When it comes to planning for success, taking that first step is always the hardest. This is where building habits come into play. Building habits of growth and success into your day will position your business to see results. A research study by Duke University found that 40 percent of the actions people performed each day weren’t actual decisions but habits. That data is pretty staggering! From our seats, we’ve noticed that our most successful freight agents have developed certain habits that propel them to success.

So, what ARE the habits of successful Freight Agents? While there are so many ways to build positive, growth-driven habits into your business, the key is to start with one. Find one habit below that you can start doing to help lead your business towards the path of success.

BE PROACTIVE

The key to continued growth and success is being proactive. If you don’t focus on growing your business, then your business is most likely shrinking. No matter how you choose to sell, it would help if you proactively surround yourself with potential customers and carriers, looking for opportunities to provide them value. 

BE A GOOD LISTENER

Being a good listener is a vital habit for an independent Freight Agent’s success. Listening well to the specific details around any shipment is essential and can make a huge difference. Making sure you fully understand what is going on and what is needed will allow you to better serve your clients. And when problems happen, fully listening to the issues with the intent of understanding will promote an environment of mutual respect and take your customer service even further 

PLAN EVERY DAY

One of the best habits is to have a plan made every day. It may sound simple (most habits are), but many can end up getting stuck in a routine of going through the motions, and lose sight of what they are trying to accomplish. Instead, start every day by planning what goals you’re crushing today and how they fit into your long-term picture. 

NEVER STOP LEARNING

The best Freight Agents never stop learning. If there is one thing that successful Freight Agents know it is that they don’t know everything! Habitually find time to listen to podcasts, read, take a class or webinar. Subscribe to industry newsletters or take advantage of any Freight Agent opportunities provided by your brokerage. The freight industry is constantly changing. From new regulations to new technology, you need to stay educated to be successful.

BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS

Successful Freight Agents understand that their relationships are what keeps their businesses thriving. Strong relationships will have your shippers, carriers, and brokerage support members looking forward to working with you. Logistics is truly a Team effort, so make sure you put effort into those relationships. By building natural relationships, you’ll have mutual trust and always be top of mind. Psst..you’re good listening habit will help a lot here! 

NEVER STOP NETWORKING

You may have an excellent book of business, with great repeat customers, but you should never get too comfortable. No company is immune to the ebbs and flows of the logistics industry and you never know when some of your current business slows due to shutdowns, new personnel, or other reasons out of your control. Because of this, it’s important never to stop networking and looking for new customers. Ask your current customers for any referrals, be present at tradeshows or keep memberships with certain trade organizations to help connect with others in your industry. 

BE A STRONG AND QUICK COMMUNICATOR

Most successful Freight Agents take time each day to communicate progress on any loads and speak to any current or upcoming changes. Make sure you always communicate both the good and bad news as it will continue to build trust. When bad news comes along, make sure you proactively communicate it and come ready with solutions. Most people appreciate the effort in communicating versus being left in the dark. 

SPEND TIME USING SOCIAL MEDIA

While this may not sound like a good habit to develop, social media is quickly becoming a great way to market yourself as an expert in the industry and network for new business. LinkedIn is a great place to get started if you haven’t already. You can use your brokerage’s marketing content and brand to help grow your presence as an industry expert online. Be sure to post regularly and engage in conversations online. Keep your online content and engagement professional, just as you would if you were in person.

SET SOME GOALS

You know you want to be successful, but what is it that defines that success for you? Determine what that is for your long-term goal and then make smaller goals to help you reach your end goal. Make sure your goals are SMART and follow through. And most importantly, continue to re-evaluate your goals so you can continue to grow. 

DO WHAT SCARES YOU

Growth cannot happen without being uncomfortable. Take small steps towards something that makes you uncomfortable. The more you do it, the more comfortable you’ll grow to be, as well as more successful. Do you hate cold calling? Maybe start with a small goal of two per day. Do you want to do more face-to-face client visits? Start with the one closest to you. Take one small step towards something that is daunting in your business. The momentum from one small step leads to another and another!

FIND YOUR PURPOSE

Most successful people have a higher purpose than just the need to be successful. Knowing your purpose helps you push through the more challenging times and motivates you to accomplish your goal. Having a clear sight of what you want to do and why will only make your habits more positive and purposeful. 

