2016 Holiday Schedules for U.S. Ground Services

2016 Holiday Schedules for U.S. Ground Services

U.S. Holiday schedules for Logistics Plus and ground carriers

As the holidays approach, we want to help you avoid any unnecessary shipping delays over the next few weeks. Shown below is the holiday schedule for U.S.-based Logistics Plus offices and warehouse locations, as well as the top U.S. ground (parcel and LTL) carriers. If you have any special transportation needs, or expedited shipping requests, please contact Logistics Plus in advance of the office closings noted below. You can use the Logistics Plus online global directory to find any of our people or our locations. You can also reach our North American freight division by calling 1.866.335.7623 or emailing us at nadops@logisticsplus.com.

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Click image to see a slightly larger version of table.

 

SOLAS Container Freight Rules Take Effect July 1

SOLAS Container Freight Rules Take Effect July 1

Shipping ContainersAs widely reported in the trade media, and as Logistics Plus reported late last year, on July 1, 2016, a new regulation from SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea convention of the International Maritime Organization or IMO) takes effect requiring shippers whose name appears on the bill of lading to verify the gross mass of a container carrying cargo when tendering the container to the ocean carriers and terminals. Many in the industry are warning shippers to expect delays and congestion portside after the new rules go into effect.

We encourage Logistics Plus customers that ship containers to begin developing internal processes in anticipation of the new rules. This includes collecting accurate weights, developing a procedure for weighing containers, developing procedures for producing signed verified gross mass (VGM) certificates, understanding local requirements and determining who the authorized certificate signer will be while ensuring there is also a backup for this role. We also recommend having a contingency plan: if a container is denied access to a terminal or is quarantined on-site, have alternatives planned to move time-sensitive cargo via air or some other method.

As always, your international shipping partners at Logistics Plus stand ready to help customers answer questions and address the new container rules as best as possible. The Journal of Commerce has published a helpful Shippers’ Guide to Container Weight Mandate article and FAQs on its website. Logistics Plus customers with specific questions or concerns should call their local Logistics Plus representative, or email us at quotes@logisticsplus.com.

About Logistics Plus Inc.

Logistics Plus 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, 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; Alma, AR; Little Rock, AR; Los Angeles, CA; Riverside, CA; San Francisco, CA; Visalia, CA; Atlanta, GA; Evansville, IN; Detroit, MI; Kansas City, MO; Charlotte, NC; Lexington, NC; Buffalo, NY; Cleveland, OH; Charleston, SC; Greenville, SC; Nashville, TN; Dallas, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Houston, TX; Laredo, TX; Bahrain; Belgium; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Egypt; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Libya; Mexico; Poland; Saudi Arabia; Turkey; and UAE; with additional agents around the world. For more information, visit www.logisticsplus.com or follow @LogisticsPlus on Twitter.

Logistics Program for Manufacturer & Business Association

Logistics Program for Manufacturer & Business Association

LP-MBA-PalletIn case you missed it on Tuesday, the Manufacturer & Business Association (MBA) and Logistics Plus announced an agreement to provide transportation and logistics services to the more than 4,000 MBA members located in Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and western New York.  Through this new Logistics Program, MBA members will get exclusive access to preferred customer services and discounted rates for less-than-truckload (LTL), truckload, and international freight transportation; warehousing logistics services; customs brokerage solutions; and import/export trade compliance services.

The following advertisement will also appear in the February issue of Business Magazine, a monthly publication of MBA.

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(Click to see full-size PDF version)

MBA LogoFounded in 1905, the Manufacturer & Business Association is a not-for-profit employers’ association whose focus is to help businesses succeed. It partners with more than 4,000 businesses in Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio, providing a host of membership benefits including:

  • HR Planning and Consulting
  • Legal Services/Hotline
  • Training/Development
  • EnergyAdvisors
  • Surveys
  • Employee Benefits
  • Computer Training
  • Logistics Services
LTL Guaranteed Options Now Available on eShipPlus

LTL Guaranteed Options Now Available on eShipPlus

LTL-GuaranteedLogistics Plus customers using eShipPlus™ for online rate quoting and shipment scheduling will now benefit from instant visibility to LTL guaranteed services and rates. In addition to competitive standard LTL freight rates for multiple top-tier carriers, you’ll now be able to see – and select – guaranteed delivery services where available. This provides you with the added flexibility to have peace-of-mind assurance that your shipment is going to deliver on the day the carrier says it will deliver – or your money back! Initially, only “afternoon” and “end of day” guaranteed services for select carriers will be displayed. Guaranteed morning delivery services will not be instantly shown at this time; but they are still available upon request.

