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Newbies

2 Changes In Logistics After Covid-19

The past few years have been turbulent ones for the logistics industry. In 2020, freight logistics and supply chain resilience was tested again and again.

The pandemic interrupted many global supply chains, which were forced into stops and starts over the past year. Shippers and carriers had to continuously change plans as the means of logistics they relied on strained and sometimes broke.

After the sluggish pandemic economy of 2020, government stimulus, low-interest rates, and increased consumer spending are spurring growth in 2021.

As a result of this unpredictable, pandemic-driven year, U.S. business logistics costs fell 4.0% to $1.56 trillion, or 7.4% of 2020’s $20.94 trillion U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), according to the 32nd Annual Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) State of Logistics Report.

Motor carrier costs dropped 0.6% in 2020. While full truckload carriers dropped 1.6% last year and less-than-truckload carrier costs were down 5%, private and dedicated fleets saw a 1.5% increase in costs during 2020. Parcel delivery costs jumped 24.4% last year, driven by the surge in ecommerce and changes in consumer behavior.

As consumer behavior changes global and domestic supply chains, fleets are forced to adapt to the ongoing pandemic and other disruptions continuously. Supply chains are being reset and reconfigured as manufacturers shift their sources and consumers shift their spending habits.

Logisticians proved themselves capable of quickly abandoning old plans, solving new problems, and handling disruptions. This ability to adapt will serve logistics professionals well in the future, as the report predicts that the pandemic’s aftereffects and “new surprises” will force logistics professionals to continually change their plans.

Growth + Change = Opportunity!

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Newbies

What do you need to become a freight dispatcher?

Freight is a dynamic and rewarding industry. One way to get your start in the shipping industry is to become a truck dispatcher.

Dispatchers play a key role in getting trucks out to collect and deliver loads for businesses shipping goods. 

You need to consider everything from how to navigate a load board and create an effective website to how to negotiate contracts and find and work with carriers.

Truck dispatchers are usually employed directly by a shipping company or an owner-operator. They could be employed by a freight company to coordinate a set portfolio of shipping lanes. Some truck dispatchers work freelance for multiple trucking companies as independent freight dispatchers.

The best truck dispatchers have a mix of interpersonal and analytical skills that help them solve problems in every section of the supply chain.

Dispatchers need to have a good sense of how all the pieces of the puzzle fit in order to quickly respond to changes or customer requests.

To become a freight dispatcher you  need:

Education and training.

Get industry experience.

Register your business.

Subscribe to a quality load board.

Running a successful truck dispatcher business is hard work, like so many of the jobs in the freight industry, dispatching can be lucrative. It takes a keen eye for detail and an organized mind to be successful in the role. If you have those qualities, this might be a career worth pursuing.

Growth + Change = Opportunity! 

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Newbies

Software Helping Freight Brokers and Agents Maximize Earnings

Early in the game, brokers can manage their handful of loads manually. But as their network grows, they’ll need to reinvest the initial profit into technologies to scale their business. The specialized software will systematize the shipment process, improve the overall brokerage service offering, and ultimately organize operations a whole lot better.

To ensure profitability, they must define the most efficient transport option that benefits their own business while satisfying customer requirements. Doing this involves a lot of challenges.

Tallgrass Freight Co. (TGF) introduced an innovative, new CRM designed for freight experts, by freight experts. This groundbreaking platform empowers freight agents to earn more, work with greater efficiency and deliver the strongest customer experience. An industry disruptor, the Tallgrass CRM is poised to make a lasting impact on the logistics ecosystem.

While most companies utilize an off-the-shelf CRM, the Tallgrass Freight CRM was designed with a freight broker’s unique needs in mind. 

Every feature was created to streamline the logistics workflow. The system includes an intuitive shipment booking system, agent commissions data, a detailed carrier information page and easy accessibility to training. 

