Biggest Freight Shipping Challenges: Managing Transit Times

05/27/2015 — Matt Nagel

Keeping customers informed and improving services are two of the main focuses of PartnerShip. That’s why we regularly seek feedback from customers and tailor our offerings and content to your needs. We recently asked a group of customers about their biggest challenges when shipping freight and received "managing transit times" as the third most mentioned challenge at 14% of overall responses. We’ll address this concern and provide some best practices to keep your mind at ease when scheduling and shipping your time-sensitive freight. 

Managing the logistics for a company can be a trying task with multiple, and seemingly endless, steps along the way. Gathering materials, being sure to correctly package, and accurately completing your paperwork seemed like a lot in itself, but the most important step lies ahead – making sure it gets to where it needs to go on time. All previous work is rendered pointless if this stage is not completed. 

Before shipping your freight, here are items to keep in mind to ensure there are no hiccups in your transit:

• Accuracy on your bill of lading (BOL) is key to keeping your shipment on track and avoiding time consuming reweighs or reclassifications from carriers. Knowing your freight classes as well as accurately weighing your shipment is extremely important to getting your shipment to it’s destination on time.
• No one likes paying more for their shipping, but knowing which accessorials to add when scheduling your freight shipment will save you from situations like a refused delivery that could have been avoided by including a lift gate. Accessorials like advance notification can also help you and your company better manage your time when shipping freight.
• Considering guaranteed options from carriers will provide you with a little more insurance when scheduling a shipment where you may be unsure about the time-frame's likelihood. While the guaranteed options cost a bit more, paying a little extra when you know you need it is better than the fallout that comes from the alternatives. 

Setting yourself up for a properly timed shipment mostly occurs before the carrier is even dispatched to your location, but there are a few measures you can take during and after your freight is in transit:

• Late pickups can be frustrating, but they occasionally happen as drivers get detained with earlier pickups, encounter trailer capacity issues, are caught in heavy traffic, etc. Our customer service team at PartnerShip does a great job staying on top of pickup times and securing a time commitment from the carrier's dispatch when needed. However, often times it makes sense for you, the customer, to call the carrier directly in the event you need to work out a new time or solution.
• Stay on top of your shipment by using our track shipment tool to check the status of your shipment and get an estimated time of delivery (ETA). All you will need is the tracking, pro, or BOL number and the carrier you used for your shipment. 
• If you find yourself sending multiple shipments of similar specifications to the same consignee, as many companies do, making notes and keeping a close eye on your shipping history can help you effectively prepare for the future. Track your experiences with certain carriers as they use different lanes to transport shipments. PartnerShip also works with many regional and local carriers that specialize in certain geographical regions. 

When all is said and done, planning still only amounts to a portion of the battle. It’s important to remember that freight carrier transit times are estimations and can vary due to weather, traffic, and mechanical issues. Yes, a carrier’s goal is to stick as closely as possible to the transit times provided and deliver to a happy consignee. However, we live in an imperfect world and things don’t always work out that way. Plan ahead and give yourself the best chance possible of a timely shipping operation.

As always, PartnerShip is here to help manage your company's logistics and keep your shipping operation a smooth running process. Feel free to contact PartnerShip with any questions or concerns.

Meet Your PartnerShip Team – Laurie

05/21/2015 — Leah Palnik

Laurie has worked at PartnerShip for over four years and she’s passionate about helping our customers. She has a similar passion for life and has a very inspiring story to share. Read more about her and her story.

What do you do for PartnerShip?
Senior account representative – I sell!

What is the most interesting thing you’ve helped a customer ship?
I’m not sure how politically correct this is, but I had a customer quote a shipment of teat wipes with us. Those are moistened towelettes to clean off cow udders.

What do you like the most about working at PartnerShip?
I like the fact that no 2 days are alike. The shipments may range from musical instruments, to farm equipment, to toys and novelties and other items. I love TV shows like Shark Tank and The Profit so it makes me happy to know that we are helping small-medium sized businesses achieve success.

