by logisticsplus | Mar 1, 2022 | News
We here at Logistics Plus (LP) and most of the rest of the world are incredibly concerned and heartbroken with what is going on in Ukraine right now. This all hits close to home for us since we have over 50 employees in Ukraine, most of them under the age of 35. A few of our employees have gotten out and gone to Romania or Poland, but most don’t want to leave or can’t leave. Many want to fight or stay with their families.
As a show of our support, Logistics Plus has set up a fundraising website to raise money for food, lodging, and whatever is needed to help our employees and their families. Our owner & CEO, Jim Berlin, has seeded this fund with $500,000, and the goal was to raise another $50,000 or more. We are happy to report the response has been phenomenal, and we’re already over that goal, but our friends in Ukraine will need more.
We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for our Ukraine team, and we are thankful to everyone around the world who has offered money, accommodations, and prayers. You can donate to the fund and read updates on the situation here: https://lpukrainerelief.com/.
THANK YOU!
90-Second WPSE Radio Clip
All of us at Logistics Plus appreciate the support we have received from employees, partners, customers, vendors, and friends worldwide. It truly means the world to us. Logistics Plus would also like to thank the various news outlets and businesses that have shared our story, helping us raise additional money for the fund.
You can view some of the media coverage for this story using the links below.
YourErie: Some Logistics Plus Employees to Relocate Out of Ukraine
GoErie: Erie-based Logistics Plus donates $500,000 to aid employees in Ukraine, is raising more
DC Velocity: Press Release Coveage
Erie News Now: Logistics Plus Raises Money For Employees in Ukraine
Erie News Now: Local business impacted by Russian attack on Ukraine
YourErie: How will the Russian invasion impact us in PA?
by logisticsplus | Feb 28, 2022 | News
A recent article published in Logistics Management magazine and online at Supply Chain Management Review, written by Sara Banks from Accenture, suggests a strong collaboration between 3PLs and shippers can help to bring innovative solutions that will benefit both in the future. You can read the full article here: Time For Shippers & 3PLs to Innovate Together.
Accenture’s research shows four capabilities shippers want from logistics companies. They are presented here with a note under each regarding Logistics Plus.
End-to-end services. Shippers are looking for a one-stop shop for all logistics services. This means that, beyond basic logistics, they want a trusted logistics provider that delivers new services such as advisory and supply chain consulting services, analytics capabilities, e-commerce channel management capabilities, and even algorithms that match demand and supply.
Logistics Plus has evolved by both necessity and design over the past 25 years. As a company known for saying YES, not NO, to unique supply chain challenges, we’ve developed a network of solutions that span the entire supply chain, from procurement to warehousing to final mile delivery. We call this Global Logistics + So Much More. With our 3.5PL and 4PL solutions, we strive to provide the end-to-end services our customers require so that they can remain focused on what they do best: making and selling great products.
- Better experiences. Shippers want a logistics partner that knows their business and will work with them to overcome challenges by bringing in customer-centric solutions. Our research revealed the need for 3PLs to build service consistency, flexibility, and responsiveness to create more satisfying customer experiences.
We are hardly perfect, but there is one trait that shippers can expect when they work with Logistics Plus: a contagious passion for excellence. It’s that passion that has enabled Logistics Plus to earn numerous service and workplace awards and to have positive word-of-mouth referrals that have supported our continuous growth. It may seem like a small thing, but every one of our employees is provided a mobile phone with the expectation that our customers need and deserve flexible, 24/7/365 support. The freight never stops moving.
- Proactive, data-driven insights. Shippers are eager to partner with 3PLs that have data and analytics capabilities to provide visibility and insights to help them make better supply chain decisions. For example, digital twin capabilities that tap into data to simulate supply chain impacts will help 3PLs guide shippers in decisions with more certainty.
We like to point out that today, Logistics Plus is as much a technology company as a logistics company. And that is not by accident. The demands of our customers have driven us to make substantial investments in technology and business intelligence applications. Our global supply chain control towers and business intelligence tools are world-class. We know that information and insights are just as critical in today’s supply chain as are shipments and freight.
- Purpose aligned to their values. Increasingly, shippers are choosing to work with businesses that are more integrated with theirs and share their values. For example, in the logistics space, sustainability is a key issue and becoming a “must-have” requirement for all players.
Shippers looking to align themselves with a 3Pl focused on employee diversity and environmental sustainability will find that Logistics Plus shares those same values. The 50 country flags that fly on top of our global headquarters, each representing the nationality of one of our employees, showcase our celebration of diversity. The fact that we were the first global 3PL to receive Plastic Neutrality Certification for offsetting 19 tonnes of plastic use in 2020 is a testament to our commitment to making the world a better place.