If you have a freight brokerage business and decide to purchase software instead of building it from scratch, you have a wide choice of solutions. As they all have similar functionality, a good practice is to select options within your budget range and then trial each of them. Make sure the system is highly optimized because speed is everything in this business.

Growth + Change = Opportunity!

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Newbies

Mental Health And Running Your Own Business

Being an entrepreneur seems exciting on the surface: pursuing a passion, setting your own schedule and, hopefully, making lots of money. But the responsibility that comes with getting a business up and running can cause immense pressure. Running your own business can be hugely rewarding, but for many  business owners having sole responsibility for the company’s success or failure can take its toll. Entrepreneurs are more likely to experience mental health issues than the general public.

While it can be tempting to focus all of your time and attention on your business, it’s also essential that you take care of yourself. As an entrepreneur you can face a range of unique challenges that can affect your mental health and the mental health of your staff.

These are seven ways to maintain your mental health while running a business:

Understand that you’re not alone: 32 percent of entrepreneurs struggle with two or more mental health conditions. One of the most important things for you to realize is that you’re not alone, and support is closer than you think

Put your mental health above everything else: Finding at least a small amount of time for yourself every day is an important part of self-care. It could be as simple as gardening, drawing, reading a good book, taking a hot bath, or going for coffee with a loved one—anything that relaxes you

Learn how to ask for help: With the stigma surrounding mental illness and the effects it has on our society, taking a stand and being open and vocal is necessary.

Avoid unhealthy comparison: Comparison on social media is unavoidable, and psychological research has shown that this kind of comparison leads to a list of mental health concerns. Taking breaks from social media (aside from business purposes) can be very helpful for both your mental health and your focus and productivity.

Create a support network: You can connect with like-minded individuals in person at networking events or through online communities as a way of building collaboration and for a positive effect on your day-to-day well-being, it’s important to maintain your relationships outside of your business as well.

Sleep well, eat well, and exercise: Force yourself to go to sleep by a certain time every night so that you’re getting the right amount of sleep. Make sure to set aside even 30 minutes of time a day to get in some quick cardio or a short one-hour class at the gym. And don’t neglect your diet!

Don’t be afraid of therapy: If the stress of being an entrepreneur becomes overwhelming, get professional help from your family doctor, counselor, psychologist, or other mental help expert as soon as possible.

Growth + Change = Opportunity!

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Newbies

Reopening Businesses And Logistics

The pandemic eases in the U.S., and offices around the country commence reopening plans.
Businesses are finding themselves in a constant state of transition with each county and state being in different phases of reopening, and then considering the new customers they’ve gotten over the last year.

In its most-recent guidance, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said that employers can legally require workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, with exceptions for those who have a medical or religious accommodation.
Some epidemiologists continue to recommend following the golden rules of coronavirus safety.

The Biden administration has been weighing changes to sweeping travel restrictions that bar much of the world’s population from coming to the United States, but has reached no decisions, government and industry officials.

Biden administration agencies have been holding meetings for more than a month and reaching out to industry officials about when and how they could begin to unwind the travel restrictions first imposed in early 2020 in response to COVID-19 that bar much of the world’s population from entering the United States.
The U.S.-bound imports and shipments remain solid.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told a news conference on Wednesday that any decision to lift restrictions “ultimately is a public health decision and there is an interagency process and obviously the CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)” is taking a leading role.

Growth + Change = Opportunity! 

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Newbies

Fuel Shortage And Freight Brokers

US shippers in the Southeast face several additional days of truckload service disruption, with the potential for missed deliveries and pickups, as the region recovers from sporadic fuel shortages caused by the Colonial Pipeline shutdown. 

Fistfights and long queues have been reported at petrol stations in the south-eastern United States as people panic over a fuel shortage sparked by a cyber attack last week.

A ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline last week halted 2.5 million barrels per day of fuel shipments.

The pipeline stretches 8,850 kilometres from US Gulf Coast oil refineries to consumers in mid-Atlantic and south-eastern states.

