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Helpful Articles

Many organizations outsource their third-party logistics needs to access the flexibility and scalability that an outside vendor can offer. If your shipping needs to be ramped up, instead of hiring extra staff or expanding your warehouse space, a 3PL vendor can often supply extra capacity on demand.   Additionally, outsourcing your 3PL can prove more cost-effective than keeping the function in house. You’ll also gain access to extensive expertise when you choose an experienced vendor, rather than having to train your staff.   That being said, as with any vendor relationship, it pays to be clear on what to expect from your 3PL provider. Armed with this information,...

When you’ve got a less-than-container load (LCL), you might find yourself considering a 20′ container. Clocking in at just about half the cubic volume of a standard 40′ container, a 20′ container may seem perfect for you if you can’t fill a dedicated 40′ one. However, many carriers are phasing out this option, and we’ve got three reasons you might want to reconsider, too. We’ll walk you through the “why” in this article. We’ll also offer you some LCL alternatives that will not only save you money but will also save you some valuable shipping time. Reason #1: 20′ Containers Aren’t Cost-Efficient Since a 20′...

Pick-up, transit, delivery… These are the three basics of every ocean freight quote. On the surface, acquiring an accurate ocean freight quote might seem like a breeze. However, each of these seemingly simple elements contains a subset of questions your provider needs to answer to establish an exact price. The more information you can provide at the beginning will make the process quicker and your final invoice that much closer to your initial quote. No surprises mean accurate budget forecasting for your business. Whether you’re new to the world of ocean freight or find yourself always trying to reconcile quotes with invoices, we’ll walk you...

Whether you’re shipping or receiving goods, the Incoterms® you agree to can either make or break your bottom line. By defining who’s responsible for transportation, insurance, and tariffs, the Incoterms rules ultimately determine your final costs as either a buyer or a seller.  To help you understand the intricacies of these terms—and what they mean for you—we’ll walk you through all eleven of the 2010 Incoterms Rules.  We’ll also show you why Incoterms are only half the story when negotiating your contract. There’s one additional element you need to include, and ignoring it can cost you big. We’ll show you why. Let’s start by understanding exactly what Incoterms are—and why they matter...

When it comes to inventory control, you’re often dealing with two schools of thought: Just-in-case, in which you carry, for example, 2-3 months of inventory at a time that’s stored in a warehouse, then distributed. Just-in-time, in which you order, receive and distribute just enough to supply your customers, without storing much inventory at all. However, in addition to these two options, you really have a third: A hybrid approach in which you combine both. Ultimately, assembling the right mix of inventory control strategies will depend on your business’s unique needs. That being said, one way you might consider approaching a hybrid inventory control system...

International air freight and ocean freight volumes continue to grow, despite the fact that many countries are turning to global import tariffs to protect domestic production of goods. Ultimately, this growth signals that international freight will continue to be a day-to-day reality as international business continues to thrive. If you’re new to shipping freight internationally—or you simply want to leverage this shipping method more effectively—we’d love to help you brush up on the major concepts and get your piece of the growing global marketplace. Below, we’ll walk you through our answers to the most frequently asked (and most important!) questions we get around international freight....