Riverside Logistics

  • Home
  • 3PL Solutions
    • Supply Chain Management Solutions
    • International Supply Chain Strategies
    • Multi-Customer-Same Industry-Synergy and Solutions
    • Analysis and Management Reporting
    • Transportation Solutions
    • Warehouse and Distribution Solutions
    • Industries
  • Transportation
    • Truck Quote
    • Truck Brokerage
    • 3rd Party Freight Management
    • Core Carrier Program
    • Professional Drivers
    • Transportation Modes
    • Freight Audit & Payment
    • Freight Claims & Prevention Strategies
    • Industries
  • Warehouse & Distribution
    • Warehouses in Richmond, VA
    • Outsourced Warehousing
    • Distribution Solutions
    • Value Added Solutions
    • Industries
  • About Us
    • Mission Statement
    • Corporate History
    • Our People
    • Experience
    • Case Studies
    • Alliances
  • Careers
  • News & Events
  • Case Studies
  • Contact Us
    • Locations
    • Resource Area

February 19, 2021 by Logistics

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.

  1. 3PL’s are well versed about the rules and how they apply.
  2. 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.

Filed Under: News & Events, Transportation Tagged With: 3pl, Capacity Load Freight, Full truckload (FTL), Less than Truckload (LTL), Riverside Logistics, Third Party Logistics, Transportation

August 13, 2020 by Logistics

How can a Richmond, Virginia based Third-Party Logistics company help reduce your local delivery cost while improving service?

2020 vision has been anything but clear! Especially when it comes to your freight cost and service levels. As companies evaluate different business options, working with a third-party logistics company (3PL) on a local level can be easily overlooked.  Because a Third-Party Logistics  company has numerous truck routes and lanes that are created by serving multiple customers there is a good chance that they have a local service that could save you money, and improve the flexibility and reliability of your shipments. Below are a few ways that a 3PL can help provide cost saving solutions for your local freight!

Local Routes                                                                                                                                      

Local deliveries range between 0-250 miles from origin.  A local 3PL with a  variety of customers and deliveries has many options for their  customers.

For example, loads shipping out of Richmond, VA for delivery down in the Tidewater area will match up with a local load coming back to the Richmond, VA area.  Also, we may have 2 or 3 other customers we can consolidate on the Richmond truck either on the head haul or backhaul.  Depending on the size of the load, it may fit on 24ft box truck vs a 53ft trailer which could offer savings.

Another advantage of local routes is accessibility.  This includes  last minute daily pickups and emergency pickups because drivers are delivering within the local area.  A 3PL can also drop trailers at a customer’s location for convenience for loading or unloading their product.  Some customers with limited warehouse space utilize drop trailers for storing product at their location or at the 3PL’s location. Matching resources is one of the many ways a 3PL provides value allowing companies to be very flexible in a dynamic market, providing just in time deliveries, and capturing opportunities that may not be able to with your current resources. 

Cross Dock

Another advantage of a 3PL with warehouse assets is the ability to cross dock product.  Example:  An inbound truckload shipment comes in and our customer doesn’t have time or space to unload it.  A 3PL can provide this service as well as coordinate transportation that will maximize savings.  Another opportunity to utilize cross dock services is receiving ocean containers to be unloaded and reloaded into a 53’ Dry Van for final delivery to the customer. This same scenario would apply with rail cars. Customers can take advantage of lower rail rates and have product deliver via rail for storage at a 3PL facility and then trucked for customer delivery.  Cross docking is a great short-term solution to reallocate your freight quickly, efficiently, without limiting your resources.

Drayage

A 3PL has the ability to flex up or down depending on the volume of containers arriving at the port.  Businesses may not always have an available driver and truck to retrieve containers from the port nor space to store the container for efficient processing.  3PL’s can often store your container at their facility to save on port demurrage fees then unload and handle for final delivery to the customer.  A 3PL can often provide this service for both IMPORT and EXPORT loads.

Riverside Logistics can provide all these services for you so your resources can be utilized to focus on your business not the business of moving freight!