The notes above are just a few thoughts regarding these four capability areas that are important to shippers. Logistics Plus is ready and willing to work collaboratively with shippers to create value and share in the benefits. Contact us to learn more.
by logisticsplus | Feb 25, 2022 | News
Logistics Plus (LP) is pleased to announce that the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (Florida DBPR) has granted a license to its Miami, Florida warehouse for the public storage of alcoholic beverages and spirits.
Within the past year, a new company division, called LP Spirits™, has focused on growing the company’s alcohol and spirits warehousing and logistics needs. The Miami warehouse joins the Logistics Plus Chino, CA, Chicago, IL, and Erie, PA warehouses as locations that can legally store and distribute alcohol. The Logistics Plus Dayton, NJ warehouse is currently pending its license.
Logistics Plus Miami Branch Manager Oscar Cabrales is very excited about the opportunity this brings. “Alcohol and spirit warehousing and distribution can be quite tricky. I’m excited that we can join other Logistics Plus warehouses across the country by being able to offer this service. On top of warehousing the alcohol, we can provide valuable importation, compliance, and distribution solutions.”
Please contact miami@logisticsplus.com for additional information.
by logisticsplus | Feb 23, 2022 | News
Over a seven-week time frame, Logistics Plus employees Oleh Lykholat and Mykhailo Kostyshyn traveled around Europe to fix equipment and complete installs for a high-profile client. Nineteen flights, nine airports, six cars, two trains, and one metro later, Oleh and Mykhailo finished their journey. The story below, provided by Oleh, is a recap of their travels, jobs, and time spent working at various job sites in Europe.
Background Information
This was our first business trip with Logistics Plus. Our journey started on December 8th and finished on January 28th. We each had three brief home visits during that span. In total, we traveled and worked for fifty-two days and made it to four countries (Germany, Italy, Spain, and France). We were technically in Poland and Turkey as well, but only at the airports.
Traveling Across Europe
Generally, we had very few issues during our travels. The two of us are fully vaccinated, which made everything go pretty smoothly. Our closest situation was the Istanbul airport. Our flight from L’viv to Istanbul arrived fifty minutes later than expected, leaving us twenty minutes to board our next plane to Madrid. Just like Murphy’s law, our next gate was on the opposite side of the airport. Keep in mind that this is one of the three largest airports in Europe. The two of us were forced to run across the airport, but it turned out that they had already finished boarding the plane. After a little bit of persuasion, the gate attendant allowed us on last-minute. Another thing we were lucky with was the date we were in Italy (December 15th). A week after leaving, Italy banned travel for all Ukrainian citizens due to Covid.
Installs & Job-Sites
Over the seven-week journey, we completed two installs from start to finish. One was in Germany, and the other was in Zaragoza, Spain. We spent most of our time working at different job sites where we had to fix equipment for our client. Typically, we worked ten hours on-site, but then another three hours once we got back to the hotel. Our nights at the hotel were spent cutting, stripping, and crimping materials we needed for the next workday. The longest day I remember was when we arrived in Spain late in the evening after a full day of travel and had to begin preparation right away. We only got three hours of sleep that night before heading to the job site in the morning. Overall, we reworked 220 items, manually crimped 11,000 terminals, and used 1,400 meters of wire.
Sightseeing
We tried to see as much as possible during our hectic travel and work schedule. We didn’t have time for everything due to how often we had to move to our next city. We found time to take quick walks in the prominent locations, though. We saw the statue of Jeanne d’Arc, the Eiffel Tower, and so much more. Berlin, Milan, Orleans, Paris, and Madrid were all beautiful cities. My favorite spots were two small historical towns: Orleans, France, and Toledo, Spain (you can scroll through their photos at the bottom of this page or on the Logistics Plus Flickr Page).
Overall Experience
As we reflect on our journey across Europe, only the good moments remain in our memory. Overall, we had a great time and got everything done that we needed to. It was a successful seven weeks, but I wouldn’t say we are itching to get back on the road right away 🙂
After sharing the details of their experiences and travels, Oleh and Mykhailo wanted to emphasize that their success wouldn’t be possible without the help of others. Oleh said, “We were never alone. The whole trip, we had support from our teams around the world. Brian, Ben, Volodymyr, Michel, and Michal were big parts of these projects. A big thanks to all of them and the entire LP team!”
