After several record setting years, 2023 saw shifts to the freight market. How did the 2023 freight market affect shipper and carrier businesses? Did other businesses have the same struggles as yours? Are they expecting to face similar difficulties in 2024? How are their partner relationships? 

Trinity Logistics wanted to get answers to these questions for you, so we asked a random sample of our shipper and carrier relationships to gauge the effect 2023 had on their business and what their expectations for 2024 in our first Freight Market Survey. Here’s what we found out:

2023 SHipper & Carrier Data: Freight Market Survey Results

Past Challenges – Same, But Different

Considering the recent turndown of demand and the freight market, it’s not a big surprise that money was the biggest issue for shippers and carriers alike. Shippers answered that transportation costs were their biggest challenge in 2023, with supply chain delays/disruption and capacity not far behind. Low rates and increasing operating costs were the main challenges facing carriers. 

Business Impact – Could Have Been Better

Even with the change in consumer demand trending downwards throughout 2023, most shippers answered that their year was good overall. Carriers on the other hand seemed to face a rougher year in business with over half of them stating their year could have been better or was poor. 

A LOOK INTO 2024

Future Challenges – Money Problems

2024 isn’t looking much different in terms of challenges compared to 2023. Shippers look to have the same financial challenges as they did in 2023 with transportation costs, supply chain delays/disruption, and decreased demand being the top concerns selected. Carriers are still concerned about low rates, operating costs, and low freight volumes hurting their businesses. 

Hot Trends

Even though transportation costs are shippers’ strongest concerns in their previous answers, it seems the increased amount of supply chain disruptions and delays we’ve all experienced in these recent years have hit a nerve, with the majority answering that supply chain resilience is the trend their business is most interested in. Cybersecurity also looks to be a growing interest.

Carriers on the other hand, interestingly enough, look to the recent trend of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Also, as noted in the comment boxes of our “Other” option, increased rates and better fuel prices were trends they’d like to see in 2024. 

Load Volumes & Capacity – Slightly Positive Outlook

Overall, shippers are slightly more optimistic for 2024, thinking it won’t bring any change or the change it brings will be positive. Most think load volumes will stay the same or there will be a little more in freight volumes this year. As for truck capacity, they think it will be the same as 2023 or slightly tighter. 

Carriers also think 2024 will bring more freight volumes and that capacity will likely stay the same or get tighten slightly versus 2023.  

Spot or Contract?

Year-over-year, shippers aren’t looking to change much in terms of which market they turn to. Most look to continue to put most of their freight on the spot market.

For carriers, there looks to be some change anticipated. In 2023, most carriers ran spot market freight but in 2024, over half of them look to haul contracted freight. 

Do Shippers Have a TMS?

It’s 2024, so you’d think most shippers would have a transportation management system (TMS), and no surprise, they do. For those that don’t and answered, it seems they did not have a good experience with one in the past or don’t know enough about them. 

Brokers Are the Way to Go

When asked how they like to move their shipments, most shippers use a mix of carriers and third-party logistics providers (3PLs) or just 3PLs. A few do use their own trucks. For those that do outsource to 3PLs, they usually just stick to one provider.

Shippers most often look to a 3PL for help with their everyday shipments, for transportation management, visibility, and access to their capacity. The main reason shippers choose not to work a 3PL for their logistics? They don’t like the risk. 

Transportation Modes – Staying Consistent

Overall, shippers aren’t looking to change what transportation modes they use for their shipments. Truckload and less-than-truckload (LTL) are the primary modes they like to use, with a little diversification sprinkled in.

Exceptional Service Stands the Test of Time

When it comes to their logistics partners, shippers find the most value in receiving exceptional service, with costs coming in as a close second. 

Most Wanted: Long Mileage, Flatbed Shipments

When it comes to mileage, most carrier companies tend to run long-hauls or a mix of short and long shipments. Flatbed hauls are the type of shipments most carriers like to haul with dry van coming in as a close second. 

Load Boards are the Way

With 74 percent selecting this option, load boards are the norm for carriers to find available shipments. Sometimes they use their shipper relationships, and occasionally they make use of a 3PL. 

3PLs – Expanding a Carrier’s Reach

Carriers most often look to a 3PL for help with gaining access to available shipments that they wouldn’t have otherwise. Covering backhauls are another big reason carriers reach out to a 3PL. 

For those that choose to not work with a 3PL, it’s often because of money; rates not being high enough. Surprisingly in the comments, many are not familiar with what a 3PL or freight broker is as well.  

When it comes to measuring value in their 3PL partners, most carriers want good rates and great communication.

Fraud Concerns Growing

Fraud and scams have been growing in the industry, so we wanted to know what carriers think about it. Carriers are most worried about double and triple brokering affecting their businesses compared to concerns of identity theft or cargo theft. 

Partner with Trinity Logistics and easily expand the shipping services offered by your Freight Agency.

There are so many benefits to being an Independent Freight Agent. You have the flexibility to run your business in a way that works for you while having the support of a large brokerage behind you, you’re able to work from anywhere that has Wi-Fi, you have the potential for unlimited income, and more! The benefits of being a Freight Agent are too many to list!

