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 […]
Read MoreTopic: Truckload Shipping
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 […]
Read More
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 […]
Read More
Freight Rates Update: 2017 Q3
The freight market may finally be rebounding from its multi-year slump. Mark Montague, an industry rate analyst for DAT Solutions, states that “The robust supply of van and refrigerated truckload freight in May and June, combined with higher spot market rates and load-to-truck ratios, are signs that the freight recession is over.” The July 4th […]
Read More
How Shipping Lead Time Impacts Freight Rates and Service
You may have heard your logistics partner, truck broker say that providing more notice days or shipping lead time could help lower costs. But how? To put it simply, the more time a third-party logistics provider (3PL) has to book a shipment, the more leverage they have to: Negotiate freight rates Find savings or efficiency […]
Read More
Control of Your Inbound Transportation Charges
Inbound transportation charges – fees related to the delivery of goods into a business – are often overlooked. Why? Unfortunately, when product is shipped, the freight cost can be buried in a supplier invoice, combined with the cost of goods purchased. Combining costs in this way may be simpler to manage from an administrative perspective, […]
Read More
Latest Technologies in the Shipping Industry: Autonomous Trucks, API, Uber, and Drones
It’s an exciting time for technology in transportation. The problem is that sometimes many of the most interesting ideas aren’t necessarily the ones that drive immediate change. This is not to argue that new logistics technology in any form is not a great thing – it is. The point is to have more realistic expectations […]
Read More
Trucking Rates 2017: Q2 Update
Everyone predicted a rise in freight rates for 2017 (including Zipline). But the spike has yet to hit. So, where do market pressures and transportation pricing currently stand? Transportation Impacts from 2017 Produce Season Produce season impacts all shippers, regardless of whether they are in the market for fresh fruits and vegetables. When crops are […]
Read More
How a Freight Broker Works; Step by Step “Life of a Load”
Before you decide to work with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, it helps to understand how the relationship will look and function. What exactly will a 3PL provider take off your plate, and what responsibilities will still be in your court? Here’s a breakdown of how a freight broker works, along with key points surrounding […]
Read More
Improve Logistics for Your Next Costco Product Promotion
If your food or beverage product is sold at large retailers like Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s, or Walmart, you may have had the opportunity to participate in their popular coupon programs — catalogs, or multi-vendor mailers (MVM), sent out nationally to promote major product discounts. Logistically, participation in MVMs means you must ship larger volumes […]
Read More
Freight Rates 2017: What Transportation Pros Need to Know
2017 is going to be an interesting year for the transportation and logistics industry. Political, regulatory, and economic factors are all in flux, pointing to an increase in demand, tightening of capacity, and rate impacts for all modes of freight transportation. New regulatory updates are seemingly published daily and it can be overwhelming to know what […]
Read More
Truckload Capacity Correction
In the first half of 2016, U.S. truck capacity was plentiful. This is expected to change in the second half of the year, with more pressure amounting on shipping rates. Walter Lynch, CEO of Zipline Logistics, speaks with JOC.com about his concerns with trucking partners and this likely truckload capacity correction in the second half of the year. […]
Read More