Onshoring, nearshoring, reshoring – these are terms that we keep hearing in growing popularity lately. Even before Covid-19, many companies have considered onshoring their operations due to concerns about quality and supply chain disruptions. Political tensions and rising tariffs also triggered the growing considerations. 

When Covid-19 hit, it led to sky-high air and ocean freight rates. Any companies with operations in China saw their productions come to a halt. Offshoring your operations has never been riskier. You never know what could happen in another region and how that could affect your operations if offshored. So, the question is, should you be onshoring your operations?

A BRIEF LOOK BACK

Before the 1980’s manufacturing had a large presence in the United States. Technology improved communication and global transportation, so companies saw the opportunity to save on costs by offshoring their operations outside the United States. Offshoring grew and became the norm, until recently. Onshoring has become popular again due to politics, rising labor costs, and increased demand for higher quality products.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Onshoring, nearshoring, or reshoring; it all refers to the overall practice of moving manufacturing operations from foreign soil back to the United States. It may also refer to the practice of outsourcing to domestic contract manufacturers rather than overseas. Nearshoring can also refer to the moving manufacturing to outside the United States, but not across ocean waters. An example of nearshoring would be having operations moved to Mexico.

Offshoring involves outsourcing manufacturing assets far outside of the primary country of operations. American companies have traditionally offshored manufacturing to Asian or Southeast Asian regions. Offshoring has been used in situations where production, materials, and labor costs outweigh travel complexities and shipping costs. 

ONSHORING VS OFFSHORING WHEN IT COMES TO..

..YOUR CUSTOMERS

Poor customer service can have a huge impact to your company’s success. More than 50% of consumers said they would never do business with a company after just one negative experience. When choosing to onshore your processes, it gives you the benefit of serving and supporting your customers from “home”, which reduces your risk of your customers receiving poor service elsewhere. 

Customers nowadays like to support products made in their own country. They feel that it further benefits the local economy and they feel more confident in a products quality when its been made in the same country. Depending on your customer base, this could give you a huge advantage over your competitors. 

Due to the recent Amazon Effect, customers now expect their products delivered to them in days. Shorter travel times can make that expectation easier to meet. If suppliers are farther away, delivery times can sometimes be uncertain and take longer. Customers also want full transparency on their freight’s travel, and onshoring can make that more successful on your end. 

..YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN

Onshoring can offer you better supply chain management. It allows shorter lead times because companies can operate all within the same time zone (or at least closer to each other than if offshoring). Not to mention other processes that can take time, such as design and approval. All parties in the supply chain can have closer relationships because they won’t have to deal with the challenges of long distances and varying time zones. Nor do you have to worry about the risk of facing language or cultural barriers among locations. Onshoring is becoming very popular for those organizations that need a lot of communication to be successful.

..YOUR COSTS

With rising labor and shipping costs, many find savings are no longer there when it comes to offshoring. Time is money and offshoring can add weeks to delivery times. Shorter distances with onshoring mean reduced (and less complicated) transportation costs. This also means less fuel used, giving you the benefit of being greener (and customers like that). 

As time goes on, overseas economies are further developing, taxing is changing, labor, wages, and shipping costs are all on the rise; all making it less profitable to handle business offshore. Tariffs have risen in recent years, with some commodities up to a 25 percent charge. By choosing to even nearshore your operations rather than offshore, you can avoid those increased costs. 

There’s also the possibility of defected goods arriving to consider when offshoring. Recalled products have been a rising concern. The defect rates of shipments from other countries can be so high at times that entire batches must be inspected upon arrival. The time and expense to do this and rework or scrap products, can wipe out the savings offshoring promised and even exceed your original budget.

THINGS TO ASK WHEN CONSIDERING ONSHORING

Tariffs, customs, duties

Transportation costs

Lead times

Political environments

BEFORE YOU DECIDE..

