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Customer service is king when it comes to pleasing customers and your shipping provider should also be a customer service king for you. They should be a liaison with big shipping companies to provide you great pricing and to resolve conflict fast. Also, they should only use the best quality companies to make sure every shipment arrives on time damage free. Overall there is a fine line to walk, you want to make sure that you use a company big enough to fulfill your needs for convenience and cost savings, but not too big that you have no personal relationship to resolve problems.

An in depth study to find out if Big 3PL’s or if Medium sized ones served their customers better by LQ magazine contains some key information. They state “The feedback we get from customers indicates more “A” performances from these midsized 3PLs.” http://www.logisticsquarterly.com/issues/12-5/3pl.html. Further LQ defines what they consider a midsized 3PL. “The strongest group financially among 3PLs includes those with net revenues between $500-1000 million. The net income margin for this group is 8.2%. C.H. Robinson, Kuehne + Nagel, J.B. Hunt Dedicated and Werner are in this group. In general, companies in this group have size of scale and advantages over many smaller competitors while not being so large that they are unwieldy, procedurally rigid or in danger of losing touch with customers.” http://www.logisticsquarterly.com/issues/12-5/3pl.html. Please see the referenced article.

Have you ever had a tight deadline with your biggest client and your product arrived late? I used to work for a company who sold many products to Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has very strict deadlines and if you are late, they do not pay for the product. When it comes to satisfying your own customer’s needs, you want to provide the best customer service you can find. This will not only help your business, but help build trust with you and your customers. Whatever line of business you are in, if you do not satisfy your customers, you will be out of business soon. This is why it is so critical and vital to have LTL freight shipping companies you can trust. You want to have that peace of mind that when it leaves your dock, you know it will arrive safely and on time.

Many may think that going directly to a carrier will get you the best customer service. Yes that is true if you are Proctor and Gamble, Kellogg’s, or Target. But if you are a small to medium sized business yourself, it is good to have a larger 3rd Party 3PL working on your behalf. Just like LQ magazine says, these companies that are larger than you have the size of scale advantage that you cannot get with the carriers. But there is a fine balance that you do not choose a 3PL so large that you are lost in the shuffle and just become another customer number in their huge database. Since customer service is so important it is also important to choose a logistics partner that is willing to go out of their way for you.

LQ magazine talked of huge conglomerate mergers. Basically if the company is so big that it is eating up other companies and trying to combine two huge monsters, studies have shown that customer service is the first thing that goes out the window. If you have ever experienced a take-over or a merger, you know that those companies are in a state of regulation confusion. It takes many years to combine big companies successfully, and even more years to cut all the fat and get to something streamlined and profitable. The only successful acquisitions I have seen are those where the original company remains intact and it is only ownership that changes, not function and management. Too big of a 3PL has disadvantages.

Too big 3PL has disadvantages. LQ magazine talked of huge conglomerate mergers. Basically if the company is so big that it is eating up other companies and trying to combine two huge monsters, studies have shown that customer service is the first thing that goes out the window. If you have ever experienced a take-over or a merger, you know that those companies are in a state of regulation confusion. It takes many years to combine big companies successfully, and even more years to cut all the fat and get to something streamlined and profitable. The only successful acquisitions I have seen are those where the original company remains intact and it is only ownership that changes, not function and management.

This is the only way you can gain trust and reliability with any LTL freight shipping company. Another disadvantage to a large company is the lack of personal relationship. If you call in and get a different customer service person every time, or feel you are talking to a call center representative, you are not being served well. Many large companies have implemented account managers to develop and manage a specified number of clients and make sure all their needs are met. This has been very successful. If you have a dedicated account manager then that is good. You need to know someone by name in the company and to have access to a real person if you need.

Also, they should only use the best quality companies to make sure every shipment arrives on time damage free. Overall there is a fine line to walk, you want to make sure that you use a company big enough to fulfill your needs for convenience and cost savings, but not too big that you have no personal relationship to resolve problems. Customer service is king when it comes to pleasing customers and your shipping provider should also be a customer service king for you. They should be a liaison with big shipping companies to provide you great pricing and to resolve conflict fast.

Spider Ship offer quick easy solutions to all your shipping needs. Try ourUSPS Discounts system to discover great service and big savings. As professional Freight Movers We take pride in the quality of our service.

First you need to find customers. More specifically, you need international customers. Your best bet is to utilize the internet. Before you can start shipping goods to international customers, you need to you need to market to those customers and find which areas of the world will buy your product.

Before you can start shipping goods to international customers, you need to GO GLOBAL. You need to get customers. More specifically, you need international customers. Your best bet is to utilize the internet.

