by logisticsplus | Jul 6, 2016 | News
A freight forwarder, forwarder, or forwarding agent is a person or company that organizes shipments for individuals or corporations to get goods from the manufacturer or producer to a market, customer or final point of distribution. When it comes to international freight forwarding, selecting the right global freight forwarder can help your business succeed by offering relief to many of your supply chain challenges – and possibly even providing you with a competitive advantage. Your freight forwarder should be an experienced and trusted partner for your logistics needs. Increasing levels of global sourcing and omnichannel retailing have created significant opportunities for importers and exporters around the world to optimize their supply chains. Whether you’re with a large, multinational corporation, or a small company shipping globally for the first time, selecting the right global freight forwarding partner can help you save time and money, increase shipment speed and visibility, and reduce your risk.
Here are six (6) questions to ask when choosing a global freight forwarder:
- Can they provide capacity options across multiple shipping modes? They should be able to ship goods by ocean, air, rail or ground, choosing the best option for your need. They should also be able to consult you on consolidation and routing optimization options.
- Do they offer customs brokerage and trade compliance advice? They should be able to leverage customs information and programs to your advantage. They must be knowledgeable in free trade agreements and know how to navigate each country’s compliance requirements, customs rules, governmental regulations, and duty rates.
- Do they have regional offices in key geographic regions? Your global freight forwarder should have deep knowledge of the local countries in which you are importing or exporting. They should be familiar with local languages, infrastructure, economy, currencies, tax laws, and tariffs. They should also be members of reputable freight forwarding networks, such as WCA, IFLN, or TWIG. If a freight forwarder is a member of a reputable network, the chances of them handling your shipment with care and diligence anywhere in the world is higher than if they were not a member. It also shows they have financial strength because there are only a handful of legitimate, quality freight forwarding networks that really vets their members.
- Is their TMS or cargo management systems truly global? There should be one system architecture that works across all regions of the world and covers all types of transportation. Shipment tracking and visibility should be accessible online or, if needed, it should be something you can integrate it into your back office systems.
- Can they help assess and reduce cargo risk? They must adequately assess and mitigate cargo risk to help your company protect its bottom line. They should have adequate cargo insurance and they should be able to issue added insurance policies for your shipments in case of theft, damage, or loss.
- Do they have the experience you need? There are many modes of transport, commodities, regulations, and industries. Your freight forwarder should be able to demonstrate experience handling important freight forwarding shipments for other reputable companies, or those in similar industries.
If you’re looking for a new global freight forwarding partner, you might consider asking these six questions as part of your screening process. We’d be honored if you’d consider Logistics Plus as a potential candidate to be your global partner. Please ask us these same six questions and we’re confident you’ll be satisfied with our answers. Click the first button below to contact us today for more information, or click the second button below to request an international freight quote. You can also click the image shown above to view or download a PDF copy of our Freight Forwarding Expertise brochure.
by logisticsplus | Jun 14, 2016 | News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amazon Selects Logistics Plus for its Solutions Provider Network
Provides retailers with third-party service options for international shipping.
ERIE, PA (June 14, 2016) – Logistics Plus Inc., a worldwide provider of transportation, logistics, and supply chain solutions, announced today that it has been selected by Amazon to be a part of its Solutions Provider Network (SPN) as part of the Amazon Global Selling program. This program provides the tools and support Amazon sellers and retailers need to grow internationally while taking much of the complexity, cost, and effort out of global selling activities.
Logistics Plus is currently listed as a service provider for FBA international shipping and self-fulfilled international shipping on Amazon’s SPN website. FBA (Fulfillment By Amazon) international shipping is for retailers that need to ship inventory to an Amazon fulfillment center outside of their home country. Self-fulfilled international shipping is for retailers that need to ship the product directly to an international customer.
With over a dozen U.S. locations, and additional offices in countries all around the world, Logistics Plus has been providing international shipping services for the past 20 years. Its international capabilities include imports and exports, air and ocean freight forwarding, project cargo, customs brokerage, global trade compliance, warehousing, and more. For imports, its remote location filing (RLF) status allows it to quickly clear shipments at any and all ports in the United States.
