Trinity Logistics, a leading third-party logistics provider (3PL), is proud to announce its recognition as a Green Supply Chain Partner for 2024 by Inbound Logistics. This prestigious accolade highlights Trinity’s commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly logistics practices. 

Each year, Inbound Logistics editors select 75 Green Supply Chain Partners, otherwise known as the G75, that go above and beyond in their efforts to improve supply chain sustainability. These companies demonstrate exceptional leadership and dedication to environmental responsibility and are selected based on their initiatives to reduce their impact, improve efficiency, and overall promote a more sustainable future. 

Trinity has a long history of implementing innovative solutions to minimize its environmental footprint including:

“At Trinity, we’ve always believed in doing the right thing,” said Kristin Deno, Director of Operational Risk at Trinity Logistics. “Being so exclusively recognized for our sustainability efforts is a true testament to our focus in this area. This recognition provides additional drive for us to continue improving practices to support building a greener future.”

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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 45 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 as a Top 100 3PL by Inbound Logistics, and as a Top Company for Women to Work for in Transportation by Women in Trucking.

Trinity Logistics, a leading third-party logistics (3PL) provider, is proud to share that the company has received a bronze sustainability rating by EcoVadis. 

EcoVadis is a trusted and globally recognized provider of business sustainability ratings and insights. Over 1,000 enterprises rely on EcoVadis to assess and manage sustainability practices within their supply chain. EcoVadis measures the sustainability management system of a company through 21 criteria focused on its four key performance areas of Environment, Labor and Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainability Procurement.

The assessment includes a questionnaire completed by the company assessed and an expert analysis by EcoVadis. A bronze rating is given to companies that place within the top 50 percent of all companies assessed. In addition, the company must meet the following requirements:

“The rigorous EcoVadis assessment called for documented proof of processes, actions taken, and additional forms of backup to score Trinity Logistics’s commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles,” said Kristin Deno, Director of Operation Risk at Trinity Logistics. “EcoVadis allows us to maintain a strict level of accountability to our Team Members, stakeholders, and the world at large. The scorecard shows where we sit currently, but more importantly, it provides an opportunity to highlight areas where we can continue and even expand efforts on our path to sustainability.”

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 the American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care® since 2009, which involves staying committed to improving company performance through community awareness, security, distribution, and pollution prevention. Additionally, Trinity recently became a Carbonfree Partner® with Carbon Fund to become “carbon-neutral” by donating funds to offset emissions. 

“We are honored to be awarded a bronze medal and be ranked among the top 50 percent of companies in sustainability by EcoVadis,” said Sarah Ruffcorn, President of Trinity Logistics. “Doing the right thing has always been foundational to Trinity’s culture, and that includes our part in sustainability. We know it is a never-ending journey of continuous improvement and we look forward to making even more progress as we work towards next year’s assessment.”

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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 as a Top 3PL and Cold Storage Provider by Food Logistics, a Top Freight Brokerage Firm by Transport Topics, and a Green Supply Chain Partner of 2023 by Inbound Logistics.  

Motor carriers aren’t the only ones affected by deadheading.

While every mile driven takes a toll on the environment, research shows that deadhead miles account for over a third of carbon emissions in trucking. In fact, 36 percent of trucks travel empty in the U.S. every day, averaging roughly 61 billion miles deadheading every year.

Simply put, deadheading is an inefficiency problem within the logistics industry, one that we all know we need to improve. According to a survey by Convoy, 69 percent of respondents said reducing deadhead miles is important to them. By reducing deadhead miles, both shippers and carriers can slash their supply chain costs while also making an environmental impact.

WHAT IS DEADHEADING IN TRUCKING?

Deadheading, deadhead miles, or empty miles – they all mean the same thing – that a truck is driving empty. Usually, this happens once a driver has made a delivery to the receiver, and they don’t have freight to pick up until their next destination. This means they drive empty back to the original shipping point or to their next pickup location. Empty miles waste time for a carrier by failing to generate revenue. It also causes them to incur extra operating costs and contribute more emissions into our atmosphere.