Tell us about your family.
I have been married to George for just over 13 years. We have the crazy cat lady starter kit of 3 cats (Whiskers, Grey, and Ali) and 1 goofy dog (Daisy).

Tell us something interesting about yourself.
I am donating a kidney to my husband George on May 26th. He is my best friend, and I am so excited that I can help him with the gift of life. It’s absolutely amazing to me that I am the perfect match in more ways than one. With that being said, he will never be allowed to pick out a paint color or couch ever again :)

Do you have any nicknames?
My husband kiddingly calls me Pita – pain in the *ss.

What was the best vacation you ever went on? Why?
Puerto Rico is our favorite place to vacation. It’s warmer than Cleveland, we can drink the water, the beaches are gorgeous, the food is tasty (our favorite is lechon – roast pig), there’s lots of history (Christopher Columbus sailed into San Juan harbor in 1493) and the people are the nicest I have ever met on vacation. There is so much to do there – from rainforests to deserts – beaches to mountains – the snorkeling is unbelievable! And they make mean mojitos!

If you could have dinner with anyone alive or dead, who would it be? Why?
My mom – she just passed away on May 13th, and I’d give anything to know she’s OK and that she met up with my grandparents in heaven.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?
We would go to Thailand and Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Angkor Wat is one of the largest temples in the world at one mile from end to end. They are still finding smaller temples in the jungle. It was featured in Lara Croft Tomb Raider. We love Thai cuisine and would like to visit some of the famous markets and temples there, ride elephants, and their beaches are gorgeous!

What is one of your proudest accomplishments?
My proudest accomplishments are my many happy customers. When they provide referrals to me, it shows how much they trust and appreciate my efforts.

How to Get the Most out of FedEx Express® Services

05/14/2015 — Leah Palnik

If you have a small package shipment that is time-sensitive – domestic or international, FedEx Express is your best bet. At PartnerShip, our goal is to help you get the most out of these services. Here are a few things you can do to take full advantage of FedEx Express services.

Establish discounts
Through a PartnerShip managed shipping program, you can receive discounts with FedEx, including select FedEx Express services. If you belong to an association we work with, you simply need to enroll. To find out if you qualify, contact us and we’ll find the solution that’s right for you.

Order free shipping supplies
You can order supplies for your FedEx Express shipments for free through fedex.com. Supplies include envelopes, boxes, tubes, shipping label pouches, and more. Getting free shipping supplies means one less cost for you to worry about.

Take advantage of FedEx One Rate^® options
Select FedEx Express services are available with FedEx One Rate. These flat rate options can be very cost-effective for envelopes up to 10 lbs and boxes or packs up to 50 lbs. The best way to see if using FedEx One Rate makes sense for your shipment is to start by comparing the pricing. Click here to enter in your shipment information and generate your rate.

Utilize international tools and resources
If you ever have international shipping needs, FedEx Express services can help you get it there fast, with time-definite delivery in 1 to 5 days, to more than 220 countries and territories. With access to country snapshots, documentation preparation help, and more, the FedEx^® Global Trade Manager is a great place to start if you have an international small package shipment.

PartnerShip discounted small package shipping services are completely free to eligible businesses participating in one of our association shipping programs. If you are currently a member of a professional association or trade group, ask them if they have a discounted small package shipping program through PartnerShip. You can also give us a call at 800-599-2902, or send an email to sales@PartnerShip.com, and we'll find out for you.

“But I Don’t Ship Freight!”

05/11/2015 — Matt Nagel

Many companies operate under the same assumption that they don’t ship freight. This idea was solidified on a recent survey we conducted, where we asked the question: “What are your biggest challenges when shipping freight?” About 30% indicated price as their biggest challenge, which we addressed in a previous blog post, and another 18% said that they don’t ship freight at all. Customers are quick to jump to this notion as there are no pallets assembled in their facility and no semis in their parking lot – however, they may be overlooking some important aspects of their company operations that could use some freight optimization attention.

