| Over the last several years, truckers' operational | | | | efficiencies or working over-time to make it |
| costs for items such as fuel, equipment and | | | | happen." |
| insurance have skyrocketed, taking their toll on | | | | 3. Ease Paperwork Requirements - Shippers in |
| carrier companies of all shapes and sizes. Over | | | | search of total quality logistics that do not require |
| the last several months, these challenges, | | | | the original BOLs to be invoiced not only reduce |
| amplified by the credit crisis on Wall Street, is | | | | the amount of paperwork processing required of |
| now hitting home with almost every business. | | | | their accounts payables departments, but can also |
| Today, shippers and carriers alike are feeling the | | | | speed up their payment cycles. In turn, carriers |
| pinch as they strive toward total quality logistics. | | | | will get paid faster. |
| While the capacity, demand and rate structure | | | | 4. Work to Reduce Freight Claims - Coupled with |
| challenges that are plaguing today's transportation | | | | decreased wait times, changes to loading |
| market cannot be easily remedied, and are | | | | procedures can help to reduce damaged freight |
| unlikely to go away anytime soon, there are | | | | claims. Being clear on expectations and |
| some steps that shippers in search of total quality | | | | requirements as well as providing specific, |
| logistics can take to help ease drivers' pain while | | | | thorough information regarding acceptable freight |
| feeling the positive effects on their transportation | | | | standards and inspection procedures can save |
| operations. After all, the more efficient a carrier's | | | | both clients and carriers thousands of dollars each |
| operation, the lower the shipper's overall costs | | | | year in damaged freight payments or lost |
| and closer to total quality logistics. | | | | opportunity from product stock outs. |
| Here are few areas in your shipping department | | | | 5. Use a 3PL Provider - Because of their large pool |
| that may be worthwhile to investigate: | | | | of resources, third party transportation providers |
| 1. Assess Dock Scheduling - For a carrier, time | | | | can easily find carriers that are closer to the |
| really is money and when their trucks aren't rolling, | | | | pick-up location or are in need of a backhaul, |
| they're not getting paid. Shipping more loads on | | | | helping to reduce the carrier's deadhead miles |
| pallets, hiring "lumpers" or expanding their shipping | | | | while saving the client a little extra money. Plus, |
| and receiving hours can all add up to not only | | | | because their only priority day-in and day-out is |
| quicker times at the loading dock, but increased | | | | arranging freight for their clients, they are typically |
| flexibility in a carrier's routing and better utilization | | | | among the first to see market changes that can |
| of their available driving hours. These changes | | | | save clients both time and money, not to mention |
| allow carriers to keep their trucks on the road for | | | | hassles and thus achieve total quality logistics for |
| more miles. | | | | both parties. |
| 2. Consolidate shipments - Consolidating LTL | | | | 6. Re-evaluate Your Price Expectations - We all |
| shipments or combining order drops at distribution | | | | know that price is important and sometimes it |
| centers or customer locations can reduce | | | | really does come down to rates. But, in a down |
| transportation costs for the client. In addition, | | | | economy, product stock outs take on an even |
| these changes translate into more attractive | | | | greater importance. And while every department |
| shipment options for a carrier. | | | | now-a-days are looking for total quality logistics to |
| "Many carriers are more apt to accept full | | | | reduce costs, consider the benefits that can |
| truckload shipments than partials" according to a | | | | come for paying the premium. Service and |
| freight broker with TQL. "Due to fuel costs, | | | | reliability do not often come cheaply, but the |
| among other things, carriers are looking to | | | | peace-of-mind that results from knowing your |
| maximize their trailer space and reduce empty | | | | shipment will get there in the quality that your |
| miles. It's just too hard to fill a trailer with small | | | | customers expect, is worth every penny. |
| individual shipments without sacrificing these | | | | |