by logisticsplus | Mar 15, 2016 | News
As depicted in the circle image of the Logistics Plus (LP) logo, we have the experience and expertise to help shippers move their goods by any transportation mode, including GROUND, AIR, OCEAN, or RAIL. How did we acquire these capabilities? It all started twenty years ago with our first customer, GE Transportation (GET), a division of General Electric – one of the largest companies in the world. Back then, LP was GET’s lead logistics provider helping them move their products and parts across the country and around the world. Twenty years later, we’re still managing shipments across all transportation modes, but today we’re doing it for more than 2,000 customers and in dozens of countries around the world!
Ground Freight Transportation
Our domestic ground freight transportation capabilities have enabled us to be recognized by Transport Topics magazine as a 2015 Top 50 freight brokerage firm in North America. Our non-asset ground services include complete less-than-truckload (LTL) capabilities with all of the top carriers in the country, and a full-range of truckload solutions using our network of thousands of national, regional and specialized freight carriers. Additionally, with our National Truckload (NTL) division, we offer select clients the option for a dedicated fleet of trucks and equipment. When it comes to North American ground transportation, our carriers, services and rates are among the best in the industry.
Air Freight Transportation
For air freight transportation, we can handle both domestic and import/export shipment types. We have developed relationships with all of the major air freight carriers allowing us to negotiate the best combination of service, price, and speed on behalf of our customers. Our services include airport-to-airport, door-to-door, and even air charters. We are also a certified IATA cargo agent in both the U.S. and Mexico, meaning we get exclusive access to the top air freight and cargo carriers in the industry. When customers ship internationally with Logistics Plus, they can also tap our full-service Customs Broker Solutions division to help them with all aspects of global trade compliance.
Ocean Freight Transportation
Similar to air freight, our ocean freight transportation services are available for both domestic (i.e., AK, HI, PR, USVI, and Guam) and import/export shipments. As a Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC), we have long-standing relationships with ocean carriers which allow us to obtain competitive rates for our customers and frequent sailings to and from all major ports of call. We can handle both full-container-load (FCL) and less-than-container-load (LCL) ocean shipments. For international shipments, our customs broker solutions staff is there to help with duties, tariffs, and all other clearance details. For imports, our remote location filing (RLF) status with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) allows us to clear shipments at any and all U.S. ports of entry.
Rail Freight Transportation
If you’re looking to reduce your transportation costs, rail and intermodal freight transportation are often good options. Not only can we help you manage your rail logistics, we can also help you arrange the necessary drayage services to get your shipments to and from the rail yards. Because of our skills in this area, some of our customers have even asked us to provide dedicated, rail freight logistics management solutions for them (see our Hero BX case study for a great example).
Project Freight Solutions
Sometimes our customers have very unique or complex logistics projects that require a “multi-mode” approach to transportation. In these cases, the Logistics Plus Project Cargo division is ready to assist. Your logistics project will be customized for your situation—from a comprehensive, pre-shipment evaluation of potential risks, costs and delivery schedules, to route and port surveys, coordination of proper packaging of components, required documentation handling, and transportation mode analysis. Even if your cargo is oversized or heavy lift, our project cargo specialists can manage it all. Over the years, we’ve transported locomotives to Indonesia; imported solar modules into the U.S.; shipped wind turbines to Finland; hauled tugboats to Kuwait; and much more! In many cases, these shipments all required use of ground, air, ocean, and rail freight transportation – all modes we know how to manage.
If you’d like to request a free quote on your next ROAD, AIR, OCEAN, RAIL, or PROJECT FREIGHT shipment, simply click the button below to get started. We’re ready to help you with your single-mode or multi-mode transportation needs.
by logisticsplus | Aug 21, 2015 | News
Logistics Plus (LP) provides logistics services within and across all national borders and using all modes of transportation. Air freight forwarding and ocean freight forwarding services come into play more often than not on international shipments. On the LP International team, Emily Grein is our lead air freight specialist and Kristen Smith is our lead ocean freight specialist. We asked these two to square-off in order to better understanding the pros and cons of shipping air freight versus ocean freight. Although Emily, Kristen, and their teams are intimately immersed in either air or ocean transportation, their top priority is always to ensure the right mode is selected for the needs of each customer (which, in some cases, can include both ocean and air).
When considering the choice between air and ocean freight forwarding, the top three factors to consider are generally reliability, speed, and cost. Whether you ship via air or via ocean, each requires some level of expertise to understand how these three factors will be impacted; and each has a different set of rules, regulations, and best-practices practices.
