Cargo theft and fraud is a common topic in many circles these days. No matter where we look, we see it mentioned in news headlines and see its impacts on price increases on the store shelves. In fact, CargoNet recently shared data showcasing that cargo theft has reached a 10-year high, increasing 59 percent year-over-year (YoY) in the U.S. alone.

While cargo theft and fraud have always been a risk in the world of logistics, the kind of theft and fraud we see today is evolving from what we used to know. Years ago, common cargo fraud involved extortion attempts via loads held hostage as well as t-check scams, where bad actors would book shipments and ask for a fuel advance, take the money, and disappear, often without completing delivery or even picking up the shipment they received the payment advance for.

While these kinds of fraud still occur, they are not as prevalent as they once were. Today’s cargo theft and fraud involve new strategies, and it’s important that companies stay aware of emerging tactics and remain vigilant to protect themselves from unnecessary and tragic losses.

The Evolution of Cargo Theft and Fraud

In the past, cargo theft was commonly known as the act of stealing from a truck or even unlawfully taking cargo from a storage facility. Usually this might occur when the truck driver was asleep or when the parked truck was left unattended in an unsecured lot. Now, cargo theft claims for lost product can be especially difficult to navigate as many insurance carriers have specific language and exclusions written within the pages of cargo policies limiting circumstances under which they will cover cargo payment for cargo theft incidents.

For example, some policies may dictate that the truck must travel within a specific radius only and cannot be left unattended unless in a secured lot. Unfortunately, the definition of “secured lot” is wide-ranging and debatable. Does “secured lot” mean there’s a locked fence, good lighting, cameras, surveillance, or a physical security employee on patrol? There’s simply a lot of confusion and unknowns when it comes to cargo theft in general.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently reported that the top scam type for 2023 involved imposters. We in logistics and other sectors have been experiencing this concept. Scenarios expand beyond just plain and simple identity theft, at least in the logistics industry. The current phase of cargo theft involving identity misappropriation is very strategic. In fact, CargoNet also shared data that strategic theft has increased 430 percent year-over-year (YoY). As quoted by Scott Cornell of Travelers Insurance, “Strategic theft is when they use various means to trick you into giving them the freight and that’s through methods like identity theft, fictitious pickups, double brokering scams, those methods are where we’re seeing the biggest increase over the last 18 months.”

This strategic cargo theft makes incidents that were already puzzling that much more difficult to solve. This kind of cargo theft often spans over multiple state lines (interstate) as opposed to intrastate. When this occurs, jurisdiction is not given to local or state authorities but may extend to federal jurisdiction. However, to establish a case seeking federal help, not only would more than one state need to be involved, but the cargo value must warrant federal attention to exceed $100,000 and perhaps even $500,000 or more, depending on the states involved. You may have police consider strategic cargo theft a civil matter that will not be taken under investigation.

Further, with these scenarios, there is confusion concerning who takes or issues the theft report Should that be the shipper, the receiver, or the freight broker? Is the report filed with law enforcement jurisdiction at the origin where freight was often last seen, or should reports be filed at the delivery jurisdiction, where the cargo never arrived? The cargo owner may attempt to file a police report where the transfer of goods occurred, which is the location where the driver took possession of the cargo for transport. 

The State of Strategic Cargo Scams

Certain states like California and Texas have become hotspots for these strategic cargo scams, often involving imposter identities. Many of these fraudsters operate outside the U.S., finding and exploiting weaknesses in the system so products may end up outside the country. This further hurts the U.S. economy when items are produced here and those companies don’t get a financial return, thus losing money that should be going back into the economy. There are other additional costs affecting manufacturers to consider, such as lost time, materials, and labor to duplicate the goods that were originally stolen. 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) system, originally designed to verify motor carrier legitimacy, has become a target. Phishing scams and other methods have targeted carriers with a motive to change a carrier’s contact information and use their MC authority for nefarious purposes. Bad actors have been caught posing as valid, reputable carrier companies. They often go as far as creating web domains similar to those of established carriers or caught purchasing MC numbers from those going out of business or wishing to exit, especially with the recent market slowdown, with the new buyer updating that company’s contact information. They look and “run” as the previous motor carrier, using that previous authority and reputation to run their scams. This facade allows them to gain possession of or intercept the cargo and divert it to a pre-arranged location for a quick disappearance. The FMCSA is aware of these trending cargo theft scams and is actively looking to improve their vetting and even get rid of MC numbers for carriers.