Before you make your decision on whether to onshore or offshore, make sure to consider all factors. Onshoring may seem like the answer right now, but will it still in the future? If transportation costs and delivery disruptions are your main concern in business, consider looking into outsourcing your logistics with third party-logistics (3PL), like Trinity. Choosing to work with a 3PL can offer you some of the same benefits as onshoring, but with less work on your part. 

FIND MY SOLUTION

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. 

Looking for a provider that can help you find ways to reduce your carbon footprint in logistics?

Request a Quote

Trinity Logistics is proud to announce that we have earned recognition as a Top Workplace for Women by Women In Trucking (WIT) for a second year. Criteria to be considered for this list surrounds a company culture that supports gender diversity, flexibility in hours, competitive compensation, quality benefits, training and continued education opportunities, career advancement, and other factors. Trinity is proud to be a company that checks so many boxes to create a space for women to experience growth and excellence. 

Trinity offers flexibility in hours, quality benefits for families, many continued education opportunities to help support career growth, and an overall company culture that is both positive and family-friendly. Many of our leadership roles are held by women Team Members, including our current President, Sarah Ruffcorn. 

To date, Trinity’s employees are 55% are women, with 23% of those women holding a management or leadership role. 

“In the 12 years I have worked for Trinity the leadership team has supported me through many stages of life. I started right out of college and since then have had a child, married, experienced life-altering health issues, and so much more,” said Ashley McAvoy, Business Analyst II at Trinity. “Through it all, I’ve been offered opportunities to advance my career with employer-funded certifications and training, as well as education opportunities with tuition reimbursement for my MBA. Trinity’s deeply-rooted family culture provides me time off, flexibility, benefits, and a support system of Team Members and leaders beyond what anyone could expect from an organization.”

“Trinity recognizes those who have the desire to succeed and assists those team members on their journey, no matter their gender,” said Tanya Vanderheul, Director of Operations in Kansas City. “It is through Trinity’s strong Culture and our Guiding Values; specifically, Determination – and in combination with my desire to grow; that I was empowered to work my way into a leadership position. Not a day goes by where I regret my decision of entering into a leadership role and being on board with the diverse and fantastic team members at Trinity Logistics!”

Trinity is proud of its company culture and inclusion of all, no matter their gender. We strive to continue to be diverse and offer everyone an opportunity to grow their career and the business. 

Interested in working somewhere “Different On Purpose”?  

Learn more about our company culture and see our current job openings

CLICK HERE

Author: Christine Griffith

“Fall is in the air” is something we like to say this time of year as the air becomes a little crisper, the leaves start to change color, and popular autumn flavors like pumpkin spice start rolling out. With the changing of seasons also comes the changing of products and produce that need to be shipped to fall lovers across the globe.

Fall shipping means truckloads of watermelons are traded for truckloads of pumpkins, pallets of tomatoes make way for pallets of fresh turkeys, and more fun-size candy shipments begin making the trek to stores in preparation for Halloween.

In this blog, we wanted to talk about the fun behind fall shipping: what we see more of in the autumn months and how a 3PL can help you get those shipments delivered before winter rolls in.

Fall Produce

When flourishing corn fields become corn mazes, it’s also the time that pumpkins start to plump on the vine. We start to see more less-than-truckload and truckload shipments of pumpkins, gourds, and certain types of squash from our produce customers. Fruits like apples, pears, grapes, citrus, and cherries become popular, shipped from the grower to produce markets and grocery stores. Other cold weather crops like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are shipping more frequently from the East Coast when fall begins to peak.

A 3PL, like Trinity Logistics, makes sure that all these pumpkins, pears, and produce get to your grocery stores. Trinity will communicate with the carrier arranged throughout the entire shipment process to ensure that all of your freight is delivered safely and on time.

