Shipping Logistics in the US

With rising fuel prices, transportation costs are a major consideration when it comes to where a company locates a new manufacturing or distribution facility. Finding a cheaper way to ship is the main objective of executives everywhere. The following regions’ overall infrastructure make them the most logistics-friendly areas in the US.

1. New York
2. Houston
3. Minneapolis
4. Dallas
5. Kansas City
6. St. Louis
7. Chicago
8. Cleveland
9. Boston
10. San Francisco

1) New York

New York City is one of the most vibrant transportation hubs in the nation, consistently ranking first among U.S. cities in truck freight volume.

2) Houston

The Port of Houston is one of America’s busiest ocean gateways, and its George Bush Intercontinental Airport handles large amounts of foreign trade and cargo.

3) Minneapolis

Minneapolis is rapidly expanding its infrastructure in major metro areas and around the Port of Minneapolis, the northernmost port on the Mississippi River System.

4) Dallas

Dallas boasts access to many options for air, road and rail transportation. The infrastructure and heavy logistics presences make it a bustling shipping area.

5) Kansas City

In the geographic center of the country, Kansas City enjoys diverse and efficient transportation options, with prime access to an anchor of the intermodal network, America’s freight rail system.

6) St. Louis

St. Louis enjoys access to four modes of transportation (air, rail, road, and water) providing access to local, national, and international markets.  The central location and robust infrastructure affords some of the lowest shipping costs in the country.

7) Chicago

Its location on Lake Michigan and along the banks of the Chicago and Calumet rivers give Chicago easy access to a network of waterways, and access to world markets via Chicago’s O’Hare airport, a major cargo thoroughfare.

8) Cleveland

The Cleveland Hopkins Airport, Burke Lakefront Airport, and many harbors make for easy shipping.

9) Boston

The Port of Boston is just the largest of many ports in and around Boston, making it a hub for logistics.

10) San Francisco

The Port of Oakland recently announced that 2017 was the busiest year in its 90-year history.

Pro Tip: Cities with optimal infrastructure for shipping usually make ideal business locations, and can provide easy access to global markets.

Infrastructure That Anticipates Growth

All the cities mentioned here are terrific at using their resources and ingenuity to create an atmosphere that not only listens to but anticipates a business’ needs. When it comes to global shipping and logistics management, that’s a recipe for success.

Contact Us to learn more about our unparalleled shipment management services.

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Cybersecurity: Stop a Small Problem Before it Grows

No business has the resources to eliminate all cyber threats. That means that you must make the right strategic choices regarding which threats to prioritize. For the transportation and logistics industry, this might be customer financial data or processes that much of your business relies on.

Identify Vulnerabilities

The first step in eliminating risk is to identify them. Where do your vulnerabilities lie? Identify your company’s most important assets. These are often your greatest vulnerabilities, and they generally fall into two categories: 1) The sensitive data your company possesses and 2) The valuable services you offer. For those in the transportation industry, this would include customer data, shipping processes and the shipments themselves. Customers are often the target of phishing scams, including fake parcel delivery failure emails. These either contain malware or are an attempt to gain personal information from the customer, using an email address and logos that mirror your company’s.

Implement a Strategy

While precautions such as firewalls and detection systems for attacks and other malware is a great start, alone they’re insufficient. Risk management also needs to take into account failures on the part of personnel and organizational weaknesses. Adopting proactive cybersecurity measures with the help of a professional team will provide an opportunity for transportation and logistics companies to differentiate themselves. Forward-thinking companies will see safer offerings as a competitive advantage, especially as these attacks continue.

Better Safe Than Sorry

When a cyberattack occurs, companies are hit from many different directions. Here’s an example of what could occur if your business is compromised:

• Financial losses resulting from customers who stop buying your products and services.
• Ancillary costs related to fixing the problem, including regulatory fines, forensics, and consulting costs.
• Losses from providing customers with years of remediation, which could include offering credit monitoring services, paying legal fees and penalties.
• Lingering damage to your brand resulting in decreased sales

Ship Secure

Until recently, cybercriminals have been more preoccupied with gaining access to banks, retailers, government agencies and other entities with large sums of money. However, as these organizations beef up their cybersecurity, hackers look elsewhere for a payday, or simply to cause a disruption. The transportation and logistics industry is ripe for the picking. Protect yourself and your customers by implementing strong cybersecurity measures today.

Contact Us to learn more about shipping securely.

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Benefits of Freight Cowboy’s LTL Small Business Center

Using a rate shopper service provides the most accurate rates for LTL shipments. Simply include the origin and the destination zip code, the weight and the freight class, and receive the best discounted rates available. Save time with tools like the class calculator, address book, and customizable templates for repeat shipments.

