by logisticsplus | May 15, 2020 | News
As widely covered in the news, U.S. authorities continue to deny regulatory approval for N95 masks and other PPE supplies from many Chinese manufacturers. This has continued to exacerbate the shortage of much-needed PPE supplies in the United States.
Logistics Plus is proud to report that it has used, and continues to use, only FDA-approved manufacturers for the PPE that it has been successfully sourcing, warehousing, and delivering to those in need in the U.S. and around the world. As shown here, one of our Chinese-based suppliers recently received first-hand inspection and approval from the Trump Administration (photos provided by the LP China office).
In fact, over the past two months, the Logistics Plus COVID-19 Response Team has delivered nearly 10 million pieces of PPE, including KN95 masks, disposable surgical masks, gloves, face shields, goggles, hand sanitizers, thermometers, and air purifiers (including a 1 million face shield order from a state procurement agency).
As reported previously, we’ve even expanded our offering into two product groups:
- Individual/consumer orders (less than $1,000) fulfilled from our NY pick, pack, and ship facility; and
- Business/organizational orders (over $1,000) fulfilled from one of our PA commercial warehouses.
We are proud to report that we continue to have many satisfied customers as evidenced by a few of the testimonials shown below. We are so proud that we have been able to leverage our overseas/sourcing experience and our warehousing/fulfillment expertise to help ‘make a difference.’ Thank you to our heroes who require these PPE supplies to support America, and to those organizations and businesses that continue to place trust in Logistics Plus as a reliable partner.
Logistics Plus PPE Testimonials
Large Regional Health Care Provider Based in the State of Maryland
“Organizations talk about building business partnerships, Logistics Plus puts into practice everything other organizations speak of. The team is accessible, reliable, and looks out for their customers’ best intentions. When I interact with them it is like an extension of my own company. They have the expertise and the know-how to excel in these unprecedented times, hitting every deadline and milestone we agreed to along the way. They are true HealthCare Heroes!”
Regional Hospital/Medical Center
“Thank you very much. This is a really big help. You have met our PPE needs a couple of times now. We have Covid patients and provide coverage to a wide multi-county service area. While we are active, we have not been designated as a hot spot. While that is good, the air bridge, the state, and the fed does not help us out. That has resulted in us being very challenged. We will utilize you as we need and can. Don’t know how you pulled this N95 off but find some more please.”
Utility Equipment Services Company
“I know you that you transport gigantic pressurized air tanks, locomotives, and tons of other huge equipment from one part of the world to the other; but those 250 face masks, weighing only what, 2 lbs in total? Seriously, I cannot thank you all enough for delivering our state-mandated masks right on time. We were closing at 3:30 pm last Friday, and Julie made it here at 3:28, and it was snowing. We did have some other options, but the other vendors are still waiting for the masks to make their way into their own warehouses, let alone it delivered to us. Witnessing your seriousness and kindness was great too. Thank you all and best regards!”
Erie-Area Hospital
“You are a beacon light during this time. On behalf of our team of caregivers, thank you for your kindness. Wishing you well with gratitude.”
Local Non-Profit
“I would like to thank everyone at Logistics Plus for the two cases of surgical masks. As stated in previous communications, those masks will be distributed to our dedicated and hardworking caregivers who continue to serve individuals with disabilities in the community. Every day our caregivers provide hands-on support to consumers in need of assistance with their daily living activities. These surgical masks will offer increased safety to both our caregivers, who are providing an invaluable service throughout this pandemic and the consumers they provide services too. Logistics Plus is a valuable asset to our community, and we greatly appreciate you.”
Voicemail from a Customer
“A few weeks ago you were super getting us some masks. I was totally surprised that they got here overnight. I just wanted to call to give you a kudos and congratulations. I’m impressed with the way you handle your business to say the least. It’s refreshing in the business world today that predicates itself on promises and no deliveries.”
Pennsylvania-based Employee
“Just took delivery of 10 surgical masks from your website. Easy transaction!”
