The glider kit industry has been around for nearly 50 years but until recently it had never been embroiled in controversy. Now it’s become the centerpiece in a battle of interpretation and redefinitions across two different presidential administrations. One that ultimately finds businesses and environmentalists on opposing sides. 

What Are Glider Kits

Glider kits combine a new cab and truck body with a refurbished engine and powertrain component. After assembly they can be purchased for a quarter less than a brand new truck, which makes them popular amongst independent haulers and small to midsize business (SMB) owners for their cost-effectiveness.

Why the Popularity of Glider Kits is on the Rise

In 2010, the EPA enacted stricter regulations regarding pollutants like nitrogen oxide and particulate matter, which are common in diesel engines. Trucks must comply with emissions standards urging new trucks to come with diesel particulate filters to capture diesel particulate matter (PM), as well as reduction systems that would cut NOx emissions.

Glider kits with drive trains predating 2010 didn’t have to comply with these new emissions standards as they didn’t qualify as “new motor vehicles.”

The glider kit industry suddenly saw a boom in popularity.

Obama Administration Cracks Down on Glider Kit Production

The rise in glider kit purchases was eventually noticed. The Obama EPA blocked this loophole in 2015, and the definitions were reworded again to fit glider kits under the regulatory umbrella.

The new regulation also put a cap on the number of glider kits that a single company could make a year: 300, with about 10,000 total made annually to reduce the number of them that took to the roads. As a result of the new regulation, the glider kit industry, and the jobs it maintains, would inevitably shrink.

Trump Administration Rollback on Obama Era EPA Decision

FreightThe Trump EPA responded to prompting from concerned parties in the glider kit industry with revisions that redrew the lines of its definition yet again. Final approval of the revised definitions and interpretations is due in late spring of 2018.

Under the Trump EPA, terms like “new motor vehicle engines”, “new motor vehicle”, and “incomplete” new motor vehicles would not apply to glider trucks. They explained that the language in the Clean Air Act was not “relevant statutory language”—it was misinterpreted.

According to the Trump EPA, glider vehicles are comprised of both new and refurbished parts, meaning they are no longer “incomplete” new motor vehicles. Since the kit itself lacks a powertrain it cannot be explicitly defined as a “motor vehicle.”

This is good news for the glider kit industry as the proposal includes a rollback on the cap of glider kits being made. This would benefit the glider industry, and many manufacturers and small businesses will see an increase in sales and a boost in the workforce. It will also be a boon to independent truck drivers, for whom glider kits are an affordable option—therefore a more viable solution—than a new truck.

These are all desirable outcomes for small to midsize businesses and independent truckers. Unfortunately, there is also a darker side.

The boost in glider kit production will negatively impact the environment. While gliders only make up around 5% of the Class 8 truck market, the Obama EPA previously stated that glider vehicles account for one third of all nitrogen oxides and particulate matter emissions the the trucking sector.

The spread of particulate matter increases rates of cancer, asthma, risk of premature death, and other health hazards, putting disadvantaged communities—many who rely on the trucking industry—in the most danger for exposure to these toxic pollutants.

The Study at the Center of the Controversy

When the case was being made for this rollback, a study written by Tennessee Technological University on glider kit emissions was specifically cited to help underscore the claims made by the Trump EPA. The study stated that glider vehicles emit pollutants at the same level (or less) as new heavy freight vehicles. Glider kits, it claimed, are just as clean as the engines in new vehicles.

The paper and the head of Tennessee Tech attracted criticism within days of its debut, with conflicting studies brought forward in direct opposition of Tennessee Tech’s research—including those that stated federal estimates made by the EPA placed gliders at exuding 40 to 55 times the pollutants of newer trucks.

The study used to lobby in favor of the rollback was funded by Fitzgerald Glider Kits and came with the additional offer to build Tennessee Tech new research facilities on land Fitzgerald owns. It isn’t unusual for companies to sponsor university studies, however universities have strict guidelines in place to prevent research findings from being compromised by bias.

An internal investigation is pending at Tennessee Tech at the behest of students and faculty to determine whether or not the findings were skewed in favor of Fitzgerald Glider Kits.

What the Future Holds

The only certainty we may have with the pronouncement of the EPA’s rollback is that, if implemented, 12 states and D.C. have decided they will sue the agency.

It’s a troubling intersection. On one hand, a fifty year industry is at stake, one that not only helps those working in the business of manufacturing glider kits, but assists independent truck drivers and small to midsize business owners as well. On the other, the leaps and bounds the U.S. has made in keeping our air clean and toxic pollutant-free, thus reducing hazardous health conditions, could be undone.

If there’s a happy medium, we can only hope it’s found soon.

As recipients of the Green Supply Chain Award in 2017 we are committed to doing what we can to provide clean shipping options to our customers. If you have any questions or are looking to make a shipment, get a free quote or call us at 800.716.7608.

We leave quite the carbon footprint in all sectors of the logistics industry, whether by road, air, track or sea (not to mention all our warehouses in-between!) Becoming environmentally friendly can seem like an impossible feat. It’s especially daunting when we are faced with facts and figures:

• Out of the total greenhouse gas emissions, road transport makes up 75%.
• Freight movement accounts for 16% of all corporate greenhouse emissions, with heavy-duty trucks as the fastest-growing contributor to emissions.
• It’s projected that global freight transport emissions will surpass those from passenger vehicles by 2050.

Measure Your Carbon Tire Tracks

When you’re behind the wheel, sustainability is the last thing on your mind. You’ve got deadlines to meet. However; small shifts in your habits will make a world of difference.

