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SOMEWHAT HO-HUM

The current landscape for over-the-road freight looks like what it was a month ago. Freight volumes are lower year-over-year (YoY) but seem to have found a floor.  

If anything, the flat lining of volume (Figure 1.1) we are seeing is eerily like what we saw in the early part of 2020. And that is not just relative to freight volumes. 

Back in ’20, carriers were snatching up tenders as soon as they were offered, with rejection levels hovering in the five percent range. Right now, we are just below that five percent mark. It’s anticipated that freight flows will follow their seasonal patterns, albeit at reduced volumes compared to what we saw in 2021 and most of 2022. Spot rates continue to trend lower than contract rates, although that gap continues to shrink. It’s also anticipated that contract rates will continue to slide while spot rates should be pretty near their floor.  

DECLINING PORT ACTIVITY 

Imports will continue to weaken over the next several months. While some ports have seen slight increases in YoY volume, that increase is not indicative of an overall volume surge. It’s due to the shifting of where the freight is entering the U.S.  

So, while ports like Houston (up 5.2 percent) and Baltimore (up four percent) are robust with above-average activity, major entry points like Los Angeles (down 30 percent), Oakland (down 58 percent) and Seattle (down 41 percent) are feeling the lack of volume. An opportunity should be seen with export activity (Figure 1.2).  While the U.S. dollar losing value is not good for imports, it has the opposite effect on export activity.

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Whether owning or renting, heavy equipment is a big investment in your business – and you don’t want to take unnecessary risks that can lead to loss or damage during transportation. Heavy equipment shipping can be challenging, but it’s not as complicated as it appears when you have the right provider. To help you ship your heavy equipment safely, here’s some additional information you may need. 

What We Cover in This Article

• What is heavy equipment shipping?
• Common types of heavy equipment
• Rules and regulations for heavy equipment shipping
• Trailers used for heavy equipment shipping
• What should I know about my heavy equipment shipping?
• How much does it cost?
• Preparing for heavy equipment shipping
• Shipping heavy equipment internationally
• Choosing the right provider 

What is Heavy Equipment Shipping?

Heavy equipment can be a broad term, but it usually consists of a piece of large machinery or equipment of at least 40,000 pounds or more. Due to its size and weight heavy equipment is often loaded and unloaded by a crane if it cannot be driven on/off the trailer. Often, these kinds of shipments can be oversized and/or overweight, requiring permits, escorts, route surveys, and an experienced motor carrier with specialized trailers to transport your equipment safely and effectively.

Common Types of Heavy Equipment

• Agricultural Equipment and Machinery
• Construction Equipment
• CNC Machinery
• Crawler Cranes
• Gas & Oilfield Equipment 
• Industrial Plant Machinery
• Military Equipment
• Mining Equipment Oilfield Equipment
• Renewable Energy Parts and Components

Heavy Equipment Shipping Rules and Regulations

When it comes to heavy equipment shipping, you should have knowledge of U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) rules, regulations, and restrictions. Overlooking DOT regulations and restrictions surrounding OD/OW transportation can be both costly and time-consuming.

Heavy equipment shipping is regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the U.S. DOT, and state governments. Each state varies its rules, regulations, and restrictions for permitting OD/OW travel. Be sure to double-check state regulations before transporting your equipment. Or work with an expert in the field of over-dimensional shipping. 

Overweight and oversized shipments can be more comprehensive as, besides the permits, you may need oversized banners, flashing lights, civilian escorts, police escorts, route surveys, bucket trucks, or even a road closure. It’s important that you always take the time to double-check that you’re in compliance with DOT rules and regulations when transporting your heavy equipment.

Trailers for Heavy Equipment Shipping

Heavy equipment shipping is made possible by the various types of flatbed and specialized trailers available.

Flatbed Trailers/Open-Deck Trailers

Flatbed trailers allow for easy loading and unloading and can carry up to 48,000 pounds. When choosing your flatbed carrier, make sure to confirm that the trailer will be able to haul the weight of your equipment. Trailer dimensions are approximate: 48’ L x 102’’ W x 58’’ H   

There are other open-deck trailers to consider, like step-decks or drop-deck trailers. They can accommodate around 46,500 pounds and can legally haul taller products, up to 10’6’’ tall, and can be fitted with permanent or removable ramps to drive equipment on and off the trailer. Trailer dimensions range approximate:  48’ or 53’ L x 102’’ W x 36’’ to 42’’ H.   

Specialized Trailers for Heavy Haul Trucking

Due to the size, some heavy equipment may need a specialized trailer to accommodate its transportation.

Double-drops and Removable gooseneck (RGN) trailers are ideal for heavier machinery and equipment that needs easy loading and unloading or drive-on drive-off capabilities, and they are great for freight exceeding the legal height and weight maximums.

What Should I Know About My Heavy Equipment Shipping?

You’re ready to get started with heavy equipment shipping. What should you be prepared to answer when looking for a provider?

Know the Dimensions of Your Heavy Equipment

Size matters. The equipment’s dimensions and weight will help determine what kind of trailer the carrier will need to transport your freight and if any permits, escorts, or other accessorial charges are required that will ultimately determine the total shipping costs. 

Breaking Down or Shipping in One Piece?

Does your equipment need to be taken apart to ship and then reconstructed upon delivery? Can your equipment be crated or boxed? Is it more effective to break down your equipment into smaller components for shipping? If shipping in one piece, what are the things that need to be done before shipping, such as having any fluids discharged or batteries removed? These are all important questions you should know so all parties involved know what is to be expected throughout the entire shipping process.

What Equipment is Needed to Load and Unload Your Freight?

This is very important information that is needed for your shipment. Do you need a ramp, forklift, or crane to load and unload your equipment? Do you have the required equipment ready to unload and load your freight?  Or can the equipment be driven on and off of the trailer?

Know What is Covered by Your Provider’s Insurance

It’s important you know what is covered by your provider’s insurance, so you know whether you will need to buy any supplementary insurance to make sure your heavy equipment is fully protected in case of any issues.

How Much Does Heavy Equipment Shipping Cost?

While we’d love to give you exact numbers, there can be quite a few factors involved that make each quote unique, such as:

Size of Your Heavy Equipment

The larger or more oddly shaped your piece of equipment means it may need specialized trailers, permits, or routing requirements, likely raising your shipping price.

Time of Delivery

If you need your equipment delivered at a specific time, this will likely raise the shipping price as well.

Pick-up and Delivery Location

The further distance your equipment must travel, the higher it will cost you. Additionally, more congestion (think cities) in or around your pick-up or delivery location can increase your shipping costs.

Time of the Year

Adverse weather conditions, such as during the snowy and icy winter months or hurricane season, can affect your pricing if certain routes are shut off, making your equipment’s journey longer. There’s also flatbed peak shipping season, which ranges from April to October, which increases flatbed demand – and rates.

