/ By zipxpress / Custom Carrier Solutions/ 0 Comments

The Shifting Market and the Road Ahead

2018 was a great year for transportation providers. The manufacturing boom led to record demand in the shipping sector, which forced everyone in the supply chain to hone in on their logistics partnerships. Shippers realized how important carriers are to their growth and created flourishing partnerships. Reliability and optimized loads were proven out during 2018, with manufacturers reaping the benefits from these sustainable logistics practices.

2019 presents a lot of opportunity for shippers to partner with a trusted and reliable carrier like Zip Xpress due to a changing rate market. The markets may shift, but one thing’s for sure, there’s always a need for optimized shipments to arrive on time and undamaged. With manufacturers experiencing the current economic boon, they don’t want to see losses from their products damaged, they want those products to arrive on-time and undamaged. They want a carrier they can trust in the midst of a softening market. They don’t want instability, they want reliability. We’re here to provide guidance, increased capacity and excellent customer service to manufacturers who’re ready to partner with a reliable carrier.

At Zip Xpress, we are aware of the changing market conditions, but we believe that our service levels and commitment to customer satisfaction will always place us as one of the strongest carriers in our sector. While rates may change, our success is due to our relationships with our customers and vendors. With the market softening, we believe that now is the time to prove our status as the most reliable option. No matter what the price, we will always keep our clients’ needs as our number one priority. To see how Zip Xpress can provide on-time and undamaged service for your company, start today!

Trucking Safety
/ By zipxpress / Trucker Homage/ 0 Comments

Safety on the Road

Logistics can be a demanding profession, and everybody involved in the supply chain is aware of the importance of staying on schedule and meeting performance goals. However, the issue of safety is often overlooked unfortunately. This is a major mistake, whether it’s a driver, a warehouse worker, or a supply chain manager neglecting to perform their due diligence. With a polar vortex bringing freezing temperatures and dangerous driving conditions to the Midwest and parts of the Northeast, we should look at what we can do to ensure that drivers are staying safe on the road.

Drivers themselves should make it a point to practice the basic rules of safety while driving. Minimize any distractions during transit and make sure to only take calls or read text messages when not driving. They should also get their truck tuned up regularly and address any issues that need to be fixed. Minor maintenance problems may seem like they can be pushed off, but whether or not a disaster is avoided can often be a matter of mere seconds, so it is vital to make sure that everything is working as best as it can.

Regular maintenance will better prepare a truck to handle sub-zero temperatures, but drivers should prepare themselves as well. This means packing a bag with extra winter clothes for any trip that will travel through winter weather. Drivers should also familiarize themselves with all emergency outposts and points of contact in the regions in which they are driving. Paying attention to dangerous conditions ahead of time may allow the driver to re-route their trip and avoid hazardous situations.

Drivers aren’t the only ones that should be paying attention to safety. Shippers and manufacturers should also be aware of the weather across the country so that they can adjust their expectations when a storm may hit. Nobody wants their shipment to be late, but it is far more important to ensure that it arrives in one piece rather than pushing for an on-time delivery in impossible conditions. Everyone involved in the supply chain needs to understand the human aspect of the work involved – this will help all parties maintain a fair level of understanding and will ultimately lead to a more successful business relationship. To learn about how we pay attention to the human side of the supply chain, start today with Zip Xpress!

Manufacturing in West Michigan 2019
/ By zipxpress / Industry Partners/ 0 Comments

Manufacturing in West Michigan for 2019

When you think about the economy of Michigan, Detroit is probably the first thing that comes to mind. While Detroit has been experiencing a renaissance of its own, there is far more to Michigan’s success than just Motown. West Michigan has quietly become a vital artery for the state’s economy, and this comes as no surprise to the people who live here or those who have visited over the years. In fact, the Grand Rapids metro area has an impressive unemployment rate of just 2.6% – almost a point and a half below the national average. This means that people are finding gainful employment and contributing greatly to a booming economy across the region.

One of the area’s largest industries is the office furniture manufacturing industry, with fresh startups and established giants alike continuing to push for innovation in both the design and production aspects of the industry. This forward-thinking mentality is prominent among workers in West Michigan, leading to an influx of new, creative ideas and helping to boost images and profits for many organizations. This positive trend, however, brings with it a new challenge for many companies – it is becoming harder to find skilled workers who need jobs in the region, so these businesses must put forth more competitive offers and work to create more effective supply chains.

While all of this is a net positive for the region, uncertainty still looms large. The midterms saw a major shift in political power in the state, steel and aluminum tariffs put in place by the Trump administration are controversial to say the least. Still, Zip Xpress believes the overall outlook for West Michigan is positive, and will continue to provide certainty for our manufacturing partners. Our optimism and can-do attitude have helped build West Michigan and we’re excited to see what lies in store for 2019. To see how we can provide certainty to your supply chain, start today with Zip Xpress!

