by logisticsplus | Mar 11, 2016 | News
Nǐ xūyào fānyì yīmén wàiyǔ?
Tapā’īṁ vidēśī bhāṣā anuvāda garna āvaśyaka cha?
¿Necesita traducir un idioma extranjero?
Do you need to translate a foreign language?
If you need help with in-person, on the phone, or document translations services, then you need Logistics Plus Linguistic Solutions (LPLS). In addition, LPLS can assist with multi-cultural marketing and advertising—including website, software and multi-media presentations.
LPLS provides the following services:
Interpretation
LPLS provides consecutive or simultaneous services in person or over the phone and can accommodate any event from business meetings and seminars to field operations in remote locations.
Management Training Needs Assessment & Consulting
LPLS specializes in assisting multi-national customers with international teams all over the world. They help you directly address cultural issues and help you develop the competence you need to be more effective when working across cultures.
Document Translation
LPLS offer fast and accurate translation of any and all types of documents (medical records, business proposals, legal correspondence, technical manuals, brochures, immigration or tax records and more). They can scale their services to meet your demands and budget.
Website and Software Localization Multimedia Production
As technology evolves so do LPLS – its staff is technologically savvy and stands ready to assist you in translating your digital needs to match those of any country in which you aim to integrate this technology.
LPLS is comprised of a group of language, logistics, and military veterans who are experienced in the fields of language services and training, recruiting, intelligence, security, logistics, information technology, government relations and military operations. With this extensive background, LPLS is the ideal partner when it comes to translation and interpretation services and gives clients a competitive advantage in conducting business internationally. To learn more, you can download the PDF shown below, or you can visit their website at http://www.lplinguisticsolutions.com/
by logisticsplus | Mar 10, 2016 | News
Import and export financing is much different, for example, than commercial lending, mortgage lending or insurance. There is a longer order-to-delivery cycle on products that are sold and shipped overseas, therefore, it takes longer to get paid. Extra time and energy are required to make sure that buyers are reliable and creditworthy. Careful financial management can mean the difference between profit and loss on each transaction.
All sellers want to get paid as quickly as possible, while buyers usually prefer to delay payment, at least until they have received and resold the goods. This is true in domestic as well as international markets. Increasing globalization has created intense competition for imports and exports. Importers and exporters are looking for any competitive advantage that would help them to increase their sales. Flexible payment terms has become a fundamental part of any sales package.
- Selling on open account, which may be best from a sales standpoint, places all of the risk with the seller. The seller ships and turns over title of the product on a promise to pay from the buyer.
- Cash-in-advance terms place all of the risk with the buyer as they send payment on a commitment that the product will be shipped on time and it will work as promised.
To address these trade financing risks, there are two broad categories of trade finance:
- Pre-shipment financing to produce or purchase the material and labor necessary to fulfill the sales order.
- Post-shipment financing to generate immediate cash while offering payment terms to buyers.
Here are some additional thoughts to consider:
Financing can make the sale. Favorable payment terms make a product more competitive. If the competition offers better terms and has a similar product, a sale can be lost. In other cases, the exporter may need financing to produce the goods or to finance other aspects of a sale, such as promotion and selling costs, engineering modifications and shipping costs. Various financing sources are available to exporters, depending on the specifics of the transaction and the exporter’s overall financing needs.
Financing costs will vary. The costs of borrowing, including interest rates, insurance and fees will vary. The total cost and its effect on the price of the product and profit from the transaction should be well understood before a pro forma invoice is submitted to the buyer.
Financing costs increase with the length of terms. Different methods of financing are available for short, medium, and long terms. Exporters need to be fully aware of financing limitations so that they secure the right solution with the most favorable terms for seller and buyer.
The greater the risks, the greater the cost. The creditworthiness of the buyer directly affects the probability of payment to an exporter, but it is not the only factor of concern to a potential lender. The political and economic stability of the buyer’s country are taken into consideration.
So where can you turn for import and export financing solutions that help address these concerns?
Logistics Plus (LP), in strategic partnership with WorldBusiness Capital Inc. (WBC), provides a complete, logistics and financing solution for both U.S. and foreign companies. WBC is a commercial finance company that offers flexible term loans helping small and midsize businesses compete in the global marketplace. Our motto is “financing business across borders,” and the programs available include all of the following:
- Emerging Market Projects. Term loans for businesses and projects throughout Latin America, Asia, E. Europe, and Africa.
- U.S. Equipment Exports. Term loans for overseas buyers of new U.S.-made equipment, technology, and services.
- U.S. Trade Capacity Expansion. Term loans for U.S.-based commercial and industrial projects boosting trade competitiveness.
- Foreign Investment in U.S. Term loans for acquisitions, operations, joint ventures, and distribution in the U.S.