Current Fuel Rates

The more fuel costs motor carriers, the higher your shipping cost will be.

Permit or Licenses Required 

When transporting heavy equipment, oversize or overweight permits may be required. Costs can vary by state and province, and some states may take longer to issue permits due to each state’s unique regulations and infrastructure. 

Escorts Required

Escorts will increase your shipping costs as they need to be paid too! When freight is over 12ft wide or tall, it’s a good idea to check routing to see if escort cars are required. 

Preparing Heavy Equipment for Shipping 

You’ve got your quote and provider selected. What’s next? Here are the steps you should take to ensure your equipment remains safe and secure during shipping.

Have Documentation Ready

You’ll want to ensure all required documentation and permits are sorted and ready before pick up. Make sure to confirm with your shipping provider what permits are required and that they are in place to limit the chance of any shipping delays or fines.

Planning Transportation Routes, If Needed

Planning your route is necessary if your shipment is considered Oversized. Depending on the dimensions of your equipment, you may need to have your provider avoid bridges with low clearances, sharp turns, or even roads of a particular width.

Check the Condition of Your Heavy Equipment

Just as car rental services do before lending their vehicles, inspect your equipment, and take photos before shipping, so, should anything happen during the transportation process, you have it documented.

Make Sure Any Loose Parts or Tools are secured

You don’t want to lose anything important during the transportation of your equipment!

Cover Any Important Parts

Your equipment will likely be hauled through open air, facing the wind and other elements. Covering any vulnerable or important parts is a great way to ensure that your equipment stays safe and functional.

Check Your Equipment’s Manual

The manufacturer’s manual is a great resource for getting your equipment ready for shipping. It will help you determine exactly what steps you need to take before pick-up.

Ask Your Provider How You Can Help

If you’re unsure, ask your provider how you can help make your equipment’s transportation a smooth process. Based on their experience and expertise, they can give you tips and advice and will appreciate you taking this extra step to work together as a team so your equipment can be delivered safely.

Shipping Heavy Equipment Internationally

What if you need to ship your heavy equipment internationally? There can be many challenges to overcome, which you may find incredibly difficult to do alone. In this case, it makes the most sense to hire an expert to help you. While it can be costly, it’s the most stress-free way to safely transport your heavy equipment internationally.

Here are some tips to ensure your international heavy equipment shipping is successful.

1. Make sure the provider you select to help you with your international shipping is experienced, has relevant credentials, and has a good reputation.
2. Just like shipping inland, know the dimensions and weight of your heavy equipment to inform your provider.
3. Determine the best shipping method for you. Your expert provider can help you figure this out. Your options are
   • Roll on/Roll off (RoRo) is popular and involves driving the machinery onto a flatbed style truck at the pick-up location and rolling it off after it arrives at its destination. RoRo is speedy, efficient, and often less costly than your other shipping methods.
   • Flat rack containers have walls or support posts on the ends, allowing loading from the top or sides. Flat racks mean your equipment is exposed to open air and so this method can be less costly, but then your equipment is exposed to the elements throughout its transport.
   • Lift on/lift off (LoLo) is a method of loading and unloading containerized cargo over the top of a shipping vessel using cranes or derricks. LoLo ships usually have onboard cranes and can often carry a larger container capacity.
4. Be prepared for the costs. With international shipping, you have extra costs such as taxes, tariffs, and customs checks.

Choosing the Right Heavy Equipment Shipping Provider is Important

You have many options for selecting a provider to help you with your heavy equipment shipping needs. Though too many options can feel overwhelming. How do you know you’re making the best choice for your company and freight?

Here are some qualities you should consider when looking for a provider.

Extensive Experience in Heavy Equipment Shipping

You’ll want to look for a company that has been in business for a long time, has the experience transporting the heavy equipment you’re shipping, and has a good reputation. This is a great opportunity to ask for references and contact them for their feedback.

Offers Flexible Shipping Solutions for Your Unique Needs

Do you need help with prepping your equipment for shipping, obtaining any necessary permits, or any other specialized services? Make sure the provider you’re considering has all the solutions you may need.

Carries the Proper Insurance

You want to make sure your heavy equipment is protected should anything happen during the shipping process. Verify that the provider you’re considering has the appropriate insurance to cover your equipment and enough liability insurance should anything else occur. 

Trinity can help with Your Heavy Equipment Shipping 

It’s easy to see that heavy equipment shipping has the potential to be a complicated process. If you’re looking for a provider that can help simplify your shipping, saving you time and stress,  please consider working with Trinity Logistics.

Trinity Logistics is an industry-leading third-party logistics company with expert knowledge, ready to help you with your oversized, heavy haul, or any other flatbed shipments. We do this by providing our best-in-class People-Centric service and building strong relationships with skilled and experienced motor carriers.

We have the experience you’re looking for and the reliable carrier relationships you need to move your heavy equipment safely, securely, and on time.

It’s no secret that capacity gets tighter and freight rates higher for all shippers during produce season. While the increased freight demand during produce season affects all markets, produce shippers and those with other temperature-controlled products are hit the hardest. Yet, produce shippers that make use of these suggested tips have a better chance of finding capacity and keeping their costs manageable. 

Shipping temperature-sensitive items? Check out our Temperature Shipping Guide for temperature suggestions.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• When is produce season?
• Tips for produce shippers during produce season
  • Make your produce easy to work with
  • Have your produce truck ready
  • Make sure your carriers are vetted
  • Find providers that run temp-controlled year-round
  • Make use of technology
  • Be the produce shipper all the carriers want to work with
  • Look into multimodal solutions
  • Measure carrier performance
  • Consider a 3PL
• It’s not too late!

When is Produce Season?

Produce season is impactful because it puts pressure on freight shipping rates, which affects shippers both inside and outside the produce sector. To simplify, it’s the rise in crop volumes and heightened demand for trucks to transport these crops that impact capacity during this season. These factors lead to an increase in rates, not only for the shippers who need trucks with temperature control but for a majority of shippers across other modes and regions as well. 

It’s vital for produce shippers and all others impacted by produce season to know exactly when the spike in shipping begins. Generally, produce season begins sometime around February and runs through early fall. The main regional areas shipping increased produce are Florida and the East Coast, Texas and surrounding states, and California. 

Texas Produce Season

The most impactful time is from March through June however, produce can be found year-round coming from over the border out of Mexico. In Arizona and New Mexico, there is a push for produce that usually occurs in October or November.

Florida Produce Season

Starting as early as March, southeastern states like Florida begin to see an uptick in produce shipping. As temperatures warm up, produce season creeps its way up the East Coast with northeastern states’ produce shippers slowing down sometime in early fall.