First, we’d like to reiterate an idea that we revert back to quite a bit on the PartnerShip Connection Blog – inbound shipping is one of the easiest and most overlooked ways to save money on your overall shipping costs. We bring this point up again since most businesses do not factor in the freight shipments they receive from suppliers as, many times, the consignee is not being directly invoiced for those shipments. However, costs initially written off as ‘free’ often rear their head in the price of the actual goods that are being moved – meaning the costs are not non-existent, but just hidden. As the customer receiving the goods, your company has a say in how that freight is routed and billed, and you should factor it into your overall freight plan.

The next point we’d like to make is that while some businesses are not shipping freight, maybe they are shipping small packages and reexamining and adjusting that operation may equal big savings. This idea would apply to another portion of the 18% of companies that think they do not have freight shipping but are shipping small packages to or from the same location on a regular basis. As a general rule of thumb, one big order ships for less than three smaller orders. That means businesses should consider consolidating multiple orders into a single large shipment whenever possible, and always strive to minimize the number of packages it sends. All too often, shipments are arranged as they come in from sales or order processing. However, a little planning and visibility will go a long way towards saving on shipping costs, supplies, and time. 

We’re sure there are some customers in the previously mentioned 18% that legitimately do not have or will ever need to ship freight due to factors like their business type. For the rest of us, taking into consideration things like inbound operations and the possibility of shipment consolidation may mean more companies are having a freight discussion that they thought they would never have – and will end up with a more efficiently run company in the process.

Meet Your PartnerShip Team – Jennifer

05/08/2015 — Leah Palnik

Jennifer is our Customer Service Manager and she is a joy to work with thanks to her positive attitude and outgoing personality. She’s been with PartnerShip for 9 years and she’s worked for the NACS family since 2000. In her time here she’s proven to be a great leader to her team and a big help to our customers. Learn more about her from the questionnaire below!

What do you do for PartnerShip?
Help our customers with all their shipping needs. I help my team provide quotes, schedule shipments, create bills of lading and problem solve for our existing customers!

What is the most interesting thing you’ve helped a customer ship?
Pizza stones to Steve Job’s personal chef for Christmas dinner.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Trying out new craft ideas, I really enjoy making jewelry.

If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
Dog because they are always so happy to see people and make new friends.

What’s your favorite 90s jam?
First song to pop in my head is Mmm mmm by Crash Test Dummies or Every Morning by Sugar Ray.

If you could have dinner with anyone alive or dead, who would it be?
Talk show hosts. I would ask them the questions and get to hear all of their fun stories.

Do you have any nicknames?
J-fer

What is one of your proudest accomplishments?
Graduating from Kent State University.

What was the best vacation you ever went on?
My honeymoon in Disney. Disney is magical and creates happiness.

What do you like the most about working at PartnerShip?
My co-workers. I enjoy working with people who make me want to come to work.

Who would win in a fight between Spiderman and Batman?
Spider-Man because I’m a Marvel fan!

Tell us about your family.
I have a loving supportive husband Dave and we have one Harry Baby (Big Hero 6 reference), a kitty named Caroline.

What do colleagues say is your best quality?
Being happy and positive...on most days :)

What reality show would you like to be on?
Nickelodeon Guts or Family Feud (a break room lunchtime staple).

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Ireland or Scotland because of the castles and the rolling green countryside that dramatically drops into the blue ocean.

Happy National Small Business Week!

05/04/2015 — Matt Nagel

PartnerShip prides itself on being able to help businesses of all shapes and sizes save on their shipping costs. Small businesses are an integral part of the United States economy and, every year since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing a National Small Business Week recognizing the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. This year, May 4-8th has been designated as the week to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from all 50 states and U.S. territories.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the organization that coordinates this yearly event, and has designated this year's theme as "SBA: Dream Big. Start Small."

The week will highlight small businesses with events in Miami, Los Angeles, San Antonio, New York City and culminating in Washington, D.C. where national winners will be recognized and awarded.  Additionally, recognition events throughout SBA’s 10 Regions and 68 Districts will be held throughout the months of May and June.

If you're interested in learning more about National Small Business Week, you can visit the SBA website. There you'll find a schedule of both live and online events and other helpful information.