Retirement Community
“Please tell Jim that staff is starting to wear the masks that Wesbury bought from LP and they are raving about them. They are great! Tell him thank you.”
by logisticsplus | May 12, 2020 | News
Shippers are often confused when faced with the choice of partnering with a 3PL or 4PL to tackle their logistics and transportation challenges. Logistics Plus provides both 3PL and 4PL solutions, but we prefer to think of ourselves as the best of both worlds: a 3½PL if you will.
For definition purposes, 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. A 3PL is a third-party provider that manages a specific aspect of logistics such as transportation, warehousing and/or fulfillment. A 4PL typically acts as a client company’s single point of contact in the supply chain that offers strategic insights and management of the various 3P and 2P, or even 1P, activities.
The reason Logistics Plus often uses the term 3½PL is that we bring very specific outsourced capabilities that include domestic transportation, international freight forwarding, customs brokerage, warehousing, and fulfillment … but we also have the expertise and technology to acts as a client’s single point of contact for all supply chain functions.
As a 3PL, we maintain competitive contracts, agreements, and profiles for thousands of ground, air, ocean, and rail carriers around the world – all supported with world-class transportation management systems (TMS). Our warehouses are well-maintained – all supported with highly-developed warehouse management systems (WMS). All of our 3PL services are delivered by talented logistics specialists who have experience and expertise within their respective transportation and warehousing domains.
As a 4PL, we employ a global control tower approach to supply chain management, with a highly-customizable technology platform that includes powerful analytics and dashboards. Our 4PL solutions typically come with skilled, dedicated logisticians that work as part of your team to look up and down your supply chain to identify the weakest links and repair them.
Logistics Plus clients that engage in our 3½PL solutions get access to both transactional and strategic services that can be applied to either simple or complex supply chains. To learn more, we invite you to view the short presentation below.
What logistics challenges does your supply chain have? Let us know …we’re here to help!
And one final thought …
by logisticsplus | May 8, 2020 | News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Logistics Plus Commissions Peach Street Bridge Mural Update
Local artist, Jason Mumford, illustrates ‘Erie Strong’ message in updated ‘Welcome to Erie’ mural.
ERIE, PA (May 8, 2020) – Logistics Plus Inc., a leading worldwide provider of transportation, logistics and supply chain solutions, has commissioned local artist, Jason Mumford, to refresh and update its ‘Welcome to Downtown’ mural on the south side of the Peach Street overpass. The updated mural includes an image of Atlas holding the world on his shoulders with an inspirational ‘Erie Strong’ message.
“As Erie begins to open back up today from the Covid-19 pandemic, I wanted Jason to refresh the Peach Street mural with a strong, positive message about the resiliency of the people in Erie,” said Jim Berlin, founder and CEO of Logistics Plus. “Jason responded with a very cool image that I think will be a great welcome back message for everyone coming downtown again.”
Mr. Mumford is no stranger to Erie or Logistics Plus murals. Circa 2005, Mumford painted the original welcome murals on both the north and south sides of the Peach Street and Sassafras Street overpasses. He also painted the Logistics Plus warehouse ‘Don’t Give Up The Shipment’ mural to the west of Erie’s Bayfront Connector. Over the coming weeks, Mumford will be refreshing the north side Peach Street mural and the north and south side Sassafras murals.
Berlin added, “Logistics Plus is happy to say, ‘Welcome back’ to our downtown Erie neighbors.”
About Logistics Plus Inc.
Logistics Plus Inc. provides freight transportation, warehousing, fulfillment, global logistics, business intelligence technology, and supply chain management solutions through a worldwide network of talented and caring professionals. The company was founded over 23 years ago in Erie, PA by local entrepreneur, Jim Berlin. Today, Logistics Plus is a highly-regarded fast-growing and award-winning transportation and logistics company. With a strong passion for excellence, its 450 global employees put the “plus” in logistics by doing the big things properly, and the countless little things, that together ensure complete customer satisfaction and success.