LEAN ON YOUR TEAM

Even though your role may be as an “independent Freight Agent”, it doesn’t mean you have to go at it alone. Make sure you find a brokerage that offers you the support you need so you can grow and be successful.

WE’RE HERE TO HELP YOU SUCCEED

As independent Freight Agents, the fires of the day can sometimes take away from your personal and professional development. It’s important to us at Trinity to help our freight agents find ways to keep their business growing, while still having the ability to handle the operations of the typical “day in logistics”.

Here at Trinity, we understand that running your business is hard work, so we have an entire Team here to help you. We have over 30 years of experience aiding the success of our Authorized Agents, with many seeing a 25 to 45 percent increase in their business over a two-year period from joining our network. 

Let us help you get back to doing what you do best, serving your customers while receiving world-class support that puts you ahead of the competition. After joining, you’ll have access to a dedicated Agent Support Team to help you with your goals, business efficiency, development, growth, and encouragement. You’ll have full administrative support, many educational opportunities, and best-in-class technology available to serve you, your customers, and carriers. 

We’re also ready to help you build the habits mentioned in this article into your daily routine. If you’re ready to be a successful Freight Agent with Trinity, join our Authorized Agent network today and get ready to see some growth.  

Many people think that human trafficking only happens in movies, or in small, impoverished countries. The truth is, it’s a real, modern-day version of slavery, exploiting an estimated 40 million victims worldwide, and occurring in all 50 states across America, according to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. Truckers Against Trafficking is one group raising awareness to help reduce those numbers.

Trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to control victims for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or labor services against his or her will. Trafficking affects people around the world and doesn’t discriminate by age, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background.

Human trafficking is commonly seen in areas within the sex industry, such as brothels, escort services, illicit massage businesses, strip clubs, and street prostitution. There are now many different communities recognizing that they can help reduce sex trafficking by working alongside service providers, criminal prosecutors, and law enforcement.

We’re proud to have partnered with the efforts of Truckers Against Trafficking, to ensure that the more than 70,000 carriers Trinity Logistics works with are trained on how to spot trafficking and how to report it.

What is Truckers Against Trafficking?

Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) is an organization dedicated to educating, equipping, empowering, and mobilizing members of the trucking, bus, and energy industries to recognize potential trafficking situations and report them to the authorities. TAT’s tagline is “make the call, save lives.”  TAT is working to raise up a mobile army of transportation professionals – the eyes and ears of our nation’s highways – to be a critical resource for law enforcement in fighting this crime, as they are invaluable when it comes to recognizing traffickers who are exploiting the transportation system for their personal gain.

Truckers Against Trafficking’s co-founder, Lyn Leeburg, developed the idea for TAT by accessing memories of her childhood. Her parents owned a motel in El Paso, Texas, where good-natured and hard-working truckers were frequent customers. Once Leeburg realized that the FBI were finding women and children forced into prostitution at places truckers frequent, like motels and truck stops, she realized that it would be important to work with the trucking industry to raise up a transient army, capable of recognizing and reporting human trafficking across the nation.

In March 2009, Leeburg, her four daughters, and one other woman started Truckers Against Trafficking as an initiative of Chapter 61 Ministries, an earlier organization they had founded. Two years later, Leeburg’s daughter, Kendis Paris, took over the leadership of TAT and turned it into a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. From there, Paris built out TAT’s programs, expanded its vision and strategy and developed it into the award-winning organization it is today.

Trinity Logistics’ Partnership with TAT

As a third-party logistics (3PL) company, Trinity Logistics does not directly employ drivers, but we do work with a network of more than 70,000 freight carriers. According to TAT, this partnership could be a game-changer.

Kendis Paris, TAT’s Executive Director, believes our partnership with TAT could have an “exponential effect” on the awareness of human trafficking and the reporting of potential cases.

Trinity plans to encourage all of our carrier base to view the TAT training video and to distribute the TAT materials through our website, email campaigns, and through conversations with our Carrier Relations and Carrier Development departments.

What are TAT’s training initiatives?

TAT has made its training easily accessible. Carriers can obtain the training video and free supplemental materials directly from TAT for inclusion in new driver orientation and/or regular safety meetings. The TAT training course is also available on several major Learning Management System providers that serve the transportation industry, as well as being publicly available directly through TAT’s learning portal, which is a great option for independent owner-operators.

