Have you ever had issues with port congestion or total transit time and cost issues for international freight? Taylor Logistics has a specific team that specializes in services with the New Jersey/New York Ports.
It takes a lot of bandwidth to operate a retail business. Whether you are an online retailer or run a brick-and-mortar business, you depend on the efficient movement of freight to maintain your operations. Logistics is the main component of any retail operation, from receiving inventory to shipping orders directly to customers. The amount of resources a retailer spends on operating its supply chain is unknown to most casual shoppers. This is an area where working with an experienced 3PL can be incredibly beneficial for any retailer.
There are multiple roles that today’s third-party logistics providers take on for their clients. For retailers specifically, they are essentially outsourced agent that takes care of numerous supply chain functions. Partnering with a 3PL allows a retailer to focus on driving sales, improving customer service, and other daily operations that help them increase sales and, thus, make more profits. Specifically, a 3PL can handle several specific logistics functions, including:
Scalable Services
A 3PL allows you to analyze your labor, transportation, and spacing needs depending on your business parameters. Businesses that focus more heavily on seasonal sales can benefit from this practice. You can always ramp up deliveries, warehouse space, and any other logistics a 3PL can provide when consumer demand dictates.
Cost-efficiency
Many companies assume that outsourcing to a third party by default means spending more on service fees. However, all the efforts of a 3PL will eventually save you money. Ultimately, the overall cost will be less than an in-house supply chain management. A 3PL is a one-stop shop for most of your supply chain needs. You do not have to invest in warehousing, technology, or a logistics team.
Bulk Shipping Rates
Shipping rates, especially spot rates, can fluctuate weekly depending on several outside sources, even daily in some cases. As a result, retail companies need stability in the market to ship their products. Bulk shipping rates help that happen. This is where 3PLs can help, especially since many retail companies need the negotiating power of a 3PL.
Distribution Network
3PLs have contacts throughout the country. If your business grows, a 3PL can offer additional resources from those within its network to assist that growth. At Taylor, we have a carrier network of 60,000+. With a carrier size that large, we can find you lanes and capacity to move your freight.
We exist for our people and our customers. Without an outstanding team, we wouldn’t have made it through these 170+ years. It’s crucial for us to recognize our team for their phenomenal success, innovation, customer service, and relationships.
This week we honored our Taylor Logistics – Brokerage Sales & Operations teams for their outstanding work throughout 2022. 2022 was a year of great supply chain uncertainty for many companies and shippers. Still, our team was able to help navigate unpredictability for our business partners to help increase efficiencies and reduce costs. They exceeded expectations with outstanding customer service and provided tremendous value to #TeamTaylor.
Melissa Combs
Dominic Pangallo
Kevin Eliasen
Matt Heinrichs
Nicholas Ratliff
Brian Remole
Toni Schwab
Elizabeth Wildeman
Our VP of Warehousing, Grant Taylor, has been invited by our WMS provider Zethcon, A Made4net Company, to be included as a 3PL expert to speak at #Promat2023 in Chicago! The seminar is focused on excelling at distribution in the e-commerce era. If you are attending #Promat and are interested to learn about the experience of #3PL providers who have successfully switched to accommodate e-commerce and direct-to-consumer fulfillment into their operations, head to Theatre E on 3/22 at 3:45.
Do you have what it takes to excel in the e-commerce era? Accommodating e-commerce in your operation will depend on many factors, including your available space, automation, labor pool, technology, material handling equipment and the number and types of items you will be storing, picking and shipping.
In this session, you will learn from the experience of third party logistics providers who have successfully made the switch to accommodate e-commerce and direct-to-consumer fulfillment into their operations. You will learn how to manage higher order volumes, new types of order fulfillment, numerous picking methods, new equipment, warehouse mapping, diversified inventory tracking, cartonization and shipping processes that often accompany a shift in operations.
Learn how key technology solutions will make the transition smoother and will provide the framework for new processes and to incorporate robotics and automation, as well as the end-to-end visibility to provide a clear view of data from the dock door to the customers door, including the ability to track real-time inventory and keep customers updated on order status.
• Key technology and equipment considerations, including warehouse management systems (WMS), autonomous mobile robots, automation, conveyors and material handling equipment.
• Seamless integration across systems, including WMS, e-commerce platforms and carriers to ensure accurate inventory visibility and order status.
• Infrastructure changes to your warehouse to accommodate new methods of handling goods within the warehouse.
• Exercises to walk through “current state” and “to be” process flows to determine the best picking, packing and shipping adaptations for your operations.
It’s one of the biggest days in sports and the second 2nd largest U.S. food consumption day of the year—Thanksgiving being the first. Yep. It’s the Super Bowl. This year it’s the battle of the Kansas City Chiefs vs the Philadelphia Eagles (or Kelce v Kelce). Because it’s such a large snack day shippers who offer the most popular items at big game parties must ensure their supply chains operate smoothly. As a result, fans will be able to purchase the right food and drink in the right quantities, as retailers will have the right food and drinks in stock. Freshness is paramount when shipping food and beverage freight, so supply chain management plays a crucial role here. Temperature-controlled storage is necessary for many of these items, especially in winter. Depending on the product type, shipping ahead and staging in warehouses may be fine. However, other products can only have a slight lead time due to the risk of spoilage. If you’re a food or drink shipper reading this now with plans to sell, sell, sell for the big game, expedited freight is still an option – especially with capacity still generally available. But ideally, you’re already ahead of the game and have had your ducks – or chips or bottles – in a row for a while.
It’s not Super Bowl Sunday without wings, our favorite drinks, and every kind of chip dip imaginable (especially Skyline dip IYKYK). Over 1.25 Billion chicken wings, 28 million pounds of potato chips, 54 million avocados, and 50 million cases of beer will be consumed. With an abundance of demand, goods need to arrive on time to avoid shortages and missed opportunities for profits in retail. So whether fans make purchases in State Farm Stadium, from their local market to bring home, or out at their favorite sports bar, consumers are ready to spend for the experience. Food, alcohol, apparel, and decorations will need to be stocked by retailers.
The most important and challenging problem in fulfillment is last-mile delivery. If a disaster strikes a carrier, the most significant impact is during the transfer from distribution center to retail. Distribution centers cannot order perishable items too far in advance. However, suppose an inbound load is late to the distribution center. In that case, stores can order other items from their distribution inventory while still receiving their in-demand non-perishables. With interruptions in last-mile delivery, consumables may not reach the shelves in time for the big game surge in purchasing. Retailers do not like losing profits and market share.
Carriers want to focus on accurate projections to make best-fit decisions between FTL and LTL. FTL options are enticing due to lower spot rates; however, LTLs can have a significant cost-benefit advantage when expediting a load is the priority. Unfortunately, carriers can lose the gamble with FTL. When shippers are in a crunch for time and need to get, a load sent out, even if it’s a partial, they may end up paying FTL rates instead of LTL rates, which tend to be decidedly cheaper for the volume of freight being shipped.
