FREIGHT RANKINGS

Old Dominion is a freight logistics company that moves LTL freight been shippin’ freight since 1934.

Now that the important issues are out of the way, I’m going to keep it moving. Old Dominion was founded in 1934 by Earl & Jillian Congdon in Richmond, VA. The power couple grew the non-union company to what it is today; with a net worth of $73 million, employing 18,000 workers. The company has been passed down to Earl Jr. and his son David, who now run the business from the headquarters in Thomasville, NC. The company has spread from its humble beginnings in Virginia, to hold dominion (tehe) with 226 service centers and 32 transfer points.

Good day old chap! When I hear the name Old Dominion, it makes me think of old money, and the aristocratic South. Although this company was established a bit after the time of which I speak, I want you to picture me wearing a monocle and frilly undershirt nonetheless.

Domestic Services

Old Dominion is committed to serving the old U. S. of A, so these services circumvent the mainland United States, with alternate services to U.S. territories.

• LTL Shipping rates- great rates to the lower 48
• Old Dominion Warehousing- great for distributors and manufacturers to have a “ready to go” stock for shipments. Also great for the up and coming rise of drop-shipping.
• Expedited- delivery at a increased speed for emergency and urgent shipments.

Global Services

As we know, Old Dominion focuses on National shipments. But their services don’t stop there. They ensure efficient shipments to the Caribbean, Europe, the Far East, Central America, and South America through their alliance with Mallory Alexander International Logistics LLC.

• Assembly and distribution capabilities- global rate estimates that can help to reduce transit times, costs, and warehouse inventory expenses.
• National Container Drayage- moves FCL shipments directly from any U.S. origin point, to and from any ports and rail-heads throughout the country.
• LCL Container Load Services- import and export to growing global markets; especially Europe and Asia. You can get rates and transit times, and track the shipment from start to finish.

Customer Trade Partnership Against Terrorism

This seemed important enough for its own category. It seems that every aspect of our lives are rampant with caution; and global shipments can especially raise alarm. Old Dominion has taken the initiative to ensure safety against terrorism and privacy violation.

• Voluntary government based initiative to build cooperative relationships, and improve national security, as well as the international supply chain.
• The program asks for businessmen to ensure the efficiency and integrity of security practices, to communicate, and to verify security outlines.
• Benefits are provided for members of the program.

Technology

Although “old” is in the name, Old Dominion is keeping up with the times. With recent advancements in logistics technology, they are keeping in speed with their competitors, perhaps to surpass them.

• ODFLme- Old Dominion Freight Line me. A customizable program for customers so that they can alter and track their shipments.
• Dockyard Management System- to accurately keep track of goods that have been stored or transferred.
• Radio Frequency ID- to provide the customer with data and information for domestic and global shipments.
• Electric Data Interchange- a system for transferring business related data from computer to computer without having to reenter the data.
• Interactive Voice Response- a customer service line, where any and all information pertaining to shipments can be accessed.
• Freight Handling Technology- for efficiently managing global shipments, and maintaining their on-time domestic freight, with a success rate of 96%.
• Descartes System- a system designed to consolidate and swap routes. This systems helps to advance their productivity, efficient routing, and determine the manpower that’s needed.

Sustainability

We knew that we’d end up here eventually. Old Dominion has been making advancements on all fronts, with the future of our planet in mind. Transportation doesn’t exactly have the best reputation when it comes to the environment, so any and all improvements are widely encouraged for the bleeding heart environmentalists.  Old Dominion has not only made technological advancements to increase efficiency, but to lessen their carbon footprint as well by:

• Reducing emissions and improving fuel efficiency.
• Wide based tires.
• Reducing highway speeds.
• Idle reduction.
• Automatic tire inflation.
• Improvement of freight logistics.
• Improvement of aerodynamics.
• Longer combination vehicles.
• Driver Training- reduction of fuel consumption by 2%.
• Onboard telematics.
• Saving 15,000 metrics tons of CO2 , which is equal to taking 3,000 passenger vehicles off of the road.