Halloween Candy

Who didn’t love putting on a costume and collecting candy from neighbors far and wide? Americans last year spent more than $2.6 billion on candy for Halloween. That breaks down to more than 600 million pounds of confection, equivalent to the weight of six Titanic ships! If all of that was packed into trucks, that would be more than 1400 full truckloads. Retailers from coast to coast are stocking up on all types of candy to get their share of the “holiday goodies.”

Logistics companies see a strong increase in business during the sweet tooth season that is Halloween. Shipping candy can be tricky, especially when temperatures are high. No one wants their once solid candy bar to be delivered as a gooey chocolate mess. Utilizing a temperature-controlled truck can help prevent this issue and prolong the shelf-life of the candies being shipped.

Early Bird Gets the Sale

For traditionalists, holiday shopping no longer starts Black Friday or even Thanksgiving Day. In 2010, Best Buy began their Christmas sales November 1, with other department stores following suit just one day later. Since then, holiday decorations and retail campaigns for Christmas have crept right alongside Halloween costumes and candy.

The earlier sales mean earlier access to consumers with their specific holiday shopping budgets and more shipments of wrapping paper, ribbon, packaging, decorative tins, and chocolate, all of which we can help arrange. Trinity Logistics will be busy helping farms and factories ship their holiday wares to shelves, non-profits, and online shoppers very soon!

If you enjoy any of these products regularly, it arrived to store shelves thanks to a truck!

If your company produces any of these favorites, we can help make fall shipping simple. Just tell us a little bit about your shipment and we’ll give you a quote!

Get A Quote

The shipment of over-dimensional and/or heavy haul freight requires a special expertise! Luckily, many of our Trinity Team Members and Authorized Agents specialize in over-dimensional shipments. We decided to ask them to share some of their extensive knowledge in this industry with us so we could offer you several tips to keep in mind when shipping heavy haul. Keep reading to learn about how to handle your shipments as smoothly as possible.

Looking for a more extensive guide to have on hand for your over-dimensional shipments? Click here to download our Over-Dimensional Shipping Guide.

Time is on your Side

The more notice you can provide of an upcoming over-dimensional shipment, the better. Loads such as bulldozers, excavators, and graders often require specialized equipment that can be in limited supply. By notifying your carrier or logistics provider well in advance, they can get to work on getting the right equipment in position. Always remember, time is money!

Along with providing an advanced notice on these shipments, you’ll also need to coordinate the logistics upfront. The specialized equipment used for heavy haul shipping is expensive and in high demand. If there are any delays in getting the truck loaded or unloaded, there may be significant detention charges. Timing is everything, so be sure to communicate the needs for these shipments in advance in order to avoid those charges.

Information is King

Knowing the exact information regarding your heavy haul shipping is extremely important, especially in regard to getting permits. You should know the length, width, height, and weight of the shipment. You’ll also need to provide the make, model, and serial number if applicable. Educate yourself on permit requirements and heavy haul dimensions so that your shipment process runs smoothly.

Know the State Regulations

The issuance of permits for over-dimensional shipments is handled by each individual state. Some handle these requests promptly, while others are slower.  As a general rule, the bigger the shipment, the longer it will take. The state will also decide which routes the truck must follow, as well as determine if there are any travel restrictions in terms of hours or days.  Often times, weekend and nighttime travel is restricted. Prepare yourself by looking into state restrictions and permits so you can be better equipped to ship your heavy haul.

Tarp Troubles

Please know if your load will require tarping! Over-Dimensional loads will often require more tarps than the typical truck carries. If your shipping partner is aware of this upfront, they can be sure the truck will have the necessary tarps. Large and/or odd-sized pieces will be difficult for even the best drivers to tarp by themselves. Any assistance you can offer is appreciated, even if it’s simply a safe place out of the elements. Being aware of these elements of over-dimensional and heavy haul freight can help ensure your freight arrives at its destination in a safe and timely manner.