There’s also a prevalence in double brokering. This is when an unauthorized carrier accepts a shipment or assigns it to another carrier lacking the proper authority to broker it in the first place. It can also involve the re-brokering of shipments without authorization to legitimate entities with broker authority. This creates a chain of uncertainty and lack of control over carrier selection while increasing the likelihood of unpaid delivering carriers, and double payments required from freight brokers and shippers, paying more than agreed for delivery services. 

Load boards, while usually valuable tools for shippers and freight brokers to connect with available carriers, are also now breeding grounds for fraud. Fake postings and compromised information have created a haven for scam artists. The more information presented on a load posting, such as commodity, value, or even location, the more opportunity for these scammers to successfully replicate fake loads and even steal rate confirmations from legitimate actors. Detailed information provided on load boards make loads easier targets for those with motive to engage in strategic theft and double brokering. 

Cargo fraud involving identity theft is not limited to carrier companies. Scammers also pose as shipper companies. These shipping requests will often come in as inbound leads rather than relationship leads. Scammers create fake web domains and use reputable companies to gain credit access, then use that access to pose as both a shipper and carrier. They’ll orchestrate this fake shipment of theirs, make it look as if it has been delivered with forged paperwork, and collect payment before being found out.

A lot of these shipments involving strategic cargo theft end up being diverted to alternate warehouses. In these cases, it is common for the carrier booked to be legitimate but for a bad actor to somehow get in the middle and divert the driver to deliver to a different location altogether, promising an increase in money. Once the freight arrives at the alternate location, there’s a truck en route or waiting to whisk away the freight quickly. Diverted items do not stay in one place for long, making it difficult to track and recover the cargo.  

How to Be Proactive and Prevent Cargo Theft and Fraud

Trust, But Verify

Whether dealing with a shipper company or carrier, thorough verification is needed.

For shippers requests, use sources like ZoomInfo, LinkedIn, and Google. Research the company along with the contact who reached out. Remember that most shipper scams involve inbound leads as opposed to solicited new business or existing relationships. Before agreeing to arrange or transport the movement of goods, use Google Maps to ensure the requested pickup and delivery locations are legitimate.

For example, if the shipping company is a well-known business but Google Maps Street View shows you a location that doesn’t look like one of theirs, something might be off. Another red flag could be if the commodity to be shipped doesn’t line up with their standard business, such as an electronics company trying to ship lumber or rice.

For carrier requests, first vet that they have authority to operate with the FMCSA. View their safety rating and be cognizant of shipper or load-specific requirements, such as drivers who have TWIC cards, and commodity specifics, like cargo type and value. Confirm the carrier has adequate insurance coverage for the shipment they are booking, such as reefer breakdown coverage, if they are to haul a temperature-controlled shipment. Cross-check any other shipment requirements, such as interstate authority or hazmat certifications.

Review relationship and load history if they have a shipment history with you and ensure the new request lines up with previous hauls. Be aware of MC misappropriating. Check if the FMCSA information or profile has recently been updated. Some things to look out for are contact, address, or email address changes. Double-check that the carrier company is not associated with any known bad actors and adhere to your company’s own internal vetting standards.

There are various informational and vetting applications like Highway and Truckstop to further qualify carriers. Ensure the equipment the carrier owns lines up with the equipment required for the shipment. For example, it wouldn’t make sense if a carrier books a temperature-controlled shipment when the carrier owns no refrigerated trailers.

