;
“extremely high” utilization of existing truck fleets limits available freight capacity, driving up rates;
increasing government regulations on driver hours-of-service (HOS) causing smaller trucking firms to cease operations, consolidate or be acquired by larger transport companies; and
a tight U.S. labor market and higher wages for truck drivers and warehouse workers, as attracting and retaining labor in general remains challenging for transportation and logistics companies.
Gretchen Blough
Erie never gave up the ship* … and Logistics Plus never gives up the shipment! In that spirit, Logistics Plus was the proud sponsor of the 