Build Relationships

Build a relationship with an experienced logistics provider, like Trinity, to help save you time and money. Finding the right carrier and equipment to haul your over-dimensional shipment can be difficult, so that’s why we do it for you. Trinity’s diverse carrier network gives you access to find a carrier that will fit to your shipment’s specific needs.

Trinity Logistics stands at the ready to help with all your heavy haul and over-dimensional shipments. Our team is well-prepared to make sure your freight arrives in a smooth and timely manner.

If you’d like to request a quote for an over-dimensional or heavy haul shipment,

CLICK HERE

Originally posted September 24th, 2013. Updated by Tori Dalton.

Cold chain warehousing solutions are mostly used by bigger companies that are dealing with perishable items. For example, manufacturers in the food industry use them to warehouse their products until they make their way to end-users. This kind of warehousing is used for storing items that need cool surroundings to prolong their life and keep them from spoiling. There are many more benefits that come with cold chain warehousing solutions, thus, if this is something that may interest you, keep on reading.

Different Types of Cold Warehousing Solutions

One of the benefits of cold chain warehousing solutions is that there are many different types to choose from. For example:

These are just some of the many different types of cold chain warehousing solutions. You, as an individual or a company, should choose one that best suits your needs and budget. 

Versatile Use

It is important to mention that cold chain warehousing solutions are rather versatile. For example, you can use them when storing or transporting perishable foods, as mentioned before. Those can be fruits, vegetables, all types of meat and seafood, as well as all types of dairy products. You can also use them for plants and flowers if you are their manufacturer, distributor, or seller. Finally, you can use them for biopharmaceutical products should you own a clinic or a lab. Many different businesses can benefit from their use.

Whether you are starting your business that deals with perishable products or relocating a business operation that deals with perishable items, choose a warehousing solution that suits your needs. 

Customized To Fit Your Needs

Another thing that makes cold chain warehouse operations great is that they also vary in features they provide to their users. Depending on your needs, the warehousing you choose can be either fixed or portable, or even both if that is what you need. 

Moreover, if you need to store and ship frozen food, you’re not the one who will be shivering.  But the temperature inside them is not the only thing you can control. You can control its humidity and the circulation of air. We all know how important those two are for keeping perishable items fresh and of good quality. Thus, it does not matter what kind of items you are working with. If you get custom cold storage, you can easily adjust its features to suit your needs.

Use of Technology 

We live in the age of technology. Thanks to it, we are able to control almost anything with our phones, for example. You can turn the washing machine on, check whether everything is okay in your office, and even manage your cold chain warehousing. 

Yes, using your phone, you can monitor your warehousing. You can constantly check the condition of your perishable items inside, as well as adjust the features from your phone or computer, etc. The possibilities are endless.

What interests most companies when it comes to technology and warehousing is the data that can be analyzed. For example, you can monitor the condition and quality of your perishable items based on the effects they exhibit and which were obtained from traceability. What this does is improve the overall management of perishable products.

Have Backup

New technology and cold chain warehousing solutions save you time, energy, and money. They extend the life of your perishable products, keeping them at their best quality for your customers. Finding those warehousing solutions can be difficult, which is why working with a logistics provider, like Trinity Logistics, can make your work easier. With over 40 years of experience as logistics problem solvers and being a part of the Burris Logistics family, Trinity can help you find the warehousing solution you need.

Looking to get started with Trinity Logistics for your warehousing needs?
Request a quote

All businesses want to grow, but growing a business isn’t an easy task. It is one of the toughest challenges that a company can face. And there are many ways to go about assisting and capturing on that growth. One option that I’d like to talk about today is on improving your logistics.

You may be the best at being the business idea maker, the manufacturer, the seller, but logistics and the supply chain can be confusing and complex. Trust us, we know. Choosing to work with a third-party logistics company (3PL) can help in removing those confusing and complex tasks, as well as aid in your company’s growth.

What is a 3PL?