California Produce Season

Like the East Coast, produce season starts in the southern part of the state around March and creeps its way up to the northern region, ending in early fall. 

Tips for Produce Shippers During Produce Season

Produce shippers facing challenges with capacity during produce season isn’t new. But there are things produce shippers can do to make shipping during produce season easier. Here are some tips you should consider to make it through this tough season.

Make Your Produce Easy to Work With

When capacity is tight and rates are high, carriers get to pick and choose what load they want. Make your produce shipments more desirable by making the job easy to complete. 

One way to do this is through freight consolidation. Regional consolidation makes freight easier for carriers to work with. Simply put, instead of using a long-haul truck to make many pick-ups or deliveries in a regional area, hire a regional short-haul expert to do that part. They make all the pick-ups and deliver to one spot so that your long-haul carrier can make one easy pick-up and drive onward. Vice versa is that the long-haul carrier would drop off at one regional facility, and then you use the regional carrier to make the many deliveries. 

We’ve found that consolidating the freight this way increases the percentage of on-time delivery, increasing your product’s shelf life and customer satisfaction. 

Make Sure Your Produce is Truck Ready

This goes hand in hand with making your produce easy to work with. Often, produce vendors will work with many packing house facilities. Make sure you confirm with the produce shipper where the truck needs to pick up. It’s never a great start to a shipment when a driver has to search location after location for their pick-up. Not only does the driver get frustrated, but with it being a time-sensitive shipment, you want to make sure there are no hang-ups, so it’s picked up on time, delivered on time, and your product’s shelf life is as long as possible.

Make Sure Your Carriers are Vetted

This may be your most important piece of advice. Make sure your selected carriers are properly vetted. 

What exactly do we mean by that? This means making sure they have reefer breakdown coverage. Or making sure they have the right amount of insurance coverage in case something goes wrong. 

For example, cherries are hard to come by and based on market conditions, their value can change. Does your carrier have that coverage should there be a problem? 

There’s also FSMA compliance to consider now. Does your carrier know how to work with produce shipments? Do they have that experience? Do they carry pulp thermometers in their trucks and understand that process to ensure they are not loading produce that is too hot or too cold, making sure it will be in good shape when it’s delivered? All these factors are something to keep in mind regardless of market conditions. 

When selecting and vetting your carriers, remember there is a big difference between the cheapest truck and the RIGHT truck. 

Find Providers that Run Temp-Controlled Year-Round

Finding and building a relationship with providers that execute year-round temperature-controlled freight across the country can give produce shippers a competitive advantage. By having that relationship, you’ll know and better trust your provider because they have the proven experience and understanding of working with your perishable freight. Additionally, having that reliable relationship can help you keep your costs down during peak produce season.

Make Use of Technology

Making use of transportation management (TMS) technology can help during this season. A TMS can help you with routing decisions by matching freight with the best carriers, lanes, rates, and transit service. In addition, it will allow you to optimize the in-house processes of your transportation network – which can help in both times of disruption and easier times. By selecting the best carriers and optimizing your routes, you’ll not only increase your service levels but reduce your risk. 

Having a best-in-class TMS also provides you with data-driven insight to better manage disruptions, reduce downtime, and effectively plan and budget your logistics spend. By using data analytics, you’ll be able to recognize which carriers are most likely to have the capacity, allowing you to reduce your harvesting to minimal levels. 

Having a TMS on hand gives you a full view of your network and transportation management. You’ll be able to see what’s happening across all markets, ensure proper rates for shipments, find freight consolidation options, and track everything from start to finish. You’ll be better prepared for now and any future disruptions. Not to mention, you’ll also gain an extra layer of security to your supply chain, which is something top of mind for everyone in this industry.

Be the Produce Shipper All the Carriers Want to Work With

There is never a time when you shouldn’t strive to be a shipper of choice. Carriers are in the position of choosing which shippers they want to work with. Produce shippers who provide better experiences for carriers can reap long-term benefits in the form of higher service levels, fewer claims, and better rates. 

To become a shipper that carriers want to work with, it’s important to run efficient and friendly dock operations, reduce driver wait times, provide comfortable breakroom and restroom accommodations, and pay carriers quickly. Let’s break these down further.

Have a Fair Accessorial Schedule

Make sure it is in line with industry standards. You can also leverage your relationships with other carriers, shippers, and 3pls to see how you compare.

Pay Quickly

In business, cash is king, especially for carriers. Favorable payment terms can make a world of a difference to a smaller carrier company or an owner-operator. Anything under 30 days is often ideal.

Tender with Ample Lead Time

This may not always be possible, but the sooner you get a load tender to your selected carrier, the better they can plan their own workload. Providing as much lead time as possible can help you get the best capacity available at the most cost-effective rates. It can also get you more committed freight and keep you out of the spot market. 48 hours or more is ideal. 

Simplify Your Appointment Scheduling Process

Put yourself in your provider’s shoes. What is it like to get an appointment set? Is it a huge effort or is it quick and easy? The easier and more user-friendly the process is, the more carriers will want to work with you.

Have Realistic Transit Times

Whenever possible, schedule pick-ups and deliveries that set carriers up for success. If transit is too tight and a late driver will have to wait hours for the facility to work them in, then the load is less attractive. Whereas if the pick-up and delivery are too far apart and a driver will have to sit around to get unloaded, then the load is also less attractive. Make sure your transit times are reasonable and make sense to keep carriers moving along. They will appreciate it. 

Turn Drivers as Quickly as Possible

The industry standard is two hours or less. Anything over that and your facility is at risk of having a negative reputation among drivers. Depending on your freight and operations, this may not be possible, but it is something important to keep in mind. 

Provide Basic Amenities for Drivers

Access to bathrooms, vending machines, waiting rooms, Wi-Fi, and most importantly, a friendly smile at the dock will go a LONG way.

Look Into Multimodal Solutions

When truckload capacity is tight, using a variety of modes can help mitigate capacity challenges while reducing your cost. Exploring multimodal options can be a great way to diversify risk, add capacity, and protect your freight budget. It can also give you the opportunity to reduce your company’s carbon footprint. 

Measure Carrier Performance

Whether you awarded hundreds of lanes in an RFP event or are a small shipper relying on the spot market, it’s important to have your supply chain driven by data, and tracking carrier performance is a part of that. If you can’t track it, how else can you make improvements?

Be sure to communicate your KPIs to every carrier you work with so they can be crystal clear on your expectations. Regularly evaluate your carrier base. Give them report cards and make sure their performance is not a mystery to you or them. You should also have a process in place for taking action for poor performance when needed. Again, clearly communicate that process to your providers, and be sure to stick with it. Inflationary markets will often show you which providers are serious about being your business partner. 