Compare

Using the LTL Small Business Center technology tool is incredibly simple and intuitive. Enter your shipment details and get the rates and transit times from all of our contracted carriers in one place. They are probably some of the same carriers you use today, but at discounted rates due to our volume of spend. Stop wasting time on the phone with a manual and complicated processes.

Complete

Simply click on the rate and carrier you want to create your Bill of Lading (BOL) and automatically schedule your pickup with the carrier with the click of a button. It is that easy. No back and forth or surprise fees. Streamline your next shipping process with the LTL Small Business Center and enjoy consistency and peace of mind.

Track

Take advantage of Freight Cowboy’s database and reporting capabilities within the LTL Small Business Center tool to track your shipments. Take the unknown out of shipping with powerful analytics that update you in real-time so you’re always aware of where your shipment is at in relation to the final delivery. You can even set-up your customer to receive e-tracking notifications directly from the LTL Small Business Center, just like they would receive when ordering a package online.

A Better Way to Ship

The benefits of the LTL Small Business Center make it a better way to ship. Save time, money and stress by using this valuable tool for your small business needs.

Contact Us to learn more about how to utilize the LTL Small Business Center’s Rate Shopper.

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Parcel Delivery Failure! What Now?

Parcel delivery failure can not only put you in a bad mood but if you were waiting on an item that is important to your work or home, it can put you behind of schedule and throw your whole week out of whack. Learn what your rights are so you can get your money refunded the next time your parcel doesn’t show up. Here are some great tips on what to do the next time you have a parcel service failure.

Consumer Rights

According to the Consumer Rights Act of 2015, any time you purchase goods online, the retailer has full responsibility until you receive the item. Therefore, if your item is received damaged or not at all, it is the retailer’s issue, not the delivery company.

Contact the Delivery Company

Before you do anything else, check the tracking number if you have one, and see where your parcel is. You can also contact the delivery company to see if they have any information about your parcel’s whereabouts.

Contact the Retailer

If the delivery company is unable to help or locate your parcel, the next step is to contact the retailer. They will be able to tell you whether the parcel has indeed been shipped, when, and where to. Check to make sure they have the correct address and ask them about what your next steps are in receiving the item you paid for.

Ask for Compensation

If your package doesn’t show up, you need to demand to get a refund or have them re-deliver your parcel at no further cost to you. Also ask the retailer about possibly getting reimbursed for any extra time you took off work, as well as any other distress the late or undelivered package has caused.

Guaranteed Shipment or Your Money Back

One of the best ways to ensure you get your package or your money back is to sign up with a service parcel failure refund service. The advanced software allows them to identify late or lost deliveries and guarantees your shipment will arrive or be refunded to you no matter what happens.

Get Your Money Back When They Fail to Deliver

When your parcel doesn’t arrive on time or at all, it can affect your work, your life, and your pocketbook. Make sure to stay in contact with the delivery company and retailer, and if you really want to take control and guarantee your parcel will be refunded if it doesn’t arrive, always use a parcel failure refund service and get the shipment refund you deserve!

To learn more about what to do in the event of a parcel service failure, Contact Us.

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Logistics Solutions

In today’s world, the demands on shipping and logistics companies are higher than ever. Carriers are under pressure, compliance is a complex matter, and customers expect service and updates instantly. To combat this, more shipment managers and carriers are opting for high tech solutions to do some of the work for them.

Automation

Automation plays a huge role in logistics efficiency. Robotics and artificial intelligence allow your shipping partners to save money and teach their machinery to make more accurate predictions when handling orders.

Tracking

An integrated GPS system allows your logistics partner to observe every shipment in real time. Vehicles can be tracked and monitored, preventing delay and loss.

Analytics

Shipping analytics provide quick, valuable insights into how well the process performed. Shipping solutions that offer comprehensive reporting capabilities and easy access to the reports you need make future decision making a breeze.

Transparency

Any shipping logistics broker worth their salt will operate on a system of transparency. Supply chain visibility promotes accountability for brokers and shipping carriers alike. When the process is closely monitored and reported, the potential for mistakes diminishes. When mistakes do occur they are easily spotted and avoided in the future.

A Well-Oiled Machine

Shipment management is a machine, with the warehouses, trucks, and vendors all acting as parts to power it. If they work together to deliver the product on time and undamaged, the customer sees an efficient, powerful machine. From the factory floor to the customer’s door, there is a smooth, timely transfer.

Contact Us to learn more about efficient shipping practices, or to find a rate on our LTL Rate Shopper.

