With Earth Day around the corner, we thought it’d be relevant to post an overview of some green initiatives that Trinity Logistics is involved in. We believe in making the world a healthier and happier place, and while the transportation industry can sometimes sap the earth’s resources, we do our part to combat this as much as possible.

EPA SmartWay

Since 2008, Trinity has been a participant in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWay Program. This is a federal initiative to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution created by freight transportation.

This is a group effort, bringing together major freight shippers, trucking companies, railways, and logistics companies. The goal is make supply chains more efficient, reducing the energy and fuel required to get products to market. This lessens the release of carbon dioxide and other harmful emissions into the atmosphere. Since its inception, the SmartWay Program has saved $24.9 billion dollars in fuel costs and 107.3 million barrels of oil, which is equivalent to taking 14 million cars off the road for an entire year.

To maintain this partnership, we must report our freight and emissions activity to the EPA annually, as well as show a commitment to constantly improving our efficiency.

Intermodal Shipping

Shipping over the rail is arguably the most earth-friendly way to get your cargo from point A to point B. One ton of freight can travel over 400 miles on a single gallon of diesel fuel. That’s over three times more fuel efficient than a truck!

Trinity offers intermodal shipping to customers whenever possible, not just because it’s a great alternative to truckload shipping in many cases, but also to reduce our (and our customers’) carbon footprint. And according to the American Association of Railroads, moving freight by rail instead of over the road reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent.

Responsible Care Certified

Responsible Care is an American Chemistry Council initiative dedicated to improving safety and sustainability in the chemical industry. Since a significant portion of our customers are large chemical manufacturers and distributors, we recognize the importance of upholding these strict standards, which help protect the earth and the people who work in these industries. That’s why we’ve held this rigorous certification since 2009.

The Responsible Care guidelines that we are committed to following are compliance, sustainability, continual improvement, and openness. Essentially, this means that we manage our business activities to meet the requirements of all applicable chemical and hazmat laws, conduct our business in a way that sustains the health and well-being of our team members, regularly evaluate environmental, health, safety, and security performance, and encourage and seek constructive dialogue with stakeholders.

Being eco-friendly isn’t just about recycling anymore, and at Trinity, we realize that the transportation industry holds a great responsibility to positively contribute to our planet’s health. This is why we believe in cutting down on fuel usage and emissions as much as we can, following industry best practices when servicing the chemical and hazmat industries, and using more efficient shipping modes whenever it’s possible.

If your company has a focus on eco-friendly business practices, Trinity could be a great partner for you. Click here to get in touch with us and receive more information.

On March 21, Delaware Gov. Jack Markell and Secretary Bernice Whaley of Delaware’s Economic Development Office met with the leadership team of Trinity Logistics to discuss Trinity’s growth and position in the community under their new five-year business plan initiatives, as well as the revitalization efforts for the City of Seaford.

“Our state’s progress with the best job growth in the region is only possible with the hard work and innovative spirit that has been evident at businesses like Trinity,” said Gov. Markell. “It’s encouraging to see the company’s commitment to Seaford and our efforts to revitalize this community. “

The City of Seaford, one of Delaware’s first development districts, is part of the Governor’s Downtown Development District Program that was launched in January of 2015. The program was designed to help push downtown areas forward economically with state support that can mobilize private investments to energize key areas. Trinity, as the second largest employer in western Sussex County and a Delaware Top Workplace, strives to provide a workplace that brings individuals to Seaford.

“This community is important and one we strive to continually support through our team members, our leadership, and our foundation”, said Trinity’s President and CEO, Jeff Banning.  “We appreciate the efforts of the state and Delaware’s Economic Development Office to provide more opportunities for businesses and families alike in the Seaford community”.

Trinity Logistics, in conjunction with the Trinity Foundation, held its third annual “Big Pink Volleyball Tournament” on Saturday, March 12th, at Delmarva Christian High School in Georgetown. The event’s goal is to encourage breast cancer awareness and prevention, as well as raise funds for the Nanticoke Cancer Center in Seaford, which totaled $4,300 this year.

Twenty teams competed and were comprised of many local organizations, including Nanticoke Health Services, Sharp Energy, Procino Wells and Woodland, and Horsey Family Youth Foundation.  The winner, team “Breast Assured”, was made up of Trinity Logistics team members, and 85 other Trinity team members volunteered to help with the event.

“We have several team members and their families currently being affected by breast cancer,” said Amy Proctor, director of the Trinity Foundation. “Supporting our local cancer care center and their programs that help right here in our community is something we’re passionate about.”

