by Scott Frederick | Jul 17, 2015 | News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Logistics Plus Helps Western Shelter Systems Deliver Relief to Nepal
42 Tons of Humanitarian Aid Products Air Freighted from Oregon to Nepal
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, July 17, 2015 – Logistics Plus Inc., a worldwide provider of transportation, logistics and supply chain solutions, helped successfully coordinate 42 tons of humanitarian aid products from Oregon to Nepal. Working with its customer, Western Shelter Systems, the two-part shipment was picked up in Eugene, Oregon in early July and cleared customs at the American Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal on July 10, providing much needed relief shelters and supplies to the area.
Nepal was rocked by succession earthquakes in April and May, creating a humanitarian crisis. The first earthquake, on April 25, killed over 8,000 people, injured over 18,000, and destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes. A second major earthquake struck on May 12. The second quake toppled already weakened buildings, triggered a series of landslides further hampering relief efforts.
“Logistics Plus was flawless working with us on this humanitarian aid shipment,” said Mike Scala, President and CEO for Western Shelter Systems. “Email and phone communication were extremely abundant on this sensitive shipment, and we were guided through every detail including pallet configuration to dial in the best and fastest transport. Once the shipment cleared customs in Nepal, our people there were able to start working with the USDOJ in order to deploy this important aid.”
About Western Shelter Systems
Since 1992, Western Shelter Systems has been the standard, exclusive supplier of re-deployable shelters for all U.S. Federal government FEMA emergency responder teams, state and county governments, and municipal fire and police jurisdictions; as well as forest service, military, hospital, and industrial organizations. For more information, visit www.westernshelter.com.
About Logistics Plus
Logistics Plus Inc. provides freight transportation, warehousing, global logistics, and supply chain management 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 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; Fresno, CA; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; Evansville, IN; Detroit, MI; Kansas City, MO; Lexington, NC; Buffalo, NY; Cleveland, OH; Charleston, SC; Greenville, SC; Nashville, TN; Dallas, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Laredo, TX; Houston, TX; Australia; Bahrain; Belgium; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Egypt; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Libya; Mexico; Poland; Saudi Arabia; Turkey; United Kingdom; and 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
by logisticsplus | Jul 13, 2015 | News
Logistics Plus was recently profiled by WiseTech Global – one of our key technology partners that is a multi-award winning global developer of cloud-based software solutions for the international and domestic logistics industries. Its leading product, CargoWise One, provides the most sophisticated and comprehensive end-to-end logistics solution in the world and forms an integral link in the global supply chain.
To develop the profile, WiseTech Global interviewed Jim Berlin and various stakeholders involved with the implementation and use of the CargoWise technology solution at Logistics Plus. CargoWise provides a foundation for our international freight forwarding operations (including our online eWorldPlus application), warehouse management system (WMS), customs brokerage solutions, and corporate finance. The profile includes an online overview of our company, a professional video segment, and a downloadable PDF flyer.
To view the online profile, click the image below or visit at www.wisetechglobal.com/customers/logistics-plus.
by logisticsplus | Jul 9, 2015 | News
When you work with a capable logistics partner, door-to-door international shipping shouldn’t be complicated for shippers; but it’s a complex process behind the scenes. A shipment exported from the United States to a foreign country becomes a maze of modes and regulations before it arrives at your customer’s door. According to Emily Grein, international manager for Logistics Plus, “We try to make shipping internationally no different than shipping domestically. From our customer’s perspective, it should be simply a matter of picking up the shipment, transporting it to the destination, and then delivering it to their customer.”
So what should you look for when selecting a door-to-door logistics partner? If you look hard, you might find many options for international door-to-door delivery services. With exports on the decline due to the higher dollar valuation, the competition is intense. But buyer beware – not all logistics companies are the same. Some providers may outsource the bulk of the work to five or six different vendors, from trucking to warehousing to customs brokerage. Other logistics companies may outsource only a portion of the responsibility, providing more internal expertise and control. Having fewer parties involved reduces a shipper’s loss, damage, and security risk. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before selecting a door-to-door international freight forwarder:
- Are they large enough to be credible but not so large that they ignore my individual requirements?
