by logisticsplus | Jan 22, 2020 | News
Less-than-truckload (LTL) freight consolidation is a freight strategy that involves combining multiple LTL shipments – all with a common destination – into a full truckload and then shipping it to its final destination. Simply put, rather than shipping direct from the origin to destination with multiple LTL shipments and/or carriers, the shipper is sending all of its freight at once to the final destination. Here are some benefits that LTL freight consolidation offers:
- Pricing simplicity: Receive one quote for a full truckload rather than multiple LTL quotes.
- Improved transit times: Dedicated truckloads mean that all your freight will arrive to the same place at the same time.
- Better shipment transparency: Rather than tracking multiple LTL shipments, focus on one single load.
- Fewer carrier interactions: Fewer carriers means less hassle and interaction.
- Reduced accessorial charges: Rather than paying for the same accessorial on each LTL shipment, only pay them once.
- Increased service levels: A single point of contact and lowered risks due to less handling of the goods.
- Sustainable shipping practices: The carbon footprint is reduced with consolidations since fewer trucks are being used.
Consolidation involves more than just keeping your number of shipments down; LTL freight consolidation represents an opportunity for shippers to find more efficient and cost-effective solutions. However, to freight consolidation does require a higher-level of planning and forecasting within your supply chain. If you are an emerging brand or a small to mid-sized business, a third-party logistics provider can potentially help you combine your LTL shipments that are moving to common destinations.
If you find yourself frequently sending LTL shipments to the same location, contact us today to find out whether freight consolidation is possible for you. If you’d simply like a quote on your next shipment, click the button below.
by logisticsplus | Jan 2, 2020 | News
Please see the latest supplement to the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC®) by the Commodity Classifications Standards Board (CCSB). These changes have an effective date of 1/4/2020. A few of the notable changes are listed below.
- Drugs, Chemicals, Medicines and Other Articles Named — Item 60000, RVNX $3.35 per lb, class 70. Item 60000 is canceled with reference to the provisions that are otherwise applicable. The classes shown in these individual items will be applicable. The references to item 60000 are removed from the following NMFC items. 12540 12980 21420 21520 21540 21640 23420 42460 42470 42620 42647 42648 42740 42780 42790 42800 42850 42890 42920 42980 42990 43000 43140 43180 43200 43210 43230 43260 43490 43510 43540 43560 43580 43590 43610 43660 43680 43770 43850 43940 43950 43980 44040 44060 44070 44110 44170 44225 44230 44320 44380 44460 44480 44520 44550 44610 44650 44680 44690 44700 44720 44760 44810 44830 44855 44867 44900 44910 45000 45040 45050 45060 45090 45120 45260 45325 45380 45400 45410 45420 45465 45480 45680 45710 45750 45790 45800 45870 45880 45930 46000 46023 46040 46045 46060 46160 46170 46190 46200 46270 46290 46340 46350 46400 46480 46530 46580 46610 46620 46660 46720 46780 46820 46840 46920 46930 47010 47030 47040 47050 47070 47100 47110 47120 47130 47140 47150 47210 47370 47400 49983 50020 50023 50155 50175 56660 56996 57100 58520 58540 58542 58560 58610 58670 58710 58770 58820 58900 58920 58960 59040 59070 59080 59090 59100 59140 59200 59250 59260 59270 59300 59310 59380 59460 59480 60260 60280 63590 64400 72120 72620 72860 73200 74030 75480 75490 75550 90930 91140 91160 91180 91200 91220 91240 91260 91380 91400 91420 91440 91480 91500 91520 91540 91560 91780 99820 111180 135380 135530 136040 136140 138360 144640 144660 144700 144780 144940 162870 163030 169320 169340 171410 172180 172990 173740 178720 179960 196580 196600 196640 196720 196760 196860. Concurrently, Notes, items 60002 and 60004 are canceled with no further application.
- Foodstuffs, other than frozen. Various foodstuffs are removed from item 73227 and reclassified. Item 72790 (Dips) is canceled with reference to new item 74700 (Sauces, Condiments, Dips or Spreads). New items are established as follows: 72030 (Baby Food), 72041 (Baking Powder), 72285 (Butters or Spreads, nut or seed, including Peanut Butter),74510 (Purees, fruit or vegetable, including applesauce) and 74737 (Shells, taco, or tortillas).