Depending on the capabilities of your logistics provider, a 3PL is a service company that can handle several or every aspect related to logistics in your supply chain. This can include fulfillment, transportation, supply chain management, transportation tracking and tracing, inventory management, and more. 3PLs can either be asset based or non-asset based.

Not quite sure what that means? Click here to learn more.

3PL’s are a flexible service, meaning you can choose for help in one piece of your logistics puzzle, or have the 3PL assist with the whole enchilada that is your supply chain and logistics. This also makes 3PLs an affordable service because you can choose to get help on only what you need.

You can quickly see how working with a 3PL can help you with any logistics challenges you may be facing. But how can a 3PL improve your logistics overall? And how does that help with your company’s growth?

Lower Costs

This one is easy. Since all 3PLs handle logistics, they have the experience and relationships built within their networks to better run that aspect of your business. They are able to negotiate lower shipping rates and discounts on the services they use. Not to mention, 3PLs offer access to technology that you would otherwise have to pay for yourself. Without a 3PL, it can take you years to find the best shipping providers and services you need to run your logistics smoothly. Working with a 3PL expedites that process while reducing your costs.

Warehousing & Distribution

Need warehousing space? Rather than setting aside money every month on rent for warehousing that you may not always need, take advantage of a 3PLs connections and get warehousing when and where you need it. This means you could have stock warehoused in several locations, expediting your deliveries. Faster distribution means you’ll have happier customers.

Flexibility

3PLs offer flexibility in your logistics by being able to service you on-demand. You can cut costs by removing or reducing transportation and warehousing assets and outsource when demand increases. Companies that have products with a peak season, or increased demands during the holidays can call upon a 3PL as needed during the rollercoaster that is consumer demand.

Additionally, working with a 3PL gives you the flexibility to try different services to see what works best for your company. You can ship your products via truckload, try out intermodal shipping, or have the 3PL help manage your whole logistics operations with a TMS (transportation management system). You get to choose what works best for you company.

Experience

Speaking of what works best for your company, a 3PL will have that experience and insight. They know how to run and manage logistics operations efficiently and help you with that. Looking to expand into a new geographic region or try e-commerce? A 3PL can help by making recommendations on how to best move forward. Regardless of your challenge, a 3PL provider will have the necessary expertise to guide you on the most beneficial path.

Free Up Resources

When growing your business, you need to invest your time and money into where it would make the biggest impact. Logistics can take a lot of capital when doing it all yourself, so outsourcing to a third party can free up your resources. By focusing on what your team and company is best at and outsourcing the logistics, you’ll be able to provide your customers better products and service with your more efficient operations.

3PL Statistics

If you’re still not convinced about outsourcing to a third-party for your logistics, here are some statistics from the 2019 23rd Annual Third-Party Logistics Study. These go to show that improving your logistics can help your business in many ways.

improving your logistics

These are some of the ways a 3PL can help with improving your logistics and growing your business. Every company is unique and faces its own challenges. The first step in finding out exactly what can your company can improve upon is by having that initial conversation with a 3PL.

Why not take that first step today, and connect with Trinity Logistics?

Yes, I want to improve my logistics to grow my business

With 40 years of experience, a relationship-driven team, and the added benefit of being part of the Burris Logistics family, Trinity Logistics is the 3PL to help your business thrive.

Trinity Logistics is always looking to grow our company, our brand presence, and most importantly, our knowledge within our focus industries; chemical being one of them. We find being involved with industry associations helps keep us in tune with current challenges our customers may be facing while giving us new opportunities to connect. Recently, we came across NACD and thought it a perfect fit for Trinity.

What Is NACD?

NACD stands for the National Association of Chemical Distributors. It is an international association, established in 1971. It is made up of chemical distributors (called members) and their supply-chain partners (affiliates), like Trinity Logistics.

There are nearly 450 member and affiliate companies of NACD. They represent more than 85% of the chemical distribution capacity in the nation and 90% of the industry’s gross revenue.