Old Dominion has also hard at work, building centers that can facilitate their “going green” agenda and advancements. In 2011, they opened the first L.E.E.D. Certified service centers in Canton, Ohio and Thomasville, North Carolina to facilitate their fuel efficient vehicles. In addition to this, they built a 1.8 Megawatt Solar PV installation that generates enough power to support the average energy of 200 homes. This advancement has lowered their greenhouse emissions by 1,500 tons per year.

Peanut Gallery

If Old Dominion wants to continue to be successful; they need to expand globally. Their alliance with Mallory Alexander International Logistics LLC. Is all fine and dandy, but if they truly want to make moves in this field, they need to both figuratively and literally own it. No other company in their field has put such an emphasis on combating terrorism, and it could be a good look for them. But as an old company, I imagine they are set in their ways. And if it ain’t broke, don’t bother. Also, if you don’t have a quote number to prove your price you thought you were supposed to be paying, then don’t bother there either. They will charge you what they deem is right. Other LTL companies, aren’t as strict.

ABF Freight is a freight logistics company that ships LTL freight in North America since 1923.

Are freight systems frightening? I suppose they can be if you don’t know which one to choose. And your choice depends on what scale of shipment you’re after, and the niche the prospective companies specialize in. In the case of ABF Freight, one of the lesser known logistics companies, may be a good choice if you plan on solely shipping in North America. They still focus on LTL shipments (how retro, right?) and have not yet conformed to the inevitable changes in the multimodal freight and shipment industry.

The Who and What

So, who are they exactly? Logistics, duh. We know that already. ABF Freight is a subsidiary of ArcBest Co. which was founded in 1923 as a freight hauler. Since then the company has grown and splintered off, producing various branches, one of which being ABF Freight. While shipping with ABF Freight, you will have access to all of the resources and features that ArcBest has to offer.

Services

ABF Freight has dedicated their focus to providing multimodal shipping and freight services to the various regions of North America, more specifically the mainland U.S.A. and United States territories. They provide for a plethora of needs for their prospective consumers.

• Expedited Shipping- Advanced shipping techniques at an increased speed to facilitate urgent and emergency shipments.
• Final Mile– Sensitive shipments (medical shipments, product for a launch, time-sensitive) receive extra care.
• Intermodal- Usage of railway transit systems for efficient and quick shipments.
• International Shipping- Pretty straight forward. Overseas Logistics to ensure accuracy when shipping overseas and across borders.
• LTL- Less than truckload shipments.
• Moving- Domestic moves from home to home (seen this personally from 2 family members… Great option!)
• Premium Logistics- Careful calculations to accurately transport freight and shipments in a timely manner.
• Product Launch- Mark the shipment on the BOL as such, and receive extra care. And yes, you will pay for it.
• Retail Logistics- The movement of retail goods from one point of origin, splintering off to many varied and distanced destinations, ensuring that they all reach their destinations on-time, as in sync as possible.
• Time Critical- Similar to expedited shipping, but choose a time window. Earlier in the day just means you will pay more.
• Trade Show Shipping- Standardized shipments for customers who regularly need to move their goods and products for trade shows.
• Transportation Management- A system for tracking and altering shipment routes and destinations. Being able to change a shipment on the fly is crucial!
• Truckload Service- Whole scale renting of a truck for a structured amount of time, paying by the truckload and not the weight.
• Warehousing and Distribution- Storing of goods in ABF Freight Warehouse, and shipping when needed. Ideal for manufactures and entrepreneurs who work by drop shipping and/or need to provide shortened lead times.

Awards

Although not necessarily renowned, ABF Freight has still managed to make a name for themselves. In October of 2016, they were adorned with the Excellence in Security Award. And in September of 2016 they won the Top 250 Carrier Award. For those of you wondering, apparently there are more than 250 carriers out there.

Downsizing

At the top of their game, ABF Freight was raking in an annual revenue of $1.47 billion smackaroos in 2009 and held a net worth of $128 million. The company employed 10,000 working class individuals.

