Leveraging Logistics Blog

Chilly temperatures are the norm in much of North America when December rolls around, and for shippers, that change in weather means an added challenge for some goods: How to protect freight from freezing. Goods that can be affected include the obvious - beverages like soda, juice, beer and other liquids can expand, and cause packaging to burst. But also affected are the the not so obvious dry items like coffee, makeup, and batteries - all of which can suffer damage that makes them unusable. While that prospect sounds scary, proper planning can protect freight from freezing this winter whether you're shipping full truckload, LTL (less than truckload), or intermodal.    

Labor shortages can impact the economy in a variety of ways, including delivering a tangible effect to shipping times. Supply chain delays have been a big story throughout the pandemic. And in the midst of a generally recovering economy, a variety of industries are dealing with ongoing labor shortages which have also gained notice. Freight and logistics hasn't escaped this trend, making it a major culprit in shipping delays.

Black Friday has traditionally signaled the beginning of the holiday shopping season. In 2021 though, those who've been paying attention to the news have gotten a head start. Retail supply chain concerns have led to warnings that Sally's favorite toy or Papa's new tablet may not be available to those who wait. Companies looking to get their products on the shelves most certainly needed a head start this year due to several factors slowing down the supply chain. But is there still hope as December approaches?

We talk with hundreds of shippers about their truckload capacity requirements.  In some cases, we provide guidance in modal conversion from truckload to intermodal, but many times truckload is the best fit for their lane, service and their freight characteristics.   

There are no two ways about it, freight and shipping costs are on the rise. With added expenses getting goods from Point A to Point B, shippers are feeling price pressure. But beyond the impacts to shippers, how does this jump in the cost of moving freight affect consumers? It can come in the form of higher consumer prices as these companies look to maintain their bottom lines. You've seen the stories and likely noticed it yourself, many consumer goods cost a bit more than they used to (if you can find them at all).

InTek Freight & Logistics Inc. is Named 3rd Fastest Growing Privately Held Company in Indianapolis, Indiana InTek Freight and Logistics, Inc. is excited to announce it was the 3rd fastest growing privately held company in Indianapolis and surrounding counties, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal Annual FAST 25 list published October 15, 2021. The 242% growth ($39.8 million) was measured by revenue for the 3-year period between 2018 and 2020.

In the article entitled 10 Tips How to Select Best Freight Broker for Your Company we addressed the questions shippers should ask and explore before aligning with a freight broker.

Like clockwork, every 4th quarter fills freight and logistics companies email boxes with freight requests for quotes (RFP’s), but why?  

Conventional wisdom for many shippers is the largest freight brokers are the logistics companies with the only keys to the trucking capacity castle.

Freight brokers play a critical role in the execution of a company’s strategic and operational strategies associated with its logistics and supply chain.