Becoming TAT trained is as simple as watching a training video that equips drivers with the knowledge to recognize and respond to potential trafficking situations. Once trained, drivers will receive a window decal and a wallet card with the National Trafficking Hotline Number and questions to ask if they feel someone may be a victim of human trafficking.

Companies can train their drivers and employees with TAT materials, adopt the internal reporting system so that TAT can identify and honor the Truckers Against Trafficking that drive for a company, partner with TAT to assist law enforcement, share TAT’s newsletter, use influence in the trucking industry to tell others about TAT, become a corporate sponsor, and consider donating a haul of the Freedom Drivers Project to one of TAT’s many events around the country.

Companies can join TAT in the fight against human trafficking – and meet their sustainability goals at the same time – through a variety of ways: train their drivers/employees with TAT materials and then register the number of company employees trained via their TAT-Trained website page; create a company culture that identifies and honors the truckers against trafficking that drive for your company; partner with TAT to assist law enforcement; share the TAT newsletter with employees; tell others in the trucking industry about TAT and why it’s important to train; become a corporate sponsor, and consider donating a haul of the Freedom Drivers Project (TAT’s unique mobile museum) to one of many TAT events across the country.

Even concerned members of the public can join TAT’s efforts, through referrals, fundraisers, or by hosting a screening of TAT’s training video.

Success of Training Initiatives

When the National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH) began in late December 2007, there were zero calls from truckers. In 2008, there were only three truckers who called in to report a potential situation. With the beginning of TAT in 2009, those numbers began to grow, with the vast majority of calls coming in recent years. Today, more than 2,782 calls have been made to the NHTH by people identifying as truckers, which have generated more than 715 likely cases of human trafficking, involving over 303 victims. And those numbers are only a small slice of the data. TAT knows from surveys and anecdotal evidence that many more cases have been reported to 911 or local sheriffs’ offices around the country. TAT still encourages reporting to the NHTH because they are the only organization in the country geo-tracking this data. There are currently 1,206,596 people registered as TAT trained.

Part of the main focus of the training initiatives is to educate truckers away from thinking “she’s a prostitute” and towards thinking “she’s a potential victim”. In the training video, a woman named Shari shares the story of how she was forced and coerced into sexual slavery along with her cousin. TAT chose to have Shari share her story to help everyone understand how so many victims end up on the lot.

TAT says the number one response TAT gets from drivers who are first finding out about the program is “I have daughters, I have granddaughters. How can I be a trucker against trafficking?”

T-A-T is as easy as 1-2-3

TAT’s core message is a simple one. If you see a minor selling commercial sex, or if you suspect any kind of pimp control, call the national hotline at 1-888-373-7888 and report what you know. The training materials are out there, free of charge. Putting a stop to human trafficking is just a matter of implementation.

“If you are willing to work hard, partner well, and persevere through the challenges, you would be pretty amazed at how many people will come together around this cause. This is dark work and at times it seems like the bad guys are always winning, but then I remember drivers, company executives, and law enforcement people who we’ve worked with over the years and I remember that the good guys outnumber the bad, that progress is being made, that awareness is on the rise, and that this incredible, hard-working, salt-of-the-earth, moving army is truly being mobilized,” said Paris, concluded.

Originally written 10/26/2016. Updated by Laura Cyrus of TAT on 7/23/2021

“Thank you for your service.”

The stewardess on my flight makes this appreciative statement to each of the uniformed soldiers as they work their way down the aisle. A few minutes later she says the same thing to me, which caught me off guard. It takes me a few minutes to realize my faded tattoo is showing beneath my shirt sleeve. That selfless moment from the kind stewardess made such an impact on me that day. I spent the rest of the flight thinking about the word ‘service’ and how it truly is one of the most important virtues.

The true definition of service is putting the needs of others, before the needs of yourself. I believe Mahatma Gandhi said it best,

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

This is why members of the armed forces are some of the best examples of this value. They prove that they are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and security of people that they will never know or meet. All are willing and yet some, unfortunately, have made that sacrifice.

The value of service is engrained in the culture of our organization, from its origins 40 years ago, and beginning even further beyond that. The first generation of trucking began with Trinity’s founder, Ed Banning, in the early 1930s. The name of the company he started with was Service Trucking, started by Ed’s Father, Gilbert. Service Trucking had a well-known reputation for its high-touch service to customers, servant leadership, and practicing the golden rule with both team members and anyone associated with the organization. In a sense, our culture of service began there. A flag was planted in the ground with only one way to do business and it has been practiced for three generations.