The outage and resulting shortages of gasoline and diesel tightened already tight truckload capacity as the spring produce season ratcheted up truck demand across the South, compounding pressure on shippers and carriers already strapped by high volumes of freight arriving at ports such as Savannah and Charleston, as well as inland hubs such as Atlanta and Memphis.

Colonial Pipeline Co. said in an update on Wednesday that a restart of its system has been initiated: “Following this restart, it will take several days for the product delivery supply chain to return to normal. Some markets served by Colonial Pipeline may experience, or continue to experience, intermittent service interruptions during the start-up period,” the company added. “Colonial will move as much gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel as is safely possible and will continue to do so until markets return to normal.”

Shippers may have difficulty finding carriers and drivers willing to go to the Southeast while the fuel shortages persist.

Growth + Change = Opportunity! 

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Newbies

2 Causes of High Demand for Freight Brokers

Current market restrictions on trucks and international container capacity are expected to last through 2023.

Shippers are moving to a stronger for a longer pricing cycle, many retailers are increasing their transport cost projections and retailers are already starting to raise prices by 10% to 20%.

The hot market continues to affect truck load carriers ordering new trucks and paying attention to driver recruitment and retention to keep up with customer demand, these issues are also starting to affect another actor in the supply chain: the freight broker.

The transportation hiring data is not following the same trends as shipment volume, something that commonly trended the same in the past.

Candidates leverage their power: As trucking volumes continue to rise, freight brokers have struggled with their own internal recruiting strategies and have started reaching out to industry recruiters.

Charlie Saffro, founder and president of CS Recruiting said “The demand is now greater than ever”, “The way we can judge this comes from companies we have never worked with before. … Lots of companies that start brokerage and don’t even have a name or website, [even] You want to hire freight brokers. “

“Currently, there is a war over talent”, “It’s a candidate market and it’s 100%.” Brent Orsuga, founder and president of Pinnacle Growth Strategies, explained.

Contrary to the trucking industry, in which barriers to entry are becoming more difficult, making it less attractive for potential drivers, the brokerage space is dealing with candidates who understand their qualifications and want a better experience than they currently have.

Growth + Change = Opportunity! How are you going to capitalize on the opportunity as a freight broker, agent or dispatcher?

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Carriers Freight Loads Newbies

Available Truck Drivers by State

Right Now Loads.com (RNL) has the most features to offer on one website for 1 low monthly fee. “Right Now” means connecting you instantly with thousands of trucking companies, freight loads, truck drivers and Owner Operators nationwide. Freight Brokers, Freight Forwarders, Carriers, Shippers and anyone trying to get into the transportation industry for the first time can benefit from this powerful and easy to use website. Our special features are unmatched on the internet and are the backend that drives RNL to the top of the internet freight matching industry.

There are tens of thousands of carriers operating in the United States alone. As well as tens of thousands of truck drivers and Owner Operators looking for work. RNL provides an internet link between the two with over 45,000 transportation contacts in our database. We offer Owner Operators and Truck Drivers direct contact with trucking companies, freight forwarders, freight carriers and shippers nationwide via email, phone or fax, with our online load matching service. Our real time freight load database is easy to use for Freight Brokers. It is a requirement for Freight Brokers to have an online freight matching service software to find carriers for their customers. Freight Brokers get the best of both worlds, because they have access to trucking companies nationwide as well as a huge database of truck drivers and owner operators looking for available freight loads. We offer Owner Operators and Truck Drivers an easy way to obtain cargo insurance with nationwide cargo insurance affiliates ready to provide liability and cargo insurance certificates. Our online advertisement specials are the best offer on the internet, with customizable banner ads displayed to thousands of monthly visitors. All of these features are included with your monthly membership.

