It’s no surprise that one of the hottest topics in the world lately is the pain felt at the pump. Rising fuel prices have been at an all-time high, surpassing the costs since 2008, and these prices will only continue to climb. As a result, businesses are being forced to pay more to operate, causing a ripple effect for everyone.

Wait, How Did This Even Start? 

You may be wondering how fuel prices even got to this all-time high. Well, they can’t be blamed on any specific event or occurrence as many different factors caused fuel prices to surge. 

World Conflict

World conflict is one issue affecting fuel prices, specifically those in Western Europe. The Russia-Ukraine war has been brewing for some time now, and due to attacks, the United States among others has stopped imports, like oil, coming from Russia.

Russia is one of the world’s largest oil exporters, exporting nearly eight million barrels in one month. The drastic change in accepting oil imports from Russia has caused the price of fuel to rise because it’s not as available as it once was.  

The Dreaded “C” Word

Another catalyst for the spike in fuel prices is the continual effect of Covid-19. I’m sure you’re tired of hearing it, but the world is still feeling the pains of the virus while we aim to return to life. Recently, Covid forced Chinese ports to close for a brief period and now that the ports are opening back up, supply cannot keep up with demand. 

As people try to live alongside Covid-19, office workers are going back to in-person work and people are returning to travel after two years of staying put. With more people leaving their homes, it’s causing a greater demand for fuel while our supply is limited. 

The Effects of These Issues

Fuel prices are affecting everyone, including consumers, and businesses, but those in the logistics industry are seeing greater challenges. That’s because the logistics sector has seen disruption after disruption. First, with the issues started by the pandemic, then the port congestion once businesses began to reopen, and so on to now with increased fuel prices. This industry has barely had a moment to catch its breath. 

Logistics is at a crossroads; with the United States economy looking at a recession, and world conflicts yet to improve, it’s going to be hard for fuel prices to drop back to normal levels until everything balances out.

How Bad is it Actually?

Even though everyone has been hearing and seeing the high fuel prices, how bad are these prices? Well, in June, the U.S. national average price per gallon topped $5, which is 50 percent higher than it was this time last year. Even pre-pandemic prices were at $2.55 average for that month, showing the direct impact that covid and other issues have caused.  

These prices only continue to rise when we talk about the cost of diesel fuel. This type is often more expensive than regular gas, and this is what truck drivers use to fill up their tanks. In June, diesel fuel averaged $5.50 per gallon in the U.S., which is a .50-cent increase from regular fuel. While this increase seems small, when truckers are driving over 500 miles per day, the extra cost can add up quickly.  

President Joe Biden has tried to take steps to lower fuel prices in the United States. He has called on Congress to do a Federal Gas Tax Holiday, releasing the charges that the federal government has on fuel. Typically, the government charges an 18-cent tax per gallon on gasoline and a 24-cent tax per gallon on diesel, but President Biden has called for the Tax Holiday to give Americans breathing room as they battle other economic issues like inflation.

High fuel prices are not an issue solely faced by the United States. In fact, gas prices in the United States are on the lower end of the spectrum compared to other countries. For example, while the average in June for the United States was $5 per gallon, in Germany, it averaged $8.26 per liter, while one of the highest fuel prices was in Hong Kong, where gas was $10.71 per liter in June.

How Do High Fuel Prices Impact You?

So, how do the rising fuel prices affect those in the logistics industry? Well, let’s take a look.

Shippers

Increased fuel prices mean higher logistics costs because it’s now more expensive to move their products from point A to point B.

Consumers

Consumers see a direct cost increase on products due to fuel prices. Because it now costs more for shippers to move their products to their destinations, they must also raise the price of their products to continue to make a profit. 

Carriers

The biggest issue carriers are seeing with the high fuel prices is the impact on their income. Their operating costs have increased due to the rising fuel and product prices. And with rates lower than they’ve been throughout the pandemic, many carriers have decided to put a pause on driving until the market return to normal. This could cause added chaos to the market. Should more carriers halt their work, there could be an imbalance in the industry, causing more backlogs and shipping delays as a result.

Trinity is Here to Help

As an experienced third-party logistics company with over 40 years in business, we’ve worked with many shippers and motor carriers through the ups and downs faced in this industry, including this one. We’ve seen it all and are here to help you through these troubling times.

Whether you’re a shipper looking for better logistics management or a motor carrier looking for dedicated freight to keep you consistently moving, you can find all the solutions you need with our People-Centric approach.

Get connected with us today so you can start having Trinity Logistics, a Burris Logistics Company, by your side, no matter the state of the market. 

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Hello there. I’m Holly, Trinity’s friendly neighborhood freight Agent Recruiter. 

Every day I have the privilege of working with our Authorized Agents as well as finding new freight agent businesses to welcome into the Trinity family. This has given me a bird’s eye view of what it takes to run a successful freight agent business. And I can tell you, IT’S HARD!!! It’s a grind. It’s a hustle. It requires a BIG dose of grit and determination. But it’s in our blood! We thrive on the fast pace, the opportunity for unlimited income, and the flexibility of running our own show. 

With all that being said, I’m extremely proud of the tools, resources, and personalized support Trinity provides to our Authorized Agents daily. While I could go into all the things we can do to help support your freight agent business, today, I’ll settle for the opportunity to introduce you to four unique resources we provide our Authorized Agent network to make their days easier and their businesses more profitable. 

SAVE TIME WITH RFPs

Do you find Requests For Proposals (RFPs) an annoying time suck? Not anymore! At Trinity, we take care of the heavy lifting for you. 

Trinity’s Authorized Agents have full access to our in-house Pricing Team for RFPs both large and small. Our Team works hard to combine data from many market sources plus our extensive internal lane history to compare a total of nine data points. That’s some impressive wizardry, I tell you! This will not only save you time from figuring out the right pricing but also give you confidence that the pricing details you share with your customer are spot on. 

And that’s not all! We also provide you with real-time market-specific rates focused on your customer’s needs. This way, you can be as hands-on or hands-off in the process as you choose. 

AND DON’T WORRY ABOUT CAPACITY

You’ve just saved time on the pricing aspect of your RFP. It’s complete, and you’ve won your lanes, but what happens next? 

