by Scott Frederick | May 1, 2015 | News
Do you know the difference between a flatbed and a step deck? Dry van versus a Conestoga? Lowboy versus a Gooseneck? Even if you’re not sure what equipment you might need to move your important freight shipment, your friends at Logistics Plus can probably find exactly what you need. But in case you’re really curious, here’s a quick primer on the different types of truckload transportation equipment you might encounter.
Straight Truck
A straight truck, also known as a cube truck, cube van, box van, or box truck, is a truck that carries cargo on the same chassis as the power unit and cab. These types of trucks are often used to move furniture, home goods, and smaller items, or for “hot-shot” expedited freight deliveries.
Dry Van (Enclosed) Trailer
Dry Van trailers are generally enclosed and are commonly used to carry and protect freight from the harmful elements of the weather or the roads. Your shipment can be loaded on the rear of the trailer, normally using a loading dock. In cases where a loading dock is not available, some trailers come equipped with liftgates that can help get your freight from the ground to the trailer and back again.
Flatbed (Flat Bed) Trailers
Flatbeds are extremely popular and are widely used because they are very versatile. Generally, a flatbed is used to load freights on its tip, sides, and rear. With these capabilities, flatbeds have become a primary and leading assets of the trucking industry.
Step Deck (Stepdeck) Trailers
Stepdeck Trailers are otherwise known as drop decks and they are actually a variation of the flatbed trailer design that mainly consists of a bottom and top deck. These trailers are specifically designed to haul freight that cannot be transported on a standard type of flatbed, often due to height restrictions. Step decks can be open or they can also be enclosed in a dry van or Conestoga style of trailer.
Conestoga Trailers
Conestoga trailers come with a rolling tarp system that is used to cover and uncover the trailer and gives protection to the freight. The benefit of a Conestoga trailer is that the tarp can be rolled back to allow side loading or unloading of freight.
RGN (Removable Gooseneck) Trailers
RGN or Removable Gooseneck Trailers are excellent for carrying tall or long freight. An RGN trailer comes with a detachable front, allowing the trailer to be dropped on the ground in order to create a ramp. It is capable of carrying freight weighing up to 150,000 pounds. It can go from 3 axles up to 20 plus axles for heavier shipments. RGN Trailers are more specialized so they are also generally more expensive.
Stretch RGN Trailers
The Stretch RGN or Removable Gooseneck Trailer is designed to haul freight that is too long to be carried by a standard type of RGN. Depending on the weight of the freight, axles may range from 3 axles or higher. This means that the heavier the load is the more axles are to be used.
Lowboy Trailer
A Lowboy Trailer is an unpowered trailer which is commonly used to haul freight. These kinds of trailers are generally designed to carry and transport taller items. This means that the items to be carried by a Lowboy Trailer are taller than the legal height of items that are commonly carried by flatbeds. The types of trailers are also good for hosteling freight between loading docks or within a freight yard.
Refrigerated (Reefer) Trailers
A refrigerated trailer is a temperature-controlled unit. It is generally used for transporting chilled or frozen products. The temperature inside the trailer can be controlled no matter the outside weather conditions. Refrigerated trailers are very specialized and take additional fuel to keep the cooling mechanism running, and therefore more difficult to source and more expensive than standard equipment.
Specialized Trailers
Specialized trailers are specifically made for certain types of freight commodities or substances and include such equipment types as tank, perimeter, double gooseneck, and dolly trailers.
Whether your are looking for a specific transportation equipment type, or you’re just not sure, the truckload transportation experts at Logistics Plus can help you with a wide range of in-house (through our NTL division) and brokered equipment options in order to meet your needs (which is why Transport Topics ranked us one of the top freight brokerage firms in North America). Contact us for more information or request a quick quote on your next truckload freight shipment.
by Scott Frederick | Mar 9, 2015 | News
Here are some thoughts regarding the characteristics of a good 3PL (third-party logistics) partner, presented in a visual, infographic format.
by Scott Frederick | Feb 23, 2015 | News
It goes without saying that there are many regulations around importing and exporting – complex regulations. We have licensed and experienced consultants who can help simplify the complexity of those regulations and provide procedures to keep your company in compliance. In fact, when you work with Logistics Plus, it’s like having your very own Global Trade Compliance Department.
- Are you looking to expand your import and / or export operations, and aren’t sure of the regulations you need to follow?
- Have you received Notices of Action on your imports or penalties on your export filings?
- Are your customers asking you to complete free trade agreement paperwork, but you’re unsure of what to do?
- Do you have the knowledge and expertise necessary to keep your company in compliance with import and export regulations?
