Showing posts with label Trucking services. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trucking services. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Are You Part of The Transportation Industry? Start Embracing the Digital Revolution

If you want to rule the roost as a local courier service or even as an international parcel delivery provider, you need to understand which metrics differentiate successful logistics companies from those that crash and burn.
International Parcel Delivery Services - DTDC
International Parcel Delivery Services - DTDC
And in the long run, that standard is measured in terms of market disruption. Most companies today, agree that players who leverage tech innovation to blindside competitors and quickly steal market share are those that will end up wildly successful. It happened with Uber and it happened with Airbnb, which are both multi-billion-dollar enterprises that grew solely by using intuitive tech to vastly increase the scale of the sharing economy.

if you run a transportation company, you've probably given much thought to implementing a completely paperless system. But that may not be nearly enough. In fact, according to a global report by Price, Water house and Cooper, infrastructural investment aimed at logistics is set to see a 5% yearly growth rate in the next decade.

By leveraging the right technology investments, you can use this infrastructural boom to help your company perform more efficiently, make better margins, deliver better service and with a little luck, you could even grow exponentially.

But market-breaking innovation aside, here are the basic logistical tech upgrades that you need implement right away:

1. Digital Route Planning

Whether you're an intra-city delivery service or a global freight mover, leveraging automization software solutions to effectively plan out your delivery routes and schedules is critical to leveling up in the logistics space.

2. Asset Tracking / Resource Management

RFID chips and GPS are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to modern day asset tracking. More often than not, larger logistics enterprises (especially trucking services) are using beacons and multi-faceted sensors to acquire real-time data on their fleets. When paired with a versatile dashboard, this data can tremendously improve your inventory management, the efficiency of your last-mile fulfillment services and your overall profitability.

Besides, this the overall data accumulated can help you gain insights into how to structure and position your fleets in accordance with different economic cycles.

3. Workforce Optimization

The paper trail is passé. And making your employees run around with reams of documentation is just another sign that you aren't rolling with the times.

As early as you can, introduce and familiarize your staff with the magic of electronic PODs and train them to effectively operate a CMS. This may take a little organizational restructuring, but without it, you'll be doomed in the long run.

The benefits of this sort of software deployment include improved transparency, faster re-routing, better intra-network communications, rapid complaint resolution and a strong sense of accountability.

Think about it? The world is changing at a pace that is too rapid for most companies to keep up with, but you as a logistics supplier can effect simple changes that can revolutionize your operations. And you'd better do it now, because the longer you wait, the more reformation cost you incur, and the less impact you change will ultimately have on your standing in the market.

Friday, January 6, 2017

What are the Different Modes of Transportation That Aid Logistics?

Tracks And Traits Of Courier Companies
Transportation is important to the operation of logistics as nerves are to a human body. There is no logistics without transportation and several times, the international courier services tie-up with third party logistics to stretch the services and logistics distribution for growing demands.
Logistics distribution - DTDC
Logistics distribution - DTDC

All parcels even international delivery has a source of origination and the customer is always its destination. Different modes of transportation via logistics distribution are what make it possible for goods worth billions of dollars to reach its correct destination from the source.

Modes of Transport

By road: These are mostly inter-city and interstate deliveries that have a dedicated team of drivers from the trucking services delivering parcels that have entered the country. This also includes the transportation of goods from ports to distribution centers and fulfillment warehouses.

By rail: Mostly helpful when goods are to be distributed around a country. The cargo trains carrying the goods may drop it off either at the ports or the distribution centers from where the trucking services proceed to deliver the items.

By water: This is the cheapest mode of transport and carries large volumes of goods across continents. International shipping services have goods at the port which need to be shipped across the sea and the ships carry the large volume of goods for international delivery.

By air: This can be really costly but fast. However, international courier services airlift very valuably, lesser volumes of goods. There are even cargo planes that carry goods via air.

With such tremendous methods of transportation, things could get a little complicated while you aim at receiving the correct shipment. Freight forwarders can help with queries you have about your item. However, the international logistics services always have your back with the aid of all modes of transportation detailed above and also the best technological backing.


The Number One Historic Logistician is....War – Fare!

