The Road Ahead

Lately there has been much debate and speculation about a potential upcoming recession in the US economy. It isn’t a pleasant subject, but it is a reality that we need to face together to work towards the best outcome. Fortunately for some, they work in industries that are considered recession-proof, and logistics is one such industry. This isn’t to say that there won’t be negative consequences – a recession may lead to slower manufacturing and thus less freight overall – but it is noteworthy that there will be plenty of opportunities to remain on the road. Logistics is one of the most resilient sectors of the economy and when combined with dedicated service proves how fruitful these relationships can be.

During recessionary periods, any breakage in a shipment is only exacerbated when resources are tight. Considering the costs of either fixing or remaking the product, it becomes clear that choosing a freight carrier who pays attention to your shipment and will deliver it to the end customer undamaged will help your business more in the long run. Your customer will appreciate the effort, and the relationship can deepen with more mutual trust and understanding, which can help carry businesses through. Companies also will need to make strategic decisions regarding their supply chains, and those who understand the value of a tight and efficient supply chain will side with carriers that have a track record of delivering shipments undamaged and exactly when they say they will.

At Zip Xpress, we understand that resilience is the key and we’re ready to do our part by providing dedicated and consistent service to all of our customers. Our streamlined supply chain and expert team of service professionals will help ensure that your shipment is delivered undamaged and on time. We understand that there is always opportunity, and our goal is to provide that to our customers. Our custom carrier solutions will help your supply chain become more optimized and efficient, so that you can continue delivering to your customers, regardless of what the headlines say. To see how we can help, start today with Zip Xpress!

Everyone knows about truck drivers, warehouses, and manufacturers. These are all things that might come up when you ask a non-logistics worker about the supply chain. They are all certainly integral parts, but they represent only a fraction of the jobs that exist within the supply chain. There are hundreds of tasks being carried out that aren’t directly related to fulfillment or transport of freight, but they have a significant effect on the success of a company’s supply chain. Many people have never heard about reverse logistics or thought about compliance departments, but without these in place, most organizations would fail.

There are many workers within any given manufacturing or logistics company that are important to the supply chain, even if they don’t have a title that jumps out as such. Logistics accounting, for example, is a lot different than a standard accounting department, and requires industry specific training to ensure accuracy and efficiency. At some larger manufacturers, there are entire departments dedicated to order entry, and they play a pivotal role in ensuring that products are shipping on time and delivering to the correct locations. Even recruiting can be considered part of the supply chain, as companies will often utilize specialized recruiters who have a focus in finding and retaining supply chain talent.

While the broad focus of any logistics team is to get a product from point A to point B, there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes than one may suspect. All of the employees play a major role in making this happen, and it is important to give them credit for being part of the team. When we see a truck driver pull into a dock for delivery, we know that he is part of the supply chain, but we should realize that there are hundreds if not thousands of people who contributed to ensuring that this shipment arrived on time. Being cognizant of this fact can help us to work together to improve our processes in the long run.

At Zip Xpress, we understand the value all of these people contribute to the success of the supply chain. We understand that without them, we cannot possibly be successful, as they come up with many successful ideas to the challenges we face. It is when we focus on the people that make up logistics, we all will create a better supply chain. To see how our dynamic people can help with your next shipment, start today with Zip Xpress!

The transportation world continued to battle a shortage of able and available drivers throughout 2018 and well into 2019. This issue is plaguing supply chains nationwide, making for a plethora of capacity issues as well as rate increases and planning problems. While there are several things that companies can do to try to recruit new drivers, it is becoming a reality that many will have to find ways to work around the shortage, as you can’t predict the future and it remains entirely possible that even more drivers will leave the workforce as they retire. Fortunately, there are strategies that can help ease the burden and focus on efficiency in order to help with the capacity crunch.

Putting more time and effort into the planning process can help organizations run their supply chains more efficiently. This includes taking a proactive approach towards inventory planning and maximizing routes to cut down on the number of trips that need to be made to fulfill customer requests. At Zip Xpress we’ve talked a few times about our headload services that can provide reliability and flexibility while optimizing multiple shipments on a single truck. This service gives customers the option of shipping smaller shipments but keeping the on-time service of a full truckload. And thanks to our dedicated service schedule, we will make our deliveries on time every time. Period.

Ultimately, manufacturers will need to plan around the oncoming driver shortage. Consider options such as Zip’s headload service, as well as a commitment to planning supply chain operations from the top to avoid unnecessary late deliveries due to the lack of truck drivers. By staying on top of this planning process, we can avoid late shipments. The shortage is a real and tangible issue across the industry, but there are many highly focused professionals who can put strategies together in order to keep transportation running smoothly. To see what our professionals can do for you, start today with Zip Xpress!

