We often will hear from a Freight Agency on how their business has become stagnant while partnered with either small or start-up brokerages. This could be for several reasons. For one, no business will grow unless the main driving force – which is YOU – is 100 percent committed to its success.

In fact, many of the single-person Freight Agents we have seen with great success in the past five years have a focused passion that affords them no “Plan B”. They are so determined to make their small freight agency work that they don’t even consider failure as a potential option. Having that hunger is essential but finding a partner to support your growth is vital. When considering who that partner should be, it’s important to consider several things, such as;

WILL CARRIER PARTNERS EVEN TAKE MY FREIGHT?

The days of only being a point A to point B truckload-only Freight Agency are fading. Customers have unique shipping challenges that need unique shipping solutions. Therefore, it’s important to ensure your Freight Agency’s partner has a vast network of carrier partners.

As important, is their reputation among the carrier community. It must be strong enough to foster relationships that promote carriers consistently working with them versus having to always rely on “one and done” carriers. Find out how often carriers seek repeat business with the partner company you’re considering. If it happens a third of the time or less, that could be a warning sign that carriers may give your company a shot, but the relationship doesn’t progress for whatever reason.

WHAT OPERATIONAL SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE TO MY FREIGHT AGENCY BUSINESS?

Typically, most Freight Agents are well-versed in truckload operations as that is where most get their start in the industry. But shipping customers have needs that don’t just require a full truckload of a product being moved.

Does your partner company have a strong relationship with less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers that will provide competitive service and rates? Will you have a team of experts to assist you with those non-traditional freight moves, like expedited, drayage, or international? What about a shipper customer with more complex needs, like a transportation management system to help manage their business?

As you look to grow with your shipper customers, the last thing you want to do is tell that customer, “Sorry, we can’t support that type of move.”

WHAT ONGOING EDUCATION IS AVAILABLE TO ME?

People that are successful in any business typically have a thirst for knowledge. It’s not just about learning something new, it’s also about refining and sharpening the saw on things they have known for years. Does the company you’re looking to partner with offer education and training sessions to assist in that endeavor?

And if so, are they just focused on mode education? Or operational or technical education? What about things that are not directly tied to the day-to-day but are important – like succession planning? Find out how the company you consider partnering with will support your Freight Agency and you as a person.

HOW INVOLVED WILL I NEED TO BE IN NON-REVENUE GENERATING ACTIVITIES?

The sale does not end when the shipment delivers. That sale needs to continue all the way through the administrative support side of the freight transaction. But how much of your time will that gobble up?

If the partner company you’re considering indicates they will do those things on your behalf, what are their processes for those support measures? It’s great when they help get a carrier set up, but at the speed at which the freight industry moves, you know how valuable minutes are, let alone hours of waiting.

And not just normal processes, but not every shipping customer or freight move fits neatly in a box. So how will those needs be met when exceptions occur? Let’s face it, giving a partner company a percentage of the gross margin, you make on a shipment should absolutely come with a clear picture of how they will support your Freight Agency, your shipping customers, and those relationship carriers you have worked hard with to gain their trust.

Ask those tough questions about what happens when this occurs or how quickly a dispute or special need be managed. Remember, the company you partner with needs to be an extension of you and the freight agency you have created.

CHOOSE TRINITY LOGISTICS FOR YOUR FREIGHT AGENCY

We realize you have a choice in who you’d like as your freight agency’s partner. However, Trinity Logistics can help your business grow and remain successful regardless of your freight agency size.

Trinity Logistics has over 30 years of experience aiding in the success of our Authorized Freight Agent offices, as well as offering many extras for our Authorized Agent network. So, if you’re looking for a long-term partnership that is supportive of your growth and offers you continued education to stay competitive, we’re more than happy to get connected.

If you’d like to talk more about how Trinity can support your journey in growing a successful business, feel free to contact our Agent Team by phone at 800-846-3400 x 1908 or click the button below.

Trinity Logistics, a Burris Logistics company, is proud to share that Food Logistics has named the company as a recipient of the 2022 Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers Award.