There can also be challenges. One of these challenges is the feeling that you must know it all when it comes to moving freight. Perhaps you’re a truckload shipping expert that has a customer with less-than-truckload (LTL) or drayage freight to move. Maybe you know LTL like the back of your hand, but you see warehousing opportunities with one of your shipping customers.

Now, how can you learn all you need to know to serve each of your unique customer’s shipping needs while still maintaining a thriving business? One option is to hire people for your office that have expertise in all the different modes of transportation. Or, an easier and less costly option, you can partner with a freight broker that has subject matter experts in all modes at your disposal!

Expand Your Shipping Solutions with Trinity Logistics

Trinity Freight Agents have access to supportive Operations Teams that specialize in all the modes and specialized shipping services we offer:

• LTL
• Drayage
• Expedited
• Air
• Ocean
• International
• Intermodal
• Warehousing
• Cold Chain/Ecommerce

If it’s transportation-related, Trinity has experts ready to help support and grow a Freight Agent’s business. It doesn’t stop at just educating our Freight Agents. These Operations Teams can both educate you and manage the freight! 

Our Teams Are Ready to Support Your Freight Agent Business

Less Than Truckload (LTL)

Trinity has a fully trained and equipped Operations Team to handle your customer’s LTL needs. The Team handles quoting through delivery including tracking and tracing and delivery notifications. You, as the Freight Agent, maintain your customer relationship while this Team takes care of the rest! You can even give your customer direct access to our LTL operating system to quote and track shipments.   

Expedited/Drayage/Intermodal/International/Warehousing

Trinity’s Advanced Services Team is a one-stop shop for quoting any of these services. With established carrier relationships in these complex modes, this Team can quote, dispatch, and manage the cargo through transit.

Cold Chain/Ecommerce

Through Trinity’s parent company, Burris Logistics, Freight Agents have access to full cold storage options for their customers as well as ecommerce solutions. Not only do you have multiple options for service through the ONEBURRIS network, but this network also opens up even more knowledge and industry information for our Freight Agents.

Managed Services/TMS

Is your customer interested in a transportation management system (TMS)? With Trinity, you can offer just a TMS, a fully outsourced Managed Transportation solution, or anything in-between. We can fully customize a Managed Transportation solution to meet your customer’s unique needs. Now you can take your customer from solely working with you for truckload shipments to fully outsourcing their logistics to you!

Wait, Don’t Forget Our Education Team

Trinity’s internal education department, Trinity University, offers classes so you can learn all modes offered as well as sales, negotiation, technology training, and more! Virtual classes are held every month, giving you the opportunity to increase your sales skills and introduce you to any new Trinity Technology. Most importantly, we offer our Freight Agents the same opportunities as our Team Members. In addition, there are many virtual courses offered outside our monthly classes through our learning management platform. That means you can take these courses in your own time, and they cover various topics, such as leadership, cybersecurity, and customer service.

Join Trinity’s Freight Agent Network and Start Growing

We realize you have a choice of who you’d like as your Freight Agency’s partner. So now is the time to ask yourself – is your current 3PL partner offering you the support and education you need to expand your shipping services and grow your business?

If that answer is no, then perhaps Trinity Logistics may be able to help. Trinity has over 30 years of experience aiding in the success of our Freight Agent offices. We realize that Freight Agents are an integral part of Trinity’s business, which is why we aim to support and invest in our Freight Agent network to offer our relationships the opportunity to grow to their fullest potential.

So, if you’re looking for a long-term 3PL partnership that is supportive of your growth, offers you continued education and operations support to keep you competitive, and most of all, is made up of a Team of people who are passionate, dedicated, and striving for excellence, then Trinity Logistics may be the Freight Agent program for your business.

If you feel like you’re leaving opportunities on the table because you can’t handle it all yourself, reach out to a Freight Agent representative to learn more about how Trinity’s Operations Teams can help support your business.

Call Trinity’s Agent Support Team at 800-846-3400 ext. 1908.

If you’d like to learn more about our Freight Agent Program, click the button below.

SEAFORD, DE, July 18th, 2023 – Trinity Logistics, a leading third-party logistics (3PL) provider, is proud to share that the company has been named a Top 100 3PL by Inbound Logistics.

Every year, Inbound Logistics publishes its annual 3PL edition including its Top 100 3PL list. The theme of this year’s edition surrounds growth. Outsourcing supply chain, logistics, and transportation solutions to a trusted partner is important to prepare or position companies for times of growth. Hundreds of 3PL companies submitted credentials to be considered this year and IL selected the top 100 3PLs to help companies manage growth, efficiently meet demand, and improve service while holding down costs, with Trinity Logistics selected in that list. 

Trinity Logistics has a long history of providing innovative and customer-focused solutions, offering a wide range of services, including warehousing, multiple modes of transportation, technology, and transportation management. 

“Trinity is committed to providing our customers with the best possible experience to help them grow and succeed,” said Sarah Ruffcorn, President of Trinity Logistics. “This award is a wonderful recognition of the commitment our Team makes to our shipper and carrier relationships. We are honored to be known as a 3PL partner that companies can depend on to support their growth.”

