Leveraging Logistics Blog

Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine has selected InTek Freight & Logistics President Shelli Austin among its 3rd Annual Women in Supply Chain award winners. The Women in Supply Chain award honors female supply chain leaders and executives whose accomplishments, mentorship and examples set a foundation for women in all levels of a company’s supply chain network. This year’s list includes individuals from software and service providers, consultancies and academia, trucking and transportation firms, professional development agencies, sourcing and procurement divisions, and more, all who have helped supply chain clients and the supply chain community at large prepare to meet many of today’s—and tomorrow’s—challenges.

InTek Freight & Logistics, Inc. today announced it has successfully renewed its status with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWay® Transport Partnership. The partnership is an innovative collaboration between the EPA and environmentally responsible companies in the transportation industry. It provides a framework to assess the environmental and energy efficiency of goods movement supply chains. InTek submitted its data in support of SmartWay environmental responsibility criteria and received approval for its current data submission, renewing its partner status for another year.

The term "outsource" can have justifiably negative connotations in certain situations, but when it comes to logistics, outsourcing can offer a competitive advantage businesses would otherwise miss out on. To outsource logistics means working with an expert partner to handle specific pieces of freight operations like certain routes and/or products, or under a managed transportation model having that partner handle most if not all day-to-day logistics operations - typically incorporating TMS (transportation management system) software solutions as well. It really depends on an individual business's needs. So who is that partner who can help with any or all of these logistics operations? A third party logistics company (3PL), also sometimes referred to as a logistics service provider (LSP). However you refer to them, the right 3PL will learn the ins and outs of a business and its logistics needs, then offer solutions that incorporate their own expertise, technology and freight partnerships that can not only relieve stress on the company, but also improve operations and even reduce costs.

Today, Inc. Magazine revealed that InTek Freight & Logistics is No. 1541 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. “We’re incredibly honored to be a part of the Inc. 5000 this year,” said Rick LaGore, InTek CEO. “The tremendous growth we’ve experienced is a testament to our excellent team and the many wonderful partners we work with both in Indiana and across the country.”

InTek Freight and Logistics, Inc. is proud to be listed fourth on the latest FAST 25 list from the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ), with 340% growth with $59.9 million in revenue. The annual FAST 25 Listing recognizes the fastest growing privately held companies in the Indianapolis area. This is InTek's second consecutive year on the list, as it came in third in 2021 - with 242% growth.

Here in Indianapolis, the Month of May is capitalized, as it brings with it a little auto race called the Indy 500 and many related festivities. One of those festivities is the Indy Mini Marathon - which InTek Freight & Logistics staff will be a part of coincidentally enough - and it brings to mind comparisons to the industry in which we work. When addressing the freight and logistics component of a business, it's tempting to jump right in, look for the lowest spot rate and sprint each shipment to the finish line. However, an approach suitable for a marathon (or a mini marathon in Indy's case) is the smarter bet, as a well-functioning shipping operation requires a steady, measured process and the right preparation. Exploding out of the starting gates at top speed may work for a shipment or two, but that strategy will burn a freight and logistics budget and bandwidth, as moving every load as if it's a fire drill is unsustainable. And you may get a nasty case of shin splints, too.

A key factor for any business in assessing its operations is how they are perceived by consumers, and the question of embracing sustainability is no exception. After all, becoming a greener, more sustainable company does take a concerted effort. So is it worth it for a company's relationship with existing consumers, as well as the opportunity to gain new ones? The answer in a number of surveys and studies is increasingly: Yes. A 2020 Deloitte survey found 43% of consumers made a conscious lifestyle change to choose brands with environmentally sustainable values and practices.  by  shows that sustainability is becoming increasingly important in consumers’ purchasing decisions, especially as consumers see themselves, along with for profit companies, as the primary catalysts for change. In the Global Sustainability Study 2021 - a major study of more than 10,000 people across 17 countries - that percentage doubled to 85% who'd shifted their purchasing behavior in the past five years. Also in that study, more than a third of respondents said they'd be willing to pay a premium to support sustainable companies. In fact, in our freight and logistics zone, another study showed over half of 500 customers surveyed would pay at least 10% more for eco-friendly shipping and packaging.

When looking into carriers and freight brokers to determine if environmental impact matters to them, whether or not they are SmartWay certified is a strong indicator. The program - founded in 2004 by the EPA - allows companies to become SmartWay certified partners through measuring, benchmarking and improving freight transportation efficiency - indicating a focus on supply chain sustainability. SmartWay certified partners can be shippers, carriers or logistics companies, while those not directly involved in freight can become affiliates. The SmartWay program includes three core elements: The SmartWay Transport Partnership - Freight & logistics companies (and affiliates) can become SmartWay certified by participating in this voluntary program, committing to reduce their environmental footprint. The SmartWay Brand - Partners can share SmartWay branding to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, plus transport equipment featuring SmartWay Verified Technologies meets standards of efficiency which save money & fuel - reducing environmental impacts. SmartWay Global Collaboration - This collaboration harmonizes sustainability accounting methods in freight and logistics with national and global organizations as well as global policymakers. InTek Freight & Logistics is among the nearly 4,000 motor carriers and freight logistics providers who count themselves as SmartWay certified, committing to sustainable efforts.

When moving loads overseas, shippers have two options: air freight and ocean freight. And while there are factors like cost and speed to consider when choosing between modes, another key element that should go into shipping strategy is a shipping method's carbon footprint, AKA environmental impact. Comparing air freight vs. ocean freight - or sea freight if you prefer - purely based on carbon footprint reveals that moving cargo by ship offers significant advantages over doing so by plane. Depending on the statistics you cite, long-haul air freight can generate 47 times as much greenhouse gas emissions as ocean freight, per ton-mile. Put another way, airplanes emit 500 grams of CO2 per metric ton of freight per kilometer of transportation, while container ships emit only 10 to 40 grams of CO2 per kilometer. However, the overall environmental impact of air freight versus sea freight is a bit more cloudy.

There are a number of reasons why shippers should care about sustainability. Looking at its most basic definition, sustainability means practices that can be maintained over the long haul. And in the modern sense, that carries over to practices today that won't cause undue environmental harm and thus hurt tomorrow. For shippers, finding solutions that work long-term seems like a pretty good idea. On top of that, customers care about sustainability, too. That means they're more likely to use shippers who share that value and use sustainable methods. Yet another reason shippers should care about sustainability? While in some cases there may be higher upfront costs - though not always - environmentally friendly shipping practices often save money over time. Plus, governments care about sustainable practices as well and tend to offer tax incentives to companies who adopt them. And finally, aside from all those factors, sustainability is the right thing to do for society - and future generations.