Category: <span>Custom Carrier Solutions</span>

When choosing a carrier, you’re performing your due diligence and seeking to partner with the company that understands your business better than anyone else. It makes sense that what you seek is efficiency, cost savings and the hundreds of other criteria involved in your decision making process. However, we’re willing to bet there’s one area you don’t consider when choosing the right supply chain partner.

Customer service.

While this may seem unorthodox, consider this. Every time a shipment arrives damaged, your customer is frustrated. They have to file a claim form, wait for reimbursement, place another order and then wait for the order they should have gotten in the first place. On top of this, you need to secure more material, pay employees to manufacture the product, contact your carrier to ship your product and hope it won’t happen again. Every time this happens, you become bogged down in keeping your current customers happy rather than finding more customers who will do business with you.

At Zip Xpress, we understand the real value of great customer service. Our goal is to help you obtain excellent reviews, customer referrals and the satisfaction that you delivered a great product to your buyer. We treat your customers as though they’re our own, because in many ways, they are. Our team will communicate with your business every step of the way to ensure that your products are picked up and dropped off to your exact specifications. We offer a variety of services for every type of freight and are happy to assist you with any questions you may have. Great customer service is embedded in our culture at Zip Xpress – we can help it become a cornerstone of your business as well. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

With a new year and a new decade upon us, there are many things to look forward to in the world of logistics. A strong economy and technological advances both put businesses in a great position to grow in 2020, but it is still important to focus on making the right decisions for the year. For many shippers, this means facilitating supply chain operations that will not only satisfy the customer but will also contribute to the growth and sustainability efforts for their own organization.

When it comes to transportation within a supply chain, quality is key. Shippers should focus on ensuring their freight will arrive undamaged, since broken product will erode a customer’s trust. Don’t make your customers suffer with claims and waiting on replacements, instead ensure customer satisfaction by choosing a carrier that will get your freight there undamaged and on time. At Zip Xpress, we believe that what others call white glove service is our standard – our experienced freight handlers will give your products careful consideration and by extension provide satisfaction to your customers.

Next comes our headload solution which is our innovative way to move your larger shipments without dedicating an entire truck. The benefit here is that you can still expect the top-notch service and quick deliveries that you might not be accustomed to with standard LTL or partial providers. We do everything to optimize your shipment and make sure that you are only paying for the amount of space that you are using. By consolidating shipments, we help reduce our emissions and encourage the elimination of packaging.

At Zip Xpress, we understand that everyone wants to build a better business. Whether your goals are to increase efficiency, become more sustainable or improve customer satisfaction, we have a custom carrier solution that can help you meet those goals. To see how we can help, start today with Zip Xpress!

Any functional organization knows the risks they face on a daily basis, and these can be seen throughout any department. The supply chain is no exception, and may even be the side of business where the most risk is taken on. From economic and governmental factors to extreme weather and traffic accidents, there are a lot of things that can affect an organization’s ability to manufacture and deliver a product. Risk Management can be an intimidating and abstract field at times, but it is an essential task for any strong supply chain to take seriously.

One of the keys to effectively managing risk is to take a proactive approach to accurate forecasting and supplier and vendor evaluation. Forecast accuracy allows a company to plan for product shortage, whether it happens due to production failure or on the delivering end because of a closed down highway. In assessing these sort of risks, manufacturers can determine what amount of surplus product would be sufficient to replace damaged or missing product.

On top of this, any company should do their best to evaluate the health and reliability of their vendors and suppliers. This includes working closely with carriers who are shipping product and who are ultimately responsible for timely delivery. If they have a transparent process and take tracking and problem-solving seriously, they are a better carrier partner than those who provide no visibility and try to take a hands-off approach.

At Zip Xpress, we understand that you’re taking a major step in managing your transportation risk. We are committed to providing top-notch customer service and maintaining a transparent, proactive solution to your supply chain needs. As anyone in the logistics world knows, there are always going to be unexpected delays. We can’t always have control over them, but we can take the steps to properly communicate and get to work on fixing the problem before it’s too late. To see how we can minimize your risk on the road, start today with Zip Xpress!

With 2020 rapidly approaching, many companies are committing to improving their supply chains. In some cases, this means choosing a carrier to handle their most vital transportation needs. With such a large pool of carriers available, it can be a challenge to decide which one to go with. Depending on your service requirements, you probably have some research to do, but you should always consider some of the most important qualities to look for in a carrier.