This is the third year Trinity Logistics has earned recognition as a Top 100 3PL by Inbound Logistics. The recognition is a testament to the company’s growing brand of People-Centric service and customized logistics solutions available to businesses of all sizes and growth goals. 

Learn how Trinity Logistics helped these companies grow their business.

Thinking Trinity Logistics might be the 3PL partner to support your company’s growth?

Whether you’re at a local restaurant, a holiday party, or spending a Friday night on the town, you, or someone you know is having a drink. And no, we’re not talking about a glass of water or soda. We’re talking about alcohol, including beer, wine, spirits, liquors, and liqueurs. What does it take to get alcohol from manufacturing plants to stores and restaurants for consumers?  In order to ship alcohol safely, there are many rules and regulations to follow.   

Do We Even Drink That Much? 

In the United States alone, people who are 21 years and older consumed 7.8 billion gallons of alcohol in 2018, according to a report by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Breaking this down, means 6.3 billion gallons of beer, 900 million gallons of wine, and 570 million gallons of spirits consumed. So, shipping alcohol is a continued need and one that is only going to grow. Since the pandemic hit in 2020, the volume of consumed alcohol increased at least two percent year-over-year.  

The Production 

In the United States alone, the alcohol beverage industry handles more than 4 million jobs and generates almost $70 billion in revenue. This number is only going to grow but beers, wine, and spirits are all different for the consumer.  

Beer 

This sector has been dominated by big brand names ever since the beginning. Big brands like Bud Light, Coors Light, Budweiser, and Corona all make life hard for those small-town local breweries. 

While 2021 was a record year for small-town businesses with 710 openings and only 176 of their doors closing across all 50 states, they still face a tall hill to climb. In this situation, it’s David versus Goliath. Big beer companies have the brand reputation, the capital, the marketing, and all the business. Therefore, small breweries must compete not only with them but with other small local breweries to make it in the industry. 

However, with everything against them, many consumers prefer a unique-tasting beer compared to the very recognizable Bud Light can.  

While small breweries open their doors to everyone, their target audience for their beer is individuals in their twenties, thirties, and early forties. These individuals (especially Millennials) are more likely to try new drinks and prefer ones that have different flavor profiles such as sweet, salty, sour, hoppy, spicy, and more. This shows because, in 2021, the volume growth in small breweries grew by 7.9 percent and produced 24.5 million barrels of beer.  

Wine 

The wine market is as competitive as the beer field, where big brand names are a household stable with new vineyards and wineries opening across the United States.  

Some of the biggest names in this sector are Franzia, Barefoot Cellars, Twin Valley, and more. The wine sector is expected to see significant growth. In 2021, the market was worth $417.85 billion and is expected to grow 6.4 percent year over year. So, while one may face the challenge of competing with big brand names, if a quality product is produced, there is great potential. 

Spirits 

The spirits industry also referred to as hard liquor, is a sector that made $135.78 billion in 2021. This sector has a lot more variety, including spirits such as vodka, tequila, rum, whiskey, gin, and more. Within each of these categories, they all have well-known competitors, meaning each one presents unique and complex challenges for those within the sector.  

But, How Does Shipping Alcohol Work? 

Whether you make beer or spirits or are a big brand name or a small business, one thing is for sure, you NEED to ship your product out to the consumers. But what does it take to ship alcohol? 

When shipping alcohol you must have certain permits and meet regulations to ship it safely and most importantly, legally in the United States.  

What Are the Regulations for Shipping Alcohol? 

Here is where things get tricky. When shipping alcohol, you must follow certain rules, but the United States does not have one set of rules for transporting alcohol. This means that all 50 states in the U.S. have different rules and regulations to follow. For example, in Delaware, carriers must abide by the Delaware Office of Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner rules but carriers traveling through New Mexico must follow the Alcoholic Beverage Control.  

Before arranging your shipment of alcohol, you must be aware of each state’s regulations for the transportation of it. Find out what you need to know about a certain state’s requirements by clicking on the link below: 

Making Shipping Alcohol Easy with a 3PL 

No matter if your company is big or small, selling beer or wine, everyone must follow these rules when shipping alcohol. However, ensuring the carrier has the proper permits can be a pain-stacking task. By using a 3PL, like Trinity Logistics, you’ll gain access to a network of strong carrier relationships and Team Member experts with experience in the regulations for shipping alcohol. 

Working with a 3PL means you’ll have someone on your side to help all the backend logistics work so you can focus on making and selling the best product. Plus, we offer a variety of shipping solutions for you, from less-than-truckload shipments to temperature-controlled intermodal, we have the shipping solution you need. 

We often will hear from a Freight Agency on how their business has become stagnant while partnered with either small or start-up brokerages. This could be for several reasons. For one, no business will grow unless the main driving force – which is YOU – is 100 percent committed to its success.

In fact, many of the single-person Freight Agents we have seen with great success in the past five years have a focused passion that affords them no “Plan B”. They are so determined to make their small freight agency work that they don’t even consider failure as a potential option. Having that hunger is essential but finding a partner to support your growth is vital. When considering who that partner should be, it’s important to consider several things, such as;

WILL CARRIER PARTNERS EVEN TAKE MY FREIGHT?