Route efficiency—Be vigilant when planning your lanes. Learn your route’s peak traffic hours as traffic not only wastes your time but wastes your fuel as well. Utilize your GPS and make sure to keep an eye out for alternate routes. This is where up-to-date technology can save you big. 

Mindful driving—Did you know aggressive driving wastes gas? Slowing down by as little as 5 mph can lower your gas mileage as much as 33%. Fuel efficiency plunges when you breach 60 mph, so minding the speed limit will impact your fuel consumption. Not only that, but you can lower your overall fuel consumption by 5-10% by taking your time shifting speeds while stopping or starting.

Utilize cruise control—An addendum to mindful driving! If you’re having trouble maintaining speed, try cruise control so that your speeds are set.

Truck maintenance—Staying up-to-date on what’s going on under the hood will save you (and the environment!) in the long run. It’s the small things that add up. For instance, make a habit of checking your tire pressure. When your pressure is topped off, your MPG will improve up to 3%, letting you save more and waste less. Also, keep your air filters clean, so they can do their job maintaining your engine.

Idling—Cutting your engine where you can saves fuel and cuts down on emissions. Idling trucks burn more than one billion gallons per year.  If you’re stopped for the night, look for truck stop electrification, that way you can have all the amenities in your cab without eating up diesel. Learn more about truck stop electrification and plan your routes around sites if/when you can. There are plenty of other alternatives to consider as well. 

Reuse and Recycle in the Warehouse

Freight There’s a lot of paper and cardboard waste in our warehouses. Sometimes it’s unavoidable. Other times it’s recyclable!

Less packaging—Of course we want to make sure your freight arrives at its final destination in one piece, but we have a tendency to overpack our cargo. Pack smarter. Alternatively, seek out biodegradable, eco-friendly materials to pack with since most typical packing materials aren’t recyclable.

Smaller packaging—By smaller, we mean properly measured packaging. When we pack, we tend to use boxes or crates 40% larger than they need to be. Eliminate wasted space, increase efficiency, and avoid wasting materials.

Sustainable packaging —Speaking of eco-friendly packing materials, consider sustainable outer packaging materials. It’s better for the earth and your bottom line since packaging costs are lowered by 90% when reusables are utilized. Efficiency increases as well, as it’s made specifically to be lightweight and easy-to-use, and will be a perfect fit for fast-paced processing systems.

Proper waste management—There’s a lot of cardboard waste in warehouse management. Instead of having only a large, front load dumpster, take on recycling bins to properly dispose of recyclables. 

Sustainably-Minded Shippers

Whether you’re shipping freight or parcel, there are ways to help reduce CO2 emissions by being more cognizant of your shipping practices.

Ship FTL when you can—Consolidating your shipping will do wonders for regular shippers. Not only is it a cost effective measure, minimizing freight space will cut down on the emissions your shipment is putting out.

Schedule your own pickups! If you’re shipping small parcel packages, schedule your shipments for pickups rather than dropping the package off yourself. The truck will no doubt already be en route to its final destination; meet them halfway.

Avoid air freight where possible—If you can manage, avoid using air freight. Of all the modes of freight transport, air freight shipping has the most carbon emissions output, up to fifty times higher than ocean transport. 

Staying Green as a 3PL

As a third-party logistics company let’s be more mindful of how we practice our business. Here’s how:

Measure your carbon footprint—By measuring your carbon footprint, you can better plan the route your freight takes, and how it travels along that route. The World Shipping Council found that a shipment traveling by ocean freighter from Australia to Long Beach, which is around 8,000 miles, has a smaller carbon footprint than a shipment traveling from Long Beach to Texas by truck—about 1,500 miles.

Go digital/leverage technology—We love paper in our industry,  but there’s been a slow shift toward digitizing our work and keeping it in a cloud. Make a move towards digital paperwork, so as to minimize waste.

Partnering with SmartWay—SmartWay Transportation Partnership is an organization that encourages and incentivizes logistics businesses to become environmentally friendly. They will help your company improve its supply chain sustainability, and help you partner with green carriers doing the same!

Put your trust in FreightCenter for cleaner business practices. FreightCenter was named a recipient of the Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s 10th annual Green Supply Chain Award. Having a sustainable business is important to us, which is why the majority of our shipments are delivered on SmartWay certified carriers. Improving sustainability starts at home, and success when it comes to freight sustainability is all about outcomes—setting your mark, reading the results, and learning from our mistakes so we can try, try again.

The path we leave behind for future generations can be paved in a myriad of different ways. We don’t want anyone to follow our carbon footprints. Call FreightCenter at 800.716.7608 to get started on shipping greener today.

Yet many shippers have tried just about everything else.

Wouldn’t it be nice?

Over the years, numerous attempts have been made to help shippers calculate the weight of their shipments without actually weighing them on a freight scale. 

• The Magic Freight Weight 8-Ball was a great idea. Just like the popular magic 8-ball you may have played with as a kid, the Magic Freight Weight 8-Ball would tell you how much your shipment weighed, just by standing next to the packaged shipment and turning over the 8-ball. Did it work? Hey, it was magic!
• The Freight Weight Swami used a 1-900 number. For just $2.95 per minute, the swami would tell you how much your shipment weighed after you held the phone up to your packaged cargo. The Swami’s answer had a tendency to be something like, “Your freight weighs less than one million pounds.” The advent of the smartphone put an end to the swami’s business. Phone, smart; swami, not so much.
• The See-Saw Solution involved taking a fully packaged and palletized shipment to the local playground, putting the pallet on one end of the see-saw and adding children to the other end until balance was achieved. Not only was this technique grossly inaccurate, it really upset the parents of children who were recruited to participate without their parents’ knowledge. After many 9-1-1 calls, this technique was abandoned permanently.

