Year: <span>2021</span>

Over the last 15 months we’ve seen headlines telling about shortages in every area of the economy. From consumer goods to microchips, everyone is feeling the effects of a vulnerable supply chain and is assessing new options. Yet there is an opportunity for companies to restructure their supply chains and create new processes with their stakeholders in order to meet the demands of the customer.

One of the ways businesses can meet this challenge is to keep focus on their suppliers and stock on hand. By measuring and analyzing every aspect of the supply chain, businesses can diagnose where the pitfalls are and take steps to fortify their operations. This helps companies stay flexible and make smarter decisions.

The second way businesses can strike the supply chain balance is by working with a trusted carrier to ensure they can fulfill your order. Keeping communication channels open across the supply chain allows businesses to plan for the ebb and flow within their operations and communicating those shifts allows your carrier to construct a plan to meet your delivery needs. Working together on a consistent basis helps both companies in the long run, allowing the creation of a supply chain that can help you regardless of the circumstances.

The third method of striking a supply chain balance is by ensuring you’re using the best method of optimizing your freight. Working with your carrier to determine the best delivery system for your business allows you to find the best solution for your needs. When you’re shipping unique freight, your needs will be different than a manufacturer who fills a truckload on a routine basis. Optimizing your freight provides options, which are critical at a time like now when it comes to striking the supply chain balance.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of providing great service to a customer. We partner with all of our customers, developing and optimizing their supply chain with our custom carrier solutions which fulfills all the needs of the business. Our customers find satisfaction because they can trust us when it comes to finding the right solution, no matter what their supply chain is facing. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

Choosing the right method of shipping can be difficult. With so many ways to ship your freight, you may have concerns about whether you’re using the right service for your business. The good news is that there are multiple options when it comes to getting your shipment to the customer. You just need to make sure that you are choosing the method that best aligns with your priorities.

LTL

LTL, or Less-Than-Truckload freight, is usually less than 20,000 pounds, taking up six or fewer pallet spaces in a truck. LTL shipments are combined with other shipments going in the same direction, and usually optimized at an origin terminal and distributed for final mile delivery from a destination terminal. At Zip this is not the case, as all of our shipments are sent directly to the customer and our handling is reduced by up to 75%, ensuring that your freight will arrive undamaged and on time. This is generally a more cost-effective shipping solution, however it may take a little bit more time due to the optimization and distribution needs.

Truckload

Truckload freight takes up an entire truck. This means that the space inside is dedicated to your freight and will generally have a quicker transit time. This is often the right option when you have enough freight to fill a truck and need to have it delivered quickly. However, you will be paying for the entire truck, so this option isn’t cost effective for smaller shipments.

Expedited

When you need to expedite your freight, you are usually on a strict schedule, but might not have enough freight to justify paying for an entire truck. Expedited solutions can optimize your freight with other loads, but will place priority on your shipment. This may cost a little bit more than standard LTL service, but most customers find that it is well worth it. Our expedited service will help ensure that your products will arrive right when you need them to.

Headload

Sometimes you may have a shipment that sits right in the grey area – too large to be an LTL shipment, but not large enough to justify buying space on an entire truck.You are also concerned about paying for air due to the empty space. These types of loads are perfect for our Headload solution, which optimizes customer freight to provide superior service by ensuring that your freight will arrive undamaged and on time.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of knowing your options when it comes to shipping your freight. That’s why whenever you reach out to us, we work with you to find the best option for your business that will ensure your freight will arrive undamaged and on time. These are called our custom carrier solutions, and we provide them to every customer we work with, which is why we maintain a 99% satisfaction with all of our customers. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

One of our goals is to keep our shipments and transportation networks optimized at all times. All of our efforts are focused on this goal since optimizing shipments helps ensure that deliveries are made on time and undamaged. Optimizing transportation also has the benefit of creating a more sustainable fleet since there is a reduced amount of “empty space” that customers are no longer paying for. Here are a few tips manufacturers can use when it comes to optimizing their network.