You get on the phone with your relationship carriers for their rates and volume commitments. In an ideal world, the rates are great and there’s plenty of capacity. Awesome! Time to get back to helping your customers and growing your freight agent business. 

But how often does that really happen? Often, your relationship carriers don’t run those new lanes, don’t have the capacity to commit, or ask for rates above the market. So, what do you do then? Most likely, head on to those dreaded load boards. 

Here comes Trinity to save the day. Our Authorized Agents have full access to our Carrier Procurement and Development Team. This Team of Trinity experts will take the data from your RFP, find you capacity using our proprietary lane matching technology and then get rate agreements in place for COMMITTED capacity to service your customer’s needs. 

So, if you often work with RFPs for your customers, go ahead and press the easy button with Trinity!

WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER

Are you looking for a deeper dive to uncover your most profitable freight?  We’re here to help you with that! By using your load history, our Pricing Team will provide you with a Network Analysis to give valuable insight into your most profitable lanes. With this data in mind, you’ll be able to focus your sales efforts on the markets that produce the highest margin to help you reach your freight agent business goals. We’ll help you work smarter, not harder! 

EASILY DIVERSIFY YOUR FREIGHT AGENT BUSINESS

One more thought for the day; let’s say you specialize in full truckload freight. In fact, you’re such an expert that you can almost move it with your eyes closed.

But in this constantly evolving freight market, your customers ask you for help with all kinds of other weird stuff like less-than-truckload (LTL), intermodaldrayageocean or air, expedited freight, technology solutionswarehousinge-commerce…maybe even a total outsource!

With you being a full truckload shipping expert, this may sound intimidating! And the last thing you want to do is send them somewhere else and risk that “other guy” poaching your freight.

There’s no longer a need to worry! Trinity Logistics has you covered. We offer full operations teams for our Authorized Agents to handle ALL other modes besides full truckload. Pair that with our parent company, Burris Logistics, and their opportunities, and it’s simple. You bring the opportunity, and we do the rest. All you need to do is sit back and collect the extra margin for your growing freight agent business.

Additionally, we provide you with monthly mode training classes so you can learn and be confident in what you are selling. There’s no need to be the subject matter expert on all modes when you have Trinity Team Members to support you and your freight agent business. 

JOIN THE TRINITY FAMILY AND BEGIN GROWING YOUR FREIGHT AGENT BUSINESS

Trinity Logistics has over 30 years of experience aiding in the success of our freight agent businesses, with many of our newer businesses seeing a 50 percent increase over a two-year period from joining. Consider joining our Authorized Agent Network today so you can gain more time to focus on your customers, generate more revenue, and we’ll focus on everything else. 

To learn more about our Authorized Agent program and all the ways we can save you time and help you build a successful freight agent business, feel free to contact our Agent Team phone at 800-846-3400 x 1908 or click the button below! 

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As more shippers look to reduce freight costs and their carbon footprint, intermodal logistics continues to see rapid growth. The Intermodal Freight Transportation Market has predicted a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.27 percent from 2021 to 2026 for intermodal logistics. And with intermodal peak season on the way, shippers using this mode must have the right shipping strategies in place.

Intermodal can be a very effective mode when it matches up with the right customers, but with the rapid growth of customers choosing intermodal logistics, we often hear a similar question from our shipping customers: “What should I expect during intermodal peak season?” So, let’s learn more about what peak season for intermodal is, how it may affect you, and what you can do to stay ahead.

WHEN IS INTERMODAL PEAK SHIPPING SEASON?

Peak shipping season refers to the time of year when freight volumes see an influx. For most modes, this falls in line with the time of year when retailers begin pushing inventory for back-to-school and the holiday season. During this time, shippers try to keep up with demand and manage inventories while fulfilling a high volume of orders, and motor carriers are busier than usual trying to deliver freight on time.

Historically, the peak shipping season for intermodal logistics is around June to December. While June may seem a bit early, many shippers are rushing to get their goods through West Coast ports before June 30th, and rail is a popular way for shippers to transport their West Coast imports. According to the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, since 2006, the number of goods imported and then loaded into intermodal equipment through Los Angeles and Long Beach ports has grown 25 percent.

With roughly two-thirds of intermodal containers coming off the West Coast from import traffic during peak season, this limits the supply of 53’ containers heading East.

Even though June is the typical start of peak season for intermodal, it can fluctuate. Some years it can be later or earlier. But since the start of the pandemic, intermodal logistics have been greatly affected by capacity, making peak season more year-round than in former years. This is because of the rapid increase in online shopping year-round for consumers, which the pandemic only heightened.

“The past two years since the beginning of covid-19 has greatly impacted intermodal capacity,” says Jennifer Fritz, Trinity intermodal expert. “Historically peak season for intermodal logistics usually starts June through December, but with capacity affected by the change in supply chains from covid-19, it’s been tight year-round, making peak season pressure felt year-round instead of a few months of the year.”

CHALLENGES OF INTERMODAL PEAK SEASON

Expected or unexpected, any time there is a major shift in supply chains, it can throw off your operation. So, how does peak season affect intermodal logistics? Well, it’s not much different than peak season shipping for any other mode.

You’ll see tightened capacity because of the increased freight volumes and demand. And anytime we see tightened capacity, we see increased prices as well. So, the more in demand something is with less supply, it equals higher rates.

You’re also bound to see some shipping delays and need to give longer lead times. Your usual service levels may also drop because of the overwhelming volumes of freight needing to be moved during peak season shipping. Especially lately with the continued covid-19 pandemic still affecting the market, West Coast ports, and ultimately, intermodal logistics.

Take Control of Your Intermodal Logistics During Peak Season

Make sure you’re not unprepared for intermodal peak season. Each peak season is variable, rarely unlike another, and planning is more critical than ever with it being more frequent and extreme. Here are some tips to help you take control of intermodal peak season.

Give Even More Lead Time

Book your intermodal shipments as far in advance as possible. Prices are volatile during intermodal peak season, and the rate to move a shipment through intermodal logistics can increase by hundreds of dollars over a single day. In addition, available equipment can often be an issue. This is not the season to wait until the last minute.