Use Relationships, Limit Load Boards

While load boards offer convenience, strong relationships with carriers provide a significant advantage. Building trust and gaining a deeper understanding of their business reduces your risk of cargo theft and fraud.

When load boards are needed, be strategic with your postings and focus on the security of the information you share. Scam artists often use load boards as a resource for information to replicate or find their next victim. They often look at the locations, the kind of cargo, and more. Avoid posting detailed descriptions of your cargo. Keep the information you share as simple and minimal as possible. Protect that information until the carrier has been both vetted and confirmed.

Trust Your Gut

If something feels wrong at any time, report it to your Risk Team or dedicated personnel right away. With cargo theft, time is of the essence. The first 48 hours are critical as stolen freight typically doesn’t stay in the same place very long. Your best chance of recovering it is within those early hours of noticing it. 

Your first line of defense to prevent cargo theft and fraud incidents is your pickup location. Those workers have the eyes and, hopefully, surveillance to see if the truck coming in is the right one. They can check that the MC on the truck is correct, that the driver has the right equipment for that shipment’s requirements, that the driver is the one booked, and that they know the correct location they need to deliver to.

Shippers can also be proactive and place trackers in with their freight, which can be beneficial for trip progress tracking as well if the load gets stolen. While many carriers do have trackers these days, it’s best not to rely solely on them. Scam artists have been known to disable trackers or ping them to another cell phone, making the shipment look like it’s traveling where it is supposed to go, while it is, in fact, stopped or delivering to an alternate location.

Shippers can also ensure they use strong seals that are tamper-proof. Ensure your dock workers are informed and proactive in reducing potential incidents. Shippers may also consider investing in extra shipper’s interest for its product, for a first-party insurance policy which provides a layer of extra protection. Develop strong relationships with the freight brokers you work with. Know who the emergency personnel are on the shipper and broker side and be armed with their contact information so you know exactly who to contact at all times of the day should a theft or another emergency occur during shipping.

Knowledge is Power

Stay in the know of what’s going on and trending in cargo theft and fraud by networking with known associations, like CargoNet and the Transport Asset Protection Association (TAPA), as well as the additional connection of the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) for freight brokers. These organizations constantly educate on evolving threats to keep members aware.

Ensure you have an emergency plan in place and educate your team so you can be well prepared for an incident. Develop relationships with law enforcement and investigation agencies who can help you put the word out about your loss and assist in finding your freight or the scam artists involved.

Combatting Cargo Theft is a Shared Responsibility

Combatting cargo theft and fraud requires collaboration from all within the logistics industry. Shippers, brokers, carriers, legislators and law enforcement must work together to create a more transparent environment with strict accountability to make it more difficult for thieves and fraudsters to operate.

Cargo fraud is growing, and tactics are ever-changing. Even with all the right measures in place, fraud may not be 100 percent preventable. That said, though we can’t stop it all, we can implement not only prevention measures but response strategies. By staying vigilant and educated, we can collectively demonstrate to these bad actors that it’s not worth the effort anymore. It is up to us to create a future where the movement of goods is more efficient and secure than it is today.

About the Author

Kristin Deno currently holds the role of Director of Operational Risk at Trinity Logistics. Deno holds a Certified Cargo Claims Professional certification through the Certified Claims Professional Accreditation Council (CCPAC), with almost 15 years of experience and knowledge in claims, insurance, compliance, and risk. She has a passion for knowledge and servant leadership, always looking to grow professionally and share her expertise to those interested. She’s well known at Trinity for assisting fellow Team Members, Shippers, and Carriers with complex claims and doing all she can to mitigate any potentially concerning scenarios. Deno consistently looks for opportunities to share her knowledge and insight outside of Trinity, having recently attended the TIA’s 2023 Policy Forum in Washington, D.C., Traveler’s and CargoNet’s Cargo Theft and Transportation in Q4 2023, and the TAPA T1 National Cargo Theft Summit in May 2024. 

