To broker, or not to broker? That is the question. Currently, 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies operating in the United States are using third-party logistics providers, or 3PLs, to keep up with the rapidly changing supply chain world. Working with a broker isn’t just for Fortune 500 companies though. There is something for everyone when it comes to 3PLs.
Whether you’re a company that ships one pallet every-so-often or a truckload a day, a 3PL can help increase efficiencies in your supply chain and save you some time and money in the process. So how do you know when it’s time to jump into the world of third-party logistics? In this blog we’ll talk about what to look for when selecting a 3PL and some of the benefits of working with one like Trinity Logistics.

The right time to work with a 3PL

If you’re starting to question whether or not it’s time to start working with a 3PL, then it is definitely time to start reaching out and asking some questions. Take the time to lay out what your needs are and research some different companies to get an idea if they can meet those needs. Some things to look for when selecting a logistics company to work with are scalability, comprehensive transportation and warehousing options, technology offerings, and industry references, just to name a few.

What are the benefits of working with a 3PL like Trinity Logistics?

Saving time and money

Working with a 3PL will save you time and money in numerous ways. For example, instead of manually arranging all of your shipments, a 3PL can reach out to their large carrier network to facilitate your shipment and find the best possible rates in the process. This leaves you with more time to focus on your core business and invest your hard-earned money in other resources you may need. Additionally, 3PLs employ experts in the field so they can identify how your company may benefit from other logistics services, including anything from warehouse space to a transportation management software that will increase efficiencies.

Capacity

When capacity is tight, you have options. With the increase in driver shortage, working with a 3PL gives you access to a large carrier network. Building relationships with a couple of sales representatives at a 3PL will open you up to a network of thousands of already vetted carriers. If you think that is great, working with a 3PL also opens the door to additional resources, like shipping by rail, expedited, and more. The goal is to provide you with whatever solution you need and safely getting your product from point A to point B.

Freight management

Time is of the essence when managing your freight. If you are using manual processes, chances are you’re finding yourself pressed for time when it comes to scheduling and tracking your freight, and managing unsuspected delays or breakdowns. When you choose to work with a 3PL, our team of logistics specialists monitors your shipment from start to finish and works out any issues that may arise.

One-stop shop

Trinity Logistics doesn’t just help to facilitate your shipments, we are truly a one-stop shop solutions provider. Not only do we have a top-notch Operations team, we have:

Request a quote.

Have you ever heard the saying, “If you don’t like the weather in (insert location here), wait five minutes and it will change”? The same could be said for the transportation and logistics industry; nothing stays the same for long. This especially holds true for rates and trends. Experts in the field have been saying that rates are on the rise, in excess of 5 percent or more. As with many cause and effect scenarios, there is no single culprit to increased rates. We’re here to talk about the contributing factors and what to expect.

Why the Increase?

Demand

So, what is one reason for the increased LTL rate season? Demand, demand, demand. We are experiencing a combination of pent-up demand, which is described as the general public’s strong return to consumerism following decreased spending, and increased e-commerce deliveries (the demand and convenience of door-to-door shipping – my personal favorite). In addition, the industry has seen new government regulations and is experiencing an increase in driver shortage.

Driver Shortage and LTL Shipments

“At the 2018 SMC3 Jumpstart Conference, we were consistently hearing that the spill over from the truckload sector is affecting the weight per shipment for LTL carriers,” said Stacey Howell, Vice President of LTL for Trinity Logistics. “We heard average weight increases of 10 to 14 percent.” This means, if the weights per shipment are increasing, there is less opportunity to include more orders on a single LTL truck.
Additionally, many shippers are breaking up full truckload shipments into smaller, LTL shipments to get their products from point A to point B at a better rate or more quickly since full truckload capacity is tight. However, this adds to the capacity issue on the LTL side due to the increased need for trucks and LTL drivers.

ELD Mandate

The majority of LTL carriers are already compliant with the new ELD mandate and have been for quite some time, however, industry sources predict that shippers can expect a 4 to 7 percent impact on truckload capacity. In addition, beginning April 1, non-compliant carriers will be placed Out-of-Service. This impact is likely adding the spill over in the LTL sector.