True confession: we made these up. But they aren’t that far out of whack when you consider how inaccurately many infrequent shippers report their shipment weight to be.

Perhaps the issue with weight is really two issues combined:

1) How we have learned to think about weight.
2) Freight shipping numbers don’t always mean exactly what you think they should mean.

Changing our thinking on weight

Much of our confusion about weight and freight comes from how we associate weight with parcel shipping. Most of us shipped parcels through the post office before we ever shipped anything as freight. That’s where we learned that the more a shipment weighs, the more it is going to cost. 

But freight doesn’t work that way. LTL (Less than Truckload) freight is shipped long distances in very large trucks that rely on weight for stability. The relationship between space and weight is calculated as density, which is a significant element in determining a shipment’s freight class. The higher the density, the lower the freight class, and vice-versa. And the lower the freight class, the lower the shipping costs.

Here are some real-world freight classes. 

• Cast iron wood-burning stove — Freight class = 85 (inexpensive)
• Unassembled couch — Freight class = 250
• Box filled with ping pong balls — Freight class = 500 (the highest there is) 

Seems crazy, doesn’t it? But that’s the way it is.

The moral of this story is that you have to learn to think differently about weight when you think freight. You also have to stop estimating your freight weight, because the carriers will weigh your shipment and bill you for your mistakes every time. 

Billing adjustments

And that’s why incorrectly stated weight is the #1 reason for billing adjustments for shipments booked through FreightCenter, with incorrect freight class #2. 

Freight carriers have the right to weigh your shipment at any time. Here’s how that works out if the weight is incorrect.

If you understate the weight, the carrier will determine the cost of your shipment per pound and then multiply the difference between the understated weight and the correct weight in pounds by the cost per pound figure. Let’s say the Bill of Lading FreightCenter prepares for you says your shipment weighs 400 pounds and the invoiced amount is $800. On a cost per pound basis, your freight is shipping for $2 per pound. The carrier weighs the shipment and discovers it weighs 520 pounds. The carrier will adjust the shipment by the additional $2 per pound, increasing the total bill to $1,040.

In addition to the carrier’s $240 adjustment, there are other fees for weighing the shipment, making adjustments, processing and more. Combined, these carrier adjustments could increase your total cost as much as an additional 50% over the original bill.

It’s important to note here that FreightCenter will help you calculate your freight class, but you have to provide the correct weight. Give us the wrong information and a billing adjustment is likely to follow. Obviously, the important thing is to get the weight right in the first place.

Getting the weight right

If you are a frequent shipper, or one that ships more than three times a year, it’s worth it to own a freight scale. If you don’t have one already, you’ll find 4’x4’ scales online on sale in the $500 range. That price is a bargain compared to what a few billing adjustments can add up to.

If you are a one-time shipper, you’ll want to take a different route to finding your exact shipping weight. Here are two ways you can get that weight right.

1) Call a nearby junkyard and see if they have a scale you can use for weighing your freight.
2) Contact a freight terminal within driving distance and ask them if you can use their scale.

Nominal charges might apply, but they are well worth it to avoid a billing adjustment.

Remember, carriers weigh the entire shipment, including the container, crate or pallet. You should always weigh your shipment after it has been completely packaged and palletized. If the contents of the shipment change, weigh it again.

Time weights for no one

The Rolling Stones were right on the money when they sang, “Time waits for no one.” We changed the spelling a little, but the point is still true. Getting the weight right is key to your shipping satisfaction. 

Have something you need to ship? Get started with an instant quote that compares top carriers or call FreightCenter at 800.716.7608.

At FreightCenter, while LTL freight is handled by larger, dedicated LTL carriers, our Truckload service frequently uses owner-operators and small- to medium-size carriers.

Post Show Recap

New technologies and driver recruitment efforts were prominent throughout the shows events, exhibits and seminars, but for a few drivers the highlight of the show was receiving some well-deserved attention.

Goodyear Highway Hero Honored

Frank Vieira of Ancaster, Ontario was the recipient of the 35^th Goodyear Highway Hero Award. His story will amaze you.

A loud crash alerted Vieira to what could have been a tragedy in the making. A car on the other side of the road had piled into the back of a stationary roll-off truck. The driver of the car was thrown against the steering wheel with great force, causing it to break. Vieira parked his truck and went to see what help he could provide. He found the driver of the car bleeding profusely, with a piece of the steering wheel embedded in his neck.

With one hand Vieira applied pressure to the wound while calling 9-1-1 with his free hand. Adding to the intensity of the moment, the driver of the roll-off truck arrived to assess what had happened. He saw the bleeding driver being attended to by Vieira and passed out, hitting the ground with one of his legs extended out into the road. So, with one hand on the car driver’s neck and the other holding his phone, Vieira used his leg to hook the roll-off driver’s leg and pull it out of the lane of traffic to safety.

Both men were transported to the hospital by emergency personnel, and both survived, thanks to Veiera.

For his fast-thinking and courageous acts, Goodyear presented Frank Vieira with a Highway Hero Ring and a cash prize.

Members of the trucking trade press served on the independent panel that chose Vieira as this year’s Goodyear Highway Hero Award. He was selected from a field of the three finalists. Brian Bucenll of Richmond, Virginia and Ryan Moody of Tacoma, Washington were the other finalists. Brian and Ryan were also recognized by Goodyear at the award ceremony.

Congratulations and thank you to all three driver heroes. 

