Mark T. Peterson, former Executive Vice President of Sales for Roadrunner Transportation Systems, Inc., has joined Trinity Logistics as the Senior Vice President of Business Development.

From the start of his career in the transportation industry more than 30 years ago, Peterson has displayed exceptional drive and dedication to company growth. Peterson has held Vice President and Executive Vice President positions in four other transportation and logistics companies prior to accepting his role with us. Peterson brings experience in CRM development, sales recognition programs, and customer advocacy board development to our company.

While Peterson is a dedicated executive, he also prides himself on being a dedicated family man with a passion for people. As a family-owned company that has grown from three to nearly 300 team members since it was founded in 1979, Trinity welcomes a Senior VP of Sales that takes pride in workplace culture.

“We are excited to welcome Mark Peterson to the team. His record of revenue growth and sales staff development within the Logistics industry were two attributes we desired in this role. We look forward to his leadership moving Team Trinity forward to the next level,” said Jeff Banning, CEO of Trinity Logistics.

We are looking forward to the insight and experience Peterson will bring to the business in its dedication to best-in-class experience and growth initiatives over the next several years. 

For some people, shipping freight via intermodal (rail) can be an unknown entity, filled with pitfalls and frightful uncertainty. Truth is, intermodal really isn’t that complicated, however there are more variables and moving parts than a straight Over-The-Road (OTR) movement.

When planning an intermodal shipment, it all starts with determining capacity.  Several factors can affect capacity, the first being the lane itself. Is this a lane that is serviced by an intermodal carrier?  Just because there may be a rail ramp in a specific area, it may not be an intermodal terminal resourced with the equipment to load containers.  Along these same lines, if the shipper or receiver are located an excessive distance from the origin or destination rail ramp, it may not be prudent or fiscally beneficial for a carrier to offer a rate for the requested lane.  As an example, if the shipper is 227 miles from the nearest intermodal rail terminal, it will probably not be prudent for a carrier to offer rates or capacity for that specific lane, as the time, mileage, and fuel costs to make this pick-up will not prove financially beneficial for the carrier.

For basic capacity consideration, find out if the carrier has enough dray carriers available for the date and time that you want to move a shipment. Most of the door-to-door carriers use a combination of company carriers and contracted partner carriers.  Regardless, a carrier will only have a finite number or drivers and trucks.

The next factor to consider is the availability of equipment, namely serviceable containers.  If a carrier does not have or anticipate having enough containers to meet customer demands, they will most likely not offer capacity for that specific area or region. Until container resources reach a specific quantity, they will not be able to meet customers’ demands.

Another lesser factor to consider is the ultimate destination for your shipment.  If you are shipping a load from California to New Jersey during peak season, rates will typically be higher and capacity will be reduced because most customers want to ship from West to East, which ends up stock piling their equipment assets on the East coast.  If you are shipping a load to a destination that is less lucrative for the carrier, you will also most likely see higher rates and a more limited capacity.

On the other hand, if you wish to ship from East to West during peak season, equipment will most likely be plentiful, with the critical factor being drivers and trucks.  Keep in mind that these same drivers will also be loaded up with deliveries from all of the inbound freight coming from the West, which will affect capacity.  During this same peak season time frame, most carriers will be anxious to get their equipment re-positioned back on the West coast in order to get more shipments, so they will typically offer much cheaper rates moving East to West.

During this past peak season, we experienced minimal capacity issues compared to years past, as many carriers have expanded their pool of drivers in order to meet increased customer demands.

If you can work around the factors above, and have several extra days to move the freight, utilizing intermodal/rail can be a very cost-effective solution to your needs.

If you have any further questions about the issues that affect intermodal capacity or associated intermodal topics, or if you want a quote, please reach out to our Trinity Logistics Intermodal Team at 866-811-4312 or via email at [email protected]. We will be happy to field your questions or assist in any way possible.

Trucking Moves America Forward, a company focused on creating a positive image for the trucking industry, has recognized Trinity Logistics for its work to “deliver the holidays” through charitable contributions.

We were one of 17 transportation businesses across America recognized for their efforts in 2016. TMAF highlighted our “Thanksgiving for All” event where the Trinity Foundation partnered with Perdue Farms and the Food Bank of Delaware to feed 275 local families. We also were recognized for our Christmas Families program, where Trinity Team Members were able to help seven families with Christmas presents and essentials this holiday season.