Luckily, resources like visibility and real-time notifications mean that making a reliable supply chain doesn’t have to feel like betting. Instead, with transparency through technology and an excellent team like Taylor, your business will score big and win each time.
The 2023 Inbound Logistics Planner is here, and you can read all about Taylor! From our outstanding team to what sets us apart and how Taylor technology improves customers’ supply chains. Here’s our entry:
As the longest-standing 3PL, we know that offering one supply chain service decreases overall efficiency and sustainability; that’s why we’ve altered our business to be a full-service omnichannel 3PL for our customers.
We provide SQF food-grade public warehousing, contract dedicated warehousing, B2B & B2C fulfillment services, freight brokerage, asset local Cincinnati fleet, dedicated fleet services, D2C e-commerce, packaging, drayage/ port management services, kitting, and subscription services.
We support large and mid-sized companies in the food, beverage, flavoring, ingredient, pet food, CPG, retail, PPE, packaging, and automotive spaces.
As a privately held family business with over 170 years of experience, we are an agile company that scales and grows with our customers. We are small enough to care and have excellent customer service with dedicated teams to some of our clients, yet large enough to have the technology and infrastructure needed to scale. Our goal is always to exceed customers’ expectations and build long-term relationships.
A part of our competitive advantage is that we continuously invest in technology to offer our customers the latest and greatest for complete customization, visibility, tracking, and reporting. Technology creates a stronger bond between our team and our customers, mainly due to improved communication, information sharing, and meaningful collaboration that produces better results. From finding the best shipping rates to inventory optimization and forecasting, our systems are paramount in customers’ cost-saving strategies.
While we partner with several industries, we pride ourselves on an extensive food-safety program that is rooted in principles verified by the Safe Quality Foods Institute (SQF). All of our public warehouses are food-grade, and we offer SQF to be established at our contractual locations as well.
We make supply chains stronger. This industry requires hard work and dedication; our team always makes the impossible possible for our customers. Through a collaborative and safe culture, we are always one team, one mission.
Regardless of the time, day, month, or year, we can provide a precise update on what is happening with your cargo. If there are any problems, we will notify you so that a solution may be implemented before matters escalate. In addition, the information provided is so accurate that you do not have to worry about complaints later for incorrect information or the correct information at the wrong time. If you’re not already partnering with a 3PL with container tracking capabilities, let’s walk you through how your business can benefit.
Container tracking is a series of technological functions that allows shippers, carriers, and freight forwarders to access the latest status updates on cargo. The technology is effective regardless of location, time zone, route, port, personnel, and cargo type. Despite these benefits, experts are still trying to understand why the technology is not widely used in the sector.
Container tracking provides operations teams with accurate freight arrival and departure times, improving personnel productivity and exception management by reducing manual detective work by 20-50%.
The ocean carriers have been slower to introduce this new technology because hours and minutes matter in trucking, whereas ocean shipping thinks more in terms of days. Identifying and responding to potential disruptions can significantly reduce demurrage fees and accessorial charges. This innovation and profit-boosting system for container tracking requires on-demand access to accurate and reliable accountability streams.
By partnering with Taylor, you gain access to our container tracking capabilities; we constantly evolve our technology to be best in class. That’s why we partner with project44 to provide our customers with the best data. project44 delivers, covering more than 96% of the world’s container volumes, with the highest data quality and most accurate ETAs available. Have questions? Please fill out the form below, and a member of our team will reach out ASAP.
What we do is more than logistics. It’s people, it’s places, it’s things. We know our customers’ brands have important places to be, and we know how to get them there. Partner with Taylor today.
Each year, Robert Handfield, Ph.D. of North Carolina State University, predicts what’s in store for global commerce and supply chains for the next 365 days. While these predictions are perhaps not completely original, his takeaways and supporting evidence are worth considering. Please see the full article from NCSU here.
Inflation will persist. Jason Miller from Michigan State is an expert at navigating the many different publicly available government database, and interpreting the tea leaves. He writes a weekly blog on Linked In which I follow religiously. He is the most accurate forecaster I know, because unlike many speculators and economists, his observations are based on actual data! He believes that inflation isn’t going to go down going into 2023 – but will persist. He writes that“While it is good news that we are starting to see the inflation of goods slow down, I would caution anyone who expects goods to go through a deflationary cycle that the data (to me) isn’t pointing in this direction to a meaningful degree. Data below from three series from the BLS PPI program obtained from FRED (with call codes after the labels), all set such that 100 = January 2019. Implication: the best-case scenario I see for the price of finished goods is that their prices stay relatively unchanged from the 3rd quarter of 2022….we are going to see meaningful deflation in finished goods prices as we move into 2023, which will in turn impact PCE price index that the Fed monitors for consumer inflation.” Unfortunately, this also means that the Fed will likely keep interest rates high through much of 2023 – and will likely increase rates again in February and June. Inflation is indeed going down slowly– but not as fast as the markets would like.
Inventory will remain bloated for the first half of 2023, – and supplier relationships will be tested. Here again, my prior blog notes how much inventory we have in supply chains today – and how certain parties are pushing back their excessive demand forecasts, and punishing their suppliers. For instance, a large apparel brand requested about 20 of their largest textile mills (many in Pakistan, Singapore, China, and other regions) to travel all the way to San Francisco for a “Vendor Summit”. They then sequestered each individual in a room, and two individuals came in and told them that they needed to reduce their prices by 20%. Walmart is moving their vendors from FOB (Free on Board) to domestic buying, and the shift is happening fast. Walmart will pay more for domestic sources, but will not be burdened with the inventory and purchasing FOB. They are also canceling orders, decreasing quantities, and deducting off invoices, which they claim as “chargebacks” for “late deliveries”, from shipments which were received as late as last year. These kinds of behaviors by buyers will come back to bite them in the future…
Despite having more inventory – we won’t stop having shortages. Unfortunately, a lot of the bloated inventory is stuff that consumers don’t want – or can’t afford. But that doesn’t mean we will stop having shortages of critical materials. One reason for this is that the COVID crisis in China is escalating to incredible levels, and that is shutting down a lot of manufacturing hubs. In particular, a lot of maintenance parts for equipment, replacement parts for appliances, automobiles, and larger (>48 nm) chips are still produced in Asia – and we will continue to see shortages of these component parts. That means that repair may take longer than you think. Labor and material shortages for factories are going down – but still are at a much higher rate than they were in 2019.
Mexico will become a destination hub for many companies in the US – but within reason. As I noted in a prior blog, and as discussed in the New York Times today – Mexico is a great option – but the capacity isn’t there yet. More importantly, the supply chain isn’t there yet! I spoke to a CPO who mentioned that his CEO was a big proponent of bringing all supply to Mexico – but despite this fact, we are still largely dependent on China for raw materials! As pointed out in the NY Times – even apparel manufacturing in Mexico is largely dependent on fabric produced entirely in China! As such, it is unlikely we are going to lose our dependence on Chinese products. Price is still the determining factor here. Chinese manufacturing is of such scale, that moving it to the US or Mexico is unlikely.