Ulysses S Grant was a man who built himself from scratch to become the President of the USA twice. He was a man with a keen interest in the art of warfare including logistics distribution that helped during a war. He then served as a Colonel in the American Civil war, for the Union under Abraham Lincoln against the Confederates who were part of 11 Southern states that seceded from the Union in order to preserve slavery, states' rights, and political liberty.
International Logistics Services - DTDC
International Logistics Services - DTDC

The American Civil War lasted four years from 1961 to 1965. The four-year war with 2.5 million people on each side, 50 major, and 5000 minor battles fought, ended with a total of 620,000 deaths and a lot of casualties. The nationwide war was a tough one and the numbers here say so.

A war that lasted four years could gladly make use of today's international logistics services for a continuous flow of goods to take care of the army’s war requirements. Grant was a man with a skill to deliver. He was the architect of the logistics distribution planning that catered to the needs of 2 million soldiers in the North that formed the Union under Abraham Lincoln.

Here are a few things listed below, that an army would need at war:

• Food
• Water
• Ammunition
• Salvage
• Health and Comfort items
• Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants
• Construction materials
• Health and Hygiene products
• Medical materials
• And all captured materials

These are just a few. Grant carefully planned the movement of fulfillment warehouses and logistics distribution with every proceeding of the army and the trucking services that helped carry heavy ammunition. This assisted the Union Army win over the Confederacy. To have designed the logistics distribution for a war so massive, he is the No. 1 logistician in history.

Grant's popularity as a Union War General made him the 18th President of America for the first time.

Few Ways to Identify That Goods Are Damaged

The international logistics services team is expected, mostly as ethics, to ensure they check their inventory before international delivery is initiated. Damaged goods adversely affect transportation costs and also affect their partnerships with third party logistics. It’s needless to say that item that comes through international shipping need to be examined stringently by the logistics distribution team especially while unloading from vehicles. However, not just international shipping but domestic deliveries too, have their fair share in dishing out damaged goods.
International Delivery - DTDC USA
International Delivery - DTDC USA

Fortunately we have figured out a few steps to identify faulty deliveries:

1. Leaking containers: This is one of the few easily identifiable faults while receiving inventory. If ignored, consumers are affected and might harm the company’s goodwill. And sometimes could prove to be disastrous.

2. Inflated packages: Such damages are usually seen in carton packages containing food/liquid commodities. The international parcel delivery services usually dispose-off these items unless they have a clause with the vendor which allows them to return the goods back.

3. Dents on the package: Electronic items through express delivery are prone to damages which are easily visible even on the outside of the package. While some such wrecks can be repaired, it is sometimes sent back through the international parcel delivery services with the expectation of some monetary compensation.

4. Foul smell: Some international parcel delivery services have exceptional packaging systems in place. However, a slight oversight could cause foods to rot, and what is left is an unpleasant smell, customers and expenses!

5. Examining the product information on the package: Some goods carry details on the package which sometimes include the products’ shelf life. Often, at times, when the international delivery transit takes longer than expected, it helps because the goods are in the fulfillment warehouse.

There can never be a complete guarantee to deliver undamaged goods, although that is what is most expected. Careful packaging and reliable trucking services soften the blow and reduce the risk that the logistics distribution service has to bear.


Courier in Hot Weather vs. Cold Weather - Sun, Snow, and Shipments


When transporting goods across borders, getting the product from its origin to the consumer comes with a ton of challenges. One of the primary challenges for any international parcel delivery services are the weather conditions. Weather conditions are to be monitored closely by international delivery services in order to deliver the product without damage and on-time.


International Parcel Delivery Services - DTDC USA
International Parcel Delivery Services - DTDC USA

Products which are couriered can get easily damaged due to abnormal weather conditions and these are mostly food products and medical supplies.

Here are a few methods that the international logistics services have come up with to tackle adverse weather conditions:

1) Packing: Fulfillment warehouse should pack goods suitably considering the damage the weather can cause to the parcel.

2) Forecast: The international shipping services should recover historical data of challenges they faced during severe weather conditions and plan a workaround to meet international delivery demands more efficiently.

3) Technology: Most containers carrying perishable items are temperature controlled with trackers to help track movement of the same.

4) Equipped warehouses: Logistics distribution centers are aware of items that can get damaged in the heat/cold and hence keep a close watch on such goods. For this, temperature at such distribution centers is controlled to prevent goods from damage. 

5) Equipped drivers: Cold weather and snow causes a lot of trouble to truckers and this can delay delivery. Trucking services are to be equipped with shovels and other tools to help get them out of trouble on snow filled roads. Winter tires are increasingly used by large number of fleet vehicles, offering better grip and decreased stopping distances in adverse weather conditions.