You need to get customers. More specifically, you need international customers. Your best bet is to utilize the internet. Before you can start shipping goods to international customers, you need to GO GLOBAL.

Find a good online marketer and GO GLOBAL. Market your product internationally and you will find customers. If you are not advertising online you will be downsized within this decade. International business is exploding, people are searching, and if you are on the moon with your website, you will miss thousands of sales. If you need someone to do the work for you to find those customers, here is an excellent company that we recommend gravitateonline.

There are many online freight quote companies that streamline international shipments. Below is a list of the largest top 10 international freight companies according to IATA statistics. IATA, the International Air Transportation Organization, monitors, regulates, and ensures safety in the air cargo and passenger industry. Regulations are very strict about what can and cannot be put into the cargo hull of a passenger plane.

IATA, the International Air Transportation Organization, monitors, regulates, and ensures safety in the air cargo and passenger industry. You do not have to do the work. There are many online freight quote companies that streamline international shipments. Below is a list of the largest top 10 international freight companies according to IATA statistics.

Next, you do not have to do the work. There are many online freight quote companies that streamline international shipments. Below is a list of the largest top 10 international freight companies according to IATA statistics. IATA, the International Air Transportation Organization, monitors, regulates, and ensures safety in the air cargo and passenger industry.

Top 10 Freight carriers list, the top 10 biggest players in the business.

These are also reputable providers and will help you get your product to your customers. Even though these are the top 10 largest, you can also find many strong affordable carriers through online freight quotes.

Even though these are the top 10 largest, you can also find many strong affordable carriers through online freight quotes. These are also reputable providers and will help you get your product to your customers.

If you are starting to ship to international customers, make sure they know they are to pay their own taxes and duties. Most people understand this and accept the charges, but make sure you describe your product as a gift or clearly enough that the duties and taxes are not outrageous. The more you ship, the more you will get a feel for what you need to claim to best serve your customers and describe your product so that it sails through customs easily.

Additional sales and hedge against tough times and keep your company solvent and growing despite changes in the domestic market. The biggest benefit to going global is expanding your business

These are some of the largest air cargo companies, you can also find many strong affordable carriers through online freight quotes. These are also reputable providers and will help you get your product to its destination.

Spider Ship is proud to boast access to all of the top carriers though our online freight quotes system. SpiderShip.com is also an authorized re-seller for the USPS and can offerUSPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes.

If the shipment needs to get there soon but it is not vitally important to send it overnight then by all means the USPS priority flat rate envelope is the best option. We are comparing a 2-3 day service to an overnight service so the comparison is not entirely fair. But the question you need to ask is if you can accept your document arriving one day later for 30% of the price you were paying before. For materials that need to arrive the next day without question the answer is probably no.

Priority mail flat rate envelopes can be a great alternative to overnight services.

The United States Postal Service is actually to most recognized name for delivery reliability. The post office has the most wide spread fleet of vehicles of any shipping company in the US. No other company delivers to literally every address every day. Every small parcel company has lost or damaged packages. USPS priority mail service levels are equal to or better than any of the competition. Stolen packages happen much more infrequently because it is a federal crime to steal mail. There are federal inspectors monitoring each and every sorting facility to insure the safety of your packages.

The post office has the most wide spread fleet of vehicles of any shipping company in the US. No other company delivers to literally every address every day. Every small parcel company has lost or damaged packages. USPS priority mail service levels are equal to or better than any of the competition. Stolen packages happen much more infrequently because it is a federal crime to steal mail. There are federal inspectors monitoring each and every sorting facility to insure the safety of your packages. The United States Postal Service is actually to most recognized name for delivery reliability even though some people complain about it.

Frequently people choose not to use the post office because they don’t offer tracking services. That is no longer true. The post office has tracking capabilities for both priority and express mail. They have invested million of dollars in to hand held scanners and other tracking equipment. In some ways their tracking capabilities surpass what FedEx and UPS use. FedEx and UPS track according to where a shipment should be. For example if you send a small box from LA to NY you will get updates every so often with where your package should be based on where the truck is scheduled to be. But what if you package was not put on that truck? You will not know exactly where it is. The post office has fewer scans and slower updates but they are of your actual package at its actual location. USPS tracking can be more accurate and a little slower.

The above are great reasons to use USPS priority mail flat rate envelopes. But probably the number one reason is the price. With USPS Discounts you can ship your documents and have them arrive in two days for $4.76 to any where in the country. The same shipment may cost you as much as $17-$20 for a true overnight delivery. A $10-$15 saving per document could literally save your company hundreds or even thousands of dollars every quarter of every fiscal year.

