What is a BOL? A Bill of Lading (BOL, BoL, or B/L) is a legally binding document between a shipper and carrier that details all the information needed to process a freight shipment. A BOL is essential because every shipment starts and ends with one. It also protects the seller, the shipper, and the recipient. […]
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What Affects Freight Rates?
For an industry that has such a big impact on the economy and people’s lives, logistics is subject to a surprising amount of unpredictable, external conditions that can affect freight rates—such as natural disasters and changes in the workforce. Here we break down different impacts that lead to freight rate fluctuation, how they have recently influenced […]
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ELD Mandate and Capacity Impacts
Photo Source: NationalLease What will happen to truck capacity when the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate is finally enforced this coming December? The ELD mandate will help to standardize Hours of Service (HOS). Paper logs can be manipulated easily, with some drivers running multiple books or delaying start times, to drive more hours than legally […]
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Freight Costs: Intermodal Transportation
Intermodal transportation, or the use of multiple modes to execute the movement of freight, is growing in popularity as an alternative to the singular use of truckload. Two of the biggest reasons intermodal shippers are using multimodal shipping methods are lower cost per mile for many long-haul lanes, as well as more consistent service. Lower […]
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Freight Costs: Shipping with Intermodal Transportation
Intermodal transportation, or intermodal shipment, is the use of multiple modes to execute the movement of freight. It is growing in popularity as an alternative to the singular use of truckload. Two of the biggest reasons intermodal shippers are using intermodal transportation methods are lower cost per mile for many long-haul lanes, as well as […]
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Logistics Strategy for Food Startups – Podcast
Logistics strategy can often be an afterthought, or at least not an area of focus, for new brands. Product development and marketing take center stage and shipping is seen as a necessary (but aggravating) part of doing business. However, when brands start to think about logistics from a strategic standpoint, particularly in the early stages […]
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Freight Costs: Breaking Down LTL Shipping Rates
Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) has a reputation for being an expensive and slow shipping option, but it’s a mode that provides a lot of flexibility for shippers when used correctly. The key is understanding how LTL tariffs and LTL freight rates work and how the carriers operate – then using that knowledge to your advantage. LTL rate […]
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Which Transportation Strategy? CPU vs. Delivered Pricing
How a consumer product company gets its goods to buyers and on to retail shelves is an integral part of the cost equation. Decisions made around delivery can make the difference between costly transportation and healthy margins. There are two popular scenarios for delivery: Retailers will pick up the product, using their own fleet or […]
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Truckload Rates: What Goes into a Freight Quote?
Why do truckload rates change so regularly? To help shippers better understand why freight rates are different per mode, distance, and product, we’ll be doing a blog series that dives into specific cost variables. We’re starting with full truckload rates (FTL) because it is the most common mode. It is used when a single shipper […]
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Transportation Impacts from Hurricane Harvey
Photo Source: Time.com Tropical Storm Harvey has brought catastrophic and life-threatening floods to Texas. According to The Weather Channel, the storm could dump as much as 50 inches of rain in some spots by the end of the week. What do these events mean for your supply chain? When monumental disasters hit the country, transportation […]
Read MoreFood Logistics Includes Zipline Logistics on 2017 Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers List
COLUMBUS, OHIO— Food Logistics, the only publication exclusively dedicated to covering the movement of product through the global food supply chain, has named Zipline Logistics to its 2017 Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers list. The Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers list serves as a resource guide of third-party logistics and cold storage providers […]
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5 Ways Logistics Operations Can Support a Growing Brand
What your business is today is not what it will be in the future. Emerging brands want to get big – big companies want to get bigger. One thing they all have in common is the need for logistics operations that can enable growth – and this takes foresight. It also includes anticipating the capabilities […]
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