Stay Updated on the Industry

Ever since the start of the pandemic, it’s more important than ever to know what’s going on in intermodal logistics. As we’ve seen over the past few years, supply chain disruption can happen at any time, so make sure you check the news daily or have a good resource to give you all the information you need.

Try Shipping Later

Perhaps all your items don’t need to arrive during peak season. Great. If possible, schedule those shipments to ship after intermodal peak season, when there is more capacity and you’ll likely get a better shipping rate, or at least stagger them. So, if part of your shipment needs to arrive right away, have that delivered faster. And for any freight that doesn’t need to deliver quickly, schedule that shipment for a later date. 

Plan for Extra Time

As noted, with the influx of freight needing to be moved, there are bound to be delays. Many intermodal carriers have fully planned days and if they get delayed, it affects the rest of their movements. So, make sure you allow plenty of time for your products to get to their destination. This will help keep a delay from happening and possibly get you a better freight rate.

Shop Around

Prices can fluctuate between providers and from day to day. If you have the time, try getting prices from a few different providers or being more flexible with your dates to see if you can find a better value. For example, the difference between a 15-day delivery time and a 20-day delivery time could be significant. Check out all avenues and find what works best for your budget and freight.

Have Modal Flexibility

Sometimes a mode will max out on capacity. If capacity is reached for intermodal logistics, ensure you have relationships with over-the-road carriers or a third-party logistics company as a backup. This ensures no matter what, you’ll be able to get your freight from point A to point B.

Leverage Partnerships

Partnering with an experienced 3PL can make navigating peak season for intermodal logistics, or any logistics mode, more accessible. Companies, like Trinity Logistics, often have longstanding relationships with carriers for all modes, plus logistics technology and well-trained teams ready to help you. A reputable 3PL will have seen it all during peak shipping seasons and be able to help you manage your logistics without batting an eyelash.

GET HELP WITH YOUR INTERMODAL LOGISTICS, NO MATTER THE SEASON

While we can’t look into a crystal ball and predict how long this never-ending peak season for intermodal logistics will last, we can tell you that many logistics providers and shippers are adapting. Intermodal peak season shipping can be stressful, but these tips can help you better navigate your intermodal logistics during the peak shipping season.

If you’re looking for help, Trinity Logistics is here to support you. We have a full Team of Intermodal Experts, experienced and ready to assist you with your intermodal logistics. Simply click the button below and let’s get connected.

Learn about our Intermodal service

Trinity Logistics is proud to share that it has received Comparably’s 2022 Best CEOs for Women Award. 

“I wouldn’t be receiving this recognition if it weren’t for the great effort and feedback of the Team Members at Trinity,” said Donnie Burris, CEO of Burris Logistics, the parent company of Trinity Logistics. “At any of the Burris Logistics companies, every Team Member is empowered to pursue excellence within their careers here. I’m very happy to hear that the Team Members at Trinity feel that empowerment and I look forward to continuing that great company culture they have for years to come.”

best ceos for women
Donnie Burris, Best CEOs for Women, CEO of Trinity Logistics, a Burris Logistics Company

To date, 54 percent of Trinity’s Team Members are women and 23 percent of those women, hold a management or leadership role, including Trinity’s President, Sarah Ruffcorn. 

“We are blessed to have Donnie Burris as the leader of our organization,” said Sarah Ruffcorn, Trinity Logistics President. “He listens, supports, and encourages all Team Members in our organization to be their best each day. He doesn’t just believe in our purpose of ‘Improving people’s lives by constantly striving to be our best’; he lives it.”

Comparably Awards are based solely on sentiment feedback provided by employees who anonymously rate their employer throughout the year. Comparably Awards showcases the leaders and leadership teams who are driving positive culture change across companies large and small. The Best CEOs for Women for 2022 represents the top-ranked CEOs as rated by female employees on Comparably.com throughout the previous 12 months. Every CEO on the list is in the Top five percent of all CEOs rated by female employees. 

“The top-rated leaders on our annual Best CEOs for Women list have fostered inclusive company cultures that make everyone feel supported and heard,” said Comparably CEO Jason Nazar. “Donnie Burris’ high ratings from Trinity’s female employees is a testament to his commitment in this arena.”

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Interested in working with an organization that is committed to you and your career growth?

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About Trinity Logistics

Trinity Logistics is a Burris Logistics Company, offering People-Centric Freight Solutions®. Our mission is to deliver creative logistics solutions through a mix of human ingenuity and innovative technology, enriching the lives of those we serve. 

For the past 40 years, we’ve been arranging freight for businesses of all sizes in truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), warehousing, intermodal, drayage, expedited, international, and technology solutions.

We are currently recognized on Transport Topics’ Top 100 Freight Brokerage List, a Top 3PL and Cold Storage Provider by Food Logistics, and a Top Company for Women to Work for in Transportation by Women in Trucking.

About Comparably                                 

Comparably is a leading workplace culture and corporate brand reputation platform with over 15 million anonymous employee ratings on 70,000 companies. With the most comprehensive data on large and SMB organizations in nearly 20 different workplace categories – based on gender, ethnicity, age, experience, industry, location, education – it is one of the most used SaaS platforms for employer branding and a trusted third-party site for workplace culture and compensation. For more information on Comparably’s studies and annual Best Places to Work Awards, visit Comparably News.  

Have you ever wondered what a freight broker is, what they do, and why they exist?

To put it in simple terms, freight brokers are simply matchmakers. They are the middleman between the shipper (the maker or owner of the product) and the trucking company that moves the freight.

Freight brokers perform a valuable service for both ends of the spectrum, however, they do not function as an actual motor carrier. Instead, they arrange for the transport of goods.

Freight broker activities are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) which defines a broker as “a person who, for compensation, arranges, or offers to arrange, the transportation of property by an authorized motor carrier”.  -49 C.F.R. Part 371

Brokerages

Freight brokerages provide assistance to motor carriers by filling their trucks and providing assistance along the route to help the truck driver deliver the order on time.

Not every motor carrier has a private sales force working to secure loads for their fleet and needs help accessing a network of shippers quickly to keep them rolling. Freight brokers also provide great financial service to truckers, providing fuel advances to help with cash flow and offering quick payment plans. Oftentimes, the carrier is paid before the freight broker collects payment from the shipper! Bottom line, a freight broker exists to help the motor carriers relocate their equipment to a better freight market, or in many cases, back to their home base.