The US Government will play more of a role in promoting domestic supply chains. Not only did the US government, pass the CHIPS Act – but they are actively promoting the domestic production of semiconductors. As noted in one of my blogs, however, producing a fab plant is a good step – but the supply chain for chips is still largely in Taiwan. There is massive flux in the chip industry – which seems to be on a different cycle than most demand cycles. What was once a one year backlog has shrunk and chips are now readily available – to the point where semiconductor companies are cutting back on capital investment! This will continue to be a real problem – and I believe we will see “capacity as a service” models begin to emerge in the chip sector – where buyers will reserve capacity based on actual forecasts, not guesses or bets on what they think they will need next year. This will stabilize production – and lead to improved availability and assurance of supply.
Healthcare supply chains will remain strained. Despite having a lot more PPE in warehouses, hospitals are still struggling with a lot of shortages. Jim Wilson, an expert in medical intelligence, advocates that hospital monitoring programs is a critical area of government investment. One area is generic drugs – such as amoxycillin. We wll have shortages of baby formula as well. For this reason, I believe the government should be creating incentives to increasingly healthcare supply chain. To address this issue, one recommendation I am advocating would be to create government industrial policies that are targeted at supporting a domestic “stop gap” manufacturing capability. Secondly, partnerships should be developed with distributors to enable visibility into their inventory systems, and ensure they enter contracts which set aside inventory for government allocation under different conditions of duress. This will require a set of common data standards and a common architecture to create a dashboard and control tower. In addition, a multi-agency materials inventory portfolio based on in-depth supply market analysis is needed. At a minimum, this should include specialists in the following categories: semiconductors, precious metals, electric vehicle batteries, medical supplies (PPE, gowns, gloves), medical devices, pharmaceuticals, plastics and resins, medical equipment, biologics, healthcare personnel, and respiratory products. This will require team of supply market analysts with special knowledge of these categories, that track the condition of critical supply markets for medical supplies, the supply risks within those markets, and acquisition strategies to manage the risks. Multi-tier supply chain mapping can provide clues as to critical points of risk that can “shut down” the US healthcare sector, based on multiple forms of risk assessment.
Growth in 2023 will be positive – but lean. As noted in a lecture by the Economist which I attended, the greatest risks looming ahead are concentrated in 2023. Next year will see some positive growth but only 1.7%, reflecting slowing growth in the US in China and recession in Europe. Global monetary tightening will take some time to kick in – likely in the second half of 2023. The US will likely see only 0.5% growth in 2023, the EU 0.4%, which in turn will impact other regions of the world. China will likely see a modest rebound after the 2022 slump, moving to only 5% growth. However, there are always risks that will move the needle, including the escalation of the Ukraine war, more COVID-19 variants, spikes in energy prices, and sovereign debt pile-ups.
Government regulation of Artificial Intelligence will increase. As I noted in a blog of a recent SAS INNOVATE conference, Henry Kissinger described AI as the new frontier of arms control during a forum at Washington National Cathedral on Nov. 16. If leading powers don’t find ways to limit AI’s reach, he said, “it is simply a mad race for some catastrophe.” The former secretary of state cautioned that AI systems could transform warfare just as they have chess or other games of strategy — because they are capable of making moves that no human would consider but that have devastatingly effective consequences. This is true not just in warfare, but also in supply chains. As we move towards a digital future where we increasingly will be ceding control to machines who call the shots, not humans, what are the risks of doing so? Increasingly, more and more data is being stuffed into the cloud, which certainly allows us access to more readily access reams of data which can be processed by algorithms for decision-making. We have to be able to trust these algorithms to make the right decisions. But driving towards AI standards to increase trustworthiness is easier said than done. The UK has also begun pursuing this goal, as has the EU, who are likely to explicitly define AI and how to use it. The government will begin to mandate a more comprehensive approach, which spans the entire organization. Three primary elements determine the fiduciary responsibility for trustworthy AI: Duty of Care, the Business Judgement rule, and Duty of Compliance Oversight. These pillars are required to understand the historical biases that so often find their way into AI algorithms, which have created historical injustices and inequities, meaning that the government is surely going to step in.
Electric vehicle parts will remain in short supply. In a recent blog, I noted how there is still a massive shortage of the so-called “green metals” required to meet the burgeoning demand for EV’s. Environmentalists and automotive companies have committed to converting all of their vehicles to electric power. GM has committed to 30 new electric vehicles by 2025. Ford is committing to an all-electric vehicle platform with zero emissions by 2035. But nobody is talking about the supply chain for these vehicles, and the capacity required to build them. Converting an entire supply base of automotive suppliers, who are all focused on building of combustion engine-powered vehicles, and moving them all to electric vehicles, will be a superhuman feat. What will happen to those manufacturers that can’t or won’t convert? They go out of business? And is there enough capacity to produce the new types of vehicles? And what raw materials are required to convert to EV in the future? I don’t think executives have really given any meaningful thought to the answers to these questions yet… I predict a rough road ahead for EV’s. Perhaps I’m a voice in the wilderness – except maybe for Toyota – they have the same doubts as I do.
Demand for supply chain graduates will go through the roof in the next two years. To summarize – global supply chains remain fragile – and we are in a period where things are starting to change. Supply chains will look very different in two or three years from what they are today.
CINCINNATI, OH — December 20, 2022 — At Taylor Logistics Inc. (TLI), our partners are critical to our continued growth and success – and we’re delighted to recognize a logistics partner and the impact they have on our customers and business. This year we are pleased to announce that Crowley Logistics Inc. is our 2022 Logistics Partner of the Year.
“Faced with another round of intense labor discussions with three of the largest rail unions in the country and a pending strike, Crowley worked exclusively with our team locally to ensure increased communication and foresight during and after the disruption from the short strike,” said Will Roberson, COO, Taylor Logistics Inc. “It is an honor to recognize Crowley as Logistics Partner of the Year for all their resilience, agility, and responsiveness. We look forward to continuing a successful partnership.”
This award was based on evaluating each company’s service portfolio and partnership scorecard performance – a rating system that assesses quality, extraordinary partnership, collaboration, and integrity – and input from Taylor senior leadership. In total, there were four partners nominated for this award.
About Crowley: Jacksonville-based Crowley Holdings Inc., a holding company of the 123-year-old Crowley Maritime Corporation, is a privately held family and employee-owned company. The company provides project solutions, energy and logistics services in domestic and international markets by means of six operating lines of business: Puerto Rico/Caribbean Liner Services, Latin America Liner Services, Logistics Services, Petroleum Services, Marine Services and Technical Services. Offered within these operating lines of business are: liner container shipping, logistics, contract towing and transportation; ship assist and escort; energy support; salvage and emergency response through its 50 percent ownership in Ardent Global; vessel management; vessel construction and naval architecture through its Jensen Maritime subsidiary; government services, and petroleum and chemical transportation, distribution and sales. Additional information about Crowley, its subsidiaries and business units may be found at www.crowley.com.
We wish you a joyful holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year from our team to yours! As a reminder, all Taylor locations will be closed for the holidays on December 25th and January 1st.
