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Deepening the Carrier and Shipper Relationship

When it comes to carrier and shipper relationships, in all too many circumstances, there is none. At least this was the case years ago before capacity tightened, which has caused shippers to search for a carrier partner of choice. However in many instances, for shippers without a carrier attempting to build a relationship in these current circumstances is likely too little too late. Companies have long memories of who was and wasn’t there for them, especially when times were tough. Yet shippers need to get their goods to customers too, so here are a few steps for shippers in need of deepening their relationship with their carrier.

One of the areas in determining a carrier that can help you is to evaluate their predictability and reliability rather than price. Getting your goods delivered to customers is top priority right now. Carriers who maintain agility and responsiveness by communicating with their customers, informing them about their orders every step of the way win the loyalty of their customers. Once you’ve found a carrier of choice that can handle your shipments, there are additional ways to deepen your relationship with them.

One area to improve relationships with carriers is by making life as easy as possible for their drivers. Respecting the driver’s time and treating them as people will speak volumes about a company, because drivers talk to one another and word gets around. If your company is disrespectful to drivers by making them wait a really long time in order to unload their shipment, word will spread and you will inevitably be in a capacity crunch. Drivers often rate companies on Google based on their wait times. The better you can treat a company’s driver, the more you’ll be appreciated.

Opening all lines of communication with your carrier is another vital means of building the relationship. Setbacks can and do occur, and when one side informs the other of such setbacks, trust is built. Open communication also signals that you’re both doing the best you can, which is all companies can ask for when dealing with one another. Open communication is also a signal of honesty with one another since neither side is trying to hide information and such honesty inevitably leads to trust in one another and a dynamic relationship. Such a relationship will help both companies flourish and happy customers that will keep wanting your business.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand what it means to be the carrier that will work with you, no matter what. We have a long history of helping customers overcome their logistical challenges and partnering with our shippers to ensure their shipments will arrive on time and undamaged, no matter what. Relationships matter more to us than anything else, as we treat every customer’s problem as one of our own. No matter what the situation is, we have a custom carrier solution that will work for your business. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

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The Value of Carriers

Over the past few years, carriers have been at the forefront of solving every logistics issue imaginable for their customers. Since spot market rates on freight load boards have increased, it has been proven that the search for cut rate service and hopping to the lowest priced carrier is a losing strategy. Focusing too much on cost cutting has become a death sentence for many companies that have attempted to navigate the current supply chain environment, since carriers have been forced to increase their prices due to capacity, lack of drivers, fuel and even issues relating to the unavailability of trailers and trucks. 

While in theory logistics possesses relatively few barriers to entry, many trucking companies were started with one individual, a truck and a CDL license. The resulting oversupply from the previous decade has caused many companies to in essence neglect their extremely crucial supply chain responsibilities because they believe that somebody else will be able to ‘handle the deliveries.’ However, with our current situation, logistics is becoming a more specialized field with its own challenges and expertise. Expecting bottom rates at the expense of the carrier will only result in a lack of a business relationship in a field that is quickly becoming more specialized.

It is important to see that this issue will not be solved on the carrier side alone. While it is becoming easier to acquire a CDL license, driving a truck is still not a field overflowing with new entrants at the current time. The lack of available trucks and trailers also tightens the supply chain, which means the best option to consider is the optimization of freight. Optimizing freight allows for carriers to work together in getting shipments to their destination on time. Many carriers are willing to work together in this endeavor, but we also need shippers to consider this as an option when developing their supply chain strategy.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of providing value to every member of the supply chain. We’re also the pioneers in developing optimization strategies for all of our customer’s freight, ensuring that every shipment will arrive undamaged and on time. We coordinate pickup and delivery times for shippers and customers, at a time that works best for everyone. We’ll work with you to solve all of your shipping challenges and no matter what challenge you’re facing, we have a custom carrier solution that will meet your needs, getting the shipment to the customer on time and undamaged. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

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Supply Chain Resilience Through Headload Optimization

As the economy adjusts to additional supply chain constraints and fluctuations in the economy, the most likely outcome of this will be more supply chain congestion. It is understandable that this is the last thing companies want to hear, however now is the perfect time to implement a solution that has been underutilized across the entire logistics industry and the American supply chain. At a time where we face rising costs, driver shortages and congestion everywhere we look, one area shippers need to take a second look is whether they’re marking their shipments as full or partial truckloads.

