by logisticsplus | Jan 22, 2020 | News
Less-than-truckload (LTL) freight consolidation is a freight strategy that involves combining multiple LTL shipments – all with a common destination – into a full truckload and then shipping it to its final destination. Simply put, rather than shipping direct from the origin to destination with multiple LTL shipments and/or carriers, the shipper is sending all of its freight at once to the final destination. Here are some benefits that LTL freight consolidation offers:
- Pricing simplicity: Receive one quote for a full truckload rather than multiple LTL quotes.
- Improved transit times: Dedicated truckloads mean that all your freight will arrive to the same place at the same time.
- Better shipment transparency: Rather than tracking multiple LTL shipments, focus on one single load.
- Fewer carrier interactions: Fewer carriers means less hassle and interaction.
- Reduced accessorial charges: Rather than paying for the same accessorial on each LTL shipment, only pay them once.
- Increased service levels: A single point of contact and lowered risks due to less handling of the goods.
- Sustainable shipping practices: The carbon footprint is reduced with consolidations since fewer trucks are being used.
Consolidation involves more than just keeping your number of shipments down; LTL freight consolidation represents an opportunity for shippers to find more efficient and cost-effective solutions. However, to freight consolidation does require a higher-level of planning and forecasting within your supply chain. If you are an emerging brand or a small to mid-sized business, a third-party logistics provider can potentially help you combine your LTL shipments that are moving to common destinations.
If you find yourself frequently sending LTL shipments to the same location, contact us today to find out whether freight consolidation is possible for you. If you’d simply like a quote on your next shipment, click the button below.
by logisticsplus | Jan 2, 2020 | News
Please see the latest supplement to the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC®) by the Commodity Classifications Standards Board (CCSB). These changes have an effective date of 1/4/2020. A few of the notable changes are listed below.
- Drugs, Chemicals, Medicines and Other Articles Named — Item 60000, RVNX $3.35 per lb, class 70. Item 60000 is canceled with reference to the provisions that are otherwise applicable. The classes shown in these individual items will be applicable. The references to item 60000 are removed from the following NMFC items. 12540 12980 21420 21520 21540 21640 23420 42460 42470 42620 42647 42648 42740 42780 42790 42800 42850 42890 42920 42980 42990 43000 43140 43180 43200 43210 43230 43260 43490 43510 43540 43560 43580 43590 43610 43660 43680 43770 43850 43940 43950 43980 44040 44060 44070 44110 44170 44225 44230 44320 44380 44460 44480 44520 44550 44610 44650 44680 44690 44700 44720 44760 44810 44830 44855 44867 44900 44910 45000 45040 45050 45060 45090 45120 45260 45325 45380 45400 45410 45420 45465 45480 45680 45710 45750 45790 45800 45870 45880 45930 46000 46023 46040 46045 46060 46160 46170 46190 46200 46270 46290 46340 46350 46400 46480 46530 46580 46610 46620 46660 46720 46780 46820 46840 46920 46930 47010 47030 47040 47050 47070 47100 47110 47120 47130 47140 47150 47210 47370 47400 49983 50020 50023 50155 50175 56660 56996 57100 58520 58540 58542 58560 58610 58670 58710 58770 58820 58900 58920 58960 59040 59070 59080 59090 59100 59140 59200 59250 59260 59270 59300 59310 59380 59460 59480 60260 60280 63590 64400 72120 72620 72860 73200 74030 75480 75490 75550 90930 91140 91160 91180 91200 91220 91240 91260 91380 91400 91420 91440 91480 91500 91520 91540 91560 91780 99820 111180 135380 135530 136040 136140 138360 144640 144660 144700 144780 144940 162870 163030 169320 169340 171410 172180 172990 173740 178720 179960 196580 196600 196640 196720 196760 196860. Concurrently, Notes, items 60002 and 60004 are canceled with no further application.
- Foodstuffs, other than frozen. Various foodstuffs are removed from item 73227 and reclassified. Item 72790 (Dips) is canceled with reference to new item 74700 (Sauces, Condiments, Dips or Spreads). New items are established as follows: 72030 (Baby Food), 72041 (Baking Powder), 72285 (Butters or Spreads, nut or seed, including Peanut Butter),74510 (Purees, fruit or vegetable, including applesauce) and 74737 (Shells, taco, or tortillas).