The Logistics Plus® network includes offices located in Erie, PA; Akron, OH; Baltimore, MD; Birmingham, AL; Buffalo, NY; Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH; Dallas, TX; Des Moines, IA; Detroit, MI; Fort Worth, TX; Haslet TX; Houston, TX; Laredo, TX; Lexington, NC; Los Angeles, CA; Melbourne, FL; Nashville, TN; New York, NY; Olean, NY; Ontario, CA; San Bernardino, CA; San Francisco, CA; Tampa Bay, FL; Australia; Bahrain; Belgium; Canada; China; Colombia; Czech Republic; Egypt; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Libya; Mexico; Netherlands; Poland; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Taiwan; Turkey; UAE; Ukraine; Uganda; and United Kingdom; with additional agents around the world. For more information, visit www.logisticsplus.com or follow @LogisticsPlus on Twitter.
Media Contact:
Scott G. Frederick
Vice President, Marketing
Logistics Plus Inc.
(814) 240-6881
scott.frederick@logisticsplus.com
Click the image below to download the Logistics Plus logo:
by logisticsplus | May 6, 2020 | News
To All (from our CEO),
Well, Megan, Yuriy and I got to the Detroit airport yesterday evening just in time to meet our first Delta Cargo charter I mentioned yesterday, arriving with a full plane load of PPE masks and other items for various American customers we’re delivering for. Awesome!
We actually arrived at the Same Exact Time as the charter did (thank you, John and Hallie : ) and we met it on the tarmac as it headed into the gate. (Logistics, baby! ?)
Incredible effort by all—Eileen and her team in China, Russel in Houston, Kelly, Megan, G2 and others here in Erie.
The ground crew quickly jumped to work and the entire plane was unloaded in 45 minutes.
Colleen was a most delightful hostess and took us to watch the entire process, and then to the Delta warehouse where we met Mohammed, who runs it. They were glad for the business (Detroit airport looked like a ghost town—sad). Both were upbeat and hopeful, even in a hotspot like Detroit, that we are at least beginning to emerge from all this and will be getting back to more normal business soon.
This could not have been possible without the help/hopefully fledgling partnership with Delta Airlines.
Unless you have been intimately involved in trying to book these charters, as Eileen and Russell and Yuriy and Kelly and Megan and G2 have, you really cannot fully understand how impossibly crazy it’s been. And not just “business is harder now because of the pandemic” tough. This has been WAY beyond that.
—Trying to place orders for product in China, where the demand has soared
—Manufacturers canceling promised orders
—Quality control
—Varying, very specific certifications required by customers/governments
—Other parties buying out/stealing orders that were being produced for us.
—Russell dealing with new rules, changes, cancellations of flights
—Trucks waiting in lines MILES long trying to deliver product to the airport.
—Chinese customs changing their export rules.
—US customs changing our import rules.
—Ground crews in China overwhelmed with the volume of cargo and planes.
—China changing rules regarding planes/crews/quarantines
—Eileen spending 24 hours straight at the Shanghai airport to help make sure our cargo all got loaded (onto the RIGHT airplane : )
—And on and on and on.
And, whatever issues that WE/LP have been dealing with—Delta and the other airlines, had to deal with them, and many, many more (they are the actual OPERATORS in this picture!) Total chaos and constant changing, sometimes by the hour. Total Wild West.
And that’s amidst this time when airlines are already getting economically crushed by this pandemic. Tough, tough, tough.
So, it’s been very heartening that we have been able to work so closely with Delta (my favorite airlines) with a little help from many of their top leadership, from Ed Bastian, their CEO, through their corporate leadership, and right down to the front line troops like Mohammad and Colleen.
If you have ever flown Delta, you know of the superior customer service and attention they provide. It was no different here. They, like us, know that even in tough times, you need to treat each other right. You find the patience and the creativity and the mental toughness and the resilience to navigate through, and they did. (The old John Wooden quote: “Tough times does not build character, it reveals character”.
A good and positive experience for our LP team, and a terrific result for our customers who will today be getting the masks and other personal protective equipment they ordered through us delivered to them. Success!
