Becoming a Best in Class Shipper – 1. Freight Data Management

Becoming a Best in Class Shipper – 1. Freight Data Management

9 years ago

Best in Class shippers have high quality, granular, historical freight data. They capture clean, accurate, complete data on all of their inbound, outbound and inter-branch transfers, across all modes. The most fundamental building blocks are the individual boxes, parcels, envelopes, cartons, drums or pallets. Capturing this data correctly and completely allows a shipper to address […]

Freight Bid Tip # 10. Implement Robust Compliance Tracking Processes

9 years ago

Some shippers operate under the misconception that once the bid awards have been made, the RFP process has been completed. This is not the case. There is another critical step that can “make or break” the bid process. It is absolutely essential, particularly in multi-plant companies, to have a process in place, immediately upon implementation, […]

Freight Bid Tip # 6 – Meet Face-to-Face with Potential Carriers and Perform Due Diligence

10 years ago

We live in an era of impersonal communication. E mails, text messages, tweets and GoToMeetings have replaced face to face communication in many instances. The decision to award millions or tens of millions of dollars in freight transportation to a set of carriers is a very important one. You don’t want to entrust your company’s […]

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Freight Bid Tip # 4. Cast a Wide Net in Selecting Carriers and Freight Management Companies

10 years ago

There are thousands of freight carriers, load brokers and logistics service providers throughout North America. One of the important elements of an effective freight bid is to seek out those carriers that can provide the best combination of service, capacity and rates to meet the unique needs of your business. Over the years, we […]

Freight Bid Tip # 3. Obtain quality data on the company’s shipment activity

10 years ago

In order to conduct a freight RFP exercise, shippers need to secure historical data on their traffic volumes by type of service (e.g. small parcel, LTL, over the road truckload, intermodal etc.) and freight costs by lane (e.g. origin – destination pair). The data serves two purposes. First, by capturing and sharing shipment activity […]

Freight Bid Tip # 2. – Obtain Accurate Product Descriptions and Density Calculations

10 years ago

In an RFP, the carriers are being asked to bid on specific types of freight moving on specific traffic lanes. The rates they quote are based on the freight descriptions that you provide. It is essential that all aspects of the freight be documented in sufficient detail so as to ensure the quotes received are […]

Freight Bid Tip #1. – Obtain Buy-in and Participation from the Operating Divisions

10 years ago

Over the past eleven years, my colleagues and I have worked on a variety of successful freight RFP or freight bid projects. During that time, we have observed a number of factors that are the keys to success. This is the first in a series of blogs that will provide tips on how to run […]

For Truckers, 2015 should be the Year of Yield Management

10 years ago

As we approach the end of February, most truckers would acknowledge that this is a good year for the North American motor carrier industry. Business volumes remain strong, in fact stronger than they have been during the first few months of prior years. Supply and demand remain in pretty good balance. Capacity is tight as […]

Shippers – “You don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate”

10 years ago

This year, major freight carriers have been seeking general rate (GRI) increases, higher fuel surcharges (at a time when energy prices are at their lowest levels in years), accessorial charge rate hikes and the implementation of dimensional LTL pricing. In other words, shippers, particularly in the small parcel and LTL sectors are facing a barrage […]

As Fuel Surcharges Decline, Shippers Should Not Be Complacent in Managing Freight Costs

10 years ago

Here are few statistics to consider. On June 27, 2014 a barrel of crude oil cost $107.26 U.S. On the same date, a gallon of diesel fuel cost $3.91 in the U.S. or $1.35 per liter in Canada. The cross-border (Canada/U.S.) fuel surcharge was 20.1 percent on LTL, 47 percent on truckload. Last week, the […]