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Transport

January 21, 2022 / By / Cargo • Packaging • Transport /

Less than truckload (LTL) shipping can be an extremely efficient way to move shipments when you don’t need to fill an entire trailer.

However, if the LTL shipping process is not implemented well, it can have some potential disadvantages, costing the company more time and money than necessary.

Packing pallets correctly for shipment is a serious safety issue as well and could be full of risk if the business isn’t careful. If your pallet isn’t stacked properly, you risk damaging the product, injuries from toppling pallets or workers tripping over the overhang, and time lost trying to fix the improperly packed pallet. Avoid injuries, damage and claims with these tips.

First, it is important to know how and when crating is more appropriate than skidding. For instance, machinery is usually best to be crated. To the point that some carriers will refuse machinery if only sitting on a skid and not crated. There are also NMFC product codes where the same item will ship at a lower class when crated compared to being only on a skid. Lower freight class typically equals better costs.

Select the correct pallet, skid or crate for your shipment to avoid overhang and support your product. Not all are created equal so make sure you are using one made of material best suited to your shipment and that is still of good quality. Using old wooden pallets is a recipe for disaster by increasing your puncture risk from loose nails or splintered wood. But plastic pallets are expensive but lighter and can be sterilized.

 

Neglecting to stack your cartons using best practices can cause damage to your product but also harm the people working with your shipment. One of the most common causes of damage is due to the shaking or vibration in transit. Vibration can cause the goods to rub against each other and internal parts to break.

How you stack your shipment can reduce the vibration. Improve how stable your pallet is by always placing heavy goods first, stacking up to the edge (but not hanging over), placing boxes like you would place bricks, securing with strapping, and picking the best shrink wrap for your shipment. Pyramid patterns are one of the biggest offenders so avoid using this pattern. The partial interlock pattern is what we recommend for maximizing strength. Proper planning and training can help you to ensure your pallets are safe and stable.

Pallet overhang accounts for a huge amount of damage and injuries. The four vertical corners of the box provide the majority of its stacking strength. If you don’t align the corners of the box above and below, you are reducing the compression resistance of the box and increasing your chances of damage.

 

Though it is often a point that is overlooked, the wrapping technique will impact the stability of your shipment. Scrapes, scuffs and punctures account for a good amount of damage when the shipper doesn’t prepare for all the machinery and movement the load will face in transit. We recommend you create an external cardboard wall around the palletized goods and then properly wrap them in shrink wrap. If you aren’t using machinery, make sure your team is properly trained on how to manually wrap. A common set of mistakes is not wrapping around the pallet enough times (at least 5) and not remembering to twist the wrap every other time around. This will increase the durability.

 

Proper, sturdy packaging and labeling is a surefire way to help prevent problems and claim charges. It would seem an obvious thing to point out that different carriers have different shipping rates. When shipping an LTL load, it is crucial to compare carrier costs in order to get the best rate and avoid overspending when a cheaper solution was available. But if you work with a cheaper solution and they aren’t familiar with how to safely handle your freight, it could actually end up being more costly. Vet your carriers carefully or work with a partner who is familiar with your needs and can pair you with the best suited carrier. Utilizing experts to compare rates and negotiate better deals could save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, not to mention the stress of doing all this alone.

 

CONTACT US today to speak with a shipping specialist about how to palletize your goods!

 

December 27, 2021 / By / Cargo • Logistic • Shipping • Transport • Trucking /

Less than truck load (LTL) shipping can be an extremely efficient way to move shipments when you don’t need to fill an entire trailer.

 

However, if the LTL shipping process is not implemented well, it can have some potential disadvantages, costing the company more time and money than necessary.

In order to ship smarter, a shipper needs to know how to get the most benefit for the cheapest price. Understanding common LTL shipping mistakes makes it much easier to avoid these issues. LTL shipping is a growing side of the freight industry and shippers need to know these common pitfalls in order to avoid a potentially costly shipping mistake.

 

Here are some ways to avoid common LTL shipping mistakes you could be making that hinder productivity and negatively impact the bottom line…

1] Know your dock delivery set up to plan for additional services needed.

