Translogistics Blog

At Translogistics, we’ve worked with many industrial supply companies and although each one is unique in the way it operates both its business and supply chain, oftentimes these companies all grapple with the same logistics issues. In order to encourage short and long-term success and determine if your company would benefit from additional tools to aid logistics management, it’s crucial to begin by compiling a list of the obvious and hidden problems and recognize the need to take immediate action.

A logistics team cannot start solving these issues unless they have the right skills and solutions to set their supply chain straight. If your industrial supply company exhibits any of the signs below, you can be confident that it’s time to invest in tools including a logistics solutions provider (LSP) and transportation management system (TMS).

1. There are no key performance indicators (KPIs) or benchmarks currently maintained on the status of the supply chain and no forecast set for the upcoming year’s freight pricing.

Pro-Tip: Creating and regularly reviewing logistics management KPIs are crucial to maintaining a transparent logistics operation and achieving quarterly and yearly goals.

2. Freight is moving off of a carrier tariff and is not custom-contracted based on your supply chain’s specific commodities and frequent lanes.

3. Carriers are dropping the ball in certain lanes and are not providing corrective action plans and root cause analyses to prevent problems from reoccurring.

4. Shipment issues such as lost shipments and damaged freight are handled in-house and there is no documented standard operating procedure (SOP) on resolving claims with the carriers.

5. As invoices come in from carriers, no auditing is conducted on each freight charge against the tariff or contract. 

Pro-Tip: There are three key elements that every supply chain auditing process should contain, but regardless, this practice is a must for companies looking to boost their savings and run an effective supply chain.

Do these issues sound familiar? If you’re ready to take action on these debilitating logistics problems, take a look at another company’s real experiences with an LSP. Download the case study below to read about the challenges one material solutions supplier faced and how they successfully solved their issues with the help of a logistics solutions provider and advanced transportation management system.

We’ve spoken before about the benefits of a logistics solutions provider, or LSP, but we can’t stress enough the big differences between a typical third-party provider and a dedicated LSP partner. If you’re on the lookout for a team of experienced professionals to manage your logistics operation, you should focus on weighing the capabilities and track records of logistics solutions providers, rather than big name 3PLs. You’ll find that LSPs provide a higher level of service, operate through an invested team of experts and stay on top of problems big and small throughout your supply chain. Here are just some of the real benefits that shippers see when they team up with an LSP.

If you’re an executive starting the search for a new third-party logistics provider (3PL) or logistics solutions provider (LSP), you might find yourself without an explicit list of what qualities you need a new partner to possess. Not all 3PLs and LSPs serve the same purpose, deliver the same results and operate on the same level of involvement with internal transportation teams. So what exactly should you consider when surveying potential companies?

We’ve spoken before about the importance of key performance indicators (KPI) creation for transportation management professionals, but our experience has taught us that for some, data collection to fuel KPI analysis can seem like an overwhelming investment. The term “big data” is frequently tossed around in business and in the transportation industry specifically, but do the benefits of this tech trend really live up to the hype? The short answer is yes.

We’re proponents of big data, but only if it’s gathered with intent and used as a tool in informing smart decisions. Strictly staring at the numbers won’t aid in establishing new efficiencies or refining processes; historic and current data must be paired with keen decision makers and field experts to achieve any large amount of change.

Despite the challenging weather, it was a great night for both Translogistics, Inc and The Reading Fightin Phils as they unveiled America's Classic Ballpark Hall of Famers on June 23rd. The America's Classic Ballpark Hall of Famers recognizes National Baseball Hall of Famers who have played in the FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Pa.

The area consists of 38 portraits of all 38 members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame featuring the year they were inducted into the Hall of Fame and the years they played at America's Classic Ballpark.

"We're honored to play a part in The Fightin Phils history with sponsoring the new Hall of Fame section", said Scott McDevitt - Translogistics, Inc. President/CEO.  "We hope the people in the local community enjoy it as much as we are thankful to be part of the Berks County business community."

During this exciting event, Scott was able to make the "first pitch"... check out that form!

To read more about this event, click here.

To watch a quick news highlight from WFMZ, visit here.

The transportation industry is a dynamic, competitive one and the fate of business owners connected to it is at the mercy of a myriad of external factors. Government influencers, the state of the economy and simply the changing times all contribute to the success of one vast intersecting supply chain that encompasses logistics, freight rail, trucking, air and sea delivery. So how can you prepare for these disrupting factors? Acknowledge them and keep up with new advances by making investments in strategic ways. Here’s five factors that have a big impact on freight transportation today.

How well do you know your freight? There’s more than one way to package and ship a product and for professionals new to the transportation industry and high-level executives looking to dive deeper into business operations, these shipping modes may seem endlessly confusing. However, there are a few core methods for shipping freight that will hopefully simplify your understanding of how a package gets from Point A to Point B (and sometimes Point C).

Here’s a quick overview of the most popular types of freight and modes of shipping:

Enhancing your transportation management operation requires more than partnering with a skilled third-party logistics provider (3PL). As a shipper, you’ll also need to run down a checklist of your own to ensure that you’re doing your part to take advantage of all 3PL capabilities. Double check that your business practices the four activities below to get the most out of your 3PL or new logistics solution provider: 

One of the reasons why Translogistics emphasizes the fact that we’re not your average 3PL is because we think there’s a big difference between a run-of-the-mill third-party logistics provider and what we call a logistics solution provider or LSP. The distinction is the nature of the relationship between a 3PL and its client; a typical 3PL is a separate entity with little interest in client success, but a logistics solution provider, like Translogistics, is a true partner that functions as a key consultant and member of your logistics team.

Is your company preparing to adopt new transportation management software (TMS)? Before bringing in a system that will clean up your logistics operation, consider the way your supply chain affects other areas of your business and vice versa. If you wouldn’t wear a new shirt under a stained sweater, you shouldn’t bring in software that organizes your supply chain while leaving the rest of your business messy. A good TMS may cause certain shifts in the way you structure and manage your business operations, but a superior TMS will guarantee these shifts are for the better. Check to see that your organization practices the five habits below and prepare for possible company-wide changes by discussing each with your internal teams. A clean foundation for your new TMS will ensure that your logistics operation is given a true clean slate and can work seamlessly with your business to foster company-wide success.