General

What Freight Forwarders Do GETTING SHIPMENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE Freight forwarding systems are logistics companies that help to get large shipments anywhere in the world. The right logistics company will provide freight forwarding to manage all the details of your shipment and coordinate with any specialized third party shipping services that you might need. Freight […]

The Benefits of Logistics Outsourcing: The Importance of Logistics Operations in Business between Logistics Service Providers Do you have customers looking for services outside of your capabilities in your local market or for a service you do not currently support?  At AmerTrans we understand how essential it is for your logistic operations to flow seamlessly. […]

Last Year’s Challenges and 2023 Forecast 2022 was a whirlwind for anyone in logistics. Supply chain challenges continued to rock an industry still reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic. Around the world, businesses struggled to make deliveries on time in the face of rail strike threats, warehouse scarcity, and other issues. While some problems, like the […]

In Appreciation of Our Customers – March 2023 Message from CEO Matt Kline   I wanted to take a few moments to express what matters most to my team and me – our sincere gratitude for your continued support and business. “Thank you for your continued support and business.”   Without you, none of us […]

What Warehouses Do Warehousing is the process of storing inventory for distribution. All kinds of businesses rely on warehousing to keep their inventory safe. But, warehouses are not just for storage. Strategic warehousing also allows businesses to reduce delivery times and shipping costs. Businesses can save money several ways with effective warehousing. For example, warehouses […]

Global Supply Chain Stressors 2022 brought continued disruptions to logistics worldwide. Rising interest rates, inflation, and the war in Ukraine all continued to provide challenges to business owners around the world. Last year, shipping constraints, truck driver shortages, and the lack of available warehousing space all contributed to lost revenue. Even e-retailer giant Amazon suffered […]

Cost-Effective, Efficient Solutions At AmerTrans, we know that a strong supply chain isn’t just about maintaining pick-up and delivery schedules. Yes, those things are essential to your bottom line. But, to keep your costs down and your systems running smoothly, you need more. For the strongest, most efficient supply chain, you need expert guidance and […]

One Tough Year As we reflect on 2022, one thought comes to mind: we made it! While it looks like Covid is in the rearview mirror, we’re still dealing with its effects in major ways. Disruptions to the supply chain continue to throw up roadblocks to businesses around the world. As you know, we have […]

Powered by Diesel Diesel fuel truly makes the world go round. From heating homes to powering trucks, trains, buses, and ships, diesel does it all. With diesel costs high and winter just beginning, many people are wondering if they will have enough fuel to heat their homes and run their businesses. Fuel Prices in Flux […]

America Runs on Freight Rail According to the Federal Railroad Administration, freight rail moves approximately 28% of the total freight in the US. The reason why is simple. The American railroad system is designed to transport heavy freight across long distances effectively. Common freight rail shipments include coal, corn, lumber, automobiles, and the ethanol used […]

Industry Challenges According to a study published by the American Transportation Research Institute, the top challenges for the trucking industry in 2022 are fuel prices and driver shortages. Other problems cited in this same study were delay at customer facilities, driver retention, safety, and compliance. Many of these issues are nothing new. Economy-related challenges, like […]

One of Many Supply Chain Issues From fuel increases and rising transport costs to continued “Covid congestion” at ports affecting the global supply chains, companies are still struggling to get their shipments delivered on time. Even more frustrating is having your shipment arrive only to scramble to find warehousing and distribution solutions to maintain your […]

  Chicago, Illinois: Logistics Center of the United States With access to extensive rail and highway systems, the Chicago metropolitan area is a national leader in freight transportation. In addition, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport is a major player in air-cargo shipments. Finally, the Port of Chicago, located on Lake Michigan and connecting into the Great […]

FF&E Meaning & History for GNFR A little history lesson for all the new supply chain folks, and a touch into the past for the old timers.  Early in my career, when I was in procurement, we purchased items and had things on the shelf to ensure we could support our needs. Then in the […]

Did you know that gas costs almost 60% more now than it did last year? As the trucking industry rebounds during record-breaking fuel price hikes, fuel surcharges are on the rise too. If you are a tactical or strategic level manager, it is important that you understand the relationship between fuel surcharge rates and your logistics operation. The […]

Managing Increases in Transportation Costs Several months have passed since my last blog posting, however, the costs to transport materials throughout the U.S. is not seeing much change.  What is contributing to the increased cost to move your product are complex. To name a few are the increased cost for fuel, the increased cost in […]

If you run a business that ships all over, it’s important to understand your options. Truck drivers in the United States recently transported nearly 12 billion tons of goods in a single year. There are numerous methods for transporting materials, including less than truckload (LTL) freight. This is a classification you need to know about no matter […]

Did you know that competition is one of the biggest challenges to logistics business growth? Shipping is one of the most profitable segments of the logistics industry. It’s also one of the most competitive. Spending just a few minutes on the internet researching logistics transportation will give you a headache trying to figure out who to […]

The AmerTrans Fuel Surcharge Calculator The dollars per gallon of fuel are, at the time of writing, on average over $5 and rising. Because of this, many companies are looking at fuel surcharges when transporting goods. To do this, they need a fuel surcharge calculator that is both lean and adaptable to ever-changing circumstances. Below we explain […]