The tournament was made possible by sponsorships from Tri Gas & Oil, Sharp Energy, Seaford Central Elementary School teachers, and the host sponsor, Trinity Logistics.

“The awareness and funding provided from Trinity’s Big Pink Volleyball Tournament is invaluable in helping patients during their journey at the Nanticoke Cancer Center,” said Renee’ S. Morris, executive director of Nanticoke Health Services Foundation.   “We all know of someone that has been impacted by cancer, but because of community members like Trinity Logistics, cancer doesn’t stand a fighting chance.”

If you’re interested in being involved in next year’s tournament, or in any of the Trinity Foundation’s other causes, please email us at [email protected]. 

Here’s your annual reminder: from April to July, warmer temperatures gradually creep across the U.S. and the transportation world gets rocked by produce season. Many people don’t realize that even if you aren’t in the produce business, this can still affect your supply chain. Not sure exactly what this means for shipping your freight? Let’s go over the facts so you can be prepared.

What does produce season do to truckload capacity?

From early spring to summer, crop harvest volumes are at an all-time high across the nation. More crops means more produce that needs to get to market, and thus, more trucks needed on the road. With trucks in higher demand, especially on the southern East Coast, capacity gets tight every year around this time.

Since produce is time-sensitive, and farms are usually in close quarters with each other, trucks can be especially hard to come by within specific, small geographical areas and within particular timeframes. The proximity of your pickup and drop-off locations to these areas can really have a big impact on the availability of trucks for your loads. This can also mean higher shipping rates are required to secure these highly sought after trucks.

Produce is almost always shipped on reefer (refrigerated) trucks, and since there’s a lot of freight needing to be moved, this especially cuts down on available refrigerated equipment during produce season. Unfortunately, since this type of commodity is so time-sensitive, intermodal or other alternative modes of transportation aren’t very popular options. This means capacity will be even tighter if your freight requires refrigerated equipment.

In summary: during produce season, peak volumes of fruits and vegetables are ready to be shipped to grocers around the country, demand for trucks gets higher, capacity gets tighter, and shipping rates may go up.

How can working with a 3PL, like Trinity Logistics, help me during produce season?

Whether you ship produce or not, working with a non-asset based shipping company like a 3PL can provide you with access to thousands of carriers available to ship your freight. Trinity works with a network of over 30,000 vetted carriers. The larger the network of carriers, the more likely a truck can be found that’s ready and willing to move your freight. Working with a multi-modal company can also provide you with other shipping options, like intermodal, if truckload capacity becomes an issue and there are acceptable alternatives for the commodity you’re shipping.

Trinity Logistics is also a member of the Produce Marketing Association (PMA). This means that educated sales reps familiar with the produce industry are arranging the shipment of your time-sensitive and high-value produce. Our common practices include asking carriers to check the pulp (internal) temperature of the produce to check if it’s warm before loading, providing daily tracking updates, and encouraging remote temperature readings from carriers.

We have over 200 actively shipping customers in the produce industry. If you’d like a to request a shipping quote, or simply have a question about the upcoming produce season and how it might affect you, call 866-603-5679 or click here.

When it comes to managing your company’s logistics and supply chain, life can quickly get hectic. Needing to seek out carriers for each mode of transportation that you require costs you time, money, and resources. This is why working with a one stop shipping solutions provider can save you from a major headache.

You’ll only need to establish a relationship with one party.

Working with a third-party logistics company (3PL) that is able to provide multiple modes of transportation including truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), intermodal, and international, as well as technology solutions, gives you an all-in-one avenue to get your freight where it needs to go in the most cost and time-efficient manner.  A 3PL, like Trinity, will assign you to a single sales representative that will be your main point of contact for shipments of any kind, versus needing to establish relationships with multiple representatives across multiple shipping companies.

Time is money.

If you’ve got your employees tied up in rate shopping and tracking shipments, you could be wasting some of your most valuable resources. Whether you’re currently working with multiple 3PLs or routing your shipments through asset-based carriers, you might be wasting more time than you think. By working with a one stop shipping solutions provider, you can free up your team to accomplish bigger and better tasks. Let your  provider do all of the dirty work behind getting your shipments where they need to go.

More volume to one provider means lower shipping rates.

The higher volume of shipments you’re able to provide to a single 3PL, the more leverage they’ll have with carriers to negotiate shipping rates. So, instead of spreading your freight out to multiple providers, choosing a 3PL that can service all of your needs could end up saving you not only time, but money as well.

You’ll be able to simplify your administrative tasks.