If you worked with us this past year, thank you so much for being a part of the Taylor family. We appreciate your business and look forward to supporting you next year — please let us know how we are doing here.
If you haven’t worked with our fantastic team, check out our service portfolio to see if we can help you with any of your needs. We’re here for you in 2023!
CINCINNATI, O.H. / — Each year, Taylor Logistics, Inc. recognizes a vendor partner who continue to raise the bar in delivering outstanding quality, innovation, value, and service. Taylor is proud to announce it has named Crown Equipment Corporation as its 2022 Vendor Partner of the Year. With all the delays happening with material handling, Crown was able to get Taylor’s latest public warehouse going in no time; and they’ve done an excellent job. Without Crown Taylor’s World Park Four location would not be what it is today.
“Our vendors and suppliers play an important role in Taylor’s success year after year through innovative solutions, new products, and with a consistent focus on processes improvement,” said Will Roberson, COO, Taylor Logistics Inc. “It is an honor for us to recognize vendor of the year for all their work and contribution to the business. We look forward to continuing a successful partnership.”
Award recipients were determined based on an evaluation of each company’s service portfolio 2022 vendor scorecard performance – a rating system that evaluates supplier performance in quality, extraordinary partnership, cost, collaboration, and integrity – and input from Taylor senior leadership. Vendor service categories include the following categories: suppliers, education, technology, data and intelligence, marketing, financial institutions, and insurance; there were five nominations this year.
Vendor Partner of the Year Crown Equipment: Since its entry into the material handling equipment industry in 1960, Crown has earned a reputation as a leading innovator in world-class forklift and material handling equipment. Crown designs and manufactures up to 85 percent of its lift truck components, including key parts like motors, drive units, and electronic modules. When it says Crown on the outside, it’s a Crown on the inside.
Taylor Logistics Inc, a Cincinnati-based third-party logistics company, for the second year in a row has been named a Multichannel Merchant (MCM) Top 3PL for 2023, joining dozens of other leading third-party logistics providers selected by Multichannel Merchant in its eighth annual directory.
The criteria for MCM Top 3PL was determined based on industry experience, services offered, capabilities and performance.
“We are honored to be included with such an elite group of logistics and eCommerce solutions providers,” said Noelle Taylor, Director of Marketing, Taylor Logistics Inc. “This award is a great honor and recognizes every team member’s commitment to serving our customers and our core values.”
Operating a fleet is a complicated and time-consuming task. From hiring drivers to managing routes, payroll, insurance, vehicle maintenance costs, safety compliance, taxes, and more – it can easily interfere with your core business operations. However, there is a solution for your transportation needs—a dedicated fleet. Dedicated fleet services came into existence with a simple concept – give customers an optimized transportation service and sales channel that fits into their organizational structure like a brick in a wall.
Dedicated fleet services, also known as dedicated transportation, are services commonly offered by third-party logistics companies. A dedicated transportation team provides a company with guaranteed capacity, supply chain control, and visibility of the entire operation. In short, the company has complete control, along with the ability to brand trucks and add revenue by shipping goods for other companies when allowed. A dedicated fleet is a service that is ideal for anyone with a regular shipment to complete. Below are some of the most often-sighted reasons for choosing dedicated transportation.
Whether you need just-in-time delivery or hot-shot service, if you choose dedicated transportation services, you can rely on the fleet to always be available for your scheduled delivery. Your 3PL will ensure the specialist equipment you need for this delivery is reserved for your recurring shipment.
Using a dedicated fleet allows shippers to continually move freight on the same routes, which helps build a steady flow of inbound and outbound shipments. Whether moving freight on local, regional, or long-haul routes, shippers can stage loads to customers or to other locations, which frees up warehouse space, making for a more effective supply chain.
Shippers who choose dedicated trucking also see more consistent pricing. Many carriers offer lower rates for dedicated shipping due to the predictability of the shipments, the routes, and the backhaul assistance programs in place to decrease empty miles.
The world is ever-evolving, and as the transportation industry changes to meet demand, it’s crucial to be prepared for possible challenges. By partnering with a third-party logistics company like Taylor and implementing a dedicated fleet, you’ll benefit from their expertise and resources that can further improve efficiencies and savings and drive the future of your company.
Talk to Taylor today for information on dedicated transportation or dedicated fleet services, warehousing, drayage, and freight brokerage services, etc.
Seasonal inventory refers to products that sell at a higher velocity during particular times of the year. For example, most companies experience an influx in seasonal demand during the holiday season, and many may stock holiday-specific SKUs that they don’t sell year-round. Other brands may experience seasonal spikes according to changes in weather, sports seasons, or secondary holidays such as Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day.
Forecasting for seasonal variances will ensure you have sufficient levels of stock available to take advantage of increases in product demand at peak times of the year. If you rely on your busy seasons to make the most of your money, you must be on top of your game and ensure optimum product availability.
Equally, it’s important that you don’t want to over-forecast for seasonal demand fluctuations. Investing too much money in inventory can lead to cash flow problems and an unhealthy balance sheet. If you have excess stock at the end of a season, you face the dilemma of selling it off at a discounted rate or taking on the burden of inflated carrying costs until demand picks up again.
There are five primary methods for managing inventory, and any of them could be appropriate for managing seasonal inventory, depending on SKU profile, sales velocity, and current business operations.
First in First Out (FIFO): The FIFO inventory method works by using the oldest inventory (first in) to fulfill orders first (first out). The FIFO method is appropriate for perishable and highly seasonal products and can increase margins on items that experience price hikes during times of high seasonal demand.
Last in First Out (LIFO): The LIFO inventory method uses the newest inventory (last in) to fulfill orders first (first out). The LIFO method can be used to quickly recoup expenses on products acquired at a premium seasonal price, either at the raw materials level or as finished goods.
Just in Time (JIT): The JIT inventory method is the method most commonly used by SMB’s because it requires the least intensive demand forecasting. JIT supply chains are replenished on an as needed basis. They are a high-risk supply chain management strategy and can reward merchants with increased capital on hand. Still, as we’ve seen with recent supply chain disruptions, they can also leave merchants with empty shelves when seasonal demand hits.
Economic Order Quantity (EOQ): The EOQ method determines ideal inventory levels using three metrics: customer demand, acquisition cost, and holding cost. The EOQ method can drastically cut inventory carry costs but requires advanced demand forecasting models supported by a lengthy sales history.
ABC Analysis: An ABC analysis prioritizes SKUs by lumping them into three categories: A — high-value products with a low contribution margin, B — mid-value products selling at a mid-range velocity, C — high-velocity products with a low margin. An ABC analysis helps merchants prioritize the SKUs that ultimately drive their business’s profitability and may prompt them to reconsider their product profile entirely.
Are you looking for a strategy that can help you improve your seasonal demand forecasting? #TeamTaylor can help. Contact us today to learn more about our data-driven warehousing and fulfillment services.
This Thanksgiving, we are incredibly thankful for our incredible team for their continued hard work and dedication throughout the year. In addition, we give thanks to our clients, business partners, and community; we appreciate your continued support. Wishing you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!