The days of only being a point A to point B truckload-only Freight Agency are fading. Customers have unique shipping challenges that need unique shipping solutions. Therefore, it’s important to ensure your Freight Agency’s partner has a vast network of carrier partners.

As important, is their reputation among the carrier community. It must be strong enough to foster relationships that promote carriers consistently working with them versus having to always rely on “one and done” carriers. Find out how often carriers seek repeat business with the partner company you’re considering. If it happens a third of the time or less, that could be a warning sign that carriers may give your company a shot, but the relationship doesn’t progress for whatever reason.

WHAT OPERATIONAL SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE TO MY FREIGHT AGENCY BUSINESS?

Typically, most Freight Agents are well-versed in truckload operations as that is where most get their start in the industry. But shipping customers have needs that don’t just require a full truckload of a product being moved.

Does your partner company have a strong relationship with less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers that will provide competitive service and rates? Will you have a team of experts to assist you with those non-traditional freight moves, like expedited, drayage, or international? What about a shipper customer with more complex needs, like a transportation management system to help manage their business?

As you look to grow with your shipper customers, the last thing you want to do is tell that customer, “Sorry, we can’t support that type of move.”

WHAT ONGOING EDUCATION IS AVAILABLE TO ME?

People that are successful in any business typically have a thirst for knowledge. It’s not just about learning something new, it’s also about refining and sharpening the saw on things they have known for years. Does the company you’re looking to partner with offer education and training sessions to assist in that endeavor?

And if so, are they just focused on mode education? Or operational or technical education? What about things that are not directly tied to the day-to-day but are important – like succession planning? Find out how the company you consider partnering with will support your Freight Agency and you as a person.

HOW INVOLVED WILL I NEED TO BE IN NON-REVENUE GENERATING ACTIVITIES?

The sale does not end when the shipment delivers. That sale needs to continue all the way through the administrative support side of the freight transaction. But how much of your time will that gobble up?

If the partner company you’re considering indicates they will do those things on your behalf, what are their processes for those support measures? It’s great when they help get a carrier set up, but at the speed at which the freight industry moves, you know how valuable minutes are, let alone hours of waiting.

And not just normal processes, but not every shipping customer or freight move fits neatly in a box. So how will those needs be met when exceptions occur? Let’s face it, giving a partner company a percentage of the gross margin, you make on a shipment should absolutely come with a clear picture of how they will support your Freight Agency, your shipping customers, and those relationship carriers you have worked hard with to gain their trust.

Ask those tough questions about what happens when this occurs or how quickly a dispute or special need be managed. Remember, the company you partner with needs to be an extension of you and the freight agency you have created.

CHOOSE TRINITY LOGISTICS FOR YOUR FREIGHT AGENCY

We realize you have a choice in who you’d like as your freight agency’s partner. However, Trinity Logistics can help your business grow and remain successful regardless of your freight agency size.

Trinity Logistics has over 30 years of experience aiding in the success of our Authorized Freight Agent offices, as well as offering many extras for our Authorized Agent network. So, if you’re looking for a long-term partnership that is supportive of your growth and offers you continued education to stay competitive, we’re more than happy to get connected.

If you’d like to talk more about how Trinity can support your journey in growing a successful business, feel free to contact our Agent Team by phone at 800-846-3400 x 1908 or click the button below.

Hello there. I’m Holly, Trinity’s friendly neighborhood freight Agent Recruiter. 

Every day I have the privilege of working with our Authorized Agents as well as finding new freight agent businesses to welcome into the Trinity family. This has given me a bird’s eye view of what it takes to run a successful freight agent business. And I can tell you, IT’S HARD!!! It’s a grind. It’s a hustle. It requires a BIG dose of grit and determination. But it’s in our blood! We thrive on the fast pace, the opportunity for unlimited income, and the flexibility of running our own show. 

With all that being said, I’m extremely proud of the tools, resources, and personalized support Trinity provides to our Authorized Agents daily. While I could go into all the things we can do to help support your freight agent business, today, I’ll settle for the opportunity to introduce you to four unique resources we provide our Authorized Agent network to make their days easier and their businesses more profitable. 

SAVE TIME WITH RFPs

Do you find Requests For Proposals (RFPs) an annoying time suck? Not anymore! At Trinity, we take care of the heavy lifting for you. 

Trinity’s Authorized Agents have full access to our in-house Pricing Team for RFPs both large and small. Our Team works hard to combine data from many market sources plus our extensive internal lane history to compare a total of nine data points. That’s some impressive wizardry, I tell you! This will not only save you time from figuring out the right pricing but also give you confidence that the pricing details you share with your customer are spot on. 

And that’s not all! We also provide you with real-time market-specific rates focused on your customer’s needs. This way, you can be as hands-on or hands-off in the process as you choose. 

AND DON’T WORRY ABOUT CAPACITY

You’ve just saved time on the pricing aspect of your RFP. It’s complete, and you’ve won your lanes, but what happens next? 

