Month: <span>October 2022</span>

There hasn’t been a shortage of challenges when it comes to shipping over the past few years. Issues with capacity, challenges in securing materials and now managing the costs of transportation. Shippers have had to overcome a lot as of late and when they were seeing their transportation costs get away from them while still seeing poor service, we’ve seen a lot of animosity develop in the supply chain relationship.

Part of the issue is due to higher costs for both shippers and carriers. A surge in demand from the past few years left carriers struggling to get orders delivered in a timely manner, combined with shortages in their own sector – mainly trailers. As a result of rampant demand prices increased and shippers had to work harder to get their shipments sent out for delivery. Carriers had a responsibility to provide better service during these rampant times, but only time will tell if these carriers delivered on that promise to their customers.

We believe that there needs to be a bridge of trust between both shippers and carriers. One should not be out to harm the other and both must see each other as more than a transaction. There needs to be a partnership between the two parties, otherwise they will find themselves locked in a vicious cycle that will inevitably lead to hostility and the one who will suffer when it’s all over? The customer. 

How do we build a bridge of trust? Shippers need to perform their own due diligence in finding a carrier they can work with that meets their needs. They shouldn’t seek cut-rate service from brokers since this will only result in more mistrust for carriers. Brokers are incentivized to keep shippers in their pocket and will not speak well of most carriers. On the other side carriers need to focus on providing better service, especially now that capacity is opening up. Carriers have no excuse. It is our responsibility to provide a great service that shippers can rely on, because we’re nothing without our customers. It is important to always remember: both shipper and carrier will always remember how the other one treated them.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of building a bridge of trust with customers. We go out of our way to provide exceptional service to all of the shippers we have the privilege of working with. When you call Zip Xpress, there will always be a person who will answer the phone and will do everything they can to provide you with the solutions you need for your business. We will call and schedule pickup and delivery, working on the timeframe that works best for your needs. We are also the best in ensuring that your shipments will arrive undamaged and on time and we’ve been the best at it for over 20 years. We look forward to showing how we can help your business. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

We are at a time where many are seeking fully optimized supply chains. The experiences of the past few years have opened our eyes to the silos that may exist in delaying shipments – the sections of the supply chain which are disconnected from the communication network of the greater whole. The stifled communication as a result of these silos makes getting your products to the customer difficult and creates an environment where it’s difficult to adapt. Finally, these issues in communication create dissatisfaction amongst members of the supply chain which mainly results in dissatisfaction for the customer’s experience. Let’s learn the ways we can uncover silos and how they can be addressed to revitalize your organization’s supply chain.

The first method for finding silos is to develop a holistic vision for the organization’s supply chain. From product inception all the way to final delivery to the customer, the vision needs to entail the customer’s experience to ensure alignment between sales and operations. Developing this alignment and getting everyone involved in the process helps foster ownership, creating the buy-in necessary to make the vision a permanent reality for the organization. Explain your goals when working with vendors and other stakeholders – oftentimes they’re willing to help because they care about quality too and your success is their success. Finally, pay close attention to every area – from packaging to compliance with shipping regulations, every area needs to be included in the execution for this plan to work.

Once the vision is created, you must develop a comprehensive and cohesive communication plan for members of the supply chain with a focus on the entire supply chain. Understanding where silos can and have occurred is a necessary step in order to begin breaking down barriers to success. Improving processes and procedures will work wonders when it comes to creating consistency for all of your shipments. Having step by step instructions available for members of the supply chain ensures that you will get the consistency you need and the growth you deserve.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of removing unnecessary barriers across the supply chain. We do this by communicating with our customers as well as their customers every step of the way while their shipments are in our care. We schedule pickup as well as delivery, making the process ideal for our customers. We work according to the schedule of our customers and their customers, providing them with timely deliveries that will get to their destination on time and undamaged, no matter what. It’s because of this dedication to service that we’re able to maintain a 99% customer satisfaction rating with all of our customers. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

In a recent survey conducted by the business applications firm CGS, 42% of respondents indicate that they would prefer a sustainable shipping solution over expedited shipping. That means there was a willingness to wait longer for a shipment so long as the shipment was delivered sustainably. Now while this particular survey was more focused on retail, the sustainability movement is gaining momentum in every area of the economy. People understand that we need to preserve the world we live in and that we can make a difference so long as we work together to do so. There are many ways we can create a more sustainable supply chain, especially in logistics.

