by logisticsplus | Jun 13, 2017 | News
A life lesson in how to always say YES, regardless if it is “your job” or not and what friends are made of.
It was your usual beautiful Charleston morning and I was starting my daily routine of getting up, feeding the dogs and getting that first hot cup of coffee to start my morning before sitting down to watch the news. This was how I started every day, little did I know that today was no ordinary day. Today was the day I would walk out of my bedroom and be greeted by a snake in my living room. Apparently he too was just as surprised as I was when my 2 German Shepherds and I crossed his path. Curled up in front of the bookcase as if he had been invited for a hot cup of Joe, I didn’t even notice him till the dogs stopped to see what was on the floor and I saw strange striking movement from around their feet.
Please keep in mind that I have only been awake for 60 seconds, so my reflexes are not quite cat like yet and my 10 year old prescription eye glasses aren’t up to sniper regulations. Even though I am a good ole southern girl, I still haven’t ever had to even give one moment of thought about what to do if you find yourself face to face with a poisonous snake IN YOUR HOUSE at 5:30 in the morning. I feel I was pretty impressive with my banshee like screams to get the dogs away in an effort to see what was on the floor and to be able to make an assessment what was going on. I flipped on the lights and see this snake looking back at me. Great. Now what? They never covered this while I was in college. The class on snake removal must have been an elective I missed.
Now that I am very awake, I remember the large mixing bowl sitting in the drying rack that I used to mix the salad in the night before. I grabbed it. Thinking every good Knight or even a damsel in distress needs a good long jousting lance, mine is now the broom that I grabbed next. This creature will not get away from me so easily. I place the bowl at the end of the broom and try to cover the snake while extending as far as I dare without losing balance and sending the snake scattering for cover. Luckily I was able to capture the uninvited guest.
With the weight of 15 large hardback books on top of the bowl, I am able to take a breath and say, once again, now what? This is where you call upon your friends. Who better to prove themselves as a true friend than one that will pick up the phone on a Tuesday morning before 6 AM? I called a family friend who owned his own business, granted it was a Termite exterminating business, but I was in dire need of an “exterminator” and thought this would be the answer to my dilemma. He had never been asked to remove a snake in all of his years of operating his business, but thankfully NO was not in his vocabulary.
Shortly after 8:30 AM, I was answering the door to find 2 nice gentlemen dressed in their Termite Exterminator shirts coming into my house to help me with a snake removal. They never hesitated to take on the challenge and together we all managed to get the snake outside and into a large bucket safely (thanks Home Depot for the great bucket). The gentlemen rode off with the snake into the sunrise while I waved goodbye and gave thanks for friends who answer the phone and for the average guy who will go out of their way to help even though it wasn’t their job.
Thank you,
Kimberly D. Marchand, LCB
Branch Manager
Logistics Plus Charleston
1605 Central Ave.
Suite 6, # 247
Summerville, SC 29483 USA
Office: 814.746.4675
Mobile: 843.568.3381
Fax: 814.217.0500
by logisticsplus | Jun 9, 2017 | News
Thanks to Ricky and Tatum from the Logistics Plus Indonesia project cargo team. Logistics Plus Indonesia handled the transport of MRI equipment from Airport/warehouse to the hospital project site. The project included unpacking and moving MRI equipment into the room so it was ready for final installation. Most of the time, the LP project cargo crew worked through the night when the hospital was not busy or crowded. The MRI equipment had to be transported with air ride low bed trailer. Visit our Project Cargo Portfolio page to download a PDF of this project and many others!
by Marketing | Jun 8, 2017 | News
When you need to save on LTL shipping, it can be difficult for shippers to find the lowest rate that will fit their shipping needs. LTL (less-than-truckload) freight shipments involve small freight deliveries that are too large to be considered parcels, yet too small to fill an entire truckload. LTL freight shipping rates can be very complex and confusing, but third-party logistics (3PL) providers, such as Logistics Plus, can help ensure you are receiving the best possible rate. Make sure you follow these tips to save the next time you have an LTL shipment:
- Know exactly what your shipment is
- It is crucial to be exact when weighing and calculating the size of a shipment. Shippers should never use an estimate for the weight or size of their items because if they are wrong, carriers will charge additional fees that will only increase the cost of your shipment. Also, find out the exact and correct NMFC item number and description for your commodity and make sure it is noted on your bill of lading. Some commodities even have freight density exceptions that can also impact your rates. More carriers are enforcing bill of lading accuracy and avoiding these surprise fees is a very important way shippers can keep their total costs to a minimum.
- Choose the correct freight class
- Understanding freight classifications is important to saving money on LTL shipments. Freight classifications are based mainly on density, but other factors such as liability and handling are also considered. There is a total of 18 standard classes, and choosing the correct one is crucial to avoiding additional fees and costs. A lot of times, these freight classes are negotiable with carriers making it possible to reduce your shipping costs as much as possible.
- Maximize your pallet space
- Most LTL carriers have very specific and often complex cubic capacity rules which can greatly increase the cost of your shipment. Carriers impose minimum cubic capacity rules to effectively counter very light, fluffy shipments that take up more than their fair share of a trailer. In most cases, if a shipment consumes 750 cubic feet of space or more, and the shipment has freight density of less than 6 pounds per cubic foot, it’s not paying its fair share. In these cases, carriers will often default to a higher freight classification with minimum weight and size rules and lower (or no) discounts. To save money on LTL shipping, make sure you fully understand the minimum cubic capacity of the carrier you choose and maximize that space. Maximizing your pallet space and increasing the density of your shipment is a great way to save on LTL shipping.
