Less than truckload (LTL) shipping can be expensive and difficult if it’s not done efficiently. It’s important to understand the different ways you can save on LTL shipping in order to better manage your transportation expenses and maintain good relationships with your carriers. Here are four (4) tips to become more efficient and cost-effective with LTL shipping:
Use Proper Packaging
If a shipment is not properly packaged, you might be paying for extra shipping space you don’t really need. Also, an improperly packed shipment increases the risk of damages that may occur with the handling of your product. Its always important to recognize, and plan for, the things can go wrong, such as someone dropping your package. Furthermore, if you have a well-packaged shipment that is difficult to damage, it may save you the time of filing a tedious freight claim.
Consolidate Units When Possible
It is much easier for a carrier to handle one pallet that contains multiple units rather than handling a bunch of individual units. Not only does it make it easier for shipping purposes, but having one pallet with multiple units greatly decreases the risk of damages compared to shipping individual items.
Always Report Accurate Shipping Weights and Dimemsions
Always accurately state the weight and dimensions of your shipment whenever you have an LTL shipment. Although the shippers are responsible for correctly stating the weight, most carriers re-weigh all shipments. If the weight isn’t stated correctly, it can lead to additional charges that ramps up costs and decreases efficiency.
Ensure Your Bill Of Lading Is Correct
More LTL carriers are enforcing bill of lading accuracy. Many carriers even require the proper freight classification and NMFC item number. An inaccurate bill of lading can cause issues for carriers, straining the shipper and carrier relationship. A great way to increase bill of lading accuracy is to implement a transportation management system (TMS) that uses automation features to decrease the amount of errors made.
Less than truckload shipping doesn’t have to be such a difficult task. Following these tips will not only save you money, it will increase your efficiency. To find out how you can save on LTL shipping, contact Logistics Plus today for assistance. Our team of LTL experts will quickly show you how we put the “plus” in Logistics Plus.
Through its partnership with Erie Times-News and GoErie.com, Logistics Plus is being featured, once again, in the current (June) issue of the publisher’s Lake Erie Lifestyles magazine. This new segment discusses technology changes at Logistic Plus and how technology is playing an even bigger role in the solutions it provides. A reprint of the feature, which is shown below, is also available online at www.goerie.com/lifestyle/lake-erie-lifestyle. You can also read the full interview online with Emile Zafirov, CIO for Logistics Plus.
You can click the image below to see a PDF version.
In case you missed it, Joe Santone, senior vice president for Logistics Plus, was featured on today’s 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 month’s segment, Joe discusses Logistics Plus and its relationship with sister company NTL, domestic transportation, warehousing, freight agents, and more. You can listen to a replay of the interview on the Logistics Plus YouTube Channel below.
On May 31st, 2018, the United States announced tariffs on imports of certain steel and aluminum products from Canada. In response, Canada will impose countermeasures that become effective July 1st (Department of Finance Canada).
Goods from Table 1 are subject to a 25% surtax.
Goods from Table 2 are subject to a 10% surtax.
Keeping up with the growth of e-commerce can be a difficult and daunting task. In fact, experts predict that retail will evolve more over the next few years than it has over the past 50 years. The significant growth of e-commerce has caused companies to change the way they fulfill orders. It’s now more important than ever to have modernized warehouses and fulfillment centers that correspond with the surging demand of e-commerce.
Meeting the Demand for E-Commerce
One of the biggest changes affecting warehousing and fulfillment is the rise of e-commerce. Fast and reliable shipping expectations force companies to move more individual parcels through the warehouse quicker than old warehousing and fulfillment centers were designed to accommodate. Warehouses that were designed before e-commerce existed aren’t properly set up to fulfill huge amounts of direct-to-consumer orders. Modern warehouses and fulfillment centers must constantly monitor the information received from online shopping channels in order to adapt and succeed.
Adapting to New Technology
While customer service and supply chain visibility requirements continue to gain traction, it’s crucial for warehouses and fulfillment centers to implement an up-to-date warehouse management system (WMS). Due to the high volume of products and limited capacities for warehouses, products may become lost or damaged, leaving the customer wondering where their product is located. This is where a warehouse management system can help. WMS technology provides customers with complete, real-time status of products entering or leaving one of its warehouses or distribution centers. Adding a warehouse management system is a giant step towards modernizing warehouses and fulfillment centers.
Does Modernizing My Warehouses and Fulfillment Centers make sense?
Before taking the giant leap towards a fully modernized warehouse or fulfillment center, ask yourself the following:
How will this impact my warehouse finances?
How easy will it be to implement a warehouse management system (WMS)?
How will this affect day-to-day working habits?
How quickly can a modernized warehouse or fulfillment center become functional?
Will my warehouse be able to fulfill through all of my selling channels (e.g., direct, website, Amazon, etc.)?
If it makes sense for your business to modernize warehouses and fulfillment centers, then don’t think twice. E-commerce is still in its beginning stages and will continue to grow and prosper for the foreseeable future. For any additional questions regarding warehousing or fulfillment, click below and our team of experts will get back to you promptly.
Last week, several Logistics Plus employees participated in a wing eating contest at Quaker Steak & Lube in Erie, Pennsylvania. The contest consisted of four teams, each made up of four brave employees who took on the challenge of eating six “Triple Atomic” flavored chicken wings. Aside from the competitors, there were a handful of other LP employees who each tried one of the blazing-hot “Triple Atomic” wings.
Check out pictures of the event posted to the Logistics Plus Flickr page here.
This was the original “promo video” leading up to the big event:
Less than truckload (LTL) shipping can be expensive and difficult if it’s not done efficiently. It’s important to understand the different ways you can save on LTL shipping in order to better manage your transportation expenses and maintain good relationships with your carriers. Here are four (4) tips to become more efficient and cost-effective with LTL shipping:
Keeping up with the growth of e-commerce can be a difficult and daunting task. In fact, experts predict that retail will evolve more over the next few years than it has over the past 50 years. The significant growth of e-commerce has caused companies to change the way they fulfill orders. It’s now more important than ever to have modernized 