Did you know that over $280 billion worth of goods gets imported into the United States every month? These goods are all dependent on the logistics transportation industry. This industry is responsible to collect, store, and transport goods around the country. This is why transportation and logistics services are so important to the economy. While the transport […]

Import and Export in Logistics As much as people praise American-made goods and bemoan imported ones, they would be surprised to find out just how much comes from outside the country. In 2019, capital goods held the most value of goods imported at over $678 billion. Consumer goods were below that, valued at $654 billion. Managing the […]

What Are Inbound and Outbound Logistics? The global logistics market is enormous. In fact, by 2027 it’s projected to amount to a whopping $11,367 million. Especially given all of the current Logistics and Supply Chain Challenges we are currently facing, any company dealing with physical goods needs an inbound and outbound logistics process. That’s regardless of […]

What Does Operational Efficiency Mean for a Warehouse? Warehouse workers often get mixed representation in the media. In real life, they struggle to meet the deadlines placed on them by big brand companies. The reality is that these employees are only as good as the management who oversees them. Improving your operational efficiency is key […]

The transportation and warehousing industry makes up more than $1 trillion as an industry. No matter what segment of the business you’re in, you need to understand what challenges you’ll face this year and beyond. World events, economic constraints, changes in technology, and other matters are driving these evolutions. You can navigate accordingly when you’re aware of […]

Cross-docking vs. Transloading: How Do They Differ? COVID-19 has affected every industry and it’s causing many to rethink their supply chain management. McKinsey recently surveyed senior supply-chain executives.  Of them, 93% indicated that they’re trying to make their supply chains more resilient and agile. Both transloading and cross dock services are crucial pieces of the logistics puzzle. […]

Understanding the Meaning of Cross-Docking One of the costliest offenders when running a successful business is the supply chain. Keeping costs low, but the speed and productivity up is key for growth for organizations. So, what is cross docking? Cross docking is a logistics solution for helping you to achieve these objectives. It’s important to find out from a […]

The term supply chain has become its own sort of buzzword within the zeitgeist of the past few months, most notably because disruptions to the supply chain have been felt both here and abroad. Remember the panic-buying of toilet paper at the outset of the pandemic? The rapid increase in demand for the product led to a […]

What is a WMS Warehouse Management System? How Technology Can Help With Warehouse Management What does WMS mean? A WMS is a warehouse management system that helps with supply chain management. The best warehouse management software gives everyone a transparent look at exactly what is happening within the warehouse. This software not only records but […]

The Definition of Efficient Supply Chain Supply Chain Processes & Improving Supply Chain Performance Your supply chain is the key to your business. An efficient supply chain helps everything move along smoothly. Your supply chain accounts for all activities involved in manufacturing, transporting, storing, and even accepting returns of your product. Even if you’ve already […]

Freight Shipping Meaning How to Ship Freight What is freight shipping and what does freight mean? It means shipping large shipments carrying cargo, usually from one business to another. Freight classification does not include the packages that come to your house from your online shopping orders. It means transporting goods in bulk by rail, cargo […]

3PL Meaning & 4PL Meaning What Does 3PL Mean: 3PL Definition How would you define 3PL companies? Many people have some idea of what they are, but find it hard to put it into words. First of all, what does 3PL stand for? It stands for 3rd party logistics. So, by a simple definition, a […]

How to Use Reverse Logistics to Improve Your Business What Is Reverse Logistics? Reverse logistics represents any process in your supply chain that allows you to reuse, recycle, and reclaim materials or products. Reverse logistics companies help with various elements of supply chain management like customer return rates, reclaiming unused raw materials for a new […]

Is There a Difference Between Freight Forwarding and Logistics? What Is Freight Forwarding? Freight Forwarder Definition Freight forwarding companies provide services to help get your shipment to its final destination. They are a “middleman” who works with several different logistics partners to find the right companies to ship your products for each leg of the […]

What’s Unique About Logistics In the Retail Industry? Managing Retailing, Wholesaling, and Logistics Even though brick-and-mortar retail sales might be slower due to the pandemic and the rise of the internet, retail logistics are still important. One of the reasons for that is this topic includes e-retail logistics – supply chain solutions for online shoppers. […]

The Most Important Part of Project Logistics? Defining Roll Out What is project rollout? It is the beginning of any logistical project whether it is a retail display refresh, the start of a new display marketing campaign, or the launch of a new product. The rollout period is critical to the success of the project. […]

Efficient, Convenient & Transparent Sourcing Logistics Definition Before we define a single source logistics company, we must define what sourcing means in the logistics field. Basically, sourcing is the process of finding all of your product and service suppliers.  So, when you are in the sourcing process of your supply chain, you will try to […]

How to Calculate Shipping Volume Weight Free Tool to Make Calculations Easier A volume to weight calculator helps you to figure out not only how much your shipment will weigh, but also how much space it will take up in a shipping container. This allows you to know how many containers you will need, and […]