Set Optimization Goals

Are you looking to get your high-volume shipments to customers as quickly as possible? Or do you manufacture high end products and are looking to make sure your unique freight always arrives undamaged? Optimization looks very different between companies and your ideal may look very different from a company in another industry.

Consider All Stakeholders

Freight optimization starts with the customer. Asking them about the frequency of deliveries, cost expectations and transportation schedules allows both companies to create an optimized network that works with all parties. Keeping carriers in the loop helps ensure they can work around your schedule and keep your customers satisfied by receiving deliveries when they expect them.

Anticipate and Communicate Hurdles

Optimization is a process. Expect there to be hurdles and keep all stakeholders in the communication loop. As long as all parties are working together, the hurdles will themselves smooth out and in time, the transportation network will be a fully optimized supply chain.

Work with the Best Carrier for Your Business

Every carrier is different and it’s important to find the carrier best suited for your freight. The worst solution is to turn to brokers who will force carriers into providing you with cut-rate service. This is a short-term solution, a mistake we’ve seen too many times. Working with a carrier directly will ensure you’ll get the best outcome in designing your optimized transportation network for the long run.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of optimization. Everything we do is driven towards optimization, from the way we handle our shipments to the way we clean our offices. We work closely with all of our partners in optimizing their supply chains, creating what we call custom carrier solutions which ensures that every shipment arrives undamaged, on time and to the customer’s satisfaction. If you’d like to see how we can optimize your transportation network, start today with Zip Xpress!

Nobody likes delays, but they are an inevitable part of trucking and transportation. The best thing we can do is to be proactive in our supply chain operations in order to minimize the number of delays that we must face. Of the many slowdowns that happen during the life of a shipment, one of the most easily avoidable is that of detention. You can’t control the weather, traffic, or the mechanical abilities of any given truck, but you can control the ways in which your warehouses operate. Here are some tips to help you save money on detention bills.

Don’t Schedule a Pickup Until the Goods are Confirmed

Whether you are manufacturing the product or waiting on raw materials to arrive, make sure that your shipment is ready to go before scheduling a truck. If pallets aren’t assembled or wrapped by the time the appointment rolls around, the driver will likely have to sit for longer than 2 hours. In some instances, there may not be a need for packaging, so check with your carrier on their recommendation for packaging.

Employ a Reasonably Sized and Qualified Staff

It should be obvious that you can’t really get through your day without your forklift operator. Make sure that you have plenty of qualified professionals who can load a truck safely and efficiently. In some cases, it may be worth it to look into outside contractors during times of increased business.

Keep Your Expectations Realistic

If you are a smaller warehouse with 2 docks, it probably doesn’t make sense to schedule 100 trucks a day. Know your limitations and keep track of loading time data so that you can better stagger your appointments in order to load every truck as quickly as possible.

Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up

In all aspects of shipping, communication is key. If you are experiencing a backup at the warehouse or if equipment is down, notify your carrier. Chances are they would be willing to accommodate a different appointment time slot. It may not always be possible, but keeping communication open will be appreciated and will set you up for more success down the line.

At Zip Xpress, we understand the frustration of detention for both sides of the logistics equation. In order to combat this frustration we communicate with our customers every step of the way, from scheduling pickups, deliveries and notifying about delays. Our communication processes help our customers and their customers ensure a successful delivery that is made on time and undamaged. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

If there is one message that bears repeating, it’s the value of great service. The importance of improving the customer experience can’t be understated because customers simply deserve better. In logistics, superior service is called bringing out the white glove where shipments are handled with extra care and charge a premium to do so. Here at Zip Xpress, we treat every shipment with care, but we don’t tack this on as an additional expense – this is simply our standard for all of our customer’s shipments. There are other ways to improve the customer experience beyond handling their shipments.

Improving the customer experience also means being available whenever a customer has a question or wishes to submit a quote. The back and forth of leaving a voicemail (or an unanswered email!) can be such a waste of time and customers are left feeling that they’re not valuable. At Zip Xpress, every phone call is answered by a person willing to help the customer get the answers they need. Most of our staff is trained to provide customers with a quote, which ensures that a customer’s deliveries can be made on their schedule. This also ties into the belief that great service must span the entire organization. Consistency is key and every employee must be trained in treating customers with utmost respect.

