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 MoreTopic: Truckload Shipping
Leveraging 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 […]
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Establishing 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 […]
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Using 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 […]
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Walmart 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 […]
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Disadvantages 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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Fixing the Major Issue of Detention Time for Truckers
First off, what is truck detention and what is detention pay for truckers? When shipments aren’t ready to be loaded, even if a truck driver arrives on time, the trucker is “detained” and must wait for freight (and its paperwork) to be prepped. The industry standard is to have trucks loaded in two hours. After […]
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Rejected Freight: Top Reasons Freight is Turned Away
What does it mean to have rejected freight? If a carrier arrives at a facility and the receiver refuses to take the freight as is, it is rejected and must go back to the shipper or be fixed before ownership can switch hands. Some reasons for rejected freight are obvious, like a damaged product or […]
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Q1 2019 Freight Rates and Market Update
The transportation industry saw record-setting levels of freight-haul demand and driver pay in 2018 as tonnage levels reached a 20-year high, the ELD Mandate caused major debate and disruption, and price increases were felt across the map. This begs the question, what can we expect to see in 2019? Nothing quite so drastic. The trucking […]
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Q4 2018 Trucking Industry Update
Here is a summary of the most influential transportation market impacts and predictions, so you’re not left to decipher the plethora of voices online. 4Q Trucking Outlook The average national rate at the close of September was $2.15 per mile. Outbound Chicago held the highest average rate at $2.66 per mile, while Dallas averaged $1.94 […]
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ELD Mandate Report; October 2018 Update
Zipline Logistics’ carrier team surveyed more than 150 trucking companies in our network about the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate and its impacts. Goals of the survey included seeing how the market has adjusted since the December 2017 rollout of the Mandate, what preferences and procedures have changed with fleets, and how drivers and dispatchers […]
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OTR vs Intermodal: Which Shipping Strategy is Right for You?
What mode of transportation is the best choice for the movement of your freight? Each mode offers its own set of pros and cons and is best suited for different situations. One of the most common debates is over-the-road (truckload) vs. intermodal (rail). Many shippers stick to using trucks/vans to move their product because it’s […]
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