In case you missed it, Logistics Plus Inc. was featured in the Winter 2015 issue of Supply Chain World magazine which hit newsstands a few days ago. The article highlights how Logistics Plus works as a strategic partner with customers around the world to help them manage their supply chains from start to finish.
A key Logistics Plus partner, Canadian Solar, was also profiled in the issue. Read the Article Here
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Logistics Plus Aviation Services Take Flight
New business development executive aims to expand presence in the U.S. and abroad
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, December 4, 2014 – Logistics Plus Inc., a worldwide provider of transportation and logistics services, has added industry veteran Harald Aamodt to lead aerospace and aviation business development efforts for the company.
Mr. Aamodt brings extensive aviation experience, as well as international sales, marketing, and management experience where he has established strong relationships working with and for prominent companies such as Cummins Engine and General Electric. Working from the Logistics Plus global headquarters in Erie, Pennsylvania, Mr. Aamodt will support the company’s continued growth and expansion of services within the aviation industry both in the U.S. 
and abroad.
“We understand the supply chain needs of aviation companies very well,” says Yuriy Ostapyak, director of global operations at Logistics Plus. “With the addition of Harald, Logistics Plus continues its focus on fostering strong, long-term relationships with companies and suppliers within the aviation industry.”
Logistics Plus aviation experience includes recent logistical coordination of Chinook helicopter components being shipped from the U.S. to India for final assembly by Boeing. The company also has a long-standing, on-site 4PL relationship with Lord Corporation, a major aerospace and defense supplier.
Companies interested in learning more about Logistics Plus services for the aerospace and aviation industry can contact Harald Aamodt at harald.aamodt@logisticsplus.com or they can call 814-440-3929.
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About Logistics Plus Inc.
Logistics Plus Inc. provides freight management, global logistics, and business solutions through a worldwide network of talented and caring professionals. Founded in Erie, PA by local entrepreneur Jim Berlin nearly 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 extra little things needed to ensure its customers’ success.
The Logistics Plus® network includes offices located in Erie, PA; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; Chicago, IL; Evansville, IN; Lexington, NC; Cleveland, OH; Dallas, TX, Laredo, TX; and Houston, TX; Australia; Belgium; Canada; Chile; China; Columbia; Czech Republic; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Libya; Malaysia; Mexico; Poland; Singapore; Turkey; and additional agents around the world. For more information, visit http://www.logisticsplus.com or follow @LogisticsPlus on Twitter.
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Media Contact:
Scott G. Frederick
Vice President, Marketing
Logistics Plus Inc.
(814) 240-6881
What’s the difference between a 3PL and a 4PL? Well, before we go there, how about a 1PL and 2PL? A 1PL is simply the owner of the cargo who manages the entire distribution process internally. A 2PL is a for-hire air, ground, rail, or ocean carrier that directly provides transportation service to a shipper. As far as 3PLs and 4PLs are concerned, according to the glossary published by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), the definitions for both are as follows:
Third-Party Logistics (3PL)
Outsourcing all or much of a company’s logistics operations to a specialized company. The term “3PL” was first used in the early 1970s to identify intermodal marketing companies (IMCs) in transportation contracts. Up to that point, contracts for transportation had featured only two parties, the shipper and the carrier. When IMCs entered the picture—as intermediaries that accepted shipments from the shippers and tendered them to the rail carriers—they became the third party to the contract, the 3PL. The definition has broadened to the point where these days, every company that offers some kind of logistics service for hire calls itself a 3PL. Preferably, these services are integrated, or “bundled,” together by the provider. Services they provide are transportation, warehousing, cross-docking, inventory management, packaging, and freight forwarding. In 2008 legislation passed declaring that the legal definition of a 3PL is “A person who solely receives, holds, or otherwise transports a consumer product in the ordinary course of business but who does not take title to the product.”
Fourth-Party Logistics (4PL)
Differs from third-party logistics in the following ways; 1) 4PL organization is often a separate entity established as a joint venture or long-term contract between a primary client and one or more partners; 2) 4PL organization acts as a single interface between the client and multiple logistics service providers; 3) All aspects (ideally) of the client’s supply chain are managed by the 4PL organization; and, 4) It is possible for a major third-party logistics provider to form a 4PL organization within its existing structure. However, 4PL was originally defined by Accenture as a trademark in 1996 and defined as “A supply chain integrator that assembles and manages the resources, capabilities, and technology of its own organization with those of complementary service providers to deliver a comprehensive supply chain solution.”, but is no longer registered.
Logistics Plus 4PL & Supply Chain Management
Okay, now that we have the academic definitions out of the way, what do services really entail for a company working with Logistics Plus on a 4PL basis? Logistics Plus 4PL customers generally receive dedicated, on-site support and expertise in managing their supply chains. Our dedicated resources will work with customers to:
If your company is struggling with logistics management and getting control of its supply chain, Contact Us and let us provide you with a risk-free logistics analysis. Call us a 3PL, 4PL, or whatever you’d like — but we’ll help you identify areas of opportunity and how we can help you address them.
Follow @LogisticsPlus on Twitter or Like us on Facebook:
People often ask us what the “Plus” in Logistics Plus means. Although it can be difficult to put into words, we often say the “plus” represents all of the extra little things we do to help our customers be successful – whether that means someone working late to track a shipment, assigning a dedicated resource to work on a project, or providing some training on trade compliance regulations.
