Load Delivered honored as one of the fastest-growing 3PLs

In a country suffering from a looming economic downturn, many businesses have experienced little-to-no growth or have closed their doors permanently. This, however, has not been the case for firms such as Load Delivered, one of the nation’s fastest-growing 3PLs, who was recently recognized in the Inc. 500|5000 list.

Inc. Magazine, a leading print publication for the business community, created this prestigious list to honor entrepreneurial companies with impressive levels of revenue and job growth. The 2012 honorees maintained a median growth rate of 97%, created a combined total of over 400,000 jobs and reached $299 billion in aggregate revenue.

By growing revenue 550% since 2008, and doubling our team year over year, Load Delivered earned the #13 spot in the Transportation and Logistics category, and #28 among Chicago-based firms. We are honored to be a part of the Chicago business community, and proud to positively impact Mayor Rahm Emanuels push for local job growth. 

“Our unique approach to technology-enabled logistics with dedicated teams of highly-trained personnel has been instrumental in our growth. To support our continued success, our team has nearly doubled in size over the last year alone, and will expand to the west coast in early 2013,” Load Delivered CEO, Robert Nathan stated.

Load Delivered would like to thank our customers, business partners and team members for helping us achieve this level of growth. We will continue to take great pride in creating new opportunities, technologies and innovations in the transportation space.

Weathering the storm

As remnants of Isaac continue to move north, shippers and transportation providers are left dealing with the aftermath. Every June through November, hurricane damage and impending storms can have varying effects on infrastructure, transit and product demand. And as this severe weather continues, it is important to consider how hurricane season will affect your supply chain and how to best prepare for it.

In severe cases, hurricane devastation can impact the transportation routes of entire regions. While Hurricane Katrina caused tremendous loss of life and $134 billion in damage, it also had considerable consequences for transportation systems. Numerous railroad and highway bridges were destroyed by the storm, shutting down the CSX Gulf Coast line, barge and grain shipments and the Biloxi-Ocean Springs Bridge for a period of months to years. This created the need to reroute shipments and traffic for an extended time, placing increased strain on other highway routes and especially rail lines.

Hurricanes can also wreak havoc on the prices of key commodities like fuel. In September of 2008, Gulf Coast refineries were already reducing their crude oil stock for winter when Hurricanes Gustav and Ike hit the region. The storms prompted multiple refinery closings, creating an overnight fuel shortage and fuel price spikes of up to $1.50 per gallon. Costs like these are absorbed by carriers and passed on to customers, causing a sudden increase in transportation expenses.

Demand for non-perishable food, lumber, bottled water and generators can skyrocket as consumers rush to stores in anticipation of the destruction these storms can cause. But as these goods decrease in regional supply, shippers must often transport them from alternate warehouses or distribution centers, making advance planning essential. Supply chain managers should monitor inventory levels at all shipping locations and be aware of their production and transit lead times so that they can meet this increased demand.

Load Delivered understands the severe impact a hurricane can have on a community, a business and beyond. We provide transportation solutions that are right for inclement weather and for high demand items—during Hurricane Irene in 2011, we helped shippers transport much-needed bottled water to flooded areas across the northeast. To provide up-to-date information and high quality service, we track and monitor storms and all potential areas of landfall. In addition, we maintain proactive communication with our customers and carrier networks to ensure their supply chain is not disrupted and affected communities are cared for.

Assisting those affected by Isaac

Many residents and businesses in affected areas were forced to evacuate as Isaac left its mark on the Gulf Coast. The Red Cross team is working hard across several states in the area to address the disaster left behind and is seeking assistance. To find out how you might be able to help those in need, please visit the American Red Cross website. In addition to The Red Cross, Load Delivered is working with one special Big Easy business to aid their economic recovery. Food truck La Concinita has been displaced to Chicago for the next 1-2 weeks, and Load Delivered will be hiring their catering services prior to their return to New Orleans!