Author: <span>Zip Xpress</span>

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!

As final shipments are being made for the year, everyone is rushing to meet the deliveries in the midst of congested supply chains everywhere. Now it is more critical than ever to remember the importance of keeping great service during times of congestion, since every member of the supply chain’s shipments may be taking longer to arrive than expected due to forces beyond their control. Here are a few ways we recommend keeping great service during times of congestion.

First, communicate any and all delays to all members of the supply chain. Going out of your way to communicate with vendors and customers will help ease tensions between all parties, especially when they know why. While it can be hard to admit when production or a shipment is behind schedule, providing the reasons allows for understanding, especially when you call them over the phone. Everyone is more understanding when they speak to another human being and bringing each member of the supply chain into the fold allows for solutions to arise that didn’t exist before. 

Another key to providing great service in times of congestion is for companies to collaborate with their logistics provider to determine forecasting. Once companies have a greater understanding of their supply chain schedules, they can develop a flexible plan that governs when they order materials and coordinating shipping schedules with customers to ensure they can get products to their door when they need them. This also allows flexibility to be built into the supply chain which causes the supply chain to absorb any delays and still allow a shipper to deliver their products on time. Such collaborative efforts allow shippers to reap the benefits of improved satisfaction and more orders from faithful customers.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of great service. Everything we do is designed to provide greater service for our customers and it is a value of ours that never falters. Whenever you call our office, you will speak with a person, never a machine. When we work with you, we coordinate with you and your customer for pickup and delivery, maintaining a schedule that works with everyone involved. Our friendly drivers will greet your customers with a smile, because they understand how important an impression on a customer is. Everyone at Zip Xpress is dedicated to great service and it’s the key value that connects us as an organization. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

It is no secret that any supply chain can become complex. With so many articles and newsreels about backups, driver shortages, and congestion (both local and international), it would be understandable if a shipper found themselves wondering: will my customers receive their shipments on time? The supply chain is a key component of any business and what you want more than anything is to keep your customers satisfied by ensuring that your products arrive undamaged and on time.

One of the key ways to reduce complexity in your supply chain is to partner and work with a carrier you can trust. Working with a carrier directly removes the constant search for quotes and back-and-forth communication you will have with a freight broker. As an added benefit, you won’t be leaving your freight ‘up to chance’ to be handled by a random company where you have no idea how they communicate with customers (if at all), or some of their other policies pertaining to your shipment. The best option for mid-sized companies going forward is to partner with a carrier rather than spend countless hours on the hunt with brokers in hopes of getting a shipment to its destination on time.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand the need of simplifying the supply chain. That’s why when we work with a customer, we partner with them and handle nearly every aspect of their shipment. We help schedule the pickup and delivery of your products, making phone calls and facing all of the problems along the way through the life of your shipment. We have specialized systems and processes for every level of our business, all guided under the premise of helping our customers get their shipments to their destination on time and undamaged. We have helped hundreds of companies over the course of 20 years build their supply chains and maintain a 99% retention rating as well. Want to see such dedication to your shipments? Then start today with Zip Xpress!

If this year has proven anything, it is the fallacy that selecting a full truckload is always the best option when it comes to shipping freight, especially when that shipment doesn’t fill an entire truckload. With the constant rising rates on the freight boards, it is becoming increasingly impractical for a shipper to always select full truckload, which means that shippers need alternative solutions if shipments are going to be delivered in a timely manner.

With skyrocketing shipping rates, the best way shippers can guarantee that a customer receives their full truckload shipment on time is by paying a (staggering) premium to do so. That’s why we at Zip Xpress created our Optimized Headload solution where we assist customers by optimizing their shipments and ensure they’re only paying for space they’re using. Our experienced freight handlers ensure that every shipment is treated with precision and care, while we assist in the timely pickup and delivery of every shipment we work with.

In addition to rising rates, companies need to be focused on sustainability efforts and when a shipment is marked as full truckload but only occupies 10% of the trailer space…that’s not exactly sustainable. All of the fuel consumed and extra trucks on the road increase carbon emissions as well as wear and tear on our nation’s highways. Our headload solution is a sustainable alternative where shippers are ‘recycling air’ and reducing the number of empty trailers on the road.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of options for your supply chain. If you’re not certain about whether your shipment should be marked FT or LTL, we offer our optimized headload solution where your rate is determined based on the space you’re using. This dedication to service and providing options to our customers is one of the reasons why we maintain a 99% retention rate with all of our customers. Rest assured that we will work with your business to find the best custom carrier solution that gets your freight to its destination on time and undamaged. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

Congress has recently passed the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) which has been signed into law by the President. Contained within this legislation are two provisions that are expected to go a long way in helping our national infrastructure and the nation’s supply chain. The bill has been celebrated by the American Trucking Association (ATA) as well as many within the logistics sector.

