Shipping managers who work for U.S. companies and global manufacturers are probably familiar with Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZs). These facilities, which are under the supervision of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), are located near ports of entry and are the U.S. equivalent of free-trade zones. FTZs were created during The Great Depression, under the 1934 Foreign-Trade Zones Act, which was designed to help protect U.S. business interests who suffered immensely from the collapse in foreign trade. FTZs facilitate the controlled movement of foreign and domestic commodities in and out of the United States. And since the 1930s, U.S. companies who import or export goods have received protections from FTZs in the form of trade exemptions like reduced taxes, fees, and custom duties. 

Shipping managers know how important reliable transloading and warehouse services are to maintaining the integrity of their supply chains. These facilities are critical infrastructures that shippers and transportation service providers use every day to help connect global manufacturers to their customers. We already wrote about the different kinds of 3PL warehouse and distribution services available for shippers. We described some of the value-added services that shippers should look for when partnering with a transportation provider that owns its facilities.

The logistics industry is currently experiencing a critical shortage of workers in positions within warehouses and distribution centers. Across North America, openings for material handlers and forklift operators remain vacant. The lack of personnel at these facilities delays loading and unloading times, contributes to accessorial fees like detention and demurrage, and causes supply chain disruptions that, ultimately, create tensions among carrier partners and customers. A recent report released by the Robotics Business Review shows that across the logistics industry, the vast majority of warehouses are short more than 10-25% of personnel and are finding it difficult to fill and retain workers in these positions. Economic inflation does not help either, and is probably a major factor why these jobs remain unfilled as workers everywhere seek higher-paying jobs that are less physically demanding. 

In the midst of peak shipping season, global shippers are busy preparing themselves for the onslaught of holiday orders needed to supply the vast North American consumer landscape. And what they cannot fit in their stores, shippers turn to 3PLs with warehouse and distribution services to provide replenishment when it’s needed most. Some of the most dependable transportation providers out there are ones that have their own brick-and-mortar warehouse facilities, and can provide the middle-mile distribution to ensure supply chains run smoothly no matter what the shipping season might be. This article is intended to inform readers about the variety of extra services that some 3PLs provide shippers on a regular basis. 

In 2019 many in the supply chain saw a lagging ability to compete as the industry maintained its reputation for being slow to adapt to technology. The following year, COVID-19 wreaked havoc in a process that was already more complicated than local freight shipping from Point A to Point B. As shippers continue to rebound from the pandemic, many are looking for ways to utilize strategy and technology to promote business resiliency. Supply Chain 24/7 noted that “In today’s highly competitive warehouse logistics market, leading 3PL warehouses to recognize the need to keep operational costs low in order to maintain their margins and effectively serve their customers.”

There are several essential things to consider when assessing how long it takes to unload containers and get shipments ready for final distribution.  Clearing current port logjams and backlogs is necessary to keep the supply chain as a whole moving forward effectively and profitably. As highlighted recently by Supply Chain Game Changer, “When moving any freight, there are four components of cost. They are downtime, load time, travel time, and unload time. Downtime and travel time are under the control of the ocean freight company, whereas they are at the mercy of the port facilities for load and unload times.” Accurate planning and attention to container drayage transport details such as cross-docking opportunities can significantly improve cargo container management.

Many effects are being seen and felt in the wake of more than two years of pandemic upheaval and disruption. For shippers concerned about port drayage services, port congestion concerns and issues surrounding port delays are among the most impactful. Of all the options to consider, utilizing local warehousing and temporary storage options may be the most logical and influential way to overcome U.S. port congestion concerns. 

Increasing demand for warehousing space conveniently close to major ports and accessible by shippers and carriers has become a significant concern in the last half of the year. This crunch in warehouse space and rising demand is primarily driven by the growth of e-commerce shipping and the surge of ocean freight containers (primarily from China)  hitting U.S. ports across the country. Meanwhile, drayage service is in high demand, and the rest of OTR trucking faces stronger demand too. Such pressures lead to tighter capacity and higher costs, which increases rents and fees and creates a much more competitive environment for shippers and carriers. This demonstrates why import storage and warehouse space procurement remain key to the supply chain.

Warehouse inventory management can enjoy a significant boost in productivity with access to outsourced services and tools. In most cases, inventory management companies with medium and large warehouses are conveniently located in areas that have easy access to interstate highways, ports, airfields, trucking hubs, and more. In addition, these facilities usually come prepared with trucking fleets and all the required equipment needed to transport various goods. Rather than struggling to make everything fit into one management system and building a single warehouse management system to manage inventory, outsourcing to third-party platforms allows for broader access and a greater variety of tools to be utilized. And according to Gartner, “More businesses are looking to outsource fourth-party logistics (4PL) than ever before, with 42% of respondents to Gartner’s Logistics Outsourcing Survey and Analysis looking for providers that can design, build, run and measure logistics functions.” Inventory assistance with bonded warehouse management for the modern warehouse system is best managed by outsourcing for the following reasons.

With the rise of eCommerce, the way business works has become less transparent. When brick-and-mortar stores were the norm, it was easier to grasp the workflow for how products got purchased and delivered into the hands of consumers. In this article, we’ll break down the what pick and pack is.