Food Logistics is the only publication exclusively dedicated to covering the movement of products and information through the cold food and beverage supply chain. The Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers list recognizes leading third-party logistics and cold storage providers in the food and beverage industry. Companies on the list play a pivotal role in keeping the food and beverage industry’s products stored, transported, and stocked while maintaining the product’s quality. 

“These past 18 months have been so challenging for U.S. supply chains. It’s the continuous bottlenecks that require fleets to re-tool and pivot accordingly. But it’s the drivers, the fleet, the warehouses, and software/technologies that really keep today’s supply chains in line,” says Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive.  “These 3PLs and cold storage providers have collaborated on all facets of their operations to achieve full visibility, complete forecasting, end-to-end leverage, and the ultimate in sustainability. Now is the time to honor and celebrate those companies making magic happen behind the frontlines.”

Trinity works with thousands of shippers in the food and beverage industry, making the company well-versed in its requirements and regulations. Equipped with state of industry technology and with Burris Logistics, one of the top cold storage providers in North America, as its parent company, Trinity provides exceptional service to those in the cold chain.  

“We are honored to be named a Top 3PL & Cold Storage Provider, and very fortunate to be part of the Burris Logistics family,” said Mark Peterson, SVP of Sales at Trinity Logistics. “Having a parent company with 90+ years of cold storage & food distribution experience gives us a distinct advantage. From the 3PL viewpoint, our focus is on optimizing the efficiency of our distribution network. The pillars of that effort are gathering and analyzing the right data; clear and consistent communication with our partners; and the highly educated and motivated team of professionals at Trinity Logistics.” 

The full list of 2022’s Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers will appear in Food Logistics’ August issues, as well as online at www.FoodLogistics.com. 

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 company that ships products, you need to learn about all shipping options available to you. This allows you to manage your costs better while keeping your product moving. When applicable, freight consolidation is an option that can save on your shipping. There are also many other benefits to consolidation. We’re here to help you better understand what freight consolidation is and what it can offer your logistics.

WHAT IS FREIGHT CONSOLIDATION?

Freight consolidation is when a shipper combines multiple shipments within a region into a single load hauled by a carrier to a destination region. The load gets broken down into smaller parts and delivered by a regional carrier to their many destinations. Or vice versa, they get picked up by a regional carrier to merge into a single shipment and delivered to their destination. Freight consolidation is ideal for shippers who frequently move a few pallets or smaller amounts of product. 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

Savings

Often, shippers will only use half or two-thirds of a trailer but still pay for the entire space. Whereas, with freight consolidation, you can earn preferred rates and optimize your logistics. Most importantly, you save time and money. 

By consolidating your smaller, regional freight, you can avoid paying a higher rate. By shipping your freight all at once instead of sending loads individually, you’re able to pay bulk rates. 

You can also avoid the costs that come along with using storage sites, inventory management facilities, and your own fleet of vehicles. Freight consolidation providers can provide these for you to better manage your shipment until its delivered. You won’t have to store your shipment on your own. Instead, you’ll be able to send it to the facility where it will ship to your retailers. This will help streamline the process should you need more inventory. 

Taking it a step further, you’ll also have fewer trucks on the road. As a result, you’ll be spending less on fuel and spending less per mile since it will be on one truck instead of many. The savings can be significant enough to make a big difference in your company’s bottom line. This can be a real difference for mid-sized and smaller businesses that see their profits cut by their shipping costs. 

Reduce Risk

You’ll also see increased security. Damaged freight continues to remain a lingering issue for shippers. Things happen in shipping and can be the reality of doing business. Consolidated shipping is not only more cost-efficient, but it reduces the on-again, off-again handling of your freight. Ultimately, when using an experienced shipper and consolidating your freight, your products will be in safer hands. 

And not only that — it will be in those hands less often. Having your freight consolidated also means that it will be on fewer trucks, making the odds smaller of it being in an accident. 

It goes beyond safety too. Freight consolidation also benefits through added reliability. Because your product is handled less, there is a lower risk of something going missing or delivering to the wrong place. There’s also less of a chance that something will interrupt your delivery, causing it to be late. This all adds up to you gaining peace of mind and having happy customers on the other end of your shipment. 