One of the key provisions in the IIJA is a considerable amount of funding for American infrastructure. $110 billion has been allocated for roads, bridges and major infrastructure projects, which promises to go a long way in restoring our national infrastructure. Reversing the years of damage and neglect to our nation’s highways will improve the supply chain by reducing the wear and tear on vehicles as well as a potential reduction in the amount of time spent repairing our highways, thus speeding up delivery times. This will also help with driver retention, since many drivers are paid on a mile basis and the longer a driver sits in traffic, the less they make. Many cumulative delays can cause drivers to conclude the effort of a shipment is not worth the pay and may leave the industry, possibly permanently.

Another key provision of the IIJA is the bill makes 18-21 year-olds eligible for interstate driving, putting the first step in place of training a new generation of drivers. This legislation will be a huge help in getting more drivers their CDL endorsement. This also allows for many young adults to begin their rewarding career as a truck driver at the age of 18, since many young adults can’t afford to wait until they’re 21 to get started. By the time a young adult reaches 21, they have started on their career and are rarely looking to reconsider their career choice by this point. Allowing carriers to train drivers at a younger age will go a long way in helping alleviate the industry’s shortage of drivers.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of investing in infrastructure. One of our key missions is to build a more sustainable supply chain, one that focuses on preserving our nation’s infrastructure by reducing wear and tear on our nation’s highways. The investment through the IIJA will help rebuild our highways and bridges, while freight optimization will go a long way in helping preserve our renewed infrastructure. To see how we can help make your supply chain more sustainable, start today with Zip Xpress!

There is absolutely no doubt that a successful and rewarding career can be found in the field of logistics. While it may not be the first choice for a lot of young professionals, that viewpoint is likely to change in the coming years, thanks to a recent survey conducted by Korn Ferry and Penske logistics. In this survey, there were many eye-opening findings, one of which stated that 99% of professionals aged 30 and younger say that working in supply chain is a quality career choice. It is reasonable to state that there are few other sectors which have such a high rating as a career choice, especially by a younger generation.

Another great finding is that 58% of respondents are pursuing a career in supply chain due to its beneficial societal impact delivering essential goods. Now this was during the height of 2020, however this is a steep increase from previous years, where respondents who believed supply chain careers were providing a societal beneficial impact didn’t reach 20%. If nothing else, the past few years have shown up and coming generations the importance of logistics and how valuable of a sector it is to the American economy. Instilling a sense of mission and importance like this will be crucial in bringing about change in the logistics industry, especially as we face so many challenges ahead.

With such optimism, the logistics industry can begin focusing on the issues that matter most. Sustainable packaging or better yet, the elimination of unnecessary packaging. Reducing carbon emissions from trucks as well as freight optimization to consolidate shipments and eliminate unnecessary full truckload shipments. These challenges will require a ‘can-do’ attitude and with so many promising candidates in the supply chain, there is no doubt that many of these will be accomplished.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of mission and purpose. We have a few ourselves – sustainability efforts, providing better service to customers, and optimizing shipments. All of our efforts are directed towards accomplishing these and we’re lucky to have a great team in place that believes in all of our efforts. We believe that any problem can be solved because we have the right people in place, ready and willing to help. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

It’s hard not to be aware of the current challenges within the American supply chain. Every member of the supply chain is experiencing records – companies are facing record number of orders, manufacturers are at record output levels, carriers experiencing record number of shipments and so on. All of these records of production, combined with a reduction in truck drivers creates a record amount of constriction in the supply chain. This constriction has led to many organizations becoming nervous about shipment times and whether or not customers will receive their orders in a timely manner. These factors have left many companies wondering: when will all of this be over?

The truth is that each of these factors create long-term challenges that we will be facing for the foreseeable future. Manufacturers are responding to demand from consumers who are placing orders via e-commerce and there is a mad rush to find a carrier who will get these shipments to their destination in a timely manner. Since shippers want great service, they select a full truckload when creating their shipment, even if their shipment can’t possibly fill an entire truckload. Combine this with a reduced workforce of available drivers and we find ourselves in our current situation of supply chain congestion. This is a gross oversimplification of course, but each has long term effects. It will take years to find and hire new drivers. There are supply chain issues for physical trucks, which exacerbate the problem. There is however, a critical way in which we can respond to this congestion, a win-win solution to every member of the supply chain.

The first response needed is a coordinated effort from carriers to implement optimization strategies for their customers. We have a responsibility to educate our customers on the benefits of partial shipments as well as handling their freight in a careful manner to ensure that every shipment arrives on time and undamaged. As carriers band together and begin the process of optimizing their shipments, they’ll find that it’s often a win-win solution for everyone involved. We have had the opportunity to work with multiple carriers that believe in optimization like we do, and it has proven effective at reducing congestion. As companies prepare for the coming year, they’re going to find that many of the supply chain challenges are not going away. It’s time for us to work together and use optimization as a means to overcoming these supply chain challenges.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of overcoming challenges for a customer. It’s in our nature due to our dedication to solving a customer’s problems as though they were our own. As a carrier, many of the customer’s issues become our issues and we have a responsibility to see that their shipments arrive on time and undamaged. Even though there are many challenges now, there will always be challenges in the logistics world and we’re ready to help our customers overcome them. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!