Living on the road as a truck driver is a difficult job but living on the road as a broke truck driver is even harder. Having self-discipline to watch your spending isn’t as easy as it sounds. Lucky for you, we’ve gathered five tips on how to save money while on the road.

Plan Ahead

Make life on the road simpler and cheaper by planning ahead. If you are preparing for a longer trip, stock up on supplies that you think you’ll want before hitting the road. Bring non-perishable groceries and pack your toiletries and electronics beforehand to save money. You don’t want to spend unnecessary money, so even packing your own toothbrush and floss rather than purchasing it at the rest stop store will save you something. Truck stop prices can sometimes be high, causing you to spend unnecessary dough. Save money by organizing before you begin your trip and only bring the necessities with you.

When it comes to planning ahead, meal prepping can be another great tip on how to save money while on the road. According to an article in CDL Life, bringing your own food on the road can save you roughly $1,500 a year alone! Even making your coffee at home instead of buying out every day can save you roughly $2,000 a year. Preparing your meals ahead of time will save you from extra spending, plus it’s a healthier alternative to eating fast food for every meal. Below are lists of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack ideas that you can prep before hitting the road.

Breakfast ideas:

• Egg frittatas
• Protein bars
• Fruit salad
• Blueberry muffins

Lunch ideas:

• Peanut butter and jelly or deli meat sandwiches
• Soup
• Salad
• Pre-made smoothie bags (just add milk and ice and blend in a blender)

Dinner ideas:

• Grilled chicken and rice
• Meatloaf
• Grilled salmon with veggies
• Home-made pizza

Snack ideas:

• Hardboiled eggs
• Veggies and hummus
• Fruit
• Almonds
• Beef jerky

For more tips, ideas, and recipes on meal prepping, click right here.

Create a Budget

Creating a budget for yourself will help you be more aware of how to save money. Write out a weekly or monthly budget with what you plan to spend on necessities like food, bills, etc. Add a section for unplanned expenses with a fixed amount so that you don’t go over budget. This can be your rainy-day fund for any unexpected expenses that may occur. Utilizing mobile apps can be a great way to budget and stay on top of your expenses. Mint® is a budget management app that tracks user spending. Mint® categorizes your transactions, tracks your bills, alerts you when you’ve exceeded maximum spending, and even provides free credit score monitoring. Many truck drivers utilize this app to keep track of their finances while traveling.

Along with budgeting, it can also be beneficial for you to keep a daily expense log for your finances. Add up how much money you spend every day to help you be more conscious of your spending habits and what you’re spending your money on. You’d be surprised at where your money goes.

Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance!

            Maintaining the safety of your truck can save you so much money. Before you hit the road, check all the nuts and bolts on the vehicle to make sure everything is running properly. Be proactive by getting frequent oil changes or filling up your tires with air. Running into a mechanical problem is frustrating, inconvenient, and can put you behind schedule. If you do happen to run into a problem, contact fellow truckers or other colleagues in the industry to see if they can recommend local mechanics in that area who can help.

CDL Discounts

            You’d be surprised at how many discounts you can receive while on the road. Many hotels and restaurants provide discounted prices and according to Transport Topics, Cracker Barrel offers free coffee and fountain drinks to truck drivers. Drivers can also receive a 25 percent discount at Papa Johns, free coffee at Starbucks, and 15 percent off online orders at Denny’s. Rewards cards and loyalty programs are also offered at select truck stops. Some CDL discounts can even help you save money on fuel, coffee, showering, etc. At Trinity Logistics, we offer a discount program to our carriers that is free to join and gives drivers access to industry-wide fleet savings. Want to learn more about this program? Click here.

