by Scott Frederick | Apr 13, 2015 | News
The past three days, representatives from Logistics Plus have been attending the Twig Talk conference in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Logistics Plus is an active member of the Twig Logistics Network which has created a new network concept in the logistics field. It is a network formed by the best and most select global freight forwarding companies, where only companies referred by existing members are allowed to become members and enjoy the various benefits created to generate more business and greater communication between member freight forwarders.
One interesting component of the Twig network is its “Badges program.” Through the Badges program, Twig members can identify which profile most closely identified with their needs. Badges were created and designed specifically for freight forwarder members to extol the strengths of their business. Shown below on the left is a list of badges initially created, where the achievement of each requires proof of worthiness to the Twig review team. There are posters at the Twig Talk conference that show the top members earning these various badges of merit. Shown below on the right you will see a picture of a poster at the conference showing that Logistics Plus is currently the top badge earner among all freight forwarders with 13 individual badges!
As illustrated by our Twig network badges, if you’re looking for a top-notch freight forwarder, Logistics Plus has proven experience and recognized excellence – so why not give us a try? If you’re new to Logistics Plus, click the button below and receive a quick quote on your next international shipment to start the process. You can also contact us if you have any general questions. We’d love to work with you to earn your badge of honor!
by Scott Frederick | Apr 10, 2015 | News
Fernando Aguirre, the new owner of the Erie SeaWolves, took a tour of historic Union Station today – also the global headquarters for Logistics Plus. At the invitation of Jim Berlin, founder and CEO of Logistics Plus, Mr. Aguirre – joined by Erie SeaWolves president Greg Coleman, and its assistant general manager/communications Greg Gania – enjoyed a brief tour of the building as well as a hearty Mexico-themed lunch (Mr. Aguirre is a native of Mexico City). It was a thrill for Logistics Plus employees in Erie to host these three important local sports figures. Logistics Plus is an ongoing sponsor for the Erie SeaWolves franchise, and many of its employees are devoted fans. Special thank you to Alfredo Ayala, Francisco Tijerina, Rosy Trevino, Tracy White, Raquel Vazquez, Belen Herando, and others, for being chaperones and helping with cooking duties.
Mr. Aguirre attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on a baseball scholarship. He was an infielder for three seasons and pitched his senior season for the Cougars. He became a respected business leader with The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) in a broad range of global leadership positions. After more than 23 years with P&G, he was hired in 2004 to lead Chiquita Brands International as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Aguirre held the role for almost nine years before leaving his corporate career to become an entrepreneur. In 2010, Aguirre became the first Hispanic leader to appear on the CBS program Undercover Boss. He recently became the second largest owner and Vice-Chairman of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Advanced A, Chicago Cubs) and also owns a minority interest in the Cincinnati Reds.
The Erie SeaWolves are a minor baseball league team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. They play in the Eastern League as the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The team plays at downtown Erie’s Jerry Uht Park, which opened in 1995. In the left picture below are (left-to-right) Greg Gania, Alfredo Ayala, Greg Coleman, Jim Berlin, Fernando Aguirre, and Francisco Tijerina. In the picture on the right, Alfredo and Francisco oversee barbecue duties.
by logisticsplus | Apr 7, 2015 | News
Most people are familiar with the successful line of “For Dummies” books that are routinely issued by the Wiley publishing company. Today there are more than 250 million For Dummies books in print covering over 1,800 different topics. These books are generally written by proven experts who are able to make even the most complex subjects seem simple. Whether that’s directions on how to hook up a home network, carve a turkey, knit your first scarf, or load your new iPod, For Dummies books tell it like it is, without all the technical jargon
Although Logistics Plus has yet to publish its own For Dummies book, we certainly have the expertise – particularly in the area of Project Cargo Logistics – to do so. When our logistics experts take on a cargo project, they oversee all aspects of the supply chain – from the origin manufacturing site, to warehousing, to transportation, to customs compliance, to final delivery. In the simplest of terms, we like to say we handle every project “from cradle to grave.” Additionally, we’ve developed a strong proficiency for handling large, heavy lift, oversize cargo. If your freight is unique, non-standard and doesn’t fit into a standard trailer or container – we still know how to handle and transport it.
As a business owner or key stakeholder, that means you don’t have to worry about all of the complex details of transportation and logistics. No need to find carriers with the right equipment and capacity to handle your cargo, no need to negotiate a market-competitive transportation rates, no need to find warehousing and storage when it’s needed, and no need to fully understand import and export compliance duties and regulations.
You can visit the Project Cargo section of our website to learn more about Logistics Plus project cargo solutions. While we haven’t yet published our own For Dummies book on project cargo, Frederik Geirnaert – one of our company experts in this area – has put together the following presentation which also describes some of the diverse cargo projects for which Logistics Plus was entrusted.