It can often be tricky to forecast what will sell. The majority of companies have peak seasons, so they may feel the pain of having too much inventory on hand. With a full plant or warehouse, productivity suffers from working in a crowded space, not to mention it can create an unsafe environment.
Partnering with Taylor to help with overflow can significantly reduce costs and help improve business performance. Taylor has a long history of supporting national and regional companies that run out of room in their distribution centers, plants, and warehouses. They develop a custom solution for overflow inventory. For example, one can etch out slower-moving products to Taylor Logistics’ facilities to free up space for high-priority goods.
Taylor is prepared to offer simple pricing solutions for handling and storage when one needs extra space. They know time is of the essence, so they pride themselves on fast implementation to free up space for clients as soon as possible. With their cloud-based customer portal, clients can access all inventory and track activities in real-time.
Managing warehouse overflow can be as simple as finding the right partner. At Taylor, they pride themselves on their customized solutions and scalability, making them an ideal partner for companies looking to store inventory in the Midwest. After the recent launch of their new warehouse, Taylor now has over 450K square feet of FDA food-grade storage space in the Greater Cincinnati area. So whether it is a quick solution to an inventory surge or a long-term business partnership, Taylor can create a customized solution to meet all business needs.
CINCINNATI, Taylor Logistics Inc. (TLI), a third-party logistics provider, was ranked amongst the Greater Cincinnati’s Largest Logistics Firms by the Cincinnati Business Courier (CBC).
Each year CBC runs an auditing survey ranking all logistics firms in the area on different criteria, including local full-time employees and the previous year’s revenue.
Taylor is proud to be listed as the fourth largest logistics firm in great company with other top providers.
View the CBC list for top logistics firms in greater Cincinnati
It’s that time of the year again when shoppers decide what gifts to buy, and merchants prepare for the busiest time of the year. However, to have a successful holiday season, consumers and eCommerce businesses must be aware of the 2022 holiday shipping deadlines.
Holiday shipping deadlines are a vital tool to help merchants manage customer expectations and minimize poor customer experiences resulting from late delivery. In this post, you’ll find the 2022 holiday shipping deadlines for USPS, FedEx, and UPS – along with some other pearls of wisdom for managing holiday shipping.
Thanks to worries about more price increases and the need to spread out holiday spending, consumers are starting their gift-buying earlier than ever before.
According to 4Over’s recent survey, 73% of consumers are expecting additional price hikes during the holiday season. As a result, 31% say they plan to start their holiday shopping in early November, while 23% plan to buy gifts as soon as possible.
Naturally, this has a big impact on what proportion of orders are going to be placed at what time. So while earlier shopping means fewer orders will come close to shipping cutoff dates, there are still the laggards to watch out for.
Numerous industries rely on warehousing for long-term storage. However, different items require different conditions to preserve integrity and quality. Therefore, when choosing a storage facility, you should consider your company’s and inventory’s specific needs. One option is ambient storage. You can use an ambient warehouse to store a wide range of goods, making this option viable for many businesses.
Ambient storage warehouses are defined as “buildings that are specifically designed for items that require a dry environment, where the temperature needs to be around room temperature.” However, this isn’t to say that these ambient storage warehouses don’t require industrial HVAC. Instead, it means that the internal area of the warehouse needs to be around 60 degrees all year. With this in mind, many ambient warehouse owners install temperature control forms to ensure the internal air stays dry and moisture-free.
Compared to shipping frozen items, items kept in ambient storage warehouses are far easier to ship. For products that can quickly melt at high temperatures or products that can be ruined from cold temperatures, ambient storage is an effective way to keep goods from going bad.
Some everyday products stored in ambient warehouses are:
Several CPG products
Food & beverage
Ingredients
Packaging & paper products
Toys
Cosmetics
Clothing
Electronics
When installing an ambient warehouse, you must think about what you are storing and how the items are handled. For example, if you are storing many items, you will want a tall storage building where you can install high racking, utilizing the air space. However, with taller racking, you will require a method to get the items onto the higher shelves, such as a traditional counterbalance forklift. With this in mind, your ambient warehouse will need floor space for the warehouse equipment handling vehicle to move. There are alternative forklifts for tighter warehouses, such as articulated forklifts, but more specialized equipment tends to cost more.
While warehouses are traditionally used for storage, opting to use cross-docking in your operation will offer a competitive edge. This is where items are transported to your warehouse and either loaded onto another trailer for immediate transport or stored for a brief period. With this in mind, it is always best to have space in your warehouse for such operations, especially in ambient warehousing, as this is a practice being used more often.
All ambient warehouses require quality control. Ensuring quality control is completed in warehouses that store perishable goods are imperative. Regular audits should be completed to ensure that items are being stored in the best possible conditions.
Taylor has several ambient warehouses in the Cincinnati area ready to handle your products. Contact our expert team to secure your space today.
Shopify, the leading provider of essential internet infrastructure for commerce, offering trusted tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business of any size, has featured Taylor in its blog on warehouse management. This blog showcases how to make warehouse operations run smoothly for scaling brands. Since Taylor has tremendous experience helping brands from various industries scale, we spoke about the integral part a 3PL can play in helping your business.
Read the full Shopify article here
Research shows that 32% of brands will fulfill orders in a new country in 2022. Lean on a 3PL’s existing horde of international warehouses to reach global shoppers in less time, rather than opening up your own in popular warehousing locations with expensive leases.
Take it from Noelle Taylor, senior marketing manager at Taylor Logistics, who says, “Partnering with a 3PL to handle warehouse management allows brands to focus more on what’s important—growing their business and delivering the best possible customer experience.
“Committed 3PLs see their relationship with brands as a long-term partnership. As a result, they may be willing to invest in space, technology, and equipment to take your business to the next level.”
Now is a good time to join #TeamTaylor! We have several open positions on our job site like Account Executives, Drivers, Operators, and Coordinators. Come grow with us. Learn more here.
Fill out the form below, and a member of our team will reach out in no time.
Every year, freight shipping is different. However, in a lousy year or a good year – there is always a particular pattern. According to this pattern, we forecast and plan for the whole year. Like fall, winter, spring, and summer, the transportation industry has four seasons. Below are the four seasons of freight shipping.
It’s a new year; the holidays are past us, and freight volume is declining. Not to mention these months are the peak of winter, and the frigid temperatures and snowy roadways are not shipping-friendly. Typically during these months, logistics companies are recovering from holiday shipping. As a result, freight volume will start to progress as the months approach the spring season.
With the arrival of spring, the produce season begins. Freight volumes will increase, and carriers will have more loads to choose from, allowing them to pick and choose different loads. With pickier carriers, finding trucks becomes more challenging, and rates increase. In certain parts of the United States, the capacity and shipping rates change significantly for non-produce shippers, as carriers are massively switching to high-paying produce loads.
Produce season has come to an end; however, the hecticness doesn’t stop here. It’s time to prepare for the back-to-school season and start planning for the upcoming holidays. During these months, sales are typically up, and companies rapidly ship products in and out of their facilities to ensure all inventory is ready for the holidays. As a result, rates are still climbing, and freight volumes are towering.