Improved Flexibility and Time Management

Freight consolidation will improve the flexibility of your shipping needs and make your orders more timely. Freight consolidation often offers faster transit times and reduces wait times for transporting small loads. By storing your freight at a consolidation facility, your products will be ready to go when needed. This improves your timeline and inventory flexibility, which your customers will appreciate. 

Changes happen in orders and can throw things into a real mess sometimes. Yet, freight consolidation will not hinder your ability to get your products to your customers on a short turnaround. Through a consolidation strategy, you can get your freight delivered on your schedule. Expert providers will help you put a plan into place so your freight gets on a truck and the road while better utilizing truck space and time.

Better Visibility and Control

With consolidated shipping, your visibility improves, as does your control. Let’s say for some reason, quality control alerts you that there’s a problem with your shipment and it’s already been shipped. Normally, you would have to wait for the supplier to send a replacement, meaning your delivery timeline is now out of your hands. In contrast, consolidation allows you to perform quality control measures as soon as the product reaches the warehouse. This reduces the chances of losing time and control due to unforeseen problems.

Using freight consolidation also gives you more control over your due dates and production schedules. You’ll be able to manage the entire distribution chain on your own or with a logistics partner. 

Improved Relationships

This process not only benefits you but your customer or retailer too. By shipping smarter, you’ll be able to build better relationships with other companies, customers, and your carriers.

First, you can establish relationships with other businesses that use LTL shipping. If you find another company that ships a similar product or sized load on the same schedule to a shared retailer, you can establish a shipping partnership. This partnership can help reduce costs for both of you and build smarter loads through shared freight consolidation shipments.

As for your customers, they’ll appreciate that you’ve gotten together for more efficient shipping since they work with both companies. They’ll also appreciate the savings that freight consolidation provides. 

Having the right carrier relationships will make it all happen for you. You’ll need a carrier relationship you can rely on to manage your orders and make sure products deliver on time. Perhaps your products have special needs that your carrier will have to accommodate. Not having a good relationship established won’t reassure you that your shipment will turn out fine. Having consistent relationships with carriers can also lead to you receiving better pricing. 

CHALLENGES WITH CONSOLIDATION

Finding Carriers

Because freight consolidation can seem complicated, not all carriers are willing to haul them. Even when you can find a carrier willing to transport your consolidated shipments, be sure that you are well-informed and charged appropriately. Partnering with a third-party logistics company (3PL) can help assure you find a carrier to haul your shipment and get a fair rate for it.

More Time Planning

Although it can save you time transporting, consolidated shipping does need some extra time spent organizing and planning. You’ll need to be aware of factors such as pricing, dimensions, timing, and other specifics to guarantee that your shipments arrive both safely and on time. 

WHAT’S HOLDING YOU BACK?

Freight consolidation can save you headaches. There are many businesses using freight consolidation to help streamline their shipping process, get products to their customers faster, and help to build and maintain relationships. However, it’s crucial you have a complete understanding of how consolidation works to ensure proper delivery. 

One of the best practices of consolidated shipping is to use an experienced provider. By working with an experienced provider, you’ll be able to overcome the challenges that come with freight consolidation and solely reap the benefits. 

Luckily, here at Trinity, we’re experts in freight consolidation. By working with Trinity, you’ll gain peace of mind knowing your shipments are taken care of. Our Team of experts can help you plan and organize your shipments, recommend freight consolidation when it’s suitable, and you’ll gain access to our vast network of carrier relationships.

If freight consolidation is a shipping method you’re interested in but need guidance on, we’re here to help.

AUTHOR: Christine Morris

Trinity Logistics is excited to announce that the company has been recognized as a Top 100 3PL by Inbound Logistics in 2022.  

Every year, hundreds of third-party providers submit their credentials to Inbound Logistics to be considered for their Top 100 list. Among the applicants considered, Trinity’s recognition further highlights the company’s growing brand of People-Centric Freight Solutions® among shippers and carriers. 

“This year’s theme for our annual 3PL edition: pizza. But think about it. Whether companies need to outsource just a slice or the full pie, there’s a 3PL to meet their needs. And outsourcing supply chain, logistics and transportation solutions to a trusted partner was never more important than during the disruptions of the past few years” said Felecia Stratton of Inbound Logistics. 