/ By zipxpress / Industry Partners/ 0 Comments

Filling the Gap – How to Cope with Talent Disparity in Manufacturing

Manufacturing in the US is continuing to boom, bringing with it a reinvigorated job market and plenty of opportunities for gainful employment. Fears that improved technologies and increased automation would eliminate jobs have been alleviated by the fact that these new technologies, more often than not, require people to keep them functioning. Automation has improved efficiency, but the need for tech-savvy employees has also improved the job market. It’s a win-win situation, right? Well, it might not be quite as simple as we may think.

While job openings are up, the supply of qualified workers to fill these positions isn’t keeping up with demand. This means that many manufacturers are facing major challenges in finding the right people in a highly competitive job sector. This talent gap can put a significant strain on the operations of a manufacturing company who is trying to embrace new technologies while remaining efficient and profitable. Investment in quality training and recruiting programs is a must, but there are other ways to soften the blow caused by this new talent gap. One of those methods is to work with strong, capable supply chain partners who can contribute to a more streamlined manufacturing process.

Transportation and logistics companies have long been well-prepared for major shifts in the market. If a manufacturer is still in the process of filling important roles, they can lean on their supply chain partners a bit and let them take the reins on certain initiatives. This can alleviate some of the growing pains caused by the manufacturing boom, and should be beneficial down the line as the positions become filled. A strong partnership with a supply chain service provider can go a long way in moving the transition along.

At Zip Xpress, we are committed to providing top-notch service so that all of our customers can benefit from the current manufacturing boom. The less our customers have to worry about delayed shipments or damaged freight, the more they’ll be able to focus on improving their own internal processes. To see how we can help you as our partner, start today with Zip Xpress!

/ By zipxpress / Sustainability/ 0 Comments

Green Saving Green: Sustainability as a Profit Driver

As the global civilization becomes more conscious of our effect on the environment, sustainability has become a major talking point in many aspects of our daily lives. Business is just one, but sustainability efforts and green initiatives from corporations may be the most important thing to focus on as we move forward. Not long ago, environmental friendliness was often shunned or feared by large businesses, but that is not the case these days. With the changing attitude of societies across the world, and the proof of cost savings behind sustainability, companies have learned that eco-friendly practices contribute not only to their overall image, but also to their bottom line. In logistics, we know the number of partial truckloads is breaking down the infrastructure on our Nation’s highways and leaving a large carbon footprint. It’s clear that companies need to learn to optimize loads.

From biodegradable packaging to clean manufacturing through reduction of waste materials and energy usage, there are many different ways in which an organization can improve its surrounding environment. Companies are quickly realizing that their eco-friendly actions are proving to be worth it in the long run. An increasing number of consumers are actively seeking sustainable options for their goods and services, and that is showing up on sales reports for many companies across a variety of categories. Whether someone is looking for sustainable packaging (or in our case, get to no packaging at all), green programs have proven to be beneficial for both the environment and the organizations participating in them.

At Zip Xpress, we are committed to taking a sustainable approach to supply chain management. Our optimization program and Carbon Footprint Report are direct examples of measurable sustainability, and we are continually evaluating and improving them in order to minimize our impact on the environment. We extend this advantage to our partners, as seen in our blanket wrap video, when suggesting that shippers use our Carbon Report as part of their sustainability plan. We strongly believe that sustainability is not just a key factor in running a strong business, but also in making the world a better place for everyone. To see how we can help with your sustainability efforts, start today with Zip Xpress!

/ By zipxpress / Miscellaneous/ 0 Comments

Happy Holidays from Zip Xpress!

2018 has brought us a year full of blessings. While there have been challenges, we know that we couldn’t have done it without everyone’s help. From our loyal customers, our top of the line staff and our reliable drivers, we know how much you’ve contributed to these blessings. For that, we thank you and wish you a wonderful holiday season in which you can share your own blessings with your family.

/ By zipxpress / Industry Partners/ 0 Comments

Maintaining Growth Through Supply Chain Management

It’s always exciting for a manufacturer to begin receiving new orders, whether from a recently on-boarded customer or as a result of new contracts with existing clients. Continued growth is a common goal for most companies, and with this year’s impressive manufacturing boom, many have been able to outperform previous expectations. While this is a positive trend, there are challenges that come with rapid growth, as each new order comes with updated requirements and a larger workload. To alleviate these growing pains, it is important for organizations to focus on efficiency throughout their supply chain.

