Do you need a fast, effective way of transporting your imported products? A get-in and get-out approach? Well, GlobalTranz has the solution to your challenge, cross docking.

Cross docking is the movement of goods directly from the receiving docks to the shipping docks, avoiding storage. Think of cross-docking like the wheels on your bicycle. This “hub and spoke” operation allows for the sorting and/or combining of shipments directly from the container on the receiving dock. Once the product is separated into specific outbound orders, they are staged for outbound shipping, allowing your top selling SKUs to be distributed faster through GlobalTranz's less than truckload or full truckload services. 

With partner warehouses and cross docking facilities strategically located near the major US ports, the GlobalTranz Supply Chain Management Department is able to offer our cross docking services to any market. As cost saving techniques and streamlined processes will continue to be in high demand, the Supply Chain Management Department is able to improve any organization’s bottom line through the diversification of our supply chain services. 

It is critical that we remain up to speed on industry trends, including carrier strategies and challenges, and customer expectations and demands. Inbound Logistics recently completed extensive research relative to both points. We have included several important points that may help you position yourself to be considered as a more consultative resource and the service solution for their supply chain and transportation service requirements for the future.

THE CARRIER’S PERSPECTIVE

1. Pricing pressures from the customers’ and competition are the carriers’ most critical challenges for both truckload and LTL; however we have seen some change in the truckload mode in the past several months which leads us to believe there is shrinkage in capacity.

2. Rising fuel and equipment costs are closely behind pricing as a primary challenge.

3. Government regulations are a concern which may be alluding to carrier concern about the newly initiated CSA 2010 (Comprehensive Safety Act 2010) to become effective in November, 2010. Many industry analysts are pointing toward a potential shortage in drivers based on the changes presented in the Act.

4. Over the past 3 years the average fleet size of the companies surveyed has dropped from 2,946 trucks per carrier in 2007 to 2,574 trucks per carrier this year. The larger carriers generally have greater opportunities to idle equipment than the carriers with less fleet size.

THE CUSTOMER’S PERSPECTIVE

1. From a customer perspective, price, customer service, reliability and coverage are the criteria utilized (in that order) when selecting their partners.

2. Customers are more willing to switch carriers following last year’s trend. This switch is due in largest part by failure to meet expectations, including late pick-up and delivery, and no communication. A "better carrier fit for the service requirements was needed", was voiced multiple times.

3. Shippers are more willing to re-evaluate rates in certain lanes. Even shipping customers that have relied on a smaller group of core carrier’s are open to take advantage of opportunities with companies that can provide solutions to improve service and reduce their cost.

4. When capacity is tight, many shippers rely on brokers and 3PLs to align capacity with demand. Many more companies are relying on the spot market to gain better pricing, service and capacity.

5. 50% of the shipper’s surveyed stated their direct relationship with the carriers was most important to them; however this is a drop from 53% from the year before. 17% of the customers stated their relationship with their 3rd party provider was most critical to them and 33% valued the relationship as equally important between 3rd party provider and carrier.

Based on this research by Inbound Logistics, trends continue to show that customers are favorably reacting to companies such as GlobalTranz to be a valuable resource in developing their logistics strategies. Logistics decisions and strategies are being driven by the top line executives who are demanding change in the way they do business. Service remains a strong criterion for doing business and the value of a stable and consistent representative still remains important in the market place. CarrierRate.com places the customer in position of having the opportunity to make decisions based on lane and customer requirements while having the ability to utilize a strong core of carrier partners. GlobalTranz continues to outplace the growth of other 3PLs in what is considered a down or stagnate economic market. This opportunity certainly places us in strong position to present our solutions to the marketplace.

Asset Recovery: A Hoarders Worst Nightmare

For all the hoarders out there, the following may disturb you…

A branch of Supply Chain Management known as Asset Recovery has recently emerged into the market. With the downfall of the economy, many organizations have closed their doors, down-sized or merged. In every scenario, an immense amount of corporate assets are lying around: computers, servers, desks, chairs, and everything else that occupies corporate offices.  In order to combat hoarding and waste, Asset Recovery adds control and coordination to a messy situation.

By definition, Asset Recovery is the process of maximizing the value of unused or end of life assets through effective reuse or divestment. In other words, this is considered a hoarder’s worst nightmare!

This white glove service involves the coordination of individuals entering an organization (often high-rise and low-rise corporate building), packaging up corporate assets and bringing them to a central location. From that location, shipments can be consolidated into full-truck loads, and distributed to regional markets or a final destination. This consolidation process reduces the transportation cost per unit and leaves room for liquidation, recycling, reusing or scraping.

As there will always be companies closing their doors, down-sizing, or merging, asset recovery will continue to grow and add value to products that seem to have past their prime. So for all those hoarders out there, you don’t need a TV show or therapy to help you with your hoarding, just stop by the Supply Chain Department at GlobalTranz and get a dose of Asset Recovery!

While Doc Brown’s discovery of the Flux Capacitor changed the world of time travel, GlobalTranz’s logistical outsourcing- has changed the way our clients operate today. With thirteen strategically chosen warehouses nationwide, GlobalTranz offers a wide array of distribution points in a variety of markets. These warehouses allow organizations, particularly high volume shippers, to significantly reduce operating costs by adding multiple distribution points across the nation. An organization operating out of Los Angeles, for example, can now utilize warehouses in Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta through GlobalTranz warehouse outsourcing. This allows that organization to reduce transit times, decrease damages, and create a better customer experience by storing their products in three locations and distributing them to regional markets. These warehouses allow an organization to distribute their fastest selling SKU’s, increasing customer service levels and expanding their consumer base.

As organizations continue to expand, there will be an increasing need for multiple warehousing and distribution points. With efficient and effective warehousing partners, GlobalTranz Supply Chain Department is considered the Flux Capacitor of warehousing, continually fulfilling the needs of our clients.

Supply Chain Management is one of the most valuable aspects of any business and plays a strategic role in the daily logistical operations at GlobalTranz.  Think of our Supply Chain Department as an all you can eat salad bar.  LTL freight business is the backbone of our department acting as the lettuce in our customer’s bowl.  Customers have many choices when it comes to their condiments (supply chain services) and might jump to another organization’s salad bar to pick and choose from their condiments instead.  To curb our customers appetite, the Supply Chain Department acts as a one-stop shop when they are craving more than just lettuce.

Programs like carrierrate.com allow customers to pick and choose from a variety of different condiments to add to their lettuce.  GlobalTranz offers a fully stocked condiment bar which includes: ocean freight, asset recovery, cross-docking and warehousing & fulfillment services.  As a result of these services, customers are able to generate greater efficiency and flexibility within their organization while increasing the visibility over their own supply chain.  Customers never need to worry about restocking the bar; the Supply Chain Department takes care of all the work in the back-end and lets the customer solely focus on their core competencies, thus improving their bottom line.

As the challenges of running an organization become increasingly complex, the role of the Supply Chain Department within GlobalTranz becomes crucial.  With our continued diversification, the Supply Chain Department is able to create and add value to our services, improving our customers bottom line and making the Supply Chain Department truly “all you can eat.”