You get on the phone with your relationship carriers for their rates and volume commitments. In an ideal world, the rates are great and there’s plenty of capacity. Awesome! Time to get back to helping your customers and growing your freight agent business. 

But how often does that really happen? Often, your relationship carriers don’t run those new lanes, don’t have the capacity to commit, or ask for rates above the market. So, what do you do then? Most likely, head on to those dreaded load boards. 

Here comes Trinity to save the day. Our Authorized Agents have full access to our Carrier Procurement and Development Team. This Team of Trinity experts will take the data from your RFP, find you capacity using our proprietary lane matching technology and then get rate agreements in place for COMMITTED capacity to service your customer’s needs. 

So, if you often work with RFPs for your customers, go ahead and press the easy button with Trinity!

WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER

Are you looking for a deeper dive to uncover your most profitable freight?  We’re here to help you with that! By using your load history, our Pricing Team will provide you with a Network Analysis to give valuable insight into your most profitable lanes. With this data in mind, you’ll be able to focus your sales efforts on the markets that produce the highest margin to help you reach your freight agent business goals. We’ll help you work smarter, not harder! 

EASILY DIVERSIFY YOUR FREIGHT AGENT BUSINESS

One more thought for the day; let’s say you specialize in full truckload freight. In fact, you’re such an expert that you can almost move it with your eyes closed.

But in this constantly evolving freight market, your customers ask you for help with all kinds of other weird stuff like less-than-truckload (LTL), intermodal, drayage, ocean or air, expedited freight, technology solutions, warehousing, e-commerce…maybe even a total outsource!

With you being a full truckload shipping expert, this may sound intimidating! And the last thing you want to do is send them somewhere else and risk that “other guy” poaching your freight.

There’s no longer a need to worry! Trinity Logistics has you covered. We offer full operations teams for our Authorized Agents to handle ALL other modes besides full truckload. Pair that with our parent company, Burris Logistics, and their opportunities, and it’s simple. You bring the opportunity, and we do the rest. All you need to do is sit back and collect the extra margin for your growing freight agent business.

Additionally, we provide you with monthly mode training classes so you can learn and be confident in what you are selling. There’s no need to be the subject matter expert on all modes when you have Trinity Team Members to support you and your freight agent business. 

JOIN THE TRINITY FAMILY AND BEGIN GROWING YOUR FREIGHT AGENT BUSINESS

Trinity Logistics has over 30 years of experience aiding in the success of our freight agent businesses, with many of our newer businesses seeing a 50 percent increase over a two-year period from joining. Consider joining our Authorized Agent Network today so you can gain more time to focus on your customers, generate more revenue, and we’ll focus on everything else. 

To learn more about our Authorized Agent program and all the ways we can save you time and help you build a successful freight agent business, feel free to contact our Agent Team phone at 800-846-3400 x 1908 or click the button below! 

As more shippers look to reduce freight costs and their carbon footprint, intermodal logistics continues to see rapid growth. The Intermodal Freight Transportation Market has predicted a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.27 percent from 2021 to 2026 for intermodal logistics. And with intermodal peak season on the way, shippers using this mode must have the right shipping strategies in place.

Intermodal can be a very effective mode when it matches up with the right customers, but with the rapid growth of customers choosing intermodal logistics, we often hear a similar question from our shipping customers: “What should I expect during intermodal peak season?” So, let’s learn more about what peak season for intermodal is, how it may affect you, and what you can do to stay ahead.

WHEN IS INTERMODAL PEAK SHIPPING SEASON?

Peak shipping season refers to the time of year when freight volumes see an influx. For most modes, this falls in line with the time of year when retailers begin pushing inventory for back-to-school and the holiday season. During this time, shippers try to keep up with demand and manage inventories while fulfilling a high volume of orders, and motor carriers are busier than usual trying to deliver freight on time.

Historically, the peak shipping season for intermodal logistics is around June to December. While June may seem a bit early, many shippers are rushing to get their goods through West Coast ports before June 30^th, and rail is a popular way for shippers to transport their West Coast imports. According to the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, since 2006, the number of goods imported and then loaded into intermodal equipment through Los Angeles and Long Beach ports has grown 25 percent.

With roughly two-thirds of intermodal containers coming off the West Coast from import traffic during peak season, this limits the supply of 53’ containers heading East.

Even though June is the typical start of peak season for intermodal, it can fluctuate. Some years it can be later or earlier. But since the start of the pandemic, intermodal logistics have been greatly affected by capacity, making peak season more year-round than in former years. This is because of the rapid increase in online shopping year-round for consumers, which the pandemic only heightened.

“The past two years since the beginning of covid-19 has greatly impacted intermodal capacity,” says Jennifer Fritz, Trinity intermodal expert. “Historically peak season for intermodal logistics usually starts June through December, but with capacity affected by the change in supply chains from covid-19, it’s been tight year-round, making peak season pressure felt year-round instead of a few months of the year.”

CHALLENGES OF INTERMODAL PEAK SEASON

Expected or unexpected, any time there is a major shift in supply chains, it can throw off your operation. So, how does peak season affect intermodal logistics? Well, it’s not much different than peak season shipping for any other mode.

