Great visit with Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) team!
Great visit with Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) team to discuss how Riverside Logistics benefits from its membership. Thanks to Ann Reinke, CEO for visiting with her team to learn more about “Why” Riverside is a member of TIA. Also, received some good information from Matt Evans, Director of Marketing and Communications and Paul Leahy, Director of Membership on upcoming events to better serve its members. We are fortunate to have an advocate like TIA striving to better serve our membership.
If you spend over $100,000 on LTL Freight maybe Riverside Logistics can help.
Let’s see why or why not. Riverside Logistics a third-party logistics company (3PL) has considerable buying power in the freight markets for Less-Than-Truckload (LTL), Parcel and Truckload. We also have a significant presence in the Richmond, VA market handling local container drayage, warehouse and plant shuttles and short-haul dedicated moves. We have a strong local following of carriers. We also have a broad portfolio of LTL carriers that can be applied to any Origin/Destination set.
But we are not an omni-budsman (handle anything) Third Party Logistics Company (3pl). Although we’d like to think that we are very good at what we do, we are not one-size fits all 3PL. If you meet most or all of the following criteria, then you are a great candidate for a partnership with Riverside Logistics. If not, then maybe it’s better to just be friends and move on.
- If your company or your branch revenue is between $5 and $100 million in yearly sales.
- If you really don’t have a transportation department per se.
- If the decision-making is done locally not centrally when the company has more than one location.
- If you need both Richmond-based warehousing AND transportation management to go with it.
- If your freight spend for all modes of transport is between $150,000 and $3 million annually.
- If you use a consolidator like FedEx or UPS to handle all your LTL and parcel and (even) your FTL moves.
- If you have no technology platform to tender, route, cost, or track LTL or parcel shipments.
- If you can’t create a digital Bill of Landing (BOL) that ties orders to carriers and provides a full data set.
These criteria are benchmarks. We have found in the 25 years we’ve been in business, that companies who “fit” the above criteria do very well in partnership with us. Our overall book of business includes smaller and larger companies, so the above would not exclude you from being a candidate to work with Riverside. However, the above is definitely a “sweet spot” we found that works well. We do business with a lot of different clients with assorted wants and needs. There is no standard way of doing business, but rather key processes that work well across the demands for transportation and warehousing. We customize our solutions to meet the client’s needs and incorporate technological solutions to provide timely and effective answers for their daily transportation challenges.
How does technology fit into the equation? In the good old days manual routing guides were used by and for clients to handle their LTL and parcel shipments. Today Riverside has a robust technology platform that allows client’s to do their own routings. They can electronically tender, track and trace, cost, (and even pay invoices) using this system. It also allows for reporting and research of the data elements attached to each move over the life span of use. It’s a powerful tool that allows the data to be used timely and effectively on either a daily (short term) or long-term basis.
In today’s fast paced world having data is important; but having an experienced team to help you analyze, find efficiency’s and make decisions to add value is a strategic advantage. Supply chains have been disrupted and now more than ever the team of experienced people at Riverside Logistics may be able to help you navigate the faster pace of change. If you would like to talk to one of our representatives please call us at …804-747-7700 Option 4 or fill out a quote form online.
Supply Chains After A Year Of Disruptions
It has been a year since supply chains were disrupted due to Covid-19. Yet businesses are still being challenged due to consistent disruptions to product supply and/or demand. Inventories have continued to climb on some commodities while others cannot be purchased at any price. Companies have ordered earlier only to have product delayed by stockouts or transportation interruptions. Economic realities of the constant shift are becoming the norm.
Challenges are ahead for business that are stuck in the market flux. Companies continue to look for regional and local solutions to supply problems they have traditionally solved offshore. Creating a regionally based supply chain can provide options for a market that is in flux. Flexible solutions for storage and distribution are the advantages of a third-party logistics (3PL) firm ensuring that you can change with market demand.
Leveraging Virginia’s vast range of transportation modes and modern highway network is one option to differentiate your supply chain. The Virginia transportation network offers cost advantages by being able to reach over 50% of the US population in one day. Virginia continues to rank #1 as the best state for business which offers significant growth opportunities for companies needing a presence in this region.
According to Keith Hamlett, President of Riverside Logistics, “A 3PL partner can provide expertise for clients facing these challenging issues in the supply chain by offering flexible ways to diversify or expand your supply chain.” Here is a list of value-add services provided by 3PL companies.
People – A 3PL has experienced staff with distribution solutions experience and can provide the appropriate personnel customized for your environment. They have training solutions in place to help speed this process. This ensures your supply chain will be in place quickly.
Warehouse Space Available – Experienced 3PL’s have warehouse space they can modify for your specific needs. Special certifications can be provided for food, pharmaceuticals, hazardous materials, or other unique markets. Usually, 3PL’s will have multiple locations offering flexible solutions for your product.
Transportation Solutions – An advantage of working with a 3PL company is they have a broad array of freight service options. Truckload, Less-than-Truckload (LTL), Small Package and container drayage are just a few of the modes that can be considered. Utilizing the right service can save you money.
Technology – Specialized software can be expensive to purchase and implement. Utilizing a 3PL’s Warehouse and Transportation Management systems to minimize your distribution costs is smart. Access to real time data such as orders, inventory status, competitive transportation rates and other metrics speeds information flow to you and your customers.
Supply Chain Strategies – Partnering with a 3PL can provide you with expertise and guidance to secure your supply chain and focus on your company’s goals – not just right now but for the future.
Capacity Load Freight: More Prevalent and More Expensive
LTL carriers are experiencing a significant increase in large shipments, due in part to tight capacity in the US truckload (TL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) markets. While capacity freight currently applies to a smaller percentage of shipments, that number is growing steadily.
Please be aware of the general capacity load rules and charges that (may) apply to larger shipments.
Capacity loads apply when the quantity of freight, in the manner loaded, utilizes a linear length of between 8ft and 15 ft. Some carriers also have weight limits that trigger capacity loads. The weight limits range anywhere from 8,000 to 15,000 lbs.
The linear length is determined by assuming that handling units will be loaded side-by-side when the dimensions allow. So, if you ship 48 square or 48 x 40 inch pallets then 8 pallets will hit 16 ft. You might argue that if you specify that the freight is stackable, one on top of the other, then you could have more than 8 pallets and still not trigger a capacity load situation. Don’t bet on that!! Most LTL carriers consider the entire load as floor stacked when calculating the linear footage. The point is, be careful. Another scenario is if your pallets are “turnable”, meaning they can be turned so the length is shorter. In this case, if you have 8 pallets that are 40 x 48 and are turnable, then, in theory, the length would be 4 times 40” or 13.33 ft rather than 4 x 48” or 16 liner ft. Although this can make a difference in how pricing applies, be careful. Make sure that you understand how the particular carriers’ rules tariff applies to linear feet.
So, what to do?
One suggestion is to have a 3PL handle the move. There are two strategic advantages to do this.
- 3PL’s are well versed about the rules and how they apply.
- They will quote you a price that applies, even if they have mis-calculated
Many 3PL’s have negotiated higher linear foot rules with their carriers and this allows them to get more competitive pricing on larger loads. If you are a “cubic” shipper, one who ships pallets loads that don’t necessarily weigh a lot but take up a lot of “cubic” feet, then using a 3PL with higher linear foot rates could really help you.
Capacity Rules and Linear Feet can make freight costs go up significantly, potentially causing a shipment to cost more than it’s worth. Using a 3PL on large LTL shipments allows you to take advantage of the 3PL’s basket of carriers and competitive price structure without risking unpleasant freight costs.
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