Priority mail is not a guaranteed service. USPS express mail will offer a service guarantee but you will pay extra for that guarantee. FedEx and UPS will give you a guarantee of delivery and offer delivery times in the morning afternoon or late afternoon. Priority mail is delivered when the daily letter carrier arrives at the location. A good percentage of guaranteed delivers that do not make it by the specified delivery time are never claimed. They play the percentages that if it is not there on time that a claim will not be filed anyway. Obviously overnight services will be faster than priority mail.

We are comparing a 2-3 day service to an overnight service so the comparison is not entirely fair. But the question you need to ask is if you can accept your document arriving one day later for 30% of the price you were paying before. For materials that need to arrive the next day without question the answer is probably no. But if it needs to get there soon but it is not vitally important to send it overnight then by all means the USPS priority flat rate envelope is the best option.

Spider Ship is proud to boast access to all of the top carriers though our online freight quotes system. SpiderShip.com is also an authorized re-seller for the USPS and can offerUSPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes.

3PL stands for 3rd Party Logistics. A 3rd Party Logistics Company manages your transportation needs for you. Wal-Mart is a company that has their own trucks to get product to and from locations. They do not need a 3PL because they are their own logistics manager. Most companies do not also own and operate a trucking company for their fulfillment needs. Some companies have a Shipping Manager, or a fulfillment expert to handle their shipping needs on a case by case basis. When your company gets large enough it will no longer be cost effective to keep hiring employees to manage your shipping needs. It will become no longer feasible to call on every shipment. Situations like this call for outside consultants or 3pls.

Good logistics companies will integrate with your backend inventory system and streamline your shipping operations. This means instead of manning the phones all day for good rates, calling brokers etc. The system will automatically put in great rates, print shipping labels, and give you everything you need for shipping. A good system will take the place of 3 employees if utilized correctly. For example a large treadmill manufacturer will partner with UPS freight to get discounted rates, and also gain access to their software that seamlessly manages all of their online shipments, and wholesale orders. Orders being placed will come through a backend order management system and then will immediately be loaded into daily production and automatically print shipping labels. Usually scales are also provided with the system and daily scheduled pick-ups.

Discounted freight rates, based on volume, are the main advantage. When using a 3rd party you are able to piggyback on bulk rate discounts. Trucking companies love to have guaranteed shipments. If they can count on having shipments without waiting for the phone to ring they are more than willing to give discounts. Also trucking companies give large discounts for large volume of shipments. A 3PL will provide massive volumes of guaranteed shipments to trucking companies by pooling together the resources of all their clients. This means that instead of having the buying power of your single company, you now have the buying power of the entire client base of the 3PL you are using. This could be thousands of companies. Tying yourself into that buying power will save on the bottom line.

For example, if you have been paying $100 to ship a pallet to California, with a 3PL you might pay $50 to ship the same pallet. If you ship 3 pallets a week to California, that is $150 a week, $600 a month, and $7800 a year, just on your California shipments. Now say you ship 3 pallets a week to 10 different states, that is now $78,000 a year in savings. Shipping costs add up quickly if you don’t watch your bottom line. Shipping costs will significantly affect your cost of goods sold. As a business owner in this economy you need to do all that is possible to stay above water.

Logistics companies have varying strengths and weaknesses. There are some that completely integrate and manage everything for you, and there are some that are more for the medium to small business that allow for flexibility and a lot more manual control. If you are in a stage where the price of every shipment needs to be managed, instead of having your shipping guy spend all day on the phone with brokers, he could get all the quotes from one system.

What is the first advantage to using a 3PL? Fewer headaches, less manpower. Most 3PL’s will integrate with your backend inventory system and streamline your shipping operations. This means instead of manning the phones all day for good rates, calling brokers etc. The system will automatically put in great rates, print shipping labels, and give you everything you need for shipping. A good system will take the place of 3 employees if utilized correctly. For example a large treadmill manufacturer will partner with UPS freight to get discounted rates, and also gain access to their software that seamlessly manages all of their online shipments, and wholesale orders. Orders being placed will come through a backend order management system and then will immediately be loaded into daily production and automatically print shipping labels.

Expedia.com is to the world of travel as online freight quotes are to the world of freight. Travelocity does it as well for vacation packages. Essentially they give you one stop shopping for the best rates on the market using their buying power. This is different than partnering with a single trucking company like UPS. Trucking companies will want to get you locked into only using their services. If you only use one trucking company, it is difficult to know if you are always getting the best rates. With an online freight quote pricing you can easily allow all trucking companies to compete for your business without the hassle of calling every single freight carrier in the country.

