Now that peak shipping season is here, how do you decide which is the best LTL carrier for your freight? As the average demand for goods rise during peak season, shippers are forced to reconsider their shipping strategies as they look to save time and money. The continuous rise of e-commerce shopping has led to a higher demand for more less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping options. LTL freight is in a unique position in that it does not meet the criteria for a full truckload, but is also too large and expensive to ship via parcel. Rather than just selecting the first option that shows up in your Google search or on your transportation management system (TMS), here are a few tips for selecting the best LTL carrier that will meet your needs.
Using a TMS For The Selection Process
A modern transportation management systems leverages electronic data interchange (EDI) and application programming interfaces (API’s) to connect a TMS user with a freight quoting and scheduling system. Factors such as the amount of freight you ship can also impact the rates that appear due to special discounts or waived accessorial fees. By using a third-party logistics provider, you can instantly view rates and schedule shipments with most industry leading carriers.
Choosing The Best Carrier In The TMS Although most transportation management systems list their lowest cost carrier options first, the first option doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right choice for you. For example, some shippers are more interested in the transit time or safety of their products, rather than the cost. Shippers should follow the tips below when considering a less-than-truckload carrier for inbound or outbound freight:
Don’t get too hung up with discounts and accessorials; the net price quoted should be the only number you need to know.
Research carrier performance (or ask your 3PL for their input). Have you used any of those carriers before and did you have success with them?
Look into the available cargo insurance offers. Do you need insurance for your shipment?
Pay attention to transit times. How quickly do you need your shipment delivered?
Review available guaranteed options. How important is the delivery date to you?
Make sure the carrier offers the accessorial services you require (lift gate, residential delivery, etc.)
Making an informed decision for LTL shipping is in your best interest because the carrier you choose today may not always be the best choice tomorrow. Shippers should continuously research and consider their LTL partnerships (or work closely with a 3PL that does this for them), especially during peak holiday season as demand rises.
Just after midnight on New Years Eve 2020, nearly $130 million dollars of Investment Tax Credit (ITC) from commercial and industrial solar projects will be dealt to investors. Taking advantage of the current 30% ITC qualification may be beneficial as the ITC qualification drops to 26% on January 1st, 2020. To help you receive your investment tax credit in full, Logistics Plus (LP) offers a comprehensive safe harbor warehousing solution, nationwide, to ensure that solar projects won’t fall short of reaching completion. Through our extensive solar experience, beginning in 2009, we are experts in safely handling your modules and accurately capturing the necessary ITC data requirements.
How does a project qualify for Safe Harbor?
1.) A project must be deemed as “started” before the drop in ITC rate with “continuous work”. This means that the project must be started and remain under active construction without interruption in the process.
2.) By investing 5% of the total project cost by midnight of December 31, 2019, you can qualify for the current 30% ITC safe harbor rate.
Planning Ahead
If you plan ahead, the IRS has created legal methods to freeze the 30% ITC rate for future projects that will be completed in 2020, or even a few years beyond. The IRS currently gives an organization four years to complete a safe harbor project, and two years to put it into service. This timeline makes it crucial to select the right safe harbor warehousing partner that will meet all of your projects needs and deadlines.
Safe Harbor Warehousing Solutions
Logistics Plus offers customized Safe Harbor warehousing for just the right size, in just the right place, for just the right length of time. By offering a dedicated team of solar experts, secured facility, customized storage programs, automated inventory control and scanning, trucking access and much more, we are the right partner to manage your solar project.
For additional questions regarding safe harbor warehousing, please contact Michelle Fontaine or Jenny Melgert below.
In case you missed it, Tracy Coffy, Human Resources Manager for Logistics Plus, was featured in a recent airing of Business Spotlight on WPSE AM 1450/FM 107.1 Radio. Business Spotlight is a 30-minute program airing Fridays at noon. Each segment focuses on a business or organization that is making an impact across the region.
In this segment, Tracy discusses the company’s tremendous growth, the culture of the company, day to day communications, and more. You can listen to a replay of the interview on the Logistics Plus YouTube Channel below.
As a part of its new #LivingProof cancer treatment advertising campaign, AHN Saint Vincent Hospital featured Raquel Rowan, a Logistics Plus export document specialist, in commercial and billboard advertisements. Recently, Raquel courageously fought and defeated cancer! As a part of Saint Vincent’s tradition, Raquel got to “ring the bell,” signalling she has finished her final cancer treatment. A huge congratulations to her and well wishes 🙂 from the entire LP family. Way to go Raquel!
Watch Saint Vincent’s new commercial featuring Raquel below or on YouTube:
Last weekend, Garret Bowden, FF&E Project Manager at Logistics Plus, took a moment to speak at the Erie Rise Leadership Academy for their annual career day. The charter school is located on the east side of Erie and houses eighteen classrooms from kindergarten through 8th grade.
In the morning, Garrett spoke with 2nd through 4th grade students about jobs in the logistics industry. He explained that jobs have been around since the Silk Road, and how they will remain a large part of the world economy for the foreseeable future. Along with discussing logistics careers, Garret passed out Logistics Plus memorabilia (including copies of the Logistics Careers Plus More for Dummies® book) and answered questions the students and teachers had about our industry.
We look forward to seeing some of these students walk through the doors of Logistics Plus in a few years 🙂
Now that peak shipping season is here, how do you decide which is the best LTL carrier for your freight? As the average demand for goods rise during peak season, shippers are forced to reconsider their shipping strategies as they look to save time and money. The continuous rise of e-commerce shopping has led to a higher demand for more less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping options. LTL freight is in a unique position in that it does not meet the criteria for a full truckload, but is also too large and expensive to ship via parcel. Rather than just selecting the first option that shows up in your Google search or on your transportation management system (TMS), here are a few tips for selecting the best LTL carrier that will meet your needs.
Just after midnight on New Years Eve 2020, nearly $130 million dollars of Investment Tax Credit (ITC) from commercial and industrial solar projects will be dealt to investors. Taking advantage of the current 30% ITC qualification may be beneficial as the ITC qualification drops to 26% on January 1st, 2020. To help you receive your investment tax credit in full, Logistics Plus (LP) offers a comprehensive safe harbor warehousing solution, nationwide, to ensure that solar projects won’t fall short of reaching completion. Through our extensive solar experience, beginning in 2009, we are experts in safely handling your modules and accurately capturing the necessary ITC data requirements.
As a part of its new #LivingProof cancer treatment advertising campaign, 