Peterbilt Gives Away Its Millionth Truck

Peterbilt Model 567 Line

When the one-millionth vehicle it has produced since 1939 rolled off the assembly line recently, trucking stalwart Peterbilt Motors Company knew just what to do with it—give it away. To find just the right recipient for this special vehicle, Peterbilt held a SuperFan contest that drew 1,500 stories, video and photo entries from across the US and Canada.

Rick McCerkin of San Jose, California was named the ultimate SuperFan and was presented the keys to his new Peterbilt Model 567 Heritage truck at MATS. Four runners-up each received $10,000, courtesy of the contest’s key sponsors, and a special commemorative gift from Peterbilt.

Congratulations to Rick and the four runners-up!

• Jake Bartos of Columbus, Nebraska
• Cathy Bauder of Harmony, Pennsylvania
• Josh Hainstock of Albertville, Minnesota
• Sheldon Hyatt of Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada

FMSCA Officials Face Angry Drivers

Regulatory officials of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration conducted listening sessions with drivers on Friday and Saturday to hear drivers’ complaints and concerns about Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) that have replaced drivers’ paper logs. ELDs track the number of miles and hours that drivers work in an effort to improve highway safety.

Both sessions were dominated by angry drivers who shared similar complaints, including:

• ELD counts time spent waiting to unload at terminals as work hours, when in fact, drivers are doing no work at all while waiting—sometimes for hours. This cuts into the 14 hours they are allowed to work each day and reduces their incomes significantly.
• Exemptions to ELD regulations given to agriculture haulers and some large carriers cherry picks winners and losers. An FMSCA official pointed out that those exemptions were created by statute, not regulations, and could only be changed by Congress.
• Lack of truck drivers on FMCSA.

Ray Martinez, recently confirmed as FMCSA Administrator, responded to complaints by saying that he wants to listen to the drivers. He further stated that it appears to him that the problem might not be the ELDs at all, and that hours of service might be the main issue. According to Martinez, that is an issue that regulators might be able to address.

ELDs are a hot topic, and they are here to stay. And it’s clear to see that these issues will not be going away any time soon.

MATS 2019

This is just a brief glimpse of what went on at this year’s Mid-American Truck Show. Want to take a closer look? MATS 2019 is slated for March 28-30. Start making your plans to attend.

Have a full or partial Truckload shipment you need to book? Get started with a free instant quote or call our Truckload division at 800.716.7608.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Well, when you’re shipping internationally, a whole host of things, including but not limited to: 

• Limited carrier liability— Not a problem, per se, but definitely a concern. As with shipping nationally by truck, so with shipping internationally by air or sea: Carrier liability is limited. International shipping laws favor the carrier, so it’s rare that a carrier will be made accountable for common losses that occur while freight is in transit, whether it’s an Act of God (like a hurricane or storm), or an act of General Average (this is a maritime law that only covers partial loss, while all other cargo holding owners must pay compensation to the cargo owner facing losses). Even if the carrier is made liable, shippers will receive very little in compensation for lost freight (cents on the dollar, really).

• Catastrophic events— We can’t control what happens, especially when we ship cargo by . There are storms to consider, on-board explosions, shipwrecks, and pirate attacks…yes, pirate attacks! Bulk and container ships faced a total of 61 attacks in 2017.

• Rough, international waters— Shipping via freight vessels is especially common considering it’s the more cost-effective way to ship internationally (if time-consuming), and the seas can be choppy and unpredictable. This means that losing cargo containers at sea is a fairly common occurrence, with an average of about 10,000 cargo containers falling off major containerships a year, costing nearly $370 million in losses.

• Cargo damage— Cargo can face a lot more than being bucked off a ship mid-transport. In fact, potential damages can appear in the form of rough transportation, poor handling, infestation (pests or mold due to improper packaging), or improper storage (whether insufficiently packed for protection, or temperature-related issues arise). Much of this occurs in the stowing phase of and can be chalked up to a cocktail of and shore error (this is why packaging is so important!).

What Can I Expect From My Insurance?

You should expect the world! When you’re making that leap into international shipping, there is no price on peace of mind. The benefits of coverage far outweigh the risks involved in shipping—it’s in your best financial interest, after all. In the event of an accident you don’t want to be saddled with the brunt of the costs due to loss or damages. 

Look for All Risk coverage. This type of coverage will protect you against damages or loss caused by external forces, of which there are many. This can be anything from damage or loss caused by infestation, inappropriate packaging, customs rejections, and more. 

While it’s called All Risk, it’s imperative that you familiarize yourself with what your coverage actually says. So keep an eye on the following sections of your insurance plan:

• Coverage Aspects –  The parameters of your coverage.
• Excluded Commodities –  What is disqualified from being covered by your insurance?
• Special Insuring Conditions-  Are there certain commodities that can’t be covered by your insurance unless they’re packaged a certain way?
• Exclusions of Loss-  What events/damages aren’t fully covered by your policy?
• Claim Filing-  Every policy has different expectations. Familiarize yourself with yours.

You want to make sure the policy you purchase will cover all of your bases. Leave no stone unturned. In fact, export.gov suggest that you look into two different types of insurance coverages as you move forward with your shipment.

How Easy Is It to Find the Right Insurance?

Shopping around for the insurance right policy requires time and patience, and as we’ve learned in our prior installments, time just may be the most important part of the international shipping game.

So shop around. Compare policies, and seek out the one best suited for your freight.

When you book shipments through a third-party logistics company, many provide optional, additional insurance within the booking process. FreightCenter is no different. We’ve partnered with Falvey Insurance to provide national and international shipping coverage. Like FreightCenter, Falvey is dedicated to taking care of you, the shipper, by providing speedy, hassle-free service, especially where the claims process is concerned—we are on your side.  