2] Include proper labeling and documentation.

3] Train employees in OSHA regulations and the risks associated with not following them.

4] Provide correct load dimensions.

5] Provide accurate class designations.

6] Use the right equipment to weigh the freight correctly.

 

If you’re tired of dealing with the frustration that comes with shipping via LTL carriers, working with an experienced 3PL to manage your less than truckload shipping tasks is a smart idea that can save you a tremendous amount of money.

For more packing tips and tricks, download our free Freight Pallet Packing Guide HERE.

CONTACT Westgate today to speak with a shipping specialist about how to make your shipping more efficient!

December 16, 2021 / By / Logistic • Shipping • Transport • Trucking /

Prior to the Covid pandemic, less than 50% of the population had any knowledge regarding supply chain issues.

Today, over 90% are aware of supply chain issues and the impacts they have on our everyday lives.

 

There continues to be significant congestion of ships and an overwhelming shortage of container equipment in addition to staffing problems at the ports. In order to abate anxiety among the general public, container vessels must now anchor at least 50 miles from the Ports of LA and Long Beach until they are called in for offloading. Out of sight, out of mind.  Although unpredictable, capacity and supply will eventually return, which will cause rates to level off somewhat.

Shippers who negotiated contracts early in 2021 will experience the highest rate increases in 2022. Early negotiation created a buffer for the price increases that developed throughout the year. Those shippers may experience rate increases as high as 20%.

While all shippers are interested in transit time, the primary concerns are occurring at the point of origin. It is vital for shippers to get products off their docks, opening floor space and providing the opportunity to invoice their customers. Transit time has become a secondary concern. Unfortunately, we will continue to experience a degradation of service throughout 2022.

It’s nearly impossible to have a lean operation without a predictable supply chain. Shippers must reassess what they consider to be safe inventory levels to meet production goals and may be forced to consider additional warehousing when necessary. Lean and just in time (JIT) inventories must be closely monitored and risk assessments should be performed regularly when permitting vendors to maintain stock.

Carriers have been working around the clock to keep up with the influx of freight. It all begins and ends with drivers. Both shippers and carriers need to work together to make the truck driving profession more appealing. The current commercial truck driver market consists of 92% men and 8% women, with the average age around 49 years old. A campaign to lower the age requirement to 18 years old as well as add more women to the driver pool appears to be a necessity. Despite driver pay increasing by as much as 25%, attracting more drivers has continued to be a challenge.  Carriers have also reported that many current drivers have opted to work shorter hours in response to their increases in pay.

Many carriers are transitioning to target pricing, which is essentially identifying “good freight” versus “bad freight”. For example: How easy are the customers to work with? Which shippers load and unload quickly? How far out of route do they have to travel to their next pickup? etc. The pricing carriers quote will reflect their assumption on what freight works and what freight does not work in their systems.

The overall cost of trucking will remain high considering the elevated costs they are facing. In addition to the rising costs of fuel, equipment and insurance, LTL carriers are forced to use outside TL carriers to supplement their linehaul service.

Keep an eye out for another potential Black Swan Event. The ILWU has threatened a strike in July. While in the past they were agreeable to automation, they are now opposed and that has become a major sticking point in contract negotiations

 

WHAT IS A SHIPPER TO DO?
  • Become a strategic shipper.
  • Limit the dwell time carriers experience on the docks.
  • Make it as easy as possible for carriers to pick up and deliver.
  • Turn containers and trailers around quickly.
  • Provide a desirable environment for drivers.
  • Share important information.
  • Put yourself in the driver’s shoes with regard to your dock processes.

 

If you’re interested in improving your supply chain or reducing your freight costs… CALL WESTGATE GLOBAL LOGISTICS

610-866-8001

 

 

 

 

December 8, 2021 / By / Logistic • Shipping • Transport • Warehouse /

2 Billion Out-of-Stock Messages

Online shoppers in October were looking for goods but instead found 2 billion out-of-stock messages according to an Adobe Analytics study. That is quadruple what it was in October of 2019. In November of this year, the out-of-stock messages surged 258% compared to November of 2019. The discounts offered were also lower than previous years.

