At Trinity Logistics, we’ve always believed in doing the right thing. That concept is foundational and woven into the fabric of our company culture, from the services we provide to the impact we aim to make on the world around us. Being sustainable is an important focus for the company. It’s a responsibility we take seriously, so our sustainability initiatives are no afterthought.

Logistics Environmental Sustainability

The United Nations defines sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Our company takes that message to heart. We recognize the critical part we play in taking care of our communities, making a positive impact, and reducing our environmental footprint. We want to leave a positive legacy behind that extends beyond our logistics services. This includes our part in taking care of our environment and the communities we touch.

Here’s a glimpse into how we take action to be sustainable.

Paving the Way to Less Emissions with SmartWay

The SmartWay program by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) helps companies improve supply chain sustainability and reduce transportation emissions by providing a system to track fuel and emissions so companies can select more efficient carriers and logistics strategies.

Trinity invested in a SmartWay partnership in 2008, making this our earliest sustainability initiative. This partnership enables us to access and build relationships with SmartWay-certified carriers that commit to tracking and minimizing their emissions. We’re able to leverage that network, empowering our shipper relationships to make sustainable choices by using these SmartWay-certified carriers whenever possible.

Chemical Safety with Responsible CareⓇ

Responsible CareⓇ is the chemical industry’s environmental, health, safety, and security initiative, hosted by the American Chemical Council.

Since 2009, Trinity has been a proud member of Responsible CareⓇ. Some of the ways we take this sustainability initiative into action include;

• carrying pollution liability coverage to cover costs associated with pollution clean-up or other pollution-related liability claims;
• stringent carrier vetting to select the right carrier with the right requirements, like being hazmat-certified;
• ongoing required Team Member training to maintain knowledge of proper procedures, especially regarding chemical transportation.

Offsetting Carbon Footprint in Logistics with ClimeCo

ClimeCo is a non-profit organization that helps companies offset their emissions by donating funds towards sustainable projects.

Trinity Logistics understands that climate change is a pressing issue, so we’re committed to doing our part. In 2022, we began collaborating with Carbonfund, now known as ClimeCo. At the end of each fiscal year, we calculate the electricity usage of our owned facilities. With that calculation, ClimeCo helps us identify sustainable projects to donate to and offset the emissions we produced that year.

We’ve already made a difference by contributing to the Texas Capricorn Ridge Wind Project and N20 Abatement Project. In 2022 alone, we offset 143 tonnes of carbon emissions, and in 2023, we mitigated another offset of 90 tonnes. That’s a win for the environment and a win for future generations.  

Building Sustainability in Our Offices

Sustainability isn’t only about grand gestures; it’s about the everyday choices we make. That’s why we seek out sustainable practices within our own facilities.

We offer convenient battery recycling through a partnered vendor, ensuring they’re disposed of responsibly. We also ensure any used paint gets recycled instead of ending up in landfills.

We offer multi-stream recycling to our Team Members as well. Each Team Member has their own container to recycle any paper documents, while a large bin outside collects glass and recyclable plastics. Knowledge is power, so we educate our Team Members on proper recycling practices, too.

Our Facilities Team also aims to make sustainable purchases as often as possible. They’ve already converted any lighting in our owned offices to energy-efficient LEDs. They also focus on purchasing eco-friendly supplies that are compostable and certified sustainable. For example, they buy compostable paper plates and takeout containers for our weekly lunches.

Recognizing the Power of Remote Work for A Cleaner Environment

We recognize the many benefits of remote work. It fosters a vibrant company culture, empowers our Team Members with greater flexibility, and contributes to a greener future. By embracing remote and hybrid work positions, we help reduce emissions from daily commutes and cut our office space requirements.

Currently, around 50 percent of our positions offer remote or hybrid options, allowing our Team Members to focus on time with their families, contribute to their communities, and be part of this impactful sustainability initiative.  

Empowering Shippers with Sustainability

For Trinity, sustainability is about more than our own initiatives. It’s also about helping our relationships find sustainable options in their supply chains.

For each shipment, we’re able to offer guidance on the most efficient transportation modes available. We offer regular business reviews to analyze our shipper relationship’s unique logistics profiles to find and suggest efficiencies. Our Team also works closely with shippers and carriers to tackle deadheading, a large contributor to carbon in the trucking industry.

Additionally, we’re always looking to explore new ways to push the sustainability envelope for our relationships. Currently, we’re looking into platforms that can help us provide our shipper relationships an extra avenue to offset their carbon emissions, too, like Patch.io.

Ecovadis – Recognition of Trinity’s Commitment to Sustainability

EcoVadis, a trusted and globally recognized provider of business sustainability ratings, recognizes our dedication. In 2023, they awarded us a bronze medal, placing us within the top 50 percent of companies assessed. While we acknowledge this is a significant achievement, at Trinity, we aim to continuously improve. Our sights are set on achieving a silver rating in 2024, reflecting our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.