By taking a second look at whether a shipment is marked full or partial and assessing if a full truckload is really needed, companies can help alleviate the congestion that has run rampant across the logistics sector. Capacity only seems to keep tightening, so it is vital to determine if a shipment really needs a full truckload. In too many cases, shipments are marked as full truckload even though they only occupy a fraction of the trailer. This is a waste of valuable resources at a time when we can’t afford such waste. Optimizing shipments is quickly becoming the smarter choice.

We here at Zip Xpress pioneered the headload optimization service which allows companies to only pay for the space they’re using on a trailer. This practice contributes to saving fuel, reducing empty air on trailers and easing the congestion that has run rampant. All of these factors help build resilience into your supply chain by getting your shipments to their destination on time and undamaged. Optimization is one of, if not the most effective solution for the short term, helping shippers and carriers alike as both sides navigate the challenges ahead of us.

Here at Zip Xpress we understand the importance of optimizing shipments, and building resilience into our customer’s supply chains. Our headload optimization service ensures that all of our shipments are able to get to their destinations on time, no matter what. We’ve utilized this service to great effect for all of our customers, creating a sustainable solution and recycling air by reducing the number of empty trailers on the highway. To see the results for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

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Supply Chain Resilience by Expecting the Unexpected

Expecting the unexpected has become a cornerstone of the logistics and supply chain playbook over the past few years. There’s good reason to believe this since there have been so many curve balls thrown into the American supply chain. The cumulative effect of these curveballs has resulted in congestion, backups, increased costs (material and shipping) and an assortment of challenges manufacturers face related to production. While nobody could have predicted the challenges we face, we can all agree that learning to expect the unexpected will create a more resilient supply chain and help build stronger companies.

The question becomes: how do we expect the unexpected? One of the key ways manufacturers can prepare for the unexpected is by working with a localized carrier that specializes in the regions where they primarily conduct business. Localized carriers with a regional focus will understand the variables that can delay a shipment such as weather patterns, highway construction and a myriad of others that can prevent getting your shipment to its destination on time. By asking these carriers “what happens when…?” will give you an idea of how prepared they are as well as providing you with the basic ideas for your own contingency plans.

Speaking of which, another way of expecting the unexpected is by developing contingency plans with every member of your supply chain. Opening all communication channels and utilizing the spirit of cooperation with every member of the supply chain allows for innovative solutions to come to the surface. When ideas are being shared, discoveries will inevitably arise. For example, your carrier may know a business that can manufacture a part your company needs or you discover a process that you want incorporated into your own organization. Keeping communication channels open at all times helps keep the supply chain running smoothly and ensures supply chain resilience.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand what it means to expect the unexpected. Our team is always in constant communication with every member of the supply chain because we schedule pickup and drop off for every shipment we handle. If anything changes we notify customers with a phone call so you always know what is happening with your shipments while they’re in our care. Our understanding of the regional market that we serve combined with our cooperative problem solving spirit offers you a vast array of options that will solve all of your logistical needs through our custom carrier solutions. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

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Careful Freight Handling Builds Supply Chain Resilience

As manufacturers navigate through their supply chain challenges, one of the crucial areas will be in how they manage their raw materials. Many articles explain how to recycle and reuse materials in an effort to reduce waste due to the increase in prices as well as possible labor shortages. One area that is being given little attention for manufacturers in their efforts to reduce waste is in shipping, especially at a time when capacity is so tight. While many manufacturers undoubtedly are grateful that their shipments are being delivered to customers, the frustration they experience when their freight arrives damaged is no doubt multiplied at a time when the manufacturer had to jump through so many hurdles to get that shipment to the customer.