Many companies find the services provided by freight brokers to be an important link in their supply chain. The importance of a freight broker is easy to understand; the freight broker makes sure that the shipments are arranged to deliver on time at a fair price with reputable providers. Without freight brokers, shippers would encounter an enormous investment of time and money trying to find the right motor carrier to transport their products, tracking the shipment, and auditing freight bills.

Screenshot of shipment tracking map in Trinity's Customer Portal.

Frustrated with your shipment tracking? Check out Trinity’s Customer Portal and see how easy it is to track your shipments, view and pay your invoices online, and request freight quotes.

Discover Trinity Logistics AS YOUR FREIGHT BROKER PARTNER

Trinity Logistics, ranked by Transport Topics as one of the Top Freight Brokerages for the 20th consecutive year, moves an average of over 40,000 loads per month. With that amount of volume, we carry significant buying power and relationships with our carrier network. That translates into savings on each shipment that many shippers may not be able to obtain based on their volume alone.

Trinity Logistics saves shippers and motor carriers a great deal of time playing matchmaker. Our goal is not only to deliver your product on time but also to deliver time itself so that you can perform at your best without having to become experts in matching loads to trucks or vice versa.

Learn more about our solutions.

There are several shipping options available for your freight. Sometimes it can be difficult to determine which mode of transportation will suit your needs best. One mode to consider for your freight is intermodal shipping

If this mode has been one you’ve been interested in learning more about, we’re here to help. First, we’ll walk you through what intermodal shipping is, when you should consider this mode, its benefits, and how intermodal rates work, so you can be on your way to transporting your freight in a new way! 

What is Intermodal Shipping? 

Intermodal shipping is the use of two or more modes to get the product from shipper to receiver. This could include any combination of ocean, air, rail, or truck transportation. However, in North America, intermodal often refers to the combination of using trucks and rail to move freight in shipping containers. 

Drayage

Another good term to know when talking about intermodal shipping is drayage. Drayage describes the trucking service from an ocean port or rail ramp. Drayage carriers are power only, meaning they only supply the truck or power unit. They pick up and drop off any equipment (the container and chassis) owned by the railroad, an intermodal provider, or ocean freight liners. Most often, drayage carriers will complete multiple loads in a day respective to their region.


When Should I Consider Intermodal Shipping?

Almost anything that can ship via truckload can be shipped intermodal. Here are some qualifiers on whether your shipments make sense to ship intermodal:

· You are looking to reduce shipping costs.

· You want to reduce risk during travel and have less handling of your product.

· You want your company to be more environmentally considerate with your shipping.

· You have long-distance shipments, over 750 miles.

· You have a lot of freight to move and a flexible delivery timeline.

· You have frequent shipments going to the same locations in similar quantities.

If any of the above qualifiers sound like you and your freight shipments, read on to learn about some of the benefits of switching up to intermodal shipping for your transportation.

Benefits of Intermodal Shipping

Moves a Lot of Product

A single train can move a load size equal to 280 truckloads. Essentially, you have an entire fleet at your disposal. As a result, high-volume shipments meet maximum efficiency when shipping intermodal. This can save you time and money by reducing fuel and labor costs. 

Quick(er) Shipping

Most people wouldn’t imagine intermodal shipping being quick enough. Not too long ago, a coast-to-coast shipment would take about two weeks. Now, it only takes about seven to 10 days, depending on the lane. If your delivery date is more flexible and not immediate, intermodal can make sense for your shipments. Additionally, intermodal sees fewer disruptions, making it more reliable than truckload. Intermodal does not have to worry about traffic patterns, weigh stations, checkpoints, or other issues compared to trucking.

Stay Green

Intermodal is more fuel-efficient than trucking since more products can be moved almost 500 miles on a single gallon of diesel fuel. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), replacing Over-The-Road shipments exceeding 1,000 miles with intermodal shipping reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 65 percent. Additionally, better fuel efficiency means savings on shipping costs.

Reduced Risk

When choosing to ship intermodal, shippers have far less exposure to roadway collisions, which means less chance of damage to your product. The risk of damage is also lowered because freight is loaded onto containers and not directly handled when changing between truck and rail. In addition, theft concerns are reduced as railyards are constantly monitored and no one can go in or out without documentation.


Understanding Intermodal Rates

Intermodal shipping rates have three basic parts: an origin drayage rate, a rail linehaul, and a destination drayage rate. However, door-to-door rates are typically an all-in rate comprised of those three components.

Drayage Rates

Drayage carriers offer consistent rates since they start and/or end every load at a consistent location, the intermodal rail ramp. Like truckload, drayage rates are a flat rate plus a fuel surcharge. Drayage carriers often provide a point-to-point pricing matrix including pick-up and delivery rates from every intermodal ramp to dozens of destinations within their region. Unlike truckload spot rates, drayage rates are much less volatile because drayage carriers often update their pricing matrix once a year, unlike the spot market which fluctuates daily. 

It’s important to note that when using drayage as a stand-alone service, you see other surcharges such as chassis fees or charges for port congestion or wait time at the rail or port.

Rail Rates

There are seven Class I railroads in North America:

Your intermodal marketing company (IMC) will get pricing matrixes from these railroads, which include rates from their intermodal ramps to other ramps. Rail rates are a flat fee plus a fuel surcharge. 

Important to note: Shippers cannot access intermodal rates directly from the railroads. You MUST work with an intermodal marketing company or third-party logistics company (3PL), like Trinity.

Don’t Forget About Accessorials

Because intermodal shipping depends on efficiency, accessorials are much more common than shipping truckload. Since intermodal shipping is very predictable and competitive, intermodal providers present shippers with the most efficient pricing, expecting to be compensated for any accessorials should they occur. 

Because of this, ensure you understand your provider’s accessorial policy and find out how those fees are factored into their rates. Even still, there’s no need to fear intermodal shipping because of the accessorial fees. In the long-term, intermodal shipping, even with accessorials, makes the overall cost savings of the mode worth it. 