The highest out-of-stock items were:

  • Electronic goods
  • Jewelry
  • Apparel
  • Home and Garden
  • Pet Products

 

It isn’t only online stores that have empty shelves. However, many businesses have tried to beef up their in-store inventory ahead of the holidays. Some are anticipating more in-person shoppers this year as consumers may be nervous about product shipping times. People can also look for alternatives easier in person if they face out-of-stock messages about what they were originally looking for.

 

Warehouse Shortages

Shipment congestion in ports has been making headlines but it also is translating into warehouse issues as well. Warehouse space was already scarce and now is in even more demand. Warehouse vacancy has reached a record low at 3.6% according to CBRE. This is so low that it really isn’t efficient. You need to have a little bit of availability to operate smoothly. Just like a lot of other price increases we are seeing, warehouse rent has gone way up. The net asking rent is at a record $8.92 per square foot. That is a 10.4% annual increase. This is likely to be an issue in 2022 and 2023.

As a result of the shortage of warehouse space, storage trailers are also extremely hard to find. Shippers and manufacturers are ordering more overseas products ahead of time to combat the congestion and delays on container shipments. Storage trailers have been a useful method to keep additional stock on-site without overcrowding their facilities. However, trailer manufacturers are unable to fulfill their orders which is compounding the issue and creating a rise in the cost of both new and used trailers.

 

What’s New in Trucking Sustainability

There has been a lot of build-up and talk around electric vehicle (EV) growth in the commercial truck and van space. And while there are some recognizable names such as Tesla, Volvo, Freightliner, Peterbilt, Mack, etc., there are some original equipment manufacturer (OEM) newcomers on the market. There are certainly some challenges ahead and EV adoption is still very low. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t coming. Daimler Trucks North America had vowed to have carbon-neutral truck lineups by 2039. And Volvo Trucks North America is aiming for the same by 2040. It will be interesting to see how these zero-emissions technologies compare as more players join in the game.

 

 

We’ve got you covered!

Call The Professionals At Westgate Global Logistics To Help Minimize The Impact Of A Difficult Market. 800-637-8001

 

 

Sources:
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/us-warehouses-running-room-amid-supply-chain-crisis/story?id=80906199
https://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/cbre_data_highlights_the_intersection_of_record_low_vacancies_and_record_hi
https://www.ttnews.com/articles/online-shoppers-face-increase-out-stock-goods
https://www.fleetequipmentmag.com/new-electric-truck-oem/

October 22, 2021 / By / Logistic • Shipping • Transport • Trucking /

Currently, there are an incredible number of container ships waiting to be unloaded at the Ports of LA and Long Beach. To add to the congestion, there are more ships en route. Since these two ports account for the nation’s largest trans-shipment centers, this provides insight into the trouble we face going forward.  The sad truth is that the U.S. doesn’t have the infrastructure to handle the tremendous flow of containers headed for our country. Clearing the backlog could take us into Q3 or Q4 of 2022.

A view of the parcel side is equally dismal. UPS and FedEx have more freight than they know what to do with as we enter Q4 of 2021 and approach the holiday shipping surge. Expect the parcel carriers to utilize and initiate accessorial charges to offset their increased costs. Moreover, expect transit time to suffer.

The LTL and Truckload sectors are having similar issues. In addition to their struggle to find drivers and dock workers, these carriers are unable to obtain enough equipment to service their current volume. Shippers are not releasing trailers fast enough and storage trailers are in extremely high demand which has created a significant trailer shortage. Meanwhile, manufactures of tractors and trailers are having difficulty fulfilling orders for new equipment. COVID shortages are only making this matter worse.

What to expect for 2022? Without question, HIGHER RATES.

How can a shipper combat these dire problems? Focus on internal processes, watch for opportunities to consolidate shipments and work closely with vendors regarding product availability and scheduling.

Most importantly, call the professionals at Westgate Global Logistics to help minimize the impact of a difficult market.

