Stop me if you’ve heard this one: A manufacturer, a distributor and a logistics coordinator are making a deal. The manufacturer says to the distributor, How do you want that delivered? The distributor says, “Overnight it to me on Tuesday; I need it Wednesday.” Meanwhile, the logistics coordinator mutters under his breath about how much money could have been saved by sending it LTL Monday night.
 
Sound familiar? The first part might, but what about the second? Did you know there was another option that could meet your needs and save you money?
 
For a recent article, three different players – Dan Muller of The Timken Company (the manufacturer), Doug Savage of Bearing Service Inc. (the distributor), and Don Louis of CoLinx (the “logistics coordinator”) – told me that this conversation doesn’t happen enough. And that’s unfortunate.
 
A few discussions can lead to better customer service and huge cost savings by making fairly small changes to the shipping equation. Options such as Less-Than-Truckload are more accessible and efficient than ever, but they often are overlooked. Many companies are tied to the idea that the only way to get something quickly is to ship it via UPS or FedEx – or even overnight air regardless of the price tag.
 
Want more information on how the logistics discussion can help save your company money and improve your business? Click here to read Why LTL May Be A Better Option (subscription to premium content required).”