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Future of Freight Transportation

Forced to meet the impatient demands of consumers, freight carriers must adapt and innovate to stay relevant. Here are a few ways freight transportation is changing:

Automation

Manufacturing is increasingly automated, with systems used to sort the products and load them on trucks. Sensors on products, pallets, SKUs, drivers, facilities, and vehicles provide constant feedback and progress updates. Conveyor systems move the right product to the right piece of trucking equipment at the right time. Loading software advises load placement to maximize space and avoid load imbalances.

Meeting Consumer Demands

In years past customers that needed something overnight were willing to pay extra shipping to make that happen. No more. Consumer demands have gotten more impatient and less willing to spend for speed. As a result, carriers must operate at an increasingly high level of efficiency with logistics management streamlining everything.   

Digitalization

The initial wave of shipping digitalization was meant to enhance inventory management. The next wave will likely focus of fleet management, separating the mediocre shippers from the innovators, and the sloppy drivers from the highly efficient.

Use of The Cloud

Processes no longer rely on paper, but reside in the cloud in the form of digital data. Carriers continue to build their capabilities as digitalization and automation increase. These companies will use predictive analytics to further improve accuracy meet the consumer demand.

An Efficient Future

At the heart of freight transportation is efficiency. Customers demand it, carriers can’t stay competitive without it and entire industries rely on it. The future may one day consist of autonomous trucks and drones, but for now it still requires hardworking individuals streamlining the shipping industry.

Contact Us to learn more about freight transportation and how to increase your truckload efficiency.

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Understanding Common Freight Terms

Whether you’re new to the freight industry or just need to brush up on freight terminology, these common terms are a good place to start. With these terms you’ll be able to understand the freight shipping process from start to finish.

1) LTL

Less than truckload shipping (LTL) is the transportation of relatively small freight. LTL carriers haul freight that rests somewhere between parcel shipments (1150 pounds) and full truckloads. With an LTL rate shopper, you can easily find the best rate for your specific needs.

2) Bill of Lading

The bill of lading (BOL) is a legal contract between the shipper and the carrier, broker or agent that defines all aspects of the freight shipping arrangement including what is being shipped and to whom.  The bill of lading should be provided to the carrier on pickup and a copy should always be attached to the package freight.

3) Freight Class

A freight classification is assigned to a shipment for the purpose of determining transportation charges. Freight classifications are used for less than truckload (LTL) shipments and are based on density, freight stowability, ease of handling and liability.

4) Motor Property Broker

A freight broker makes freight shipping arrangements on behalf of an individual or company. The broker determines the needs of the client and has ample experience in the industry to negotiate the best shipping rates with a carrier that can meet the client’s requirements.

5) Nested

The practice in less than truckload (LTL) shipping in which materials are stacked so that one item goes inside another. This reduces the amount of space taken up by combined freight and makes LTL shipping more efficient and less likely to experience damage.

6) Through Rate

Applies to the distance between the point of origin and the delivery destination.

7) Tariff

Establishes the cost and contract of the freight shipment for both the shipper and the carrier.

7) Truckload Managment

Truckload management encompasses the logistics for your shipment from pickup to delivery. This includes GPS tracking, email reports, billing and payment information and much more. Usually handled by your shipment broker.

9) Volume Rate

A less than truckload (LTL) term for rates that are subject to a minimum weight of 7,000 pounds or more, or cubic volume exceeding 750 cubic feet.

Ensuring Clear Communication

Using the right freight broker can alleviate much of the anxiety surrounding freight shipping. But even then, it’s helpful to have a good handle on the basics. This will ensure clear communication and hopefully prevent misunderstandings.

Contact Us to learn more about the freight shipping and LTL process.

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Cut Business Costs to Boost Your Bottom Line

If you’re looking for one quick fix for cutting costs, you’re in for a rude awakening. There is rarely one single idea that will radically change the cost structure of your business. Instead, it will require many small, smart changes to see a reduction in overhead. Even if your business is profitable, runaway expenses can eat into your bottom line. Here are 5 ways to cut your costs:

1) Audit

The first step to cutting business expenses is to do an internal audit, to find out where money is being spent and why. This will give you a clear picture of the financial state of your business and will show areas of waste or overindulgence.

2) Ship Smarter

Are you constantly at the post office, shipping parcels and probably paying extra for large or heavy shipments? If you can consolidate your shipping you’ll save significantly. Shipping with an LTL Rate Shopper allows you to compare rates and find the best carrier for your business. Using an experienced freight broker or truckload management service essentially does the work for you, which is a huge relief for most business owners, both financially and professionally.

3) Control Miscellaneous Spending

Are you planning on painting your office, buying new equipment, or hiring additional employees? If you’ve noticed excessive spending in your company, you need to put a pin in that. Another crucial question to ask yourself is this: Who has buying power in your business? Your financial information should only be in the hands of a trusted few. This will significantly decrease the amount of unnecessary spending on the part of employees. Expenses should be closely monitored and purchases should be scrutinized before approval.