But with the e-commerce boom, there is a much higher demand for the individual shipment of items and packages; resulting in the lack of necessity for LTL shipments and freight logistics. Due to this change in the industry, ABF (or ArcBest rather since they’re really the head hauncho here) decided to cut back and lay off more than 200 dock & yard workers as the number of shipments has dropped. An additional 130 employees from various branches had to be cut as well, as ArcBest works to restructure their shipping and logistic methods. ArcBest has since absorbed ABF Freight, and now operates as a single entity.

Sustainability

 ABF Freight (or now ArcBest) has followed suit with their contenders, and jumped on the green bandwagon to lower emissions and their carbon footprint. They must understand that in order to be relevant in this industry, they have to at least pretend to care about the environment, and alter their practices for the betterment of the earth. They have been implementing these practices by:

• Reducing their trucks maximum speed to 62 mph to ensure an improvement in fuel efficiency.
• They are a Green75 Supple Chain Partner.
• Reducing idling by whatever means possible; efficient drop-offs, providing sleeping arrangements for their drivers.
• Engine Idle Shutdown Program- When the engine is set in park and still running, the engine is on a timer. When the timer runs out, the engine automatically shuts down in the event that the driver is indisposed; or not within the vicinity of the truck. This practice is uniquely designed to work with yard & city tractor engines.
• Extended use of retreaded and recycled tires- To cut back on the number of tire casings that are discarded and dumped into landfills, as well as reduce the need for the oil that is used to manufacture the tires.

Peanut Gallery

If ABF Freight or ArcBest, whichever name they happen to be going by now wants to succeed, they’re going to have to “hip to it.” It’s an awful turn of phrase, I know. But it still holds a relevant meaning. I lightly mentioned the e-commerce boom previously, and this is not just a trend. The market is changing rapidly, and companies like ABF Freight need to adapt in order to survive. Remaining true to your stomping grounds is a noble cause and all, but if you can’t expand to a global market, then you are going to drown. We are spoiled for choice when it comes to variety and the key is to be the absolute best option. Less than truckload shipments are getting phased out. What the consumer needs is a company that can facilitate large scale shipments, but on an individualized platform. While ArcBest is “restructuring”, other companies are offering the services that they lack. If they don’t step it up, and soon, they are going to be left by the wayside.

Conway Freight, now known as XPO logistics, is the second largest LTL carrier, a freight brokerage, and was started in 1983 by self-made millionaire, Josephine Conway in Eugene, OR.

Conway Freight? Who is that? Oh, you must mean XPO Logistics. (And by you I mean me.) Well hang on right there. XPO did not absorb Conway until 2015; so up until recently they were very much an independent company. They got tired and sold out; and as much as I want to stick to my punk-rock ideologies it was probably the best decision for them.

What in Foundation

Josephine Conway, resident of Eugene, Oregon founded Conway Freight in 1983. You go girl! Who said logistics was a man’s game? Originally, the company was titled Conway Western Express, with the small foundation of 11 locations on you guessed it, the West Coast.

As of 2011, Conway had reported a revenue of $5.8 billion, with 30,000 employees. The company migrated from its stomping grounds in Oregon, to setting up shop in Ann Arbor, Michigan as its new headquarter location.

Conway specialized in LTL (less than truckload) shipments servicing the greater parts of North America. With 582 operating locations, 16,000 docking ports and 32,750 trucks and trailers, they had a broad span of transportation, to orchestrate efficient “day definite” reliable shipping services.

What separates Conway from its competitors is the fact that they do not offer small shipment services. In retrospect, that may have hurt them. But their commitment to logistically moving large shipments was incredibly helpful for their main clientele. Companies that require large scale shipments such as manufacturing and distributing companies (great for those who are breaking into the “drop-shipping” entrepreneurship field), industrial companies, as well as retail customers. These types of shipments focus on the big picture.