- Ovens, Ranges or Stoves, cooking, indoor, and Related Cooking Equipment. Items 27320, 27430, 27440 and 27450 are canceled with reference to new item 26720 for “Ovens, Ranges or Stoves, cooking, and Related Cooking Equipment, electric or gas,” with classes based on a density break at 8 pcf. Item 26720 references new Note, item 26721, which requires articles weighing each greater than 110 pounds to be tendered in authorized packages secured on a lift truck skid, pallet or platform. Item 26710 is amended to restrict its application to “Ovens, NOI, other than cooking.” Item 27590 is canceled with reference to new item 26720 and, for commercial or institutional broilers, cookers or steamers, fryers (deep fryers) and griddles, to new item 25970, the latter with no change in packaging or classes. As modified, reference to indoor type in item 26720 applies only to stoves, stovetops, cooktops or grills, and the restrictive terminology, “other than cooking,” is added to item 27520 for gas stoves or ranges.
- Posts or Poles, utility, including Lighting, Telephone or Electric Railway Posts or Poles, or Sections thereof. Items 161150, 161160, 161170, 161180, 161200, 161210, 161220 and 161240 are canceled with reference to new item 161145, naming “Posts or Poles, utility, including Lighting, Telephone or Electric Railway Posts or Poles, or Sections thereof,” with classes predicated on greatest dimension and density. New Notes 161146 and 161148 are established to clarify the application of the item and provide additional packaging requirements, respectively. Note 109704 is amended to reflect the new provisions accordingly.
- Flashlights, Lanterns, Searchlights or Spotlights, electric, handheld — Items 109110 and 109800. Item 109110 is amended to provide class 150. As modified, item 109800 is amended to provide class 110 whether or not complement of batteries is included. Note 109112 is amended to use the word “that.” For uniformity, the term “handheld” is used in the descriptions of items 109110 and 109800.
- Pans or Pots, cast aluminum. Item 52930 is canceled with reference to item 52895, which assigns class 125. Concurrently, the description of item 52895 is amended by removal of the restriction “other than cast.”
- Oxygen, recreational, in handheld canisters or containers. New item 86070 is established for recreational oxygen, with classes based on whether or not the product is offered for transportation as a Hazard Class 2, Division 2.2 material and on density. New Notes 86071 and 86072 are established to clarify the new item’s application. Note 56911 is amended to direct the Classification user to the new item.
- Heaters, gas, other than portable. Item 26460 is amended for simplification, and class 150 is assigned.
- Heaters, electric, wall insert or baseboard type. Item 26500 is amended for clarification and simplification, and class 125 is assigned.
- Virtual Reality Headsets (VR Headsets). New item 62190 is established, naming “Headsets, virtual reality (VR Headsets),” at class 150. Additionally, new Note 62191 is established limiting the new item to VR headsets with integrated screens or monitors.
- Kilns — Items 123820, 123840 and 123860. Item 123820 is amended for clarification and simplification, to specify packaging “in boxes or crates,” and to provide classes predicated on a density break at 8 pcf. Item 123840 is amended to provide class 110. Item 123860 is canceled.
- Fireplace Grates, Grate Baskets or Grate-Type Heaters. Items 69430, 69440 and 69457 are canceled with reference to the full-scale density provisions of item 69420. Concurrently, the “viz.” listing in item 69420 is amended to include “Grates, Grate Baskets or Grate Parts,” and “Heaters, Heat Exchangers or Extractors, fireplace grate type.”
- Wood Moldings (Mouldings). Items 38030, 38040 and 38050 are canceled with reference to new item 38035, naming wood “Moldings (Mouldings), with or without coatings or coverings of other materials,” with classes predicated on greatest dimension and density. Note 38036 is established to clarify that item 38035 also applies on moldings made of wood particleboard or medium density fiberboard (MDF). Note 37612 is amended by removal of “house trim” for clarification.
- Stairs, wooden, SU or in SU sections. Item 38176 is amended to read, “Stairs, SU or in SU sections,” and the superfluous modifier “wooden” is removed. Item 38180 is likewise amended to read, “Stairs, SU or in SU sections,” with “NOI” added to the description, and reference to Note, item 37504 removed. The item is further amended to provide classes predicated on greatest dimension and density and to specify packaging “in boxes or crates.”
- Strapping, box or package, synthetic fiber or plastic. Item 179570 is amended to provide a single class 70. The packaging requirement “in boxes” is established, and the punctuation is amended in the interest of simplification.
- Traps, bullet or target. Item 17670 is canceled and reestablished as new item 187130, not subject to the Athletic Goods Group, with classes predicated on density breaks at 10 and 15 pcf, and specifying packaging “in boxes or crates.”
- Compounds, bleach assistant, NOI, and Cement, roofing, NOI. Items 50086 and 170060 are amended to remove the “bomb burst” symbol (*), add restrictive language, and refer to new attendant Notes 50087 and 170061, respectively, stating that the involved items do not apply on materials regulated by the DOT as hazardous and required to bear a Hazard Class or Hazard Division label. The Notes also direct the Classification user to other items for classes applicable to such hazardous materials.