            There are several mobile apps on the market that offer ways for you to save money. GasBuddy offers a database of over 150,000 fuel stations that you can utilize to find the cheapest prices. GasBuddy also offers free gas coupons if you use your GasBuddy app or card to pay at Walmart, Amazon, and other big name retailers. Love’s Connect is also a free app used to redeem points and rewards. When you  fuel up at any of Love’s travel stops you will earn points for refueling. These points can be used to redeem free shop items or free showers. Taking advantage of these apps and the rewards systems can help you save money.

Take Advantage of Free WIFI

            Data usage can add up when traveling long distances. While unlimited data is an option, many people still have set data plans that charge you over usage fees when you go over the limit. This is why you as a truck driver need to utilize places with free WIFI any chance they get. Free WIFI is at almost every establishment these days, so simply ask if the place that you’re at has this option. The worst they could do is say no!

            Life on the road can definitely challenge your willpower to spend. Being mindful of your spending and making use of these tips and resources can help. We hope this article gave you some ideas and that you save some money while traveling on the job.

Do you have your own MC/DOT? Looking to see why you should be a part of Trinity’s carrier network?

No authority of your own? Check out our parent company, Burris Logistics, for available driver positions.

Picture what it was to be a 3PL (third-party logistics company) 30 years ago. Filing cabinets were full of paper documents. Fax machines, handwritten documents, and corded phones were the way of communication. There were no navigational systems, only paper maps.

Thanks to advancements in technology, 3PLs can function without filing cabinets. Now documents can be saved to the cloud and sent in seconds through email. Very few documents are handwritten and employees are highly mobile with the ability to work in office, on the road, or even from home. As great as that all is, even more technology is needed for a 3PL to compete in today’s market.

Technology Improves the Customer Experience

Reducing paper use, being mobile, and wireless, is not enough to keep a 3PL competitive. Customers are looking for more visibility, while carriers are looking for easier and quicker processes to book shipments. There are still many manual processes that are able to be automated with technology, offering a better customer experience. Technology such as digital freight matching and artificial intelligence are some examples of what is now available to 3PLs.

Trinity Logistics looks for ways to improve efficiencies and serve greater support to our customers, carriers, and independent Agents through technology. Over the past few years, we’ve been able to grow our technology and offer our industry audiences many improvements with their experiences.

Trinity Stays on Top of Technology

Trinity’s Technology Team is always growing as we look for ways to stand out and provide excellent service as a modern day 3PL. We have a team of our own software engineers who keep our business applications up-to-date with newer technology.

Are you ready to read about the technology we can offer to support your business?

Tracking and Tracing Options

Trinity offers our customers and carriers their choice of tracking and tracing applications. Currently, we offer FourKites, Trucker Tools, and Macropoint. A carrier downloads one of the apps, giving Trinity the ability to keep track the shipment and offer real-time visibility to our customer. This also helps reduce the check-in calls to the carrier, allowing them to focus on reaching their destination safely.

Quick and Easy Carrier Setups

We have a Carrier Relations Team to ensure Trinity connects with fully vetted and qualified carriers. We have taken what used to be a two hour process down to an average of 20 minutes thanks to integration with My Carrier Packet (MCP). Instead of printed paper packets that had to be filled out, scanned, and emailed or faxed in, My Carrier Packet gives the potential carrier the capability to fill out information online through their website. Thanks to MCP and our Software Engineering Team, the packets and insurance are seamlessly integrated with our Transportation Management System (TMS), making carrier set-ups a breeze.

Up-To-Date Systems

As stated earlier, our Software Engineering Team works hard to continue improving our systems. Our TMS was updated which made our carrier module more user friendly and offered the capability of housing more vital information, making it easy to link up to services like My Carrier Packet. The new carrier module also offered our Team Members a capacity and history tool to help continue building relationships with carriers who have hauled with us before.

