Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/92325
Freight continued Site to receive real-time routing instruc- tions for shipping orders. After they submit their email address, PO#, ship- ment details and applicable accessorial services into the routing page, specific routing instructions are generated for the order. A phone number for the ven- dor to call for the pick-up, along with Bill of Lading instructions, is also pro- vided. However, no pricing information is shown. This process holds vendors accountable for having the correct information when performing an inbound or drop shipment and pro- vides visibility over how they are ship- ping to your customers. Many larger dealers have been using the technology for a few years and now many smaller dealers are also finding it beneficial. Since the vendor routing site is user-based, all vendors must do is log into the website, type in the specs and requirements and follow the directions. This removes the responsibility of cus- tomer service, purchasing, sales and, of course, shipping to have to take time to look up and provide instructions to numerous vendors. In terms of cost sav- ings, the process presents multiple opportunities. Quite often we find that many people fall into the habit of using the same carrier for a similar shipment from the same vendor or a nearby ven- dor. Most of the time this is acceptable, however, there are times when based on the specs of a shipment, there is a more cost-effective alternative. Because there are many variables that go into creating a freight rate, a change in one of them can alter the price and make it cheaper to ship with an alternate carrier. For example, lets suppose Vendor 'X' usually drop ships equipment for your company monthly and uses Carrier 'A' to do so because that's who they were told to use the last few months. Vendor 'X' uses Carrier 'A' even though this month's shipment is Class 100 instead of the usual Class 70. Carrier 'A' may normally have a pricing advantage over Carrier 'B' by charging $100 for CL 70, but Carrier 'A' is charg- ing $165 for Class 100, while Carrier 'B' is charging $140. The difference is 15 percent, which comes from your bot- 52 FEDA News & Views tom line. To ensure the least-cost option is being used, the NFS Vendor Routing site checks for pricing anomalies among FEDA Member Carriers and checks each shipment. The same rules can be applied for shipments that are different weights or the obvious, different zip codes. Having vendors use Newgistics Vendor Routing Site for inbound and drop ship- ments saves both time and money with minimal effort and process change from the vendor. Using URL Links to Reduce Customer O ne of the more frequent calls into customer service teams are inquiries regarding the whereabouts of the receiver's (customer's) freight. These calls can be cumbersome and sometimes disruptive to a customer service rep's day-to-day functions because unlike the small package industry, the LTL industry does not provide a link to the receiver to "Track Your Shipment. people do not realize is that LTL carri- ers do have static URL's, which means all you have to do is add the shipment's Pro Number at the end of the URL and you will be immediately taken to the tracking information for the shipment. Adding the Pro Number to the end of the static URL link is a simple process and can easily be copied and pasted in an email. These links can be sent to a Liftgate Specifications • In general, individual pallets or items should not exceed 2,500 pounds. Additionally, individual pallets or items should be 60 inches or less in length, 80 inches or less in width and/or 96 inches or less in height (Maximum height will vary based on the footprint of the piece itself). • Consideration should be given to the size and shape of the shipping unit to ensure it will fit on the liftgate. Otherwise, the liftgate will be of no value. • Height of product being shipped depends greatly on its footprint. (Refers to the area of the base that is sitting on the ground. The wider and deeper the item is the sturdier it will be and, therefore, the taller it can safely be.) Items with a larger footprint can be taller than those with a smaller footprint. Note: As a general rule, base dimensions (length and width) should be at least half of the height if the piece is 60 inches or taller. • Liftgate pickups or deliveries require a reasonably level sight to operate the liftgate. Steep slopes may create a dangerous situation for operating a liftgate. This needs to be considered when committing to a liftgate service. Service Tracking Inquires customer upon order placement, allow- ing them to track their own shipments and properly prepare to receive them without having to call Customer Service. FEDA members can use their current system with blocks of Pro Numbers provided by the carrier. Or, NFS can provide an electronic block that can be used in an order-entry sys- tem and Bill of Lading program. Example: UPS Freight - " However, what many http://ltl.upsfreight.com/tracking/Ship Track.aspx?ProNbr=123456789 For more information regarding shipment tracking, or NFS' Free Vendor Routing Website, email Kevin Brink, kbrink@newgisticsfreightservices.com, or Tim Walsh, twalsh@newgisticsfreightservices.com.