Choosing Falvey is an option through us. However, you can still ship with FreightCenter, while deciding on your own policy. It’s totally up to you!

We’ve Docked—See You At Our Next Series!

Learning about the world of international shipping has been our longest voyage yet, and we’re pleased that you stuck with us! Now it’s time for you to expand your shipping purview. Let FreightCenter help! We’re experts when it comes to shipping, nationally and internationally, and our freight agents can ease you into the process to ensure that you’re sailing smooth.

For shipping within the U.S. and to or from Canada, use FreightCenter’s free online quote tool to get started. For other destinations, call our international shipping experts at 800.716.7608.

Check out the whole series here: 

Part 1: The International Shipper’s Checklist – Introduction to International Shipping

Part 2: The International Shipper’s Checklist  – Customs Brokers

Part 3: The International Shipper’s Checklist – Paperwork & Time Frame

Part 4: The International Shipper’s Checklist – Insurance 

1. Determine show goals and how to achieve them
2. Design, write and produce all materials for the show
3. Make sure the booth tells the company’s story and is in great shape for the show

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that saving money on shipping the booth and other materials to the trade show is not one of the top three priorities. After all, the show makes it easy to handle trade show shipping. Their decorator will handle it all for you. Piece of cake, right?

Actually, that can be a very expensive piece of trade show shipping cake. Here’s why.

Lack of competition drives costs higher

Trade shows are not in business to save you money. Neither is the decorator (which is clear every time you request an extra outlet for your booth).

Decorators select an official show carrier for a trade show. Since there is no competition, the official carrier can charge full rate card, minus a healthy commission for the decorator. There is nothing underhanded about the arrangement, it just leaves exhibitors paying full rate for shipping to and from a trade show. In exchange for paying a lot, exhibitors don’t have to worry about how their freight is being shipped. Great deal?

Once you see the savings exhibitors are giving up, you might not think this is such a great deal after all.

Real savings are a shocker

One of our trade show shipping experts ran two quotes with a nationally recognized carrier that is frequently an official trade show carrier. Both quotes were for shipping 500 pounds of trade show cargo with the freight class of 125 (all trade show cargo has an NMFC of 125) from Las Vegas, NV to Bronx, NY. One quote was for the carrier’s rate card price (which is very similar to what the decorator will charge you). The other quote was for shipping via FreightCenter’s discount with that carrier. Here’s how they came out.

Quote 1 – Standard freight rate from the carrier: Cost to exhibitor equals $4,883.42.

Quote 2 – Discounted quote via FreightCenter: Cost to exhibitor equals $618.78.

If the exhibitor had booked their freight through FreightCenter instead of through the show decorator, they would have saved $4,264.64. And FreightCenter would have used the exact same carrier.

Even if the decorator passed on a 50% discount, the cost would still be 4x more than the FreightCenter discounted rate.

And remember, the freight shipping fee does not include the drayage cost you will have to pay at the exhibit center. Drayage covers the moving of your booth and materials from the loading dock to your booth location. And while drayage is not a shipping cost, it is a reminder that trade show costs can add up quickly.

Just imagine how much more money that exhibitor could have put into their booth (or saved their company) if they had spent $4,264.24 less on shipping. Now, imagine saving that much on every trade show, and in each direction.

Peace of mind service is always a trade show necessity

Knowing that your trade show materials will arrive on time and in good condition is very important.

But FreightCenter provides the same peace of mind to thousands of customers nationwide. Most of our customers are not freight shipping experts. They rely on FreightCenter’s experience and expertise to make sure every aspect of your trade show shipment is handled properly, from pickup to delivery, including generation of all necessary paperwork and payment to the carrier.

In fact, peace of mind service is exactly why Golden Krust Bakery famous for their many flavors of Caribbean Patty, books all their trade show shipments with FreightCenter. Their story illustrates that peace of mind service can be the #1 reason for choosing FreightCenter over the official carrier.

Larry Mead is National Sales Director for Golden Krust Bakery. One of his many responsibilities is leading the company’s efforts at trade shows. He is not a shipping expert.

In 2015 one of the pallets Larry had shipped to a trade show didn’t arrive. Larry quickly had another pallet put together, but he didn’t want to use the same carrier. He asked someone in his office for a referral, and FreightCenter was recommended. Larry contacted FreightCenter and was helped by Craig, a longtime logistics specialist. Craig immediately saw to it that Larry’s problem was handled. Since then, Larry swears by working with FreightCenter.

“We exhibit our products at 10 shows a year, and Craig helps us with every one of them because I know I can trust him to get the job done. By the end of the year, we probably will be exhibiting at 15 or 16 trade shows annually, and we couldn’t do that without knowing everything will come off without a hitch. I don’t want to have to think about this stuff, and thanks to Craig and FreightCenter, I don’t have to.”

Even some trade show organizers are beginning to get the word

Redwood Media Group’s mission to connect top artists, gallery owners and publishers with collectors and dealers. They make that happen with art shows all over the US.

Rather than referring their exhibitors to a preferred carrier that will pay commissions to the decorator, RMG recommends three different freight brokers — including FreightCenter — that will provide outstanding service while saving exhibitors money. Few galleries have thousands of dollars laying around they can spend on shipping. RMG understands that the lower the freight costs, the more exhibitors they will be able to attract to their shows. They also know that the service must be best in class.

Make your next trade show a better experience all the way around

Before booking your next trade show shipment, compare the price you are given by the trade show manager with one provided by FreightCenter. The savings will be substantial. The quality of service may be even better.

For a free trade show quote, use our free online quote tool or call FreightCenter at 800.716.7608.

What Should I Know About Paperwork?