The Trinity Logistics Difference

As our mission statement says, we’re dedicated to “improving lives and supply chains by solving tough problems.” Sustainability is undeniably a complicated challenge. The good news is that our passionate Team Members at Trinity Logistics thrive on tackling tough problems and overcoming obstacles. We’re relentless in our pursuit of solutions, and we won’t stop until we’re satisfied with the results.

We understand sustainability is a never-ending journey of improvement. That’s why you can count on Trinity Logistics to remain a leader in sustainable practices. We’re constantly expanding our sustainability initiatives and deepening our commitment to a greener future.

Our dedication to sustainability is just one facet of the Trinity difference. If this is how seriously we take environmental responsibility, imagine the level of commitment we bring to solving your logistics challenges.

Proper carrier selection may be one of the most important tasks for Freight Agents to keep their business safe.

I remember the first time I dispatched a driver to pick up a shipment thinking, “Wait, I just met this carrier for the first time. I’ve sent their driver to pick up a shipment for one of our top customers.”

Needless to say, I made about 10 calls to the driver, carrier, and shipper to verify everything was legit. It still boggles my mind to think that a shipper, whom I have never met, will entrust thousands of dollars in THEIR freight to a company that will then send a driver, whom they may have never met, to haul it away.

This scenario happens thousands of times daily across the U.S. and the world. Most of the time, everyone involved does what they say they will do correctly. But there are times, albeit very rarely, when one of the parties is involved for the wrong reason.

First, let me say Trinity Logistics and other logistics companies in our space get the chance to work with great carriers each day. Yet, there are still some bad actors out there. They want to involve themselves in our industry and do things the wrong way, often at the expense of hard-working and trustworthy carriers and Freight Agents.

So, Freight Agents, what can you do to protect your small business and the business of your customer, when arranging shipments with carriers? This is where having a carrier selection process is key to best serving your customer and mitigating any risk. Here are some items you should verify every time you arrange a shipment with a carrier to ensure its success.

CARRIER SELECTION PROCESS

Always Ask This Question

“What’s the name on the side of your truck?”

While this seems like a simple question, it’s the number one question that can identify a potential double-brokering situation. Now, there will be times when the name on the side of the truck doesn’t match the carrier with whom you booked the load. Leased-on drivers are a great example of this.

What do you do if the answer to this question is different from what you expected?

Well, it gives you the opportunity to ask follow-up questions to investigate. It’s far better to find out this information before versus after the shipment has been picked up. I‘ve also heard of some requiring the driver to text a picture of the side of the truck door for added assurance.

Does it Match?

Does the email and phone number match what is registered with FMCSA?

Again, there may be legitimate reasons for the phone number or email not matching the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website. Maybe the carrier’s contact information has recently changed for valid reasons. Perhaps it’s an owner-operator that registered with their home or office phone number but is on the road and calls from their cell phone.

In any event, it gives you a reason to pause and ask more questions to ensure you have confidence that this is the actual carrier with whom you trust to handle your customer’s freight.

Other Carrier Selection Vetting Freight Agents Should Consider

What about the stuff you can’t see by looking at the FMCSA website?

You can quickly see things like liability insurance coverage or a carrier’s operating authority history on the FMCSA website. But what about referrals – good or bad – from other logistics companies?

Luckily there are tools available to see beyond the information reported by the FMCSA. There are platforms like CarrierWatch, Carrier 411, or Highway that provide a glimpse into any skeletons that may be hiding in the closet. It’s important to note that these are pay-to-play platforms. Freight Agents that choose to partner with an experienced logistics company, like Trinity Logistics, have access to a Carrier Compliance Team that continuously monitors these comments to protect you and your customer’s best interests.

FREIGHT AGENTS, DON’T OVERLOOK YOUR CARRIER SELECTION

Carrier selection is important as you are placing your trust in them to meet your customer’s shipment needs. Doing a little bit of homework and, when necessary, trusting your gut with your carrier selection, will save you future headaches and, ultimately, protect your Freight Agent business.

TRUST OUR QUALIFIED CARRIER RELATIONSHIPS

We’re here to help your Freight Agent business succeed all around, and that includes your carrier selection. Safety and exceptional service are our highest priority, and so our Carrier Compliance Team takes care of our rigorous carrier vetting to verify that the carrier you select is qualified and experienced.

With our People-Centric Team and best-in-class technology applications at the ready, Freight Agents working with Trinity Logistics can spend less time on back-end tasks like carrier selection and more time growing their business.

Go ahead and choose to get in touch with a Trinity Freight Agent Representative today so you can start receiving world-class support to get ahead of your competition. Call 800-846-3400 x 1908 or click the button below to begin your conversation with Trinity.