The Movement

To be completely transparent, LTL carriers transport freight from various shippers, implementing a wide network of freight service center (582 centers to be exact). The LTL freight is combined with fleet line-haul, pick-up and delivery tractors & trailers. On average they transport shipments between 15-20,000 lbs. The average shipment is 1,190 lbs. Long story short, they ship big heavy things; and they’re good at doing it.

Services

Spoiler alert! We’re going to talk about the services that are (or once were) offered by Conway Freight Company. In terms of logistics, the services are relatively standard. But it’s the execution that separates this company from the wannabes.

• Intermodal- seamless door to door moving, using a variety of freight and railways to export goods.
• EDI Integration- Electronic Date Interchange to oversee shipments, customizable for the customer and/or recipient.
• Last Mile- DMS or Document Management Software where customers can create, manage,  track orders, and can use the eTrack mobile app for convenient and efficient control of their shipments. Customers are prompted to keep score of their shipments, in order to keep a consistent rating of the company’s performance and customer satisfaction.
• Supply Chain- a network established by various companies for the production and shipment of goods. Basically, they ensure the efficiency and transportation from the moment an item has been manufactured, until it has reached its final destination.
• LTL- less than truckload shipments (c’mon we know this)
• Expedited- managed transportation, sometimes using air charter techniques to ensure quick and efficient shipments.

 

Awards

Now for the fun stuff! Freight companies can be fun too! I guess, if they try really hard. Work with me here. This is some exciting stuff. Conway was a frequent winner of  the National Truck Driving Championship. The guidelines for the competition were pretty straight forward:

• Must maintain an accident-free driving record from the previous year.
• Complete and pass a timed written exam, pre-trip inspection test, as well as a driving skills test (if you thought you didn’t need smarts to be a truck driver, you would be incorrect).
• Compete in 1 of 9 equipment classes: 3 axle, 4 axle, 5 axle, 5 axle flatbed, 5 axle sleeper, Step Van, Straight Truck, Tankers and Twins.

 

The Overtaking

As a large, successful company you may find it odd that they decided to “sell out.” Well, would the mention of a $3 billion deal change your tune? I thought so. So how does this work? Did they buy the company outright? Well, not really. Instead they bought it piece by piece, or share by share rather. They set out to buy the company at $47. 60 per share, cash price. Conway and all of it’s subdivisions including: Conway Freight, Menlo Logistics, Conway Truckload and Conway Multimodal Logistics were all purchased and rebranded as LXO Logistics in the Fall of 2015.

At the beginning of 2015, The CCJ Top 2015 named Conway as the 6^th top freight company in the country, while XPO came in 12^th place. From a business perspective, this was a smart move for XPO to broaden their horizons and strengthen their prestige. Check and mate. The merge has made XPO the second largest logistics company in North America; which is a $35 billion market. “This landmark transaction provides immediate cash value for our shareholders and reflects the outstanding contributions of our employees over our 86-year history,” said Douglas Stotlar, CEO of the formerly known Conway. The merge has provided for more miles for their drivers, employment advancement opportunities for their employees, and a wider as well as convenient range of services for the consumer.

 

Conway seems pretty limited in the aspect that it only served North America (including Mexico and Canada). The world is going global, and the shipment of goods is no exception; if anything these are the types of companies that MUST get with the times and expand. Even if you appeal to the “everything must be made in America” ideology; surely you can agree that we need companies who ship to other companies. The larger our export horizons, theoretically, the more money we’ll be bringing in. Mo’ money, mo’ capital. XPO seemed to have been smelling what I was stepping in (clearly I was the brains) and used the resources already provided by Conway to further their agenda. Well done.

UPS gets mad ups (a term of achievement for less socially inept of you who might be saying, “huh?!”) . If you weren’t already familiar with what UPS actually stands for (it’s not ‘ups’ sorry to disappoint, we’ll get through it together) it stands for the United States Parcel service. Similar to it’s rivaling competition (they who shall not be named) they specialize in the shipment of individual packages; with a main focus on the consumer rather than the distributor. Not that they don’t count. (There, there distributors, they still care.)