Consider Working With a 3PL

To gain quick access to capacity, produce shippers should work with a quality third-party logistics company (3PL). 3PLs work by having quality carrier relationships often in a network way larger than you can manage alone. Additionally, working with them gets you access to TMS technology and an expert to help you throughout times of disruption. It allows you easy access to multimodal solutions so you can easily compare rates across modes. Quality 3pls will include proper carrier vetting, so you know you’re working with a qualified carrier. Additionally, 3pls keep tabs on the industry and are well known for their skills in navigating disruptions with ease. 

IT’S NOT TOO LATE!

If you found some tips that could better help you, it’s not too late to act. Any improvements that you make now will help you ship better. The faster you act, the more likely you will beat your competition to the punch. Now all this might seem like an overwhelming amount to do, which is why we’d like to offer you our help.

Trinity has over 40 years of experience working through produce season and years of supply chain disruptions. We can help you with capacity through our network of strong carrier relationships available. We can also help you in your journey of being a shipper of choice as we offer carriers Quick Pay options through TriumphPay, available within two days.

Interested in freight consolidation or multimodal options? Our Team of Experts are here to help. We also have best-in-class TMS technology available with customized solutions to fit your needs, not the other way around, and experts to support you in those applications. Most importantly, we offer you a People-Centric approach throughout every step of the process.  

No matter what you need to get through produce season, Trinity Logistics is capable and ready to support your business.

Building relationships in business is the number one way a freight agent can succeed.

Relationships are the key to success as a freight agent. You may think this concept is nothing new, but now COVID has changed the way we meet people and build those relationships. Gone are the days when you could walk into many companies and catch someone in the hallway or bring them lunch; many offices and buildings aren’t even open to visitors, and the person that you need to speak with works remotely. So, how do you genuinely build relationships to meet your customer’s goals and grow your business and network?

TIPS FOR BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IN BUSINESS

Genuine Care

This can’t be faked. If you don’t genuinely care about helping someone meet their own needs or goals, there isn’t any other tip that will work. This also means that not every customer may be the right fit for your business, and you are not the right fit for them. That’s okay – because if you don’t genuinely care about the well-being and success of the other person, it just won’t work!

Learn About Your Business Relationship

I love asking new salespeople what it takes to build a relationship in business. I hear things like knowing birthdays, knowing what sports they like, or if they have kids. This is all great information to know, but when a customer is entertaining another broker, knowing their birthday won’t help very much! It’s all surface information.

Learning means knowing how you can help them. Find out other information, like what’s important to their business or what threats there are to their business. What are their company goals and values? What measures do they use to check performance? And most importantly, learn how their business works, from procurement to end user sales. This kind of information will prepare you to be the person they’re looking for when their business needs help.

Offer Help Before They Ask

Don’t you love it when someone goes out of the way to buy you lunch in advance, ultimately solving your unknown problem of figuring out what to have and making it? This same idea works for your customers and goes hand in hand with learning more about your customer. Spend time taking that knowledge to figure out how you can help your customer’s business succeed. By being proactive instead of reactive with your services, you can further strengthen your business relationship and show your commitment to your customer’s success. Solve those problems that they aren’t even thinking about solving yet.

Have Excellent Customer Service

Customer service is a top priority in building relationships in business. Perfecting your interactions with your customers so that they leave floored by your service will not only improve your relationship with that customer but open the door to new ones.

Be An Educational Resource

Learning about your customer’s business is key, but they also rely on you to be the subject matter expert on all things supply chain! You want to be a helpful and educational resource for your customers to rely on.

Keep Up With Your Contacts

You may not have the bandwidth to keep up with all your contacts, but routinely checking in or engaging with them is important. Of course, you don’t always have to call or email. There are many other ways to engage with them, such as commenting on something they shared on LinkedIn or sending them a congratulatory card for a career milestone – every small interaction shows them that you’re keeping them top of mind and making them feel valued.

Go Beyond One Load/One Truck

Learning about a company’s business gives you the opportunity to help their supply chain process. Find out their real needs instead of just serving the load in front of you. How can you partner with them to solve the needs and goals of their business? Is saving on freight costs the most important thing?

Work with them to provide dedicated shipments that can be serviced more efficiently and effectively. If on-time delivery is most important to your customer, then work with motor carriers to make sure that they understand the importance of delivery and become familiar with their freight so that the customer gets exactly what they’re looking for.

Ask for Feedback

Instead of assuming your business relationships are happy, ask for feedback. Having open and transparent communication is the basic factor in building relationships in business. When you take the time to ask your relationships how they feel, you promote a conversation to uncover areas of improvement and further prove your commitment to them.

Don’t Forget Motor Carriers

Having a strong relationship with the motor carriers that you work with is as important as the customer! Motor carriers are the heartbeat of the industry, and can teach us so much about what is happening day in and day out. By building great relationships here, you also gain great insight into their business and they into yours. This makes communication during the load process so much better for everyone.

WE’RE HERE TO HELP YOU WITH BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IN BUSINESS

Our tagline is People-Centric Freight Solutions® for a good reason. Our culture and services focus on people and building relationships in business. And we’re here to help you succeed. It’s important to us at Trinity to help our freight agents find ways to keep their businesses successful and growing.

Here at Trinity, we understand running your business is hard work, so we have an entire Team to help you. With over 30 years of experience aiding in the success of our freight agents, many of them see a 50 percent increase in their business over a two-year period from joining.

Let us help you do what you do best, building strong relationships with your shipper customers and carriers while receiving world-class support that puts you ahead of the competition.

Spend less time on those back-end tasks and more time learning about the people behind the sale and winning their business.

Stay up to date on the latest information on conditions impacting the freight market, curated by Trinity Logistics through our Freightwaves Sonar subscription.

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2023 Crystal Ball

It’s usually this time of year when predictions for the upcoming year start to make headlines. It’s safe to say that most folks could make some predictions based on what has transpired recently, so I wanted to highlight a few of those as we kick off the new year.

The gap between spot and contract rates will stabilize.  

Now, this does not mean that they will be equal – that rarely happens. Just about a month ago, the spread was quickly approaching $1.00 per mile between contract and spot rates (with contract being higher). That gap is slowly starting to shrink (Figure 1.1). Some of that is due to spot rates seeing a holiday bump, and part of that is related to new contract rates taking hold. With many carriers taking an extended break from the road since mid-December, less capacity has pushed spot rates higher. This upward trend will be short-lived and expect rates below $2.00 per mile to become the norm as we chug through winter and into early spring. Contract rates will also trend downward, finding a floor most likely in the middle part of the year.

Few sectors will see bright spots in 2023.  

I don’t think anyone thought the economy could continue to chug along at its rapid pace seen in the latter half of 2020 and through most of 2021.  Even though 2022’s growth was not as robust as the prior year, the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) should seek out a modest two percent growth rate. However, where that growth occurred sets the stage for this year.  