Happy Holidays! It’s that time of year again; companies are rushing to complete last-minute purchase requests before the holiday closures. The new year is rapidly approaching, and no one wants to leave freight behind and drag it into the new year. The roads start to get busy with people taking time off for long weekends, holiday gatherings, and vacation time. It’s a time that needs to be carefully planned as last-minute items can pop up, and delays are likely.
Taylor Logistics has experience in each shipping season. We want to help you through each season and ensure you get the most out of each month. If you wish each year to be smooth and efficient, get a quote and partner with Taylor today.
The home of the greatest quarterback ever, Joe Burrow, is also the ideal place to store and distribute your products – that’s right, Cincinnati, Ohio. Why? Great question here’s a few key selling points:
Cincinnati is 24 hours from 70% of the United States population, so getting your products quickly and efficiently to the consumer will never be an issue. If you are doing a lot of eCommerce, look no further, as transit times for parcels are the best in the country in Cincinnati.
The Cincinnati region boasts the largest inland port in the country and the 14th largest in the country by cargo volume. Products coming into the Cincinnati rails? If so, we have a dedicated Cincinnati drayage team ready to assist.
So now, with the ideal location for warehousing, distribution, eCommerce, and transportation, you need a team. That’s where we come in; not only are we positioned in the most marvelous city ever, but we have the solutions for your business. Talk with our team today. Fill out the form below and a member of #TeamTaylor will reach out in no time.
It’s always a good time to #ThankATrucker, especially during National Trucking Week. This week we celebrate and recognize the important contributions made by drivers who keep the country’s freight moving.
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is an important time for America to pay respect and thank all the professional truck drivers for their hard work and commitment in undertaking one of our economy’s most demanding and important jobs. These 3.6 million professional men and women not only deliver our goods safely, securely, and on time, but they also keep our highways safe.
This year’s National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is September 11-17, 2022.
With pumpkin spice season creeping upon us, many shippers and retailers are already deep into holiday logistical planning. Unfortunately, supply chain disruptions have felt like the movie “Groundhog Day” with the main character’s alarm clock representing the latest unexpected challenge. Since early 2020, many companies have struggled to keep products in stock and fulfill orders promptly. As forward-thinking brands look toward the fast-approaching 2022 holiday shopping season, it appears disruptions will again take a starring role.
Stock up on Holiday Inventory
According to Adobe Analytics, out-of-stock messages have increased by 172% since January 2020. Lack of stock is a surefire way to turn off customers and make them look elsewhere. Throughout the holidays, ensure that you have adequate supplies of your best-sellers and coordinate often with your partners. Additionally, logistics operations may experience delays during this period, due to the influx of many moving orders. When the shopping surge starts, it’s better to replenish your inventory early, so you can get those orders moving as soon as possible. Avoid long wait times and prevent customers from getting frustrated when they learn their preferred gift is out-of-stock.
Create a Redundancy Plan
There’s nothing worse than a package not reaching its final destination on time, especially during the holidays. So create a backup shipping plan to ensure your products are delivered on time. Like last year, some carriers will have trouble getting your packages out quickly and to your customers on time during this holiday season. To ensure packages get to customers during a surge, it’s advisable to have a relationship with a backup carrier. You never know where or when issues will arise. If you can quickly shift from one carrier to another in the event of any problems, you and your customers will be happy.
Increase Real-Time Network Visibility and Predictability
In today’s dynamic retail supply chain, visibility and predictability are crucial. The most advanced customer portals for shippers can process thousands of data points within seconds, allowing them to offer business intelligence and predictive analytics to help avoid delays. As a result, shippers can gain a rapid understanding of changing transit times that are imperative in calculating dynamic lead times to be used in near-term order cycle management. Taylor provides their customers with a custom portal for real-time visibility for proactive decision-making.
The best way to prepare is to start early and proactively address any shortcomings that could impact consumers. Some brands have already started placing orders to build up inventory in anticipation of the holiday rush. By prioritizing a holiday logistics strategy and dedicating time and energy to optimize related processes, brands can break out of the “Groundhog Day” loop to achieve sales goals and exceed customer expectations this holiday season. Leave the logistics to us and focus on your core business – partner with #TeamTaylor today.
As we head into the fall, a little refresh is always a good thing. Say ? hello to our new and refreshed Newport office! We are always making it happen, so we had to make that our primary focal point, and while we love our Taylor blues, adding some yellow to the mix gives some extra sharpness to the space. Video tour to come.
Join #TeamTaylor! While we might be a logistics company, we’re in the solutions business. Founded in 1850, we’re backed by a rich history that’s to this day family-owned and operated. Taylor is the logistics backbone for many of today’s most innovative and growing companies. To double down on our success, we’re looking for highly driven and detail-oriented individuals looking to add value, solve problems and join our team. If that’s you, help us reshape logistics.
CINCINNATI, OH—Aug. 15, 2022 — Food Logistics, the only publication exclusively dedicated to covering the movement of product through the global cold food supply chain, named Taylor Logistics Inc. as one of the winners of the 2022 Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers award, which recognizes leading third-party logistics and cold storage providers in the cold food and beverage industry.
“These past 18 months have been so challenging for U.S. supply chains. It’s the continuous bottlenecks that require fleets to re-tool and pivot accordingly. But, it’s the drivers, the fleet, the warehouses and software/technologies that really keep today’s supply chains in line,” says Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive. “These 3PLs and cold storage providers have collaborated on all facets of their operations to achieve full visibility, complete forecasting, end-to-end leverage and the ultimate in sustainability. Now is the time to honor and celebrate those companies making magic happen behind the frontlines.”
Recipients of this year’s award will be profiled in Food Logistics’ July/Aug 2022 print issue as well as online at www.FoodLogistics.com. Go to https://www.foodlogistics.com/awards to learn more about other Food Logistics’ awards.
About Food Logistics
Food Logistics reaches more than 26,000 supply chain executives in the global food and beverage industries, including executives in the food sector (growers, producers, manufacturers, wholesalers and grocers) and the logistics section (transportation, warehousing, distribution, software and technology) who share a mutual interest in the operations and business aspects of the global cold food supply chain. Food Logistics and sister publication Supply & Demand Chain Executive are also home to L.I.N.K. and L.I.N.K. Educate podcast channels, L.I.N.K. Live, SCN Summit, SupplyChainLearningCenter.com and more. Go to www.FoodLogistics.com to learn more.
Contrary to recent news headlines, port volumes increase and are speculated to continue. We’ve all seen the clickbait titles stating “U.S. Import Demand is Dropping off a Cliff (June 7, 2022)” or even “U.S. Retail Cargo Seen Cooling in Second Half as Inflation, Rates Bite (August 8, 2022)”. But is there any truth to these reader-inducing headlines? Not really – While there is no doubt that economic growth in the U.S. has slowed substantially from the breakneck pace experienced last year, a closer look at the subcomponents for GDP suggests that domestic and international transportation providers can expect demand to hold strong through the remainder of 2022. Here’s what our team found after scouring the web to find factual metrics from reliable sources:
Despite the dollar being incredibly strong relative to other currencies, US exports increased 3.7 percent between the first and second quarters of 2022. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, this increase was larger, at 5.1 percent. This suggests demand for American products despite the higher costs other nations are paying for them. Supporting article.
