Have you ever tried filling a bucket with water when there is a hole in the bottom?  No matter how much water you pour into the bucket, it will continue to drain until you plug the hole. The logistics industry faces a similar situation on a regular basis.  However, rather than water, the trucking world Read more…

Compliance is a challenge in many industries, but it becomes particularly important — and more complex — when your company transports goods across state lines. Shippers that don’t prioritize compliance can discover too late that they’ve been breaking the law. Whether it’s regulations on hazardous materials or guidelines on refrigerating perishables, the patchwork of state Read more…

Companies often flaunt new technological tools as reducing mistakes and increasing productivity beyond established expectations. This is particularly true when it comes to the shipping and logistics business. For smaller shippers, it can be a major challenge to juggle the complexities of integrating existing technology with a TMS. Larger companies might have more budget available Read more…

Regardless of how tempting it might seem, the fastest and cheapest route is not always the right choice. Think about the last time you bought a nice outfit. Snagging a suit off the discount rack at a department store will save you a few bucks today, but it’s not likely to impress anyone at your Read more…

Last year, I moved into a house that is more than 100 years old. While I hope to eventually turn it into my dream home, saying it’s a fixer-upper would be a massive understatement. The home needs a lot of work, so I spend most of my weekends covered in paint and sawdust, working on projects to Read more…

Companies that don’t have a dedicated logistics department don’t always have insight into how complex shipping their freight can be. Some of them, however, are aware of this shortcoming and, therefore, rely on big corporations with high brand/name recognition that they see as leaders in the transportation industry. Unfortunately, the biggest name in the business Read more…

Investing in a logistics partner often requires a crash course in acronyms. Companies talk at length about 3PLs, 4PLs, and other equally confusing designations, sprinkling in terms such as “brokers” and “brokerages.” It’s enough to make anyone’s head spin. To cut through the confusion and determine whether your company needs to partner with an LSP Read more…

According to a survey from the Harvard Business School, outsourcing key components of business operations has increased in recent years.  Almost half of respondents to that survey said they preferred outsourcing to hiring new, full-time employees.  Only 1 in 4 felt that hiring new employees was preferable to outsourcing. Why Is Outsourcing So Attractive to Read more…