by logisticsplus | Nov 5, 2015 | News
The International Maritime Organization (IMO.org) has recently approved changes to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention requiring the verification of container weights. Here are five things shippers should know – and do – in regards to the forthcoming revised rules for container weights:
- Verify All Container Weights!
All shippers will be responsible for verifying the weights of their containers before being loaded aboard any ship. A verified gross mass document should be handed to the shipping line, then the terminal, who will then determine whether or not to accept the container.
- Be Prepared!
The effective date of this new legislation is not until July 1st, 2016, but shippers need to start making arrangements now in order to ensure they are ready when its time.
- Don’t Risk It!
Not declaring the gross mass of your container, may not only lead to its rejection from the terminal but could also cost you a large sum of money in fines, sanctions or in some cases, even jail time.
- Pick A Verified Weighing Option:
Shippers have two options; they can either weigh the entire packed container using certified and calibrated equipment, or they can sum up the weights of each individual item utilizing an approved process.
- Talk To Your Freight Forwarder
If you are using a freight forwarder, make sure they are experienced and reputable (like Logistics Plus), and that you establish a well-founded communication system with them. This way you can ensure compliance on both sides, and prevent non-shipment or delays of any of your goods.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact the international experts at Logistics Plus at [email protected] or click the button below to get a quick quote on your next international freight shipment.
by logisticsplus | Nov 4, 2015 | News
One of the primary promises we make to our customers is to deliver their products to the right place, on time and intact. This has enabled Logistics Plus to earn a reputation for great service while growing on a global scale. After establishing offices in the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa, Logistics Plus has added another important region to its global network: the Middle East.
In 2013, when Imad Murtada first joined Logistics Plus as a business development manager, it only had one logistics agent in the region. It wasn’t long, however, until Imad, who brought with him many years of logistics experience in the region, utilized his connections and expertise to connect the Middle East to the world through Logistics Plus. Today, Logistics Plus operates out of eight offices located in Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Libya and the United Arab Emirates.
“We went from nothing to generating over $1.5 million in revenue from our business in Bahrain and Egypt alone,” says Imad. “This is only the beginning. Some of the largest companies in the region do business with us now. Wescosa and Cristal in Saudi Arabia, and Food National and Transilwrap in Egypt, are just a few examples.”
Operating in the Middle East is not easy: the logistics industry there is competitive and requires extra-ordinary customer service skills. Not to mention the constant demand for high quality services and low rates. “You have to reply to customer e-mails within no more than fifteen minutes,” Imad explains “If you don’t, some other company will take your customer.”
Each country in the Middle East also has its own set of rules, which is why it is very essential that logistics employees are aware of these rules and abide by them. To address cultural differences, Logistics Plus hires professionals that are familiar with these cultures and can speak the local languages fluently.
The number one key to succeeding in the region, according to Imad, is to build solid customer relationships with customers. “Customers in the Middle East value the relationship you have with them,” he says. “If they like you, they will be loyal customers.”
When asked about the political situation, Imad says that although the situation in the Middle East is volatile in some areas, that has not affected existing business. That’s because most shipments are made through either ocean or air freight, and “blacklisted” areas do not even have to be involved in the process. Despite the volatile political situation in some of the regions, business is still flourishing in other parts of the Middle East. In fact, according to the Brookings Institution, this year the city of Dubai was ranked the fifth highest performing metropolitan economy in the world. Last month, Logistics Plus opened its first office there.
Imad is very optimistic about the future of Logistics Plus in the Middle East, and he sees the potential for even more expansion in the region. “We are still relatively new in the area,” Imad says. “We are still building our brand and reputation, and we are doing a great job. As a result, more and more businesses are calling us for logistics solutions in the region.”
For more information about different logistics services in the Middle East, please contact:
Imad Murtada (Business Development Specialist): [email protected]
by Scott Frederick | Oct 20, 2015 | News
Time and accuracy are both important when it comes to shipping. That’s why it’s important to provide correct and accurate information when requesting freight quotes for transportation services. If you’re shipping LTL, truckload, expedited, or international, here are some general guidelines to help ensure you receive a prompt and precise rate estimate from your freight broker or freight forwarder.
Know what you are shipping and be clear about it.