Descartes Systems Group (Nasdaq: DSGX) (TSX:DSG), the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, released its July 2022 report on the ongoing global shipping crisis and analysis for logistics and supply chain professionals. The report shows another record month of U.S. ocean container import volume in June 2022 versus June 2021. While volumes are lower than May 2022’s record, they remain above the level that has caused port congestion and delays for the last 15 months. Supporting article.
Taken together, the more granular data that underlies the GDP statistic suggests demand for transportation services, both domestic and international, is unlikely to cool substantially as we move through the second half of 2022. Rather than falling off a cliff as some have foretold, it appears we are moving toward a phase where freight markets are normalizing after two years where nothing has been normal.
In today’s market, it’s essential to ensure a successful supply chain. You can achieve this by partnering with a port solutions provider that offers reliable service, timely pick-ups, and supply chain visibility. In addition to this, #TeamTaylor provides free ocean container tracking. Partner with Taylor today.
Providing solutions to managing port chaos is our thing here’s how we do it:
With Real-Time Visibility
We offer real-time GPS tracking, automated status updates, and notifications for every container. Leveraging the power of the project44 cloud-based platform allows Taylor to provide customers complete visibility throughout the supply chain.
Flexible Capacity
Whether you are shipping a couple of containers or hundreds, Taylor has a vast network of vetted carriers ready to handle your freight seamlessly from port to store or anywhere in between.
Fast Implementation
When it comes to port services, speed is of the essence. That’s why our teams are quick to deploy solutions for your needs. So if you’re looking for speed and high service levels, look no further- partner with Taylor.
Our easy-to-use cloud-based customer portal gives you access to real-time insights on your freight while in transit and allows you to review scheduled loads.
Now is a good time to join #TeamTaylor! We have several open positions on our job site like Account Executives, Drivers, Operators, and Coordinators. Come grow with us. Learn more here.
Fill out the form below, and a member of our team will reach out in no time.
Last week, our Bellevue team underwent a Safe Quality Foods (SQF) audit scoring an outstanding 98%. This is an exceptional accomplishment, as we continually strive for the highest standard in food safety for our business partners. A special kudos to the entire Bellevue team. We will be adding yet another championship banner!
The Safe Quality Food (SQF) Program is a rigorous and credible food safety and quality program recognized by retailers, brand owners, and food service providers worldwide. Recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), the SQF family of food safety and quality codes are designed to meet industry, customer, and regulatory requirements for all food supply chain sectors – from the farm to retail stores. This rigorous farm-to-fork food safety and quality certification also help food producers assure their buyers that their food products meet the highest possible global food safety standards.
This farm-to-fork food safety and quality certification helps food producers assure their buyers that food products have been grown, processed, prepared, and handled according to the highest possible global food safety standards. It can immediately improve your standing in the eyes of new partners and deals. For everyone at Taylor, this achievement is an excellent validation of our hard work and our team’s commitment to safe food operations. For you, it means increased protection in the event of recalls, improved operational efficiencies in our work together, managed risks, and peace of mind with certified due diligence.
Amazon recently announced that Prime Day 2022 will be July 12th -13th. Being among the most popular shopping days of the year, Amazon Prime Day is like experiencing Christmas in July for Amazon retailers.
Here are some valuable tips to help product brands prepare for Prime Day 2022.
Amazon’s FBA prep services have extensive receiving requirements that increase your expenses before even sending products to the marketplace. Some examples include:
Apparel on a hanger must have the hanger removed and be placed in a transparent poly bag to protect from damage or dust.
Baby products must be placed in a transparent poly bag, have a suffocation warning, be in a secured bag (if not self-adhesive), and include a scannable barcode.
Fragile/glass items must be placed in bubble wrap or a bubble bag with the box secured or taped, pass a drop test on a hard surface without breaking, and include a scannable barcode.
Keeping up with a laundry list of prep to-do’s is time-consuming and expensive when done on your own. And ensuring products are properly prepared ahead of Prime Day to avoid rejected inventory due to non-compliance can feel overwhelming. Work with a provider like Taylor (cough, cough).
Taylor offers a wide variety of prep solutions, including FBA carton labeling, palletizing and pallet labeling, inventory, applying SKU labeling, and more.
Want an all-in-one solution that’s a true extension of your team? In addition to our fulfillment, storage, freight, prep, and returns services, #TeamTaylor can also fulfill your Prime Day orders.
With a vast network of warehouses and best-in-class logistics technology, Taylor helps you meet customer expectations. In addition, to maximize visibility, we directly integrate with popular eCommerce marketplaces like Shopify/WooCommerce/Amazon to manage the entire fulfillment process.
For most shippers, carriers, and third-party logistics providers, scheduling has long been a time-consuming, manual process that typically requires multiple phone calls and emails to book an appointment. This process becomes even more problematic when appointments must be rescheduled due to a change in the driver’s estimated arrival time.
Recognizing this challenge, we implemented Opendock – a centralized dock management software that enables us to remove friction and streamline the appointment scheduling process for our customers.
Opendock uses Smart Scheduling technology to instantly select and book the best possible appointment by using artificial intelligence to analyze travel time and other factors. Should a driver’s ETA change while en route, the integration even enables Loadsmart to reschedule the appointment in seconds automatically.
Want to book on Taylor’s Opendock for World Park 1? You can do so here!
Fill out the form below and a Taylor rep will reach out ASAP!
Startup CPG has curated the first list of warehouse and 3PL fulfillment providers just for CPG companies (created and crowdsourced by Startup CPG members). Startup CPG previously released a list of 3PLs focused on DTC fulfillment in August 2020, and this new list replaces that resource with expanded options for B2B fulfillment and storage-only options. We are honored to be included in this incredible resource for growing + emerging brands!
Forecasters at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service, are predicting above-average hurricane activity this year — which would make it the seventh consecutive above-average hurricane season. NOAA’s outlook for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, which extends from June 1 to November 30, predicts a 65% chance of an above-normal season, a 25% chance of a near-normal season and a 10% chance of a below-normal season.
Managing a supply chain is a complicated business on the best of days. However, under the unfavorable conditions of a tropical storm or hurricane, a supply chain can swiftly move from complex to chaotic, causing severe supply chain disruptions.
Potential Supply Chain Issues
Knowing the areas most likely to experience hurricane-related damage is vital when it comes to supply chain management. So is understanding which links in the chain are most likely to encounter disruption. These notably include the nation’s ports. Fulfillment centers and warehouses also are high on the list, as they often are built on low and within proximity to port terminals. Transportation routes are also a vulnerable spot, as floodwaters can wash out road surfaces. Even with major highways, such as Interstate 10 during Hurricane Katrina.
How to Prepare?