Most importantly our online load matching system is extremely easy to use. Our website is designed for owner-operators to find work fast and get on the road. Our user-friendly web interface makes it fast to find exactly what you are looking for whether your a freight broker, owner operator, truck driver, shipper, freight forwarder or carrier. Some of our special features include cell phone text messaging of an available truckload or requesting a truck lane to be filled. All searches can be printed in a print-friendly format, and all searches can be downloaded into an excel format. All listings are integrated into mapquest for easy pin-point directions and mileage calculations. This is extremely important for owner-operators budgeting their trip. We supply owner operators with WiFi Hot Spots and Gas Stations and Truck Stops that are equipped with internet access so you can find loads anywhere and avoid having deadhead miles.

We acquire loads from freight brokers, freight forwarders and our affiliates with major trucking companies nationwide. We are an internet source of transportation information and our main goal is to make a user-friendly, knowledgeable, and safe network of members sharing trucking information, loads, freight questions and answers and expand your business off one another. Best of all, this information is available to users 24/7/365 for the lowest monthly fee on the internet! You can’t go wrong. Join us today and experience the power of Right Now Loads.com

Rightnowloads.com
24/7 Dispatching Service 888-852-4238
[email protected]
Call to avail 50% OFF for the First Month

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Newbies Trucker News

Driver Turnover at Big Trucking Firms

The pace of driver turnover at big motor carriers rose to 95 percent in the third quarter of 2017, up 14 percentage points from the same period a year earlier. The third quarter turnover rate is up five percentage points from 90 percent in the second quarter of this year, according to the American Trucking Associations’ latest report. Turnover at small trucking fleets – those with less than $30 million in annual revenue – increased two percentage points from 82 percent to 84 percent for the same period in 2016. The rate dropped one percentage point compared with the second quarter of this year.

turnover rate is a “Reflection of the current state of the driver market,” said Bob Costello, chief economist at the ATA. “When turnover rates are lower, that tells us that the driver market is not as tight, that drivers are not in as high of demand,” Costello told Trucks.com. “Since bottoming out at the end of 2016, the turnover rate at larger fleets has steadily risen – a function of an improving economy, rising demand for freight transportation and fierce competition for drivers,” he said. The increasing churn rate may be attributed to truckers jumping from fleet to fleet as carriers offer sign-on bonuses to attract drivers.

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Newbies Trucker News

Accounting Software for a Small Trucking Business

Generic accounting software is fine for many businesses, but a successful small trucking business requires its software be specific for trucking to meet the intricate needs of the industry. Trucking company software should be able to track revenue and expenses per mile, load, or truck and have the ability to input additional charges such as detention and loading pay easily.

Truckers Helper
The Truckers Helper full version supports up to 10 trucks. The accounting features in the program include one-step data entry and can provide double-entry accounting reports. Mileage tracking allows you to calculate fuel taxes automatically when you enter load and fuel information. You can upgrade to the fleet version when the company outgrows the full version. Truckers Helper is compatible with Windows. As of 2011, the full version costs $359 and routing and GPS capabilities are available. You can lease the software for $55 per month.

Keystone Systems
Keystone Systems integrates billing, dispatch, settlements, and fuel tax reporting, which helps to prevent errors due to data entry. The report writing function allows you to set your own parameters for reports and will pull the information you need from several files to compile the report. The accounting portion of the program will track all of your income and expenses by trip or truck allowing you to see what routes and drivers are cost effective. Keystone builds the package you need for your business and will quote a price after evaluating your needs.

TruckBytes
TruckBytes Provides accounting functions such as tracking income and expenses, creating invoices, and financial reports. The software is available for independent owner/operators and small fleets. The basic software is free as of 2011, but you can add a feature that calculates fuel taxes and payroll for no more than $20 per truck per month.

Truckn Pro 7
Truckn Pro 7 is designed for owner/operators or small fleet companies. The accounting functions include income, expense, revenue and profit and loss reports. The software fills in maintenance reports and tracks driver logs. As of 2011, it’s available for $135, which includes any updates for a year.