Winning the Battle: Transportation vs. Mother Nature

With 2011 and the holiday season freight surge behind us, now is a great time to clear your mind and focus on a few precautionary items that are important to consider during the winter season. Not only is it time for inventory, forecasting and maintenance, but the weather is also about to significantly change. 

As the cold creeps in, it will bring freezing rain, snow and blizzards. Whether you are a manufacturer or a carrier, Mother Nature does not discriminate and you will be affected. This time of year, it is critical to manage expectations, and hope for the best while planning for the worst. Understanding the weather and how it affects transportation will be crucial in the upcoming months, and to help, we’ve laid out a few pointers: 

• Alternate routing –The DOT in some states will actually shut down all truck traffic in certain areas or throughout the entire state due to weather, while cars can still pass (take a look at your local DOT website for more information). Therefore, it’s a great idea to stay abreast of weather and road conditions and proactively plan ahead, which may include taking alternate routes. Unfortunately, taking an alternate route could mean more miles, longer transit times and even higher rates. Shippers should take this into consideration and provide a cushion for pick-up/ delivery times when possible. As a shipper, 3PL or carrier, we have a responsibility to ensure the safety of our drivers and assets, as well as the safety of other commuters on the roads. 

• Freeze protection – As temperatures drop, the risk of having your product damaged increases. Whether you are attempting to keep your commodity from freezing or just trying to maintain a certain temperature, you have a few options. Using a reefer or temp-controlled trailer and setting the temperature above freezing is often the most reliable solution. You can also use a dry van and keep it attached to a running/idling tractor that has the freight on board, as the vibration tends to keep the product from freezing. In this case, it is important to address where the truck has to stop, rest or is laid-over and for how long. The last alternative is to use thermal blankets, which are most commonly used by many LTL carriers.

If you decide to engage in freeze protection, be aware that this decision is also likely to lead to higher rates. Since the weather and its implications limit the supply of available specialized equipment, it can create a true supply and demand issue. Please remember these are just examples – nothing is guaranteed and it is up to the shipper/ customer to decide which approach, if any, is best for the product. 

• Emergency kits – In some cases, rolling through the middle of inclement weather is imminent. This means icy or closed roads and long delays. Drive with extreme caution, check your tires, keep your fuel levels high and make sure you have the basic winter survival kit items on board: flashlight, batteries, blanket, water, snacks, gloves and boots. Loading your truck with the following gear is also important: tire chains, shovel, windshield washer fluid, ice scraper, jumper cables and road flares. Click here for more tips.

For freight to successfuly move across the United States during harsh winter weather, there needs to exist a commonality of objectives, expectations, understanding and partnership. The successful shippers/brokers/truckers this winter will be the ones that understand and communicate together and work toward the same goal. 

Logistics CIO & Supply Chain Technology Forum
Early in 2012, Eye for Transportation (EFT) is bringing the 14^th Annual Logistics CIO & Supply Chain Technology Forum to Chicago, and we are excited to partner up! Our CEO, Robert Nathan, will be participating in the panel “The Effective Implementation of Mobile Technology in a Mobile Industry.” He will discuss our new mobile application and provide some insight and feedback on mobile communication in supply chain and the future of mobile trends for 3PLs. 

The two-day forum provides attendees with the opportunity to network with other Fortune 1000 supply chain executives to discuss the ways that technology has strengthened and made their supply chains more efficient.

The event will cover relevant topics such as supply chain visibility, ways to utilize mobile technology and forecasting and leveraging data to ensure your supply chain is competitive, to name just a few. Speakers include execs from CISCO, Domino’s Pizza, Ralph Lauren and many more.

Celebrating the Holidays
On December 9, we invited all of our staff to join us at The Blue Frog 22 to celebrate the holidays, Load Delivered style! Everyone got into the holiday spirit and enjoyed the chance to relax, sing karaoke and have fun together. Our employees work hard every day, and we were happy to treat them to a special night of holiday fun. 

We’re Hiring – Again!
Though we have already added three training classes over the past several months, Load Delivered is still continuing to grow. We are expanding our team in 2012 to accommodate that growth.

In the beginning of 2012, we are planning on hiring another 35-50 employees. We are looking for hard-working individuals with an entrepreneurial attitude. If you know of anyone who fits that mold and is looking for a position in sales or operations, please have them email a cover letter and resume to us!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT LOAD DELIVERED!

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