Trinity Can Help With Your Intermodal Shipping

If you’re seeking to increase efficiencies in your supply chain logistics and transportation, intermodal is one mode to highly consider. The idea of using intermodal shipping over truckload can be intimidating, but choosing an experienced and knowledgeable provider, such as Trinity Logistics, can make the change an easy one. 

Find out more about Trinity's intermodal option.

When one hears “supply chain,” typically they first think of the physical components; the raw materials needed by a specific time for manufacturers or finished products to retail stores. The digital parts of supply chains work in a similar fashion. Cyber supply chains focus on keeping the physical aspects of business moving using applications, information systems, or digital vendors. And so, cyber supply chain risk management is crucial for business continuity.

Without addressing cyber supply chain risk management in an intentional and thoughtful manner, the industry will continue to remain susceptible to further disruption. Publicized breaches are the tip of the cyber-impact iceberg. Attacks occur with such frequency, and via many attack vectors, that a breach is occurring or imminent in any network or system.

According to the annual X-Force Threat Intelligence Index, manufacturing and other suppliers suffered nearly a quarter of the cyber attacks in 2021. Amidst the disruption faced by the pandemic, these attacks only further distressed supply chains. However, with a cyber supply chain risk management plan in place, companies can focus on reducing the frequency and impact of such events.

WHAT IS CYBER SUPPLY CHAIN RISK MANAGEMENT (C-SCRM)?

Cyber Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) is the process of ensuring the integrity of your supply chain’s supporting systems and data. This includes identifying, assessing, and mitigating the risk associated with the interconnected nature of information technology and service supply chains. Since cyber supply chain risk can be compromised at any point where technology is leveraged, C-SCRM applies to both hardware and software and covers the entire life cycle of those systems.

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

C-SCRM is Not Just an IT Problem

Cyber security for businesses isn’t quite that separate from physical security. The digital aspects of supply chains touch all parts of an organization, so C-SCRM should too. Cyber security risks can come from many different places such as physical sabotage or most commonly, human error via social engineering. Don’t make the mistake of thinking C-SCRM is the sole responsibility of the IT department. Whether physical or digital, security is part of everyone’s job.

Know Your Risks and Threats

If you don’t know your cyber security risks, it’s hard to have planned countermeasures for cyber threats. First, make a list of key scenarios that might endanger your cyber supply chain. Some common risks are integration loss, phishing attempts, malware, and hacking. Once you’ve created a complete list of risks, work through the most likely and highest impact scenarios first. Then, create plans to prevent and mitigate risk should a successful breach take place.

Assume a Breach Will Happen

We all like to think a breach will never happen, but these days it’s not if but when. Assuming a breach will happen allows you to better assess the impact of one on your system. Once you understand how affected you could be, you’ll better understand how to mitigate the effect of one.

Track the Links in Your Supply Chain

Working with third parties removes some of the control you have for cyber supply chain risk management. And static monitoring isn’t enough to keep your data and networks in your supply chain safe. Static monitoring gives you a one-time snapshot of their controls, but what about tomorrow or next week? Cyber supply chains aren’t static, so your monitoring shouldn’t be either. Many organizations assume they’re secure once they’ve implemented a cyber supply chain risk management framework, but it doesn’t stop there. Continued tracking is the most efficient way to ensure your data is always protected.

WHAT COMPANIES SHOULD FOCUS ON TO REDUCE CYBER ATTACKS

Network and System Hygiene

Cyber supply chain risk management starts with the management of the components making up the networks and systems of each link in the chain. Much of what supply chains need is straightforward hygiene. This includes updating older components, ensuring patching is consistent and comprehensive, and tighter controls on the use of open-source software to understand and mitigate any potential vulnerabilities.

What is the magical tool needed to affect this, you ask? It’s time. IT departments need enough staff to allow for time spent in this area. Many companies have grown to have some degree of heterogeneous systems and networks in place. Additionally, there’s been a recent move to remote and hybrid work styles. These recent changes have caused IT departments to need more team members to strengthen cyber security.

Monthly manual work is needed to ensure updates are completed and patches are deployed. Making it easier to perform this work involves homogenizing the environment. It’s an investment that can lead to improved cyber security for an organization.

Securely Transform

Digital transformation has been a staple in the changing work environment over the last two years. But those changes are a breeding ground for potential vulnerabilities.

Every digital transformation is a security event. This includes events like moving processes to the cloud or leveraging automation. Understanding the changes introduced in any digital environment is critical to defending your digital borders and reducing the blast radius if a successful breach occurs.

Ensuring the understanding of how new technologies connect to systems, how users interact, and how data flows is key to reducing the impact of the inevitable cyber-attack.

Beyond Logs

Logging security and other events are table stakes these days. But it’s only useful if observation and understanding are applied to those logs.

Based on the number of systems and infrastructure in use today at even a smaller organization, the manual survey of logs can no longer count as observation. This is due to the number of differences between various software and hardware providers.

Having a solution or partner in place to intake and analyze logs is more critical now than it ever has been.

The second need is the ability to understand it all. The trick is that it’s not about understanding one individual log. It’s about understanding them both alone and as they relate to one another. Again, this greater depth of understanding is where a solution or partner comes into play. Understanding allows for the identification of any anomalies so you can act upon them quickly and decisively.

CYBERSECURITY IS A PEOPLE, PROCESS, AND TECHNOLOGY PROBLEM

These cybersecurity steps are critical to keeping your data safe and establishing your business as a reliable supply chain partner. Successful attacks will continue to occur, but if you have the right team, solutions, and partners, your business can be more secure among cyber supply chain risks.

Cybersecurity is a people, process, and technology problem, so make sure to ally yourself with some of the good guys, like Trinity Logistics. We work with all our partners to understand and address potential supply chain risks, providing you with the technology and data you need while maintaining optimal cyber security. Our Technology Team is knowledgeable and experienced in cyber supply chain risk management, consistently working to keep our and your data secure. 

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Inbound Logistics has named Trinity Logistics as a Green Supply Chain Partner of 2022.  

Inbound Logistics selected 75 honorees that “walk the walk” when it comes to commitment to supply chain sustainability and given the global environment this year, Trinity Logistics is very honored to have been selected.

