Category: Logistics
Top Four Reasons to Partner with a 3PL
A third party logistics provider (3PL) offers outsourced or third party logistics services for part of or all necessary supply chain management operations. 3PL’s typically specialize in warehousing and transportation needs that can be customized to a customer’s requirements. As a business decision maker, there are many benefits to partnering with a 3PL.
Did you know that over 82% of Fortune 500 companies partner with at least one 3PL? Here are the top four reasons why:
- Peace of Mind: Knowing that you have a professional partner on your side to manage the transportation of your goods will allow you to focus on other operations. Look for a 3PL with years of experience, professional service and the resources to get your items from point A to point B on time and undamaged.
- Risk Reduction: If you choose transportation carriers on your own, it can be easy to overlook important factors such as operating authorities, insurance information and safety ratings. Utilizing a 3PL ensures that you won’t put your freight in the hands of an incompetent carrier. STC standards of excellence and rating systems are imposed to safeguard against ineffectiveness.
- Time is Money: Do you really have the time to route, track and manage day-to-day issues that arise from your freight? Many little issues can arise in logistics and 3PL providers have dealt with it all. Electronic transfers of data can minimize inaccuracies and provide real-time updates throughout the duration of your shipment.
- Speaking of Money… 3PL providers have an eye for logistics. They can arrange your freight, consolidate LTL shipments and recommend unique solutions that you may not have thought of before. Having the ability to find a different, yet better way to ship your products is a valuable asset that a 3PL can offer. Look for a provider that can provide assistance for your unique freight shipments.
STC Logistics has industry expertise and a reputation for quality. We provide expert consultation and have relationships with a vast network of nationwide secure cross-docking facilities. If you are considering hiring a 3PL company, you should analyze some key areas of your shipment needs to determine what your logistics partner should provide. Download the free resource, “Hiring a Third Party Logistics Company,” by clicking here.
Ocean Freight Service To Alaska, Hawaii & Puerto Rico
STC Logistics offers Ocean service to Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico via all major U.S. Ports. In addition, as a licensed NVOCC, STC Logistics provides shipping capabilities to and from all international ports.
In conjunction with our excellent Air and Truck domestic services, our experts will create the most cost-effective route to ship your products by sea. We provide both LCL (less than container load) and FCL (full container load) ocean services.
There are many benefits for shipping your products by water:
• Ideal for transporting heavy and bulky freight
• Great option for products with long lead times
• Volume advantages to pricing
• Seasonal advantages to pricing
Click here for more information about our ocean services to Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico or click here to contact us!
Hire Top Talent for your Supply Chain Management
If your business heavily relies on your supply chain and logistics, recruiting and managing top talent is critical. As we head into 2013, having talented logistics professionals on-hand as a resource is crucial to growth.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently projected an increase in the need for transportation and logistics management workers. This is mainly attributed to the number of individuals in the industry who are retiring or transitioning into new fields. Overall, high-level logistics management employment will grow by seven percent within the next seven years. This growth will result in the need for programs that educate potential employees; a skilled workforce will be required to fill these open positions.
Education for the logistics workforce goes beyond entry-level workers. C-level executives should have specialized knowledge. It’s important for logistics professionals to be knowledgeable in tactical, strategic and operational areas. Simply having a basic knowledge of supply chain and logistics may not be enough.
Recruiting and managing internal logistics and supply chain management workers may not be the most cost-effective option for your company. Instead, consider hiring a third party logistics provider. These companies specialize in transportation and are able to deliver superior, flexible solutions for an organization’s transportation requirements.
Third party logistics providers have extensive networks of resources and a total dedication to your supply chain. They are able to keep a watchful eye and manage your freight shipments while you focus on running your business.
The right logistics provider acts as a valuable extension to your business. This will allow you to focus on your core competency.
If you are interested in hiring a third party logistics company but are unsure of where to start, click here for a free checklist. This free download will allow you to analyze the key areas that a logistics partner should provide.
Logistics Faceoff: Which Delivery Method is Better – Rail or Truck?
If you are planning on shipping your freight via ground shipping, you are probably choosing between rail or truckload shipping. There is no “wrong choice” per say, but there may be a more ideal choice for you depending on your company’s goals. Conserving energy, time and resources is no doubt important for your business and supply chain, so it’s important to weigh your delivery method options. Consider the pros and cons of both rail and truck shipping methods.