Yes, these are all things we do, but nothing is more representative of the “plus” than an actual example. Many of these “true examples” go unnoticed and undocumented since it is just the way we go about our business here at Logistics Plus. However, from time to time, we get a customer who takes the time to acknowledge something special one of our employees has done, and it really helps shine a light on some pretty cool stuff our people will do to get the job done.
Take Emily Grein, a logistics specialist and member of our International services staff. On Thursday of last week, Emily received a call from one of our customer’s customers. Apparently, a production line in Scotland was going to shut down if a special part in Erie, Pennsylvania was not delivered immediately. Emily, with her passport in hand, volunteered to pick up the part, drive it to the Cleveland airport in a total snow blizzard, and then fly to Glasgow, Scotland where she personally delivered the part the next day.
In the end, the customer avoided a costly production line shut-down for which they were very happy. In fact, the external sales manager for the company wrote the following testimonial back to us to say … “We (all) endured a really difficult few days last week, in relation to supply of critical goods to a key customer. I’d like to say thanks to Emily, who had a real difficult journey in getting the goods to us. After a serious amount of hours traveling, with very little sleep, I couldn’t believe how friendly and pleasant she managed to be, at the point of arrival. …. I’m not convinced I could have achieved this. It goes without saying, and I’m pretty certain you’ll agree, you’re really fortunate to have a work colleague and an asset, that is Emily Grein.”
That, my friends, is how we put the “plus” in Logistics Plus. Contact us if you need our hand-carry service for a critical shipment.
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Last week Jim Berlin, CEO and owner of Logistics Plus Inc., and Yuriy Ostapyak, director of global operations, both attended the EY Strategic Growth Forum in Palm Springs, CA where the annual EY Entrepreneur of the Year™ awards was presented. Jim and Yuriy both report that the conference was entertaining and inspirational and they brought back a lot of ideas learned and shared with fellow entrepreneurs at the conference.
The conference included many thoughtful and insightful presentations from well-known celebrities such as Ron Howard, Seth, Myers, Emmitt Smith, Jimmy Johnson, and David Robinson, as well as accomplished entrepreneurs such as Tony Hsieh (CEO for Zappos) and Patricia Woertz (CEO for Archer Daniels Midland Company).
As a very entrepreneurial company in its own right, Logistics Plus would like to congratulate Mr. David Hung, CEO, and founder of Medivation, one of biotech’s greatest success stories, for taking home the “2014 EY Entrepreneur of the Year” award. We’d also like to congratulate the many regional winners and finalists for their extraordinary achievements.
You can click here to see more highlights from the show, or watch the YouTube video below.
http://youtu.be/0IkpRe5xo8A?list=PL3ZOd0y-i_r4rFpe49WyNrvUpRXtBcFrf
Of course, Jim Berlin is no stranger to the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards having won an award himself back in 2004 for the Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia Region. Jim is also a lifetime member of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Hall of Fame, a truly well-earned distinction (see image below, which can be found on the www.ey.com website).
This past week was a busy, and exciting week of media coverage for Logistics Plus at our global headquarters in Erie, PA. Earlier in the week Yuriy Ostapyak, director of global operations, Michelle Fontaine, global sales manager, and Jenny Melgert, Dallas branch manager, all participated in an interview with an editor for Supply Chain World magazine.
Yuriy talked about the company, our services and technology, and our general philosophy regarding people, customers, and projects. Michelle talked in more detail about our approach to working with customers and how we build and cultivate relationships. Canadian Solar Inc. was used as an example (which, coincidentally is also being interviewed by Supply Chain World magazine). Jenny was able to shed some light on our operational excellence and how we work to integrate ourselves with our customers and their supply chains. Both the Logistics Plus and the Canadian Solar articles will appear in the winter issue of Supply Chain Worldmagazine which hits newsstands in a few weeks.
Yesterday, we had the senior writer and managing editor for Business Magazine (a publication of the Manufacturer & Business Association) on-site for an interview Jim Berlin, CEO, and owner of Logistics Plus, Adam Mook, compliance department manager, and Gretchen Blough, licensed customs broker. Jim gave an update on the company, recent growth, and future plans for expansion – both globally and within the Erie, Pa. community. Adam and Gretchen both discussed our global trade compliance services and how we help companies with their import and export activities. In particular, they provided details and examples of how we help companies navigate the complex world of global duties, tariffs, and regulations through training programs and other dedicated services.
Business Magazine also had a professional photographer on-hand for the interview taking pictures of our people in action and in settings around our global headquarters (the historic Union Station in Erie, Pa.). A couple of notable shots taken were of our LTL/brokerage staff in front of the painted railroad bridge just outside our offices, and then an all-inclusive shot of almost all of our nearly 100 Erie-based employees in The Brewerie dining area – one of the great tenants that leases a part of our building. The collage above contains some “non-professional” pictures taken during the photoshoot.
The feature article and final photographs will appear in the January 2015 issue of Business Magazine. Stay tuned for more details on both of these media features. If you want to learn more about Logistics Plus in the meantime, please visit us online at www.logisticsplus.com or contact us for more information.