If you have an upcoming cargo project, feel free to request a quick quote to start the process of putting the Logistics Plus expertise to work for you. You can also email us directly at projectcargo@logisticsplus.com or call us at 1.866.564.7587. We’ll make your project easy!
by Scott Frederick | Apr 7, 2015 | News
Mark your calendars! The 2015 Beer Run will be on May 16th at 10:00 am at Union Station in downtown Erie, PA. The event is presented by Logistics Plus, The Brewerie, and the American Heart Association (AHA), with proceeds going to benefit the AHA. Registration is between 8:00 and 9:00 am. You can pickup your “team” registration forms ahead of time at The Brewerie any time. You can also download the registration form from their website.
Run. Drink. Repeat. We hope to see everyone there!
by Scott Frederick | Apr 6, 2015 | News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NTL Introduces a New nationaltruckload.net Website
Division of Logistics Plus showcases its truckload services and unique business solutions
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, April 6, 2015 – NTL, the national truckload division of Logistics Plus Inc., announced today that is has introduced a new nationaltruckload.net website. The new website provides a spotlight on the company’s truckload transportation, warehousing, industrial painting, crating and packaging, and fleet maintenance services.
Created with the user experience in mind, the responsive design of the website allows it to dynamically adapt to most web browsers, tablets, and mobile devices, and provides options to share information across all major social networking sites. Businesses interested in NTL transportation services and business solutions can easily request quick quotes online through the website. In addition to showcasing the company’s unique set of capabilities, the website will be used for driver recruitment activities to help find and attract experienced truck drivers needed to operate the NTL fleet of dry van, flatbed, step deck, and tanker equipment.
“Having a standalone NTL website will help us articulate the capabilities our division offers to business seeking dedicated transportation services and unique business solutions, such as our Erie, PA warehouse and industrial painting operation,” said Joe Santone, senior vice president for NTL and Logistics Plus. “It will also help us find and recruit high-quality drivers that are looking for opportunities with a reputable company where they can enjoy steady freight, prompt payment, and maximum home time.”
About NTL
NTL (National Truck Load) is an asset-based and brokerage provider of truckload transportation, warehousing, industrial painting, crating and packaging, and equipment maintenance services. Founded in Erie, PA, with an additional facility in Lexington, NC, today it has a diverse mixture of people and equipment with a strong focus on providing dedicated solutions. As part of the Logistics Plus® network, NTL has access to additional capital, technology, and resources providing its customers with a broad array of complementary services, including global logistics, customs and compliance services, supply chain solutions, and more. Visit www.logisticsplus.com for more information.
Media Contact:
Scott G. Frederick
Vice President, Marketing
Logistics Plus Inc.
(814) 240-6881
scott.frederick@logisticsplus.com
by Scott Frederick | Apr 2, 2015 | News
If you have international freight shipping needs, chances are good that you have been introduced to the world of shipping containers. Shipping container sizes, markings, and specifications are generally standardized to comply with international standards (ISO) so that containers can be used across all modes of transportation. The ISO standards cover details about shipping container sizes and weights. Common container specifications are summarized in the table shown below. Most containers are either 20′, 40’, or 45′ in length. Additionally, some containers have additional features to accommodate the product being shipped, such as open tops, refrigerated units, flat racks, and platforms.
A shipping container is an empty rectangular cube measured by its length, width, and height (LxWxH). Two different sets of sizes need to be considered when arranging for transportation: internal and external. The internal dimensions will show space available for storage. It can be deemed as a useful storage space. The external dimensions are of more concern when the surrounding area is limited and may restrict the movement or convenient placement of boxes. For instance, a high cube container with an external height of 9’6” lying on a chassis may exceed warehouse gates or road overpasses. Container door sizes also need to be considered so shippers know whether a large cargo unit can be moved smoothly into and out of the container.
How many cubic meters (CBM) there are inside a container will determine its gross capacity. Due to the corrugated wall and roof, unless you load bulk or grain cargo, which can fill almost all available space, you can only utilize the space that will fit your specific commodity size and shape (e.g. bags, crates, pallets, etc.). When calculating loadable cargo volume, shippers should subtract the wasted space. That means the net cargo volume to be loaded is likely smaller than the gross volume capacity. Aside from capacity, the type of weight (i.e., gross, tare, payload) is also important when shipping with containers. Gross weight (also called gross mass or rating) is the total maximum weight of the container itself (tare weight) and the cargo (payload) loaded inside it.
When you work with Logistics Plus, our global logistics experts can help you find and source the right containers to fit your commodity or products. Whether you need a full container, or could potentially save money by using only a partial container and sharing the space with another shipper, Logistics Plus can make it happen. We can also help you find affordable air, ocean, ground, or rail transportation – or a combination thereof – to get your shipment delivered anywhere in the world – on time and intact.
Click the button below if you have an upcoming international shipment you’d like us to start working on for you. You can also email us at pricing@logisticsplus.com or give us a call at 1.866.335.7623