“The holidays are a time when all of us – friends, family, neighbors, communities – come together and share special moments, and I couldn’t be more pleased to highlight the integral role trucking has in making this happen each year,” said Kevin Burch, co-chairman of TMAF, president of Jet Express, Inc., and chairman of American Trucking Associations.

In 2005, Trinity formed a 501(c)(3)  non-profit organization to streamline its community service and charitable giving. Read more about the Foundation’s efforts here.

Trinity Logistics was founded in 1979 with one location and only three employees. Today, they have over 250 team members in 5 regional service center locations across the country and an additional 90 agent offices. Trinity is ranked in the Top 25 providers of their kind by Transport Topics Magazine, a Top 100 3PL by Food Logistics Magazine, and an Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company. The privately-owned business has grown into being one of the top logistics companies in the nation, providing freight solutions on a global scale. Due to this extensive nationwide presence and experience, Trinity is positioned to provide a solution for any of your logistics needs, no matter how extensive, with the best customer service you’ll see in the industry.

Editor’s note: This post has been updated to reflect the current weather predictions of the 2019-20 winter season. 

The Postal Service has no official motto, but there’s a phrase that has become a tribute to the job that works through all conditions. It states “neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”  This can also be said of those in the trucking industry, since a severe weather day doesn’t necessarily mean a day off from work. While it’s not exactly an episode of “Ice Road Truckers” every time bad weather strikes; fog, rain, wind, snow, and ice can still have major impacts on the way you get the job done.

This Winter’s Outlook

Whether you go by the Farmer’s Almanac, or you look to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s outlook, parts of the United States are expected to experience colder and wetter temperatures for the 2019-20 winter season.

NOAA’s outlook shows an absence of El Niño or La Niña conditions; this is when the Arctic Oscillation drives winter weather and can result in large swings of temperature and precipitation. Overall, this winter looks to have warmer-than-normal conditions, with wetter-than-average conditions predicted in northern and eastern regions of the United States, and drier-than-average conditions in southwestern parts of the country. The Farmer’s Almanac shows an exceptionally cold winter season in the Pacific, Desert Southwest, Pacific Southwest, and Hawaii, but above normal winter temperatures elsewhere. Some parts of the country are predicted to have a long-lasting winter well into spring. It is predicted to have strong storms of rain, sleet, and frequent snow storms. Northwest could see a repeat of record-breaking extremes, while the middle of the country and New England area can look forward to snow and slush, freezing during the overnights.

Drivers: Check Before you Leave

Before we dive into ways that extreme weather can impact transportation, we just want to remind you of the importance of being prepared before you hit the road. Take time to check the weather forecasts along your route, plan for extra transit time if you believe there could be some hazardous conditions, and make sure you have any emergency equipment that you could possibly need.

Always complete your pre-trip inspection before hitting the road, even if you don’t expect any extreme weather.

Severe Weather Impacts

Whether it’s dense fog, rain, thunderstorms, wind, snow, or ice, severe weather can have significant impacts on commercial motor vehicles and the infrastructure they travel on. From the first few drops of rain, to when the mercury dips below 32 degrees, weather can cause decreased visibility, make it harder to handle your truck, or cause a travel time delay.  We’ll go over some of the most common severe weather instances and how they can impact transportation.

Even if you feel that you are skilled in driving in bad weather situations, you could be indirectly affected by passenger cars stopping in breakdown lanes or driving hazardously around your vehicle.

Some of the weather events we will go over include fog, strong winds, snow, and ice.

Fog

There’s a reason many schools decide to delay opening on a foggy morning. Even the slightest bit of fog can reduce visibility distance. With that, you can expect traffic speed to be affected and a higher accident risk.  Expect prolonged travel time when dealing with a foggy day.

Rain

Rain is the most common type of “bad” weather. Just a few rain drops on the road can cause issues with pavement friction, as water mixes with oils already on the roadways. As with fog, heavier rain can impact visibility distance, in turn slowing traffic speeds, and can increase travel time.