4) Automate

Automating business processes isn’t replacing humans with computers, as many employees fear. Instead, it’s a way by which companies eliminate the complex, redundant steps from their processes and streamline them for simplicity. Automating enables employees to focus their efforts on tasks that will prove more beneficial to the business. Automation also increases accountability. Jim from sales can’t say he didn’t get that email if it was shared with the entire team.

5) Consider Remote Employees

The traditional workplace has shifted in recent years. Employees are working from home more than ever and for good reason. Remote employees mean that there’s no reason to lease a big office.  Even a semi-remote staff does not require the space a large staff does. If your employees could do their jobs anywhere with an internet connection, why not let them? It’s been shown to boost efficiency and productivity and is a great perk for good employees that need a more flexible schedule.

Consider the Impact

Before you implement your changes, it’s important to consider the impact. The organizational disruption caused by your expense reductions is usually proportional to the number of cuts you make. Be sure to tailor cutbacks to your savings goal and current workforce. This is easier to do with smaller changes, but bigger cuts will cause more significant disruptions, so plan accordingly.

Smart Business

Smart business cuts should include employee feedback. It’s one of the most overlooked methods of radically cutting costs, without compromising the business in any way. Seeking guidance from your team also informs them on the need to cut waste, for the bottom line of the business and the security of their jobs.

Contact Us to learn more about smart shipping solutions for your business.

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The Best Shipping Practices Outlined

While freight shipping varies from customer to carrier, there are 5 simple practices that help you ensure that business relationships are mutually beneficial and efficient. These shipping practices should serve as a starting point upon which you can build your own successful process.

1) Package Properly

The importance of proper freight packaging cannot be overstated. Many claims, delays and damages arise from improper packaging. Proper packaging and loading will also help prevent costly partial shipments that could be consolidated.

2) Report Weight Accurately

Failing to weigh your shipment accurately forces carriers to re-weigh, which leads to delays, higher expense and reduces efficiency. Shippers have a responsibility to accurately report the weight of their shipment, and doing this will pay off for the shipper in the long run.

3) Adhere to Rules & Regulations

Whether you plan to ship via road, air, or water, it’s crucial to keep in mind that transportation regulations for each method are different. International borders have their own unique sets of regulations, so ensuring that your shipments are compliant with these will expedite the process. Carry all the necessary documents including invoices, import/export permits, documents pertaining to ocean and air transportation.

4) Consider Insurance

When it comes to lost or damaged freight, 3rd party insurance can save you time and money. Carriers will have their own coverage, but it may not reimburse the full value, or what the shipment might be worth to the customer.

5) Provide Transparency

Supply chain visibility promotes accountability for both customers and shipment managers. When the process is properly monitored, reported and updated, the chance of a mistake diminishes. If mistakes still manage to occur they are easily identified and avoided in the future.

Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed

It’s impossible to guarantee perfection, but if problems arise during shipping, the customer should be notified and provided with alternative options. These might vary from a simple and heartfelt apology to a parcel service failure refund.

Happy Customers are Repeat Customers

Satisfied customers that have confidence in your abilities are more likely to refer peers and return themselves. It’s not enough to say that you’re an expert in the field of freight shipping or logistics.Your expertise should speak for itself in the form of efficient practices and dependable service.

To learn more about logistics solutions that work, Contact Us.

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A New Era of Accountability

A cornerstone of supply chain visibility is accountability. When the process is monitored, reported and regularly updated, there is little room for errors. This protects both the customer and the shipping management company. If mistakes are made, they are quickly identified and can be better avoided in the future.    

Not only does increased transparency provide customers with peace of mind, but it gives shipping managers valuable insight and analytics.

Customer Confidence

The shipment management service strives to ensure that the customer is satisfied with the process. Part of that is keeping them informed as to the status of their shipment. Where there is transparency in transportation operations, there is an assurance that things are going as they should be.

Increased Efficiency

Supply chain visibility benefits the customer, shipping agents and shipping management be fostering efficiency.  When customers have the tools they need to get clarification or reassurance (GPS tracking, email reports, etc.) they will not have a reason to call their shipment manager. This allows employees to focus on their work while the customer gets the updates they need online.

Better Communication

Communication between shipping managers, carriers and customers can only help maximize the process. While person-to-person interactions can lead to unfortunate misunderstandings, increased visibility results in clear, meaningful communication.

Streamlining the Shipping Process

Using tracking information and customer feedback, shipment management companies can continuously assess how to improve their process.  There is clarity and mutual understanding of the timeline, which eliminates confusion. Utilizing the insights gained through this process will only improve it.  

For more information about the many advantages of supply chain visibility in shipping, Contact Us.

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