Business Continuity After a Disaster Disaster Recovery Operations Anytime your business is affected by a disaster, you will lose revenue. Recovery logistics help you get back on your feet more quickly. What might require specialized recovery logistics services? Natural disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, floods, blizzards, and tornados can cause the need for storm recovery logistics. […]

Thinking of Getting Into Logistics? Keep Reading! What Does a Logistics Team Member Do? On every logistics team, there are a wide variety of roles. This is a great industry if you’re thinking of a career change. There will always be a need for shipments and logistics as long as people keep manufacturing and buying […]

Sealing the Deal All About Contracts for Shipping When you work with a logistics company, you should always make sure to have an iron-clad shipment contract or destination contract. This protects you by spelling out what the carrier will do, and states who will take financial responsibility for any product lost or damaged during different […]

Solving Life Sciences Logistics Challenges Temperature-Controlled Supply Chain Services Life science logistics usually refers to logistics in the medical industry. Medical devices, prescription drugs, and materials for clinical trials require specialized care. They often also require temperature-controlled services, also called cold-chained logistics. This industry has special needs, due to the importance of the products in […]

WHAT IS A WHITE GLOVE DELIVERY?   Service With a Special Touch In the logistics industry, white glove doesn’t always mean that you will see your service team wearing white-colored gloves. However, some items do require extra hand coverage to avoid damaging them. What it means is that your shipment will be handled with care […]

Answer: Expedited shipping is a delivery method that provides faster than the usual options and varies in time depending on the carrier. All About Faster Shipping HOW LONG DOES EXPEDITED SHIPPING TAKE? Expedited shipping doesn’t always have a standard speed. It often simply means as fast as possible. Depending on the size of your shipment and […]

What Are Integrated Logistics Services With Technology? TYPES OF PLATFORMS When it comes to logistics the first thing that may come to your mind is trucks, planes, and boats. However, there is much more technology involved in this process these days. There are several types of platforms you will need to use because it makes […]

Trends In Logistics And Information Technology OUR PREDICTIONS The impact of technology in logistics is undeniable. Here at AmerTrans Logistics we work hard to stay on the cutting edge of digital technologies in logistics so we can choose the most useful tools that you, our clients can benefit from. Here are some trends that we […]

Improving Customer Service In Logistics DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES SERVICES A powerful customer portal is a great benefit in modern logistics processes. Our system combines many systems into one. It encompasses a warehouse management system (WMS), a transportation management system (TMS), and a general customer portal with all the features you need to run your business […]

Working With An Innovative Logistics Group INNOVATION IN THE INDUSTRY There is so much innovation and development happening in the logistics industry today. As your partner, we are on top of the newest trends and try to use cutting edge tools to make your logistics plan a success. The first step to this point is […]

Getting Your Products There THE FINAL LEG OF THE JOURNEY The final part of a product’s journey is usually delivering it straight to a customer or a retail location. Some experts might argue that this is the most important part of the shipping process. However, it is also the part that is most expensive, and […]

More Than Just Transport HOW DOES IT WORK? Transportation in logistics is more than just bringing things from one place to another. It’s all about planning things in the most efficient way possible. Logistics transportation services and the supply chain are tightly intertwined. However, it’s just one small part of it.   There are several […]

A supply chain management definition encompasses many different things. It basically includes everything that takes your products from raw materials to a finished product. It involves warehousing not only of your finished product, but also the materials used to make the product, and all the partners you work with along the way. It also encompasses all […]

The Benefits of Custom Logistics There is no custom logistics plan that is a “one size fits all” approach. Each business’s needs are different, and each business has different key performance indicators that are important to them. As a lean and agile logistics provider, we work with each of our clients to find the best […]

What is a Logistics Service? There are all different types of logistics services. Basically, they encompass anything that deals with getting products, materials, and other resources from one place to another. Logistics is much more than just deliveries. Simply put, a logistic service coordinates the movement people and things to enable for efficiency and smooth […]

How Integrated Logistics Can Help At a point in recent history, logistics mostly referred to moving raw materials and finished products around the globe. However, now, integrated logistics management includes so much more than that. It connects with all departments involved in producing a product, and is geared towards improving both time and budget efficiency […]

The Power of a Custom Logistics Plan Logistics is never a “one-size-fits-all” solution. Each client needs a customized plan to serve their needs. We are passionate about helping our customers get exactly what they need with a dedicated logistics plan that serves their needs.  Custom logistics management can reduce your overall costs by making your […]

What technology is used in supply chain management? Our customer portal is a great example. It includes a Transportation Management System (TMS,) a Warehouse Management System (WMS,) and more. It allows you to have access to real time data about your inventory and shipments. If you want full transparency, embracing technology when it comes to […]

Logistics Options Logistics is more than just transporting items from one location to another. There are many more processes involved. The following items are also an important part of logistics. Warehousing Services Products often need to be stored until they are ready to be sold or used in manufacturing, making warehousing an important part of […]

Answer: Supply chain management is everything your business does to manage your supply chain most efficiently from start to finish. What is Supply Chain Management and Why is it Important? This is a complex set of processes that get your businesses supplies and products where they need to go when they need to be there. […]