This tradition of service continues today being further strengthened by Trinity being a part of Burris Logistics. The Burris culture has values that are deeply rooted in integrity and service, which is why the synergy between our two organizations is so strong.

Being able to put the needs of others before the needs of yourself. What a powerful concept that is. One that has been a cornerstone of the success, growth, and prosperity of the United States of America. You don’t have to look hard to find someone who has dedicated their life to service or has even acted selflessly in a moment. These people, especially the ones whose selflessness caused them to make the ultimate sacrifice, are the people we salute on Memorial Day.

To the men and women of our armed forces, and to those who have dedicated their lives to service – thank you for giving back and expecting nothing in return.

Happy Memorial Day.

Author: Billy Banning.

All aboard! Intermodal (rail) shipping is a popular mode of transportation as it’s a cost-effective and greener alternative to truckload. Typically, rates for intermodal shipments will be lower than those for truckload shipments. With modern supply chain challenges, like tightening capacity on America’s highways and driver shortage, many shippers find intermodal to be a good transportation solution to have available. However, 2020 threw a curveball for many industries and modes of transportation, intermodal included. Here’s a breakdown of recent intermodal market trends and what you can expect currently. 

PORT CONGESTION

Recent high levels of congestion at ports are causing service disruptions for intermodal providers. Port congestion is causing havoc on drayage and door-to-door intermodal. With the surplus of imports coming in from the backlog caused by Covid-19 and increased volume, chassis shortages and terminal congestion it’s having a negative effect on capacity – especially on the West Coast.

Delays in shipments and restrictions are being put in place by several intermodal providers. The congestion is being caused by the rapid increase in online sales and e-commerce, as well as other reasons such as labor disruptions, equipment shortages, and more. Retailers are also having to continuously restock because of the increase in sales. Typically, during the holiday season, there is a slowdown, but that didn’t happen in 2020. 

Intermodal has consistently been moving since September 2020, with intermodal traffic being up 11 percent year-over-year in the past month. This is resulting in delays. Truck drivers are experiencing up to nine hours of wait time to pick up a container while shippers are seeing shipments delivered weeks late.

A DECLINING WORKFORCE

According to the Surface Transportation Board, November of 2020 had the lowest employee numbers of U.S. operations of Class I railroads since 2012. Year-over-year, employee headcount is down 13.7 percent since 2019 and down 1.58 percent since just October. With intermodal volume increasing and employees decreasing, capacity continues to be strained and rates remain high.

STRONG FREIGHT VOLUMES WILL CONTINUE

As consumers have continued to increase their online spending, companies are consistently needing to replenish their inventories. This looks to continue throughout the first half of 2021. Due to the recent stimulus and the vaccine coming into play, manufacturers are looking to put products back on shelves as consumers hopefully look to spending more in person again versus online. Regardless, freight volumes are expected to continue to remain elevated.

INCHING THE WAY BACK TO NORMAL

The intermodal sector closed 2020 with the closest numbers to pre-pandemic levels that they have been due to the heightened freight volumes. Capacity is looking to begin to loosen a bit for door-to-door intermodal across many markets. Rates are also looking to fall,  currently down 4.2 percent the week prior as of January 5^th. However, they still remain 6.7 percent higher from 90 days ago and up 79.3percent from a year ago. 2021 will hopefully bring us closer to the pre-pandemic volumes, capacity, and rates we used to know, but we certainly have quite a ways to go before that. Buckle in because it looks to continue to be a wild ride. 

Luckily for you, we have a Team of experts here to help you no matter the current intermodal market conditions. For more information about our intermodal services or to get a quote,

Author: Christine Morris

Are you an independent freight agent? Get ahead of the game. Request For Pricing (RFP) season is fast approaching. Imagine if you had a dedicated team that worked to give you in-depth pricing analysis and guidance when submitting long-term pricing.Trinity’s Pricing and Procurement Team does all of this. You have 100 lanes? 1,000 lanes? No problem. Our Team can do the heavy lifting that can come with any RFP.