- Ovens, Ranges or Stoves, cooking, indoor, and Related Cooking Equipment. Items 27320, 27430, 27440 and 27450 are canceled with reference to new item 26720 for “Ovens, Ranges or Stoves, cooking, and Related Cooking Equipment, electric or gas,” with classes based on a density break at 8 pcf. Item 26720 references new Note, item 26721, which requires articles weighing each greater than 110 pounds to be tendered in authorized packages secured on a lift truck skid, pallet or platform. Item 26710 is amended to restrict its application to “Ovens, NOI, other than cooking.” Item 27590 is canceled with reference to new item 26720 and, for commercial or institutional broilers, cookers or steamers, fryers (deep fryers) and griddles, to new item 25970, the latter with no change in packaging or classes. As modified, reference to indoor type in item 26720 applies only to stoves, stovetops, cooktops or grills, and the restrictive terminology, “other than cooking,” is added to item 27520 for gas stoves or ranges.
- Posts or Poles, utility, including Lighting, Telephone or Electric Railway Posts or Poles, or Sections thereof. Items 161150, 161160, 161170, 161180, 161200, 161210, 161220 and 161240 are canceled with reference to new item 161145, naming “Posts or Poles, utility, including Lighting, Telephone or Electric Railway Posts or Poles, or Sections thereof,” with classes predicated on greatest dimension and density. New Notes 161146 and 161148 are established to clarify the application of the item and provide additional packaging requirements, respectively. Note 109704 is amended to reflect the new provisions accordingly.
- Flashlights, Lanterns, Searchlights or Spotlights, electric, handheld — Items 109110 and 109800. Item 109110 is amended to provide class 150. As modified, item 109800 is amended to provide class 110 whether or not complement of batteries is included. Note 109112 is amended to use the word “that.” For uniformity, the term “handheld” is used in the descriptions of items 109110 and 109800.
- Pans or Pots, cast aluminum. Item 52930 is canceled with reference to item 52895, which assigns class 125. Concurrently, the description of item 52895 is amended by removal of the restriction “other than cast.”
- Oxygen, recreational, in handheld canisters or containers. New item 86070 is established for recreational oxygen, with classes based on whether or not the product is offered for transportation as a Hazard Class 2, Division 2.2 material and on density. New Notes 86071 and 86072 are established to clarify the new item’s application. Note 56911 is amended to direct the Classification user to the new item.
- Heaters, gas, other than portable. Item 26460 is amended for simplification, and class 150 is assigned.
- Heaters, electric, wall insert or baseboard type. Item 26500 is amended for clarification and simplification, and class 125 is assigned.
- Virtual Reality Headsets (VR Headsets). New item 62190 is established, naming “Headsets, virtual reality (VR Headsets),” at class 150. Additionally, new Note 62191 is established limiting the new item to VR headsets with integrated screens or monitors.
- Kilns — Items 123820, 123840 and 123860. Item 123820 is amended for clarification and simplification, to specify packaging “in boxes or crates,” and to provide classes predicated on a density break at 8 pcf. Item 123840 is amended to provide class 110. Item 123860 is canceled.
- Fireplace Grates, Grate Baskets or Grate-Type Heaters. Items 69430, 69440 and 69457 are canceled with reference to the full-scale density provisions of item 69420. Concurrently, the “viz.” listing in item 69420 is amended to include “Grates, Grate Baskets or Grate Parts,” and “Heaters, Heat Exchangers or Extractors, fireplace grate type.”
- Wood Moldings (Mouldings). Items 38030, 38040 and 38050 are canceled with reference to new item 38035, naming wood “Moldings (Mouldings), with or without coatings or coverings of other materials,” with classes predicated on greatest dimension and density. Note 38036 is established to clarify that item 38035 also applies on moldings made of wood particleboard or medium density fiberboard (MDF). Note 37612 is amended by removal of “house trim” for clarification.
- Stairs, wooden, SU or in SU sections. Item 38176 is amended to read, “Stairs, SU or in SU sections,” and the superfluous modifier “wooden” is removed. Item 38180 is likewise amended to read, “Stairs, SU or in SU sections,” with “NOI” added to the description, and reference to Note, item 37504 removed. The item is further amended to provide classes predicated on greatest dimension and density and to specify packaging “in boxes or crates.”
- Strapping, box or package, synthetic fiber or plastic. Item 179570 is amended to provide a single class 70. The packaging requirement “in boxes” is established, and the punctuation is amended in the interest of simplification.
- Traps, bullet or target. Item 17670 is canceled and reestablished as new item 187130, not subject to the Athletic Goods Group, with classes predicated on density breaks at 10 and 15 pcf, and specifying packaging “in boxes or crates.”
- Compounds, bleach assistant, NOI, and Cement, roofing, NOI. Items 50086 and 170060 are amended to remove the “bomb burst” symbol (*), add restrictive language, and refer to new attendant Notes 50087 and 170061, respectively, stating that the involved items do not apply on materials regulated by the DOT as hazardous and required to bear a Hazard Class or Hazard Division label. The Notes also direct the Classification user to other items for classes applicable to such hazardous materials.