Filed Under: News & Events, Transportation News Tagged With: 3pl, Cross Dock, Drayage, Dry Van, East Coast Third Party Logistics Company's, Export Freight from Virginia, Import Freight into Virginia, Import your Freight, Local Routes for your Freight, Locat Delivery for Manufacutring Plants, Norfolk Port, Richmond, Richmond Port, Third Party Logistics Company's, Third Party Logistics company's near the Richmond Marine Terminlal, Transportation Companies, Trucking Companies, VA, Virginia

June 1, 2020 by Logistics

How can a Third-Party Logistics company help solve your COVID-19 Supply Chain Problems?

Riverside Logistics Warehouse 3plThe disruption of supply chains due to Covid-19 is unprecedented. Businesses have been challenged to operate with a lack of mission critical raw materials, products or equipment. Economic realities of supply and demand will shift manufacturing from single source locations to decentralizing abroad or reshoring will occur back to the US to diversify supply chains.

Many challenges are ahead particularly for small businesses in terms of going back to work because of safety and security concerns. The cost structure will shift due to many factors and it will be critical to prepare for what the new normal entails.  Creating a regionally based supply chain will provide options for a market that is in flux.  Flexible solutions for storage and distribution are the advantages a third-party logistics (3PL) firm can provide and ensure that you can change with market demand.

Leveraging the Port system in Virginia is a good start to differentiate your supply chain for imports/exports.  Our Virginia Port system may offer cost advantages, less congestion and more vessel calls, than other ports on the East Coast.  Virginia continues to rank #1 as the best state for business which offers significant growth opportunities for companies needing a presence in this region.  A 3PL can provide this presence without the commitment of facilities and labor.

According to Keith Hamlett, President of Riverside Logistics, a Third-Party Logistics (3PL) company headquarted in Richmond, Virginia; a 3PL partner can provide expertise for clients facing these challenging issues in the supply chain.  A third-party Logistics company can offer a variety of ways to help with your supply chain diversification or expansion.  Listed are areas that a 3PL can assist.

  1. People- A third-party Logistics company (3PL) usually has experienced staff ready to provide solutions. Training can be a challenge in the current environment and a Third-Party Logistics company can provide the appropriate personnel customized for your environment. They often have training solutions in place to help speed this process. This ensures your supply chain will be in place quickly.
  1. Warehouse Space Available– Often 3PL’s have warehouse space available and under management, they can modify space for your specific needs. Some 3PL’s will have commodity specific warehouse space available like: food grade, pharma certified or hazmat for those markets. Not all warehouse space is created equal. Usually a 3PL will have multiple locations and can offer flexible solutions for you.  As an example, they may have a facility adjacent to the Port of Richmond for easy access for rail, import and export. They may have a rail side warehouse as well. A 3PL’s focus is to lower your total supply chain cost and flexible alternative solutions can be critical to your success.
  1. Transportation Solutions – Another advantage of working with a Third-Party Logistics company (3PL) is they have a broad array of freight services that include Truckload, Less than Truckload (LTL), Small Package and container drayage. Often, a 3PL will have owner operator’s and dedicated lanes, with routes throughout Virginia, the Mid-Atlantic and the Southeast. They may be able to offer pooled distribution and consolidated delivery services throughout the 48 states that can save you money. This can be a great advantage when you are constantly evaluating your supply chain cost.
  1. Technology – Technology and software can be expensive. Often a 3PL will utilize a Warehouse Management and Transportation Management system to optimize your freight costs and provide insight into mode optimization. Access to real time data such as:  order inventory status, and other tools to speed communication to your customers can be very powerful.  A 3PL can provide a team that works together to provide visibility to your supply chain for cost saving options as well as comprehensive reporting for planning purposes.
  1. Supply Chain Strategies – Partnering with a 3PL can provide guidance to secure your supply chain and focus on your goals – not just right now but for the future.