Everything! As with all shipping, there’s going to be a lot of paperwork, and quite a bit more when you’re planning to ship across international borders and overseas. We want to stress the importance of going over your paperwork, since it is the first place things go wrong for a lot of new international shippers. If the paperwork is wrong, your whole schedule will be disrupted. So, remember: Whether you’re shipping nationally or internationally, most issues with shipping occur due to incorrect, or even missing, documents.

Have your documentation, and copies of it, set. The smallest discrepancy in your paperwork can lead to extra charges, or inspections, meaning your freight will take longer to get where it needs to be (and we’ve already established it’s going to take a while).

Keep An Eye on the Incoterms

Before giving the papers your John Hancock, you should familiarize yourself with some standard contract terms you’ll come across while drawing them up. These specific terms are referred to as incoterms. Incoterms, like FOB (Free on Board) or FAS (Free Alongside Ship), are acronyms for terms that are used in import and export contracts. They explain how long the supplier will be responsible (and liable) for the commodity before it switches hands to the buyer.

It’s easy to gloss over such terms—common, in fact—and misunderstanding them during the negotiation stage can result in a huge stress on your pockets. Building up your understanding of incoterms will lead to better customer service, and dole out responsibility to those involved.

The most common incoterms are:

• EXW (Ex Works)-The seller packages the goods and prepares them for pick-up, while the buyer is responsible for transport costs and risks. This favors the seller.
• FOB (Free On Board)- Location usually follows the designation of FOB, and it’s pertinent to how the term is used. FOB shipping point, or sometimes origin, means that the buyer is responsible for transport costs (as well as risks) while the freight is in transit. FOB destination means the seller is responsible for transport costs (as well as risks) while the freight is in transit.
• CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight)-This means that the seller is responsible for costs, freight, and insurance (it’s in the name!) against the buyer’s risk of loss, or damage to the goods while in transit.
• CPT (Carraige Paid To)-The seller is only responsible for making sure the freight arrives to the carrier’s safely. After the seller drops the freight off at a carrier’s, or a place both seller and buyer have agreed upon, the seller pays the cost to transport the goods to the destination. As soon as the freight is at the carrier’s, liability shifts from seller to buyer.
• DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid)-Here the seller is in charge of the safe delivery of the freight to its destination. They are responsible for paying transit costs, and liability for damage. Once the freight arrives safely, liability transfers to the buyer, including any subsequent transport costs.
• DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)-The seller takes on all responsibility: costs, risks, export/import customs, etc. until the freight has arrived at its destination.

For more information consult the 11 rules for Incoterms. For a quick breakdown check out this handy incoterm reference chart.

Documents to Ensure Safe Passage

Four documents you should look out for are the commercial invoice, the certificate of origin, the NAFTA certificate of origin, and the electronic export information. What are those, you ask?

• Commercial Invoice is one of 2 documents that lists the country of origin. The country of origin must be listed on every commercial invoice, for every shipment and each product enclosed.
  The commercial invoice establishes the products you’re shipping. This is the main document for valuation, importation control, and duty determination, and the information on it will help determine your export tariff rates.
• The exporter (you!) must sign the Certificate of Origin, or CO, to certify the country of origin for each product in your shipment. This certificate is required by some countries for all or specific products you’re importing. There are some cases when this paper must be notarized.
• The NAFTA Certificate of Origin is another version of a certificate of origin, but specific to transit between Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

• The Electronic Export Information (formerly Shipper’s Export Declaration), or EEI, is the most common of all export documentation since it’s used to document export statistics. You or your freight forwarder is in charge of filing it. It’s required for shipments over $2,500 and for any shipments requiring an export license.
  This document is necessary for all current and former U.S. territories, though they are not technically exports. It isn’t necessary for Canada, unless the commodity being shipped requires an export license.
  International parcel shipping has its own set of customs documents and clearances. It’s much cheaper to ship parcel internationally than it is to ship freight, as the customer will only be responsible for duties and taxes.

Get Your Schedule Right

Shipment times are estimated, not promised, for domestically shipped freight (unless you choose guaranteed shipping), so imagine what it’s like for international shipping. A number of delays could keep your freight from point B since the journey isn’t just measured by distance, but the amount of checks and border inspections freight must pass through.

This is why paperwork is so crucial. Missing paperwork will cause major setbacks. Determine how long it will take to ship your commodity—when it’s expected, how many legs it will take, and the estimated transit time to its destination. Familiarize yourself with the path your freight is going to travel and carve out an estimated time frame. Give yourself plenty of wiggle room. Having a customs broker on your side will be invaluable during the process.

For some countries the option of overnight delivery may not be available at all.

See You at the Next Port of Call!

We’re about to pull in to our final destination, everyone! Disembark with us at the final segment of The International Shipper’s Checklist, where we’ll discuss insurance. See you there!

For shipping within the U.S. and to or from Canada, use FreightCenter’s free online quote tool to get started. For other destinations, call our international shipping experts at 800.716.7608.

What Is A Customs Broker?

Think of customs brokers as your bureaucratic translator and partner. Customs brokers are the only ones with authorization in the United States to act as agents for importers in the transaction of customs business. They will work on your behalf, and are backed by the knowledge of import specifications, such as valuation, classification, entry procedures, amongst other things. They’re licensed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and are an invaluable resource for shippers.

Okay, But What Does a Customs Broker Do?