When a shipment arrives damaged, it is not simply a matter of filing a claim with the carrier and then the issue is resolved. There’s the effort of securing new materials for the product, manufacturing the new product, scheduling the delivery with the customer and the labor costs through the entire process of creating a new product. Meanwhile, weeks have passed and you’re still waiting for the dispute to be resolved in getting compensation for the damaged shipment. This doesn’t even consider the non-monetary costs of lost trust in the carrier as well as damaged trust with the customer, since they’re forced to wait weeks (if not months in some industries) to receive their shipment.

Manufacturers would be wise to evaluate their carrier partners, especially at a time like this. They must ask themselves: are they working with a reliable carrier that understands their shipments or are they in search for the best rates and ‘anyone will do?’ The unfortunate truth is that we live in a time where spot market rates are rising and will likely continue to do so. In the meantime, manufacturers must find ways of mastering their supply chain. The first way of mastering their supply chain is by looking to their carriers to ensure they’re able to get all of their shipments to the customer on time and undamaged.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of getting a shipment to a customer on time and undamaged. Our speciality is in handling unique freight and providing careful consideration to all of the shipments we’re privileged to be working with. This is accomplished through our custom carrier solutions, methods in which we devise a shipping strategy that works for our customers, no matter what their situation. Many carriers would call such dedication to service the ‘white glove treatment’ but here at Zip Xpress, that’s our standard and it’s why we have a 99% satisfaction rating with our customers. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

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Helping Freight Handlers

When people think of a logistics job that deserves respect, their first thoughts would likely be truck drivers. While drivers deserve such recognition, there is another position that is critical to the logistics field and deserves our praise: Freight Handlers. Freight Handlers are the vital behind-the-scenes workers who ensure that the shipments within the American supply chain arrive in a timely manner. These professionals ensure that goods get to the customers and without freight handlers, the supply chain would be much more chaotic.

Yet in these times of supply chain congestion, freight handlers are working harder than ever to get shipments to their destination. We sought out ways of keeping freight handlers safe and maximizing efficiency, thereby providing means of support to these invaluable workers. One of the most important ways to support freight handlers is to develop a process for a clean and efficient work environment. Keeping a clean and efficient warehouse is vital in helping freight handlers do their jobs and maintain their wellbeing. A clean warehouse reduces chances for an accident, since the last thing anyone wants is a freight handler slipping on an oil slick or tripping over refuse. A clean warehouse can also raise morale because it shows the dedication and pride freight handlers have for their work space.

Another way of providing freight handlers with support is by reviewing procedures to ensure that label creation is efficient while also making it easy for freight handlers to procure these labels. When a freight handler must walk from one end of the warehouse to the other multiple times a day, that can tire them out. Reducing this ‘back and forth’ will help reduce fatigue and improve efficiency. Whether these methods involve pre-printing labels, putting a printer on wheels or other means, empowering freight handlers to help create these procedures will get their support, since they are the ones that know the warehouse the best.

Here at Zip Xpress, we work hard to keep our freight handlers happy and show them the respect they deserve. We have one of the cleanest warehouses in the industry as well as procedures that keep shipments organized, which makes the lives of our freight handlers easier. We always listen to their ideas, which have yielded incredible results in the development of our warehouse processes and custom carrier solutions for our customers. It is because of our dedication from our freight handlers that we can ensure shipments will arrive undamaged and on time every time. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

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Stripping Inefficiencies Out of Loading and Unloading Process

During times of supply chain congestion, it is vital that every member of the supply chain look for inefficiencies in a concentrated effort of keeping shipments moving. One of the key areas that inefficiencies can thrive is the loading and unloading process. While the reasons may vary, inefficiencies with loading and unloading is a critical pain point, specifically for drivers. They have traveled hundreds if not thousands of miles to reach their destination at the designated appointment time only to be told to wait. Once a driver arrives at their destination, there is little they can do other than wait since they cannot simply drive the shipment back. 