- Garage or Commercial or Industrial Building Doors or Door Sections or Grilles. Item 34290 is amended to specifically allow accompanying motors as well as hardware or fittings, regardless of whether they are in the same or a separate package. Concurrently, Note 34291 is canceled with no further application.
- Obsolete Items or Provisions being cancelled and removed.
- 60790 – Battery Boxes, Covers or Vents, NOI
- 60810 – Battery Covers, Boxes or Vents, NOI
- 60860 – Battery Jars or Battery Jar Parts
- 60940 – Battery Sets
- 60960 – Battery Sets
- 60980 – Battery Zincs
- 79469 – Furniture, one-half scale display replicas
- 152220 – Box Straps or Strapping
Click the thumbnail image below to download a PDF copy of the full list of classification changes.
by logisticsplus | Nov 8, 2019 | News
If you regularly ship a high volume of products, you’ve probably had to deal with freight claims before. We all know that managing freight claims can be time consuming, frustrating, and a hassle to complete. From completing and submitting paperwork, to waiting on each claim to be settled, a lot of time and effort stands between your business and the valuable money a damaged shipment can lose you.
Because of these reasons, several businesses now outsource freight claims management to a reliable, trusted third party company such as Logistics Plus. If you want to achieve efficiency and gain tight control of your company, outsourcing freight claims is the best way to do so. In this article, we’ll discuss the steps it takes to file a freight claim and the main benefits of outsourcing them.
Steps to File A Freight Claim
- The shipment must be identified so the carrier can complete an investigation.
- The type of loss or damage must be stated.
- The amount for the claim must be stated.
- A demand for payment by the carrier must be included.
Benefits of Outsourced Freight Claims Management
- Don’t pay for someone else’s mistake. Unfortunately, accidents happen and the same applies to shipping. Although you have the right to be reimbursed for any loss, transportation companies have become so large which causes delays and frustration in the claims process. Don’t let this happen to you!
- Gain visibility to outstanding claims. If you outsource freight claims, you are able to receive shorter resolution times, improved win-rates, increased recoveries, and most importantly reporting. Things such as email updates and timely reports never leave you wondering how far along your claim is during this long process.
- Save the time and hassle. When you don’t have to worry about the administrative work, your team is able to focus on other projects and growing your business. For smaller organizations especially, this advantage is critical.
If you frequently ship LTL freight or truckload shipments, freight losses and damages are almost inevitable. That’s why it’s important to have an experienced and caring freight claim management team on your side.
Contact us today to learn more and find out why you should outsource freight claims to Logistics Plus.
by logisticsplus | Sep 17, 2019 | News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Logistics Plus Renews with the U.S. EPA SmartWay Transport® Partnership
It’s the ninth consecutive year that Logistics Plus successfully completes its SmartWay emissions reporting.
ERIE, PA (September 17, 2019) – Logistics Plus Inc., a leading worldwide provider of transportation, logistics and supply chain solutions, is proud to announce that it has submitted and received approval for its current data submission to the SmartWay® Transport Partnership, an innovative collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the industry. The SmartWay Transport Partnership provides a framework to assess the environmental and energy efficiency of goods movement supply chains.
Logistics Plus will continue to contribute to the Partnership’s savings of 248.9 million barrels of oil, $33.4 billion in fuel costs and 119 million tons of air pollutants. This is the equivalent of the annual electricity use in 16 million homes. Each year, performance data is submitted and reviewed to qualify as a SmartWay partner. The EPA recently approved the Logistics Plus annual submission of Partnership reporting requirements for the ninth consecutive year.
“Logistics Plus is committed to the most efficient and clean transportation practices,” said Steve Srnka, compliance attorney for Logistics Plus. “Our continued SmartWay approval confirms to our customers and partners that Logistics Plus is doing its part for environmental sustainability.”
About SmartWay
Developed jointly in early 2003 by EPA and Charter Partners represented by industry stakeholders, environmental groups, American Trucking Associations, and Business for Social Responsibility, this innovative program celebrated its 10 year anniversary in 2014. Partners rely upon SmartWay tools and approaches to track and reduce emissions and fuel use from goods movement. The Partnership currently has over 3,000 Partners including shipper, logistics companies, truck, rail, barge, and multimodal carriers. For information about the SmartWay Transport Partnership visit www.epa.gov/smartway.
About Logistics Plus Inc.