Current Rate Trends

If you’re a shipper, you already know rates and capacity are a big-time challenge. At this given time, expect rates to continue to increase. According to the most recent Logistics Management surveys from November, LTL rates increased 6.6 percent from the same month in 2016. When all the data is tallied for 2017, the LTL sector is expected to see an annual increase of up to 5.4 percent.

How we can help

Utilizing Relationships

Maintaining strong relationships with our carriers is something team members at Trinity Logistics pride themselves on, whether it’s through the Carrier Relations Department or as a Logistics Specialist. With a network of over 32,000 carriers, it seems impossible to have relationship carriers, right? If you were to walk through our operations floor, you would hear conversations between our Logistics Specialists and carriers and know that building relationships is an important part of what we do.

TMS Options

Did you know that with a transportation management system you can optimize routes by analyzing a batch of shipments based on a variety of parameters? This will help to determine the most cost-effective route plan. Trinity offers different TMS plans that fit a variety of needs and budgets. You can learn more about Trinity’s TMS options by downloading our free whitepaper.

The week of January 15, the Trinity Foundation continued to support the local community by presenting Susan Kent, Director of Love Inc., with a contribution that will benefit the non-profit’s newest project, the C.R.O.S.S. building (Community Resource & Occupational Service Station). The C.R.O.S.S. building, located in Seaford, will house Code Purple Sussex County’s supportive services.

This past holiday season, the Trinity Foundation partnered with Love Inc. of Mid-Delmarva to help provide food to families through “Thanksgiving for All” and spread holiday cheer by donating gifts for “Christmas Families” in the Sussex County area.

“We’ve been proud to partner with Love Inc. on various other opportunities throughout the year, so when they came to us with the need for additional funds to get Code Purple up and running we jumped at the opportunity to make it happen,” said Amanda Lloyd, Trinity Foundation Director.

Code Purple Sussex County’s mission is to offer food and sanctuary to those with no shelter during the cold weather months. The C.R.O.S.S. location will provide services for vulnerable individuals who need a place to shower, clean their clothes, eat a warm meal, and prepare for their case plan. The Trinity Foundation’s $3,500 donation to Code Purple will assist with heating and electrical costs and kitchen equipment that would allow the program to offer soups and sandwiches to the homeless individuals that come in.

“Code Purple Sussex County – Empowered by Love Inc. was surprised and delighted to receive funds to purchase new appliances for the C.R.O.S.S. building where the homeless come for community dinner and connection to the Code Purple Sanctuaries that are open each night,” said Susan Kent, Director of Love Inc. “We are so thankful for this generous donation so we can purchase new appliances! How honoring it is to the volunteer team who works tirelessly to help our neighbors. All of Code Purple Team is very thankful for the support Trinity Foundation has provided to this vital ministry! It simply cannot be done without community support!”

Trinity Logistics has joined other transportation industry giants by partnering with the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA), a recently formed group to ensure the standardization of blockchain technology in logistics.

BiTA is a forum for promotion, education, and encouragement to develop and adopt blockchain applications in the trucking, transportation, and logistics industry. These resources will help those in the industry interested in leading the evolution through the efficiencies offered in blockchain technology.

Trinity recognizes blockchain’s significance as a disruptive technology, with the potential to transform the future of logistics with a new system for arranging and tracking freight services.

“We are very excited to see the initiative that has been taken to form this alliance so that industry leaders can move forward with blockchain technology in a cohesive way. So often the transportation industry is reactive to policy changes and technological advancements. This is a great opportunity for all of us to shape the industries future with this game-changing technology,” said Sarah Ruffcorn, Chief Operations Officer of Trinity Logistics.

By joining BiTA, Trinity will remain at the forefront of developments in blockchain technology and collaborate with others in the industry. BiTA’s forum will provide the latest education on how the technology or government regulations could impact Trinity’s carriers, shippers, and technology platforms.

Trinity Logistics joins over 750 companies that have applied for membership with BiTA. The alliance’s first blockchain standards in freight will be developed and published in 2018, addressing smart contracts, freight payment, asset maintenance and ownership history, transparency and chain of custody freight, and more.