2022 saw a return of spending on services versus goods. So, while things like healthcare are important to the overall economy, from a freight standpoint, service spending has much less impact on transportation. Expect auto sales, both new and used, to continue their strong run. As parts and inventory issues continue to be resolved, vehicles with temporary tags will be more commonplace as Americans continue to purchase cars and trucks.  

On the opposite end, most notably, the housing market will have a rough 2023. With Americans seeing inflation compete for more of their take-home dollars, and the cost of borrowing increasing, many will choose to remain in their current situation. And it’s not just the building materials that will see less of a demand. With fewer new homes comes less demand for things that go in those homes – like appliances, carpets, and furniture.

Following the building industry, manufacturing will be the next downstream effect, and banking will also see less demand for consumer and business loans. Overall, expect 2023 to see, at best, no year-over-year (YoY) growth in GDP, with 2024 being a rebound year (Figure 2.1)

Import activity will continue to slow. 

As we saw in last month’s update, Figure 3.1 shows the impact of the ship backlog being resolved and container movement starting to slow. That will be a common theme this year. While 2022 saw year-over-year import activity down almost 20 percent, that downward YoY story will continue in 2023. This will have an immediate impact on intermodal activity, but also over-the-road and less-than-truckload volumes will feel the impact.

One thing to keep in mind as we see recent actual and forecasted numbers showing negative, that is against a backdrop of a very successful 2021 and modest growth year in 2022. So while 2023 will not continue that positive trend, by comparison to a recent down year like 2019, 2023 will be up from an overall volume standpoint versus just a few years ago.

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The chemical industry faces challenges such as volatile raw material prices, shortages, supply chain disruption, and more.

The chemicals industry is one of the most important sectors, with 96 percent of all manufactured goods depending on them. With many moving parts and various stakeholders involved in the chemical supply chain, there are several challenges this industry faces. Here are some of the biggest challenges affecting the chemical industry.

CHEMICAL INDUSTRY CHALLENGES

• Managing Raw Materials
• Transportation Disruptions
• Regulations
• Large Amounts of Data
• Complex Supply Chains
• Lack of Visibility
• Climate Change Pressure

MANAGING RAW MATERIALS

The chemical industry, specifically chemical manufacturing, relies heavily on raw materials. Raw material prices, such as those for crude oil, are volatile and can fluctuate at any given time. This can make it difficult to forecast costs and budget and, keep prices competitive.

Keeping an adequate supply of these materials can be an additional challenge. Having too much inventory can potentially lead to chemical waste or spoilage while too little can make it difficult to meet customer demand.

TRANSPORTATION DISRUPTIONS

Chemical industry supply chains can be long and complex. They have many moving parts, making the transportation of chemical products a challenge. If you add in transportation disruptions, it makes it even more problematic.

While transportation disruptions usually occur at some point, in recent years, there’s been a lot of supply chain disruption caused by the onset of Covid-19.

According to a survey by the American Chemistry Council, 97 percent of companies reported having to change to their operations due to supply chain issues in recent years. Because of this, the chemical industry must stay on the tip of its toes and be able to adapt quickly whenever disruption may happen.

Also, global supply chains see the most impact from transportation disruptions. The chemical industry has more global supply chains than other industries, making this challenge more difficult.

REGULATIONS

Chemical products are often specialized and need specific storage and handling. In addition, they face strict regulations on the transport of their products, especially hazardous materials. These regulations are necessary to have in place to protect the environment and people.

In recent years, several high-profile incidents have involved the release of hazardous chemicals into the environment. This has caused governments to introduce more strict regulations. As a result, this has increased the costs for chemical companies to operate. It’s been estimated that chemical companies will have to spend more than $300 billion over the next few years to meet regulations.

The chemical industry must be more vigilant than ever to remain compliant. These increased regulations put more pressure on chemical companies already trying to meet global standards.

The chemical industry has to work with many different regulations and agencies, such as;

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP),
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),
• and Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH).

LARGE AMOUNTS OF DATA

The chemical industry handles a lot of data. All manufacturing and operational data must be recorded, categorized, and processed. It’s estimated that chemical companies handle up to;

• 50,000 data points per raw material,
• 100 samples per test,
• 10,000 pieces of equipment per plant,
• 150 data points per customer!

This massive amount of data can be a challenge, especially with supply chain management.

COMPLEX SUPPLY CHAINS

The chemical industry is a complex one. It can include various kinds of chemical processes with products in all forms, from raw to intermediate, to finished goods. There are also many stakeholders involved, from chemical manufacturers to distributors.

Additionally, chemical products are often required to have very specific characteristics with little to no room for variations. Chemical companies also handle more complex items, like hazmat or temperature-controlled. Chemical supply chains are often worldwide, making them much more complex than other industries.

LACK OF VISIBILITY

Due to its complexity, lack of visibility can be a challenge for chemical supply chains. It can be difficult for chemical suppliers to know their inventory levels or how products are being used. Therefore, it’s important for chemical companies to have an accurate picture of their inventory and supply chain. Improved visibility can provide insight into opportunities to reduce costs without sacrificing quality.

CLIMATE CHANGE

The chemical industry is one of the top contributors to global carbon emissions. As the world becomes more concerned about climate change and sustainability, there’s more pressure added onto chemical companies that already face strict regulations.

There’s also a growing demand from consumers for more green and ethical products. For example, many companies are having to find alternative solutions for plastic or use recycled materials.

To keep up with the ever-changing market and demand, chemical companies need to change their processes. They must find ways to create less waste and more products that help reduce their environmental impact.

Also, as the planet warms, more severe weather is taking place. This is causing more disruptions to chemical industry processes. Whether causing a halt in transportation or a shortage of oil, climate change presents several challenges for the chemical industry.

OVERCOMING CHEMICAL INDUSTRY CHALLENGES

The chemical industry can be a tough market to compete in. To overcome these challenges, chemical companies need to remain resilient and competitive. As the world and market continue to change, they need to be able to adapt.

Finding like-minded, expert partners with applicable technology is ideal to overcome these challenges. A third-party logistics (3PL) company, like Trinity Logistics, is one such resource.

Trinity Logistics has been in business for over 40 years and has worked with chemical companies of all sizes. Trinity is a trusted partner to help chemical companies better navigate their complex supply chains. We’re well-versed in the chemical industry and can help find a quality carrier for your shipment or offer improved visibility through our customized technology solutions.

When choosing to work with Trinity, our Team Member experts keep you up to date on industry news, upcoming regulation changes, or any other relevant information your business needs to stay successful.

Additionally, we’re a Responsible Care certified partner, meaning we’re committed to providing you with the best service for your logistics and transportation management while staying committed to sustainability practices.