RELIABILITY
Airfreight is more convenient and faster even though flights can get delayed by weather and other circumstances. There are usually daily air flights back and forth and between major cities around the world. Ocean carrier sailings, on the other hand, are generally weekly or every other week depending upon the trade lane. This means that if a cut-off time is missed at a seaport, there will be a longer delay. There is also the possibility of exposure to weather conditions and goods being damaged due to the wait at the ports of transfer. Lastly, the longer, more stringent schedule of ocean service may not always line up with business expectations.
SPEED
It should be no surprise that shipping by air is usually much faster than by ocean. Air shipments can take up to a few days while shipping by ocean can take anywhere from a few weeks to months to arrive; however, more efficient routes are being created and ships are getting faster, meaning shipments crossing the ocean are taking less time.
COST
For many businesses, cost can be a very crucial factor which can influence the decision to ship by air or ocean freight. Shipping your items by air is more expensive than ocean freight. Expect to pay between 5-6 times more to ship by air versus ocean transportation. With both air and ocean, costs are directly related to the cargo weight, dimensions, value, and distance being shipped. Generally, larger and heavier shipments are often cheaper to ship by ocean, while smaller more valuable shipments are better to ship by air.
The table below shows a few items to consider when deciding whether to ship via air or ocean:
No matter which mode you ship, customs regulations, duties, and fees will come into play on all international imports or exports. Working with a reliable freight forwarder that has in-house customs broker solutions will go a long way towards ensuring your shipment receives expedited customs clearance and that your import/export fees are minimized.
If you need help with air freight forwarding, ocean freight forwarding, imports/exports, or global trade compliance, work with Logistics Plus and enjoy the benefits of having an award-winning supply chain partner on your side.
by Scott Frederick | Jul 17, 2015 | News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Logistics Plus Helps Western Shelter Systems Deliver Relief to Nepal
42 Tons of Humanitarian Aid Products Air Freighted from Oregon to Nepal
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, July 17, 2015 – Logistics Plus Inc., a worldwide provider of transportation, logistics and supply chain solutions, helped successfully coordinate 42 tons of humanitarian aid products from Oregon to Nepal. Working with its customer, Western Shelter Systems, the two-part shipment was picked up in Eugene, Oregon in early July and cleared customs at the American Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal on July 10, providing much needed relief shelters and supplies to the area.
Nepal was rocked by succession earthquakes in April and May, creating a humanitarian crisis. The first earthquake, on April 25, killed over 8,000 people, injured over 18,000, and destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes. A second major earthquake struck on May 12. The second quake toppled already weakened buildings, triggered a series of landslides further hampering relief efforts.
“Logistics Plus was flawless working with us on this humanitarian aid shipment,” said Mike Scala, President and CEO for Western Shelter Systems. “Email and phone communication were extremely abundant on this sensitive shipment, and we were guided through every detail including pallet configuration to dial in the best and fastest transport. Once the shipment cleared customs in Nepal, our people there were able to start working with the USDOJ in order to deploy this important aid.”
About Western Shelter Systems
Since 1992, Western Shelter Systems has been the standard, exclusive supplier of re-deployable shelters for all U.S. Federal government FEMA emergency responder teams, state and county governments, and municipal fire and police jurisdictions; as well as forest service, military, hospital, and industrial organizations. For more information, visit www.westernshelter.com.
About Logistics Plus
Logistics Plus Inc. provides freight transportation, warehousing, global logistics, and supply chain management solutions through a worldwide network of talented and caring professionals. Founded in Erie, PA by local entrepreneur Jim Berlin nearly 20 years ago, Logistics Plus has been repeatedly recognized as one of the fastest-growing transportation and logistics companies in the country. With a strong passion for excellence, its 350+ employees put the “Plus” in logistics by doing the big things properly, and the countless little things, that together ensure complete customer satisfaction and success.
The Logistics Plus® network includes offices located in Erie, PA; Fresno, CA; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; Evansville, IN; Detroit, MI; Kansas City, MO; Lexington, NC; Buffalo, NY; Cleveland, OH; Charleston, SC; Greenville, SC; Nashville, TN; Dallas, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Laredo, TX; Houston, TX; Australia; Bahrain; Belgium; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Egypt; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Libya; Mexico; Poland; Saudi Arabia; Turkey; United Kingdom; and additional agents around the world. For more information, visit www.logisticsplus.com or follow @LogisticsPlus on Twitter.
Media Contact:
Scott G. Frederick
Vice President, Marketing
Logistics Plus Inc.