Managed Transportation Technology Solutions

Geared toward our shippers, we offer Transportation Management Systems (TMS). A TMS gives you more visibility into your supply chain, reduces your costs, and improves performance. Choosing to house all your transportation management needs in one place and having access to a Team of logistics experts through Trinity’s Managed Services can help increase efficiencies.

Banyan for LTL

Instead of manual processes you can utilize our easy-to-use system to manage your LTL (less-than-truckload) shipments fast and more efficiently. When choosing to work with Trinity for your LTL shipments, you get the use of Banyan Technology at no extra cost to you. You are trained and given a login and password and gain exclusive access to Banyan’s Live Lane Specials and Ground Freight Pricing.

With one of Trinity’s guiding values being continuous improvement, we look for new ways to improve and better serve our industry audiences. Right now, as you are reading this article, our Technology Team is working to improve your experience. Don’t just choose to work with a company that arranges the shipment of your freight; choose to work with a company that serves you the data you need and the experience you deserve.

AUTHOR: Christine Griffith

Your job as a motor carrier is already tough. So why do all your work alone? Working alongside a third-party logistics company (3PL) can offer many benefits to you as a motor carrier.

Quickpay Options

You don’t want to wait for your money for your work, nor do you want to pay an arm and a leg for it. We offer you Quickpay options at reasonable rates, so you can have your pay in your account quick and at little cost to you.

Stay Up-To-Date On Regulations

The transportation industry is always changing. Working with a 3PL gives you a benefit because you will be kept in the know of upcoming industry changes or trends. You can count on them to let you know if you need to update something to keep hauling with them, which can help keep you hauling a lot more loads.

Recognition And Awards

Working on your own has its own perks but giving a pat on your own back is not quite as satisfying as someone else recognizing your hard work and dedication. At Trinity Logistics, we want you to feel appreciated. Annual Top 100 Carrier Awards, Monthly New Carrier Relationship Awards, National Truck Driver Appreciation Week events, and Woman Truck Driver of the Quarter Awards are some of the things we do to say THANK YOU.

Gain Access To Their Technology

Technology drives efficiency, but it is also expensive. You can gain access to a 3PL’s technology on their shipments, driving efficiency in your own work without the extra cost. For example, when hauling a shipment with Trinity, you are given the option of using Trucker Tools or Four Kites for tracking and tracing on your shipments. How does this help you? Real-time updates and estimated time of arrival means you receive less check-in calls and emails. This gives your drivers less stress over the check-ins and more focus on the task at hand; driving to the destination safely.

Relationships

You want to be more than a number or another driver to whom you’re hauling for. Trinity Logistics’ tagline is “People-Centric Freight Solutions” because the company is built on people and its relationships. When signing up to be part of our carrier network, you are signing up for the opportunity to a new relationship. As you work with us, you will build a relationship with one of our Logistics Specialists. This means you’ll work alongside someone who will ask how your day is, how your family is doing, and be understanding when those tough times happen. We work with you to match your unique needs and get you where you need to go, especially if that haul is back to your home.

Open Up Doors

New business or certain lanes can be hard to find. Working with a 3PL can open up the doors to that new business or lane you are looking for. Since 3PLs have many customer relationships, they can help you find opportunities with a larger shippers’ freight or a specific lane you’ve been wanting to travel. You can have the work you are looking for ready and available to you.

One of the best upcoming events to learn more about your available benefits when working with a 3PL is the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, Kentucky from March 26-28th. Three full days of networking, education, demonstrations, and technology geared towards motor carriers. You can connect with Trinity Logistics at booth #620296 at MATS to learn more about the benefits you can gain with us. We’ll also be exhibiting at the Salute to Women Behind the Wheel held by Women In Trucking during MATS. You can find us at booth #304 at the even from 4-6pm March 27th.

Our carrier network means a lot to us, because our carriers are our customers, too.

Join our carrier network

AUTHOR: Christine Griffith

If you’ve never worked with a 3PL (third party logistics) company, you might not know how to go about selecting a reputable provider for you and your freight. There are many factors you should consider when making this important decision.