The Electronic Logging Device ruling has been finalized, appeals have been made, and the compliance date is right around the corner. With much of the focus on how carriers can comply with the mandate, we wanted to take a moment to share what shippers and receivers can expect and do to help with a smooth transition.

ELD Mandate Overview

To give you a refresher, the ELD mandate is intended to help create a safer work environment for drivers by reducing the amount of driver fatigue that leads to unsafe roads. ELDs will make it easier and faster to accurately track, manage, and share records of duty status (RODS) data. The ELD will sync with the vehicle’s engine to automatically record drive time resulting in more accurate hours of service (HOS) recording. Although the final ruling was published two years ago, driver concerns are far from being settled.

Why Drivers are Concerned

Driver concerns about the ELD mandate vary across the board, from impact on pay to managing shipper expectations and everything in between.

Personal Safety

During an “ELD Media Blitz” rally that took place around the country on December 4, 2017, drivers expressed concern for personal safety saying that the ELD rule may negatively affect drivers’ decisions about when to take a needed rest. With the 14-hour rule being further implemented by ELDs, there may be an added pressure to continue their run given the disincentive to stop and lose time. Another concern fell to those that haul munitions or other highly sought-after freight. The introduction of a third-party e-log providing exact location of a driver and their freight may cause driver concerns about personal safety and risk of cargo theft.

Shipper Expectations

To meet the high demands from shippers, it isn’t unheard of for drivers to exceed the legal hours per week. With the ELD mandate in place, meeting these demands will be nearly impossible and not meeting these demands because the clock has expired may result in violations and large fines. Adjusting delivery expectations to align with HOS rules will help relieve driver stress and save in fines.

Cost

Many owner-operators are largely concerned about losing revenue after ELDs are implemented. Due to decreased revenue, drivers may feel more pressure which may lead to unsafe driving environments, such as speeding, tailgating, and passing.

What You Can Expect

With the ELD mandate deadline fast approaching, there is no doubt that the transportation industry will experience some drastic changes. Here is what you can expect:

•Tightened Capacity

•Increased Haul Times – Lanes that fall into the 450- to 600- mile bucket could become two-day hauls due to HOS enforcement. Expect the one-day increase with 900- to 1,200-mile hauls, etc.

•Increased Rates – As driver mileage decreases, demand for higher pay per mile to compensate will cause increased rates, especially with smaller carriers.

•Driver Shortage – Owner-Operators and small fleets may opt to close their doors due to cost of implementation and other concerns.

How You Can Help

So how can you and your team help with a smooth transition?

•Make sure lane and delivery expectations align with HOS rules, and be aware that asking for more can violate

FMSCA’s driver coercion rule

•Develop procedures and policies to increase efficiencies and decrease load and unload times.

•Provide some flexibility with appointments. Run an accessorial report to determine where changes need to be made.

•Provide designated parking for drivers who may not be able to drive to a nearby facility for their mandatory breaks.

•Use a reliable 3PL like Trinity Logistics to help manage your supply chain.

Request a quote.

On Saturday, Nov. 18, 324 boxes of complete Thanksgiving meals were handed out to families in need at Trinity Logistics’ headquarters in Seaford, Del. as part of the annual “Thanksgiving for All” event.

Thanks to donations of roasters from Perdue Farms and Thanksgiving side items and dessert from The Food Bank of Delaware, members of the Trinity Foundation packed 5,832 items for 324 local families to enjoy a meal over the holidays.

“The Food Bank of Delaware is proud to partner with Trinity Logistics for our ‘Thanksgiving for All’ program. It is always encouraging to see the commitment of the Trinity family in creating these meal boxes to go out to hungry Delawareans. They recognize their important mission of giving back to the communities in which they are located.,” said Chad Robinson, Workforce Development Director for the Food Bank of Delaware. “We look forward to a continued partnership with Trinity Logistics, as we work to achieve our mission of a community free of hunger.”

“Thanksgiving for All” has continued to grow in the last few years. In 2014 and 2015, 250 boxed meals were handed out to members of the community. In 2016, that number grew to 315, and in 2017 hit 324.