Why It’s A Great Organization For Chemical Manufacturers

Becoming an NACD member provides many benefits to chemical manufacturers. You gain access to educational programs, important industry data, and networking with current or potential customers and supply chain partners. You also gain access to their list of “Responsible Distributors”, which can help you ensure your products are handled safely throughout the supply chain.

What Is Responsible Distribution?

In 1991, members of NACD created Responsible Distribution. Responsible Distribution is a mandatory third-party verified environmental, health, safety, and security program. It lets their members show their commitment to improvement in all phases of chemical storage, handling, transportation, and disposal.

Why NACD Made Sense For Trinity

As a supply chain partner and service provider, we are always looking for ways to better support our customers. We also want to continue learning and growing while networking. Striving to be our best is just something Trinity does.

NACD fits those objectives while aligning with our company culture. Learning about their Responsible Distribution program further solidified our decision to join. Since Trinity has been Responsible Care certified since 2009, gaining the opportunity to connect with like-minded companies that keep to similar standards of improvement made sense.

We are excited to be a new affiliate of NACD and to have the opportunity to connect with more members of the chemical industry.

Keep an eye out for NACD’s upcoming August edition of their magazine, Chemical Distributor. One of Trinity Logistics’ articles will be featured, written here by yours truly!

Interested in learning more about NACD and how to become a member? Join NACD

Ready to network with us and see how we can be your best supply chain partner? Request a quote

There’s a famous quote by Carl Barks that says, “Work smarter, not harder”. This idea can make your personal life run smoother, but what about your business? Choosing to partner with a 3PL (third-party logistics), like Trinity Logistics, will save you time and increase the efficiency of your business.

Reduce Your Risk

If you’re selecting carriers on your own, are you examining their operating authority, insurance information, and safety ratings? Carriers in our network are checked in our system on a daily basis for compliance. You can feel confident that we will only place your freight with a qualified carrier.

Capacity Fluctuates

A lot. Changing regulations, rising costs of operating a truck, and disruptions in the industry are all affecting truck drivers. The natural ebb and flow of available trucks is difficult enough to keep up with. Shifts can happen overnight, so having a partner on your side fighting for capacity is key to success. We have access to a base of over 70,000 authorized carriers, meaning that we can always find a way to get your truckload freight from Point A to Point B, no matter the demand for equipment.

capacity
Looking to learn more about capacity? Check out our whitepaper, The Carrier Capacity Crunch

Time Is Of The Essence

It can be tedious to spend your day routing your own freight, tracking freight, and managing the day-to-day issues that can occur (delays, breakdowns, blown tires, etc.). Luckily, we’re experts and we can take this responsibility off your hands. We take care of any issues that arise so you can focus more on maintaining the core elements of your business.

Gain Peace of Mind

Partnering with a 3PL means you don’t have to worry about your logistics. Arranging freight transportation can be complex at times and that is where a 3PL excels. Because we work with a variety of industries, modes, and technologies, we know just what to do in any situation. Due to the nature of the business, we’re quick on our feet and able to adapt to changes. Our reputation and expertise speak for themselves, and you can trust that you’re working with one of the best in the business.

Find a New Solution

Partnering with a 3PL can present you with new and unique transportation freight solutions. You could consider consolidating your LTL shipments into one truckload shipment or get a supply chain analysis with Managed Services. A 3PL gives you that opportunity to see what may work best for your company, without all the extra work it would give you if you made that venture alone. And we have the expertise to see if there’s a different, better way for you to be shipping your freight while reducing your costs.

Everyone Else Is Doing It

According to a report by Armstrong & Associates, nearly 90% of Fortune 500 companies partner with a 3PL in order to simplify their lives and increase the efficiency of their business. Don’t be part of the other 10%!

Partnering with a 3PL will be beneficial to your company’s success. With our resources and expertise, Trinity can save you the headaches that come with logistics. Like Carl Barks says, “Work smarter, not harder”.