So, thank you, Ed, Shawn, Eric, Arthur, Mohammad and Colleen. Thank you from me, from LP, from our customers and from those who will now be able to feel safer and more secure as “inch by inch” we/all of us, continue to get through this awful mess. Thank you.
Onward! (with a little help from our friends… : )
JB
Jim Berlin, CEO, Logistics Plus
(click any of the three photos above to see larger version)
by logisticsplus | May 6, 2020 | News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Logistics Plus Receives Inc.’s Best Workplaces of 2020 Recognition
Majority of employees see professional growth and career opportunities.
ERIE, PA (May 6, 2020) – Logistics Plus Inc. (LP), a leading worldwide provider of transportation, logistics and supply chain solutions, is proud to announce that it has been named to Inc. magazine’s annual list of the Best Workplaces for 2020. In anonymous surveys, employee engagement was over 96%, and “challenging” was cited as the top word to describe the company’s work environment. 82% of men and 85% of women in the company see professional and career development opportunities for themselves.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has made this an incredibly challenging year,” said Jim Berlin, founder and CEO of Logistics Plus. “The world has changed and is changing before our eyes, but LP has stayed strong with our employees playing essential roles in helping keep supply chains together, here and around the world. It’s been a true testament to the talent, tenacity, creativity and resourcefulness of our people. I am so proud. Proud of them all.”
Collecting data from more than 2,500 submissions, Inc. singled out 389 finalists for this year’s list. Each nominated company took part in an employee survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, on topics including trust, management effectiveness, perks, and confidence in the future. Inc. gathered, analyzed, and audited the data. Then we ranked all the employers using a composite score of survey results. The list will be included in the May/June 2020 issue of Inc. magazine and prominently featured on the Inc.com website.
Among all finalists on the list, Logistics Plus also had the distinction of being:
- 1 of only 45 companies recognized in the large category (250-499 employees)
- 1 of only 12 companies based in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- 1 of only 10 companies in the transportation and logistics industry
- The only company based in Erie, Pennsylvania
You can view the Inc-verified Logistics profile online at www.inc.com/profile/logistics-plus and the full list of 2020 Inc. Best Workplaces at www.inc.com/best-workplaces/2020.html.
This is the first year that Logistics Plus has received the Inc. Best Workplace recognition. Last year, Logistics Plus was named the 54th best medium-sized workplace by Great Place to Work and Fortune magazine and has been certified as a Great Place to Work® company the past three years running.
About Logistics Plus Inc.
Logistics Plus Inc. provides freight transportation, warehousing, fulfillment, global logistics, business intelligence technology, and supply chain management solutions through a worldwide network of talented and caring professionals. The company was founded over 23 years ago in Erie, PA by local entrepreneur, Jim Berlin. Today, Logistics Plus is a highly-regarded fast-growing and award-winning transportation and logistics company. With a strong passion for excellence, its 450 global employees put the “plus” in logistics by doing the big things properly, and the countless little things, that together ensure complete customer satisfaction and success.
The Logistics Plus® network includes offices located in Erie, PA; Akron, OH; Baltimore, MD; Birmingham, AL; Buffalo, NY; Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH; Dallas, TX; Des Moines, IA; Detroit, MI; Fort Worth, TX; Haslet TX; Houston, TX; Laredo, TX; Lexington, NC; Los Angeles, CA; Melbourne, FL; Nashville, TN; New York, NY; Olean, NY; Ontario, CA; San Bernardino, CA; San Francisco, CA; Tampa Bay, FL; Australia; Bahrain; Belgium; Canada; China; Colombia; Czech Republic; Egypt; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Libya; Mexico; Netherlands; Poland; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Taiwan; Turkey; UAE; Ukraine; Uganda; and United Kingdom; with additional agents around the world. For more information, visit www.logisticsplus.com or follow @LogisticsPlus on Twitter.
Media Contact:
Scott G. Frederick
Vice President, Marketing
Logistics Plus Inc.