You’ll see tightened capacity because of the increased freight volumes and demand. And anytime we see tightened capacity, we see increased prices as well. So, the more in demand something is with less supply, it equals higher rates.

You’re also bound to see some shipping delays and need to give longer lead times. Your usual service levels may also drop because of the overwhelming volumes of freight needing to be moved during peak season shipping. Especially lately with the continued covid-19 pandemic still affecting the market, West Coast ports, and ultimately, intermodal logistics.

Take Control of Your Intermodal Logistics During Peak Season

Make sure you’re not unprepared for intermodal peak season. Each peak season is variable, rarely unlike another, and planning is more critical than ever with it being more frequent and extreme. Here are some tips to help you take control of intermodal peak season.

Give Even More Lead Time

Book your intermodal shipments as far in advance as possible. Prices are volatile during intermodal peak season, and the rate to move a shipment through intermodal logistics can increase by hundreds of dollars over a single day. In addition, available equipment can often be an issue. This is not the season to wait until the last minute.

Stay Updated on the Industry

Ever since the start of the pandemic, it’s more important than ever to know what’s going on in intermodal logistics. As we’ve seen over the past few years, supply chain disruption can happen at any time, so make sure you check the news daily or have a good resource to give you all the information you need.

Try Shipping Later

Perhaps all your items don’t need to arrive during peak season. Great. If possible, schedule those shipments to ship after intermodal peak season, when there is more capacity and you’ll likely get a better shipping rate, or at least stagger them. So, if part of your shipment needs to arrive right away, have that delivered faster. And for any freight that doesn’t need to deliver quickly, schedule that shipment for a later date. 

Plan for Extra Time

As noted, with the influx of freight needing to be moved, there are bound to be delays. Many intermodal carriers have fully planned days and if they get delayed, it affects the rest of their movements. So, make sure you allow plenty of time for your products to get to their destination. This will help keep a delay from happening and possibly get you a better freight rate.

Shop Around

Prices can fluctuate between providers and from day to day. If you have the time, try getting prices from a few different providers or being more flexible with your dates to see if you can find a better value. For example, the difference between a 15-day delivery time and a 20-day delivery time could be significant. Check out all avenues and find what works best for your budget and freight.

Have Modal Flexibility

Sometimes a mode will max out on capacity. If capacity is reached for intermodal logistics, ensure you have relationships with over-the-road carriers or a third-party logistics company as a backup. This ensures no matter what, you’ll be able to get your freight from point A to point B.

Leverage Partnerships

Partnering with an experienced 3PL can make navigating peak season for intermodal logistics, or any logistics mode, more accessible. Companies, like Trinity Logistics, often have longstanding relationships with carriers for all modes, plus logistics technology and well-trained teams ready to help you. A reputable 3PL will have seen it all during peak shipping seasons and be able to help you manage your logistics without batting an eyelash.

GET HELP WITH YOUR INTERMODAL LOGISTICS, NO MATTER THE SEASON

While we can’t look into a crystal ball and predict how long this never-ending peak season for intermodal logistics will last, we can tell you that many logistics providers and shippers are adapting. Intermodal peak season shipping can be stressful, but these tips can help you better navigate your intermodal logistics during the peak shipping season.

If you’re looking for help, Trinity Logistics is here to support you. We have a full Team of Intermodal Experts, experienced and ready to assist you with your intermodal logistics. Simply click the button below and let’s get connected.

Inbound Logistics has named Trinity Logistics as a Green Supply Chain Partner of 2022.  

Inbound Logistics selected 75 honorees that “walk the walk” when it comes to commitment to supply chain sustainability and given the global environment this year, Trinity Logistics is very honored to have been selected.

Sustainability is something Trinity has always taken very seriously. Since 2008, Trinity Logistics has participated in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWay Program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution that is caused by freight transportation. Trinity has also been partners with American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care since 2009, which involves staying committed to improving company performance through community awareness, security, distribution, and pollution prevention. 

With one of Trinity’s Guiding Values being Continuous Improvement, the company knows there is always room for improvement, even in sustainability efforts. That’s why Trinity recently become a Carbonfree Partner with Carbon Fund. 

The Carbonfund.org Foundation is a non-profit that works with its partners to help them become “carbon-neutral” by donating funds to offset their emissions. Donated funds go toward third-party validated projects that comply with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. With the help of Carbonfund.org, Trinity was able to calculate electricity usage in its corporate Delaware location and donate funds to the Carbonfund.org Foundation to offset the company’s own emissions by planting trees and funds sent to the Texas Capricorn Ridge Wind Project. Thanks to the Carbonfund.org Foundation, Trinity was able to offset 143 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Additionally, Trinity is working with the EPA and Carbonfund.org Foundation to create a calculated way that our shipper customers can donate to offset their shipment’s emissions and make a difference as well. 

“As many companies shift focus to clean energy and reducing carbon footprints, Trinity is excited for our new partnership with the Carbonfund.org Foundation and our continued partnerships with American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care Management System and EPA’s SmartWay Program to support our customer efforts in going green,” says Kristin Deno, Director of Operational Risk at Trinity.

