by logisticsplus | Jul 31, 2015 | News
Thank you to the Logistics Plus (LP) customers and non-customers that recently responded to our “logistics survey” request. Your feedback is extremely helpful and will allow us to examine some of our services and processes to make improvements where we can. While we cannot share all of the results or individual details, here are a few high-level insights from the survey:
- 80% of the respondents were LP customers; 20% were non-customers
- Half of the respondents were manufacturers, while the other half were mostly retailers and distributors
- Almost all respondents require domestic trucking services, and nearly half require international freight services
- Customers gave LP an average overall satisfaction rating of 8.8 on a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being most satisfied) – a great score (but always room for improvement)
- Half of LP customers, frequently or occasionally, log in to our eShipPlus or eWorldPlus freight management tools
- The majority of LP customers would enthusiastically recommend our services to other businesses (we had a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 64 which is fantastic!)
- Among non-customers, the most cited reason for not working with Logistics Plus is that current providers are doing a good job
- Nearly half of non-customer respondents indicated a possible openness to working with Logistics Plus in the future (Yay!)
That’s about all that we can share publicly at the moment. Thank you again to everyone who participated in our survey! If you missed out and still would like to share some feedback with us, feel free to send it to marketing@logisticsplus.com at any time. And if you have any upcoming shipments we can help you with, please let us know (just click the button below).
PS: Congratulations to Michael K. for being our random, lucky winner of a $100 Amazon gift card. We’ll be contacting you shortly.
by logisticsplus | Jul 24, 2015 | News
The United States International Trade Commission just released its updated “The Year in Trade 2014” report. The report, which covers global trade trends and activities, indicated that the value of U.S.-India two-way merchandise trade has increased 5% since 2013. In 2014, merchandise exports to India were valued at $21.6 billion. Leading U.S. exports to India included diamonds, aircraft and parts, gold, and coal. 2014 imports from India were valued at $45.2 billion, with non-industrial diamonds, certain medicaments, petroleum-related products, food, apparel, chemicals, and steel products all leading the way. The report went on to say that the U.S. and India continue an ongoing dialogue to improve trade relations going forward.
While these numbers may seem impressive (India is the 11th largest foreign trading partner with the U.S.), some economists forecast that these numbers could double in the next five years. Contributing to this growing trend is the fact that India is the world’s largest democracy and the second-most populous country in the world. The country has a burgeoning urban middle class and has made great strides in fields such as information technology. Its large, skilled workforce makes it a popular choice for international companies seeking to outsource work.
If your company imports or exports merchandise from India, you should consider working with Logistics Plus. In the U.S. we have more than a dozen locations around the country that can help you with your transportation and logistics needs, and our Customs Broker Solutions staff can also help you clear customs for imports at any port in the United States. Additionally, we have six offices in India located in the cities of New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Jalandhar, and Mumbai.
If you’re located in the U.S. and interested in learning more, please contact us or use our international quick quote form if you have an upcoming shipment. You can also call 1.866.564.7587 or email quotes@logisticsplus.com with any questions. If you’re located in India, you can complete our India logistics solutions request form or use our international quick quote form if you have a shipment. You can also call our New Delhi main office at +91.124.474.9200 or email sundreysh.sarup@logisticsplus.com with specific questions.
As always, you can find any of our worldwide employees in our online global directory.
by logisticsplus | Jul 13, 2015 | News
Logistics Plus was recently profiled by WiseTech Global – one of our key technology partners that is a multi-award winning global developer of cloud-based software solutions for the international and domestic logistics industries. Its leading product, CargoWise One, provides the most sophisticated and comprehensive end-to-end logistics solution in the world and forms an integral link in the global supply chain.
To develop the profile, WiseTech Global interviewed Jim Berlin and various stakeholders involved with the implementation and use of the CargoWise technology solution at Logistics Plus. CargoWise provides a foundation for our international freight forwarding operations (including our online eWorldPlus application), warehouse management system (WMS), customs brokerage solutions, and corporate finance. The profile includes an online overview of our company, a professional video segment, and a downloadable PDF flyer.
