There are several factors that determine the cost of shipping. Effective freight shipping requires specific details and information regarding the freight before anything can begin the journey from point A to point B. This leads to a common customer question: what is included in shipping costs? Here is a quick break down of some of the factors that determine the final shipping price. Read more
When you’re ready to start shipping product, chances are you will field many quotes from different trucking companies.
Obviously, as you go through these offers, one of the most important factors will be a price point that falls within your budget and increases the potential profitability.
However, it shouldn’t be the only factor you consider.
You need to know exactly what the trucking company provides at its price level. More than that, you need to know that it can be a reliable part of your supply chain and support your brand.
In other words, you need to look at more than the price when you hire a trucking company and consider how the following elements will improve this side of your business. Read more
For businesses in the on-demand and retail industry, the last and most critical step in their supply chain is the one with the most problems. This last step, universally known as last-mile delivery, involves the movement of products from their respective distribution centers to the final destination (end users). Although last mile delivery is at the tail end of the supply chain, it plays a decisive and crucial role in how customers view a business. In most cases, it is the benchmark used to evaluate the efficiency of a business’ supply chain. Read more
If you work in the trucking industry you know that a major obstacle, if not the most difficult obstacle today, is driver recruiting and the obvious driver shortage. They say that the shortage is, in part, due to the large number of truck drivers retiring from the industry as well as a smaller number of individuals from the new generation who are willing to take on the truck driving profession. The slow increase in driver pay over recent decades and the physical demand play major roles in less drivers entering the market. Read more
There are three primary methods of hauling cargo by road and they are parcel/small package mode, full truckload (FTL), and less-than-truckload (LTL). Depending on their needs, logistics firms can use any of these methods to ensure maximum utilization of their assets while reducing the overall cost of operation.
Although logistics companies desire this, market forces currently plaguing the industry such as ever-increasing fuel and labor costs, as well as the shortage of truck drivers, are making logistics operations more complex, and less profitable than ever before. Read more
The signing of NAFTA (the North American Fair Trade Agreement) in the 90’s and the rapid growth of a competitive manufacturing market in Mexico resulted in an increase in the number of cross-border business between the U.S. and Mexico. Estimates from the Office of the United States Trade Representative value this trade at $580 billion annually with cross-border truck trades accounting for nearly $6.6 billion in industry revenues. Read more
Starting a new career can make you feel excited and a bit nervous…especially one as thrilling as truck driving and you may feel some pressure to start out on the right note and put your best foot forward (literally speaking). To help you get settled in and comfy behind the wheels, here’s a list of the top pieces of advice for new truckers. Read more
Safety has long been a major concern for drivers and fleet managers; however, the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the attendant technological innovations has made it somewhat easier for fleet personnel to ensure the safety of their wards. To ensure the safety of your drivers and keep vehicles running efficiently, fleet managers should use the latest fleet safety and management technology. Read more
Reports from the American Trucking Association show that nearly 70 percent of the total number of freight in the U.S. (about 10 billion tons each year) is moved by truck. This means that without trucks, the U.S. economy will come to a complete halt. Despite the importance of the trucking industry, its evolution has been impeded by fragmentation – with tens of thousands of trucking carriers requiring the services of brokers to transact with shippers.
Driving a carrier or tractor trailer is an important job and doing it well and safely takes the full attention of the driver. Drivers should be completely focused on what they are doing, where they are going, and what’s happening around them. Professional drivers know this and as such, are always aware of their driving and constantly perform a visual check of their surroundings.
Nonetheless, many amateurs and in some few cases “veteran” drivers may become relaxed while behind the wheel and begin to do things or display behavior that is detrimental to their safety. They assume that they can multitask while keeping a watchful eye on the road. However, this reduces their vigilance, resulting in minor mishaps and more often, major road accidents. Here are 3 things that professional truck drivers (and amateurs) should never ever do. Read more
