CFO's are demanding better performance after watching their freight budgets balloon to all-time highs. A freight RFP is one of the least favorite, although one that needs to be discussed and improved by many shippers to obtain the best results.   The days of throwing out percentage reductions or using a solve to equation to determine the spend for next year is a time tested process that needs to be challenged.  While freight is thought of as a commodity, there is more to it and the Excel spreadsheet RFP driven down from the top misses the target before the arrow is even pull from the quiver.  Today's dynamic freight and logistics cost and pricing environment requires strategic planning; execution to the strategy; measurements to the goals; analysis against industry benchmarks; and continuous improvement.   

Definition of Volume Shipment Rates Volume shipping quotes are used for LTL shipments that fall outside the normal less-than-truckload parameters, yet shipment is not large enough for a full truckload.

Definition of a Blind Shipment A blind shipment is when consignee / receiver of the shipment is not aware of the shipper or its origin.

The logistics of transporting heavy machinery and other cargo are always complex. For starters, the act of moving a piece of heavy equipment, such as a CNC machine, out of its current space is a complex feat of physics and planning. From there, the machine must be loaded onto the first mile carrier, potentially moved to a ship or cargo plane, and finally transported to its end location where it must be unloaded and set up.

SmartWay Certification Defined SmartWay is a voluntary logistics partnership program, brand and collaboration that helps companies benchmark and adjust to industry best practices to obtain the goal of enhancing the sustainability of their supply chains.

What is the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association)  The FMCSA, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, came out of the Federal Highway Administration in 2000 in order to best protect against and limit motor carrier related fatalities and injuries on US highways.

Definition of the Carmack Amendment  Passed in 1935, The Carmack Amendment was enacted to draw the lines of engagement on what constitutes a legal liability freight cargo damage and loss claim against a motor.

InTek Freight & Logistics has been selected for the 2019 Best of Indianapolis Award in the Logistics Service category by the Indianapolis Award Program.  This is the second consecutive year InTek has received this award.

Understanding the difference between gross and tare weight is important when it comes to shipping via the freight modes of truckload or intermodal because of the various rules and regulations associated with weight on US roads.

Why Validating Your Freight Carrier's Operating Authority and Saftey Rating is Important Hiring a motor carrier to operate for a shipper or freight broker is more than an exercise of sorting a spreadsheet to determine the lowest price freight service provider.