Transportation is just one part of the supply chain, but it is an integral aspect in fulfilling orders and keeping customers happy. It may be tempting to simply find the cheapest carriers available and book them whenever possible to save money on every order. However, this often leads to service failures and can end up costing money in the long run due to late fees and fractured relationships with clients and vendors alike. A superior strategy to this transactional model is to develop strong, long-lasting partnerships with quality transportation providers. Partners who understand how important each shipment is to your reputation and are dedicated to helping you keep your commitments. This approach helps companies secure more capacity and benefit from more reliable service. Fostering these sort of partnerships will help prevent spikes in pricing and service failures as capacity tightens and markets shift.

Zip Xpress strives to create strong partnerships with everyone we work with. Our goal is customer satisfaction, providing reliability as well as the ability to handle your shipments. We understand that you’re growing with new orders and it is our mission to help you shore up that growth with strengthening your supply chain. Our experts work to ensure that your freight arrives on time and damage free, making your company more reliable and improving customer service. To see how we can shore up your supply chain, start today with Zip Xpress!

/ By zipxpress / Custom Carrier Solutions/ 0 Comments

Keep it Simple: Customer Service in Logistics

Customer service is an integral part of any industry, and logistics is no exception. When a customer – whether a business or an individual consumer – is relying on a company to deliver their product, they want to know that they are working with a reliable, communicative, and proactive organization who can quickly and efficiently service their needs. All too often, however, logistics companies fail to meet the service levels required of them, resulting in customers seeking out new, more dependable options. This can easily be avoided by committing to finding quick, simple solutions for customers rather than taking unnecessary measures to compensate for previous service failures.

When a customer is waiting on a product, they don’t want to hear excuses. They want to know that their logistics provider is working on the problem immediately. This means that there is someone to answer their call at all times and that emails and other inquiries will be responded to within minutes. Quick, straightforward answers are far more valuable than exuberant “make-up” offers or long-winded, reactionary explanations. The fewer channels and reps that a client must go through to find their answer, the more likely they will be to report satisfaction with their customer service experience. Just as time and transparency are key factors in any shipment, they also play a large role in customer service.

Zip Xpress is committed to providing the highest level of service for all of our valued customers. This is why we make sure to keep our lines of communication open and our response times as short as possible. Zip Xpress doesn’t even have a voicemail system or use prompts when you call our phone number. There is a live person here 24/7 and customers will always speak with someone when they call Zip. Employees at Zip are all crossed trained so if you need to trace a shipment, any of us that answer the phone can help you without passing you to someone else. Quote requests are responded to within 5 minutes of reception, because we know that even if the freight doesn’t have to leave the dock right away, customers want to know their costs as quickly as possible. Our highly trained and experienced professionals at Zip are dedicated to providing prompt, friendly, and effective service. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

Weathering the Storm in Logistics
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Weathering the Storm in Logistics

In the past few months, America has seen its fair share of treacherous weather. Hurricane Florence ravaged the southeast with flooding in September, constant rainstorms soaked the northeast in October, and a cold front brought heavy snowfall and frigid temperatures to the midwest just this past week. This is not to mention the devastating wildfires in California that have gone on for months. Despite these conditions, commerce stills goes on and Americans continue to work, and that remains particularly true in logistics. But how can carriers, customers, and other parties involved in manufacturing make sure that their freight arrives safely and on time in such a volatile environment? The simple answer comes down to preparation and communication.

Even the best meteorologists can not predict the weather with certainty, but we can all pay attention to the news and recent weather patterns around us. When we know that a storm is coming, we can better prepare our warehouses to expedite the production of hot shipments and communicate with all parties to set realistic expectations. The unfortunate truth is that trucks are going to be shut down due to blizzards, rainstorms, icy roads, and other unsafe driving conditions. This will lead to shipments being delayed, and it is an inevitable part of the world of transportation. However, if shippers, carriers, and customers stay in constant communication, potential late deliveries become manageable. We know that constant communications makes everyone in the supply chain more reliable and stabilizes your delivery schedule.

At Zip Xpress, we stay in constant communication with our partners at all times, even during inclement weather. We work with our customers, and ensure all updates are provided by another human being, not a recording. Hazardous weather is another challenge to navigate, but as long as you have a communication plan in place, everything becomes manageable. If you’d like to experience the stability and reliability of our custom carrier solutions, start today with Zip Xpress!

/ By zipxpress / Miscellaneous/ 0 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving from Zip Xpress!

As we gather together to count our blessings, we wanted to pause for a moment and thank everyone who has helped make Zip Xpress a success. From our loyal staff to our dedicated customers, we wouldn’t be here without you. Every person has added so much that we’re overwhelmed with gratitude. We hope you and your families have a safe and festive Thanksgiving. May you share in all of your own bountiful blessings.