In short? A customs broker:

• Acts as an intermediary between you and your goods – They protect your assets, ensuring that your shipment crosses the border and makes it to its intended location. Think of them as an extra set of eyes on your freight, facilitating easy entry.
• Helps you save money – A lot can get in between your cargo and its destination. Shipping internationally means the potential for your freight to encounter conflicts in transit, like confiscation of assets, delays, and potential fines—all paths that lead to financial loss, especially when you can’t make heads or tails of the process. Circumvent these potential accidents with a customs broker. With U.S. Customs and Border Protection enforcing their laws, a customs broker is going to make sure you adhere to them. Understanding and compliance means a faster shipment, and less room for error and they will work to help you avoid any potential disruptions and unnecessary costs.
• Knows what requirements your shipments need to meet before export – Having trouble sussing out the laws regarding international shipment? Your customs broker has an encyclopedic knowledge on them. Knowing the ins and outs of international shipping protocols is their job, after all. For instance, with the Harmonized Tariff Classification System, every good gets its own classification number, which are then divvied up into groups and sub-groups for identification for charging customs duties. Your customs broker is well-versed on the taxes and duties that can be levied on your goods after arriving to their destination. When you seek out a customs broker, let them know what you’re planning to ship. Customs brokers have specializations in different areas.
• Will make sure your documents are compliant to shipping regulations – They will file the paperwork and payment necessary for entry. It is your legal responsibility to make sure that your customs declarations are in order. Issues in paperwork can lead to audits, as well as fines and sanctions. Have your licensed customs broker look over it. Paperwork is a priority—a customs broker will make sure your t’s are crossed and your i’s are dotted, and that your paperwork is compliant with regulatory requirements prior to entry.

Where Can I Find A Customs Broker?

While there is no legal precedence for a custom broker’s assistance to ship internationally, it will be an enormous convenience for you and the shipping process ahead. In fact, the presence of a customs broker is necessary to do business with some freight forwarders. If you’re unfamiliar with international shipping, it’s a suggestion worth heeding.

There are several different avenues you can take to seek out the expertise of a customs broker. You can, of course, look them up based on the ports you are going to ship to and out of at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection site: Look up ports and customs brokers. You can seek brokers out through the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America as well. Before you settle on anyone, make certain they’re licensed through the CBP—you can double check licensing at the CBP site.

Catch You at the Next Port of Call!

We still have a little ways to go before we get the full international shipping picture, but we’re already halfway there! Stick with us as we continue to our next port of call as we cover paperwork, and carve out a time frame for your international freight shipment.

Need to ship something? For shipping within the U.S. and to or from Canada, use our free online quote tool to get started. For other destinations, call our international shipping experts at 800.716.7608.

Why Choose TL over LTL, or Vice-Versa?

LTL

Less-than-truckload shipping saves money by consolidating shipments of multiple shippers on the same truck. Since they are each using only part of the truck, all the shippers save money. But since they are sharing the truck with other shippers, goods carried LTL need to be packaged carefully to make sure they aren’t damaged in shipping and don’t damage other shipments riding on the same truck.

TL

Full truckload is the method of choice when any of the following are true.

• The load is too large or too awkward a fit for LTL
• The shipment is delicate and requires a type of vehicle not used by LTL carriers
• Specialty vehicles such as refrigerated vans, flatbeds, step decks removable goosenecks (RGN) and air-lift suspension vehicles are booked as full truckload shipping

When TL is called for, but the load won’t come close to filling the truck, it can be booked as a partial truckload (PTL) as long as a carrier is available for it.

How Getting a Freight Quote is Different for LTL & TL

The instant online freight quote tool on freightcenter.com enables shippers to request a freight quote for either LTL or TL. Both quotes are estimates. Here’s how they differ.

LTL

LTL rates are negotiated with our preferred less-than-truckload carriers and are heavily discounted ahead of time. When you get an LTL freight quote, it will show you estimated discount prices and estimated transit times for available carriers that ship to and from the zip codes you entered. An LTL shipping expert will confirm the details of your shipment and let you know if there are any accessorial charges, such as the need for a truck with a lift gate. Confirmation calls help ensure that you are not surprised later by a billing adjustment.

TL

TL rate quotes are far more fluid because the availability of trucks for these hauls is constantly in flux. A truck that’s available in Denver today could be in Indianapolis tomorrow. Or Baltimore, or Florida or … you get the picture.

As with LTL shipping, quotes for full truckload shipments are estimates. But, rather than seeing freight shipping cost estimates for multiple carriers, you’ll see one quote with no carrier’s name attached. You can select that quote, but the process won’t be complete until you speak with a Truckload specialist who will evaluate the route the truck will need to take, the availability for trucks on that route and whether or not you require a specialty vehicle such as a flatbed truck, a refrigerated van, an air-lift suspension and so on. The estimate provided by our Truckload expert is the one you will secure with a credit card.

Choosing a Carrier

LTL

When booking a less-than-truckload haul, the National Account Manager who reviews your order with you will also help you find the right carrier for your shipment from among the carriers listed in your free online quote. Why do you need their help?

Some carriers specialize in handling cargo that others rarely touch. Others might be offering FreightCenter special deals on certain routes that are not built into the quote system. Still, others might be subbing out part of the shipment if their nearest terminal is a great distance from either the originating or destination location, and you might not want that. For these reasons and others, your best choice may be one that is not necessarily the lowest bid. Your FreightCenter LTL shipping expert will help you decide.

TL

With a truckload shipment, the matching system works the other way around. Once you have secured the estimate you received over the phone and via email, your haul will be posted by FreightCenter on three online freight boards used by a network of more than 5,000 carriers who find freight runs that originate in locations where they have available trucks.

On the board, the carrier sees the origin and delivery points of the haul as well as the type of vehicle needed and the estimated rate the shipper has secured. FreightCenter also emails information about the haul to a preferred list of 500-800 carriers. Interested carriers contact FreightCenter, and our carrier agents verify that the carrier has the type of vehicle needed for the job, the availability to get it done on the shipper’s schedule and the desire to haul the load at the estimated price.

