An Action Plan to Optimize the Money Spent on Freight Transportation

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An Action Plan to Optimize the Money Spent on Freight Transportation

7 years ago

In my last blog, I identified one of the recurring problems we encounter in working with shippers on a day to day basis, namely a lack of complete and accurate information on their freight transportation activities and expenses. I would argue that “you cannot manage what you cannot measure.” Good quality freight data is […]

Manage your Freight Spend Data to Improve Your Profitability

7 years ago

For the past 15 years, my colleagues and I have been working with shippers throughout North America to help them save money on freight transportation. In 2018, this cost has hit the radar screens of CEOs, as the tightness in freight capacity has placed upward pressure on freight rates. Many shippers have been experiencing rate […]

Conducting a Transportation Audit can help companies Improve their Bottom Lines

7 years ago

This is a year that shippers have been dreading. Increased demand, from retailers looking to restock after the holidays and from manufacturers, has made it harder for companies to book transportation, particularly on short notice. Prices have also risen due to bad weather, a new U.S. federal trucking safety rule, truck and driver shortages and […]

How to Bring Freight Costs Under Control

8 years ago

Much of the work we do at Dan Goodwill & Associates starts with a phone call or e-mail from a President, CFO or Vice President of Logistics or Transportation. One of the first questions that we are asked is can your firm help us reduce our freight costs. The answer is usually yes. Unfortunately, we […]

Managing Accessorial Charges – Part 1

9 years ago

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a blog about the new pricing processes that LTL (and small parcel) carriers are employing to improve the profitability of their operations. I noted that freight carriers are emulating some of the activities that have been undertaken by the airlines such as dynamic pricing (i.e. adjusting rates based […]

Does your Company Need a Motor Carrier Agreement to Manage its Freight Transportation?

9 years ago

Motor carrier agreements or contracts are documents signed between shippers and carriers that set out the parameters and processes under which two or more companies work together to provide freight transportation services. These documents, often prepared by lawyers (with input from freight management professionals), set out a range of service expectations and freight rates […]

It’s all in the Numbers – Part 2 – Action Steps that Shippers can take to Reduce Freight Costs

9 years ago

In the last blog, I highlighted some of the opportunities that shippers miss out on to save money on freight when they don’t manage their freight spend data effectively. What steps can a shipper take to correct this situation? Here is a partial list. • Utilize a Transportation Management (TMS) System. TMS systems have changed […]

Becoming a Best in Class Shipper – 8. KPIs and Reports

9 years ago

Throughout this series of blogs, the focus has been on how Best in Class shippers ensure their freight is delivered at the right place, at the right time and intact. The beauty of freight management is that so much about transportation is measurable. Over the years we have observed how Best in Class shippers pull […]

Becoming a Best in Class Shipper – 7. Strategy

9 years ago

Success in business comes from crafting and executing effective business strategies. The attainment of strong financial performance comes from integrating and aligning the various strategies of the business into a cohesive force. A company’s supply chain strategy, of which transportation strategy is a key component, is often a critical piece of the company’s business strategy. […]

Becoming a Best in Class Shipper – 4. Freight Spend Management

9 years ago

In many firms, freight costs can be in the millions or tens of millions of dollars. This large expense can represent a significant percent of a company’s revenue. As a large expense item, it needs to be managed very skillfully. The first blog in this series (http://www.dantranscon.com/index.php/blog/entry/becoming-a-best-in-class-shipper-1-freight-data-management) looked at the need for detailed, accurate, freight […]