Topic: Industry Trends

Protect Your Shipments From Cargo Theft

Cargo theft is surging across the United States — and food and beverage products seem to be the main targets. According to CNBC, this is a “sign of the economic times” and adding further pressure to already inflated prices. Cargo Theft Increases in the United States Cities seeing a spike in freight theft include […]

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2023 Q2 Freight Market Update

As we began the first quarter of the new year, the market was softening and offering shippers relief. Heading into Q2, we are seeing more of the same. Economic Factors   Inflation   The U.S. inflation rate is sitting at 6% as of February 2023. It has been steadily declining since the peak of 9.1% we […]

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Automotive Products: Choosing the Right 3PL for Retail Deliveries

Did you know…?  The automotive products industry is estimated to reach a global value of $374 Billion in 2023. The automotive products industry includes items like car batteries, cleaners and polishes, motor oils and coolants, car accessories, and replacement car parts. There are more than 24,111 automotive retail stores in the U.S.. Top automotive product retailers by revenue include […]

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2023 Q1 Freight Market Update

What a whirlwind the 2022 Freight Market was – we saw inflation, fuel prices, and freight rates hit record highs. As we begin the first quarter of the new year, the market is softening and offering shippers relief.  Economic Factors  Inflation  According to Forbes, many inflated costs finally began declining in November 2022 like […]

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6 Ways to Prepare Your Supply Chain for Peak Holiday Disruption

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  . . . But maybe not always for shippers.  During the holiday season, we usually see tighter capacity and slightly higher rates as shipping volumes increase. This can lead to service failures, lost sales, and retailer chargebacks. Service Failures Abound During Holiday Shipping  Heading into this […]

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Protect Your Shipments From Freeze Damage This Winter

There’s snow way out of it: winter is coming and so are slippery, congested roadways and freezing temps.  Are your shipments ready to endure chilly transit? Let’s talk about protecting your freight from freeze damage this winter.  Do Your Shipments Need Protected from Freeze Damage?  Where are your shipments headed? Freezing temps vary across […]

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Christmas Tree Delivery Impact on Freight Capacity & Rates

Every year . . .   73 million Christmas trees are planted all over the United States. 25-30 million trees are delivered across the nation to prepare for the holiday season.  As the holidays approach and families begin gathering, flatbeds piled high with Christmas Trees are en route to a marketplace near you.  Christmas Tree Production  […]

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Freight Market Update and Q4 Outlook 

Another dynamic quarter in the freight market has come and gone. In Q3, CPG brands and their supply chains have been impacted by an extremely inflated economy, newly implemented bills and freight regulations, and shifts in retailer requirements. Here’s a recap of the quarter broken down by these factors and what shippers should expect […]

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Improving the Lives of Transportation Professionals

At Zipline Logistics, our mission has always been to improve the lives of transportation professionals.   While our state-of-the-art technology and retail-specialized solutions certainly play a big part, living out this mission really comes down to our outstanding employees and the world-class customer service they offer our clients.   The overall well-being and mental health of our […]

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AB5 Threatens to Destabilize the Freight Market

On June 30, 2022, the Supreme Court denied the California Trucking Association’s appeal of California’s AB5, causing the bill to go into effect immediately.  What is AB5?  California’s AB5 requires companies using independent contractors to reclassify those workers as employees.   This bill was originally designed to regulate companies that hire “gig workers” in large […]

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Why Should You Care About NMFC Changes When Shipping LTL?

The April 2019 round of NMFC changes shook up LTL shipping practices for nutritional beverage manufacturers around the country. Nutritional supplement drinks and whey protein were targeted for reclassification in the update. These items previously shipped at class 60 but the update created a secondary qualification for less dense products to ship at class 70. […]

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LTL vs Parcel: When Is It Time to Graduate?

For any CPG business, growth is good. But when expanding, brands can quickly find themselves in uncharted territory, deciphering LTL vs parcel shipping, trying to determine when it’s best to leverage each. A high watermark of an organization is moving beyond solely relying on parcel shipping to fulfill orders and moving onto less-than-truckload (LTL) freight […]

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