(Click the right and left arrows above to move through the slideshow)
by logisticsplus | Feb 17, 2022 | News
The Commodity Classifications Standards Board (CCSB) has published a new supplement to the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC®). These NMFC changes are effective 04/09/2022. Some notable changes are listed below.
Subject 1 – Cookware, Items for cookware made of different metals and alloys were all combined into one item (52880) with a full density class grouping. 52890, 52895, 52896, and 52900 all were canceled.
Subject 3 – Detectors, Fire, Previous Items (61552 and 61555) established class based upon actual value. These items were canceled and replaced by 61550 which establishes a single class of 110.
Subject 4 – Ink, Dry Ink or Toner, Item 101740 was changed from a single class 70 to three density-based classes. Dry Ink Cartridges were removed from 116030 and added to 101740.
Subject 5 – Cables, mechanical control # 39510, Class changed from a straight 70 to a full density item.
Subject 6 – Fruits, Meats, Vegetables, and Dairy Products #76850. Density breaks and classes changed. See Revised Item.
Subject 7 – Cough Drops or Throat Lozenges, #58730, Class changed from 65 to 100
Subject 9 – Tape Friction or Insulating including electrical tape, Items 49450 and 49680 canceled and replaced with 49680 which is a full density scale.
Subject 10 – Oils, Cooking Oils and vegetable Shortening, Item 73238 revised to include Cooking Sprays. Still class 65.
Subject 13 – Door Lites, Sidelites, or transom Lites, Old item 34943 is canceled and replaced with 34250 which has 8 subs based on Dimensions and density.
Subject 14 – Bags, apparel, bedding, clothing, or garment storage, Item 20510 is canceled and replaced by 20580 which is a full-scale density item.
Subject 15 – Foodstuffs: Kernels or Seeds (pumpkin or sunflower), Kernels, and Seeds removed from Item 73238 and moved to new Item 73705 which has three classes based on density.
Subject 16 – Combs, Brushes, Crimpers, Fluters, Straighteners or Wavers; Irons or Wands, Item 61370 is canceled and rolled into Item 62290. Class on 62290 changed from 85 to 125.
Subject 17 – Bins or Shelving, Item 82360 – Bins or shelving is canceled and added to item 82270 – Metallic or Wooden Furniture, which is a full density item. Previously is it was either 150 or 70 depending upon SU or KD.
Subject 18 – Binoculars, Binoculars, Field glasses, opera glasses, etc…now a straight class 150. Class used to be dependent upon actual value.
Subject 21 – Egg Beaters, Item 100520 which was class 85 now canceled, and now egg beaters are part of Tools, hand, kitchen, NOI, a full density item.
Subject 22 – Bayonets, Swords, scabbards, Class changed from 100 to a three-class scale based upon density.
Subject 24 – Definition or Specifications for Crates
Subject 25 – Filters, cigarette, Item 69083, Class changed from 100 to 200.
Subject 26 – Explosives, Item 64300, Item amended to clarify that explosives moving under its provisions ‘must’ be transported in DOT authorized packaging.
Subject 27 – Hazardous materials, ORM-D removed since Shippers are no longer authorized to use these markings.
Subject 36 – Petroleum Xylidine, Item 155460, Item canceled. See Item 45615 – Poisonous or Toxic Materials.
Additional detail is included in the DOCKET 2022-1 bulletin. As always, please contact us if you have any questions.
by logisticsplus | Feb 16, 2022 | News
Logistics Plus has, once again, been profiled as a top third-party logistics (3PL) company by Inbound Logistics magazine for its annual Logistics Planner. In its 30th year of publication, the 2022 industry planner helps companies find the right technology solutions and transportation and logistics partners to drive supply chain efficiency. With both print and digital editions, the annual issue is updated with profiles of leaders in transportation, technology, logistics, and more who stand ready to help businesses face upcoming challenges to optimize their supply chains.
The Logistics Plus profile appears on page 348 of the publication, and an accompanying advertisement appears on page 137. The profile and advertisement formally present our new theme “Global Logistics + So Much More” as a follow-up to A 21st Century Logistics Company™ introduced last year.
Working as your 3PL, 3.5PL, or 4PL partner, Logistics Plus is the company that handles supply chain challenges from start to finish by doing what other logistics companies can’t or won’t do. We’re small enough to be agile and responsive to your needs, yet large enough to have a network of solutions that span your entire supply chain.
You can view PDF versions of the Logistics Plus profile and advertisement by clicking the two images below.
You can view the entire 2022 Logistics Planner digital edition online here: https://www.inboundlogistics.com/cms/digital/