History

Despite the stigma of parents basements and achievements, there is an undeniable correlation between successful logistics companies and basement epiphanies. Just saying, the proof is in the packaging. In 1907, two teenage entrepreneurs by the names of Claude Ryan and Jim Casey founded the American Messenger Company with a $100 loan in Seattle, Washington. Imagine that, such little capital on which an entire empire was built.

The beginning stages of the company were very small, executing simple home-deliveries for drug store customers ; mainly for the elderly. They traveled by bicycle, also carrying notes and running errands for the inhabitants of Seattle. But the company quickly began to grow

Now, what started out as the American Messenger Company is now UPS; with a net worth of $750 million. UPS has expanded globally, with 4,930 storefronts and counting; as well as 38,800 drop boxes, 1,052 customer centers and authorized outlets. Long story short, they’re everywhere.

Drone Deliveries

The times, they are a changing. Long gone are the days where robots were considered to be some taboo, sci-fi entity that only existed in movies and various forms of entertainment. The future is now, and ready or not; here it is. Drone delivery is a thing.

Not only is drone delivery super freaking cool, but it also is going to revolutionize the world of delivery; decreasing delivery times and increasing delivery volumes. UPS has achieved this by building vans with retractable roofs for drone storage. The driver will lock the destined coordinated into the drones database, load it up with the packages and send it on its way. Upon delivery completion, the drone will return to its dock while the delivery personnel drops off packages the old fashioned way. They can double their productivity with very little effort.

This practice is not only efficient, but extremely sustainable. UPS predicts that the use of drones will lower carbon emissions, and will save the company a minimum of $50 million a year.

 

Right Turn Only

It’s not a myth, UPS trucks don’t turn left. They just don’t . And while it may seem silly and a bit counterproductive, the exact opposite reigns true. The lack of left turns (or right turns in the U.K. Australia, and whoever else drives on the opposite side of the road) has shown a major increase in efficiency and sustainability.

Statistically, only 10% of all UPS trucks make left turns. Why? I’m glad you asked. The company urges drivers to avoid any maneuvers that require them to drive into oncoming traffic. This practice helps  to avoid traffic accidents; therefore resulting in less time idling and producing emissions, as well as saving time that would be spent sorting out post-accident protocol. Abstinence is key. In this case anyway.

Their implementation of the “no left turn” rule has resulted in saving over 10 million gallons in fuel each year. Their trucks emit 20,000 tons less carbon dioxide, and has taken 1,000 UPS trucks off of the road.

A mathematical formula is used to strategize drop off points, calculating for the shortest and most efficient routes. Not coincidentally, the no-left turn rule is utilized and has proven to be more sustainable and efficient than free-for-all turning. Don’t believe me? The experts at MythBusters tested this method; and the results were undeniable. The no-left-turn system just works.

Sustainability

Although dispersed in many locations, UPS seems to have it’s heart in the right place. They are involved in a multitude of programs that ensure their services implement as little of a negative impact on the environment and communities as possible.

• Portland, Oregon- Casey Redman, a trailblazer of the UPS agenda has taken sustainability into his own hands by delivering his packages by bike.
• Hamburg, Germany- as a progressive city pioneering the “going green” movement, the city as a whole has completely banned the use of large trucks within the city during business hours to cut green house emissions. For a logistics company, this could be extremely damaging. But UPS is incredibly adaptable and has found way around this ban. Large trailers, packed to the gills with loads of packages are parked within the city center early in the day. Then, package tricycles, specifically designed for inner city transport; with 77 cubic feet of cargo space and loaded up, and sent out for delivery. These tricycles have a range of 21 miles, and top speed of 15 mph. These tricycles are soon to be implemented in Portland, Oregon (no doubt by the influence of Casey Redman)
• The e-commerce boom is changing the way the logistics companies work and move their cargo; resulting in billions (2 billion to be exact) of stops per year, with fewer packages per stop.
• UPS is pioneering in sustainable fuel practices, they have deployed over 7,200 alternative fuel vehicles, which is 7% of their total fleet.
• Their “green fleet” of delivery automobiles have shown great advancement in terms of hybrid electric vehicles & trucks, natural gas, biomethane, and propane.
• Since 2009, UPS has invested $750 million is developing smarter and green technologies, logging 1 billion miles using their sustainable vehicles, as well as implementing convenient fueling stations.