Being forced to wait in this manner is one of the key factors as to why there is a driver shortage. All too often drivers aren’t treated as professionals, and there is little concern shown about their wellbeing when they’re forced to wait two to six hours for their shipment to be unloaded. Any attempt to enforce fees from extensive waiting is unlikely to go over well and as a result, nobody makes any money when this happens. Word spreads about warehouses that make drivers wait, primarily through Google Reviews, which can cause carriers to be hesitant to deliver a shipment to such a location or a raise in rates to compensate for long unloading times. In this instance one or both results occur: longer shipping times or more expensive shipping rates, neither of which are good for a shipper.

The best way to eliminate this inefficiency is for a collaboration between shippers, carriers and warehouse managers. Scheduling loading/unloading times, keeping communication lines constantly open and sticking to the shipments schedule will go a long way in cementing a great relationship between shippers, warehouse managers and carriers. Once all members of the party understand where the inefficiencies lie, they can take proactive measures to reduce or even eliminate them, creating a more efficient supply chain at a time when we need it most. This collaboration can prevent many headaches, fees and rates from spiraling out of control.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of collaborating with shippers and customers when it comes to loading and unloading shipments. We schedule calls for pickup and delivery, taking out all of the guesswork in this process. From there our professional drivers will arrive precisely when they need to, making the entire process painless for our customers and their customers. Companies appreciate the extra effort we take in coordinating deliveries, which is why we’re able to maintain a 99% satisfaction rate with our customers. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

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Keeping Driver Spirits Up

Truck drivers are some of the hardest working and toughest individuals in the American economy. Without them, many of our goods would not be on store shelves. Drivers understand what’s at stake, especially right now in the midst of a multitude of supply chain challenges. As drivers manage the constant push for deliveries, long routes can inevitably take a toll, causing loneliness, anxiety, and even depression. As tough as a driver may be, mental health is especially important to their overall well being. Below are a few tips to help drivers preserve their mental health and stay safe on the roads.

Stay Connected with Loved Ones

While drivers are expected to be away from their friends and families for days, even weeks at a time, driving alone in a hyper-vigilant state and being away from home can take its toll, causing loneliness. Making video calls to family members (not while driving of course), bringing photos or items that remind you of home or even bringing along one of your family members can go a long way in helping alleviate loneliness while driving. While you will need to check with your company’s co-pilot policy, staying connected with your loved ones will help keep you motivated and combat feelings of loneliness.

Get Quality Sleep

Sleep interruption can come in many forms, however sticking to a nightly routine, avoiding caffeine late in the day, and limiting the use of electronic devices before bed can all help you get enough quality sleep through the night. Being well rested goes a long way in preventing depression while on the road since a lack of sleep only adds stress when drivers need to be on constant alert. One area for drivers to check for is sleep apnea, which can cause frequent interruptions in sleep, resulting in irritability and slower reaction times and decision making. Be sure to consult with a medical professional about sleep apnea and how to manage it.

Ask For Help When You Need It

Drivers, as tough as they are, need to know when to ask for help. Drivers have people that care for them and no delivery is worth a driver’s health. Reach out for help, whether through your team at work, a family member or a mental health professional when the toll becomes too great. Don’t think you have to go through this alone, because you are more valuable than a shipment. Everyone around you believes this, and it’s always okay to ask for help.

Here at Zip Xpress, we care deeply about the health of all truck drivers. We do our best to provide a helping hand to support our team in whatever way we can. They are the face of our business and interact with every member of the supply chain. Their health is of vital importance and we will do anything to ensure the health of our drivers. Such support keeps them happy, healthy and friendly, which is why they remain so dedicated to getting shipments delivered on time and undamaged. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

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Building Resiliency into the West Michigan Supply Chain

There have been a lot of articles written about supply chain resiliency or building resilience into supply chains, but not much explanation into what resiliency means. Resiliency is about making your company less reliant on one supplier for all of your materials and components in a product, essentially diversifying your supplier base. While this is not a new or novel idea, the past two years have forced companies to adapt due to an increase in demand for products, while also creating a lack of supply in material components. Such market forces have called for companies to restructure their manufacturing processes and as a result, their focus is on building resilience.