Logistics Plus Inc. provides freight transportation, warehousing, fulfillment, global logistics, business intelligence technology, and supply chain management solutions through a worldwide network of talented and caring professionals. The company was founded over 23 years ago in Erie, PA by local entrepreneur, Jim Berlin. Today, Logistics Plus is a highly-regarded fast-growing and award-winning transportation and logistics company. With a strong passion for excellence, its 500+ 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; Little Rock, AR; Los Angeles, CA; Riverside, CA; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Visalia, CA; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Lexington, NC; Buffalo, NY; New York, NY; Olean, NY; Akron, OH; Cleveland, OH; Charleston, SC; Nashville, TN; Dallas, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Houston, TX; Laredo, TX; Winchester, VA; Madison, WI; Australia; Bahrain; Belgium; Brazil; Canada; China; Colombia; Czech Republic; Egypt; France; Germany; Hong Kong; India; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Libya; Mexico; Netherlands; Poland; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Taiwan; Turkey; UAE; Uganda; and United Kingdom; with 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
Click image below to download the Logistics Plus logo:
by logisticsplus | Aug 5, 2019 | News
Please see the latest supplement to the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC®) by the Commodity Classifications Standards Board (CCSB). These changes have an effective date of 8/24/2019. A few of the notable changes are listed below.
- Item 171 – Artificial construction of a density to obtain a lower class (the bumping clause) has been cancelled and no longer applies on any NMFC Items.
- All items listed under the Flowers, Herbs or Leaves (NMFC 71500); and Roots or Spices (NMFC 170700) groups are being cancelled and moved to the newly established NMFC 98720 which will carry a 3 sub classification based on density and may be an increase or decrease in class. ***Please see the attached supplement for specific NMFC Items affected.
- Binders or Covers – NMFC 23490 & 23500 are being cancelled and moved under NMFC 179180 which carries an 11 sub classification based on density and may be an increase or decrease in class.
- Cookers, electric, low temperature – NMFC 25930 is being cancelled and moved under NMFC 25840 which is being changed to a flat class 110 and will have an increase in class.
- Cookers, steam pressure (Pressure Cookers) – NMFC 52880 is being cancelled and moved under NMFC 25840 which will be a flat class 110 and newly established NMFC 52960 which will be a flat class 100.
- Heaters, water, tankless – NMFC 26525 is being changed to a 2 sub classification based on density and will be an increase in class.
- Mobility scooter, electric – newly established NMFC 56834 will carry a 2 sub classification based on density.
- Wheelchairs, motor-propelled – NMFC 57070 is being changed to a 2 sub classification based on density and may be an increase or decrease in class.
- Shampoo or Conditioner; and Shaving Cream or Shaving Soap – NMFC 59320 and 59360 are being canceled and moved under NMFC 59420 which is being changed to a 3 sub classification based on density and will be an increase in class.
- Cords, power supply (for permanent attachment to electric appliance, machine or tools) – NMFC 61490 is being changed to a flat class 70 and will be an increase in class.
- Electronic Cigarettes, Vape Device or other Nicotine Delivery System or Subassemblies or Essential Parts – newly established NMFC 61805 will carry an 11 sub classification based on density.
- Telephone Parts and Videophones – NMFC 63285 & 63310 are being canceled and moved under NMFC 63300 which carries an 11 sub classification based on density and may be an increase or decrease in class.
- Carpet or Rug Lining, Cushions or Floor Underlayment – NMFC 70540, 70560, 70580, 70600, 70650 & 70660 are being cancelled and moved under newly established NMFC 70610 which will carry an 8 sub classification based on greatest dimension and density and may be an increase or decrease in class.
- Sneeze Guards or Food Shields – NMFC 82285 is being changed to a 2 sub classification based on the greatest dimension and will be an increase in class.
- Gas Masks – NMFC 85380 is being cancelled and moved under NMFC 134140 which is being changed to class 200 and will be an increase in class.
- Air Coolers, water evaporative type – NMFC 114130 is being changed to an 8 sub classification based on packaging and density and may be an increase in class.
- Drags, Groomers or Rakes (equestrian arena or track – tractor or vehicle attaching) – newly established NMFC 119750 will carry a 2 sub classification based on density.
- Pressure Reducing Valve and Water Relief Valve combined – NMFC 127200 is being cancelled and moved under NMFC 127220 which is being changed to a 3 sub classification based on density and may be an increase or decrease in class.
- Siding, plastic – NMFC 170580 is being changed to an 8 sub classification based on the greatest dimension and density and will be an increase in class.
- Augers or Diggers (post hole, hand held or hand supported) – NMFC 183635 is being changed to an 8 sub classification based on packaging and density and may be an increase in class.
- Windshield Wiper Arms, Blades or Motor – NMFC 197720 is being changed to a flat class 110 and will be an increase in class.
- Cancelled NMFC Items due to being Obsolete:
Asbestos Articles – NMFC 14620
Shoe shining cabinet (household) – NMFC 80380
Oleo Stock – NMFC 145550
Click the thumbnail image below to download a PDF copy of the full list of classification changes.