Ideally, the most efficient use of a carrier’s time is finding a backhaul shipment. This is a nearby shipment that needs to be picked up and delivered close to or at their next destination, so either their pickup origin or next pickup.

HOW DEADHEADING POSES PROBLEMS

We’ve already discussed how deadheading contributes to C02 emissions and how carriers lose money running deadhead miles, but what about shippers? How are they affected?

Well, those carriers need to make up the money and time they lost deadheading somehow. They’re likely to charge a higher rate on their following shipments to do so.

Also, driving empty miles can be dangerous when severe weather occurs. A truck can weigh about half its weight empty than when it’s full, making it more susceptible to accidents. While truck drivers are trained in managing high winds and road safety, that’s often with a full truck and not an empty one. The same winds that shake a passenger car have been known to flip an empty truck.

WHY IS DEADHEADING SO COMMON?

It’s often difficult for a carrier to find their own backhauls, nor do shippers have the time to focus and invest their time in them. They need the truck to pick up and deliver and return to pick up the next shipment, not thinking of the in-between. Other carrier relationships and contracted shipments can get in the way, making it difficult to arrange or find backhauls.

HOW TO REDUCE DEADHEADING

It’s possible for shippers to keep backhauls for carriers in mind to both help keep carrier relationships moving and make headway on sustainability initiatives.

Make Use of Technology

Technology makes it much easier to match a truck with an available shipment. You can make use of digital freight matching (DFM) tools like Trucker Tools or DAT, which give shippers and carriers an easier way to find each other and match up based on suitable capacity for a shipment. Automation and machine learning in those applications help quickly find and create those matches.

A transportation management system (TMS) can also be helpful here. A TMS brings together information on all shipments and digital freight networks to help make sure trailers are utilized fully and backhauls gain the coverage they need. A TMS also gives you the opportunity to optimize your routes to reduce any deadheading.

Consider Consolidating Your Freight

Combining your partial shipments into a full truckload to one distribution point to then be delivered by a regional carrier or vice versa can allow for fewer empty miles and trucks on the road, saving you money and reducing your emissions.

Consider Continuous Move Planning

This plan involves stringing loads together to make the most of fleet utilization and driver time by bundling low-volume and high-volume lanes together. Carriers will add lanes across many customers, creating closed-loop routes to keep freight moving constantly. As a benefit, shippers often receive per-mile rates since they are making use of a carrier’s empty miles. This can be a bit more complex, but with a TMS and proper communication, can be an effective way to reduce deadheading.

TRINITY CAN HELP YOU REDUCE DEADHEAD MILES

Deadheading is an industry-wide problem that we all need to work on together to resolve. Carriers need to dedicate time for searching and finding backhauls, just as shippers need to work with carriers to reduce their empty miles. That’s one way an intermediary, a 3PL like Trinity Logistics, can step in and help. We can work with both parties to arrange shipments so that each company has its unique needs met.

We have over 40 years of experience arranging shipments between shippers and carriers. Our Team of experts can help shippers plan and organize their shipments and recommend freight consolidation strategies when it’s suitable. We also have a Carrier Development Team dedicated to growing our carrier relationships by learning their wants and needs. We reach out and gather their preferred lanes and capacity to better match them to available shipments to keep them moving and generating revenue.

Trinity Logistics is also recognized as a Green Supply Chain partner for its sustainability initiatives and solutions available to offer shippers more options for their logistics that can reduce their carbon emissions.

If you’d like to talk to one of our experts about your shipping needs and find more sustainable options, click the button below so we can get started.

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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.

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.

Guest Author: Betty White

Environmental concerns are likely on everyone’s mind. Addressing global warming and reducing one’s carbon footprint are now primary concerns for many industries. The logistics industry, in particular, has a unique position in this context.