 

UPS gets mad ups for their advancement in sustainable technology, and all around availability. Personally, when given the option I tend to opt for UPS for the efficiency and convenience that they provide. Although the idea of drone delivery becoming commonplace is incredibly unsettling. The dawn of the age is upon us; signed, sealed, and delivered by none other than UPS.

Is it just me, or when you think of FedEx, does a rabid volleyball worshipping Tom Hanks come to mind? No? You think of the actual company? You’re one step ahead of me then because that’s precisely what I aim to talk about. FedEx the company that is. At the forefront of shipment, FedEx now boasts a $2 billion net worth, and employs 400,000 loyal workers.

From the Basement Up

In assimilation to most corporate superstars, FedEx began with very humble beginnings. The first outlines were drawn from within the comfort of the basement of an undergrad’s home. Eh, hem shout out to the millennials inhabiting their parents basements.   In 1965, Frederick W. Smith, undergrad from Yale University themed his term paper to focus on logistical challenges that are commonly faced by leading firms in the information and technology industry.  At the time, many airfreight shippers relied solely on passenger routes ; restricting time frames and destinations. This method was not efficient for urgent shipments, an alternative method had to be put in place. So a system was designed that was specifically crafted for time-sensitive shipments such as medicine, computer parts and electronics. They have now expanded to international trade with Towergroup International,  leading in logistics and trade.

Features

Ah, yes. So what services do they actually provide? More likely than not, you’ve shipped a gift to a friend, or  a box of souvenirs to yourself. Although FedEx does specialize in the individual shipment of goods, they offer a variety of services to tickle the fancy of their prospective or loyal customers.

• Fast Shipping- guaranteed quick shipments whether you choose to go with air shipments, as well as ground.
• FedEx Freight- for heavier, large cargo
• Air/Ocean Freight Forwarding- international shipments
• Temperature Control- for those finicky packages with temperature sensitivity
• FedEx Delivery Manager- a program which customers can customize their delivery experience

 

Social Responsibility

As a giant corporation with a hefty load of influence (see what I did there?) they really set the standard by embracing their social responsibilities, and giving back to the community. This is a vital attribute for any company, large or small. They have to make their presence known, not only as a giant money mongering powerhouse; but as an attribute to the environment, and our communities. They fulfill their duties of social obligation by:

• Helping businesses access new markets- this day and age; there are very few places where FedEx is not. Many start-up businesses now have an advantage, because through FedEx they are able to reach markets that were until recently, inaccessible.
• Delivering For Good- this program is unique to FedEx. They utilize their vast network of global routes to deliver resources and goods to where they are needed most in times of disaster.
• Sustainable transportation- logistic mapping that connects the world “responsibly and resourcefully” especially in the more urban areas.
• Employment Pathways- offering employment to populations that may be underserved.
• Road Safety- an emphasis on safety for both the drivers as well as the citizens of various communities.
• Global Entrepreneurship-  giving advancement opportunities to women and minority owned businesses.
• Charitable Investments- employees are required to serve their communities, quenching local needs by investing their time in the communities where they live and work.
• Environmental Policy- actions taken to lower their carbon footprint by implementing smarter logistics.
• Combat Slavery and Human Trafficking- (the most noble of causes yet, in my humble opinion) prohibiting traffic related activities, implementing a zero tolerance policy, and expecting employees to contact the FedEx Alert line to report any suspicious activity.