“We’re pleased to join Trinity Logistics and the Food Bank of Delaware again this Thanksgiving to help provide a holiday meal for families throughout Sussex County,” said Kim Nechay, Executive Director of The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms. “At Perdue, we believe that in a country as rich in resource as ours, no one should have to go hungry.”

This is the fifth year “Thanksgiving for All” has assisted families in need through Love Inc of Mid-Delmarva based in Seaford, Del. Members of the community organization said this event is such a vital mission during the season of giving, providing a Thanksgiving meal to those in the community that would not have been able to without this donation.

“All year long, we are often not able to meet every request coming into our clearinghouse call line that links our neighbor’s needs to the community that cares. So, when it is time for Thanksgiving, we have an extra pump in our step to come and work at Love INC as we are able to say yes! Yes, we can direct you to help with your need,” said Susan Kent of Love INC. “We thank Team Trinity for their hard work on this awesome project and thank all who made it possible. All the folks who are receiving are so appreciative, many in tears.”

This year’s event was especially memorable for volunteers handing out the meals, as they had the opportunity to hand-deliver a Thanksgiving box to a woman in need who was unable to pick it up on her own.

The Trinity Foundation is proud to partner with so many local organizations for “Thanksgiving for All” and is thankful for another successful year for the event.

We are now approximately one month away from the ELD mandate going into effect on December 18th, 2017. (If you are unsure exactly what that means or want more general information about the ELD mandate, you can check out our other post here.)

Surveys are showing that up to 50% of carriers have been waiting until the last minute to implement ELDs because they wanted to be sure that the mandate would not be overturned or delayed. Since we can now be certain that it’s indeed going into effect on December 18th, the time to implement ELDs is now. There is going to be a huge rush to order ELDs as the deadline gets closer, and there have been rumors circulating that ELD providers may not be able to meet the last-minute demand – at the bare minimum, a multi-week backlog is expected. That means if you intend to legally operate after December 18th, it’s time to research and purchase your ELD of choice.

With ELD providers being able to self-certify as FMCSA compliant, the list of certified providers is growing every single day, and it can be very difficult to determine which ELD providers are legitimate. At the time of publishing, there are 127 ELD providers who have self-registered with the FMCSA. That’s 50% more than were listed just one month ago!

Choosing an ELD provider is a critical business decision, and not one to be taken lightly. That’s why we want to help. While we cannot endorse any one particular ELD provider, we want to provide you with some links and resources you can use to learn more about ELDs and determine which provider is best for you. There are so many different aspects to consider: the price, monthly vs. annual vs. one-time fees, user interface, how the data is stored, accessibility to correct mistakes in the log, how the hardware works, and more. These resources will help you look at these aspects and determine which ELD is the best fit for your needs.

The Official FMCSA List
https://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/ELD/List

Before you do too much research into one particular ELD provider, make sure you aren’t wasting your time by first confirming they are indeed listed as compliant on the FMCSA website. There are plenty of providers out there who market themselves as FMCSA compliant, but aren’t actually on this list – so tread carefully! Before you get too committed to one provider, make sure they are legit.

Truckstop.com ELD Marketplace
https://truckstop.com/product/eld-marketplace/

Those of you in the trucking industry are likely familiar with Truckstop.com, as they run one of the most popular load boards available online. Truckstop recently launched their own list of vetted ELD providers to help carriers weed through all the different options. “Each ELD provider has been carefully researched and vetted by Truckstop.com to ensure customers receive customizable options, competitive price and overall quality service,” they said. Right now, there are six ELD providers officially endorsed by Truckstop.

ELD Ratings
http://eldratings.com/reviews/

This neutral, third-party site is a platform where ELDs are reviewed and rated by actual carriers who have used them. While the site only contains reviews for about 23 ELD providers (at the time of publishing), it offers a lot of valuable information about pricing and user experience. Each provider has an “official” review published on the site that’s been put together based on overall carrier feedback and experience, and you can also view the reviews and scores provided by carriers.