Water on the roadway could require increased braking distance. With water under your tires, there’s also an increased likelihood of wheel spinning and hydroplaning. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), wet roads can double stopping distances.

As heavy rains continue, roadways could flood, posing more dangerous driving conditions and detours due to road closures.

Wind

While hurricane-force winds can be a nightmare for big rigs, even the slightest gusts of wind could make it harder to control your truck. After 50 mph winds, maintaining control of your truck is a significant challenge, at 60 mph, it’s nearly impossible. Bridges and overpasses can become especially dangerous, and may even be closed, so take caution.

Mix any of the other weather conditions with wind and you could potentially have a recipe for disaster. Research forecasted wind speeds before you hit the road, or you may find yourself facing wind restrictions, or even waiting for conditions to improve.

Snow

When the temperatures start to drop, that’s when travel concerns begin about freezing rain, snow, and ice. The main impacts of freezing rain and snow are decreased visibility and traction. Further impacts can include delays, road closures, and other driver control problems as bridges and ramps freeze.

When driving in snow, make sure that you have working wipers and a windshield defroster. Use your low beams to help with visibility and increase your driving distance to allow for safe braking.

Ice

With snow, freezing rain, and dropping temperatures, ice becomes a major travel concern. Significant risks associated with ice on the roads include difficult traction and control. You could also run into potential obstructions along your route due to fallen trees, electrical wires, utility poles, or other vehicles. On the weekend of Dec.17 to 18, 2016, icy conditions in Baltimore and Washington D.C. caused huge pile-ups of vehicles, including tractor-trailers. Listen to reports and watch your speed when icy conditions are possible.

Bridges and overpasses tend to freeze before main roadways, so expect significant travel delays due to decreased speed in those areas.

If you must continue your trip in icy conditions, the Federal Highway Administration recommends dropping to a lower gear to improve traction, or slow to 10 or 15 miles per hour. Keep your eyes on the vehicles ahead of you for any potential black ice situations, where you can’t necessarily see the layer of ice on the road.

Recap

While many of you reading this are professional drivers, it’s always important to remember that most of the other drivers on the road along with you don’t have the same training under their belt.

Here are the most important things to remember about weather events and their impacts on transportation:

1. Check the forecast for your route before you leave and make a contingency plan for bad weather.
2. Be prepared to wait out severe storms or high winds.
3.Expect travel delays.
4. Be alert for the actions of other drivers on the road.

Make sure to follow us on LinkedIn so you can stay up-to-date on industry news and trends. Thanks for reading!

AUTHOR: Brittany Siegel

Lumper. It’s not a four-letter-word, but to many in logistics, a lumper fee is often times viewed in a negative light.  A lumper fee is charged to the carrier when a shipper utilizes third-party workers to help load or unload the trailer contents. Lumpers are often used at food warehousing companies and grocery distributors. These fees are often reimbursable to the driver by the shipper or the freight broker.

Why lumpers?

Some receivers outsource to lumping services that are independent of their core business, especially in the grocery distribution business. Lumpers allow for truck drivers to catch up on rest and save energy for their driving, and can sometimes save time for drivers.

Why the negative light?

The “can sometimes save time for drivers” is viewed just like that – sometimes. If you read any trucker forums, you may find many truckers state they have run into headaches when choosing to use lumpers because the lumpers often do their restacking on the trailers, which can be rather time-consuming. However, if the truck drivers decide against using lumpers, they could find themselves trying to unload with hand-jacks and possibly taking additional time to learn their way around a new warehouse.

Lumper Fees vs. Paying Driver

Many trucking companies do not want their drivers unloading freight unless it is part of their normal job duties. In order to keep their drivers well rested and ready for the road, trucking companies will choose to pay lumpers to unload freight rather than have their drivers expend energy or risk injury doing so. There’s no “industry standard” on this, some trucking companies won’t offer to pay their drivers additional money to unload freight to deter them from doing so, or others will offer to pay lumpers significantly more than they would their own drivers.

Service or Scam?

If there are truckers concerned when they go to unload their trailer, that lumper services will be focused upon them, there are protections under United States Law. Forcing a carrier to pay a service for unloading without reimbursement is illegal under Title 49 of the United States Code, § 14103. It says carriers should have the option to unload their own trucks, and if they are not given the option without being compensated for the lumper fee by the shipper or the receiver, then the law has been violated. If a driver is ever put in that particular situation, they should know that being coerced to pay out of pocket for lumper fees is prohibited.

