The NMFTA has issued several NMFC changes that went into effect on August 13, 2022. It’s super important to communicate NMFC updates with your organization and prepare accordingly, as these changes affect your shipping class and therefore, your less-than-truckload (LTL) rates. What is an NMFC number? The NMFC is a codified list that classifies […]
Read MoreTopic: LTL Shipping
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. […]
Read MoreLTL 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 […]
Read MoreLooming Tariffs Pose Threat of Capacity Disruption for National Retail Transportation
Editorial Note: Since publication, the Trump Administration reached a trade deal with the Mexican government, which suspended the steep percent tariff rate scheduled to be applied on June 10. Although the tariff will not be instituted as proposed, the threat of the duty temporarily strained capacity along the US-Mexico border, which does affect freight pricing. […]
Read MoreLeveraging Trucking Data to Make Key Carrier Decisions for Shippers
As technology advances and continues its march into every facet of our professional and personal lives, we see more and more opportunities to collect “big data” and harness the power behind the numbers. To expand on how trucking data is integral in shaping and driving decisions at Zipline Logistics, our Director of Business Innovation, Dustin […]
Read MoreEstablishing Minimum Order Quantities Adds Up to Big Supply Chain Savings
There is plenty to consider when analyzing a transportation operation. Among the seemingly endless details that go into making a logistics decision, there is an important and often under-analyzed detail — how a carrier’s minimum charge can work in concert with retail minimum orders to maximize supply chain savings. Though minimum order quantity and minimum […]
Read MoreNMFC Undergoes Initial 2019 Update – Food Supplements and Whey Protein
The National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. (NMFTA) released their latest supplement to the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) code list last month, set to take effect on April 27, 2019. The modifications will affect a few different industries as products have been reclassified to meet the new NMFC compliance standards. But before we dive […]
Read MoreUsing Transportation Data Analytics and Zipline’s KanoPI to Improve Your Transportation Network
How are modern consumer product companies using transportation data analytics to find success? They’re using technology to evaluate their vast amount of shipment data and increase transparency into their transportation network, identifying opportunities for improvement and cost savings. According to an article published by Cerasis, “Big data has become synonymous with better business, improving efficiency […]
Read MoreLeveraging Logistics to Unlock Profit – Specialty Food Association
Logistics is a rapidly changing and complex industry. This is particularly true for grocery and retail transportation. Retailers are tightening demands on vendors so they can have well-stocked shelves and retain customers, keeping them from turning to online alternatives. While e-commerce is booming, only 3% of grocery shopping is currently done online. There is still […]
Read MoreLTL Industry Poised for Growth, Digital Integration
Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) shipping, once a staid segment of transportation, has blossomed in recent years. Factors that parallel what’s happening in the trucking industry—particularly a healthy domestic economy and robust e-commerce sales—have given the LTL industry a boost. Becoming a frequently used mode of transport in the age of digital logistics is certainly within the grasp […]
Read MoreWalmart OTIF Requirements; May 2019 Vendor Compliance Updates
Retailers are continuously changing their vendor guidelines in order to remain competitive and adjust to both consumer and supplier demands. Walmart OTIF (On Time In Full) is the latest retail vendor compliance program to see a round of updates. Wall Street Journal reported on the update earlier this month, but here’s a break down of […]
Read MoreDisadvantages of Bundling Logistics Services
Photo by Robson Hatsukami Morgan on Unsplash Why it’s paramount that shippers avoid the seduction of a turnkey logistics provider (and why many mature supply chain leaders already know this). As they approached a higher level of demand for their offerings, an importer of food products from Mexico signed up with a one-stop logistics provider in Laredo, Texas. […]
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