Trinity is grateful to be recognized for its continued sustainability efforts. Trinity stays determined to find and implement impactful ways to help combat climate change and hopefully soon, can offer more ways for shipper customers to make a direct impact too. 

About Trinity Logistics

Trinity Logistics is a Burris Logistics Company, offering People-Centric Freight Solutions®. Our mission is to deliver creative logistics solutions through a mix of human ingenuity and innovative technology, enriching the lives of those we serve. 

For the past 40 years, we’ve been arranging freight for businesses of all sizes in truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), warehousing, intermodal, drayage, expedited, international, and technology solutions.

We are currently recognized on Transport Topics’ Top 100 Freight Brokerage List, a Top 3PL and Cold Storage Provider by Food Logistics, and a Top Company for Women to Work for in Transportation by Women in Trucking.

With cold chain logistics, every product that you deal with has very specific temperature requirements that you need to adhere to. These products are ending up on tables across the entire country, so you want to make your product arrives precisely the way it needs to be so it’s safe for human consumption. Because of this, cold chain logistics can be challenging to manage, and finding reliable providers can be frustrating. There are many moving parts of the cold chain that can be hard to follow and track. It would undoubtedly be helpful to find one provider that could offer you end-to-end cold chain management, from production to delivery. And that’s what we’re here to talk about today. Burris Logistics and Trinity Logistics working together could be the solutions you’ve been looking for to simplify your cold chain management. Keep reading to find out how we work better together to serve your complete cold chain.

BURRIS LOGISTICS CAPABILITIES

Let’s start with Burris Logistics. What do they offer that can enable cold chain shippers and their businesses to thrive in the face of its complexities?

Quick Background

Burris Logistics has been around for 96 years. The company started as a produce hauler from southern Delmarva to Philadelphia. They quickly grew and expanded into the frozen food business and found their purpose as a driven food logistics provider. Today, they own 14 cold storage sites up and down the east coast and out into Midwest. Burris Logistics currently has a family of brands including Burris PRW Plus, Honor Foods, and Trinity Logistics.

TRINITY LOGISTICS CAPABILITIES

Quick Background

Trinity Logistics has been around for over 40 years. The company was started by the Banning family in Cambridge, Maryland. Throughout the years, the company grew and expanded as a non-asset-based third-party logistics company (3PL) and was acquired by Burris in 2019. The two companies saw similarities in company culture and future goals, deciding to unite for greater opportunities and offer more supply chain solutions for our customers.

Burris + Trinity = Better TogetherURRIS

What’s great for Trinity being part of the Burris Logistics family of brands is being able to offer more help to Burris customers. Trinity’s support helps Burris better assist some of the existing freight business they have for customers either coming back into their buildings or going to other places.

The addition of Trinity also offers Burris customers a wider variety of options in modes and technology, or even help outside of the cold chain. Trinity is very experienced in heavy haul moves or more complicated hazardous moves for the chemical industry. So, no matter the size of your company or freight, we have a solution for you. But, we’re here to talk about the cold chain, so let’s focus on refrigerated and frozen freight.

HOW WE CAN SERVE YOUR COLD CHAIN BETTER TOGETHER

Experience in Cold Chain

For many reasons, Burris Logistics and Trinity work well together for cold chain shippers. First off is our combined years of experience. There are certain things in cold chain you can only learn from the experience of working with temperature-controlled shipments. For example, things like picking and loading fresh produce, understanding what those temperatures are and what they need to be for storage and transit, and keeping track of those temperatures. Or understanding how to move ice cream from the West Coast and knowing that you can’t go over the mountains; that you must travel around them so as not to cause shrinkage. By having years of experience and understanding of those complex situations and small details that make or break a cold chain shipment, you can trust your temperature-controlled freight is handled safely and correctly with Burris and Trinity.

Technology

Between both Burris and Trinity, we have incredible logistics technology available, but what differentiates us from others is that we keep in mind that logistics is still a “people” business. Technology will always be a tool for our Teams to use and bring logistics solutions to other people who need them. Therefore, we try to stay away from technology just for technology’s sake and make sure what we use and offer is always a valuable solution.

Communication

Because of our years of experience, we are well-versed and experienced in many different situations. We know when and how to pivot quickly and keep business moving forward. When issues arise, we work until they are resolved and keep open communication every step of the way. Having a solid relationship with experts like Burris and Trinity will prove to be your largest asset no matter what supply chain bottlenecks you may face

Flexible, Customized Solutions

Because our two businesses offer many options while keeping business People-Centric, it means you can find a solution that’s customized for your growing business and needs and your solution can be flexible. We know the cold chain and solutions aren’t static, they are ever-changing, so you need a provider that can keep up. By working with Burris and Trinity, you’ll never have to worry about changing up your logistics plan as we’re readily equipped to accommodate any changes you may need. In addition, we can help you stay flexible as one sole provider instead of working with several.