“We are honored to be named as one of the top 3PLs in the industry,” said Sarah Ruffcorn, President of Trinity Logistics. “Our focus on People-Centric Freight Solutions ® continues to make us a trusted partner for both shippers and carriers. I am proud of our team and how they continue to serve those around them with excellence.” 

Trinity consistently strives to be the best by offering its audiences customized logistics solutions through its People-Centric approach.  Trinity is honored to receive this recognition as it continues positively representing the company’s legacy by providing excellent service to the logistics industry. 

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. 

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. 

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), intermodal, drayage, ocean or air, expedited freight, technology solutions, warehousing, e-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! 

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 30^th, 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.

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.”

“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.”

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

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.  

Trinity Logistics is proud to share that Mary Jo “MJ” Belfiore, Director of Learning and Development, has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Learning and Development professionals for the global 2022 OnCon Icon Awards.  

Belfiore leads the Learning and Development function for Trinity Logistics with a passion for servant leadership and helping Team Members grow and expand their skill sets to be successful in sales and logistics. MJ began her career with Trinity as a Logistics Specialist more than ten years ago and has been an instrumental part of learning at Trinity for the past eight years. MJ and the Team provide training plans for all new hires, curriculum design, and learning modules to over 400 Trinity Team members nationwide. 

“As an organization that is focused on learning and developing Team Members, MJ’s vision and dedication to education is a tremendous asset. In the last 12 months, we have grown our headcount by more than 100 Team Members. Supporting this growth and continuing our focus on career development for existing Team Members took tremendous dedication. We are thrilled that MJ’s success was recognized by OnCon,” said Megan Morgan, VP of People Operations. 

OnCon is an exclusive, interactive, and capped gathering of the world’s top learning and development professionals. The OnConferences team determined the finalists from a list of applicants and nominees. Once finalists were chosen, voting was opened to the public, and award winners were selected by peers and the Learning and Development community.  

“The OnCon Icon Awards recognize the Top L&D Professionals in the world based on peer votes,” says Sean Tomarelli, Founder and CEO of OnConferences. “Thousands of votes were cast, and it was tough competition to make this year’s list, let alone the Top 10. Congrats, Mary Jo! Well deserved!”  

Voters selected leaders that they felt demonstrated a good mix of success and positive impact on their organization, made strong contributions to the community through their thought leadership, has been innovative, and exhibited great leadership. The awards were presented at OnCon 2022 virtually in June 2022.  

Trinity Logistics is proud to have MJ as an integral part of its Team, helping its Team Members and business experience growth and continued improvement. Her award and recognition are rightfully earned through her repeated displays of excellence. 

Interested in working with an organization that is committed to learning and development?

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. 

How do we get supply chains back on track after years of constant disruption and setbacks? The supply chain backlogs came largely from the shock at the start of the pandemic, but even before then, there have been many supply chain vulnerabilities.

Supply Chain Resiliency: Alleviating Backlogs and Strengthening Long-Term Security

Recently, Congress met to discuss our national and global supply chains, current supply chain issues that we need to focus on now, and how to build supply chain resiliency for the long term. Congress invited individuals and organizations to come to testify, to present their views for inclusion on the topic. U.S. Senator for Delaware, Tom Carper, asked Doug Potvin, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Trinity Logistics to testify.

With 16 years of service at Trinity and over 30 years of industry experience, Doug sees first-hand the problems plaguing supply chains. Doug’s testimony gave the Members of this panel valuable insight into the continued problems in supply chains and how members of the Transportation Intermediary Association (TIA), like Trinity Logistics, continue to serve the nation amidst these difficult times.

Doug’s Testimony Before Congress

“ I want to introduce myself as the CFO, Chief Fun Officer at Trinity Logistics because we like to have fun when we’re working hard. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today regarding how policymakers and business leaders are addressing the existing backlogs in the supply chain in the short term and building more resilient supply chains in the long term. My name is Doug Potvin. I’m the CFO of Trinity, a third-party logistics company (3PL) headquartered in Seaford. I’m privileged, honored, and humbled here today representing Trinity, our association, Transportation Intermediary Association, and the entire third-party logistics industry that we serve.