- Garage or Commercial or Industrial Building Doors or Door Sections or Grilles. Item 34290 is amended to specifically allow accompanying motors as well as hardware or fittings, regardless of whether they are in the same or a separate package. Concurrently, Note 34291 is canceled with no further application.
- Obsolete Items or Provisions being cancelled and removed.
- 60790 – Battery Boxes, Covers or Vents, NOI
- 60810 – Battery Covers, Boxes or Vents, NOI
- 60860 – Battery Jars or Battery Jar Parts
- 60940 – Battery Sets
- 60960 – Battery Sets
- 60980 – Battery Zincs
- 79469 – Furniture, one-half scale display replicas
- 152220 – Box Straps or Strapping
by logisticsplus | Dec 2, 2019 | News
Now that peak shipping season is here, how do you decide which is the best LTL carrier for your freight? As the average demand for goods rise during peak season, shippers are forced to reconsider their shipping strategies as they look to save time and money. The continuous rise of e-commerce shopping has led to a higher demand for more less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping options. LTL freight is in a unique position in that it does not meet the criteria for a full truckload, but is also too large and expensive to ship via parcel. Rather than just selecting the first option that shows up in your Google search or on your transportation management system (TMS), here are a few tips for selecting the best LTL carrier that will meet your needs.
Using a TMS For The Selection Process
A modern transportation management systems leverages electronic data interchange (EDI) and application programming interfaces (API’s) to connect a TMS user with a freight quoting and scheduling system. Factors such as the amount of freight you ship can also impact the rates that appear due to special discounts or waived accessorial fees. By using a third-party logistics provider, you can instantly view rates and schedule shipments with most industry leading carriers.
Choosing The Best Carrier In The TMS
Although most transportation management systems list their lowest cost carrier options first, the first option doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right choice for you. For example, some shippers are more interested in the transit time or safety of their products, rather than the cost. Shippers should follow the tips below when considering a less-than-truckload carrier for inbound or outbound freight:
- Don’t get too hung up with discounts and accessorials; the net price quoted should be the only number you need to know.
- Research carrier performance (or ask your 3PL for their input). Have you used any of those carriers before and did you have success with them?
- Look into the available cargo insurance offers. Do you need insurance for your shipment?
- Pay attention to transit times. How quickly do you need your shipment delivered?
- Review available guaranteed options. How important is the delivery date to you?
- Make sure the carrier offers the accessorial services you require (lift gate, residential delivery, etc.)
Making an informed decision for LTL shipping is in your best interest because the carrier you choose today may not always be the best choice tomorrow. Shippers should continuously research and consider their LTL partnerships (or work closely with a 3PL that does this for them), especially during peak holiday season as demand rises.
by logisticsplus | Aug 5, 2019 | News
Please see the latest supplement to the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC®) by the Commodity Classifications Standards Board (CCSB). These changes have an effective date of 8/24/2019. A few of the notable changes are listed below.
- Item 171 – Artificial construction of a density to obtain a lower class (the bumping clause) has been cancelled and no longer applies on any NMFC Items.
- All items listed under the Flowers, Herbs or Leaves (NMFC 71500); and Roots or Spices (NMFC 170700) groups are being cancelled and moved to the newly established NMFC 98720 which will carry a 3 sub classification based on density and may be an increase or decrease in class. ***Please see the attached supplement for specific NMFC Items affected.
- Binders or Covers – NMFC 23490 & 23500 are being cancelled and moved under NMFC 179180 which carries an 11 sub classification based on density and may be an increase or decrease in class.
- Cookers, electric, low temperature – NMFC 25930 is being cancelled and moved under NMFC 25840 which is being changed to a flat class 110 and will have an increase in class.
- Cookers, steam pressure (Pressure Cookers) – NMFC 52880 is being cancelled and moved under NMFC 25840 which will be a flat class 110 and newly established NMFC 52960 which will be a flat class 100.
- Heaters, water, tankless – NMFC 26525 is being changed to a 2 sub classification based on density and will be an increase in class.
- Mobility scooter, electric – newly established NMFC 56834 will carry a 2 sub classification based on density.
- Wheelchairs, motor-propelled – NMFC 57070 is being changed to a 2 sub classification based on density and may be an increase or decrease in class.
- Shampoo or Conditioner; and Shaving Cream or Shaving Soap – NMFC 59320 and 59360 are being canceled and moved under NMFC 59420 which is being changed to a 3 sub classification based on density and will be an increase in class.
- Cords, power supply (for permanent attachment to electric appliance, machine or tools) – NMFC 61490 is being changed to a flat class 70 and will be an increase in class.
- Electronic Cigarettes, Vape Device or other Nicotine Delivery System or Subassemblies or Essential Parts – newly established NMFC 61805 will carry an 11 sub classification based on density.