Reliability, timeliness, and communication are essential traits for any quality carrier. You want to make sure that trucks are going to show up and deliver on time. However, it is inevitable that there will be bumps in the road and problems that will need to be solved. This is where communication comes in. The best carriers are those who take a proactive approach and communicate with their customers as soon as any problems arise. This way, you can work together to solve the problem and minimize any damage that might be done. Even if the shipment is still on schedule, it is vital for carrier representatives to keep the customer informed of any status change.

At Zip Xpress, we understand how vital it is to be a reliable carrier. We are one of the most trusted when it comes to our shipment schedules and ensuring your freight will be delivered on time and undamaged every time. Our creative suite of services such as headload and expedited LTL shipping allow for flexibility and give you plenty of options. We’ll communicate with you every step of the way and ensure your satisfaction. To see our passion and dedication to being an ideal carrier, start today with Zip Xpress!

As the world economy becomes more globalized and technology brings everything closer, the international market has essentially become a 24/7 operation. This is especially true on the logistics side of things, where a delay hundreds of miles away could spell disaster in a completely different time zone. Workers in the logistics sector are often on-call and expected to tackle challenges at all times of day because freight, quite simply, doesn’t stop. While hard work comes with the territory, logistics workers must be careful that they don’t end up burning out from spreading themselves too thin.

Everyone from truck drivers to accounting clerks in the logistics realms can work long hours and take on grueling tasks. But no matter what position you might hold, you should be mindful of your personal life and remember to take a step back every now and then. Don’t be afraid of taking a vacation – companies shouldn’t stigmatize you for using your hard-earned time off. In fact, a vacation can be the perfect way to escape the day-to-day stress of logistics and return to work with a fresher, more positive outlook.

If you feel yourself burning out and a vacation isn’t yet in the cards, there are smaller ways to relieve your frustrations. Even a lunch break can be a welcome change of pace. This means leaving the office and sitting down somewhere for at least a half hour. We often forget to enjoy our meals, instead rushing them back to our desk where we work and eat at the same time. After work, try to set aside at least a few hours to stay off your phone and away from your computer – this way you won’t have to think about potential problems before you fall asleep.

At Zip Xpress, we understand that burnout is a very real problem in corporate America, and the logistics industry can be highly unforgiving. Still, it is vital to take a breath and remember that you have a life to live. We try to create a culture that helps people when they need it, celebrates small victories and are always searching for ways to add enjoyment to our work. We understand that small, personal victories throughout the day can help you get through even the most hectic and stressful times because we need creative solutions to these complex problems. To see how our talented employees can provide solutions to your shipping problems, start today with Zip Xpress!

We’re so grateful for all of the people that make this company special and we hope that everyone has a safe and wonderful thanksgiving!

Thank you to everyone for all of your hard work and dedication.

Happy Thanksgiving from Zip Xpress!

The holidays are rapidly approaching, and while they can be a joyful, relaxing time in our personal lives, they can be a cause for added stress professionally. This is especially true for those who are involved in supply chains, as time-critical shipments increase and capacity can become scarce. Add in last minute requests, and you have a lot of things that can potentially go wrong. This is why it’s so important for businesses to place a priority on proactive communication, and to set realistic expectations ahead of time.

Anybody in logistics knows that it is better to ask permission than to seek forgiveness. This means that you should account for anything that could happen, and communicate it with your customer, developing a backup plan just in case it does. When you have an agreed upon plan in place, you’ll have a much easier time correcting an error than if you have to shuffle to fix it at the last minute. Everybody involved in any shipment – manufacturers, wholesalers, carriers, and end receivers – needs to be aware of the additional workload that the holiday season can bring. When people are empathetic to the burdens of others, they will take necessary actions such as placing orders early to allow extra time, clearing up warehouse space when possible, or expediting shipments with team drivers.

At Zip Xpress, we understand that nobody wants to get a call about a delayed shipment as they are heading to a holiday party, and the best way to avoid this is to look at other businesses in your supply chain as part of your team. Taking the first steps in planning for adversity can go a long way in easing the transition into the holidays, and your customers and vendors will be thankful for it. After all, they likely have plans for relaxation and family fun as well! To see how we can help ease the holiday rush, start today with Zip Xpress!