To view the online profile, click the image below or visit at www.wisetechglobal.com/customers/logistics-plus.
by logisticsplus | Jul 9, 2015 | News
When you work with a capable logistics partner, door-to-door international shipping shouldn’t be complicated for shippers; but it’s a complex process behind the scenes. A shipment exported from the United States to a foreign country becomes a maze of modes and regulations before it arrives at your customer’s door. According to Emily Grein, international manager for Logistics Plus, “We try to make shipping internationally no different than shipping domestically. From our customer’s perspective, it should be simply a matter of picking up the shipment, transporting it to the destination, and then delivering it to their customer.”
So what should you look for when selecting a door-to-door logistics partner? If you look hard, you might find many options for international door-to-door delivery services. With exports on the decline due to the higher dollar valuation, the competition is intense. But buyer beware – not all logistics companies are the same. Some providers may outsource the bulk of the work to five or six different vendors, from trucking to warehousing to customs brokerage. Other logistics companies may outsource only a portion of the responsibility, providing more internal expertise and control. Having fewer parties involved reduces a shipper’s loss, damage, and security risk. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before selecting a door-to-door international freight forwarder:
- Are they large enough to be credible but not so large that they ignore my individual requirements?
- Do they have global trade compliance and customs clearance expertise in-house?
- Do they understand compliant packaging regulations (such as ISPM 15 and HT)?
- Do they have offices and people located around the world with local knowledge of the country to which I am shipping?
- Have they established strong relationships with air, ocean, and ground carriers to secure capacity and affordable rates for my shipment requirements?
- Do they have the ability to warehouse and distribute my product according to a set schedule if needed?
- Do they have an online technology solution that provides me with shipment visibility?
- Will I have a dedicated logistics specialist working with me every step of the way?
Okay, now that you’ve selected a capable door-to-door freight forwarding partner (hopefully it’s Logistics Plus), you need to prepare your shipment for the big move. Preparing an international door-to-door shipment can sometimes require planning up to a year in advance. The main factors affecting the shipment’s transportation mode and cost will be the size, weight, and dimensions of the cargo being moved and the final destination. Packaging will also be a factor, both in terms of cargo security and shipment dimensions and cost. Remember, you don’t want to “pay for air,” so make sure your shipment is optimally packaged for secure and safe transport.
You should start by compiling a detailed packing list and itemizing every piece of the shipment, including both description and dimensions. This will allow your logistics provider to provide you with an accurate rate estimate. Armed with a detailed understanding of your shipment and its final destination, your logistics provider will find the appropriate shipping line and shipping ports for optimal results. Once your shipment is en-route, you should have the confidence that your logistics provider will be able to provide you with frequent shipment status updates, if needed, and will notify you once your shipment has been delivered. They should also explain to you how to select the best Incoterms for your shipment to ensure your total transportation costs and any applicable tariffs or duties are minimized. They should also be able to provide you with a consolidated, itemized invoice for the entire transaction.
“There’s often a lot of steps and documents involved with international door-to-door shipping,” says Emily, “But our goals is to make importing and exporting easy for our customers simply.” If you’re ready to learn more about Logistics Plus door-to-door international shipping services, please email us at quotes@logisticsplus.com or click the button below to get a quick quote on your next international shipment.
**Please note: Due to liability issues, we do not ship personal effects or belongings.**
by logisticsplus | May 19, 2015 | News
We’re often approached by Amazon sellers and online retailers about details on how to import goods, deal with customs, and pay importation taxes. The process may seem complicated but that’s where Logistics Plus can help. We know you have an online retail store to run, and products to sell – so let us handle the logistical details for you.
Global sourcing from a foreign country is often needed to obtain affordable, quality products. But as with all good things, there are several logistical issues that have to be worked out in order to be successful.