App Store Reviews

Many ELDs actually run as an app on your phone that you can download right from the app store (either Google Play or iTunes, depending on if you have an Android or Apple phone). Like any other app in the app store, these apps will have valuable reviews and ratings that you can check out to see how other carriers are liking them. Definitely check out those ratings before making a commitment.

FMCSA Features Checklist
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/hours-service/elds/choosing-electronic-logging-device-checklist

The FMCSA has provided a checklist of bare minimum features that are required from ELD software in order for it to meet their compliance specifications. Because providers are self-certifying, anyone can technically claim that they meet the requirements, even if they don’t. That’s why it’s important to do your own research and make sure the vendor you choose does indeed meet FMCSA specifications, and this checklist is a great start.

CCJ ELD Buyers’ Guide
http://www.ccjdigital.com/eld-buyers-guide/

The Commercial Carrier Journal has published an extensive ELD buyers’ guide outlining all the different aspects you need to think about and consider when shopping for an ELD provider. Another great, neutral resource, this is an invaluable read that we highly recommend so that you can be thoroughly educated before you start shopping around for providers.

TruckersReport.com ELD Forum
https://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/forums/eld-forum-questions-answers-and-reviews.413/

For a much more colorful and candid look at different ELD options, check out one of the most popular online trucker forums, TruckersReport.com. There is a specific section of the forum exclusively dedicated to ELD discussion, where you’ll find all kinds of information ranging from reviews of certain ELDs, to answers on questions about how the ELD mandate will affect the way you operate your business.

We understand it can be overwhelming to navigate the maze of ELD information out there, and we hope these resources will be helpful to you! Make sure to subscribe to our blog so that you will continue to receive updates on the ELD mandate.

Every business has to start somewhere, that first shipment of products leaves your storefront, factory, or warehouse and heads off to its next stop where consumers will purchase it for their home or business. Arranging shipments within the state, region, or country can be relatively straightforward, as long as there are no additional stops or unusual requirements involved. As business and demand grows, it comes time to move your products across borders, and that’s when things start to seem a little daunting. If your business ships internationally on a regular basis or you are looking to expand your business overseas, you’re in the right place. Whether it’s by ground, air, or ocean, check out these tips on international shipping logistics.

What are your international shipping requirements?

Do you need an expedited air shipment?

Do you have multiple containers that need to go halfway around the world?

Do you have a full container load or less than container load?

Does your shipment require door to door or port to port service?

It’s a lot to think about.

You could coordinate your international shipments yourself, or you could work with a third-party logistics company who can handle the arrangement of your international shipping logistics on your behalf. Here’s some things that we can do for you:

What information do we need about your international shipment to get a quote?

Have an international shipment that you do regularly or that is upcoming and want to get a quote? Here’s some of the information that we need to get you an accurate quote:

When you request an international quote, we have a form that you can fill out to give us the necessary information about your shipment. As international quotes are a little more intricate than a U.S.-only truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), or intermodal shipments, an international quote takes a little longer.

Not shipping overseas? We can help you with shipping to Mexico and Canada

Whether you need to ship truckload, intermodal, or LTL across the border, we can help navigate the complications of shipping from Canada and Mexico to the U.S. or vice versa.

Read our blog about the basics of international truckload shipping to and from Mexico for more information.

Have questions or need a quote?

Have more questions about international shipping logistics or want to get a quote? Fill out our form and our team will get back to you.

Get a Quote

If you search for the latest in autonomous trucks, you’ll find headlines like “Driverless Vehicles and the End of the Trucker,” “Will Technology Make Truck Drivers Obsolete in 10 Years?,” and “Robots could replace 1.7 million American Truckers in the next decade.” You’ll also find articles titled “Driverless trucks will be (mostly) great,” “Automation won’t wipe out all of the jobs in the trucking industry,” and “Saying that Autonomous cars will kill millions of jobs by 2025 is crap.”

So, what is it? Is the threat of autonomous trucks as major as it sounds to the trucking industry? We’ve weighed some of the latest big thoughts on the topic for you to decide.

End of the Road: Will Automation Put an End to the American Trucker? by The Guardian

The number of Americans who drive heavy trucks, taxis, buses, and delivery vehicles surpasses 3.5 million. In this article by The Guardian, many of those drivers believe that autonomous technology could threaten their livelihood, but not in the near future.