3PLs

If you are a carrier working with a third-party logistics company, or looking to become a carrier for one, ask if they cover lumper fees. Most freight brokers include this in their carrier payment. Just make sure the covering of the lumper’s bill is submitted right away to prevent any delays.

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Saying goodbye to less-than-truckload rates based on freight class is no longer an “if,” but rather a “when.” While the debate continues over dimensional pricing for LTL shipments, it is clear now that it is the future, whether shippers are entirely on board or not.

Why the wait?

There’s been quite the debate about whether LTL dimensional pricing makes the most sense for both shippers and carriers. Currently, LTL carriers price their shipments based on freight class, which is determined by density, value, ease of handling, and stowability of the product. Every so often, these freight classes will change based on suggestions and votes from the shipping community. With dimensional pricing, items will be priced entirely off of, as it sounds, the dimensions of the LTL shipment.

Many shippers argued this, for various reasons, one being that shippers don’t necessarily have the equipment on hand to measure dimensions. Shippers also believe that dimensional pricing will be more costly than the traditional freight class pricing. Even though this upsets some, many LTL carriers agree at the end of the day, what they sell is space and not weight, so the dimensional pricing makes more sense.

Why the change?

Across the board, carriers agree there has historically been inaccuracy in freight classification because of changes on packaging, shipment/pallet stacking, manufacturing processes, and materials, which has oftentimes led to incorrect bill of lading descriptions. Overall, these changes throughout the process or the shipper not always being fully aware of the freight class of their product, can lead to a logistics headache.

With dimensional scanners, products would be scanned and priced entirely on the information gathered by the machine, therefore essentially limiting that murky, gray area when it comes to freight class pricing.

What Still Needs to Happen?

It appears carriers are trying to ease into this shift to dimensional pricing, rather than just diving in head-first. Many carriers are currently investing in dimensional scanners and are using them to check freight classification at the break-bulk terminals to change or update charges as needed.  Although this practice is limited, it is giving foundational data to LTL carriers to expand the use of dimensional pricing.

We asked a few of our carriers, and they told us they are choosing to watch how the first round of dimensional pricing goes so they can learn from others’ successes and failures before a true transition.

Have a question about what these changes could mean for your LTL shipments? Ask it here. If you would like a freight quote on your LTL shipments, fill out our quote request.

If you’re unfamiliar with third-party logistics companies, or 3PLs, you may be left with a lot of questions about what exactly they are, what to expect from 3PLs, or the benefits of working with one.

Whether you’re currently working with an asset-based company, you’re starting to shop around for the best rates for the lanes you need, or you’re working out of your basement in the business brainstorming stages, there’s no time like the present to check out why a 3PL could be best for your particular needs.

Here at Trinity, we’re all about teamwork (it’s one of our guiding values). So when you think of a “third-party” in terms of a 3PL like Trinity Logistics, it means we are more of an honorary extension of your team rather than just a silent partner.  In this blog we’ll go over what to expect and benefits of working with a 3PL by using a few scenarios.

Scenario One:

Since these are hypothetical scenarios, we’ll make up names for our fictional business owners and associates. Let’s say Bob owns a small packaging company with about $45 million in annual revenue. His business has been family-owned from the start, and he has a good-sized staff that has done their best to manage his supply chain over the years, but their network of carriers is small.

Business is growing and Bob’s staff would either have to devote more time and resources to coordinating the increased freight, or hire additional staff.  After meeting with leadership, Bob and his team decided they simply couldn’t afford to tie up any more resources in managing their supply chain.

Bob reached out to a 3PL and learned how he could leverage their experienced staff as an honorary extension of his own team. No longer would valuable time and resources be spent shopping for the best rates and finding carriers to cover their loads.

Working with a 3PL opened up many doors for Bob’s company. He developed a relationship with the manager of his account, who was able to give him a review of areas that could be improved to maximize efficiency. His 3PL was even able to find warehousing for his product, opening up even more opportunities for Bob’s business. Smart thinking, Bob.