(814) 240-6881
scott.frederick@logisticsplus.com
Click the image below to download the Logistics Plus logo:
by logisticsplus | May 1, 2020 | News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Logistics Plus Picks Up and Delivers 50,000 Masks for the City of Erie
The masks were donated by Erie’s sister city in Zibo, China, and airfreighted to Chicago.
ERIE, PA (May 1, 2020) – Logistics Plus Inc. (LP), a leading worldwide provider of transportation, logistics and supply chain solutions, is proud to share that it recently provided final pickup and delivery services for a critical order of 50 thousand surgical masks for the City of Erie. The masks were donated by Erie’s “sister city” in Zibo, China and airfreighted to Chicago’s O’Hare (ORD) Airport. From there, Logistics Plus facilitated the customs clearance and paperwork, took possession of the shipment, and then arranged complimentary transportation of the goods from Chicago to Erie.
Employees from the newly formed Logistics Plus COVID-19 Response Team safely delivered all 23 cartons of the masks to the City of Erie. The LP COVID-19 Response Team was organized by Gretchen Seth, the company’s senior vice president. Gretchen is an Erie-native, has been with Logistics Plus for over 22 years, and is – fittingly – the daughter of a local doctor.
A special press conference, with only the media in attendance, to thank Zibo, China for its generous donation and to thank Logistics Plus for its role in helping with the delivery of the shipment, was planned for today but has since been postponed for a later date out of caution and a need for social distancing.
In addition to the Erie City Hall delivery, the Logistics Plus COVID-19 Response Team, led by Julie Slomski, made stops earlier in the morning at the Erie City Mission, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania, Orphan Angels Cat Sanctuary, The Anna Shelter and St. Martin Center to deliver money and supplies that have been collected and donated by Logistics Plus employees.
“Together we are ‘Erie Strong,’ said Jim Berlin, founder and CEO of Logistics Plus. “Helping Mayor Schember and the city get these masks from Chicago to Erie and in the hands of our front-line government workers was an easy decision. I am also proud of our employees for the donations made to the mission, food bank, and others. It feels good to donate and to do something for those in need. Truly a win-win. And a way to be Erie Strong.”
Jim added, “I’d also like to commend Gretchen on her role running our LP COVID team. They have successfully sourced, procured, transported and delivered millions of pieces of PPE to area hospitals, first responders, nursing home, government employees, police and fire departments. In record time. When no one could find and get these, we did. A true LP as a solutions company story. It needed done and we are doing it.”
About Logistics Plus Inc.
Logistics Plus Inc. provides freight transportation, warehousing, fulfillment, global logistics, business intelligence technology, and supply chain management solutions through a worldwide network of talented and caring professionals. The company was founded over 23 years ago in Erie, PA by local entrepreneur, Jim Berlin. Today, Logistics Plus is a highly-regarded fast-growing and award-winning transportation and logistics company. With a strong passion for excellence, its 450 global employees put the “plus” in logistics by doing the big things properly, and the countless little things, that together ensure complete customer satisfaction and success.
The Logistics Plus® network includes offices located in Erie, PA; Akron, OH; Baltimore, MD; Birmingham, AL; Buffalo, NY; Charleston, SC; Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH; Dallas, TX; Des Moines, IA; Detroit, MI; Fort Worth, TX; Haslet TX; Houston, TX; Laredo, TX; Lexington, NC; Los Angeles, CA; Melbourne, FL; Nashville, TN; New York, NY; Olean, NY; Ontario, CA; San Bernardino, CA; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Tampa Bay, FL; Australia; Bahrain; Belgium; Canada; China; Colombia; Czech Republic; Egypt; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Libya; Mexico; Netherlands; Poland; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Taiwan; Turkey; UAE; Ukraine; Uganda; and United Kingdom; with additional agents around the world. For more information, visit www.logisticsplus.com or follow @LogisticsPlus on Twitter.
Media Contact:
Scott G. Frederick
Vice President, Marketing
Logistics Plus Inc.
(814) 240-6881
scott.frederick@logisticsplus.com
Click the image below to download the Logistics Plus logo:
