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Keeping shipping costs under control is no small task — and unpredictable freight fuel surcharges make it even tougher. These added charges help carriers deal with fuel price volatility, but they can shift dramatically from week to week. To stay ahead, you need a clear strategy for understanding and forecasting these charges. In this blog, we'll walk you through how to calculate fuel surcharges on freight, track pricing trends, audit your shipping bills, and work with the right 3PL partner
Are you currently using less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping for your goods? As your business expands, are you noticing that your shipments are getting larger? Typically, LTL shipments range from 150 to 15,000 pounds and can include up to 10 pallets. However, if your loads consistently exceed 5,000 pounds or more than five pallets, it might be time to explore alternative freight options to boost shipping efficiency and cost savings.
There are several types of high-value and/or fragile freight that just needs a little more care than what is provided with standard delivery. Maybe it needs to be brought to a specific spot in the warehouse versus the usual shipping dock, or perhaps it's being delivered to a challenging destination like a small retail storefront. You might want the items unpacked and the packaging hauled away, or even want light assembly assistance from your courier.
"Rejected freight" is a phrase no shipper ever wants to hear. For small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), rejected freight is an unwanted and unwelcome proposition, and it's equally painful for the recipient and the carrier as well. Unfortunately, while freight rejection rates are fairly low, refused loads do happen. At the end of 2023, the rate of U.S. freight rejections was about 4% for non-perishable shipments and nearly 9% for refrigerated freight. 1 So what should you do if your less-than-tr
If your business ships freight , you never want to hear the words "cargo" and "theft" in the same sentence. And rightly so! Cargo theft is a hot topic and major concern in the logistics industry and has been on the rise in recent years. In fact, more than $150 million worth of shipments were stolen in the first quarter of 2024 alone. 1 Incidents of cargo theft don't just cost you time and money.
For shipments that require special handling, white-glove shipping is the trusted solution. Whether you're sending valuable furniture, delicate electronics or irreplaceable artwork, white-glove freight services guarantee your items receive the utmost care and arrive in flawless condition. What is white-glove shipping? Simply put, white-glove freight services offer much more than standard shipping.
As businesses grow, so do the complexities of managing freight logistics. Whether you're a small startup or an established business, choosing the right freight shipping service provider can be a game changer. You may have heard of a freight broker, a freight forwarder or 3PL service provider, but do you know what the differences are, and which is the best fit for your specific needs?
Is your business facing rapid growth, supply chain disruptions and/or unpredictable customer demand? If so, optimizing your inventory management strategy can be a game-changer. Imagine shipping products directly from your supplier to your customer while maintaining the appearance that your business is the source. That's what you get from blind shipping, and we're here to tell you all about it!
For freight shippers, understanding the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) system is critical for the accuracy and efficiency of your logistics operations. In fact, the NMFC plays a vital role in determining the cost of less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping and how freight is categorized based on its key characteristics. With major changes to the NMFC system coming in 2025, it's essential for shippers, carriers and third-party logistics (3PL) providers to prepare.
Blind shipping is a strategic method of drop shipping where the supplier's identity is concealed, and products are shipped directly from the supplier to the customer, maintaining confidentiality along your supply chain. It's rapidly gaining popularity in the freight shipping world as businesses look to cut costs and streamline their logistics operations.
When it comes to freight shipping, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Depending on the nature of your cargo, its size, weight, urgency and distance, choosing the right freight shipping method can significantly impact your bottom line. While many people think of freight being shipped by truck, there are other modes of transportation available — air, sea and rail.
The newly implemented 2025 U.S. tariffs are making waves across industries far and wide, placing significant pressure on businesses of all sizes. Shippers that rely on imports have obviously been among the first to feel the financial strain as rising costs disrupt supply chains and profitability. And while tariffs may fluctuate, the general principle of tariffs and their disruption remain the same.
Freight shipping isn't just about moving goods — it's also about managing the right paperwork. Each mode of freight transportation comes with its own set of required documents, many of which are legally binding. And if you're shipping internationally, the documentation gets even more complex, playing a key role in customs clearance and regulatory compliance.
Pandemics. Wars. Natural disasters. Tariff swings. If your business depends on freight shipping, you've likely felt the effects of a world that seems to change overnight. Building a resilient supply chain isn't just a best practice anymore — it's a business imperative. From port congestion and fuel surcharges to weather events and labor shortages, the threats to your shipping network are real and growing.
The manufacturing industry faces many challenges, such as a skilled labor shortage, supply chain instability, and inventory management issues. But with every challenge, there is an opportunity to innovate and grow. GlobalTranz works with manufacturing shippers every day to move their goods and streamline their logistics strategies. Here are the challenges we’re seeing across the industry, and what they mean for your supply chain and your shipping processes. 5 Challenges Facing Supply Chain Manag
While we’re happy to leave 2021 in the rearview mirror, many of the same trends will impact the truckload market in 2022. In our white paper, 2022 Logistics and Supply Chain Trends and Outlook , we cover many of the lingering effects of the past two years, and the newest challenges truckload shippers can expect to face in the year ahead. Last year, truck capacity demand reached historic highs due to a combination of factors, including ongoing equipment and labor shortages.