Learn how Trinity can help your business. Request A Quote

Originally posted February 7, 2013. Updated July 15, 2020 by Tori Dalton

What is Responsible Care®?

According to their website, Responsible Care® is the chemical manufacturing industry’s environmental, health, safety and security performance initiative. It is an international improvement initiative of the chemical industry. Companies of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) carry out Responsible Care®. Choosing a 3PL that is part of the Responsible Care® program can be a benefit to your company, especially when shipping chemicals.

Why is it beneficial to choose a 3PL that is Responsible Care® certified?

Working with a Responsible Care® certified broker holds many advantages for your company. The 3PL will:

As of 2018, there are only 103 Responsible Care® Partner companies.

Only 24 of those are 3PLs.

How does Trinity Logistics use Responsible Care® when arranging chemical shipping?

Trinity Logistics has been Responsible Care® certified since 2009. Unlike most brokers, we carry Pollution Liability coverage. We chose to carry such insurance with Environmental, Health, Safety, and Security (EHS&S) in mind. Spills happen and need to be remedied immediately. Pollution Liability covers costs associated with pollution clean-up, and liability claims for pollution-related injuries, illnesses or death.

Our main goal as a company is continuous improvement. To do better today than we did yesterday. We do this by selecting approved carriers given the information our customers provide regarding their chemical shipment.

Trinity Team Members mitigate risk to our customers and carriers through carrier vetting and thorough communication.

Carrier vetting

Carrier vetting avoids the selection of carriers not approved for particular shipments. Doing so reduces the risk for the loss of containment.

Only trained Team Members can select approved carriers for hazardous shipments. Required training takes place each year for those Team Members involved. This annual training keeps those Team Members up to date with any regulations or process changes regarding hazmat certification. Operating procedures are in place for shipments that need specific certifications, such as hazmat or Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT).

We have an entire team dedicated to vetting motor carriers. Our Carrier Relations & Development Team must verify the motor carrier’s operating authority, insurance, certifications, etc. before the carrier may be added in our database as an “approved” carrier.

Operations training

Our onboarding for new Team Members is extensive. Ongoing training is required to maintain the knowledge needed by a Team Member.

Trinity has a complete program to manage its process with chemical transportation. This includes compliance with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements using system wide operating procedures.

Operations Team Members have a role in the sharing of this information. Team Members make sure information is correct and meets standards with our customers. They create shipping documents and communicate that information with the drivers. Communication is the most important part of process safety and is kept open with our customers, carriers, and our Compliance Team.

Outside of Arranging Chemical Shipping

Responsible Care® is much more than preventing and taking care of chemical spills. Responsible Care® is all about sustainability; how we take care of this earth now, so it is still here in the future.

Trinity has Responsible Care® rooted in its company culture. It is a green, environmentally friendly way of life that we have taken ahold of.

As stated by our point person for our Responsible Care® Management System,

“Trinity’s purpose is to “continually improve people’s lives by constantly striving to be our best”. Implementing the Responsible Care® Management System, RCMS, drove greater visibility and accountability. It became an integral part of our daily operations. Having this system in place allows us to reduce risk and strive towards a sustainable future.”

Examples of our Responsible Care® initiatives at our offices include:

We perform regular checks on our environmental, health, safety, and security performances. We then measure and define our improvement objectives.

Trinity Logistics upholds Responsible Care to keep all of our stakeholders safe. This includes our customers, carriers, Team Members, and our community.

Discover how our chemical customer, Albaugh, came to chose Trinity Logistics as their one source logistics provider in our case study.

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Read more about what goes into shipping chemicals safely in our blog post, Chemical Shipping and Storage: What You Need to Know.

If you’re ready to work with a transportation provider that is Responsible when shipping chemicals, click the link to get started. Request A Quote

Originally posted February 3, 2020. Updated July 14, 2020 by Christine Griffith