At Trinity Logistics, we’re not your typical 3PL. We’re invested in your business and are here to help your business succeed. If you’re looking for a like-minded logistics partner to help you overcome some of your industry’s challenges, we’re here and ready to help.

Learn how to get the job you want post-graduating by elevating yourself as a candidate and effectively selecting the right opportunity.

Today’s market is complex, both for the employer and the employee. The average skilled candidate has a plethora of options to choose from when it comes to finding a new career. In the face of heightened competition for top talent, many employers have placed a greater focus on partnering with colleges and setting their sights on the recent college graduate.

As a recent college graduate, many might be telling you to consider yourself lucky to be coming into the job market at such a candidate-driven time. Yet, this sense of limitless opportunities can feel overwhelming and stressful.

But I’m here to help you. First, we’ll take a dive into how to best position yourself as a top candidate for your dream job.

Then, once we’ve established those ground rules and you’ve successfully landed some offers, we’ll talk through how to select the best employment fit for you and your future goals. No pressure at all; this is only one of the more important decisions you’ll make. It’ll be fun! Let’s jump in.

HOW TO GET THE JOB YOU WANT PART 1: POSITIONING YOURSELF AS A TOP CANDIDATE

Positioning yourself as a top candidate comes down to a few simple things. I’ll categorize it into three parts: Before, During, and After.

Prep

Many take the “apply to every position you come across with little to no prior research” approach. Law of numbers, and eventually, one of them will bite.

Personally, I advise against this method. Instead, sit down and write out what things you enjoy in life to pinpoint the type of role you would thrive in. Next, do a Google search of “best places to work” in your desired work location. Then put those two things together to find jobs you would actually enjoy with a company that aligns with your goals and values.

This will take a little extra time at first, but it’s worth it. In the law of numbers approach, you end up interviewing with any company that replies. Whereas here, you’ll spend more time dedicated to companies you are truly interested in.

Apply

Take a moment to tweak your resume to the job in question. Look for keywords in the job posting and find ways to add relevant ones to your skillsets and prior responsibilities.

I can’t stress this one enough, update any cover letter or objective so it aligns with the job you’re applying for! There’s nothing a recruiter dislikes more than opening a resume for a logistics sales position and reading that your goal is to land a medical billing job.

Ask for details

Ask for the details of your interview from whoever you initially speak with. Make sure you know who you’ll be meeting with, their title(s), the structure of the interview, and if there is anything you should bring with you.

Arrive early

Get there 5-10 minutes before the interview…not after.

Eye contact

Make lots of eye contact during the interview. Make it weird…but not too weird.

Be engaged

Show passion and excitement to be there and be considered for this position!

Follow-Up

Make sure to get emails from those who interview you. Shoot them a follow-up email later that day or the following to thank them for their time and consideration.

If you haven’t heard anything several days later, reach out once more to the most relevant point of contact, expressing your excitement about the opportunity and asking if there’s anything else they need from you.

If you receive a declination from a company, always handle it with grace. Thank them for the opportunity and express interest in being considered for future roles. This will leave the door open for something down the road versus burning any bridges by handling it poorly.

HOW TO GET THE JOB YOU WANT PART 2: SELECTING THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY

You’ve done it. The offers are rolling in, and now the ball is in your court. You have a couple of days to a week or two to make your decision. Here are some key factors you should use to select the best employment fit for you and your future goals.

Research

Look up company reviews through Indeed and Glassdoor. Any company will preach a positive culture but current and past employee reviews will give you a window into the real-life practice at that company. Most importantly, look for patterns. You’ll always have one or two who have a bone to pick but the patterns can show you if there is a real issue.

Stability

Now more than ever, people want stability in their careers. Research the company on current or past layoffs. This can provide insight. If a company has had some layoffs over the last several years, chances are they are quicker to go that route when the future is uncertain.

Culture

Take a look at the company’s mission statement and overall values. Ask questions during the interview process about promotion opportunities and ask those you interview with for their story.

This can provide insight into how the company views offering internal advancement opportunities. As someone going on 10 years with Trinity, having many lateral and vertical opportunities to promote to different positions and find my true passion in recruiting, it’s very easy to provide candidates with my stories and explain how attainable it can be for them as well.

Once you’ve gathered those stories and that information, use it in your decision-making process. Yes, the initial job and pay matter, but if your goal is long-term career growth, setting yourself up with a company that encourages and supports you will ensure you only have to read this blog once for a job hunt.

Benefits

Money matters, but make sure you find out about the full benefits package and take it all into consideration. For example, a higher base pay with significant out-of-pocket cost in benefits might come in under the slightly lower base offer of another company.

Ask to see the benefits package and ask about their 401K offering and company match. Ask about the company’s paid time off policy. These things might seem insignificant during the interview process, but trust me, they will become very important, very fast, once you start using them.

NOW YOU KNOW HOW TO GET THE JOB YOU WANT – GO GET IT!

Now that I’ve overwhelmed you with details let’s have a quick recap. Whenever this career search starts to feel like it’s too complicated, make it simpler. Go back to the basics.

It’s all about you thinking of the things you enjoy (and also the things you don’t enjoy) and coming up with jobs that would allow you to do those things. It’s about researching each company and remembering it’s the little things that will set you apart from your competition. People want communication. They want intentional action and passion for not only the job in question but your own personal goals and how you plan to achieve them.

At the end of the day, everyone involved in your interviewing process will be just that, people. So, shake off the nerves, update your resume objective, and go find your dream job. And, since you asked, yes, Trinity is hiring. 😊

Taking ownership of your Freight Agent business is important to be successful.

It’s been nearly three weeks since we traveled to the magical city of New Orleans for our much-anticipated 2022 Freight Agent Conference. Between the energy of the city, the incredible speakers, and the camaraderie shared with my Trinity family, it was truly a transformative experience. 

This year’s Freight Agent Conference was held at the historic Hotel Monteleone in the fabulous French Quarter. The hotel’s Carousel Lounge, featuring the city’s only revolving merry-go-round bar, was a great venue for our opening welcome reception, where we greeted Trinity Agents as they joined us from 15+ states across the U.S. and Mexico! A culinary and cocktail-guided walking tour was another highlight for our early arrivals. 

We took in the local sights, sounds, and food and had some fun in the evening donning our best flapper apparel for a 1920s Speakeasy Party to celebrate. While this conference is a great way to connect with our Freight Agents, it’s also educational. This year’s theme was on taking ownership of your business and life.

As a group, we focused on owning our vision, efficiencies, wellness, change, knowledge, and expectations of our future. It was a revelation to learn how embracing and applying this simple yet powerful concept affects our success both professionally AND personally.