In our recent GlobalTranz 2022 Logistics and Supply Chain Trends and Outlook white paper, our experts review some of the factors that will shape logistics in the coming year and beyond. It covers macro trends in the LTL, Truckload and Managed Transportation Service sectors and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this post, we’ll do a deep dive into less-than-truckload (LTL) industry trends to watch for 2022, and highlight actions that shippers should consider to guide their strate
2021 will be remembered as an unprecedented year of supply chain disruption and market volatility creating a host of challenges for shippers and carriers alike. Despite the challenges, we’re proud of the collaboration from our employees, valued agents and carrier network, working alongside our customers to find creative solutions. Before we close the curtains on 2021, we thought we’d revisit ten of our most popular blog posts that resonated with our readers, capturing the challenges and opportun
Market volatility from the ongoing labor shortage on top of increasing consumer demand, rising fuel prices, and port and terminal congestion will continue to challenge supply chains through 2022 and beyond. Given these disruptions, supply chain resiliency will be a critical factor in ensuring the success of your network. The past two years of volatility have many logistics leaders evolving from an annual Request for Proposal or freight (RFP) event to quarterly or more frequently to accommodate t
Managing OTR transportation through disruption is a complex process. As market volatility continues to challenge supply chains, shippers are looking for solutions to help create consistency. We’re sharing seven best practices to improve OTR transportation management, enabling shippers to stay competitive in the face of disruption. Let’s take a closer look at how to turn these practices into action. 1.
The long and unpredictable peak shipping season continues to challenge supply chains. A 2021 Peak Shipping Season survey conducted by Edelman Intelligence found hiring to be a strong concern among supply chain decision makers with 90% having a strong need to increase hiring to account for peak season and beyond. Approximately 73% of respondents cited progress in omnichannel improvements over the past year, but express cautious optimism for their company's supply chain and capacity. 94% of supply
The FreightTech 100 2022 award recipients have officially been released. As an industry leader in 3PL solutions, including managed services, GlobalTranz is proud and honored to secure a spot in the 2022 FreightWaves FreightTech 100 , marking the fourth consecutive year of inclusion. What Are the FreightTech 100 Awards? The FreightWaves FreightTech 100 awards honor companies that have demonstrated prowess in business over the past year and established innovation and disruption in the freight ind
As the logistics market continues to create supply chain disruption, shippers are looking for consultative support and solutions to help maintain a competitive advantage. Creating trucking efficiency through transportation management optimization is an essential part of supply chain management and network navigation. As reported by Steve Banker of Forbes , “ When a shipper decides it needs to improve its transportation performance, it typically attempts to achieve this by either buying a transp
Cybersecurity Measures Were Among the Highest-Ranked Needs. With the events of 2021, including the attack on the Colonial Pipeline earlier this year, the importance of supply chain cybersecurity is among the most in-demand factors driving adoption of third-party systems and resources in logistics. According to the report, 93% of respondents, including 92% of leadership and 94% of managers cited a 3PL with cybersecurity measures in place as critical when selecting a service provider.
OTR freight represents a long-standing aspect of supply chain operations and transportation management. As the state of the trucking market evolves and innovations improve , OTR freight management technologies and logistics service providers offer transportation management optimization to help businesses avoid significant supply chain disruption.
The 2021 peak shipping season is on track to break records, and for months, industry experts, including Inbound Logistics, have discussed how the ongoing peak of e-commerce from 2020 will lead to added pressure for this holiday shopping season. Yet, peak season does seem to be less stressful than last year, and a recent survey of 200 supply chain management professionals across companies with 500+ employees, conducted by Edelman Intelligence, has found some surprising facts about the com
Cloud-based transportation management offers a variety of benefits for businesses that operate in the global supply chain. But there are times when it becomes necessary to outsource the entire process thoroughly, which many refer to as transportation as a service. The industry continues to boom, and companies will continue to grow in response to consumer demand.
As logistics continues to grow more lucrative to the customer experience, 3PLs are playing an increasing role in the supply chain. Vetting 3PLs and transportation management services providers is a complex topic and shippers may not know where to begin. Even more complex, some 3PLs may offer different degrees of service, such as a 4PL model that blends a shipper’s existing network and fleets with a 3PL’s technology and solution, as discussed in this third-party versus fourth-party value articl
The supply chain is evolving, and the standards used for managed logistics transportation services today are more data- and technology-driven than those of the past. As market volatility, delivery expectations and customer experience levels impact supply chain strategy, shippers are looking for new ways to drive operational and competitive advantage from external expertise.