A brief word on the environment

Before delving deeper into the subject at hand, it is vital that we briefly touch on the current and estimated effects of emissions on the environment. It’s no secret that technological advancements often come at a cost. On the front of expanding industries and supply chains, fossil fuels’ predominant role correlates to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Industrialization has caused the global average temperature to rise by almost 2°F since 1880, according to NASA. 

Likewise, NOAA scientists have observed similar findings in the earth’s atmosphere. They recently detected the highest concentration since their records began in 1958. Scientists and researchers estimate that the average global temperature will increase by another 2.7°F before 2100, with worst-case scenarios suggesting an increase of almost 8°F.

Reducing one’s carbon footprint may not just a noble goal, but an essential one. That does not mean one should not continue to improve logistics, but only that one should entertain greener ideas on how to do so. 

Reducing the carbon footprint of the logistics sector

As logistics are an integral part of supply chains, they affect the global distribution of goods. E-commerce is increasing and customers have higher standards in terms of delivery speed. Yet, it is becoming clear that quick expansion is not sustainable, and each product’s carbon footprint needs to be reduced. Global regulations, such as those issued by the International Maritime Association (IMO), aim to do so.

Reducing carbon footprint in logistics is not without benefits. Many companies report savings after adopting greener courses of action. A commitment to sustainability also raises goodwill with your investors and stakeholders.

#1 Selecting greener suppliers

Selecting greener suppliers should be the first step towards reducing carbon footprint in logistics. The choice of raw materials on suppliers’ end often hinges on material viability towards the end product. It also affects the environment. Extracting and processing raw materials can have massively different carbon footprints. It depends on the materials and processes in question. Their energy consumption, waste, and emissions will vary, and it’s in your best interest to keep track of environmental metrics alongside performance.

#2 Centralizing supply networks

Global supply chains involve big supply networks, which need air or ocean transportation. Such means of transport can largely contribute to GHG emissions. Consolidating your supply networks across shorter distances can be one way to reduce your chain’s carbon footprint.

#3 Choosing greener means of transportation

It is vital to note that some means of transportation are less environmentally friendly than others. For example, ocean transportation is a notable contributor to global sulfur emissions. Or road transportation, which produces more emissions than rail transportation. Switching to greener means of transport across your supply chain can help reduce your carbon footprint.

#4 Optimizing energy consumption and waste production

It is a must to speak to energy consumption and waste production. One consumes energy and produces waste across all stages of a supply chain. From the refinement of raw materials to your warehouse management, you can strive to reduce both. Consider the following examples:

To address the above, you might take individual measures. You may train employees to consume energy more efficiently, such as minimizing forklift use when possible. You can reduce double handling, reduce packaging, or recycle more. Finally, you can try to minimize paperwork and produce less waste.

#5 Recycle, reuse, repair

The measures we can take as individuals to reduce carbon footprint also apply across industries and supply chains. Especially given the recent effects of COVID-19, it may be time to consider greener practices as we recover and restructure operations.

Consider the following industry-specific examples:

The moving industry produces some GHG emissions by definition. In these challenging times, moving businesses are all too eager to see you get all the help you need with relocation. They also turn to greener practices as they restructure; from warehouse management practices to recycling packages.

Similarly, the cell phone industry sees many phones damaged within the first few weeks of purchase. As such, some businesses now provide incentives to recycle old devices, reduce the cost of repairs, or expand warranties. Some such changes may be harder to incorporate into one’s logistics operations, but they yield the benefits mentioned above. Depending on your industry’s unique needs, you may strive to strengthen your reverse logistics and repair operations and intensify your recycling efforts.

Conclusion

In light of the statistics mentioned above, it seems highly unlikely that we can afford to continue down a “business-as-usual” path. International laws and regulations continue to strive for greener alternatives as well, making the change to a more environmentally conscious business landscape a potential legal imperative, not merely an ethical one. However, this article hopefully demonstrated that future-proofing in this regard is both a viable and a potentially lucrative endeavor, in logistics or otherwise. 

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