We know that capacity will continue to be challenging in 2021. How do you combat this, come out on top, and thrive? Carriers have trusted Trinity for over 40 years because of our people-centric approach, transparency, strong brand recognition, and reputation. In today’s freight business you must have cutting edge tools that give you instant access to in-house and external carrier networks. Trinity Logistics does this and more.

In this industry we realize the importance of speed, urgency, and efficiency in your business. It is imperative that you are getting what you need in the time that you need it, right? That is why we have streamlined the new carrier and new customer credit processes to ensure your business continues to move forward. Waiting hours or days for an approval can severely diminish, if not completely eliminate, the opportunity for you to land a new customer or foster a new carrier relationship. The last thing that you want to hear is, “Sorry, we could not wait to hear back from you and went with another offer”.  

At Trinity Logistics, we have in-house experts that will guide you through new service offerings and opportunities for your business to be able to grow. You will have access to Trinity’s operational support teams to handle LTL, Intermodal, Expedited, Air, and other non-traditional freight modes to further enhance your abilities with your customers.  Putting you in a position to be a trusted advisor to your customer is our focus. This can open up an entirely new stream of income for your business.  

At Trinity Logistics our operational support takes a personal approach to your success.  We are determined to help you build a business that not only is predictable but can be duplicated over and over again. We are vested in your success and get to know your business inside and out through our dedicated Agent Support Team. If you are open to seeing an impact to your bottom line in 2021, don’t wait, connect with us now.

Author: Rich Clark

“Fall is in the air” is something we like to say this time of year as the air becomes a little crisper, the leaves start to change color, and popular autumn flavors like pumpkin spice start rolling out. With the changing of seasons also comes the changing of products and produce that need to be shipped to fall lovers across the globe.

Fall shipping means truckloads of watermelons are traded for truckloads of pumpkins, pallets of tomatoes make way for pallets of fresh turkeys, and more fun-size candy shipments begin making the trek to stores in preparation for Halloween.

In this blog, we wanted to talk about the fun behind fall shipping: what we see more of in the autumn months and how a 3PL can help you get those shipments delivered before winter rolls in.

Fall Produce

When flourishing corn fields become corn mazes, it’s also the time that pumpkins start to plump on the vine. We start to see more less-than-truckload and truckload shipments of pumpkins, gourds, and certain types of squash from our produce customers. Fruits like apples, pears, grapes, citrus, and cherries become popular, shipped from the grower to produce markets and grocery stores. Other cold weather crops like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are shipping more frequently from the East Coast when fall begins to peak.

A 3PL, like Trinity Logistics, makes sure that all these pumpkins, pears, and produce get to your grocery stores. Trinity will communicate with the carrier arranged throughout the entire shipment process to ensure that all of your freight is delivered safely and on time.

Halloween Candy

Who didn’t love putting on a costume and collecting candy from neighbors far and wide? Americans last year spent more than $2.6 billion on candy for Halloween. That breaks down to more than 600 million pounds of confection, equivalent to the weight of six Titanic ships! If all of that was packed into trucks, that would be more than 1400 full truckloads. Retailers from coast to coast are stocking up on all types of candy to get their share of the “holiday goodies.”

Logistics companies see a strong increase in business during the sweet tooth season that is Halloween. Shipping candy can be tricky, especially when temperatures are high. No one wants their once solid candy bar to be delivered as a gooey chocolate mess. Utilizing a temperature-controlled truck can help prevent this issue and prolong the shelf-life of the candies being shipped.

Early Bird Gets the Sale

For traditionalists, holiday shopping no longer starts Black Friday or even Thanksgiving Day. In 2010, Best Buy began their Christmas sales November 1, with other department stores following suit just one day later. Since then, holiday decorations and retail campaigns for Christmas have crept right alongside Halloween costumes and candy.

The earlier sales mean earlier access to consumers with their specific holiday shopping budgets and more shipments of wrapping paper, ribbon, packaging, decorative tins, and chocolate, all of which we can help arrange. Trinity Logistics will be busy helping farms and factories ship their holiday wares to shelves, non-profits, and online shoppers very soon!

If you enjoy any of these products regularly, it arrived to store shelves thanks to a truck!

If your company produces any of these favorites, we can help make fall shipping simple. Just tell us a little bit about your shipment and we’ll give you a quote!