800-637-8001

October 19, 2021 / By / Logistic • Shipping • Transport • Trucking /

The COVID-19 pandemic completely turned the American economy, businesses, and the political world on its head. Because of this, 2020 was the first year that the TIA held the Policy Forum virtually, using Zoom to facilitate meetings between Members of Congress and the forum participants.

 

Even with the virtual adaptation, it was considered a great success for having enlisted ten sponsors (five from each political party) for the Motor Carrier Safety Selection Standard Act. “This success was a direct result of your grassroots efforts and direct lobbying. The fact is your voice is the most prominent and meaningful for a Member of Congress and their legislative priorities,” said TIA.

The TIA wanted “to build upon that success of getting back to the basics of grassroots advocacy efforts” with this year’s 3PL Policy Forum. The hybrid event, which was held on September 28th and 29th, featured both in-person and virtual registration options.

This year’s forum made more time for TIA Members to be able to meet with their entire Congressional delegation in order to present questions and comments, as well as ongoing high-level briefings from key officials from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

“I never miss this chance to speak on behalf of our industry about the issues the industry faces — now and in the future. The more we get in front of these people, the more we can guide the narrative about our industry and steer regulation to help us all,” Mark Fiorini, president of Westgate Global Logistics.

Mark is dedicated to constantly improving processes for the industry as a whole. “The Policy Forum provides people and businesses an opportunity to sit down with the people who make decisions about our industry, and all of us here at Westgate strive to be at the forefront of these policy changes and trends.”

TIA plans to continue to focus their energy and dedication to 3PL advocacy efforts moving forward, and Westgate will be directly in their wake making moves for a better tomorrow.

 

CONTACT US today to experience our dedication to best shipping practices.

September 30, 2021 / By / Drivers • Logistic • Shipping • Tracking • Transport /

There was once a time when private fleets had a clear advantage in the pursuit of hiring truck drivers. But the COVID-19 pandemic caused many disruptions in nearly every segment of the supply chain that we’re still feeling today.

Freight demand has been rising which means that equipment capacity and trained drivers are in high demand as well. But it’s not just high demand stretching available drivers thin, the trucking industry has about 80,000 fewer available drivers today compared to a year ago.

Even before the pandemic caused many older truckers to retire for health concerns, trucking was already dealing with issues of drivers retiring. According to the National Transportation Institute (NTI), retirement accounts for 54% of the driver shortage we’re facing today.

“These challenges aren’t entirely new, but the pandemic accelerated them,” said Jim ­VonAchen, director of transportation support for McLane Co., a major distributor of groceries and packaged goods based in Temple, Texas.

“There’s just a lot more competition in every segment of the freight and transportation business,” said Brian Johnston, senior director of transportation at Core-Mark International — one of the largest distributors of fresh food, snacks, and tobacco goods to the convenience retail industry.

The increased freight demand brought on by the pandemic isn’t the only factor in the increasing shortage of available driver though. Other factors contributing to the shortage are:

  • Truckers are retiring
  • Other industries are poaching drivers
  • The FMCSA’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse makes it harder for cited drivers to move from one carrier to another
  • Limited seating capacity due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements means driver schools are graduating 30% to 40% fewer drivers

 

This means that private fleets will have to fight even harder to recruit drivers moving forward. Companies need to be more creative in what they are offering to drivers in order to get them to sign on – and stay on. Some companies are offering:

  • Increasing pay rate
  • Safety bonuses and recognition
  • More flexible work schedules, including shorter shifts
  • Programs targeting military veterans that utilizes their military training experience
  • Apprenticeship programs for warehouse workers to transition to driver positions

 

“Drivers want to feel that they are heard and will have someone who will listen and act on their concern,” said Jane Jazrawy, CEO of CarriersEdge, an Ontario, Canada-­based company that develops compliance and safety training tools for fleets. “They just don’t want to be referred to as a truck number.” That’s why, in the midst of this seemingly epic driver shortage, we’re actually seeing a dramatic increase in truck driver hires in the smaller companies.

Sources: FMCSA, QualifiedCarriers.com, Tucker Company Worldwide, Inc.