- Foreign Sales to U.S. Term loans for U.S. purchases of new foreign-made equipment, technology, and services – with specialized solutions for India-U.S., Mexico-U.S., and Turkey-U.S. transactions.
by Scott Frederick | Mar 1, 2016 | News
Energy News from around the World
Today Logistics Plus Turkey sent its February 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.
by logisticsplus | Feb 26, 2016 | News
Ending multiple sclerosis for good will take all of us. It’s why Walk MS matters so much. And it’s why you matter so much. And it’s why many Logistics Plus employees on the “LPI vs MS Team” will once again be participating in the event. To donate or to join the team, contact Kathy Fiedler at 814.461.7607 or kathy.fiedler@logisticsplus.com
Walk MS helps us team up with friends, loved ones and co-workers to change the world for everyone affected by MS. Together, we become a powerful force. And with every step we take, every dollar we raise…we’re that much closer. Together, we will end MS forever. Click the advertisement below for more details on this year’s event.
Date: April 30, 2016
Location: Presque Isle State Park, Cookhouse Pavilion, Erie
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/LX2E6
Time: 10 am Registration; 11 am Walk Starts!
Contact Information: Colleen Szymczak-Gross
Email: Colleen.Szymczak@nmss.org
Phone: 1 800-344-4867
by Scott Frederick | Feb 25, 2016 | News
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.
Looking for more outside reading on this subject? Check out his article from SuppyChain247.com
by logisticsplus | Feb 16, 2016 | News
When you ship less than truckload (LTL) shipments, it is common to request an LTL freight quote from one or more carriers, or from third-party logistics (3PL) companies (sometimes referred to as brokers). Shippers that need LTL freight services are typically going to evaluate their options according to the following needs:
- Cost. What are the total freight charges and how does this compare to my other options?
- Speed. How quickly does my shipment need to deliver to my customer (outbound) or to me (inbound)?
- Reliability. How important is it that my shipment be delivered exactly on the date specified?
- Value. How susceptible is my shipment to being lost or damaged, and what are the ramifications if it is?
- Convenience. How much time do I have to evaluate my carrier options, schedule my pickup, prepare my bill of lading, track my shipment, etc.?
For the most accurate freight quote, at a bare minimum you will need to provide your carrier or 3PL with your intended pickup date, origin postal/zip code, destination postal/zip code, weight of the shipment, and the freight class (or a description of the commodity being shipped if you are unsure of your freight classification). Depending upon the size or characteristics of your shipment, you may also need to provide your shipment dimensions (length x width x height) so that your shipment’s freight density can be determined. Shipments that are unusually large, but not overly heavy, will often be susceptible to accessorial rules or fees beyond or in lieu of normal LTL freight charges.
After you have received your LTL freight quote (or quotes), you’ll need to determine if you want to go with the lowest cost carrier or, perhaps, another carrier if one carrier’s speed (i.e., transit time) is faster than the lowest cost carrier. If a specific delivery date or time is extremely important to you, you may consider upgrading to a guaranteed service option if available (many carriers offer end of day, early morning, or time-definite guaranteed service options).
There are many variables that go into LTL rate quotes, so don’t concern yourself with “base rates” and “discounts” as the only real figure you should be focused on is the “net price” that you’re being quoted (you can read our What Factors Impact LTL Rates article for more detail on everything that goes into LTL freight quotes).
If the value of your shipment is important, you will want to understand each carriers’ “limited liability” amounts, i.e., how much they will reimburse you on a freight claim if your shipment is lost or damaged as a result of their fault or negligence. Typical liability amounts are anywhere from $10 to $25 per pound, but can often be less if you’re shipping used articles or if you’re shipping cross-border between The U.S., Mexico or Canada. If the carrier liability amount is unacceptable, you can oftentimes purchase additional insurance (sometimes referred to as “excess value liability” or “ad valorem” coverage) directly through the carrier or 3PL for a nominal cost.
In many cases, there are some good reasons why you might work with a 3PL for your LTL freight quotes versus going directly to the carriers. These benefits include:
- Multiple carrier quotes and service options with a single request. Many 3PLs have been able to use their buying leverage to negotiate great rates with dozens of carriers. Therefore, you’ll get the convenience of numerous carrier rates and service options through a single request (versus having to call multiple carriers or visit multiple carrier websites).
- LTL freight shipping expertise and customer service. Many 3PLs have years of expertise working with LTL shipments and LTL carriers. They’ll be able to provide you with guidance as to which carriers have the best performance records for reliability and safety. A good 3PL can also help you prepare your bill of lading, schedule your shipment, proactively track your shipment, and then go to bat for you if there is a service delay or damage issue.
- Transportation management systems (TMS) and technology. Many 3PLs can provide you with some great online tools that allow you to self-service your needs (like our eShipPlus™ platform), including instant online LTL rate quotes for multiple carriers, automatically preparing bills of lading, electronically scheduling carrier pickups, freight bill auditing and consolidated invoices, shipment manifests and reports, and more.
If you’re ready to work with one of the most reputable 3PLs in the industry for your LTL shipping needs (after all, we were named a Top 50 Freight Brokerage Firm and a Great Supply Chain Partner this past year), then click the button below to get started. We’d love to show you our passion for excellence one shipment at a time!