Scenario two:

Stacy is an entrepreneur who started her own organic snacks business. She gained her business fame through social media marketing and exhibiting at various trade shows. Now the demand for her product is expanding and she doesn’t know the first thing about coordinating shipping.

Stacy has worked so hard to get her business to this point, so the last thing she wants to do is trust her product in the hand of strangers. In her research, Stacy stumbled across the term 3PL.

After contacting one, she quickly found out that it would be a perfect fit for her company. A 3PL would become an honorary extension of her own team: validating carrier’s insurance, managing her pricing requests, and coordinating the shipment of her products, whether it was less-than-truckload (LTL) or a full truckload, tracking them from start to finish.

Working with a 3PL helps Stacy focus on securing more customers and servicing her current ones better, with peace of mind that her products are arriving where they need to go, right on time.

Scenario three:

Of course, there are many scenarios where 3PLs would be beneficial to a company, but we’ll go through one more. Say Frank is the CEO of a company that makes and distributes private label cleaning supplies that stores purchase to sell as their generic brand.

Frank’s company has an annual revenue of around $140 million dollars. Right now they have inbound and outbound products moving multiple times a day from warehouses across the United States. As part of the company’s vision plan, they wanted to gain better control and visibility over their supply chain.

Frank reached out to a third party logistics company (3PL), and found out a 3PL could help his business save time and money by coordinating their freight. They also offered transportation management software to help Frank and his team see the inner-workings of their business.

Frank’s 3PL was able to offer him business reporting and personnel who would meet with his business to analyze how they could continue to improve their supply chain.

Here’s the moral of these scenarios: don’t go through all of the hassles and headaches of supply chain management alone! There are numerous reasons why partnering with a 3PL would be beneficial. Be like Bob, Stacy, and Frank, and see what a 3PL can do for your business.

Trinity Logistics has more than 35 years experience in the business. Our 3PL team coordinates freight, offers logistics consulting, supply chain technology, and logistics outsourcing services like warehousing, supply chain optimization, on-site freight management, and more. You can also trust that we are on top of the latest trends in shipping and logistics so we can stay ahead of how it would affect your freight.

Have a question? Ask here! If you would like to request a freight quote, click here.

Trinity Logistics is honored to be certified as a great workplace by the independent analysts at Great Place to Work ® Institute. The certification was based on results from anonymous surveys completed by our team members throughout 2016.

According to the study, 86 percent of our team members say it is a great workplace. Team members overwhelmingly said that often or almost always, we have a great atmosphere, great challenges, great pride, great communication, great bosses, and great rewards. They believe that Trinity is a physically safe place to work, people celebrate special events, people care about each other, team members feel good about the ways we contribute to the community, and team members are proud to tell others that they work for us.

Workplace culture is very important to us. From wellness programs, to continuing education, award celebrations, notes of praise shared between team members, and a casual dress code, our executive leadership and team operations are constantly finding ways to encourage and reward team members for going above and beyond on a daily basis.

“We are proud of our team members because they are the “why” in this Best Workplace recognition. Our success continues to stem from a nucleus of individuals, which we call Team Trinity, who commit to living our guiding values, protecting our core and our culture. That culture is focused on impact and progress, not just inside Trinity’s walls, but outside as well,” said Jeff Banning, CEO of Trinity Logistics.

“We applaud Trinity Logistics for seeking certification and releasing its employees’ feedback,” said Kim Peters, Vice President of Great Place to Work’s Recognition Program. “These ratings measure its capacity to earn its own employees’ trust and create a great workplace – critical metrics that anyone considering working for or doing business with Trinity Logistics should take into account as an indicator of high performance.”

For more information about our career opportunities, visit www.trinitylogistics.com and click “join our team.”

Move out, baby boomers… it’s now the age of “do-it-yourselfers.” When it comes to DIY projects, social media communities like Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube offer everything from blogs to video tutorials. Whether you want to make a Halloween costume for your toddler or need to know how to resurface your kitchen counter, you can find it with a quick web search.

While at times, DIY projects are awesome for saving money (and there’s a little pride to be had in finishing a project yourself), there are other times it’s best to outsource and rely on a professional. Of course, if people didn’t try to take on lofty DIY projects, we wouldn’t have the joy of reading endless “Pinterest Fail” articles.