Sustainability is something Trinity has always taken very seriously. Since 2008, Trinity Logistics has participated in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWay Program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution that is caused by freight transportation. Trinity has also been partners with American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care since 2009, which involves staying committed to improving company performance through community awareness, security, distribution, and pollution prevention. 

With one of Trinity’s Guiding Values being Continuous Improvement, the company knows there is always room for improvement, even in sustainability efforts. That’s why Trinity recently become a Carbonfree Partner with Carbon Fund. 

The Carbonfund.org Foundation is a non-profit that works with its partners to help them become “carbon-neutral” by donating funds to offset their emissions. Donated funds go toward third-party validated projects that comply with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. With the help of Carbonfund.org, Trinity was able to calculate electricity usage in its corporate Delaware location and donate funds to the Carbonfund.org Foundation to offset the company’s own emissions by planting trees and funds sent to the Texas Capricorn Ridge Wind Project. Thanks to the Carbonfund.org Foundation, Trinity was able to offset 143 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Additionally, Trinity is working with the EPA and Carbonfund.org Foundation to create a calculated way that our shipper customers can donate to offset their shipment’s emissions and make a difference as well. 

“As many companies shift focus to clean energy and reducing carbon footprints, Trinity is excited for our new partnership with the Carbonfund.org Foundation and our continued partnerships with American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care Management System and EPA’s SmartWay Program to support our customer efforts in going green,” says Kristin Deno, Director of Operational Risk at Trinity.

Trinity is grateful to be recognized for its continued sustainability efforts. Trinity stays determined to find and implement impactful ways to help combat climate change and hopefully soon, can offer more ways for shipper customers to make a direct impact too. 

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About Trinity Logistics

Trinity Logistics is a Burris Logistics Company, offering People-Centric Freight Solutions®. Our mission is to deliver creative logistics solutions through a mix of human ingenuity and innovative technology, enriching the lives of those we serve. 

For the past 40 years, we’ve been arranging freight for businesses of all sizes in truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), warehousing, intermodal, drayage, expedited, international, and technology solutions.

We are currently recognized on Transport Topics’ Top 100 Freight Brokerage List, a Top 3PL and Cold Storage Provider by Food Logistics, and a Top Company for Women to Work for in Transportation by Women in Trucking.

If you’re a large-scale manufacturer, getting liquid freight transported in bulk is a non-negotiable complexity. Bulk transportation, especially liquid freight, has its challenges and may seem daunting. But, with the right information and provider, it doesn’t have to be. So, whether you’re new to bulk transportation for your liquid freight or a seasoned vet, this article breaks it all down so you can safely and efficiently have your liquid bulk product transported.

What Is A Bulk Product?

What Kinds Of Bulk Liquid Products Are There?

What Is Bulk Transportation For Liquid Freight?

Complexities Of Bulk Transportation For Liquid Freight

What Can Go Wrong With Shipping Bulk Liquid Freight?

What Kind Of Equipment Is Needed For Bulk Liquid Transportation?

How Do You Transport Bulk Liquids?

Bulk Transportation: Liquid Freight Regulations

WHAT IS A BULK PRODUCT?

Before we dive into bulk liquid freight, let’s go over what bulk products are. The term “bulk” is used in transportation to describe goods that are not in containers and loose, transported in mass quantities or volumes. Bulk products are usually packed in one large container to be moved, such as a tanker trailer. Bulk products are often not intended for general consumers but are useful to manufacturers. Examples of bulk products are raw materials, ingredients for food manufacturing, materials for landscaping, gravel, dried beans, oil, or grains.

Another term to be aware of when working with bulk products is “break bulk”. Breakbulk is when a bulk shipment is broken down into smaller containers. This is important to know because bulk shipments are handled as loose goods whereas breakbulk shipments are loaded individually in some sort of container. Therefore, when you have a product to ship, it’s very important to properly communicate whether your shipment is bulk or breakbulk.

WHAT KINDS OF BULK LIQUID PRODUCTS ARE THERE?

There are many sorts of liquid products that ship via bulk transportation. These types of liquids are often used in manufacturing, food processing, agriculture, and more. Some examples of bulk liquid freight are:

WHAT IS BULK TRANSPORTATION FOR LIQUID FREIGHT?

Bulk transportation for liquid freight involves using a tanker trailer instead of smaller drums or tanks. Bulk liquid transportation usually refers to the act of moving liquid freight by truck over long distances.

COMPLEXITIES OF BULK TRANSPORTATION FOR LIQUID FREIGHT

Bulk liquid freight, especially when it’s hazardous, can carry more risk than other types of freight. For example, an accident involving a tanker truck can cause the shutdown of roadways, manufacturing production lines, and ultimately, the loss of raw material needed for many products.

The first complexity of bulk liquid freight is the way it’s packaged and stored. Unlike other freight, it’s not packaged in totes or smaller containers. Instead, bulk liquid freight is stored and transported in large containers and tankers, and because of their liquid state, they can slosh around and spill.

Since bulk liquid freight shipments transport differently than dry van shipments, you’ll find complexity in its logistics like:

Longer Lead Times

Tanker transportation is considered more of a specialty compared to dry vans, so you’ll notice fewer tankers available. This can make finding an available tanker longer to find.

Higher Rates

Being a specialty type of transportation, it’s easy to see why rates will be higher for this type of shipping. First, carriers pay more for this kind of special equipment. On average a tanker trailer can cost $100,000 to $125,000 compared to the cost of a dry van around $35,000 to $40,000.

Also, your shipping costs will include deadhead miles every time as each delivery requires a trip to wash the tanker. And unlike other types of transportation, you’ll have the same rate regardless of how full the tanker trailer is since different liquid freight cannot be combined for motor carriers to create a “full tank load” shipment.

Different Driver Requirments

No matter the product, tanker drivers are required to have a tanker endorsement, and if the liquid freight is hazardous, they’ll also be required to have a hazmat certification as well.

More Insurance

Carriers hauling hazardous liquid freight in bulk must carry a minimum of $5 million in liability insurance.

WHAT CAN GO WRONG WITH SHIPPING BULK LIQUID FREIGHT?