Panda Express

You heard me! Pandas! Those wobbly, mischievous balls of fluffy joy are not only my favorite animal but have been captivated in the eye of the press. FedEx has implemented a branch that specializes in the transportation of exotic animals. They have comprised airplanes, that are designed to carry large animals including but not limited to cattle, horses, and sea lions. And of course pandas! Bao Bao the Panda is the 6^th panda to fly with FedEx Panda Express, catching the attention of newscasters on  a global scale. He was shipped from the National Zoo in Washington D.C.  to China; arriving safely and happily.

Okay, so Panda’s are adorable, but what does this have to do with logistics? Well, everything my dear skeptic. FedEx has been entrusted with the safety and care of a multitude of exotic animals worldwide, which is pretty freaking cool.

 

Comments From the Peanut Gallery

While perusing the captivating world of logistics and deciding which riveting company is the best to suit your needs, the savvy shopper will always turn to the most accurate source of information:  online reviews. To truly master the art of deciphering reviews, one must look passed all of the animosity and look for the positives and consistent patterns.

One issue that consistently comes up- the delivery personnel is not able to locate the recipient, so the parcel is brought back to the nearest facility for holding. Inconvenient? Sure. Not more inconvenient than having your package stolen from your porch but hey, different strokes for different folks. But it needs to be said, that in lieu of these horrific experiences, the customer service staff has been reported  as being courteous and helpful along the way, despite whatever mishaps may have taken place. More often than not, if the customer belonging to the stray parcel reports missing the delivery person, they will return at the end of their route to drop off the parcel as long as it is within a reasonable distance.  Some recipients have even shared reports of their packages arriving too early! Oh the nerve! Surely they’ll find a way to recover.

 

Would I consider FedEx while looking for THE logistics company to suit my needs? Well, they’re certainly a high contender. I suppose any company that specializes in the comfort and transportation of Panda Bears has my attention and utmost adoration, call me biased.

 

 

 

You have an LTL  pallet that needs a carrier? Maybe you are used to shipping some pretty dense items and you wonder why something that weighs less will cost you more? I’m not sure where you are coming from, but this is my story… Don’t worry, the rankings are coming soon. But it’s best you know why I am qualified to write up the industries best review on Logistic Freight Brokers.

Let’s try this.. Hi, I’m Brian. Born and raised in Boise, ID. I work for a company in sales here in the area, and I ship a TON of Freight everyday. Some truck load, some goes with a dedicated carrier, some by way of LTL, sometimes it’s anywhere from 1-30 pallets, but every shipment I utilize a third party logistics company on every load (I have a guide for small parcel shipments too.. aka UPS Ground and Fed Ex Ground). The company that I work for does over 80 million bucks in sales a year, and that is a low estimate, so we, as a company, know what we are doing when it comes to shipping pallets across the nation, and we partner with someone on every load.

Why? That’s easy.

A third party logistics broker has FAK’s of all types on what seems every lane imaginable. Without getting too detailed, this is a fancy way of saying they get a ton more discounts than then average Joe. Not only do they move a lot of volume, but they move a ton of varieties of volume, on almost all highways and interstates. You see, the type of loads a carrier will take helps the rates and having a presence in all 50 states and the cities within is a huge help.

So let’s start! I rank ’em… You ship with ’em!

#1. England Logistics – 9.9/10

Using Freightwire (subsidiary of England) is like having your buddy do your shipping for you. He knows my peeps in shipping. He knows my addresses I ship to most. He knows how many emails I want. He knows that I don’t want to be cc’d on every email. You will be different, and he adjusts. Give him a call. Then relax…

When you call, he answers. He is following your freight and if an issue arises, he is on it.

Rates are great! One great rate he has is an FAK at 300. This is huge and not as common.

If your freight has to be there tomorrow. Call Jared. Pallet or ground overnight deliveries are as easy as a hot knife through butter. Kid you not.