The same is to be said for businesses when it comes to deciding what services to rely on internal resources for, versus what should be outsourced.

To Insource or Outsource? That is the Question

Every business’s supply chain is unique, and therefore, there is no “one-size-fits-all” for insourcing and outsourcing in logistics. Companies decide to outsource their freight services for a variety of reasons, whether it’s because of a lack of manpower, the need to free up employees to be able to focus on other areas of business, a desire for more visibility in their supply chain, or simply a preference to leave that part of the business to the “logistics pros.”

For 20 years, Korn Ferry has conducted an annual study on the state of logistics outsourcing and found that just as the logistics industry experiences trends, there are clear trends as to the commonly outsourced services year to year.

Twenty Years of Logistics Trends

When Korn Ferry’s study first began in 1996, the most frequently outsourced service was freight transportation. Just one year later, in 1997, the most outsourced activity was freight bill auditing and payment.

By 1999, more businesses surveyed reported using a third-party logistics (3PL) company, especially for warehousing services, with the market growing by 18 to 22 percent.

In 2010, 3PL global revenues reached $542 billion dollars, and by 2011, they reached $616 billion. This year’s survey by Korn Ferry indicates that relationships between 3PLs and their customers are successful and that their partnerships are producing positive results, with 70 percent of those who use logistics services reporting that their partnership with a 3PL has helped significantly reduce costs in their supply chain.

What is Commonly Outsourced?

According to Korn Ferry’s survey, businesses most commonly outsource when it comes to transactional, operational, and repetitive activities, while other customer service or technology-intensive services are most often taken care of in-house.

Trinity Logistics offers freight services, technology solutions, logistics consulting, and other outsourcing services like warehousing, supply chain optimization, and on-site freight management. We ensure that every customer has their own account manager who learns the ins and outs of their business’ specific needs and can offer consultations to help improve efficiency. This type of two-way relationship between a 3PL and its shippers reaches beyond the transactional side of business and opens more opportunities for outsourcing.

Outsourcing Trends

If you were to take a snapshot of businesses that have partnerships with 3PLs at different times in the year, or from year to year, you would most likely find that the amount or type of services outsourced versus insourced could fluctuate.

According to Korn Ferry’s survey, the use of outsourced logistics services is on the rise this year, up 73 percent compared to 68 percent last year.

As for insourcing, 35 percent of shippers reported a return to insourcing a significant amount of their logistics activities, compared to 26 percent last year.

Save Time, Money, Headaches, You Name it

As a 3PL, we have been arranging global freight solutions for businesses of all shapes and sizes for more than 35 years. We also have a network of more than 30,000 carriers, so capacity isn’t a problem. Working with a 3PL is like hiring an extension to your team to handle the nitty gritty parts of freight arrangement whether it’s booking loads, verifying insurance, tracking shipments, or handling any special requirements you may have.

Logistics is a fast-paced and at times overwhelming industry, which is why many businesses turn to a 3PL to handle the nitty-gritty. After all, a “Logistics Fail” sounds a lot more expensive and risky than a “Pinterest Fail,” doesn’t it?

Have a question, ask us here, or get a freight quote by filling out our form here.

If you ship less-than-truckload (LTL) freight, you’re probably aware that there are often fees tacked on, known as accessorial charges. These charges aren’t “one-size-fits-all.” Oftentimes they differ from shipper to shipper, depending upon what you ship, where you ship, and other details of your business.

If you’re trying to get a better handle on the accessorial charges that could apply to your LTL shipments, we’ve created a free downloadable guide just for you.

Here are some of the questions we answer in this guide:

1. What is an accessorial fee?
2. Why are accessorial fees charged?
3. What are the most common accessorial fees?
4. How can I avoid surprise accessorial fees?
5. Why are accessorial fees different between LTL carriers?
6. How can I get an accurate quote for the cost of shipping my LTL freight?

This guide is particularly helpful for those who are just getting started shipping LTL freight, but we encourage even the most veteran shippers to use this guide as a reminder of the accessorials that can apply to your freight.

To download this free Guide to LTL Accessorial Charges, click here.
To get a quote on your LTL shipments, click here.