When you use the Estimate Rate or Rate and Schedule tools, you’ll now see a “Guaranteed By” check box underneath the carriers with guaranteed services. It’s extremely important that you note any special pickup or delivery requirements in the SERVICES menu, such as liftgate service, inside delivery, residential delivery, delivery to a container freight station or airport, etc. In most cases, guaranteed service will not apply under those circumstances and eShipPlus will not show the guaranteed service option if you submit an accurate freight quote request.

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If you select the check box, you’ll notice that your Total ($) price will be updated to reflect any up-charges applicable for this premium service.

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Additionally, if you click the [+] next to your Total ($) price, you’ll see an exact breakdown of the total price and related fees.

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Lastly, when you select your carrier – with the Guaranteed By box still checked – the appropriate verbiage will be automatically applied to your Logistics Plus bill of lading.

LTL-guaranteed-example4  LTL-guaranteed-example5

It’s important that you remind your driver at time of pickup that you have a guaranteed service shipment so they can ensure it is expedited through their system. As always, you can also call or email your Logistics Plus specialist with any questions or special requests. If your shipment is eligible for the selected guaranteed service, and if the carrier fails to deliver, Logistics Plus will back the service with a no-hassle, automatic zero-invoice guarantee. That means you can count on Logistics Plus to proactively track your shipment, and if it doesn’t deliver on-time, we’ll automatically cancel your freight charges on the shipment – there is no need to call us or file a claim.

If you’re a regular eShipPlus user, we hope you like this enhancement. If you’re new to Logistics Plus and not yet using our online eShipPlus tools, click here to request access today.

Interested in learning the difference between FTL and LTL shipping? Learn more.

Logistics Plus Moves Into a New Dallas/Fort Worth, TX Warehouse

Logistics Plus Moves Into a New Dallas/Fort Worth, TX Warehouse

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Logistics Plus Moves Into a New Dallas/Fort Worth, TX Warehouse

Announces the Hiring of Dawn Fritchie as its Warehouse Manager

DFW-WHSE-facilityERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, October 16, 2015 – Logistics Plus Inc., a worldwide provider of transportation, logistics and supply chain solutions, is proud to announce it has moved its Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Texas warehouse to a new and improved facility located at 920 Westport Parkway, Haslet, TX 76177. The new facility will have 180,000 square feet of storage space – over double its previous location – and is well-suited to handle large, heavy equipment with a pneumatic tire forklift that has 62,000 pounds of lifting capacity.

In parallel with the move, Logistics Plus has hired Dawn Fritche as its new DFW Warehouse Manager. Dawn brings 25 years of supply chain management experience to the position. Most recently she was operations manager for the Tractor Supply Company, and prior to that she held numerous supply chain roles with J.C. Penney Company.

We are very excited to have Dawn join us to run the DFW warehouse,” said Jim Berlin, founder and CEO for Logistics Plus. “This will be her baby, and I know she is working hard getting everything ready to go. We are so excited about the new facility and to have Dawn on the team!

Logistics Plus is advising its current DFW warehouse customers and suppliers to use the new address for any shipments on or after October 20th. The move is also being made to better prepare the facility for Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) activation status. Earlier this week, Logistics Plus announced the activation of the general-purpose ERI FTZ warehouse in northwestern Pennsylvania.

To learn more about the Logistics Plus DFW Warehouse, please visit https://www.logisticsplus.com/DFW

About Logistics Plus (LP)
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, 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; Charlotte, NC; 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; UAE; 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

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