With all the economic challenges of the recent months and years, forecasting a transport budget is perhaps more difficult than ever. Strategically aligning freight expense for next year with the many factors known today presents a unique challenge for many reasons.Availability of labor and the supplies necessary for production are among the most crucial

In the face of unprecedented economic shutdowns brought on by the pandemic, the US government rolled out a series of fiscal stimulus packages totaling 5 trillion dollars. Loose monetary policy from The Federal Reserve also helped the economy turn the corner toward recovery in the third quarter of 2020. These factors combined

It can be hard to get a handle on the current state of the freight economy. Alongside continued supply chain interruptions, labor shortages, and many other ongoing issues, one area of concern seems to rise above the rest: inflation. The transport field is operating in uncharted waters with inflation lingering around eight

They say any news is good news. With the onset of the pandemic, the supply chain became the focus of the news media to an extent never seen before. Coverage of empty shelves and ships piling up in the ports became as commonplace as sports commentary or the latest celebrity gossip. Though

Recent shifts in the shipping industry have seen capacity loosen for many reasons. As shippers and retailers have adjusted their supply chains to keep pace with ongoing disruptions, inventories have finally started to normalize. In some segments, shipping slowdowns can be chalked up to normal dips in seasonal demand. And of course,

The list of problems in today’s transportation industry is long and continuing to grow. The causes of these issues are numerous, but a common factor exists that is placing unneeded stress on the market and resulting in damaged relationships. For many of these issues, the problem begins with the relationships between various

When the shipping market is soft and trucks are widely available, services are often taken for granted. When capacity is tighter, budgetary concerns—including on-time delivery—become a heightened priority. Like beauty, on-time delivery is often in the eye of the beholder. For shippers and carriers, delivery data may be tracked or recorded differently,

Are stakeholders in your organization driving your short-term costs down, but really creating bigger expenses in the long-term? In any company, there are multiple stakeholders. These could include departments for finance, procurement, sales, customer service, quality assurance, distribution and more. Each group has its own unique priorities and expectations. Though each works

Unloading fees, also known as lumper charges, can be very frustrating. In modern transport, these fees seem like an inconvenience left over from a bygone era. Unfortunately, unloading fees have been on the rise for decades. Where do unloading/lumper charges originate, and what can be done about them? “Unloading and lumper fees

In our last blog, we gained valuable insights into what it means to be a shipper of choice. This time, we turn our attention on what it takes to earn shipper of choice status. In January and February of 2022, the industry-wide rejection rate of refrigerated truck loads was a staggering 40%.