Visibility and End-to-End Cold Chain Management

As the cold chain sector continues to grow, there’s been a growing demand for efficiency and visibility throughout the supply chain. Companies don’t like to be left in the dark when it comes to the logistics of their temperature-controlled freight. Working with Burris and Trinity can not only give you a wide range of technology to gain visibility and provide you with all the logistics services you may need, thus making your cold chain efficient and transparent. We’ll provide you with dedicated, knowledgeable experts, increased productivity and workflows, and reduced complexity by working with Burris Logistics and their family of brands instead of several different providers.

HAVE YOUR COLD CHAIN LOGISTICS TAKEN CARE OF, END-TO-END

Between Trinity and Burris, we have a substantial Team with a lot of experience in cold chain and knowledge about its potential pitfalls. As a result, we’ve created processes and different services so that we get it right the first time, every time we handle a cold chain shipment.

You can find value in our combined companies’ sizes and services offered. Cold chain logistics can be complicated and trying to do it all alone can be frustrating. That’s why we’re here to help you simplify it. You can count on Burris Logistics and Trinity to serve and support your cold chain all the way from production to delivery, and every step between.

The chemical industry faces complexities every day. From safety regulations to handling and shipping these products, making, and delivering chemicals is no easy task. One of the significant challenges facing the chemical industry today is the pressure for sustainability. With climate change in the spotlight, consumers are taking notice, and sustainability is molding the chemical industry. 

Changing the Old Ways

While safety, service, and costs are still important aspects of the chemical industry, sustainability is becoming an important detail. The industry faces pressure from activists, lawmakers, and the public to become more sustainable to help battle climate change. 

A big issue arising for the chemical industry is that most people have trouble putting the words “green” with “chemicals.” This idea is something progressive, and future chemists are trying to help the industry adapt.

And while it’s not ideal to pay more money for creating products, it’s the path we’re headed. Studies show that more than three-quarters of consumers are willing to change their shopping habits to reduce their own carbon footprint. Additionally, more than one-third are willing to spend more money on products that help with sustainability. 

Sustainability Issues within the Chemical Industry

With over 881 million tons of chemicals transported in previous years, this industry is growing and on the rise. Yet, with its growth comes an increase of challenges on the chemical industry to meet sustainability goals. 

One major goal for sustainability is reducing one’s carbon footprint in the world. For the chemical industry, abiding by modern environmental standards like replacing petroleum-based combustion engines with electronic vehicles, or manufacturing with plant-based materials over oil-based, can help achieve carbon reduction. However, the chemical industry has several issues to resolve to meet this goal.

One of those issues is plastic. Over one-third of the plastic we use is single-use, meaning that after one use of a water bottle, zip lock bag, or straw, for example, these items are thrown away. The “Plastic Waste Markers Index,” published by the Minderoo Foundation, calculated that energy and chemical companies are the sources of half of the world’s single-use plastic waste. Single-use plastic accounts for most of the waste harming marine life and seeping into land when burned. This issue is not taken lightly. Many lawmakers and activists are acting to introduce a new form of recyclable and reusable plastic. 

Major oil spills in recent years have become a rising issue as well. One major oil spill was the Exxon Valdez off the coast of Alaska in 1989, with over eleven million gallons of oil spilled in the ocean. Some more recent ones were the True Oil pipeline in 2020, the tanker truck rollover in 2020, and more. 

Finding Sustainable Solutions

The chemical industry is working hard to find new solutions to be more sustainable. One of the significant changes being made is reducing the rise of fossil fuels.

The use of hybrid or electric vehicles has been on the rise, and we’ve seen significant sales growth for these types of vehicles. People are turning away from pumping gasoline to plug their cars into an electric outlet. While these electric vehicles are not yet popular in the trucking industry, many companies are working to build new electronic trucks. Not to mention, President Biden’s recent executive order aimed at making half of all new vehicles (including semitrailers) sold in 2030 electric. 

Fossil fuels also play a part in plastics. Single-use plastics are made from polymers, with their base material from fossil fuels. As companies strive to reduce their plastic use or manufacturing, it simultaneously reduces fossil fuel use. 

However, with new rules to reduce single-use plastic items, the logistics field will need to find new sustainable ways to package shipments. Currently, products are packaged and shipped in some sort of plastic. 

Although these seem like small changes that one person can easily make, the companies that use or manufacture these products face major changes to their business. As severe weather and climate change continue to be front and center worldwide, chemical companies feel the pressure to make these changes towards sustainability.

We’re Here to Help You

Sustainability affects all practices for the chemical industry, including their logistics. Here at Trinity, we’re here to help you reach your logistics goals, including those on sustainability. We offer several modes of transportation, including intermodal, which can reduce your carbon footprint. Our Team of experts can help recommend customized solutions like freight consolidation as another way to be more sustainable with your freight transportation. Or you can consider using technology, like our best-in-class transportation management system, to gain efficiencies and data-driven insights into your logistics, which can also help you with sustainability in your logistics. 

We know sustainability practices are necessary for every business. This is why we take pride in our efforts and are proud of our earned recognition as both an SDCE Green Supply Chain Award winner and as a Food Logistics Top Green Provider. 

If you’ve been looking for a like-minded logistics partner to reach your goals, we’re here and ready to help.

Author: Turner Lee