To help avoid the possible problems that can arise from using a 3PL, there are important things you should consider before partnering with one. To ensure you’re getting competitive rates while still working with a top 3PL, take into account these factors:

1. Who are you really entrusting your freight to?

Don’t pass off your precious cargo to just anyone. Top 3PL’s are only as trustworthy as their carrier network. You should ask if your 3PL has a carrier compliance management system in place. Check to see that they’re monitoring their carriers’ safety ratings and insurance. A top-notch provider will thoroughly vet the carriers they’re working with, while other companies might just offer your freight to the first carrier who raises their hand.

Trinity Logistics has a whole team dedicated to vetting and monitoring our carriers. Currently we have a carrier network of 70,000 and counting.

2. Do they have years of industry experience, or are they the new kid on the block?

 It’s better to work with a company that’s been around long enough to know all the ins and outs of the industry. A best practice would be to look for a company with more than a year or two of experience, that also has a positive reputation. If they have a reputation for freight going missing or shady business practices, chances are, those rumors have some truth behind them. Be sure to do your research.

Trinity Logistics is currently celebrating 40 years in business. We are named 18 out of 100 on Transport Topics’ Top Freight Brokerage List for 2019. Not to mention, being a part of the Burris Logistics family, with their 95 years of experience to help bring total end-to-end supply chain solutions to our customers.

3. Is your 3PL financially stable?  

Working with a 3PL that isn’t financially healthy could prove to be disastrous. A company that is unstable might not be paying their carriers on time, which could mean less reliable carriers are handling your freight. Additionally, entrusting your shipments to a company that could be closing its doors next week would negatively impact your business’ bottom line. A top 3PL should be able to provide you with an honest picture of their financial situation.

Trinity Logistics has the credentials to prove our financial health is in check. We are P3 Performance Certified up to $250,000 by the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA).

4. Do they have a claims management department to offer negotiation on your behalf?

No one likes to think about things potentially going south when it comes to shipping freight. The truth of the matter is that it can happen, even if you’re working with the best 3PL out there. That’s why it’s important to consider how the 3PL handles those issues as they arise. A 3PL that has a claims team who will act on your behalf to negotiate your freight claims with carriers offers a valuable service that could save your business money in the long run.

We have a highly qualified Team to manage all of our claims. They are here for every step of the claims process, should something ever happen with a shipment.

5. Are they a one-stop shop for all of your freight and logistics needs?

A top 3PL should be able to provide you with multiple modes of transportation like truckload, LTL, and intermodal, as well as other logistics services like transportation management software, warehousing, and freight management. Do they offer analytics and reporting for your shipments? The importance of partnering with a company that knows your freight needs inside and out will help you stay efficient and ahead of the curve.

Trinity Logistics services many different modes of transportation alone, as well as transportation management. With the added benefit of Burris Logistics, we can find a way to service any transportation need you may have.

Considering these factors before choosing a 3PL could save you a ton of money and unnecessary stress. Always remember to look at a shipping quote as just one piece of the puzzle, and not let it be the only reason you choose who will be arranging your shipments. 

Read what one of our customers, Edison Lighting Supply, has to say about their journey in finding a reliable 3PL partner in Trinity Logistics:

“We have tested many logistics companies, and Trinity is the company that gives us the best service and value, on a consistent basis, with utter transparency. While the prices are slightly higher through Trinity, than through some other companies, Trinity provides unbeatable promptness in providing quotes, and on-time pick-up and delivery. Every other company we have tested ended up costing us more money in the long-run, due to delays, inaccuracies, and bad service. We will never shop another company again; Trinity is now our logistics provider for life.”

If you’re in the market for a partner in transportation, consider Trinity Logistics. We promise it will be worth it.

Request A Quote.

Originally published February 16, 2016. Updated by Christine Griffith & Krista Lee.