This seems obvious, but it is surprising how many people try to get freight quotes without providing specific details on what it is they’re shipping. The commodity type and description matter. Special rules apply to certain raw materials, or items that may be imported or exported. Household goods and used products have different limitations on insurance and which carriers have authority to handle the shipment. Less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments have very complex and detailed freight classifications and density rules that may impact how your shipment is rated. So provide this detail up front if you can (in fact, if you already know your NMFC item number or your HTSUS code, go ahead and provide it in your quote request).
Know the size, weight and dimensions of your shipment.
Your shipment dimensions and weight should include whatever packaging is used to ship your goods, e.g., cartons, pallets, totes, etc. Having accurate weight and dimensions will avoid inspection and reweighing fees, and messy invoice corrections down the road. Weight and size are also particularly important for air freight shipments. Air freight prices are based on weight and size while ocean freight prices are generally just based on size.
Know where you are shipping to and from.
Again, this sounds obvious, but in the world of domestic freight shipping, it’s important for the carrier to know whether they are picking up at, or delivering to, a place of business or a residential location. Shipments to special locations, e.g., airports, container freight stations, convention centers, grocery warehouses, etc., may also require additional services or fees. When it comes to international shipping, your freight forwarder will need to know if your import or export is being shipped door to door, door to port, port to port, port to door. Being ready with addresses for the pickup and delivery locations is the best way to get the most accurate freight quote and service estimate.
Request your freight quote close to when you are shipping.
Transportation rates are very volatile with variables such as fuel costs, available capacity, and shipper demand. These variables are often not fully known until closer to your actual shipment date. Unless you’re a giant shipper like Walmart or Costco, you’re dealing with a constantly changing spot market for transportation rates. Even if you have negotiated LTL or truckload transportation rates, you will still be subject to weekly fuel price changes. As a rule of thumb, freight quotes for LTL or truckload shipments are generally good for about 7 days; whereas, freight quotes for air or ocean shipments are good for about 30 days.
If you’d like a free freight quote from the award-winning transportation and logistics team at Logistics Plus, simply click the button below. We provide quick, no-obligation freight quotes for LTL, truckload, expedited, international, project cargo, and more. Provide us with as much information as you can (the more the better), and we’ll take it from there!
by Scott Frederick | Oct 12, 2015 | News
Freight management solutions are a core competency for Logistics Plus. In fact, the company was founded nearly 20 years ago to provide inbound domestic freight management services to GE Transportation, a division of General Electric (GE) – one of the largest companies in the world. The success we demonstrated in those early years opened up doors to a variety of other solutions, such as warehousing, international freight forwarding, and global trade compliance. Despite our global footprint and expanded solutions portfolio, freight management remains a central part of our core service offerings. Today we help thousands of companies manage their freight – and we even provide on-site managed transportation solutions to a number of large clients.
If your company ships less-than-truckload (LTL), truckload, and expedited freight shipments on a regular basis, we invite you to try our four-step approach to better rates and service.
The secrets to our freight management and managed transportation success are as follows:
- Talented, experienced and caring logistics professionals
- Honesty and transparency with our customers and our carriers
- Great rates, super carriers, and outstanding service
- Shipment visibility and responsiveness to potential problems
- Customized, user-friendly technology and freight management tools
If you’re interested in trying any or all of our 4-steps to freight management success, please visit our online freight headquarters at www.logisticsplus.com/freight-hq or click the image below to get started.
by logisticsplus | Sep 1, 2015 | News
As announced last week, Logistics Plus begins its 20th year of operations this month. To celebrate the company’s rich history, we’ll periodically share an artifact, picture, story or news clipping from the past. Hopefully some (or many) of you will find this interesting – or at least a little nostalgic.
To kick things off, here’s a fun little artifact – one of the company’s first company brochures! While the graphics and design have much to be desired, there’s no denying the early signs of our passion for excellence with statements like “Logistics IS details” and “Sweating the details to save you time and money.” Although we might have been able to “fly below the radar” in the past, we understand that there are still “a lot of high flying logistics companies you can choose from” today. That’s why we continue to work hard to earn our customers’ trust by going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure their complete satisfaction and total success in all aspects of logistics.
If you’re a current Logistics Plus customer, we thank you for your support and your business. If you’re new to Logistics Plus, we invite you to give us a try on your next LTL freight, truckload or international shipment. We’d also be happy reviewing your entire freight spend by digging through the details to see if we can help save you time and money.