Google, Uber, and Tesla are among the more than 260 companies working to develop their own forms of autonomous vehicles. These vehicles would either eliminate driver jobs or downgrade them to co-pilots.

Many agencies quoted 10 years before autonomous trucks are fully operational in the industry. Most drivers don’t see their jobs changing anytime soon. Drivers interviewed by The Guardian said people, in general, are not ready for autonomous trucks, combined with the lack of current infrastructure to support them widespread.

Since 2014, at least 41 states and Washington D.C. have considered legislation regarding autonomous vehicles, with 21 states actually passing legislation.

Robots Could Replace 1.7 Million American Truckers in the Next Decade by LA Times

Analysts and industry experts cited in this article agree that autonomous truck technology could replace drivers within a decade.

Federal agencies insist that autonomous trucks will save lives, and autonomous vehicle makers promise that the cost of travel and transporting goods will be lowered in the process as well.

This article includes quotes from several lecturers about autonomous vehicles’ and other automation’s impact on the work force.

Jerry Kaplan, a Stanford lecturer, said, “We are going to see a wave and an acceleration in automation, and it will affect job markets.”

James Bensen, a lecturer at the Boston University School of Law was quoted saying, “The people whose skills become obsolete are low-wage workers, and to the extent that it’s difficult for them to acquire new skills, it affects inequality.”

Will Technology Make Truck Drivers Obsolete in 10 Years? by Forbes

This article, from 2015, cites a report “On the road towards the autonomous truck” done by consulting company Roland Berger. According to the report’s analysts, the final stage of fully autonomous vehicles would begin in 2025 onward where the “driver is practically no longer required.”

Safety and cost are again named as two major factors why autonomous truck technology would replace or reduce truck drivers. Adaptive cruise-control and other vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication will decrease human error. Less fuel consumption, lower cost for driver wages, and platooning would also save costs.

Driverless Trucks Will Be (Mostly) Great by Bloomberg

While the idea of self-driving trucks hitting the roads within the next decade seems daunting, this article points out that trucks with some degree of automation are already present in ore mines and hauling freight.

The Editors of Bloomberg who penned this article believes that automation won’t cut jobs, but will instead lead to faster employment growth as the combination of human and robot labor improves productivity. Writers believe trucking jobs wouldn’t disappear but would morph into tech and logistics jobs that would require different skills, but offer better pay and working conditions.

Truckers Do a lot of Stuff Besides Driving that Automated Vehicles Don’t by Quartz

According to Quartz, driving a truck is the most common occupation in 29 states. About 40% of people in the trucking industry aren’t even driving a truck at all.

According to Quartz, driving a truck is the most common occupation in 29 states. About 40% of people in the trucking industry aren’t even driving a truck at all.

Joseph Kane, a senior research analyst at the Brookings Institute was cited in the article.

“Many truck drivers and many support workers, mechanics and other administrative workers, they will continue to play an enormous role in this industry,” said Kane.

In a report by Joseph Kane and Adie Tomer titled “Automated trucking’s rapid rise overlooks the need for skilled labor,” the authors pointed out that many of the nation’s truck drivers aren’t just sitting behind the wheel on auto drive. Drivers are necessary to inspect freight, fix their equipment, unload and deliver freight, among other tasks.

The authors of this article believe automation won’t wipe out all of the jobs in the trucking industry because there will still be plenty of jobs that a human can do that a robot cannot.

Saying that Autonomous Cars Will Kill Millions of Jobs By 2025 Is Crap by Jalopnik

This article author’s opinion on autonomous cars and trucks is apparent by the title alone.

There’s no denial that autonomous vehicles are coming. It’s the idea that driverless vehicles will eliminate millions of jobs within the next decade that the author is calling “crap.”

The author, Michael Ballaban, is quote “boldly dismissing” the prediction that autonomous cars will change our world in a decade, calling that notion “hooey.”

The article’s main points include that just because autonomous trucks and cars are available to the general public by 2025, doesn’t mean that every person will own one or find one to be the best fit for them at the time.