Resilience however will only be as strong as the companies endeavoring upon it. Without keeping constant communication and collaboration with suppliers, companies may find themselves managing a supply chain that has become too complex. At the same time if we treat resilience as an excuse to treat suppliers poorly, then service from all parties will inevitably decline. However, if we treat this adaptation as a chance to build stronger relationships with all of our supply chain partners utilizing a win-win mentality, stronger businesses will emerge in the process that can adapt their production and logistics in response to just about anything.

Here in West Michigan, many manufacturers are in the process of sourcing new suppliers and finding new lines of production on a daily basis. West Michigan manufacturers have a strong regional advantage since there are so many manufacturers located throughout the midwest. Yet as manufacturers redesign their supply chains, they will inevitably need assistance from a trusted carrier to ensure that the shipments from these suppliers will arrive undamaged and on time. As manufacturers begin to localize their supply chains, seeking out a trusted carrier who specializes in local and regional logistics will be paramount for success for manufacturers within West Michigan.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of resiliency within the supply chain. We are always working internally to solve the logistical challenges of getting a shipment to its destination on time and undamaged. We work with both the shipper and the customer, coordinating pickups and deliveries in a way that most carriers simply don’t. We will guarantee satisfaction for every member of your supply chain while also building the resilience that will keep your company strong. No matter what logistical challenges your company is facing, we have a custom carrier solution that can help you overcome it. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

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The State of Manufacturing for 2022

This year promises to be an interesting year for manufacturing as the sector plans to tackle multiple challenges surrounding production and the supply chain. In our State of Manufacturing for 2022, we believe that the biggest areas manufacturing will focus on are: further investment in automation technology, localized sourcing of suppliers and additional focus on getting shipments delivered on time and undamaged.

Continued Investment in Automation

One of the key challenges in manufacturing is the current labor shortage. Many of the sector’s most experienced workers are retiring and there are not enough candidates who will take their place. Manufacturers since have been investing in automation technology to keep up with demand from consumers and that trend is only going to continue since record numbers of orders are being placed. The investment in automation technology has helped create a boon in production, which will likely trigger additional demand for more automation investment.

Localized Sourcing

Another key trend that is likely to continue for manufacturers is the development of localized sourcing of suppliers. Localized supply chains come with a different set of challenges that many manufacturers may not be aware of, such as the types of delays that may occur on the local scene. Manufacturers will also be focused on finding multiple suppliers for critical parts, increasing inventory of these critical products, and sourcing raw materials from multiple suppliers, all in an effort to build resilience into their supply chains. With the redesign of the supply chain containing such a localized focus, manufacturers would best work with a carrier that maintains a localized/regional focus to advise and assist their shipping needs.

Getting Deliveries on Time

The final area manufacturers will be working hard at is getting all of their shipments delivered on time and undamaged. Keeping delivery schedules at a time where setbacks, delays and other changes in schedules is a challenge many manufacturers find themselves facing over and over again. With all of these delays posing risk to a shipment, the worst thing that can happen is when the shipment arrives damaged. Producing and sending out another shipment causes a further increase in risk and causes frustration with customers whose product is now delayed much later than originally expected. Manufacturers will work hard to ensure that their shipments arrive at their destination undamaged and on time.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand the challenges manufacturers will be facing in 2022 and we’re ready to help the companies we have the privilege of working with face those challenges. With our unique focus on localized supply chains as well as our dedication to service, we can help you build resilience into your supply chain, ensuring that you have the right options when you need them the most. Our dedication to service ensures that every shipment we handle will arrive undamaged and on time, while we coordinate pickup and delivery with you and your customers, saving you time and energy while you focus on running your business. No matter what challenge you’re facing, Zip Xpress is here to help. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!