Rail
Pros:
- Very secure
- Fuel efficient
- Shipment size
- Intermodal sizes and weight (including Tare)–
- 20’ – 52,900 lbs max
- 40’ – 67,200 lbs max
- 45’ – 67,200 lbs. max
- 40’ – 67,200 lbs max
- 53’ – 67,200 lbs max
- Intermodal sizes and weight (including Tare)–
Cons:
- Transit time is longer
- Average shipment time from California to New York is 8-10 days
Trains are superior in the realm of energy efficiency for shipments over land. A train’s steel wheels produce very little kinetic friction. On the other hand, a truck’s thick tires create heavy static friction. This means that a truck’s engine consumes more fuel. Trains also move at a slower pace, which greatly improves fuel consumption. The aerodynamic drag caused by moving a heavy freight at fast speeds is diminished via rail. Therefore, if your concerns for supply chain management heavily rely on the energy efficiency of your vehicles, and if your shipment is a medium to long distance route, rail shipments may be more ideal.
Trucking
Pros:
- Quick transit time
- Approximately 4-5 Days shipping time from California to New York.
- Quicker availability
Cons:
- Higher fuel charges
- Limited size,
- 53’ FTL Van
- 26 standard 48×40 pallets
- max 45,000lbs
- 48’ FTL Van
- 24 standard 48×40
- Max 45,000lbs
- 53’ FTL Van
On the other hand, time is money. If your company is fast-paced, a train’s lag in time can make all the difference. Because trains move slower than trucks, those who rely on quicker delivery times may choose the faster truck. Trucks are also more flexible, because they are not reliant on railways. They can operate on any roadway throughout the continent.
In short, the answer to the question posed in the title of this article is: it depends.
Both shipment options have pros and cons. STC Logistics’ Intermodal Service combines Ocean, Rail and Truck to offer door-to-door transport in North America. If you choose Rail shipping, keep in mind that you will most likely implement Intermodal Shipping in order to transport your items to and from the rail yard. Weight plays a major factor in transporting goods. By utilizing more than one mode of transportation, you can experience the benefits of both modes of logistics. The team at STC Logistics can handle the drayage, rail negotiation and transport of your intermodal shipment.
For more information on Select Transportation Logistics’ Intermodal Service or to request a quote, contact us today at [email protected]
Which Mode of Transport is Right For Your Freight Shipment?
The goal for business owners is to minimize transportation costs and meet customer demands demand for their products. Transportation costs are dependent on the distance between the source and the destination, the selected method of transport and both the quantity and size of the shipped product.
The U.S. boasts four million miles of roads and a railroad network that could circle the globe several times. Our country’s complex transportation systems allows decision makers several options when shipping products. Choosing the best one requires knowing the pros and cons of them all:
Ground
The infrastructure of the roads in the US plays a major role in handling cargo across the nation. Shipping products via truck is the most common mode used in logistics in the US today.
Pros –
- Cost effective
- Fast delivery
- Great for short distances
- Ideal for transporting temperature-controlled products like perishables or pharmaceuticals
Cons –
- Shipment subject to traffic delays
- Trucks susceptible to bad weather and delays
Ocean
Large volumes of trade can be imported/exported through ships on ocean vessels. Through waterways, ships transport cargo from one country to another. STC offers LCL (less than container load) and FCL (full container load) via ocean.
Pros –
- Ideal for transporting heavy and bulky freight
- Great option for products with long lead times
- Volume advantages to pricing
- Seasonal advantages to pricing
Cons –
- Extended transport schedules
- Difficult to monitor location of goods in transit
- Shipments susceptible to Customs restrictions
Rail
Pros –
- Only 1-3 additional transit days compared to truck service
- Cost effective alternative to ground services
- Safe and reliable
Cons –
- Suppliers and customers not always located near a freight rail depot
- Intermodal shipment may be needed to accommodate the final delivery
- Extended transit times when compared to truck schedules
Air
Pros –
- Fast delivery, usually between 24 and 48 hours
- Reduces lead time
- Immediate recovery from airport for swift delivery
Cons –
- Higher cost
- Flight shipments susceptible to Customs restrictions
No matter which transportation method you choose for your company, STC Logistics’ extensive network ensures that your goods arrive promptly and safely, every time. If you still aren’t sure how you should ship your products, we can help. Our experts at STC Logistics are industry leading Commercial Freight Specialist and can help you decide the best shipping methods for your company. Contact us today for more information or to request a quote.