“There are massive upfront costs associated with replacing entire fleets, upfront costs that large business like trucking companies and large bus buyers like cities don’t exactly like.”

These articles laid out many of the facts behind the race to automation, researched timeline estimations for the rollout, and reasonings on both sides of the coin. Beyond the facts, there are many opinions (some more strongly worded than others) about whether autonomous trucks will really replace driver jobs, especially within the decade as many industry experts suggest.

Get a quote.

What do logistics companies and dentists have in common this time of year? They’re both seeing increased business thanks to the booming candy craze that picks up around Halloween. Fun-sized candies galore make it easy to “trick or treat yo’self” in October and beyond (50% off sales starting November 1st? Count me in)! Getting Halloween candy from the factory and smaller-batch stores to trick-or-treat bags is a fun process – and the amount of candy Americans consume and spend money on each year is much larger than fun-sized.

In 2016, it was reported that candy sales reached as high as $2.5 billion dollars. Of that, Americans spent $3.9 million on 3.5 billion chocolate bars, bags, and boxes that were under 3.5 ounces, according to the market research firm Information Resources. One of the most iconic, although widely debated, Halloween candies is the candy corn. The National Confectioners Association says 35 million pounds of candy corn and pumpkins are produced each year. Between sour, sweet, sugary, chocolatey, or gummy confections, the average household in America spends about $50 on Halloween candy each year. Overall, each person ends up eating about 24.5 pounds of candy a year, much of it during Halloween. In perspective, that’s 234 standard 1.5-ounce Kit Kat Bars, according to Mic.com. We may be overdoing it a bit.

All of that candy makes for a busy season for dentists, too. According to data from Sikka Software, app-systems installed in more than 13,000 dentist offices across the country, there was an 80 percent spike in emergency visits to the dentist in, around, and after October 2014.

If you’ve come to terms with the fact that holiday goodies are appearing on shelves earlier and earlier each year, it’s probably no surprise that shipping candy for Halloween and other holidays begins about three months before the date. That means Halloween candy is really heading to store shelves beginning in August, and a few weeks ahead of Halloween, logistics companies are right in the middle of the “Christmas Rush.” As consumers rush to buy their bags of spooky sweets to hand out, logistics companies are working with shippers, suppliers, and retailers to make sure Christmas candies are ready for stocking stuffers, and other holiday necessities.

Of course, by the time Christmas rolls around, we’re still talking candy, only this time the heart-shaped and pastel variety. The National Retail Federation says Americans spend $1.7 billion on Valentine’s candy alone. We’re talking anything from candy hearts to chocolates in large heart-shaped boxes.

Americans have a sweet tooth, and chocolate is the top seller according to Symphony IRI Group market research company. At the top of the chocolate list is good ol’ M&M’s, with 417.7 million units sold at the tune of $406.7 million dollars in 2015. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Snickers, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars, and Kit Kats also made the list, proving that not all candies sold throughout the year are miniature versions for trick-or-treat bags, stockings, or Easter baskets.

Shipping candy can get a little tricky, especially when the temperatures climb above 85 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s the point when delicate chocolate can begin to soften, and it can completely melt at 93 degrees. In October, average high temperatures in the U.S. are anywhere from the 50’s to the 80’s, according to the Weather Channel, so some treats still need to be temperature-controlled at points in their journey.

Most companies that ship chocolate try to limit the amount of transit time because of this delicate nature. Chocolates are best shipped during the week, avoiding weekends and holidays. Most chocolate orders that are placed after the first three or four days of the week are processed the following week to avoid warehouse time, according to “The Chocolate Journalist.” Some chocolate companies even charge more for shipping during the summer months to cover the costs of additional insulation and cooling. Larger shipments of chocolate can be made on a temperature-controlled truck, to help prolong the shelf-life of candies.

Do you ship candy?

Whether you’re shipping a few pallets of your custom chocolates a week, or you’re shipping truckloads of gummy worms every day, we can help you with the exact specifications you need for your product. Just fill out our Get a Quote form and we’ll send you a sweet shipping quote.

Get a Quote