Do you ever feel that since you’re a low-volume shipper, you can’t get the shipping rates, discounts, and savings your larger competitors do? Although a higher shipping volume can have a... View More
It is critical for organizations with any kind of parcel volume to understand the impact of the carriers’ general rate increase (GRI). Yet, while the annual announcement by FedEx and UPS is... View More
If international shipping is not on your radar already, it is likely it will be soon. After all, cross-border trade is the next big growth arena in e-commerce. Figure 1 shows the top five coun... View More
The process of analyzing high-volume shipper distribution patterns, identifying opportunities to save money and, in many cases, reduce transit times is often called mode (or modal) optimization (MO)... View More
On September 16, 2019, FedEx announced their annual general rate increase for 2020. Effective January 6, 2020, FedEx Express (Domestic, US Export, and US Import), FedEx Ground, and FedEx Home... View More
With hurricane season upon us and extreme weather events becoming an increasingly common reality nationwide, the arrival of bad weather tends to illustrate that there are two types of people in the wo
Shippers need to monitor and negotiate more than just the base price of their FedEx shipping.Just as airline or car rental fees increase the ticket or rental base price, FedEx surcharges substantially
All major sports across the globe share one thing in common: their biggest stars don’t negotiate for themselves. Athletes are busy perfecting their craft and preparing themselves to create the best
This appeared in the November/December, 2018 issue of PARCEL. “Shipping profile? Check. We received it from our carrier representative at our last account review.” No, really, do you... View More
As everyone knows, the price of fuel has been, and will likely continue to be, on the rise. The increases/fluctuations in jet fuel and highway diesel prices contribute to more than just carriers’... View More
Many small and mid-sized shippers feel that they don’t have the time or resources to effectively negotiate carrier contracts or manage their transportation spend. In many cases, they feel inti... View More
Think about your last negotiation. No, I’m not talking about the later curfew your teenager tried to negotiate with you this past weekend. Those negotiations usually involve someone (let’s... View More
Every merchant has a contract, which they typically renegotiate either annually or semi-annually, with a major shipping carrier. As merchants sit down to renew their contracts, they aim to negot... View More
For most shippers, negotiating with carriers can be intimidating. Whether it’s your first time at the table or you’re a seasoned veteran, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The carriers are... View More
Surveys show that market intelligence and benchmarking are the most valuable assets a shipper can have going into a transportation negotiation process. The information below will address how shippers
I often find myself explaining the importance of separating various cost reduction strategies. It is common for shippers to reference one or two cost reduction strategies and insinuate or assume that... View More
It's easy to understand why parcel shippers might want to use a regional carrier; they usually offer flexible pickup windows, faster transit times, and lower transportation and accessorial cost. And... View More
In every bid event, you want to make sure you have all your bases covered and are setting yourself up for a great relationship with your carrier over the life of the contract. Fully understandin... View More
The booming trend of e-commerce shopping continues to grow, and not just in massive sales, but also in the actual size of products available. Sales of non-traditional, bulky items are now accessible f
With the FedEx GRI that was announced several weeks ago, FedEx also announced increases to accessorial fees that will have a significant impact. This link provides a chart that highlights the ch... View More