When you place a large order for your company, you may not think about what’s going on behind the scenes. You finalize the order details with your vendor and walk away, happy that you’ll be able to receive your freight within a few days. However, once you place that order, hundreds of gears start moving across the supply chain. Whether it involves robots designed specifically to locate a single item or dock workers loading up multiple pallets of goods, there is a complex system firing on all cylinders that is essential in fulfilling your order. This is true for something as small as a single box of sensitive product to an entire truckload of raw materials.

While they may not always be conscious of it, customers are drawn to manufacturers who have well-oiled supply chains that keep product moving along quickly and safely. In fact, if someone isn’t talking about their supply chain, that’s probably a good thing, signaling that they aren’t experiencing constant headaches regarding production, storage, or transit times. The best supply chain is one that works quietly in the background, churning out shipment after shipment as satisfied customers receive their product. If it is running as smoothly as possible, the end consumer shouldn’t even have to think about what’s happening throughout the life of a shipment.

At Zip Xpress, we understand that it’s essential to create a reliable, efficient and trustworthy partnership with all of our stakeholders. We understand that building a customer-centric supply chain helps grow your business and build trust with your customers. When a shipment arrives when you say it will, that’s great customer service. We believe in helping our customers ensure that every shipment arrives undamaged and on time. Our focus on optimization will help you understand just how important the supply chain is. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

Whether your company owns your warehouse or you rent space from a third party, it is expensive and wasteful to have product sitting on the shelves for any excessive period of time. Inventory planning is an essential role in every organization’s supply chain, and should be taken seriously and evaluated regularly. The key to maximizing efficiency and maintaining a lean supply chain is to have just enough inventory ready to be shipped without running into shortages. This, of course, is easier said than done, but there are several ways manufacturers can make it happen.

Keeping track of previous trends and future projections is one of the biggest factors in planning your inventory. If you’ve maintained a steady level of growth over the past year, you’ll likely need to plan for higher stock levels in order to meet demand. With this comes your minimum inventory calculation. You want to be sure that you have enough stock to meet a customer’s demands in case of a spike in orders, but you don’t want to go overboard and have inventory sitting in a warehouse and costing money. So, this requires a safety stock level that will allow you to fulfill orders if you encounter an unexpected increase. Unfortunately, that will cost money in storage, but the key is to calculate how much money you would lose if you couldn’t fulfill customer orders and hedge against that. Even with storage fees, you’ll be more profitable if you are able to meet expectations.

At Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of being able to move inventory consistently. Our dedicated and experienced team can help you manage your inventory and adapt with your shipping timelines. We’ll create a customized carrier solution that suits the needs of your business, so you don’t have to rely on the ad hoc market. To see how we can keep your product moving, start today with Zip Xpress!

It’s rare for a day to go by in logistics where employees don’t have to overcome some sort of challenge, whether it involves a late delivery, damaged freight, or pressure from new competition. The constant barrage of problems to solve and subsequent interactions in which to participate can make for some highly stressful days for everybody. This is why organizations in the logistics field must make it a priority to create a positive, people-centric work culture that motivates employees and reinforces their strengths. Many companies focus only on profits, but without happy, productive employees, they are doomed to fail.

Company culture starts at the top, so executives and management types need to be heavily involved with their teams to ensure that employees are satisfied with their jobs. They should make it a point to recognize individual accomplishments regularly. This could be drawing attention to a time when a night operations rep went above and beyond to solve an after-hours issue, or it could be congratulating a sales rep for bringing on a new account. The possibilities are endless, and so are the benefits for the company. It is also important to encourage teamwork and create an atmosphere that discourages employees from trying to place blame when something goes wrong. Finally, it’s important that the customer knows you’ll take care of them – everyone answers the phones at Zip with offers to help and is trained fill out a basic quote for the customer so they can start shipping their product.

At Zip Xpress, we understand that high service doesn’t stop at the customer. We aspire to recognize all of the great members of our team. It’s why we have a long history with all of our great employees and aspire to treat them fairly. Our goal is a cohesive culture where employees can collaborate and solve problems on behalf of our customers. As long as our people feel recognized, they’ll treat our customers the same way. At Zip Xpress, we prioritize maintaining an uplifting, exciting atmosphere not only because we believe in our people, but also because we believe in offering the best logistics solutions possible. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!