What To Expect When Importing
- Long Lead Times – Most overseas suppliers won’t even begin making your products until you actually place an order and make a small payment to cover the cost of materials. Depending on the nature of your items, expect to wait anywhere from one to four months to get your products manufactured. Very rarely will a supplier actually carry significant inventory of your product, so you must plan ahead.
- A Hefty Minimum Order – If you are ordering products to be manufactured overseas, expect to place a fairly large minimum order. Every manufacturer will have their own minimums but don’t be shy about asking before you order. As a rule of thumb, if you are just starting out, you can probably take whatever you consider a large order and multiply that number by 10.
- Payment Terms – Most if not all manufacturers expect to be paid by wire transfer. Usually, you have to put down a percentage of payment upfront to cover the initial costs and then pay the balance once the items are ready to be shipped. There are escrow services available to handle payment issues, but in general, transactions go much faster when there’s mutual trust between you and your supplier. Of course, you’ll have to establish this trust over time.
- Quality control – Quality may be an issue in the beginning. In general, it will take several iterations in order for you to get your products exactly the way you want them.
- Language Barriers – Many suppliers in Asia will not speak English very well; but as long as you keep most of your communications through email, things will go much smoother. Most suppliers are able to read English much better than they can understand the spoken language. Of course, if you work with Logistics Plus, we will likely have logistics experts located in that country who can speak the local language to address any issues on your behalf.
Preparing For Your Shipment
Once you’ve ordered your products and they are finally ready to be shipped to you, what’s next? There are two primary ways to get your goods into your home country: air or ocean transportation. Before you initiate your shipments, make sure you ask for the following documents from your supplier. These will be required in order to clear customs.
- A Commercial or Customs Invoice – Description and declared value of the items
- A Packing List – Description of items you are importing, PO number, delivery address, etc.
- Bill of Lading – This is a detailed list of shipment goods given to the carrier in order to transport your goods (your broker can provide this for you)
Shipping By Air
Shipping your items by air is by far the easiest option but also the most expensive. Expect to pay between 5-6 times more to ship by air versus ocean transportation. Because Logistics Plus has accounts and discounts with more air carriers, shipping international air shipments with us is a breeze because we’ll take care of pretty much everything.
The supplier provides the Logistics Plus air carrier with all of the materials mentioned above and then they will transport all of your goods directly to the address that you specify. Just have this information handy once your goods have shipped and you are all set. Logistics Plus will also provide you a detailed invoice so that you see any and all duties associated with your imported goods.
Shipping By Ocean
Shipping by ocean can take a lot longer than air, but is totally worth it if you are importing a large volume of goods. As mentioned before, you can easily save between 5-6 times the amount you would have paid shipping by air.
The key to accepting shipments by ocean is working with a good customs agent, like Logistics Plus. This is especially important if this is your first time importing by ocean carrier. This is what the customs agent will take care of for you.
- Customs Documentation – They will take care of any and all documentation required in the entire process
- Customs Entry – They will take care of getting your goods from the port directly to your office
- Customs Duty – They will take care of calculating and billing you for any duties associated with your goods.
- Customs “Single Entry” or “Continuous” Bond – You are required to buy a bond that acts as insurance with Customs in the event you should default on the customs duties. Your customs agent will take care of this for you as well.
Although there are some fees associated with these services, Logistics Plus will get your goods through customs swiftly and without hassle. As an example, a recent shipment handled for an online retailers would have cost $1,600 dollars by air, but by ocean it only cost $550. Overall, the customer saved over 65% on transportation. The trade-off was that it took over 3 weeks to receive the shipment by ocean as opposed 4 days by air.
Do you have additional retail & distribution questions or are you also selling your goods on Amazon? Let the transportation and logistics experts at Logistics Plus help – we make importing easy. Call us at 1.866.564.7587 or contact us for more information.