That’s why working with a smaller company, like ours, can help you stay a step ahead of the rest. It may sound like a cliché, but we value our employees, our customers and the drivers who are hauling our customers’ freight. It’s our goal to ensure that they feel like they are part of the Westgate family.

Westgate has always been committed to fostering long-lasting relationships with our carriers which, in turn, allows us to deliver the best quality services to our customers. See for yourself why businesses depend on us to improve their shipping processes. CONTACT US today!

August 6, 2021 / By / Drivers • Logistic • Shipping • Transport • Trucking /

Temperatures and Freight Costs Are on the Rise This Summer

 

According to data provided by Cass Information Systems (NASDAQ: CASS), freight costs saw a surge in June and are expected to continue to rise moving forward.

The expenditures component of the Cass Freight Index increased 56.4% year-over-year and was 11% higher than in May. In fact, compared to 2019, the expenditures index was up 27.9%

The difference in the year-over-year numbers has been greatly affected by a steep drop in demand due to world-wide COVID-related lockdowns during the same period in 2020. This trend of increasing rates will likely continue due to the widespread lack of drivers, warehouse space, and equipment like trucks and containers.

“Tougher comparisons in the coming months will naturally slow these year-over-year increases, but extraordinary growth rates will continue in the near term, driven by increases in both shipment volumes and freight rates,” Tim Denoyer of ACT Research explained.1

Many industry experts expect the capacity constraints to ease up in the near future as the driver employment rate increases in response to higher pay which should, in turn, change the trajectory of truckload rates.

“Even with material supply constraints, the freight cycle remains in high-growth mode, benefiting from a strong retail economy, tight inventories, and a persistent backlog of container ships anchored in the San Pedro Bay,” Denoyer said. He believes the industrial sector will begin to catch up to broader demand as “record capital goods demand and likely infrastructure programs” play out. 1

The current capacity backdrop could begin to loosen as transportation payrolls expand and extended unemployment benefits have already expired in some states. Additionally, waning stimulus payments and supply constraints (drivers, trailers, and chassis) are weighing on volumes.

Though 2020 was marked by low levels of supply and exceptionally high demand, these levels will not last indefinitely. As they say, the cure for high prices is high prices; the market will eventually correct itself.

 

 

Becoming a Truck Driver Looks Good Through Higher Pay Tinted Glasses…

 

Driver recruitment and retention remains the top priority throughout the trucking industry.

It’s estimated that more than 200,000 qualified CDL holders are not currently working due not only to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also increased compliance with the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. Diminished driver school graduation rates, early retirements, and more than 75,000 Clearinghouse violations are also some factors for the reduced number of drivers.

Data shows that driver hiring conditions are getting better, according to Tulsa, Oklahoma-based software-as-a-service provider Tenstreet. A recent report from the company that helps carriers better recruit and onboard drivers noted a “positive driver hiring outlook on the horizon.”

There has been a “slow but steady climb back to January levels” the data shows, with the number of drivers filling out job lead forms and applications continuing to move higher. January is usually a busy month for activity as drivers tend to inquire about changing fleets or jobs at the beginning of each year.

“Overall, we’re starting to see the same general seasonal trend lines the trucking industry is used to, with applications taking a hopeful turn upward in May, which will ideally mirror 2019’s trend of an increase in applications over the summer and into the fall,” the report read.2

A press release cited support from customers and their understanding of “the growing needs of the market” as a catalyst for the pay raise.

 

See for yourself why businesses are depending on Westgate to improve their shipping processes and to keep them informed of industry trends. 

REACH OUT to us to experience our boutique approach to streamlining logistics through an extensive network of resources, trained brokerage experts and unique personal service.

 

 

SOURCES:
1. https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freight-costs-see-june-surge-tougher-comps-coming</a>
2. https://www.freightwaves.com/news/driver-employment-market-may-be-improving-amid-historic-pay-increases

 

June 24, 2021 / By / Logistic • Shipping • Storage • Transport • Trucking /

Like many industries, the United States truckload capacity market moves in cycles of supply and demand, supply being the number of trucks and drivers that haul freight and demand being the demand for those trucks to meet the needs of the current market.