There are some disadvantages to a 3PL, you may get one too big for your britches. Often you could be locked into carriers you don’t like. Make sure that your service level remains top notch. Shop around to get the best 3PL for your needs. Most 3PL’s have reliable customer service; make sure you get one that allows for returns and damage claims. Remember a 3PL is like a partner, so look for all the things you would like in a shipping partner. For example the benefits a 3pl are that they provide instant quotes and 24 customer service hotline. When shopping for a 3PL it is helpful to write a list of wants and pain points you want solved before approaching a 3PL. This way you will be prepared to analyze them according to what you really need.

To problem in dealing directly with the carrier are, first is low volume shipments means high retail pricing. The second is time lost. It takes hours to research, get quotes to find the best price for a lane. In general, local shipments it is best to use local small companies, for national shipments you need the big boys. For your immediate surrounding states, regional shippers might be best, but the prices vary between small regional carriers and big freight companies like Fedex. Basically not one single freight company will meet all of your destination needs equally. This is why you should avoid only using one carrier.

There are 2 problems with going directly to carriers, the first is low volume shipments means high retail pricing. The second is time lost. It takes hours to research, get quotes to find the best price for a lane. In general, local shipments it is best to use local small companies, for national shipments you need the big boys. For your immediate surrounding states, regional shippers might be best, but the prices vary between small regional carriers and big freight companies like FedEx. Basically not one single freight company will meet all of your destination needs equally. This is why you should avoid only using one carrier.

A 3pl can be great, it helps you manage your time, makes shipping hassle free, gives you an easy access way to manage costs, and allows for flexibility in shipping controls. A 3PL is a great partner to have especially if you do not have the funds to hire your own drivers, buy trucks and send them all over the country for you. A 3PL will save you money and time. Be smart and use one that works for your needs.

Spider Ship offer quick easy solutions to all your shipping needs. Try ourUSPS Discounts system to discover great service and big savings. As professional Freight Movers We take pride in the quality of our service.

There are over 65 different freight movers and freight carries that quote through the online freight quotes system. The advantages and disadvantages are as wide ranging as the freight movers themselves.

Over 65 different freight movers and freight carries that quote through the online freight quotes system. The advantages and disadvantages are as wide ranging as the freight carriers.

When you pay for this commodity, LTL freight shipping, you need to be aware that 40% of shipping costs are added charges and accessorial fees. One of the best distinctions between one freight carrier and the next is their accessorial charges. Without question everybody wants good service. But if one carrier gets it to the destination as well as the next shipping is just another commodity.

You will need you to use lift gate service if you are sending your ltl freight shipment to any location that does not have a fork lift or another means of unloading your freight. The online freight quotes system gives you the huge advantage to see exactly which fees you are going to pay before your ship. R and L carriers is a great carrier for these types of shipments because they have lift gates on every single truck.

If you are shipping to a trade show you will have two problems. You will have to pay an additional fee but you will also have to work with unionized labor. Most trade shoes are controlled by unions. If your freight movers are not part of the union you will not be able to ship to any convention. Other online freight quotes systems do not give you the option to ship to trade shows and conventions. Spidership.com can ship to trade shows and conventions. YRC is the carrier of choice to ship to a convention. The fee to ship to a trade show is $46.25.

Here is another example of how having a variety of carriers at your disposal can save you time and money. Residential delivery is another common fee that can also be costly. Some freight movers could charge up to $140 per residential delivery. The shipment may not even cost that much by itself. Again certain carrier will not even charge that fee. A regional carrier, Oak Harbor Freight, on the west coast does not charge for residential delivery. They are a solid carrier that is in the online freight quotes system.

The fee to ship to a trade show is $46.25. If you are shipping to a trade show you will have two problems. You will have to pay an additional fee but you will also have to work with unionized labor. Most trade shoes are controlled by unions. If your freight movers are not part of the union you will not be able to ship to any convention. Other online freight quotes systems do not give you the option to ship to trade shows and conventions. Spidership.com can ship to trade shows and conventions. YRC is the carrier of choice to ship to a convention.

Your current carrier may give you only one option and you may end up paying the $100 lift gate fee, a $50 hazardous waste fee, a $100 residential fee, or whatever the freight movers charge. If you are using the online freight quotes system you will find the freight carrier that is best for your shipment. Choose for yourself the carrier that is right every time.

Spider Ship offer quick easy solutions to all your shipping needs. Try ouronline freight quotes system to discover great service and big savings. As professionalFreight Movers We take pride in the quality of our service.