At Logistics Plus, Adam Mook, global trade compliance department manager, and Gretchen Blough, a licensed customs broker, are part of a global team of 25+ professionals who ensure that everything coming into or going out of the country does so legally and in compliance with all of the various international laws and customs regulations that govern the shipment of goods. “There’s basically two ways to look at it,” says Adam. “If a U.S. company is exporting its product from here to say, Indonesia, they may be able to handle the function of getting out of the United States, but they often don’t think about all the documentation requirements, packaging or labeling of the products for the import process in the country they’re shipping to. That’s where we come in and help, not just in getting it out of the U.S. side, but we also tell them how to prepare their product in order to get it into the country and to clear customs.”
No matter the origin or destination of your goods, we help you gain the knowledge to perform the due diligence necessary to ensure your shipments meet international regulations. Easily define your needs, contain costs, and minimize your risk when you work with our experiences, licensed customs brokers. Our customs specialists help you comply with existing government regulations and stay ahead of changing customs compliance laws to reduce your risk, eliminate errors, and lower your costs.
- Compliance Management
- Import / Export Compliance Manuals
- NAFTA and Free Trade Agreement Qualifications
- Classification (HTS, Schedule B, ECCN)
- Freight Bill Audits
- Import / Export Audits
- Customs Brokerage
- In-house Compliance Training
- On-Site Compliance Management Teams
- Letter of Credit Contract Review and Consulting
If you’re interested in having Logistics Plus be your Global Trade Compliance Department for any of the services listed above, please contact us or reach out directly to Adam or Gretchen to get started.
Adam Mook, Global Trade Compliance Manager
Call 814.464.1722 or email adam.mook@logisticsplus.com
Gretchen Blough, Licensed Customs Broker
Call 814.461.7630 or email gretchen.blough@logisticsplus.com
by logisticsplus | Dec 2, 2014 | News
What’s the difference between a 3PL and a 4PL? Well, before we go there, how about a 1PL and 2PL? 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. As far as 3PLs and 4PLs are concerned, according to the glossary published by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), the definitions for both are as follows:
Third-Party Logistics (3PL)
Outsourcing all or much of a company’s logistics operations to a specialized company. The term “3PL” was first used in the early 1970s to identify intermodal marketing companies (IMCs) in transportation contracts. Up to that point, contracts for transportation had featured only two parties, the shipper and the carrier. When IMCs entered the picture—as intermediaries that accepted shipments from the shippers and tendered them to the rail carriers—they became the third party to the contract, the 3PL. The definition has broadened to the point where these days, every company that offers some kind of logistics service for hire calls itself a 3PL. Preferably, these services are integrated, or “bundled,” together by the provider. Services they provide are transportation, warehousing, cross-docking, inventory management, packaging, and freight forwarding. In 2008 legislation passed declaring that the legal definition of a 3PL is “A person who solely receives, holds, or otherwise transports a consumer product in the ordinary course of business but who does not take title to the product.”
Fourth-Party Logistics (4PL)
Differs from third-party logistics in the following ways; 1) 4PL organization is often a separate entity established as a joint venture or long-term contract between a primary client and one or more partners; 2) 4PL organization acts as a single interface between the client and multiple logistics service providers; 3) All aspects (ideally) of the client’s supply chain are managed by the 4PL organization; and, 4) It is possible for a major third-party logistics provider to form a 4PL organization within its existing structure. However, 4PL was originally defined by Accenture as a trademark in 1996 and defined as “A supply chain integrator that assembles and manages the resources, capabilities, and technology of its own organization with those of complementary service providers to deliver a comprehensive supply chain solution.”, but is no longer registered.
Logistics Plus 4PL & Supply Chain Management
Okay, now that we have the academic definitions out of the way, what do services really entail for a company working with Logistics Plus on a 4PL basis? Logistics Plus 4PL customers generally receive dedicated, on-site support and expertise in managing their supply chains. Our dedicated resources will work with customers to:
- Manage both domestic and international shipping
- Document and simplify the logistics process for shipping sites
- Oversee customs regulations and compliance
- Provide tools, like eWorldPlus™ and eTNTPlus™, for tracking and compliance
- Identify potential savings opportunities
- Implement cost savings projects
- Liaison between allocated carriers and sites
- Resolve disputes raised by sites or carriers
- Audit freight invoices to ensure accurate billing
- Facilitate idea generation with customers’ logistics team
- Test pilot special projects to determine effectiveness
- And anything else needed to add value to the partnership
If your company is struggling with logistics management and getting control of its supply chain, Contact Us and let us provide you with a risk-free logistics analysis. Call us a 3PL, 4PL, or whatever you’d like — but we’ll help you identify areas of opportunity and how we can help you address them.
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