 

For shippers and brokers, the cyclical rise and fall feels perhaps even more exaggerated in recent memory, given the current COVID-19. In fact, at the end of Q4 in 2019, capacity started becoming tighter than anything we’ve seen before. And now that the economy is rebounding and business is booming for many industries, freight demand is gaining momentum. With an increase in consumer spending and difficulties in finding enough drivers, the capacity squeeze continues.

Another factor in the tight capacity is the low supply of available warehouse space caused by consumers spending on physical goods and companies holding more inventory. A report from CBRE states that we will see an increase to 26% of retail sales by 2025 in the U.S. and globally we will need an increase of 1.5 billion square feet to keep up with a $1.5 trillion uptick in e-commerce sales.

Imported cargo shipments to the U.S. are expected to remain at a record or near-record levels for several more months as consumer spending continues to restart the pandemic-damaged economy. But economists and other experts say that all of that buying is clogging an already overtaxed supply chain.

“I see the back half of the year remaining strong,” Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said. “The peak season starts for us on August 1st for our back-to-school specials, fall fashions, and then the holidays. But we have to hustle; we still have some cargo in the back lot to clean up before we pivot to peak season.” The Port of Los Angeles reported five months into the year, overall cargo volume is 4,551,445 TEUs, an increase of 48.2% compared to 2020.

“Supply chains are finding it difficult to keep up with demand as shipping capacity struggles,” Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said. “A number of vessels taken out of service when volumes were low remain in dry dock while others are delayed in congested ports, which face a lack of manpower both because of COVID-19 illnesses and the tight labor market.

 

A Busy Rest of 2021 Ahead

As we move into a busy fall season and then into the holidays at the end of the year we could face more challenges. Some industries are seeing their defined peak seasons disappear as the e-commerce boom has caused them to have year-round demand. But, we will still see some seasonal increases in an already tight environment.

If the last two years have taught us anything, it is to expect the unexpected! Proper planning and working with trusted logistics partners can help ease any burdens we may face in the rest of the year.

 

See for yourself why businesses are depending on Westgate to improve their shipping processes and to keep them informed of industry trends. 

REACH OUT to us to experience our boutique approach to streamlining logistics through an extensive network of resources, trained brokerage experts and unique personal service.

 

 

 

March 30, 2021 / By / Logistic • Shipping • Transport /

It’s a “carrier’s market”.

Truckload as well as LTL carriers have been overwhelmed with freight to the point that it is causing service and transit time failures. Drivers and dockworkers are difficult to source. Rail and port congestion, deeply depleted inventories, and warehouse unloading issues are only a few of the obstacles all carriers are looking to overcome.

Shippers are disappointed, while each carrier, in their own way, is trying to ease the backlog. Many of the larger carriers have long-term plans for additional terminal facilities and campaigns to hire more drivers, but in the short-term many are embargoing certain congested lanes. All of this is confusing to shippers, causing them to consider changing their carrier selections. However appealing that may seem, now is not the time to shift carriers. Since they are all working through the same challenges, you will likely face the same issues at the next one.

Generally speaking, carriers have experienced better year over year margins, but costs have also been higher – driver development and wages are the largest expense. Another practice that has added significantly to carrier costs is that many carriers are using purchased transportation for their line haul or last mile delivery in order supplement their capacity.

Additionally, carriers are finding that the metrics used to price LTL over the last 20 plus years is not producing desired revenue. Another complication is that LTL has become a catch-all, aggregating larger e-commerce shipments with shipments of 8+ pallets that previously might have gone as a truckload. Difficulty in sourcing truckload capacity has forced those volume shipments onto the LTL carriers, but the mix and volume have created handling issues.

Profit oriented carriers are developing stronger metrics based on activity based and/or account specific pricing. Carriers want to deal with the most accommodating shippers that have the best freight at the fairest pricing.

How can a shipper be sure they are getting the best value? Westgate can help you sort out the “LTL Chaos”.

CONTACT US today!