After you find multiple different carriers to haul your freight,  you may end up with a pile of invoices bigger than you. Perhaps one of the most relieving aspects of working with a one-stop shop is eliminating the need to pay multiple invoices to a range of carriers. By choosing one logistics solutions provider, you’ll only need to worry about paying a single shipping company.

Aside from the time and money savings, choosing a one-stop shop logistics provider can relieve you from stresses that go along with managing contact lists and invoices. If you’re seeking this kind of provider, Trinity Logistics offers a variety of logistics and shipping services that cater to a variety of industries and customers’ needs.

To learn more about how Trinity’s total solutions provider approach can help you, click here.

When searching for the perfect carrier to move your freight, you might find yourself wondering how to decide between an asset-based carrier and a non-asset based provider (also known as a third-party logistics company, or 3PL). Working with a company that has their own fleet of equipment might seem like the obvious answer as to who you should call to move your freight. While it’s true that by going this route, you can work directly with the carrier that will be physically hauling your shipments, you may be missing out on some extra perks.

Capacity

First, there’s the issue of capacity. With an asset-based provider, the capacity they have is whatever their particular fleet can handle at the time. This can range from one or two trucks to hundreds of trucks, depending on the size of the company. With truckload capacity being tighter than ever over the past few years, having access to only a small number of trucks can be risky business. If your asset-based carrier of choice is booked up, your freight may end up on the back burner.

You might imagine that working directly with an asset-based carrier would lead you to build better relationships, and thus, better access to capacity, but by working with a 3PL, your network would increase dramatically. By building relationships with one or two sales reps at a 3PL, you’ve secured a network of thousands of carriers, and greatly increased the capacity you have access to.

Daily Freight Management

Many shippers often find themselves wishing they could save time when it comes to scheduling and tracking their freight, or managing inevitable issues like delays and breakdowns. Working with an asset-based company means you’re on your own when these things happen, and it’s up to you to work it out with the carrier.

Time is truly of the essence when it comes to freight management, and no one knows this better than an experienced 3PL. This is why 3PLs are a good choice for those looking to save a little time in their daily freight management. A 3PL works out any issues that arise with the carrier directly, and only involves you if necessary.

Risk

Finding asset-based carriers on your own may leave you wide open for potential risk, from freight claims to stolen cargo or worse. Unless you have procedures in place to vet the asset-based carriers you’re working with, you could end up getting scammed, working with an uninsured driver, or someone who is non-compliant with government regulations. Working with a 3PL who has a carrier compliance department would ensure that only highly vetted carriers are hauling your freight. Any reputable 3PL will do their best to build a carrier base that is compliant and trustworthy.

If you’re used to working with asset-based carriers, hiring a 3PL to handle your shipments may come off as a little intimidating at first, as working with a “middle man” may be different than what you’re accustomed to. However, be careful to not let your hesitation cost you both time and money, as you may be missing out on valuable pros that come with working with a 3PL.

If you’re interested in how a 3PL, like Trinity, could help make managing your freight easier, click here.

While in Seaford on January 29, Senator Tom Carper, accompanied by Seaford’s Mayor David Genshaw, visited with the leadership team of Trinity Logistics to discuss Trinity’s growth and position in the community and the transportation industry.  With the recent launch of our new five-year business plan, our leaders are positioning the team for aggressive strategic growth not only in revenue, but also in size.

“When I am not in Washington, I spend as much time as I can visiting constituents and businesses up and down the state to find out how they’re doing, and what I can be doing to help them,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper. “I was pleased to visit Trinity Logistics and see how the company has grown since I last visited over a year ago. This Sussex County company has great leadership and a great team that will guide it well as it continues to expand and add more good-paying jobs to the western side of our state.”

With the Senator’s concerns about the transportation infrastructure in the United States, there was also a discussion surrounding industry challenges and concerns. One of these is the need for a national hiring standard for motor carriers.  According to the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), of which Trinity Logistics is a member, the national hiring standard will reinforce the safety rating and licensing processes already established, help small business across America, and improve the overall safety of the transportation industry.

“The leadership here at Trinity really appreciates that we have a Senator who lends an ear and a voice to the concerns of the citizens and businesses of Sussex County,” said Jeff Banning, President and CEO of Trinity Logistics. “As one of the top employers in Western Sussex County, we take our responsibility to partner with the City of Seaford and our legislators to shape the policies that affect our industry and our community very seriously.” 

As a freight agent, you’ve worked your tail off for many years in the transportation brokerage industry.  You’ve watched your friends and relatives enjoy their nights and weekends, while you tirelessly worked the phones 60+ hours a week.  You have a loyal and stable customer following, that you’ve had to fight tooth and nail to keep at times.  You have an entrepreneurial spirit and want to run your own brokerage as an Agent for a reputable company, or you’re tired of being taken for granted and not getting the service you deserve from your current brokerage company.  If this sounds like you, then this was written for you.