In the world of transportation logistics, there are a lot of interesting shipping requests. Ever heard of the show “Shipping Wars”? It was an entire series dedicated to the shipment of unusual things. The show followed independent truckers that would bid on loads that traditional carriers either could not or would not haul. All products need to get to their destination somehow, right? From fragile to frightening, safe to hazardous, the shipping industry has seen it all! Read on for some of the most unusual shipments we’ve researched and some we have even helped arrange shipping!

Transporting an entire bank

It certainly isn’t new that the United States Post Office receives its fair share of unique shipments. Back in 1913, parcel post service was implemented in the United States. The shipment of packages between two places was ideal for rural Americans, though city residents used the service at a high rate as well.

According to KSL.com, shortly after package service was implemented, young businessman W.H. Coltharp of Vernal, Utah, wanted a bank exterior made out of durable fire bricks from Salt Lake City. After discovering that the freight cost would be four times more expensive than the cost of the bricks, Coltharp decided to have the bricks mailed via the US Postal Service to save on the expense. Genius, right? Crate by crate, the bricks were shipped…all 80,000 of them! Imagine the US Postal Service’s relief at the last delivery.

Chickens, Snakes, and Bees…oh my!

According to Purdue University, Americans consume around 8 billion chickens per year. Chickens are typically transported live from their growing facility or farm to a processing plant to get ready for consumption. For people living on the Eastern Shore, Georgia, and Alabama, all of which are ranked in the top 10 chicken producing states in America, seeing live chickens being transported via truck may be pretty normal. However, for many it is probably an unusual shipment to witness.

A post from More Than Shipping stated that in 2010 a live 70-centimeter boa constrictor was found on a vessel loaded with Yucca Trees (another unusual shipment). But that’s not all – bees, alligators, and whale sharks have all been delivered by truck! Many safety precautions must be taken when dealing with specialty and unusual freight, and not just with shipments that can sting or bite.

Safety First

Another category that may not seem unusual but requires special handling is hazardous materials. Gases, liquids, solids, oxidizers, poisons, or corrosives all fall under hazardous materials. Since shipment of these types of materials are so specialized, there are additional requirements in place that are monitored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT). This helps assure compliancy and safety across the board.

What makes an unusual or specialty shipment so special?

At Trinity Logistics, we identify specialty freight as a shipment that does not neatly fit into one category. We have had a good share of unusual shipping requests come through and have been able to help our customers with many of them.

One of our most memorable shipments was when we helped facilitate an overnight, expedited shipment of the New York State seal that is five feet in diameter to be installed at a courthouse. We’ve also helped customers arrange transportation of frozen kangaroo meat, goat milk, and movie sets! So, no matter the kind of freight you have, its size, or shipping requirements, we can help arrange your freight so it can get to its destination.

Originally written November 7, 2017. Updated September 8, 2020.

The shipment of over-dimensional and/or heavy haul freight requires a special expertise! Luckily, many of our Trinity Team Members and Authorized Agents specialize in over-dimensional shipments. We decided to ask them to share some of their extensive knowledge in this industry with us so we could offer you several tips to keep in mind when shipping heavy haul. Keep reading to learn about how to handle your shipments as smoothly as possible.

Looking for a more extensive guide to have on hand for your over-dimensional shipments? Click here to download our Over-Dimensional Shipping Guide.

Time is on your Side

The more notice you can provide of an upcoming over-dimensional shipment, the better. Loads such as bulldozers, excavators, and graders often require specialized equipment that can be in limited supply. By notifying your carrier or logistics provider well in advance, they can get to work on getting the right equipment in position. Always remember, time is money!

Along with providing an advanced notice on these shipments, you’ll also need to coordinate the logistics upfront. The specialized equipment used for heavy haul shipping is expensive and in high demand. If there are any delays in getting the truck loaded or unloaded, there may be significant detention charges. Timing is everything, so be sure to communicate the needs for these shipments in advance in order to avoid those charges.

Information is King

Knowing the exact information regarding your heavy haul shipping is extremely important, especially in regard to getting permits. You should know the length, width, height, and weight of the shipment. You’ll also need to provide the make, model, and serial number if applicable. Educate yourself on permit requirements and heavy haul dimensions so that your shipment process runs smoothly.