- Telephone Parts and Videophones – NMFC 63285 & 63310 are being canceled and moved under NMFC 63300 which carries an 11 sub classification based on density and may be an increase or decrease in class.
- Carpet or Rug Lining, Cushions or Floor Underlayment – NMFC 70540, 70560, 70580, 70600, 70650 & 70660 are being cancelled and moved under newly established NMFC 70610 which will carry an 8 sub classification based on greatest dimension and density and may be an increase or decrease in class.
- Sneeze Guards or Food Shields – NMFC 82285 is being changed to a 2 sub classification based on the greatest dimension and will be an increase in class.
- Gas Masks – NMFC 85380 is being cancelled and moved under NMFC 134140 which is being changed to class 200 and will be an increase in class.
- Air Coolers, water evaporative type – NMFC 114130 is being changed to an 8 sub classification based on packaging and density and may be an increase in class.
- Drags, Groomers or Rakes (equestrian arena or track – tractor or vehicle attaching) – newly established NMFC 119750 will carry a 2 sub classification based on density.
- Pressure Reducing Valve and Water Relief Valve combined – NMFC 127200 is being cancelled and moved under NMFC 127220 which is being changed to a 3 sub classification based on density and may be an increase or decrease in class.
- Siding, plastic – NMFC 170580 is being changed to an 8 sub classification based on the greatest dimension and density and will be an increase in class.
- Augers or Diggers (post hole, hand held or hand supported) – NMFC 183635 is being changed to an 8 sub classification based on packaging and density and may be an increase in class.
- Windshield Wiper Arms, Blades or Motor – NMFC 197720 is being changed to a flat class 110 and will be an increase in class.
- Cancelled NMFC Items due to being Obsolete:
Asbestos Articles – NMFC 14620
Shoe shining cabinet (household) – NMFC 80380
Oleo Stock – NMFC 145550
by logisticsplus | May 24, 2019 | News
Logistics Plus is a leading worldwide provider of transportation, warehousing, fulfillment, global logistics, business intelligence, technology, and supply chain solutions. As depicted in the circle image of the Logistics Plus (LP) logo, we have the experience and expertise to help shippers move their goods by any transportation mode, including ground, air, ocean, and rail. If you need something shipped, don’t worry about trying to see who will win the “Game of Modes” … we find a way to make it happen; just ask one of our more than 2,000 diversified customers. After all, we know that transportation is coming (and going, and coming ,and going) all the time – and we’re here to help you become King of your Supply Chain!
Ground Freight Transportation
Ground transportation is the most common type of shipping and has many advantages for companies that rely on fast delivery. If goods need transported immediately and cost-effectively, ground transportation is your best bet. The Logistics Plus North American Division (NAD) is recognized by Transport Topics magazine as a Top 50 freight brokerage firm in North America. Our non-asset based ground services includes complete less-than-truckload (LTL) capabilities along with a wide range of truckload solutions. Our network of specialized carriers, paired with our state-of-the-art transportation management system (TMS) ensures that you receive the best rate and transit option with each shipment booked. Additionally, with our National Truckload (NTL) division, we offer select clients the option for a dedicated fleet of trucks and equipment.
Air Freight Transportation
Air freight transportation is the most convenient and fast mode of transportation. Air shipments are growing in popularity due to the increased use of one and two day shipping options. For air freight transportation, Logistics Plus can handle both domestic and import/export shipment types. Our services include airport-to-airport, door-to-door, and even air charters. We are also a certified IATA cargo agent in both the U.S. and Mexico, meaning we get exclusive access to the top air freight and cargo carriers in the industry. When customers ship internationally with Logistics Plus, they can also tap our full-service Customs Broker Solutions division to help them with all aspects of global trade compliance.
Ocean Freight Transportation
Ocean, or marine transportation is known for being the slowest mode of shipping. The best time to ship via ocean is when a product has a long lead time since ocean shipping is often the most cost-effective. Similar to air freight, our ocean freight transportation services are available for both domestic and import/export shipments. As a Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC), we have long-standing relationships with reputable ocean carriers that provide competitive rates and frequent sailings for our customers. Logistics Plus handles both full-container-load (FCL) and less-than-container-load (LCL) ocean shipments. For imports, our remote location filing (RLF) status with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) allows us to clear shipments at any and all U.S. ports of entry.
Rail Freight Transportation
If you’re looking to reduce your transportation costs, rail and intermodal freight transportation are often good options. Not only can we help you manage your rail logistics, we can also help you arrange the necessary drayage services to get your shipments to and from the rail yards. Because of our skills in this area, some of our customers have even asked us to provide dedicated, rail freight logistics management solutions for them (see our Hero BX case study for a great example).
If you’d like to request a free quote on your next ground, air, ocean, or rail shipment, simply click the button below to get started. Our team of experts is ready to help you with your single-mode or multi-mode transportation needs.