Other than a threat to drivers of these trucking services during the cold weather conditions, most products are vulnerable during hot weather. The products that are being transported under the heat of the sun require more attention and quality check to keep them from spoilage.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Your Guide On How To Pack Fragile And Valuable Items?

With international shipping consignments moving through various channels like fulfilment warehouses, logistics distribution, distribution and international delivery hubs and additionally are transported by using air, road, rail, sea or trucking services, a minor flaw in handling in any of these areas can result in damage of goods. This can happen despite the best efforts of international Parcel delivery services who handle huge volume of cargo for international delivery. 
International Shipping - DTDC USA
International Shipping - DTDC USA
So, if you are planning to send something that is fragile or valuable through a courier from USA to India or a courier to Europe from USA or wherever, it is better to pack it properly by using the recommended packaging materials before entrusting with the courier. Most of the International Logistics services providers and international courier services make use of quality third part logistics providers to ensure proper packaging to prevent damage of goods, but mishaps are bound to occur at certain times. 

It is always better to be safe than sorry!

The first thing, that you can to do while sending a valuable or fragile item by a parcel to India from USA, is to take an insurance cover close to the value of the consignment that is to be sent for international delivery. Even if the cost is on a higher side, go for it. An antique piece of jewellery or a rare painting or a memorabilia that you cherish, cannot be rebought. So, to pack these fragile or valuable items, the materials you need and the method to be followed are as follows:

While packing, it is important to have the basic necessary materials at your disposal like packing tape, scissors, pliable cardboard, bubble wrapper, newspaper, high quality packing paper, packing boxes and sturdy double-walled or triple-walled boxes that are at least 1/4” thick. 

The method:

Wrapping is the first step towards a healthy packing of international delivery. The idea is to give a protective jacket around your valuables. Newspapers are good enough but it is advisable to use bubble wraps or polythene foam because of the extra padding during international shipping. Wrap the packing tape all around to give another layer of protection. 

Now, choose a corrugated cardboard box with double or triple-walls of adequate size and place a layer of bubble wrap or foam at the bottom. Keep your wrapped package inside and place foam on the sides so as to ensure that the international shipping package doesn’t move inside. Make it as tight as you can. Repeat the same procedure on top as well. 
Next close the package and secure it all around with packing tape. You can use two or three layers of packing tape all around. Affix a sticker that highlights “Fragile”, “Handle with care”. Place indicators like ‘top’ or ‘bottom’. Now, your courier from USA to India is ready to be taken to the courier office to be shipped. You can even send it through express delivery option by paying higher international shipping prices. 

So, take your time to pack your fragile or valuable items as they need special care and attention. Be organised and systematic throughout the process and don’t forget to label it as “Fragile”.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

DTDC: A premier parcel delivery services company

DTDC is a reputed international parcel delivery services company in India. The company was formed in 1990 with the vision “to be the most preferred global express parcel service provider with a special consumer focus”. It currently has subsidiaries and joint ventures in 20 countries including the US, UK, Australia, Singapore, and Australia. It is a strategic partner of DPD Group, an international shipping company owned by GeoPost, and has a presence in over 10,000 locations. It has one of the largest franchise networks in the world and it operates in countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Bhutan, Pakistan, and Nepal through its associates in these nations.

DTDC’s first international expansion took place in 2000 and today it is a renowned name in the global parcel delivery services. Its subsidiary in the US is called DTDC Express Inc. The company is known for its reliable and timely delivery. It has a wide range of shipping and delivery options ranging from express, premium, to economy services as per the customer’s budget and time window. It is also an expert in e-commerce and e-fulfillment services. DTDC offers pick-ups, third party logistics, fulfillment warehousing, trucking services, line haul, customs clearance, last mile delivery, and COD services. The company is also setting up Local Hyper Services, PUDO, and Intelligent Express Parcel Locker systems for customer convenience.

DTDC has an open and transparent work culture and recruit only the best. The company’s delivery persons, for instance, are experts in their field, handle all parcels, documents, and cargo professional, and deliver them to their destination in time. The company also has an online customer helpdesk to answer all doubts and clear all doubts of the customers.

Find out more about this international delivery services company, visit its website here: http://usa.dtdc.com