From the time a product is thought up to the moment it arrives in a consumer’s home, there are many things that take place. The supply chain can be long and complicated, with multiple warehouses and factories involved, even for some of the most seemingly simple items on the market. In planning for product development and distribution, there are many safety hurdles that must be overcome, and all parties involved should be sure to promote a safe, proactive culture within their organization to ensure the well-being of their employees and their customers. Taking a little bit of extra time to follow safety measures in the beginning is beneficial for anyone who has a hand in moving a product through the supply chain.

A safe environment starts at the top, with those in management and executive positions being key players in creating the right culture. Anyone who works in a warehouse, drives a truck, or even calls shots from a remote desktop should have the proper training and resources before they are given the power to make decisions regarding distribution and transportation. It is essential for any logistics organization to place an emphasis on strong, updated safety training programs and to continually educate their employees about the steps that must be taken to ensure safe and proper transport of their products.

At Zip Xpress, we understand that we need a safe environment to ensure everyone can come home safely. We stress this importance across the organization and can rely on our dynamic team’s experience to ensure that everyone comes home safe. Everyone at Zip Xpress is an experienced logistics professional that understands we’re all one team and an injury to one is an injury to all. We have our own safety processes and procedures that have been developed with years of experience and the understanding that every member of the supply chain is a human being that wants to go home safely at night. It’s simply another factor in developing a more optimized supply chain. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

In an age where it seems like people are always connected to each other, and when you can get real-time updates from friends across the world, there is an unfortunate lack of connection throughout the transportation industry. Brokers or carriers will suddenly disappear when a shipment hasn’t shown up for its appointment, or GPS tracking sites will conveniently go down as an urgent delivery is approaching. The technology for simple, seamless communication and tracking is readily available, but many organizations are slow to adapt or simply don’t want to embrace it at all. This is a recipe for disaster, and the transportation providers that commit to honesty and transparency will be the ones who succeed in the long run.

Transparency, however, is a two-way street that requires constant communication and a certain level of teamwork in order to benefit both parties. Shippers must let their providers know if a production line is down or if there is going to be a delay in loading. On the flipside, carriers need to be proactive about communicating any delays on their end, whether it be a broken down truck, a weather issue, or a simple data entry error. When either side tries to jump through hoops to fabricate a story rather than being open and honest, it hurts not only the particular shipment, but also the relationship as a whole. One simple mistake is nothing to end a relationship over, but if any party – shipper, manufacturer, or carrier – develops a habit of constantly backtracking, it is likely that the other parties will walk away in search of new business.

At Zip Xpress, our goal is to be as transparent as possible throughout the life of every shipment. We seek to foster a culture of trust between all stakeholders, because we believe that working together is better for shared success. We understand that early communication allows our customers to plan for any contingency and ensure that our shipments arrive on time. When we work as a team with our vendors, providers, and clients, we create an understanding relationship that allows all parties to improve their supply chain operations. To see this transparency for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

Many people underestimate the importance of a clean, efficient warehouse in boosting the overall effectiveness of an organization’s supply chain. This is a grave mistake, because an efficient warehouse leads to improvements in inventory planning, loading times, fulfillment abilities, and far more. In addition to streamlined operations, a clean warehouse also leads to a safer, more professional environment that will make for happier employees and satisfied clients, especially if it is open for customer visits. Companies who don’t put an emphasis on cleanliness and efficiency are likely losing out on profits and new customers, so it is important to keep some things in mind when it comes to maintaining a warehouse.

Many changes seem incredibly simple, but they can play a major role in helping employees and equipment become more productive. Something as basic as labeling aisles can work wonders for walking employees and forklift drivers, as well as dock workers who need to minimize the time it takes to load a truck. Planning ahead to keep popular inventory nearer to the docks can also ensure that it is loaded and turned over quickly. This keeps detention at a minimum which in turn makes for happier truck drivers, meaning that carriers will be more willing to return to the warehouse in the future. It also helps to reduce the likelihood that these same drivers will need to shut down before they can make on-time delivery. Quicker in and out times means fewer worries about making transit time.

At Zip Xpress, we understand that when a warehouse is firing on all cylinders, everybody benefits, from lift operators to members of the executive board. Even the smallest delays can cause extraordinary ripple effects, and working to minimize these provides a myriad of benefits to any organization. It is simply another piece of optimizing our supply chain. To see this optimization for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

We hope you and your families have a wonderful 4th of July Holiday! Safe travels for you and your loved ones and may you enjoy the wonders of this summer holiday!

Happy Independence Day from Zip Xpress!