The importance of maritime shipping

Ocean shipping services transport more than 80 percent of all globally traded products. In fact, maritime trade is a huge part of what makes the world go round. The clothes you wear, the vehicle you drive (and the fuel), the TV you watch, and the cellphone in your hand likely came from countries like China, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom. But, have you ever thought about the shipping routes ocean vessels take to ensure a quick and safe delivery?

What’s affecting truckload capacity?

As mentioned in my previous update, the capacity crunch industry experts have been discussing for several years appears to be here. But how do we know this isn’t an issue that eventually will normalize? And why is this time different from other supply chain disruptions?

To better understand what’s going on, we can look at national measures of freight volume and capacity, and see how today’s market compares to previous events.     

Cargo theft in North America

According to a Journal of Commerce Report, CargoNet, a theft prevention service, reported an estimated $145 million of freight was stolen in the U.S. and Canada in 2017. While the report states that it was one of the safest years ever recorded, cargo theft remains a key issue for shippers and carriers.

The increasing popularity of residential delivery

As the shift to e-commerce shopping grows, consumers are more confident in what they purchase online. It’s become normal to buy large items like mattresses, treadmills, electronics or other home furnishings via the Internet. This way, shoppers can have their order delivered directly to their home instead of handling heavy items themselves.

LTL vs. parcel — which is the better option?

In today’s industry, the line between parcel and LTL is sometimes blurry. Freight that used to be more economical to ship via parcel is now sometimes better suited for LTL and vice versa. So, how do you decide which method is best to use when your products could ship either way? Several details should be considered when choosing a solution — take a look at how each shipping method works, and learn why LTL can be the better option for your business.

The successful operation of our Little Rock Distribution Center

Thirty-eight years of service, 442 employees, 197 dock doors and a 24/7 operations schedule describes our well-established ABF Freight® distribution center (DC) in Little Rock, Arkansas. With an average of 10,000 inbound and outbound shipments per week, this location plays a critical role in order fulfillment and supply chain management for ArcBest^®.

Shipping freight between Canada and the United States

In 2016, the United States-Canada trade market exceeded $600 billion, making Canada the United States’ second-largest trade partner after China. Though trade between these two North American giants is common, for those new to international shipping, the process can seem overwhelming. With regulations to follow and documentation to complete, shippers have a lot to consider. That’s why using a company like ArcBest®, with cross-border shipping certification and relationships with trusted customs brokers, is crucial.

What you need to know about shipping freight

The movement of freight seems simple to a consumer — they order something, and a short time later it arrives. But, those who work in the shipping industry know the process is a little more complex. How one shipment is packaged may not be safe for another, and the type of equipment required for one may differ from another (e.g. an oversized shipment needs a flatbed while pharmaceuticals may need temperature controlled). Understanding basic shipping information can help simplify this multifaceted process.

Preparing for the ELD mandate to take full effect

While the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been working to implement electronic logging devices (ELDs) across the commercial transportation industry since 2015, the mandate will be strictly enforced beginning April 1, 2018. As carriers prepare for this deadline, here’s what you need to know about the ELD rule and how you can help avoid shipment delays:

Fulfilling online orders and meeting consumer demand

We’ve all done it — researched a product we wanted to buy, read some reviews, selected an item, put it in our cart, and provided our payment information. We may have even paid extra for faster shipping. When we finished, we closed the tab (or the app) and waited for the product to arrive. It’s a simple process that most of us do regularly, but any e-commerce retailer knows that getting a customer to click the “buy” button is only half the work. Now it’s time to fulfill the order and get the product where it needs to be.