Any discussion on supply chain risk management and applying managed transportation to help prevent risks from coming to fruition is incomplete without touching on the pandemic to overcome supply chain disruption. Let’s take a closer look at an examination by Industry Week , “Beyond the immediate impact on PPE Suppliers and Raw Materials for Hand Sanitizers, the pandemic gave a view of the degree to which many manufacturers were vulnerable to suppliers.
Part of the challenge in managing the modern supply-chain is due to its sheer size and complexity. There are many working parts, network partners, and opportunities for things to go wrong that some are often overlooked. Rather than hoping everything runs as smoothly, shippers today need to apply technology to ensure high customer experience levels are achieved and all shipments are delivered on time and in full.
Learning the difference between third party logistics (3PL) and fourth-party logistics (4PL), as well as 1PL and 2PL, and the rise of even fifth-party logistics (5PLs) is becoming increasingly sophisticated and valuable for driving successful supply chain operations. They all involve a degree of outsourcing transportation functions, whether that’s supply chain cybersecurity management or white glove services , and technically, all 4PLs and 5PLs exist as 3PLs too.
As supply chains become more impacted by market disruptions and unpredictable events, they’re also becoming more critical to a company’s customer experience levels and bottom line. Creating a data-driven supply chain tracking important transportation metrics helps shippers respond and adapt as quickly as possible to known and unknown events. Why Monitor Transportation Metrics.
Disruption has been the name of the game for more than a year as carriers continue to see overarching demands for their services increase. No carrier or mode has been excluded from the increased demand of e-commerce and a customer base that’s anxious for a return to normalcy, including the LTL transportation sector. For shippers, understanding what’s impacting the LTL market and how it affects traditional approaches to LTL transportation management is critical to maintaining supply chain efficie
Following a year of disruption, the tidal wave of shortages seems to be a recurring theme. The construction market is at an all-time high, and the weather seems all but willing to cooperate. At the same time, producers are realizing the fruits of their labor with ample rain bringing the promise of a bumper crop. However, those hopes are at risk due to the severe capacity reductions plaguing regions across the US.
In logistics, not all shipments are equal. There are tiers for rates, mode, and freight class, but there’s another layer of logistics. Some loads are so sensitive they require an added level of finesse. Imagine moving furniture, appliances or a large, high-value item ensuring it’s safely delivered in pristine condition. That’s the overview of white glove services evolution and it’s another piece of the transportation terminology puzzle.
Cyberattacks seem to be growing in prevalence and severity, particularly those around the major supply chains in the US, including both the fuel supply chain and the food supply chain. On June 2, 2021, The Wall Street Journal reported that a ransomware attack against JBS had resulted in the cancellation of shifts across all US plants. Such an event has constrained the meat supply chain more than ever, sparking fears of massive food shortages, and it comes mere weeks after the other major cyberat
Many people associate reverse logistics to simply cover returns, but it is much more broad than that. Beyond answering “what is reverse logistics,” it is important to understand the history of reverse logistics, the benefits of reverse logistics and why it’s a rising practice, especially in aftermarket industries. Meanwhile, reverse logistics is growing more complex.
It’s easy to overlook the role that 3PL providers play in the overall global economy and, at the same time, enable your business to operate and compete. That was never more clear than during the past 14 months of the pandemic as goods continued moving to the right place at the right time. Logistics was genuinely essential to people being able to continue their lives, no matter how disrupted they were.
Last mile logistics remains a confusing part of the modern supply chain. While initially perceived as relatively simple, last mile logistics are much more critical than many shippers realize. The last mile delivery is the actual point of interaction between a given shipper and the customer. Combined with the substantial growth of e-commerce, last mile logistics are also growing in terms of costs.
While the world is ready for a strong return to economic and logistics stability, there’s another risk on the horizon. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CSVA) International Roadcheck is set for May 4-6, 2021. Also known as the CVSA roadcheck, it spans three days. CVSA-certified inspectors will commit a blitz of inspections across North America, creating a sudden strain on resources for both domestic and cross-border freight.
Shortages of products from toilet paper to microchips during the coronavirus pandemic highlighted the value of supply chain resiliency, and the opportunities for companies that aren’t as prepared as they would like. A supply chain built for resiliency allows a company to adapt to unpredictable forces while maintaining customer service. By contrast, supply chains that are too lean may not have enough flexibility and redundancy to survive unscathed.
Supply chain disruption is a fact of life for every company that moves any type of product. There won’t be a new normal, just new sources of disruption, from weather to government policies to industry conditions. Don’t expect to plan for every disruption; instead, develop a strategy to overcome supply chain disruption, regardless of the source. Supply chain resiliency is the ability to adapt to and overcome challenges to allow your company to continue to serve customers at the highest possible l
If your company’s supply chain survived 2020 and the disruptions of early 2021, it’s safe to say it has passed the resiliency test. What do we mean by that? Let’s start here: what is supply chain resilience? Resiliency is the ability to withstand or recover from difficult conditions or snap back into shape after being bent or stretched.
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