One of the best ways to create a more sustainable supply chain is to reduce the amount of ‘air’ and empty space within trailers. While electric vehicles and biodiesel fuels are still being developed, this is a solution that can be implemented right away. Carriers can work together to optimize shipments and reducing the empty space is vital in preventing only partially filled trucks (oftentimes marked as ‘full trailer’ shipments) from being on the road. Driving these partial trailers consumes fuel, increases damage to highways as well as the trucks themselves. Taking the time to optimize shipments and recycle air helps reduce emissions and create a viable sustainable solution that works for every member of the supply chain.

Another area that we can focus on more sustainable solutions is packaging. There are a lot of advances being made in the field of corrugated packaging and while these are noble, oftentimes we must ask: how many of these shipments truly need packaging? While it’s hard to determine the percentage of shipments that truly need packaging, we know that a lot of shippers use more than is necessary. Working with your carrier to determine the minimum amount of packaging will help provide a clear picture of what is ‘just right’ for your shipments. In many cases, shippers will find that they can safely eliminate packaging from their shipments altogether, thus providing another means of creating a more sustainable supply chain.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of creating a sustainable supply chain. We work to optimize every shipment in our care to reduce and most times eliminate the amount of empty space in our trailers. We also work with shippers to reduce and even in many cases eliminate the packaging their shipments contain, creating a more sustainable solution that many may not have considered. Finally, we’re able to prove that all of our measures are making a difference with a monthly carbon reduction report that we provide our customers with. They’re able to see the impact they’re making when selecting us as their carrier of choice. To see how we can help you create a more sustainable supply chain, start today with Zip Xpress!

Logistics providers have had to wear a lot of hats in an effort to stay competitive in the marketplace. Such extension of services can inevitably lead to confusion when a shipper is searching for the right carrier to become their shipper of choice. The question then becomes: how is a shipper to differentiate from all of the carrier options that are available to them? While price is usually a large factor, it often proves to be one of the least valuable metrics in selecting the right carrier here in West Michigan.

Determine Your Company’s Criteria

The first step for a shipper in selecting the right carrier is to determine the most important criteria for your business. It is vital to define a successful shipment and what that looks like along with the transportation modes you believe are most valuable to your business. Do you have high frequency shipments or does your shipment absolutely need to arrive at its destination undamaged? These questions about your needs will serve as guideposts in navigating the process for selecting the right carrier for your business.

Vet Potential Carriers

It’s important to schedule tours and or discussions with potential carriers since you need an understanding of their network, capabilities as well as strengths and weaknesses. Every carrier has different capabilities and they should be upfront with you about them. Asking about their strengths and weaknesses will tell you a lot about a carrier while also asking them to provide either case studies or testimonials is a reasonable way to be assured they’re able to deliver when you need them to. Once you have a carrier lined up for delivering shipments, it’s time to track their performance.

Track Carrier Performance

A way to ensure you’re getting what you need from your carrier is to track carrier performance through the use of scorecards or quarterly reviews. Measuring carriers against your own service standards is a great way to ensure they’re measuring up to par because carriers want to perform better too. We also believe that shippers should measure tender acceptance and report on it to carriers because shippers are committed to volume and carriers are committed to capacity. Measuring and tracking performance will help you develop a stronger supply chain that will inevitably grow your business.

Here at Zip Xpress, we understand the importance of finding the right carrier for your business. That’s why we focus on providing the best in service for our customers. We don’t allow for cut-rate service and the results are able to show for themselves. We’re able to get every shipment in our care to its destination on time and undamaged, while also arranging for pickup and delivery with you as well as your customer. It’s because of these high standards that we’re able to maintain a 99% satisfaction rating with all of our customers. No matter what shipping challenge you have, we have a custom carrier solution for your business. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!