There was a time when it was taboo for a freight broker to have an agent office model. However, these days it’s very trendy, and a successful agent has dozens if not hundreds of options on whose shingle they can hang outside their door.  This article encompasses what I feel a good, solid, professional Transportation Brokerage Agent should look for in the company they want to partner and entrust their livelihood with.

Ten things you should consider when deciding which Transportation Brokerage/3PL to partner with:

1. Culture.

Culture is everything.  How are you made to feel when you walk through the doors or when someone answers your call or email: warm and fuzzy, or cold and prickly?  The way you are made to feel is a direct reflection on how your customers and carriers will feel when they interact with your company.

2. Financial stability.

Don’t take for granted, and definitely don’t take the headhunter recruiter’s word for it, that your prospect company is financially sound.  Don’t be afraid to ask them to see the following. (You have every right to see this information):

3. Additional services.

In order to stay competitive in today’s market, a broker agent must be able to offer his or her customer more than just domestic, spot market trucks that pick up at point A and deliver to point B.  You need to be educated to offer viable solutions for your customer’s logistics challenges, to include multiple modes of shipping.  Your competitors are offering solutions, so you need to be positioned to do so as well.  Services you should expect your prospect broker company to provide you and your customers:

4. Risk Averse / Risk Prone. 

Companies in the 3PL / transportation brokerage industry in this day and age must be able to balance their risk, especially since the definition of risk has changed drastically in the past few years.

You should look for a company that finds the ‘sweet spot’, a healthy combination of risk averse and risk prone.  You can do this by asking them the right situational questions.

5. Reputation. 

This is a “very small,” large industry we work in.  Word travels fast with customers and carriers if a broker has shady practices.

6. Claims, bad debt liability, account ownership, and binding contracts.

Who will assume the liability and what are your obligations if something goes wrong?

7. Carrier compliance policies.

When it comes to litigation and tying liability for a carrier’s actions back to a broker or shipper, the game has changed significantly in recent years.  It is extremely important that the prospect company have stringent carrier compliance policies and the technology in place to ensure they have accurate information on each carrier at all times.  A sizeable broker’s carrier list can exceed 50,000 active carriers, so the workload and logistics of managing this database is immense, but critically important that it’s 100% accurate and up to date at all times.

8. Operating system.

A good, solid, and intelligent operating system will not only serve as an order entry system for you, but it will give you the tools you need to make intelligent business decisions, streamline your workflow, and improve efficiency in your office.

9. Commission rates.

Beware of the “snake oil” sales tactics of headhunter recruiters offering high commissions.  Many of these recruiters are commission-based and are very aggressive in their recruiting efforts.  If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.  Ask a lot of questions about their commission settlements; are there any hidden charges or fees?  What is their chargeback policy?  Ask to see all of this in writing, and make certain it’s part of your contract.  Spoken promises are impossible to uphold. A good rule to live by is if it’s not in writing, it never happened. Get it in ink!

10.  What’s the plan?

A well-managed and efficient company that is sustainable and has what it takes to survive the challenges of our industry, will know how to ride out the ebbs and flows of our complex economy, and will have a plan.  It should be a good plan that is forward thinking, looking out six months, a year, and five years.  Ask to see their plan, read it, and draw your own conclusions.

The transportation and logistics brokerage industry has been plagued for many years with people and organizations that run unscrupulous or unethical operations, but there are also solid and ethical companies in our industry.  This article was written to help the serious and professional transportation broker agent make the best decision on which company to align with and to call your home. Make sure you align with the right one; it could be one of the most important decisions of your life. Trinity Logistics has been in the transportation brokerage business since 1979, and a huge part of Trinity’s success has been due to a successful agent business model started in the late 1980’s. If you are interested in talking to Trinity about our agent service or simply would like an unbiased free sounding board – feel free to contact me.

Email Billy Banning
Connect with Billy Banning on Linkedin

Learn more about Trinity’s Agent Program
(800) 763-2028

At the end of November, the FMCSA published a new rule that will prohibit truck driver coercion. This affects motor carriers and other transportation parties, including shippers and receivers. Let’s go through what you need to know.

What is the ruling?

The new FMCSA ruling makes driver coercion illegal. Driver coercion is defined as behavior and communication that would entice or intimidate a commercial motor vehicle driver to drive outside of legal operating restrictions, including hours-of-service (HOS) and CDL regulations.  An example of this would be a carrier threatening to  punish or fire a driver for refusing to accept a load that would require driving outside of the federally regulated HOS limits.