A lot can go wrong when shipping bulk liquids, so working with an experienced provider is very important. Drivers must be extra careful when pulling a bulk tanker trailer of liquid freight. Just as you must be careful when carrying a glass of water, liquid freight in a bulk tanker sloshes around with movement. If a driver brakes too hard or turns too fast, the weight of the liquid freight can surge to one side and topple the trailer. And if the freight is hazardous, then massive environmental damage can also happen.

Outside of concerns about a toppled trailer, drivers must be mindful of other issues. For example, what happens when you shake or stir liquid? It agitates and causes foam. This also happens with liquid freight during bulk transport. While foam can be annoying when later unloading the trailer, at worst, too much aeration can ruin a shipment depending on the kind of liquid.

Another thing that can go wrong when transporting liquid freight is contamination. Therefore, tank washing is a requirement for every shipment. If a tank isn’t properly cleaned before the next shipment is loaded, residue from the previous shipment can contaminate it.

Lastly, leaky tanks are another serious issue with bulk liquid shipping. If a leak goes unnoticed, even a small one, a significant amount of product can be lost during transport.

WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED FOR BULK LIQUID TRANSPORTATION?

Bulk liquid freight cannot be transported without the proper equipment. Most often, a bulk tanker trailer is needed to haul liquid freight. A bulk tanker is a large, cylindrical metal tank pulled by a standard freight truck.

But there are several different kinds of tankers that can be used for the bulk transportation of liquid freight. For example, there are tankers designed to keep a product’s temperature regulated or tankers with hoppers on the bottom to make unloading easier. In addition, some tankers include pressurized tanks or acid-resistant tanks. Which type of tanker you’ll need is determined by the liquid freight you need to transport.

Some questions to ask yourself, or that your provider may ask of you, to determine what kind of equipment is needed are:

Types of Tanker Trailers for Liquid Freight

Tanker trailers can be categorized into two categories, depending on the content they transport or their structures.

Tankers by Structure

General Purpose Tanker

These tankers are used to transport bulk liquid freight that doesn’t require special care or procedures. They are usually made of steel.

General Purpose w/ Heat Coils

These tankers are the same except for the addition of heat coils to help raise or maintain the temperature of the product.

Pneumatic Tanker

These tankers have a series of hoppers on their underbellies to help with unloading. Although pneumatic tank trailers are mostly used to transport dry bulk freight. They are also effective for liquid bulk.

Vacuum Tanker

This is simply a tanker with a pump to help load bulk liquid from underground or any other location into the tank. These tankers are most used to transport septage, industrial liquids, sewage, or animal waste.

Rubber Lined Tanker

These tankers are commonly used to transport corrosive chemicals.

Aluminum Tanker

These lightweight tankers can carry more volumes before reaching their weight limit and have lower operating costs. They are typically used to transport petroleum and petrochemicals.

Compartmentalized Tanker

These tankers have compartments built into them that allow tanker carriers to ship different chemicals.

Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Tanker

These tankers are most used for food-grade bulk liquids, corrosive chemicals, and other hazardous liquid freight.

ISO Tankers

These tankers are built according to the standards of the International Standard Organization (ISO) for the shipping of most bulk liquid freight.

Tankers by Liquid Content

Fuel/Petroleum

These carry gasoline, fuel, oil, or propane. Most often these tankers are required to carry a hazmat certification, also making this a more dangerous job.

Food Grade

These tankers carry liquid freight like water, milk, or juice. These tankers can be equipped with heating or cooling systems for temperature control.

Chemical/Acid

These are used to transport many types of industrial chemicals. Some are designed to carry corrosive chemicals.

But Wait, There’s More…

Before we move on to the next section, two things you might want to know about are baffles and tanker weight limits.

Baffles

What are baffles? Remember when we spoke on liquid agitation earlier? That’s where baffles come in. Most tankers have baffles on the inside to help reduce the movement of the liquid. They act as different chambers to help divide the liquid up into smaller compartments, so the entire weight of the liquid is prevented from surging up against the side of the tank.

Tanker Weight Limits

Tankers are not limited by the amount of liquid they can contain, but by their weight. The U.S. Department of Transportation mandates that the maximum weight limit for trucks on public roads cannot exceed 80,000 pounds. So, if the liquid you need to transport is dense, like syrup or paint, you might not be able to fill an entire tanker truck. This is essential to keep in mind when arranging your bulk liquid shipments.

HOW DO YOU TRANSPORT BULK LIQUIDS?

Now that we know what kinds of equipment are used in transporting bulk liquid freight, let’s talk loading and unloading. These proper handling procedures ensure your liquid freight is transported safely.

Loading and Unloading

Before loading, the carrier must have the tanker cleaned so that it is without any residue or odor. The only time a tank washing may not be required is if the tanker is transporting the exact type of chemical it most recently unloaded.

They must also thoroughly inspect that nothing is out of place and there are no leaks. If there is any concern, the entire tank can be filled with water to test for leaks. Not only is a leaking tank inconvenient and expensive, but it’s also illegal.

There are two major methods for loading and unloading liquid freight from a bulk tanker: compressors and pumps. Pumps suck the liquid out of the tank while air compressors rely on pressure to force liquid out. It’s important to know that you cannot use air compressors for any flammable liquids as static electricity could build up and cause a spark.

Fun fact: When you unload a tanker of liquid freight using a pump, you must vent it by opening the hatch on top. The trailer can implode if this step is missed, just like your pressurized cooker at home. However, if you’re unloading with a compressor, make sure the hatch is closed.

When a bulk liquid shipment arrives for unloading, the receiver should always first take a sample to confirm the right product was delivered and in good condition.

Hazardous Labeling

Regulations mandate that any trailer transporting hazardous materials must be labeled. This helps anyone recognize the kind of content the trailer is carrying so they know what precautions are required.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT?

It’s important to know your and other parties’ responsibilities to ensure a safely transported bulk liquid shipment.

Shipper Responsibilities

Receiver Responsibilities

Carrier Responsibilities

BULK TRANSPORTATION: LIQUID FREIGHT REGULATIONS

Depending on what kind of liquid freight you’re transporting in bulk, regulations can vary. For instance, if you’re shipping liquid intended for human consumption, you’ll need to abide by any regulations set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), like the Food and Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

If you’re shipping hazardous liquid freight, you’ll need to abide by any hazmat regulations.