- Do they have global trade compliance and customs clearance expertise in-house?
- Do they understand compliant packaging regulations (such as ISPM 15 and HT)?
- Do they have offices and people located around the world with local knowledge of the country to which I am shipping?
- Have they established strong relationships with air, ocean, and ground carriers to secure capacity and affordable rates for my shipment requirements?
- Do they have the ability to warehouse and distribute my product according to a set schedule if needed?
- Do they have an online technology solution that provides me with shipment visibility?
- Will I have a dedicated logistics specialist working with me every step of the way?
Okay, now that you’ve selected a capable door-to-door freight forwarding partner (hopefully it’s Logistics Plus), you need to prepare your shipment for the big move. Preparing an international door-to-door shipment can sometimes require planning up to a year in advance. The main factors affecting the shipment’s transportation mode and cost will be the size, weight, and dimensions of the cargo being moved and the final destination. Packaging will also be a factor, both in terms of cargo security and shipment dimensions and cost. Remember, you don’t want to “pay for air,” so make sure your shipment is optimally packaged for secure and safe transport.
You should start by compiling a detailed packing list and itemizing every piece of the shipment, including both description and dimensions. This will allow your logistics provider to provide you with an accurate rate estimate. Armed with a detailed understanding of your shipment and its final destination, your logistics provider will find the appropriate shipping line and shipping ports for optimal results. Once your shipment is en-route, you should have the confidence that your logistics provider will be able to provide you with frequent shipment status updates, if needed, and will notify you once your shipment has been delivered. They should also explain to you how to select the best Incoterms for your shipment to ensure your total transportation costs and any applicable tariffs or duties are minimized. They should also be able to provide you with a consolidated, itemized invoice for the entire transaction.
“There’s often a lot of steps and documents involved with international door-to-door shipping,” says Emily, “But our goals is to make importing and exporting easy for our customers simply.” If you’re ready to learn more about Logistics Plus door-to-door international shipping services, please email us at quotes@logisticsplus.com or click the button below to get a quick quote on your next international shipment.
**Please note: Due to liability issues, we do not ship personal effects or belongings.**
by Scott Frederick | Jun 22, 2015 | News
Logistics Plus employees, representing both LP Mexico and LP International, are attending the Sino-Americas Regional Conference 2015 in Miami, Florida this week. Logistics Plus is also a sponsor for the event. The conference began on Sunday, June 21 and ends on Wednesday, June 23. Organized jointly by WCA ltd and China International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFA), this event promises to be the most important networking and business-generating opportunity for any freight forwarder or logistics company looking to establish or expand its volumes into or out of this region.
As the key logistics hub between South, Central and North America, Miami plays a crucial role in facilitating trade between the Americas and the rest of the world. By attending this 3-day Logistics Plus hopes to open up a whole range of new potential business partnerships and to build our presence as an expert logistics provider to and from this market. The conference is open to all independent freight forwarders and vendors to the logistics sector, such as airlines, shipping lines, ports, airports, IT providers and equipment suppliers.
by Scott Frederick | Feb 27, 2015 | News
When you have a customer (like we have) that is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and a company that sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies – you are working with a company that is very savvy at transportation and logistics. However, nobody knows global logistics quite like the Logistics Plus International staff.
The customer described above recently presented Logistics Plus with a cargo challenge to move an extremely large, and heavy gas feeder unit from Kansas to Argentina. At first, the customer was considering an air charter, but Logistics Plus was able to find an extremely affordable ocean solution which saved the customer significantly on their port-to-port shipping costs.
Additionally, the same customer asked Logistics Plus to compare our ground rates in the U.S. with the rates they had already established on their own. As it turned out, the Logistics Plus ground solution in the U.S. saved the customer another thousand dollars on top of their international transportation expense savings.
We’re happy to report the shipment is departing Concordia, Kansas next week Monday where it will be shipped to the Port of Houston, ocean transported to the Port of Zarate in Argentina, and then trucked again to its final destination. Special thank you to Yolanda Corrales for making this move happen and for helping our good customer save on their overall shipping expenses!
If you have similar international freight forwarding needs, give Logistics Plus a try. Email us at quotes@logisticsplus.com or click here for a quick quote.