What is considered driver coercion?

The FMCSA said that the following must have happened in order for coercion to have occurred:

1.  A motor carrier, shipper, receiver, or other transportation intermediary requested that a driver perform a task that would directly result in the driver violating Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, Hazardous Materials Regulations, or Federal Motor Carrier Commercial Regulations.

2. Following the questionable request, the driver informed the party requesting the task that accepting would violate federal regulations.

3. There then must be a threat or action against the driver’s employment or work opportunities to get the driver to take the load or deliver the shipment, knowing this would require the driver to break regulations.  

When does it go into effect?

This new ruling will take effect on January 29, 2016. The FMCSA will also begin accepting coercion complaints from drivers on that date.

Why is this happening?

According to the FMCSA, financial and unreasonable economic pressure in the transportation industry can inhibit overall safety. If drivers are pressured about loads to the point of committing unlawful acts to fulfill the request, this obviously creates a hazardous situation.

This new ruling gives the FMCSA a way to pinpoint troublemakers. Those who coerce drivers negatively impact the overall welfare of not only the drivers, but everyone traveling the roadways. Those found to be in violation of this new law can be fined up to $16,000 per incident.

To learn more about the driver coercion ruling, visit the FMCSA’s website here.  

We all know that in logistics, sometimes unavoidable “stuff happens”. The world of intermodal shipping is no different. It’s important for intermodal logistics companies and shippers to all be aware of what they have control over and should actively work to prevent, versus what incidents are simply anomalies. Let’s go over some possible odd ball incidents and who, or what, can prevent them from happening.

Derailment

Trains don’t often derail, but when they do, everyone hears about it. The fact is, although it’s a rare occurrence, these incidents are usually not preventable-at least not by you or your intermodal provider.

Trains can derail for a variety of reasons:  issues with the track, human error, or mechanical issues with the train. Obviously, an intermodal shipping company can’t predict or prevent this, but they can help you through the claims process if a derailment occurs, as well as educate you on how to block and brace your shipments to help avoid this. One of the only times a claim can be filed on intermodal shipments and have a real chance of being won, is when the train derails and there were no errors in blocking and bracing the freight.

Train Lateness

Delays can happen with any type of shipment, but trains can sometimes arrive later than predicted due to an array of reasons, whether there’s something mechanically wrong with the train, or a strong storm prohibits safe travel. Regardless, this is another situation where it’s typically out of the intermodal marketing company’s hands.

However, modern technological updates to the intermodal industry have allowed for the best tracking methods in its history. With that being said, any type of delay can be instantly communicated to you so that you can plan accordingly.  It’s also recommended that extremely time-sensitive freight not be shipped over the rail, due to lack of control over delays.

Capacity Availability

There might come a time when your intermodal shipping provider informs you of delays or inability to ship at certain times due to capacity. Since there are only a handful of railway companies across the nation, equipment can be in short supply at any given time. This goes for dray carriers, chassis, and containers.

You might wonder “why shouldn’t I work directly with the rail so I have a better shot at their capacity?” Unfortunately, shippers cannot work directly with the rail, only intermodal shipping companies can.

WEATHER

This seems pretty obvious, but it’s worth noting: weather has a mind of its own. This can be particularly obvious when big storms come through, like hurricanes and blizzards.

Delays in shipping times are definitely not preventable for these events, but you can be prepared by following approaching storms and monitoring your supply. If you need the freight at the destination as soon as possible before the storm hits, shipping earlier than usual on the rail is one option, or perhaps another mode of transportation, like expedited LTL or truckload, would be a better option.

As mentioned above, high-tech tracking equipment will keep you updated throughout the shipping process and through any delays.

Improperly Blocked and Braced Shipments

One of the top tips for ensuring your freight arrives in the same condition it left the origin in is to properly block and brace it in the shipping container. This process is slightly different for each shipment based on its size and dimensions. If the shipment is not properly secured, it can shift during transport, which can not only damage your freight, but even cause a derailment in some cases.

Unfortunately, if your shipment is found to not be blocked and braced properly, it can fall back on you as the shipper, since the shipper is held responsible for the bracing of their shipments.

No one likes bad surprises, like a delay in shipping or damaged freight, but the good news is Trinity can help with most issues that may cause these problems. Sometimes things just happen, and the intermodal shipping provider may not be to blame. Rest assured, keeping an open line of communication with your intermodal shipping company can minimize potential issues. To learn more about intermodal shipping, click here.