What stands out– Every pickup. Every delivery. Every shipment that I arrange with Freightwire (one of many offices that handles England’s freight) is taken care of.  I don’t want to have to call a day or two later and have to ask why the heck a pallet hasn’t been picked up yet. My guys at freightwire.com follow-up. My boy Jared asked me yesterday which emails I like receiving, so he is customizing my email intake. And I can quickly know the status of my shipment. They save my common shipping addresses so it makes it easy for repeat business.

Response Time- Instant with a call. My rep or his secretary WILL answer. Zero exceptions. If I email the quote in, I have it back normally within 5 minutes. Rare is it that it takes me more than 20-30 minutes. I even chat my guy for quotes or questions over google hangouts if I have to. Gotta’ have my quote!

The Rates- Great rates for freight class 70 to 300. If that number doesn’t mean much to you, then just know that they have great shipping rates. Superior dominance of the FAK’s. It is my experience that most Freight Brokers can get good rates for the dense items. With few exceptions, I get freight quotes from Freightwire.com because the rates are going to either win or be super competitive, and I know that I will have a quote faster than Trump can fly off the handle and I get a company that saves me time and hassle with their diligent follow-up.

Need for Improvement- This is hard. If there was a knock, it would be that their main office isn’t local to me. This may not be a problem for all, but it does provide them with the opportunity to give freight quotes to any and all as they can work with anyone, no matter the size of the company.

Bonus- Try their overnight or expedited LTL quotes! I kid you not. It was only 4 months ago or so. I had an overnight shipment that would have cost over $1,500. My rep got me the shipment, overnighted and delivered the next day, half way across the nation for less than $400. Now every lane is different, but that is a true story!

freightwire.com

 

#2. GlobalTranz – 9.89/10

What stands out– FAST. Responsive. Consistency. Pretty darn good pricing. One thing that I love about getting LTL or TL quotes from my gal is that  I can always expect and answer via email back within a few minutes. Some people love the phone. I don’t. Neither does my rep. It’s a style thing that we are on the same page with.

Response Time- I am not sure if i covered this in complete detail above. I would say Freaky Fast but I think that one has been trademarked elsewhere.

The Rates- Great Rates. One of my co-workers thinks that they have great rates all around, but the shipping rates when it comes to shipping to the east coast. I have found their quotes for anything above 6 pallets to be better or close to the winning freight quote.

Need for Improvement- Possibly in the LTL space. Remember, LTL is typically 6 pallets or less (48x40x96 max height). I haven’t found too big of savings when compared to others.

Bonus- Globaltranz has some serious capital backing. Started in 2003 and now does over $800 million gross in a year. That’s quite a cash flow statement to take care.

globaltranz.com

 

#3. FreightQuote – 9.7/10

What stands out– Dependable and Responsible. These guys do it well. They are huge! They have the internal framework to deal with mass production when it comes to shipping. Any freight broker can handle the loads that I do everyday, but these guys are set up so that my rep has multiple secretaries for him (more on this later). They are built for large or small companies.

Response Time- My guy answers the phone most all the time. When I have to send an email, he calls back shortly after. I personally would like an email back, but he is more geared toward a phone, which can help get the freight booked sooner with a call. One thing that freightquote can’t control is the Time Zone difference: they are one time zone ahead which matters a ton when I have a rush at the end of my business day.

The Rates- Fantastic! You can’t knock their rates. There will always be a better rate by a buck or two if you wanna call 20 companies. Consistency over many lanes and many products. But this is where my expertise comes in. I have spend years calling 5 companies per load and separating the cream of the crop out. Don’t waste your time. If you are one who needs to explore every company, then read on… but  please don’t do the mistake of reading self-promoting articles 😉

Need for Improvement- Again, not a red flag here. Just a minor knock from my experience. When my guy is out of the office, which really isn’t too often, I am attended to and I get my quote. I have four different people on his voicemail I can contact, but it just feels different than workin’ with my main guy.

Bonus- When in Kansas City, hit my guy up. He will gladly take you to a Chief’s or a Royal’s game. And now that the Royal’s give away their tickets again, you will have a nice seat at the ole’ Kaufmann.

Freightquote.com