We had some great speakers talk about ownership, such as Carlos Mendez of Echelon Front and Dr. John Delony, author of the national bestseller “Own Your Past Change Your Future”. It was exciting for me to realize how closely Carlos’ & Dr. Deloney’s messages aligned with Trinity’s culture and values. As an organization, we understand that each one of us is responsible for taking ownership of our future.

WHAT DOES TAKING OWNERSHIP MEAN?

Taking ownership means holding yourself accountable for your work, regardless of the outcome. It’s about taking responsibility and having the initiative to lead. It’s the mindset that you, as an individual, are accountable for the quality and timeliness of an outcome, even when you’re working with others.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO PRACTICE TAKING OWNERSHIP OF YOUR WORK

By embracing this principle of taking ownership, we become more productive in our careers and show others that we can be trusted, even when the job is serious. Taking ownership of our failures and successes can be hard, but when we stop making excuses and blaming others, it compels us to act, empowers us to solve problems, and ultimately, to WIN.

BENEFITS OF TAKING OWNERSHIP

Helps You Foster Positive Workplace Relationships

Taking ownership of your work encourages accountability and communication with your coworkers. It helps you complete your work while keeping in mind how it affects others.

Encourages Career Growth

Taking ownership of your work encourages you to take action and expand your skill set, take on more responsibilities, and learn new skills, which are all proactive steps in growing your career.

Provides a Source of Motivation

Acknowledging your successes and failures empowers you to ask questions about what went well and what didn’t, develop new ideas for improvement, and accept constructive feedback. Once you take ownership, you’ll find yourself seeking to grow and improve more often.

Earn Business Recognition

Nobody wants to work with someone who makes excuses. By taking ownership of your work and business, you’ll build a positive reputation for great service with your customers. With exceptional customer service, your clients are more likely to recommend your business to other clients.

WAYS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF YOUR FREIGHT AGENT BUSINESS

Be Proactive, Not Reactive

Taking ownership of your work requires you to be proactive in your daily duties. This means anticipating problems and developing solutions, asking for clarifications on tasks, and working ahead to reduce any stress or issues during busy workdays.

Communicate Your Goals

To reach your career goals, you need to make sure your partners know what you want to achieve. For Freight Agents, this means communicating with your 3PL partner. This helps them understand your needs so they can best support your business.

Ask for Constructive Feedback

Asking for constructive feedback regularly, from your 3PL partner and your clients helps you provide consistent, stellar service. It gives you the chance to better understand what you excel at and helps you determine what areas you can improve upon.

Practice Active Listening

You can practice active listening to enhance your communication skills to take ownership of your work further. This includes taking in non-verbal cues like nodding, smiling, making eye contact, and taking notes, but it also involves making small verbal gestures and asking questions. With active listening, you can better understand the needs of your clients and enhance your memory by focusing your attention on the speaker and taking notes. Active listening ensures you’ll get done exactly what needs to be done and shows the speaker that you are concentrating on them and their needs.

Offering Solutions

Offering solutions is more effective than presenting problems. Instead of going straight to presenting a problem to someone, take a few minutes and consider how you would solve the problem yourself. That way, when you finally present the problem and share one or a few potential solutions that you’ve thought of, it shows you’ve taken the initiative and are invested in your business.

Take Advantage of Learning Opportunities

A key part of taking ownership of your business is motivating yourself to improve your skills. See what learning opportunities your 3PL partner has for you. Learn a new mode, takes a sales course, or see if there is a certification you can earn.

Develop Self-Awareness

Self-awareness helps you understand your strengths, weakness, learning style, and more. By having a clear understanding of your habits and needs, you can hold yourself accountable and set goals for improvement or adjust so that you can accommodate your strengths and weakness.

HOW TRINITY HELPS SUPPORT YOU IN TAKING OWNERSHIP

At Trinity, taking ownership is ingrained in our culture. We own the service and support we provide to our teammates, Freight Agents, customers, carriers, and our community. With every interaction, our goal is to create an experience that supports the professional and personal wellness of everyone we are so grateful and privileged to serve.

Our Agent Support Team is here to help you set and achieve your professional goals, provide constructive feedback to succeed in your business, offer learning opportunities to grow your skillset, and so much more.

Trinity Logistics has over 30 years of experience aiding in the success and ownership of our Freight Agent businesses, with many of our Freight Agents seeing a 50 percent increase over a two-year period from joining. So, if you’re looking for a long-term partnership that takes ownership and is supportive of your Freight Agent business, then let’s get connected. What are you waiting for?

To see the Trinity Experience in action:

For information about joining Trinity’s Freight Agent network, feel free to contact our Agent Team by phone at 800-846-3400 ext. 1908 or click the button below.

Stay up to date on the latest information on conditions impacting the freight market, curated by Trinity Logistics through our Freightwaves Sonar subscription.

As we near the end of 2022 and the start of 2023, let’s look at three things in relation to the freight market: freight volumes, the rates, and what’s happening in the maritime segment. 

SLOWING FREIGHT VOLUMES

In Figure 1.1, you can see the contracted outbound tender volume index over the past four years. The yellow line on the top represents 2021, the blue line represents 2022. 

Since about the end of the first quarter of this year, we started seeing those volumes pacing around the same way as last year, but then all of the sudden they started to take a nosedive. Contract volumes are down around 15 percent below 2021 levels. What that means is we’re seeing less volume trickling to the spot market and this trend will certainly continue as we go into 2023.

FALLING RATES

Speaking of rates, in figure 2.1, you’ll see the top green line represents the average van rate for contracted freight. The blue line is vans for the spot market. 

As you can see, just like with freight volumes, they were running neck and neck until about March, and then there was a discrepancy. We’re seeing this on the rates side as well. Typically, the difference between contracted and spot rates is maybe 10 or 15 cents per mile. The fact that right now it’s about 70 to 80 cents a mile, we’ve never seen it at that high of a discrepancy.  We do feel that as we get into the bidding season, new contracted rates will start to kick in, so we do anticipate that the green line will trend down.  I’m not sure how much the blue line, the spot line, can continue to go, as it’s currently sitting at just below $2.00/mile. We may soon reach a point where carriers are not profitable on spot rates. 

FINDING MARITIME BALANCE

On the maritime side of things, in figure 3.1, the green line shows the number of actual containers that are clearing customs. They are coming off the ships, being unloaded, and clearing customs to be distributed via warehouses, intermodal, truckload, and what have you. The blue line shows the number of actual import bookings that have happened. 

You may say to yourself, that doesn’t make sense. If somebody is booking freight and that number is going down, how come we are still clearing these containers? Remember, throughout much of 2021 and even 2020, there was a backlog of ships, particularly on the West Coast, waiting to get unloaded. So, while the flow of ships is not coming into the ports as greatly as it was, it just kind of shows you how big of a backlog there was, that it’s taken six months and we’re still not through this backlog of ships, both on the West and East Coast.

