Companies of all sizes are increasing their use of outsourced logistics services as they seek greater efficiency in their supply chains. Here is a 3PL checklist to help you find the best third party logistics partner for your situation. 3PLs bring valuable benefits to companies in a number of ways:
Reducing transportation costs. 3PLs often have scale and leverage advantages that allow them to negotiate and access better rates than shippers can do on their own. They can also eliminate unwanted administrative costs by efficiently finding and securing capacity, monitoring and auditing carrier and rate compliance, and executing optimal mode selection (all of this often with the aid of specialized technology).
Improving customer satisfaction. 3PLs can support customer satisfaction improvement goals by helping with accurate order fulfillment, improving on-time pickups and deliveries, providing greater shipment visibility, and reducing losses and damages.
Providing global expertise. 3PLs can help businesses navigate the more complex aspects of importing and exporting by providing documentation, customs brokerage, duty optimization, and freight forwarding solutions. This can help companies introduce their products to new markets or source lower-cost materials for production.
Reducing supply chain risk. 3PLs can help mitigate risks by ensuring companies are using licensed and safe transportation carriers, providing logistics talent acquisition expertise, and staying abreast of special governmental and environmental rules and regulations.
With the above benefits in mind, here is a very simple 3PL checklist you may want to consider when evaluating your partner options:
Credibility?
Is your potential partner financially stable with a long history of successful operations? Do they have reputable customers from whom they have received testimonials? Have they won any significant awards or recognition?
Assets or Non-Asset?
Do they manage their own truck fleet or assets? Do they provide non-asset brokerage solutions? Do they have dedicated warehousing and do they manage warehousing using any of their own staff?
Domestic Operations?
Are they able to manage all transportation modes, including LTL, truckload, expedited, rail, air, and ocean services? Do they have adequate staff with sufficient expertise to manage all aspects of domestic transportation? Can they provide dedicated staff and resources for a complete managed transportation solution?
Global Capabilities?
Do they have global staff located around the world? Are they able to manage all aspects of imports and exports? Can they manage all international transportation modes, including ocean, air, ground, and rail? Can they manage complex project cargo from start until finish? Do they provide customs broker solutions and can they assist with global trade compliance?
Leading Technology?
Do they have a capable transportation management system (TMS)? Do they have international freight forwarding track and trace capabilities? Do they have a warehouse management system (WMS)? Can their technology solutions be integrated into your back-office systems?
Ancillary Services?
What additional services can they bring to your company? Can they help with things like global sourcing, specialized warehousing, linguistic solutions, cargo insurance, and financing options?
Cultural Fit?
Do they have a customer service-oriented culture? Do they have a mission statement or mantra that resonates with you? Are they proud of, and do they showcase, their people? Do they have a history of successes and “going to bat” for their customers?
Hopefully this gives you a good starting checklist if you are, or will soon be, evaluating 3PL partners. Obviously, we feel very confident that Logistics Plus has the credibility, capabilities, and cultural fit that works well for most companies and industries. If you’d like to engage us in your evaluation process, request for quote (RFQ), or request for proposal (RFP) – or if you simply want to talk – just let us know. We’re here to help and we’re ready to do so.
On January 6, 2016, Jim Berlin, founder and CEO of Logistics Plus, was a guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Erie. With some help from our friends at WP$E radio, here is an edited audio replay of that presentation (along with the slides that were shown that day).
Logistics Plus media partner, WP$E radio, continues to air short audio clips from Jim Berlin and others within the company as part of their business programming. WP$E AM 1450/FM 107.1 is a commercially licensed radio station serving Erie County, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by the Penn State Board of Trustees, and it is operated by Penn State Behrend, under the direction of professional broadcast staff. In addition to providing a round-the-clock, one-stop source for global and financial news, WP$E also airs ongoing commentaries by regional business leaders, WJET-TV Action News simulcasts, and NFL, NCAA, and Penn State sports broadcasts from Dial Global and the Penn State Sports Network.
Here are a few recent clips that were recorded and aired on the radio (click image to listen):
Today Logistics Plus Turkey sent its January 2016 issue of LP Turkey Energy News to customers and other interested parties throughout the region. Logistics Plus has extensive expertise providing transportation and logistics solutions to companies in the Energy & Fuel Industry.
The new issue is pictured below. Click here to read the online version.
Logistics Plus CEO Commends GE on Moving its Headquarters to an Urban Location
Says businesses and communities need vibrant city centers to thrive
ERIE, Pa. (January 15, 2016) — Today, Logistics Plus Inc. founder and CEO, Jim Berlin, commended General Electric (GE) for announcing on Wednesday that it will move its headquarters from suburban Connecticut to the urban, Seaport District of Boston, Massachusetts. Logistics Plus is a worldwide provider of transportation, logistics and supply chain solutions with its global headquarters located in the heart of downtown Erie, Pennsylvania.
As widely reported, GE said it will begin moving its corporate employees to a temporary space in Boston starting this summer. The full move will take place in several steps through 2018 and will deliver about 800 jobs to the City of Boston. GE officials pointed to Greater Boston’s concentration of elite universities and nimble tech firms as the main draw.
Mr. Berlin’s statement follows:
“I congratulate GE on finally following the lead of Logistics Plus by locating their headquarters in an urban area. Following our successes here in downtown Erie, like Logistics Plus, they clearly recognize that businesses and communities need vibrant city centers to thrive. The proximity of local universities can also help their business blossom while preventing the brain drain that sucks many of the best and brightest graduates away from their home cities. In the case of Erie, we have several fine universities that feed Logistics Plus bright young employees – and I am sure GE will enjoy similar success in their new location. We’ve brought in dozens of interns from the four colleges in our area over the past several years, many of whom remain with us today.
“When Logistics Plus purchased and renovated the old Union Station in downtown Erie back in 2003, some people thought I was a visionary; but most probably considered me delusional. Still, I thought it was a cool place for a transportation company and a good thing for the community. My goal was to make Logistics Plus the most exciting place in which to work and Erie the great town in which to live. Last year we enjoyed record annual sales, we now have well over 100 employees working in Erie, and own three warehousing facilities in the city. While our mission is far from complete, I think we’ve made great progress.
“This is an exciting time for GE and the City of Boston. GE is moving into a great place to really set a new tone for the company, and do great things within the community. I congratulate them on their decision and commend them on following the lead of Logistics Plus when it comes to inner city development.”
About Logistics Plus Inc.
Logistics Plus Inc. provides freight transportation, warehousing, global logistics, and supply chain management solutions through a worldwide network of talented and caring professionals. Founded in Erie, PA by local entrepreneur, Jim Berlin, 20 years ago, Logistics Plus has been repeatedly recognized as one of the fastest-growing transportation and logistics companies in the country. With a strong passion for excellence, its 350+ employees put the “Plus” in logistics by doing the big things properly, and the countless little things, that together ensure complete customer satisfaction and success.
The Logistics Plus® network includes offices located in Erie, PA; Alma, AR; Little Rock, AR; Los Angeles, CA; Riverside, CA; San Francisco, CA; Visalia, CA; Atlanta, GA; Evansville, IN; Detroit, MI; Kansas City, MO; Charlotte, NC; Lexington, NC; Buffalo, NY; Cleveland, OH; Charleston, SC; Greenville, SC; Nashville, TN; Dallas, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Houston, TX; Laredo, TX; Bahrain; Belgium; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Egypt; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Libya; Mexico; Poland; Saudi Arabia; Turkey; and UAE; with additional agents around the world. For more information, visit www.logisticsplus.com or follow @LogisticsPlus on Twitter.
On January 6, 2016, 