Know the State Regulations

The issuance of permits for over-dimensional shipments is handled by each individual state. Some handle these requests promptly, while others are slower.  As a general rule, the bigger the shipment, the longer it will take. The state will also decide which routes the truck must follow, as well as determine if there are any travel restrictions in terms of hours or days.  Often times, weekend and nighttime travel is restricted. Prepare yourself by looking into state restrictions and permits so you can be better equipped to ship your heavy haul.

Tarp Troubles

Please know if your load will require tarping! Over-Dimensional loads will often require more tarps than the typical truck carries. If your shipping partner is aware of this upfront, they can be sure the truck will have the necessary tarps. Large and/or odd-sized pieces will be difficult for even the best drivers to tarp by themselves. Any assistance you can offer is appreciated, even if it’s simply a safe place out of the elements. Being aware of these elements of over-dimensional and heavy haul freight can help ensure your freight arrives at its destination in a safe and timely manner.

Build Relationships

Build a relationship with an experienced logistics provider, like Trinity, to help save you time and money. Finding the right carrier and equipment to haul your over-dimensional shipment can be difficult, so that’s why we do it for you. Trinity’s diverse carrier network gives you access to find a carrier that will fit to your shipment’s specific needs.

Trinity Logistics stands at the ready to help with all your heavy haul and over-dimensional shipments. Our team is well-prepared to make sure your freight arrives in a smooth and timely manner.

If you’d like to request a quote for an over-dimensional or heavy haul shipment,

Originally posted September 24th, 2013. Updated by Tori Dalton.

All businesses want to grow, but growing a business isn’t an easy task. It is one of the toughest challenges that a company can face. And there are many ways to go about assisting and capturing on that growth. One option that I’d like to talk about today is on improving your logistics.

You may be the best at being the business idea maker, the manufacturer, the seller, but logistics and the supply chain can be confusing and complex. Trust us, we know. Choosing to work with a third-party logistics company (3PL) can help in removing those confusing and complex tasks, as well as aid in your company’s growth.

What is a 3PL?

Depending on the capabilities of your logistics provider, a 3PL is a service company that can handle several or every aspect related to logistics in your supply chain. This can include fulfillment, transportation, supply chain management, transportation tracking and tracing, inventory management, and more. 3PLs can either be asset based or non-asset based.

Not quite sure what that means? Click here to learn more.

3PL’s are a flexible service, meaning you can choose for help in one piece of your logistics puzzle, or have the 3PL assist with the whole enchilada that is your supply chain and logistics. This also makes 3PLs an affordable service because you can choose to get help on only what you need.

You can quickly see how working with a 3PL can help you with any logistics challenges you may be facing. But how can a 3PL improve your logistics overall? And how does that help with your company’s growth?

Lower Costs

This one is easy. Since all 3PLs handle logistics, they have the experience and relationships built within their networks to better run that aspect of your business. They are able to negotiate lower shipping rates and discounts on the services they use. Not to mention, 3PLs offer access to technology that you would otherwise have to pay for yourself. Without a 3PL, it can take you years to find the best shipping providers and services you need to run your logistics smoothly. Working with a 3PL expedites that process while reducing your costs.

Warehousing & Distribution

Need warehousing space? Rather than setting aside money every month on rent for warehousing that you may not always need, take advantage of a 3PLs connections and get warehousing when and where you need it. This means you could have stock warehoused in several locations, expediting your deliveries. Faster distribution means you’ll have happier customers.

Flexibility

3PLs offer flexibility in your logistics by being able to service you on-demand. You can cut costs by removing or reducing transportation and warehousing assets and outsource when demand increases. Companies that have products with a peak season, or increased demands during the holidays can call upon a 3PL as needed during the rollercoaster that is consumer demand.

Additionally, working with a 3PL gives you the flexibility to try different services to see what works best for your company. You can ship your products via truckload, try out intermodal shipping, or have the 3PL help manage your whole logistics operations with a TMS (transportation management system). You get to choose what works best for you company.

Experience

Speaking of what works best for your company, a 3PL will have that experience and insight. They know how to run and manage logistics operations efficiently and help you with that. Looking to expand into a new geographic region or try e-commerce? A 3PL can help by making recommendations on how to best move forward. Regardless of your challenge, a 3PL provider will have the necessary expertise to guide you on the most beneficial path.