- Consolidate orders
- If it is possible, try to combine small LTL shipments into one larger shipment. A lot of times, multiple small shipments will be going to the same location daily. If these shipments are consolidated into one, rates will decrease and you will save money. It is vital to understand exactly when orders must be delivered because it makes it much easier and cost effective to combine orders that will be headed to the same location. An experienced 3PL partner can help you with a complete LTL freight analysis to determine if you have any consolidation or savings opportunities.
- Use proper packaging
- Most carriers have limited liability policies, so it is important to correctly package your shipments to avoid damages. Attaching freight to the pallet by using shrink-wrap or other protective wraps can help you avoid damages to your shipments. Also, be sure to make note of fragile shipments by adding labels or signs that are easily visible on the packaging. The condition of the package upon arrival is important to all customers. If your shipment is extremely valuable, you might also consider purchasing cargo insurance for added protection.
- Determine the net cost
- Focusing on the net cost of LTL shipments is the best way to save money on shipping. There are so many factors such as weight, height, distance, delivery time, and accessorial service options that become forgotten when choosing the best rate. Considering all of these costs and combining them into one final price will give a more accurate and precise net cost of your shipment. It is important to not get caught up in just reviewing the freight or discounted rates because a lot of times, there are additional fees and charges that will factor into the final cost.
Here’s the bottom line: If you have LTL shipping needs and want to ensure that you are not overpaying, then contact Logistics Plus today!
by logisticsplus | Jun 7, 2017 | News
Here are some new WP$E radio interview audio clips from vice president of marketing, Scott Frederick, as well as three millennial Logistics Plus employees – Kelly Dempsey, Emily Grein and Garrett Bowden. Kelly, Emily and Garrett discuss their internships and jobs in Erie working for a cool, global company (click the images below to listen to the audio replays).
WP$E AM 1450/FM 107.1 airs Logistics Plus audio clips as part of its WP$E Partners for Business™ interview series. This is an ongoing schedule of comments by northwestern Pennsylvania CEOs, entrepreneurs, and business leaders aired throughout the day. It includes news, information, and profiles of companies, industries, and professions directed to WP$E’s business and financial audience.
Creating local jobs and opportunities within the Erie community
Kelly Dempsey from Mercyhurst leads air and ocean import team
Emily Grein from Kent State leads air exports (and even deliver herself)
Garrett Bowden from PSU Behrend works on dedicated 4PL team
Engaging local students and universities through research projects
by Marketing | Jun 6, 2017 | News
Shipping between the U.S. and Mexico is not as easy as it may seem. In order to transport shipments between these countries, there are certain regulations and documents that must be legally followed. The most common methods of shipping goods from the United States to Mexico are by truck, rail, air and sea, or a mixture of two or more of these transportation modes.
Here’s what you need to know when you’re shipping from the U.S. to Mexico:
- An American carrier will transport your cargo to the border and deliver it to the designated carrier who has been selected / hired by the Mexican consignee (the recipient of his goods).
- The carrier receives your shipment, inspects the cargo, checks all documents and prepares the shipment to enter Mexico on behalf of the Mexican customs agent who is handling your shipment.
- The Mexican customs agent will formally present the Mexican customs entry on behalf of the Mexican consignee.
- Now it’s time for your cargo to cross the border! A third party transportation company will ship your shipment across the border, through customs, and then deliver it to the selected Mexican carrier’s facility.
- Finally, the Mexican carrier transports its cargo inland to its final destination in Mexico, the consignee
Here’s what you need to know when you’re shipping from Mexico to the U.S:
- A Mexican carrier transports its cargo to the border city.
- A Mexican customs agent formally presents the entry of the Mexican export customs on behalf of the Mexican sender so that the goods can legally leave the country.
- A licensed U.S. customs agent then files the U.S. customs clearance so that the shipment can enter the U.S. on behalf of the U.S. importer of record (the consignee).
- A third party transportation company will ship your shipment across the border, through the U.S. Customs, and deliver the shipment to the selected U.S. carrier’s premises.
- The U.S. carrier transports the freight to the final destination.
Here are the basic import and export documents you’ll need:
- Import /export form
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of lading
- NAFTA Certificate of Origin (only if goods qualify for NAFTA)
Every country has its own regulations and shipping requirements so it’s important to be aware of this information before shipping to any country. Contact our team of cross-border experts here at Logistics Plus to learn more about shipping between the U.S and Mexico.
by logisticsplus | Jun 5, 2017 | News
International Alert:
Dear All,
Four Arab nations – Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – cut diplomatic ties with Qatar early Monday morning.
Saudi Arabia ended all land sea and air contacts with Qatar, and the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt also cut ties with Doha on Monday.
We are still waiting on official announcement on the in-transit shipments from and to Qatar. Shipping lines and port authorities are yet to release any official circular on the same. For now, all shipping lines have refused to accept any cargo or shipments bound to Qatar, transiting through these countries.
Further, Emirates, Etihad and Fly Dubai have announced the suspension of all flights bound to Doha (Qatar) from 6th June, 2017. The air space of these 4 countries will also be closed to Qatar Airways, the national carrier of Qatar.
We will keep you posted.
Logistics Plus Middle East