Overall import volume is down 20 percent year over year. Yet, East Coast and Gulf ports are up as shippers moved their freight to the East Coast when the West Coast was originally facing backlog delays. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Low, single-digit rejection rates on contracted freight mean less is hitting the spot market, by some accounts 30 percent less than last year. 

Carriers need, and we need carriers, to remain solvent. Be diligent in negotiations with carriers but understand that we are very close to the floor for when a carrier becomes unprofitable.

Less freight is coming through the ports. Short-term will trigger an over-supply situation, particularly on ports with declining YoY volumes like Los Angeles and Long Beach. Other ports like Savannah, Houston, New York, and New Jersey will see more capacity balance.

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One of the unique aspects of Trinity Logistics is our value of servant leadership. We believe it’s not just about what you accomplish, but who you lift up, who you make better, and how you give back. Trinity Logistics has always been heavily involved in our local communities throughout the years, so one year, we decided to streamline our efforts. In 2005, we formed a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization named the Trinity Foundation. 

HOW THIS NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IS UNIQUE

The Trinity Foundation is somewhat unique, as it’s entirely operated by Trinity Team Members. Trinity’s Team Members are passionate about serving others, and the Trinity Foundation strives to benefit causes they believe in. All community service and charitable giving from Trinity Logistics funnel through our non-profit organization, the Trinity Foundation.

While all Team Members have the opportunity to serve their time or make monetary donations to the Trinity Foundation, there is a subset group, or Board of Team Members, who organize the Trinity Foundation’s fundraising events and giving, which are fueled by the desire to better our local communities. These Team Members apply for a position and are voted in to serve two-year terms on the Trinity Foundation Board and Sub-Board.

THE TRINITY FOUNDATION’S CORE FOCUS AREAS

Every organization has a powerful purpose, and our purpose is reflected through our three core focus areas that guide our efforts to continually improve the lives of others by serving and investing in our communities. Those core focus areas are;

Health and Wellness

This focus area is to encourage and aid in good health and wellness among our community members. This can involve efforts such as holding our annual 5K promoting movement and heart health or holding blood drives to support our medical community. 

Youth Leadership Development

Youth leadership development supports aiding in the growth of leadership and building a future of strong community members by helping our youth and promoting continued education. This can include efforts such as building relationships with local schools and assisting in their needs, sponsoring camps, offering scholarships, or hosting leadership conferences. 

Community Necessities

Community necessities is a focus area in which we invest and donate to those in need. We aim to improve and strengthen our local communities through efforts such as monetary donations or sponsorships made to support local organizations, providing a monthly meal or much-needed goods to shelters, and providing gifts and necessities to families in need during the holiday season.

OUR MAIN EFFORTS AND FUNDRAISERS

While we host many different events and fundraisers to support our core focus areas, we have several large efforts that we take part in annually. 

Thanksgiving For All

Every November, we partner with the Food Bank of Delaware and Love Inc of Mid-Delmarva to provide Thanksgiving meals to our local community members in need. 

We purchase boxes of non-perishable Thanksgiving-themed items from the Food Bank, Perdue donates roasting chickens, and our Team Members help pack the boxes and distribute them.

On average, we help 300 families a year.

Christmas Families

Each year around the holidays, and with the help of Love Inc of Mid-Delmarva, we adopt families for our Team Members to shop for gifts for them. The adoptees are kept anonymous, and Team Members buy presents based on the wants and needs of family members.

In 2021, we adopted 23 families, and every child received a coat, a pair of shoes, outfits, and four to five toys. 

Heart and Sole 5K

This fundraising event started back in 2010 by a small gathering of runners to raise money for a worthwhile cause. In the early years, funds were raised for Tidalhealth’s cardiac rehabilitation efforts. In the past few years, we were presented with opportunities to help raise funds for family members of Trinity Logistics Team Members battling cancer. 

Big Pink Volleyball

Big Pink Volleyball is an annual fundraising event that we began in 2014 to raise funds for breast cancer charities. Trinity Team Members and any local participants can sign up to compete in a volleyball tournament as teams. But wait, there’s a fun catch! THE BIG PINK BALL. It’s a fun day for all.

Golf Tournament

This fundraising event started in 2005 and has remained our largest fundraising event each year since. Trinity Team Members and any local participants can sign up to compete in a golf tournament locally held at Heritage Shores in Bridgeville, Delaware. 

In 2021, we were able to raise $30,000 with funds going towards our efforts to continue our mission of improving lives by serving and investing in our communities.

Servant Leader Scholarships

One way we support our core focus area of Youth Leadership is through our annual Servant Leader Scholarships for graduating high school seniors. This scholarship aims to give young people – the leaders who will build and shape our communities while displaying Servant Leadership – every opportunity to be prepared for the future. This scholarship is one way we strive to engage youth in their communities to continuously improve their self-esteem, develop a sense of citizenship and an ethic of service, and become stronger leaders of our future. Recipients are chosen by a committee of Trinity Foundation members and are granted one scholarship to go towards their post-secondary school tuition.

Other Efforts

All of Trinity’s Regional Service Centers are encouraged to take part in this non-profit organization and suggest or offer other community efforts that support our core focus areas. In addition to our main initiatives, we also accept donation requests and because of this, there is so much more that we do beyond these annual events. For example, the Trinity Foundation has helped local schools with supplies, packed and donated bags of essential supplies for the homeless, volunteered at homeless shelters, made and donated peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to local shelters, sent boxes of goodies to soldiers, and more. 

Operation: Trinity cares is where the Trinity Foundation collects and sends boxes of goodies to those serving overseas during the holidays.

The Trinity Foundation hosting a blood drive.

The Trinity Foundation participating in Wreaths Across America.

The Trinity Foundation bought and collected donations of school supplies to fill backpacks to support our local schools. 0

To stay on top of what the Trinity Foundation has been up to lately, or to get involved, visit our Facebook page. 

WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!

We place emphasis on the fact that our non-profit organization belongs to the entire company and is comprised of each and every Trinity Logistics Team Member. However, it doesn’t stop with our Team because we couldn’t do everything we do without our community supporters! 

Each event and fundraiser’s purpose is to make a positive impact on our communities and help our friends and families locally. Many of our neighbors and corporate partners look forward to these opportunities to give back, and we have plenty of those available! 

Ways to Support Trinity’s Non-profit Organization, the Trinity Foundation

Support us while you shop! Select the Trinity Foundation (located in Seaford, DE) as your AmazonSmile charity!

Stay up to date on what the Trinity Foundation is currently working on and how you can get involved, whether that includes donating much needed items, signing up to participate, or becoming an event sponsor!