Regardless of the kind of liquid freight you’re transporting, you’ll need to make sure the provider you work with has a tanker endorsement.

Everyone dreams about what they want to be as a kid when they grow up. Whether it’s a doctor, a famous athlete, or even an astronaut, it’s safe to say we all dream about what our future holds. But one area people often turn a blind eye to is the logistics sector. When people hear, logistics, they often only thinks of truck drivers, dismissing a logistics career as a potential path. In reality, truck drivers are only one role in this industry. 

The logistics field is one of the most important in the world. Everything depends on how the logistics sector is running during that period. Logistics is how the new iPhone gets to stores, food on the shelves and at restaurants, or amazon orders from the warehouse to your front doorstep. To say that logistics is critical to our everyday lives is an understatement. 

Career Pathways

There are many options for a logistics career outside of driving a truck. While truck drivers are an integral role in the field, the logistics sector has many more career paths available. 

Sales

There are several different departments that play their part in logistics with one of them being sales. Logistics companies need salespeople to attract, gain, and retain new business for continued growth. Salespeople are those individuals who current and potential customers interact with first, so it’s important for these people to be driven, and hardworking, but also have the soft skills to win over new customers. 

Independent Freight Agents

Perhaps you want more flexibility in your logistics career. If you’re the type of person to enjoy running their own business, then a career as an independent freight agent could be for you. Independent freight agents work with third-party logistics companies (3PL), like Trinity, to work their own book of business while having back-end support available. 

Dispatching

Working with carrier companies is very important aspect of logistics. Being able to recruit and grow carrier relationships is important to the success of a business. Jobs within this area often help with getting carriers to their preferred lanes while negotiating rates on those shipments. 

But Wait, There’s More…

You may not know this but there’s more to logistics than just arranging freight shipments. There are many administrative support roles available in a logistics career. These can include finance, marketing, human resources, technology, education, customer service, and more. If you’re not a sales-driven individual, then these opportunities may make more sense to you. 

What Benefits Can a Logistics Career Offer You?

Untapped Incentives

One huge benefit is the control an individual has when working within this sector, especially in many sales-driven roles.  The untapped incentive opportunities are up to the individual to reach. It’s about the drive, pace and execution in the role to increase earnings through incentive programs and help the whole Team win in the market.

Career Growth

Career growth is another benefit to this industry’s potential. No matter which role you start at, you have many opportunities to grow your skills, your knowledge, or even change up your path while remaining in the logistics field.

A Logistics Career is for Everyone

Many careers have specific job requirements on education level, such as requiring a bachelor’s degree or more. But, the logistics field is one for everyone. Many can start at entry level and grow as much as they want along with making a great living too. 

Stability

A logistics career is a stable one because the logistics industry is going nowhere. Logistics is one the fastest growing industries and currently employs 1.7 million people, which is only 5 percent of the workforce. Job opportunities are rising as this industry becomes more important for society and looks to improve with technology. With this stability, you’ll never have to worry about not having a job or not having the opportunity for career growth.

Never Be Bored

The supply chain is a swinging pendulum of change and always has different challenges waiting for everyone. We’ve seen this from the covid-19 pandemic, the labor shortages, product shortages, port congestion within the United States, and now Chinese ports being shut down as well. The logistics sector causes everyone to navigate these challenges and think creatively to get to the final destination, thus, you’ll never have a boring day at work! You’ll never have your head down falling asleep or be stuck doing the same thing repeatedly. Because you must adapt daily, you stay on your feet and await the next challenge to avoid. 

Work With New Technologies

Because the logistics sector is one that is growing, that means innovation through technology as well. Whether it’s a payment system, booking loads, Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRMS), or new customer and carrier portals, it gives you the opportunity to learn new, innovative systems that will enhance your soft skills as well. This is far from stopping either, as the industry is always looking to find ways to easily streamline customers and create data systems that are user friendly and easy to use as well.

Fulfilling Work

Working in logistics takes a lot of responsibility. Don’t feel too overwhelmed though as high responsibility means high reward. No matter the role you choose, you’ll feel a sense of pride in seeing products you worked with on shelves, in stores, or knowing you helped assist in a FEMA shipment, helping those who faced a natural disaster. This all comes in addition to the satisfaction you’ll receive from those parties you helped. 

Flexibility

Logistics is for everyone, meaning you’re not tied to one area of the United States or world. Every company whether big, small, domestic, or international uses logistics to get products from point A to B. You can move almost anywhere and be able to work remotely or for a logistics company in that area. Even the type of workplaces can differ as well. You could be working in a warehouse, factory floor, an open office area, or even from the comfort of your home. The possibilities are endless when it comes to the kind of place and location you could work from in logistics. 

The Next Generation

Because the logistics industry is growing, there is major concern about recruiting. Many in the logistics industry are focused on expanding people’s interest into this sector, especially for the younger generations. More colleges offer logistics and supply chain classes and degrees, more logistics businesses are using social media applications like Instagram and TikTok, and new programs like the U21 Truck Driver Apprenticeship program are making huge steps forward in showcasing a logistics career as a good path. 

Clearer Than Ever

One factor that spiked this industry’s popularity and knowledge was the covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic started the drastic market changes that we’re still experiencing today since everyone started online shopping more due to the social distancing that was put in place.

From there we’ve continued to see supply chains making headlines due to, delivery times being delayed, product shortages, increased prices, delays, and congestion at the ports, and more. 

Now that everyone has seen experience the supply chain affecting them personally, people are more aware of logistics and have a better understanding of how society needs it to run efficiently.

Interested in a Logistics Career?

If you’re looking for a career in logistics at a growing company, Trinity Logistics could be for you. We’re a third-party logistics company (3PL), offering People-Centric Freight Solutions®. Our mission is to deliver creative logistics solutions through a dynamic mix of human ingenuity and innovative technology, enriching the lives of those we serve. To accomplish this, we start by enriching the lives of our Team Members. 

We offer an ideal work environment with a causal dress code and an emphasis on Team Member appreciation. Our job opportunities offer you the job stability and more.  

If you want to learn more about Trinity’s culture and job opportunities, click below to start your logistics career.

By: Turner Lee