We serve as an intermediary in solving the logistical needs of our shipper customers by sourcing capacity from motor carriers and vendor partners. We are proud to report today that this past year we’ve generated over 1 billion dollars in revenue, arranged over half a million shipments, and offered 350 individuals full and part-time jobs. We truly are a proud Delaware company.

From Charles Dickens, the novel, The Tale of Two Cities; It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Season of light is the season of darkness, a spring of hope is a winter of despair. Over the last two years, the same could be said of the international supply chain and from our perspective, closer to home, the domestic transportation industry.

In March of 2020 as both domestic and international countries shut our businesses including the shutting of the port cities and operations in China and the fact most consumers were at home facing an uncertain future, freight volumes plummeted. Motor carrier capacity increased dramatically due to the steep drop in goods moving and the transportation market saw prices for motor carriers fall. In fact, Trinity Logistics was mentioned on a Facebook post that we were earning an average gross margin of 60 percent, which was simply wrong.

In addition, a small number of motor carriers came to Washington D.C. and demanded rate transparency. Interesting after the businesses, ports, and countries opened up freight volumes began to skyrocket, available motor carrier capacity tightened up, and rates paid to motor carriers increased due to reflecting the change in market conditions. Demand for rate transparency went silent.

The pricing in our industry is driven by market conditions, supply and demand. Large scale, no entity on either side of the equation has enough market share to drive rates. In addition, each shipment has its own variable considerations to take into account including everything from available to capacity in various regional markets, lead time for products, dwell time at shippers and consignees, commodities needing move, and type of equipment needed. All this happens in real-time to ensure goods get to market, keeping our economy moving forward.

Now more than ever, the role of third-party logistics professionals has become more valuable. Companies like Trinity and the other 28,000 licensed property brokers are working overtime to ensure that essential goods continue to be delivered in an efficient manner to meet our customer and consumer needs. Our industry along with motor carriers are the main component as the why during the crisis and disruption, the supply chain bent but never broke.

Trinity Logistics applauds the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives’ Bipartisan passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act, a historic investment into transportation and infrastructure. We’re very pleased to see how quickly the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) established the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program. Trinity hopes this three-year pilot program will be successful and made permanent so individuals ages 18 to 20 will explore interstate transport careers. Trinity also believes that as the spending on the Investment Act ramps up in the near future it will provide enough support to the economy to keep the motor carriers employed as we are starting to see freight volumes pull back over the last 30 to 60 days.

Trinity would also like to thank Chairman Carper, John Cornyn, Senator Menendez, and Senator Tim Scott for the support in offering legislation and getting the Senate to act unanimously in passing the Custom Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Act (CTPAT).

Currently, the vaccine mandate for truck drivers coming to the country to deliver freight from Canada and Mexico continues, these professional drivers spend most of their professional time alone in the truck cab, presenting a zero percent risk of spreading Covid-19. This should be lifted immediately to open up capacity and shorten the amount of time it takes to move goods across borders.

Another issue that greatly impacts not only the efficient movement of goods, but highway safety, is the lack of a federal motor carrier safety selection standard. Currently, because of broken safety rating systems from the FMCSA, almost 90 percent of trucking companies are considered unrated. There are no requirements in place before selecting a trucking company, that drastically impacts the overall safety of our nation’s highways. The latest report from the national highway traffic safety administration noted that the number of accidents involving commercial motor vehicles increased 13 percent in 2021. The status quo is not working, and highway safety needs to be improved. Trinity Logistics and our trade association, TIA, fully support legislation to create a motor carrier safety selection and mend the safety rating process.

The U.S. trucking spot market conditions have reflected towards weaker and more normal conditions, though we still will see what the future holds and how that trend continues. Hopefully as a result of this meeting and coordinated actions taken by the United States, our trading partners, manufacturers, supply chain vendors, our nations become resilient when facing similar conditions and uncertainty.”

Trinity Logistics would like to thank Chairman Tom Carper and the TIA for inviting Doug to testify before the Committee. He is a very valuable leader in the industry and Trinity Logistics appreciates all he does for our company, our industry, and our nation.

If you would like to watch the full hearing:

https://www.finance.senate.gov/hearings/supply-chain-resiliency-alleviating-backlogs-and-strengthening-long-term-security