(814) 240-6881
scott.frederick@logisticsplus.com
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.**
by logisticsplus | Jan 12, 2015 | News
In a global supply chain, timing and visibility are critical. So is selecting the best freight forwarder. Here are nine (9) reasons why you should consider working with Logistics Plus for your airfreight forwarding needs.
- Broad Service Portfolio. Logistics Plus offers courier, ocean, and air freight options internationally (for both import and export) and domestically. We are able to move cargo any way the customer requires (including ocean, ground, and rail). We have our own IAC (Indirect Air Carrier) certificate and our IATA/CNS membership allows us to ship cargo with all 250 air carriers they represent. Our relationships with the airlines allow us to negotiate our own rates which allows us to be cost-effective and competitive. Logistics Plus also has offices in 20 countries around the world which helps which gives us valuable knowledge and relationships for how best to ship internationally and which carriers to use. Our foreign offices are also able to help if there is a crisis in their area. For example, when a recent shipment was delayed in FRA (Frankfurt) our Germany team reached out to their local airline contacts to get the freight rescheduled on the first available flight.
- Customs Brokerage. As a licensed customs broker, Logistics Plus is currently able to clear shipments in the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis areas; and our license will be expanded to include all areas in the U.S. later this year. Additionally, we have partnerships with local brokers around the country if something specialized or time-sensitive is needed.
- Industry Expertise and Responsiveness. The Logistics Plus airfreight staff works as a cohesive team for all shipments. Their “all hands on deck” approach ensures that shipments move smoothly and as fast as possible. Airfreight quotes are quick and easy and can generally be provided within 24–36 hours. The Logistics Plus staff is cross-trained so that if one person is missing, the workflow isn’t disrupted as time is critical when it comes to air freight shipping. Our airfreight team leaders are always on hand to answer questions or address any potential delays. Having our own, fully-staffed global trade compliance department in-house as well, allows getting decisive and quick responses to any potential issues (our global trade compliance staff will even provide training to your employees if needed).
- Competitive Transit Times. With over 40 offices in 20 countries and additional agent relationships around the world, the Logistics Plus network is fully capable to source the mode and speed you need. Wherever you need to ship, we can make it happen (unless it’s an embargoed commodity, of course). We also work with a multitude of airlines that cover all destination airports. As a result, we are always able to offer different service options into locations no matter your preference – “less expensive and slower” or “more expensive and faster.” As a rule of thumb, we try not to offer any transits with more than 1 stop; sometimes it’s unavoidable, but that’s the best way to circumvent potential delays. Our knowledge of foreign countries, their holidays and weather patterns, also helps avoid potential problems.
- Competitive Rates. Logistics Plus is able to negotiate its own rates starting from pickup to delivery. If a customer has a “target rate” we can work directly with the airline to ensure we meet it, or get as close to possible. We are also available for our customers 24/7 to answer any questions they may have.
- Streamlined Manifesting and Invoicing. Logistics Plus bills electronically unless paper is requested. We are also enrolled in the IATA E-AWB program which has the ultimate goal of airfreight becoming completely paperless.
- Full Shipment Visibility. Customers are updated daily on the status of their shipments from the Logistics Plus dedicated international air staff. Visibility is also available to customers through our online eWorldPlus™ freight forwarding platform where the “workflow and tracking” is updated to follow every flight so a customer can see real-time statuses of their cargo. Customers can also obtain spot quotes, manage inventory, run reports, and more, through the eWordPlus system.
- Evaluate Product Integrity. Having good relationships with our warehouses is an important distinction for Logistics Plus. For airfreight, we utilize warehouses for airport transfer which allows our shipments to be inspected “one last time” before delivering to the airline. Any sign of damage we see is immediately reported to the customer. As a result of our solid relationships with carriers, warehouses, and agents, damages are extremely rare in our experience. All of our people show great care for your cargo, and it really shows.
- Talented People. Logistics Plus employees are among the most talented and caring in the industry. We are available 24/7/365 via telephone or e-mail. If something is potentially wrong we know about it. That’s just one of the many little things we do to ensure your shipment delivers successfully – or, as we like to say, that’s how we put the “plus” in Logistics Plus.
If you’re looking for a full-service airfreight forwarding partner, look no further than Logistics Plus. As this article illustrates, we have the expertise, capabilities … PLUS talented and caring airfreight specialists who will help you from pickup to final delivery – and everything in between. Let us provide you with a Quick Quote on your next airfreight shipment, or simply give us a call at 866.LOG.PLUS to get the process started. To quote a famous song, we will be the wind beneath your wings!
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