Occasionally, due to a national scarcity of available trucks in certain areas, no carrier will be willing to carry the freight at the agreed-to shipping cost. When that happens FreightCenter contacts the shipper and gives them the revised estimate. The shipper is not obligated to pay more than the secured estimate and has the option of agreeing to the new estimate or cancelling the order. This happens infrequently.

Two Systems, One Goal

TL and LTL are very different systems in terms of quoting, booking and choosing a carrier, but the goal is always to get the shipper’s freight picked up and delivered on time at the agreed price. If you are usually an LTL shipper, there may be occasions when you have a load that should go TL. Similarly, regular TL customers might enjoy considerable savings by sending some loads LTL. No matter which way you go, you can count on FreightCenter to get the job done for you, easily and affordably.

In a recent survey, FreightCenter earned a Net Provider Score® of 80, while many of our competitors scored only 50-70. The score measures how likely a customer is to recommend FreightCenter to a friend or colleague. On a scale of 1-10, 80% of respondents gave FreightCenter a nine or 10. No matter which way you use FreightCenter—truckload, less-than-truckload or even parcel—you win!

Need to ship something? Get started on our free online freight quote tool or call FreightCenter at 800.716.7608.

Shippers who follow the freight industry could see the recent surge in freight shipping costs coming a mile away. Every logistics trade publication predicted that the phased-in compliance of ELDs (Electronic Logging Device)—which began December 16, 2017—would disrupt the industry in terms of productivity and freight shipping costs, and they were correct.

ELDs log how long a vehicle has been driven in both miles and hours. With the change from manual to automated log entry, the numbers of miles a trucker can drive and the hours he or she can work in a given day have been reduced. For hauls in the mid-hundreds of miles, the shortened work day and miles can mean adding a day to the in-transit time. Cross country hauls can end up taking two days longer than in the past.

The purpose of ELDs is to improve highway safety by eliminating what The Truck Crash Causation study of 12,000 commercial truck crashes over a 33 month period found to be two of the top causes of accidents involving large trucks.

• Drivers haven’t gotten enough rest and may be driving while fatigued
• To meet their deadline, the driver must operate the truck at an excessive rate of speed

If ELDs make the roads safer, as expected, we will all be better off.

Economic impact of ELDs

Eventually, data may show that the economic impact of ELDs on carriers is more than made up for by savings enjoyed thanks to fewer accidents, but for now there is a very real impact on freight shipping costs.

The use of ELDs has caused a reduction in available freight capacity for carriers, because hauls are taking longer to complete. If an extra day is required to deliver a shipment, that reduces the availability of the truck making that delivery. Taking a macro view of capacity, there are now considerably fewer vehicles available to carry a load at any given time.

Less freight shipping capacity means more competition for trucks among shippers. And more competition means higher freight shipping costs.

SMBs Hunt for (and find) Deals

For small-to-midsize businesses that ship anywhere from 1-40 times a month, the increase in freight shipping costs may have come as a surprise. It definitely has them hunting for the best deals they can get. Inevitably, that hunting leads them to 3PLs in general, and FreightCenter in particular.

1. 3PLs find and book available carriers for shippers. They earn discounts from carriers in four ways.

2. 3PLs maintain relationships with LTL (less-than-truckload) and TL (full truckload) carriers and receive discounts due to the volume of shipping they book with their carriers. 3PLs book shipments on backhauls, the term for a haul that a truck makes back to its place of origin after a delivery. Carriers want to keep their trucks full in both directions, so they discount significantly on backhauls.

3. For full truckload shipments, 3PLs often negotiate a deal directly with the carrier in real time.

4. 3PLs handle all communications with the shipper as well as all transaction paperwork—including the Bill of Lading— and accept billing from the carrier. 3PLs make the process easier for both parties, shipper and carrier.

The cost increases impacting SMBs are not welcome, but they are at affordable and sustainable levels, thanks to 3PLs.

How 3PLs are not all alike

Enterprise-level 3PLs target major shippers by offering services and technologies that only enterprises might need or be able to afford. These services can include warehouse managing and total shipping management.

Small and new 3PLs look for whatever business they can get, frequently targeting residential and regional shippers. It’s not unusual for a small and/or new 3PL to struggle with technology and customer service issues. Affordable off-the-shelf technology that will do everything your 3PL needs it to do is not readily available. And keeping a customer service team happy while they are being educated in an industry is not easy for any business.

With 20 years of award-winning experience, FreightCenter sits comfortably between the small and enterprise-level 3PLs. Over those 20 years we’ve developed long-lasting relationships with hundreds of carriers nationwide and thousands of customers, especially SMBs that ship 1-40 times per month. Our in-house team of LTL, TL and Parcel shipping experts puts us way ahead of the pack in terms of customer service, while our proprietary technology gives SMB shippers immediate access to free instant quotes from multiple shippers.

For SMBs that ship 1-40 times per month, FreightCenter is the place where the best freight carriers compete for your business. As Goldilocks might have said, “FreightCenter is just right.”

Additional cost increases ahead?

The news is full of talk of tariffs and fuel tax increases which, if put in place, could cause even more increases in freight shipping costs. Freight industry changes happen all the time. What never changes is FreightCenter’s dedication to providing affordable shipping solutions to our SMB customers, thanks in no small part to our relationships with carriers and shippers, our proprietary technology and best-in-class customer service.

Need to ship something? Compare freight shipping quotes from multiple carriers instantly or call FreightCenter at 800.716.7608.