by Ryan Markiewicz | Oct 11, 2024 | News
Logistics Plus (LP) Senior Vice President Gretchen Seth is an American Red Cross volunteer on their Disaster Assistance Team. For her latest Red Cross adventure, Gretchen was tasked with driving an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) from Lewistown, Pennsylvania, to Charlotte, North Carolina, to assist with the disaster relief efforts caused by Hurricane Helene. The story below is in Gretchen’s words.
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Hi all,
I thought you might be interested in my latest volunteer mission with the Red Cross. I am passionate about this organization’s work and grateful for the opportunity to tell people about it.
I responded to a request last Wednesday to move an emergency response vehicle (ERV) from central Pennsylvania down to North Carolina. After a lot of back-and-forth, I was finally released to go on Sunday.
I am currently deployed in Ashville, NC, providing meals and other support to those impacted by this tragedy. The news cycle has already moved on to Milton and other topics, but the damage in Ashville and MANY smaller communities is real and devastating.
We work out of the HQ office downtown and are staying in a staff shelter at a community college. There is NO running water in either location. There is no running water in many areas. Four separate water treatment plants have been completely destroyed. It will be weeks or even months before some people have service. The hospital down the street from our shelter has two tanker trucks at a time pumping water 24/7 just to keep them operational.
Even though there is electricity in growing amounts (there are power crews here from all over the country), very few things are open, so we have to hunt for fuel, food, and necessities in areas that are less affected.
We have been working very long days, but as time permits, I hope to give you a real picture of what is happening here.
Speaking of pictures, here is my ERV. 😊
-Gretchen (G)
by Ryan Markiewicz | Oct 7, 2024 | News
Logistics Plus Customs Brokerage Manager Gretchen Blough appeared on NPR’s 9/25/24 and 10/4/24 editions of Marketplace to comment on how the East and Gulf Coast port strike would affect the economy. Gretchen described the bottlenecks caused by a strike, congestion fee charges, and alternate cargo options. Upon the strike’s conclusion, Gretchen reappeared on Marketplace to discuss the lasting implications and what would come next.
Listen to her comments before the strike at https://www.marketplace.org/2024/09/25/looming-port-strike-could-slam-a-fragile-system-says-customs-broker/ or by clicking below.
Listen to her comments upon conclusion of the strike at https://www.marketplace.org/shows/marketplace/dont-be-like-boeing/ or by clicking below. In this segment, Gretchen appears at the 11:54 mark of the episode.
Marketplace® is a nonprofit news organization on a mission to raise the economic intelligence of the country. For more than 30 years, they have helped people become smarter about the economic forces that touch their daily lives through the unorthodox story, the casual conversation, and the unexpected angle on the news.
by Ryan Markiewicz | Oct 2, 2024 | News
The Logistics Plus (LP) Japan team is excited to announce the opening of a new office in Osaka, Japan! As Logistics Plus aims to strengthen and expand its global network, the Osaka office will work alongside the existing Tokyo, Japan office to offer domestic and global logistics services.
The Osaka office will provide the various logistics solutions that are listed below:
- Total Logistics & Supply Chain Management
- Freight Forwarding
- Trucking
- Warehousing
- Courier Shipping
- Customs & Compliance
- Reverse Logistics
Osaka, located in the Kansai region of Japan, is a vibrant metropolis known for its rich history and dynamic culture. Being known as the City of Merchants, Osaka is the central business hub in Western Japan and is a gateway to many business opportunities both domestically and globally. Additionally, Osaka is one of the three major cities in Japan (Tokyo-Osaka-Nagoya).
Tom Park (Branch Manager)
Email: tom.park@logisticsplus.com
Logistics Plus Osaka, Japan
Namba-Sky-O 27F, 5-1-60 Namba,
Chuo-ku, Osaka, 542-0076
For any requests involving the Osaka or Tokyo offices, please email lpjops@logisticsplus.com. We thank you for all current business and future opportunities, and we look forward to assisting you.
by Scott Frederick | Sep 26, 2024 | News
As widely reported, if workers at East and Gulf Coast ports strike on Oct. 1, manufacturing supply chains throughout the U.S. will be severely impacted. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) published a very insightful, interactive map of the ports that will be potentially impacted and some interesting import/export facts for many of them. Check it out here:
https://nam.org/mapping-the-impact-of-a-port-strike-32072
According to NAM, here some key data points:
- More than 68% of all containerized exports and more than 56% of containerized imports flow through East and Gulf Coast ports, representing an average daily trade value of more than $2.1 billion.
- They handle more than 91% of containerized imports and 69% of containerized exports of pharmaceutical products.
- They also process more than 76% of containerized vehicle exports and more than 54% of containerized vehicle imports.
- For air and spacecraft, more than 77% of containerized exports and more than 51% of containerized imports go through these ports.
To prepare for a potential labor strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) on the Gulf Coast and East Coast, importers and exporters can consider several contingency plans:
- Reroute Cargo: Explore alternative shipping routes. Ports on the U.S. West Coast, Canada, and Mexico can serve as viable alternatives. For example, cargo can be diverted to ports like Los Angeles, Long Beach, or Vancouver.
- Multi-Coastal Transportation Network: Establish a network that includes multiple coastal gateways. This can involve setting up transload operations or smaller volume operations that can be scaled up if needed.
- Extended Gate Hours: Take advantage of ports extending their gate hours to process as much cargo as possible before any potential strike. Ports like New York, New Jersey, and Savannah are offering extended weekend hours.
- Airfreight Options: For time-sensitive shipments, consider using airfreight, although it comes at a higher cost and with capacity concerns.
- Communication with Ports and Carriers: Stay in close contact with ports and carriers for the latest updates and advisories. Many ports are sharing daily updates about their contingency plans.
- Inventory Management: Increase inventory levels of critical goods to buffer against potential delays. This is especially important for industries relying on just-in-time inventory models.
- Legal and Contractual Preparations: Review contracts and legal agreements to understand the implications of delays and disruptions. Ensure there are clauses that cover force majeure events like strikes.
Working with an experienced capable freight forwarder, like Logistics Plus, importers and exporters can implement the above strategies and better navigate the potential disruptions caused by a labor strike.
by Ryan Markiewicz | Sep 13, 2024 | News
Chris Dennis, Managing Director for Logistics Plus (LP) Canada, was featured on the Business Spotlight program, which is produced in partnership with WPSE Money Radio. Business Spotlight is a monthly 30-minute program that airs regionally and streams globally.
In this month’s Logistics Plus segment, Chris discusses his background, the solutions offered by the Canada team, collaborating with the team at our Global Headquarters in Erie, navigating different rules and regulations, and more.
You can listen to a replay of the interview on the Logistics Plus Podcasts page or by clicking below on our LP Radio channel on Spotify.
by Ryan Markiewicz | Sep 11, 2024 | News
The Logistics Plus (LP) Aero team successfully completed an urgent air charter project from St. John’s, Canada, to Georgetown, Guyana, on September 8th, 2024. The team was tasked with transporting oil production equipment for a key client in the oil industry. The air charter was swiftly organized using an AN-12 aircraft, chosen for its optimal capacity considering the cargo’s overall dimensions (533x255x186 CM) and weight (4250 kg) while also being the most cost-effective solution.
Despite the challenging weather conditions, the LP Aero™ team meticulously planned the operation, ensuring the cargo was delivered safely and on schedule. Photos from this project can be seen below.
To learn more about Logistics Plus Air Charter solutions, please visit logisticsplus.com/lpaero. You can contact the team by emailing aero@logisticsplus.com.