At the end of the day a Third-Party Logistics company offers you the ability to respond quickly and accurately to market conditions or unforeseen disruptions like Covid-19.  A 3PL can keep your supply chain running, so you can stay healthy – personally and professionally!

 

————–

Riverside Logistics is a third-party logistics and supply chain management company providing a full complement of third-party logistics, transportation and warehousing solutions.

Riverside Logistics serves the Medical, Food, Chemical, Paper and other mission critical industry sectors.  Riverside Logistics has owner operator’s and dedicated lanes, with routes throughout Virginia, the Mid-Atlantic and the Southeast. Riverside Logistics offers pooled distribution and consolidated delivery services throughout the 48 states that can save you money. They are headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. To contact Riverside Logistics call 1-804-474-7700 Option 4 or click here to fill out the form on our contact page.

 

Filed Under: News & Events Tagged With: 3pl, Covid-19 Supply Chain Problems, How can a Third-Party Logistics Company Help (3PL), How to solve Supply Chain Problems, Richmond, Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT), Riverside Logistics, Third Party Logistics, Virginia, Virginia (VA), Warehouses near Richmond Marine Terminal

April 22, 2019 by Logistics

2019 Looks Bright for The Ports of Virginia and Riverside Logistics!

The “State of the Port 2019” presented by John F. Reinhart, CEO and Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority at the recent meeting of the Virginia Maritime Central Chapter was an exciting update. Below is a quick overview and a link to the update. This was an excellent presentation of the growth of the ports in Virginia and the positive effects on our economy.

Here are a few takeaways for RMT (Richmond Marine Terminals):

  • FY-2016 – 16,347 containers moved on the barge.
  • FY- 2019- Projection of 34,229 will be moving on the barge.  More than doubled from 3 years ago.
  • This will mean 34,229 trucks will be taken off the highway.
  • Second Barge is in Service for Daily Sailings
  • Container Staging drop lot will be completed by August of 2019. ( reduce potential for on-port demurrage)
  • 37 businesses announced they were locating or expanding their businesses in VA.

Link to the full presentation:

https://www.portofvirginia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/2019_State_of_The_Port_of_Virginia.pdf

Filed Under: News & Events Tagged With: 3pl, East Coast, John F. Reinhart, Richmond, Richmond Marine Terminal, Riverside Logistics, State of the Port 2019, Third Party Logistics, Virginia, Virginia Maritime Central Chapter, Virginia Port Authority, Warehouses near the Norfolk Port, Warehouses near the Port of Richmond

March 26, 2018 by Logistics

Riverside Logistics Sponsors/Participates in Junior Achievement Bowl-a-Thon

Riverside Logistics is a proud sponsor of Junior Achievement.  On Saturday, March 17, 2018 our largest group of employees, family and friends joined other companies and bowled two games to raise funds to support students in the Central Virginia area.  It is Riverside’s fourteenth year sponsoring and participating in the Junior Achievement Bowl-a-Thon.

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to preparing students for success in a global economy, through the development of financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness skills!  JA of Central Virginia serves 26,000 students in 162 schools; in the last 50 years, over 450,000 students have benefitted from their programs.

Riverside Logistics is honored to support Junior Achievement’s hard work and dedication to students in our community.

Junior Achievement Bowl-a-Thon

Filed Under: News & Events Tagged With: 3pl, Junior Achievement Bowl-a-Thon, Richmond, Riverside Logistics, Third Party Logistics, Transporation, Virginia, Warehouse

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Categories

  • Case Studies
    • Supply Chain
    • Transportation
  • News & Events
    • Supply Chain
    • Transportation News
    • Warehouse News

News & Events

Supply Chains After A Year Of Disruptions

Read Other News & Events

Case Studies

Supply Chains After A Year Of Disruptions

Read More Case Studies

SMC3
Transportation Intermediaries Association
Small, Women, and Minority Owned Business
Worlds Greatest Logistics Company
  • Careers
  • Alliances
  • Resource Area
  • Locations
  • Site Map

Copyright © 2021 · Executive Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in