Top 3 Considerations for Shipping Pharmaceutical Products
Shipping pharmaceutical products is more complicated than shipping any other item. There are specific guidelines and regulations involved in shipping. It’s important to take the necessary steps to ensure that the pharmaceutical products are intact and useful to the end consumer after shipping.
There are a number of things to keep in mind when choosing a logistics company to ship pharmaceutical products:
- Temperature Control – Temperature is a primary concern when shipping pharmaceuticals. Products must be shipping in containers that are well insulated. Temperature-controlled shipments ensure that delicate pharmaceuticals are kept in optimal conditions.
- Security – Pharmaceutical cargo types are susceptible to theft and can be extremely dangerous, depending on the type of pharmaceuticals. The greater the number of people who handle the freight, the greater the likelihood that the shipment would be lost, damaged or stolen. Direct, non-stop routes ensure that the delivery is secure with the least amount of handling. Other important security precautions that a logistics company should take into consideration are cameras in the warehouse, satellite tracking and total visibility.
- Proper Licensure –When choosing a logistics partner, verify that the company has all of the proper licenses and equipment necessary to ship pharmaceuticals.
Using a third party logistics company can help your pharmaceutical company pinpoint the exact mode of transportation necessary for your highly valuable products. ShipPharma is a pharmaceutical shipping provider servicing pharmaceutical companies and their fulfillment partners. With ShipPharma, appointment deliveries are guaranteed to arrive in a two-hour window. Additionally, customer service reps are carefully trained to manage your shipments while maintaining the software.
For more information on ShipPharma or to find out more information on shipping requirements for pharmaceuticals, contact STC Logistics today.
Four Tips to Maximize your Logistics this Holiday Shipping Season
Logistics during the holiday season requires a significant amount of planning. The holiday season begins on November 1, but businesses and logistics providers should begin preparing in October, and in some cases, even earlier. 19% of consumers begin their holiday shopping in October and 40% are holiday shopping during November. High demand for products means that logistics vendors must ensure that the products are able to reach the end consumer.
In the United States, it is important to bear in mind holidays such as Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas. Shipping around the holidays creates a significant amount of traffic, so it’s important to keep in mind international holidays as well. The challenge for companies is to successfully accommodate the demand that the peak season brings.
Keep in mind these four following tips when planning your holiday season logistics:
- Be Proactive – Being proactive about holiday planning is the best way to make it through the holidays smoothly. It’s important to stay in tune with vendors during a rush period.
- Remember last year’s mistakes – Keep in mind the issues that the last holiday season brought and remedy them. This is an effective way to avoid previous mistakes.
- Be Flexible – Flexibility is also important. Handling shipments as early as possible ensures that customers are satisfied even if there happens to be a delay in shipment.
- Bring in backup – Many companies choose to meet this demand by relying on the help of logistics service providers. Effective supply chain execution is the difference between getting products to customers on time… and not. By reducing the amount of goods that arrive late to retailers, companies can avoid discounting their products after the holidays to move them out of stores.
STC Logistics offers a highly efficient, round the clock operation to help alleviate the demands of the holiday season. Our extensive network ensures that your goods will arrive to its destination promptly and safely. Our Customer Service professionals work with you to determine the best and most cost-effective way to get your shipment to its destination. Click Here to request a quote for your holiday shipments.
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Welcome to Logistically Speaking!
Welcome to Logistically Speaking – your resource center for shipping and logistics!
Logistically Speaking is dedicated to providing companies with important information about shipping their products. Our blog posts will cover a wide range of topics including how you should ship, when to ship and news within the logistics industry. If you want to learn more about how to streamline your company’s shipping, we’ve got you covered!
STC Logistics is a Total Source Solution for handling all of your transportation needs. Our accomplished representatives provide expert consultation for even the most complex traffic departments. This experience, combined with our vast network of nationwide secure cross-docking facilities, gives us the knowledge you need about your company’s logistics. We are committed to providing superior, flexible logistics solutions, and we are ready to share our expertise with you.
We’re excited to launch this blog for people seeking information about logistics. Feel free to ask questions and leave comments below. We will be sure to address anything you need!
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