Partnering with a customer’s business is critical in delivering great customer service. When you understand the industries you serve, you’re able to anticipate the needs of the customer and work to solve their problems as though they were your own. You can devise unique solutions for your customers and provide them with the advice that they find valuable. Here at Zip Xpress we call these our custom carrier solutions and they enable us to solve any problem a customer may have to ensure their shipments will arrive undamaged and on time.

At Zip Xpress, we have always recognized the importance of great service. We strived to set ourselves apart by optimizing every shipment for our customers. From there we focused on other details, from keeping our offices organized and clean to ensuring our drivers are happy and will delight our customers upon delivery of their shipments. We sought to create the personal touch that delights our customers with every shipment and all of our focus here at Zip has been on delighting the customer. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

Relationships in the logistics realm are as important now as they ever have been. On-demand shipping, automation, and expedited freight are becoming more prevalent, and performance expectations are higher across the board. While transportation is full of unpredictable situations, supply chains are constantly striving to maintain as predictable of a process as they possibly can. In order to achieve this, strong relationships with vendors and suppliers are absolutely essential.

While shippers think they may save money here and there on ad-hoc shipments with unknown providers, the cost of doing business this way adds up in the long run. This factor is compounded with damaged shipments, costs for replacement and lost trust. Developing strong relationships with transportation partners allows customers to benefit from more predictability and reliability. Carriers, likewise, can expect more consistent freight when they form long-term partnerships with shippers. It’s hard for us to see shippers who are forced to deal with cut-rate service and hear their stories. We believe that a deeper relationship could have prevented most if not all of the damage.

Communication and transparency lie at the center of every successful logistics partnership. When a customer has a shipment, they need to make sure that all information is accurate and that they notify the carrier of any special requirements. Carriers must provide realistic expectations for transit time and maintain open lines of communication throughout the trip. It is important to alert the customer of any delays that might happen along the way. If both partners can consistently communicate in an honest and straightforward way, it is likely that the relationship will flourish.

At Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of a deep relationship with our customers. This understanding drives everything we do in our effort to create a wonderful shipping experience. It’s why we’re able to maintain a 99% retention rate with our customers, and allows us to provide the best custom carrier solutions for every shipper we work with. When you work with us, you’ll understand why we say that premium is the standard at Zip Xpress. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

It’s no surprise that fuel prices spike in the summer, but with an index that has been rising all year, higher fuel prices will be a reality for this year. For fleet owners, fuel prices pose a significant challenge, either impacting a company’s bottom line or forcing shippers to pay higher rates. It is essential for fleet managers and owners to take some steps to maximize their fuel efficiency for every trip.

Prioritize More Efficient Routes

A lot of fuel can be wasted simply by choosing the wrong route – which in some cases may even be the shorter route. Paying attention to traffic patterns and road conditions can help minimize idling time while also reducing wear and tear on the trucks.

Perform Regular Truck Maintenance

The most efficient truck is one that is maintained meticulously. Keeping tires at the correct pressure, tuning up the engine, changing the oil, and monitoring air filters can all help to improve fuel efficiency. Regular maintenance goes a long way in keeping trucks fuel efficient, drivers satisfied and prevents major breakdowns.

Encourage Safe, Relaxed Driving

Aggressive driving will severely lower your miles per gallon on any trip. Accelerating too quickly, frequently breaking, and shifting too often not only reduce fuel efficiency, but they can wreak havoc on equipment. It might be difficult to change driver habits, but rewarding safe driving is beneficial for carriers and their employees.

At Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of maximizing fuel efficiency when it comes to developing a more sustainable fleet. Our routine maintenance schedules help keep our trucks in prime condition, while we also focus on working with our drivers to ensure their safety and that their needs are met. Each step we take in maintaining our fleet helps keep our drivers and customers satisfied since deliveries will be made on time and undamaged. Each step allows us and our customers to become more sustainable, which can be seen in our carbon reduction reports. To see these benefits for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!