“We are very excited to be included in Amazon’s Solutions Provider Network,” said Jim Berlin, founder, and CEO of Logistics Plus. “Amazon provides many services to its seller community to help them successfully sell their products around the world. Sometimes those services are best covered by a third-party provider. In those cases, Logistics Plus is ready to help with international shipping, warehousing, inventory management, kitting and labeling, released fulfillment to FBAs or direct-to-customers, translation services, and much more.”
Please visit www.logisticsplus.com/Amazon to learn more or email amazonretailer@logisticsplus.com to learn more about Logistics Plus solutions for retailers.
About Logistics Plus Inc.
Logistics Plus 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, 20 years ago, Logistics Plus is a fast-growing and award-winning transportation and logistics company. With a strong passion for excellence, its 380+ 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; Alma, AR; Little Rock, AR; Los Angeles, CA; Riverside, CA; San Francisco, CA; Visalia, CA; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Kansas City, MO; Charlotte, NC; Lexington, NC; Buffalo, NY; Cleveland, OH; Charleston, SC; Greenville, SC; Nashville, TN; Dallas, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Houston, TX; Laredo, TX; Bahrain; Belgium; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Egypt; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Libya; Mexico; Poland; Saudi Arabia; Turkey; and UAE; 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
Click the image below to download the Logistics Plus logo:
by logisticsplus | Jun 6, 2016 | News
As widely reported in the trade media, and as Logistics Plus reported late last year, on July 1, 2016, a new regulation from SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea convention of the International Maritime Organization or IMO) takes effect requiring shippers whose name appears on the bill of lading to verify the gross mass of a container carrying cargo when tendering the container to the ocean carriers and terminals. Many in the industry are warning shippers to expect delays and congestion portside after the new rules go into effect.
We encourage Logistics Plus customers that ship containers to begin developing internal processes in anticipation of the new rules. This includes collecting accurate weights, developing a procedure for weighing containers, developing procedures for producing signed verified gross mass (VGM) certificates, understanding local requirements and determining who the authorized certificate signer will be while ensuring there is also a backup for this role. We also recommend having a contingency plan: if a container is denied access to a terminal or is quarantined on-site, have alternatives planned to move time-sensitive cargo via air or some other method.
As always, your international shipping partners at Logistics Plus stand ready to help customers answer questions and address the new container rules as best as possible. The Journal of Commerce has published a helpful Shippers’ Guide to Container Weight Mandate article and FAQs on its website. Logistics Plus customers with specific questions or concerns should call their local Logistics Plus representative, or email us at quotes@logisticsplus.com.
About Logistics Plus Inc.
Logistics Plus 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, 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; Alma, AR; Little Rock, AR; Los Angeles, CA; Riverside, CA; San Francisco, CA; Visalia, CA; Atlanta, GA; Evansville, IN; Detroit, MI; Kansas City, MO; Charlotte, NC; Lexington, NC; Buffalo, NY; Cleveland, OH; Charleston, SC; Greenville, SC; Nashville, TN; Dallas, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Houston, TX; Laredo, TX; Bahrain; Belgium; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Egypt; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Libya; Mexico; Poland; Saudi Arabia; Turkey; and UAE; with additional agents around the world. For more information, visit www.logisticsplus.com or follow @LogisticsPlus on Twitter.
by logisticsplus | May 16, 2016 | News
As the company that manages the Logistics Program for the Manufacturer & Business Association (MBA), Logistics Plus recently provided the second in a series of short webinars to introduce MBA members to various transportation and logistics topics and trends. The live webinars are complimentary for MBA members, but both MBA and non-MBA members can view the online, recorded versions after they have been completed. The most recent webinar, facilitated by Adam Mook, took place on May 12th and was an “Introduction to Incoterms® 2010.” A description and replay are included below.
Incoterms® rules are standard trade definitions most commonly used in international sales contracts. Devised and published by the International Chamber of Commerce, they are the heart of world trade. Correct use of Incoterms® rules goes a long way in providing the legal certainty upon which mutual confidence between business partners must be based. This workshop will provide an overview of the recent revisions to the Incoterms® 2010 rules, which went into effect worldwide on January 1, 2011. In this session you’ll learn:
- An introduction and overview of the 11 Incoterms® 2010 rules.
- Overview of risk and cost responsibilities, from the perspective of both buyer and seller.
- Incorporating the seller’s cost responsibilities into the quotation to the buyer.
The next Logistics Plus live webinar, “Import and Export Basics,” will take place on July 21. Visit MBA online at mbausa.org to learn more.