Free Up Resources

When growing your business, you need to invest your time and money into where it would make the biggest impact. Logistics can take a lot of capital when doing it all yourself, so outsourcing to a third party can free up your resources. By focusing on what your team and company is best at and outsourcing the logistics, you’ll be able to provide your customers better products and service with your more efficient operations.

3PL Statistics

If you’re still not convinced about outsourcing to a third-party for your logistics, here are some statistics from the 2019 23rd Annual Third-Party Logistics Study. These go to show that improving your logistics can help your business in many ways.

• 75% of shippers said the use of 3PL services has contributed to overall logistics cost reductions.

• 91% of 3PL users report their relationships with 3PL providers are successful and their work has positive results

• 86% of shippers said the use of 3PLs has contributed to improved customer service.

• 58% of shippers indicate they are increasing their use of outsourced logistics services this year.

• 73% of 3PL users agree that 3PLs provide new and innovative ways to improve logistics effectiveness.

These are some of the ways a 3PL can help with improving your logistics and growing your business. Every company is unique and faces its own challenges. The first step in finding out exactly what can your company can improve upon is by having that initial conversation with a 3PL.

With 40 years of experience, a relationship-driven team, and the added benefit of being part of the Burris Logistics family, Trinity Logistics is the 3PL to help your business thrive.

Have you been wanting to up the ante with your customers by offering them the best services you can? Are you not wanting to add any extra fees for necessary technology? What kind of technology for freight agents does Trinity Logistics provide their network?

At Trinity Logistics, we provide our network of Authorized Agents with the use of our operating systems and other technology at no additional costs. These include access to DAT and Truckstop.com, LTL operating software with a pricing tool, and portals for your customers and carriers. Additionally, our Agent Support team provides training on our technology so that you know how to use it.

Continue reading to learn more about the technology our Authorized Agents have access to when joining our network.

Access to DAT and Truckstop.com

Having access to leading load boards is crucial to your success in this industry. DAT and Truckstop.com provide load boards that help you find trucks faster, price shipments, and open up capacity. Gaining full access to these boards comes with a heavy price for smaller agencies. When working with Trinity, you don’t have to pay a dime for them. Some of these systems offer load board access but also resources, like DAT’s BookNow feature and current industry information. With Trinity, you will receive access to operating systems that provide you with the data needed to keep your operations running smoothly.

Less-Than-Truckload Operating Software

Manual processes can be so time-consuming. Utilizing an easy-to-use system to manage your less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments can make those processes faster and more efficient. With Trinity, you’ll have free use of Banyan Technology for your LTL shipments. Your business will have the ability to compare and secure quotes, oversee the end-to-end movement of your customer’s freight, and exchange reporting information with your customer. You’ll gain exclusive access to Banyan’s Live Lane Specials, Ground Freight Pricing, and proper training to use the system.

Trinity can open up access to you within Banyan so you can completely self-service your LTL needs – from quoting to booking to tracking and documents. Banyan serves its customers through the most up-to-date technology.

Customer and Carrier Portals

We like to keep our customers and carriers connected and up-to-date on their services. Through the use of the Customer Portal, customers can track their loads, view and pay their invoices online, and request new rate quotes. In the Carrier Portal, view exclusive Trinity shipments not yet posted to external load boards, bid on loads, post their available equipment, and track their payment status.

If these tools weren’t already enticing, Trinity strives to provide best-in-class technology. We are always evaluating technologies so we can ensure that we are providing the best for our shippers, carriers, Team Members, and Authorized Agents. Recently, our Technology Team has been hard at work launching our new CRM. This new CRM will offer enhanced data, reporting, sales pipeline management, and full customer management tools while being easy to use.

Technology Training

Trinity provides our Authorized Agents with the resources needed to be successful while providing support every step of the way. Our Agent Support Team offers thorough training on current and upcoming technology, sales training and refreshers, and technology updates, all to ensure your success. Did we mention it’s all free?

Trinity Logistics takes pride in being a leading name in the Authorized Agent community. Yet, our success wouldn’t be possible without the relationships we have with our Authorized Agents.

Continuous improvement is one of Trinity’s guiding values. It is applied across all boards, including with commitment to our Authorized Agent Network. When it comes to technology, we ensure that we maintain a competitive edge and provide the tools needed for the success of our Agents.

Looking to become part of the Trinity Logistics Authorized Agent family?