Awareness
The first step for prevention is awareness. Identifying facilities that are in high-risk areas helps managers prepare for the worst. This also includes maintaining a consistent system for checking on the weather every day along with the supply chain footprint.
Alternate plan
Having an emergency plan in place that includes factors such as alternative routes for drivers and procedures for production outside facilities in the path of potential disaster. If possible, ensuring that production is ramped so essential goods can get to their destinations before disaster strikes.
Coordination
Coordination between supply chain partners inside and outside your business is crucial. Establish a team that will be responsible for making decisions during a crisis, and communicate it throughout the supply chain. When communication channels break down, people often act and react on their own, thinking that they are doing the right thing, which may hurt the overall plan.
Supply Chain Intelligence Center for Disaster Information
The American Logistics Aid Network, in collaboration with different logistics and supply chain companies, has created a supply chain dashboard. The Supply Chain Intelligence center monitors the real-time status of roads, ports, and airports in disaster-impacted areas. Register to request access here.
Work with an Agile 3PL Provider
When a hurricane or tropical storm is on the horizon, it can be challenging to prepare your business for possible supply chain disruption. The best way to create a plan for your supply chain is to work with a proactive logistics solutions provider. We help companies of all sizes within various industries prepare for supply chain uncertainty. Talk with Taylor today. Fill out the form below, and a Team Taylor rep will be in touch in no time.
Now is a good time to join #TeamTaylor! We have several open positions on our job site like Account Executives, Drivers, Operators, and Coordinators. Come grow with us. Learn more here.
CINCINNATI, Ohio. – MAY, 24th 2022—Taylor Logistics, a third-party logistics solutions provider, announced that it has partnered with project44 the world’s leading Advanced Visibility Platform™ for shippers and logistics service providers.
Leveraging the power of the project44 cloud-based platform allows Taylor to increase operational efficiencies, reduce costs, improve shipping performance, and deliver an exceptional customer experience. Connected to thousands of carriers worldwide and having comprehensive coverage for all ELD and telematics devices, project44 supports all transportation modes and shipping types.
“We are excited about our partnership with project44. This allows our customers complete visibility throughout the supply chain that we were missing on the front end,” said Vince Bonhaus, Vice President of Logistics, Taylor Logistics Inc. “project44 was the obvious choice for our growing business.”
project44 is a Leader among Real-Time Transportation Visibility Providers, according to the Gartner Magic Quadrant. To learn more, visit www.project44.com.
Supply & Demand Chain Executive Reveals Winners of 2022 Pros to Know Award
This award recognizes outstanding executives whose accomplishments offer a roadmap for other leaders looking to leverage supply chain for competitive advantage.
CINCINNATI, OH —March 31, 2022 — Supply & Demand Chain Executive, the only publication covering the entire global supply chain, named AJ Raaker, Director of Warehousing from Taylor Logistics, Inc as one of the winners of the 2022 Pros to Know award, which recognizes outstanding executives whose accomplishments offer a roadmap for other leaders looking to leverage supply chain for competitive advantage.
“When I look back at past Pros to Know winners, I see a lot of individuals who accomplished a lot of great achievements. But, this year’s winners are reinventing what it means to be a supply chain professional. This year’s winners are intuitive, adaptive and so super smart, and continue to push the envelope when it comes to everything supply chain-related,” says Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Supply & Demand Chain Executive and Food Logistics. “We received over 360 nominations this year, the highest number of nominations ever for this award. It’s proof that today’s supply chain professionals are not only doing great things for the supply chain, but are also being supported by their teams, peers and partners.”
Go to www.SDCExec.com to view the full list of 2022 Pros to Know winners. The overall winner will be announced live at MODEX 2022 in Atlanta. Go to www.SDCExec.com/awards to learn more about upcoming Supply & Demand Chain Executive awards.
About Supply & Demand Chain Executive
Supply & Demand Chain Executive is the only supply chain publication covering the entire global supply chain, focusing on trucking, warehousing, packaging, procurement, risk management, professional development and more. Supply & Demand Chain Executive and sister publication Food Logistics are also home to L.I.N.K. and L.I.N.K. Educate podcast channels, L.I.N.K. Live, SCN Summit, SupplyChainLearningCenter.com and more. Go to www.SDCExec.com to learn more.
Happy #EarthDay! As temporary custodians of our planet, we must ensure that future generations will enjoy our earth’s benefits. We believe in positively impacting the environment by implementing new technologies and reducing our emissions. Learn more about Taylor sustainability here: https://taylorlogistics.com/sustainability/
There’s a podcast for everything, from celebrity gossip to being a better teammate at work, and yes, there are several on logistics, supply chain, and fulfillment. You name it; it’s in the Spotify library of over 3.2 million podcasts. Our team is a big fan of podcasts, we share them, and heck, we even have our own podcast Taylor Talk. With so many options, we are breaking down some of our favorites to listen to at the office, on your commute, or cooking dinner. We’ve broken it down into categories like logistics, transportation, supply chain, general business, team building, and educational.
Genre: Educational
If you’re pretty sure you don’t know everything, you should yet; check out Stuff You Should Know. Learn about why you itch, how multiple sclerosis affects the body, and whether you can die from a broken heart. This in-depth podcast offers you a new topic each week (yeah, there’s history and politics, too—no topic is off-limits), so keep listening to find out more about what you simply don’t know.
Genre: Team building / teamwork / motivation
Patrick Lencioni knows a lot about business — every aspect of business. With this expertise in hand, he has created a podcast that helps people in business optimize the way they work. This podcast has something for everyone and will impact you no matter what industry you work in. Need some inspiration as you become a leader in your organization? Want to understand better how you can work with various personality types in the office? ‘At The Table’ has you covered.
Genre: Supply Chain
The Supply Chain Now podcast features in-depth conversations with industry practitioners, academics, consultants, and other experts from every aspect of supply chain management and international trade. The podcast has updated weekly since its launch in 2013, an impressive feat, and features excellent episodes on robotics.
Genre: Business
Guy Raz, the former host of TED Radio Hour, launched How I Built This in 2016 to focus on one of the most exciting aspects of business: the early days of certain startups before they became huge brands. Get behind-the-scenes stories of how companies like Spanx, Burt’s Bees, and Stacy’s Pita Chips were created. Then, in one-on-one interviews, Raz gets business leaders to describe how they had to borrow from friends and family to get their idea off the ground or how manufacturer after manufacturer flat-out rejected making their product. It’s an inspiring and informative show for anyone passionate—or curious—about building a business.
Genre: Supply Chain
Hosted by Sarah Barnes-Humphrey, Let’s Talk Supply Chain is a supply chain podcast made with, by, and for supply chain experts. Sarah is widely considered one of the leading experts on collaboration and synergies within global supply chains.
Genre: Team building / teamwork / motivation
Mike Robbins perfectly blends the topics of leadership and teamwork in the all-encompassing podcast ‘We’re All In This Together.’ Mike has almost 20 years of professional experience working with big-time companies such as Microsoft, Google, and even the NBA. He knows a little something about how teams can positively impact business. We love the combinations of interviews and insights and techniques on how you can improve your team’s performance.
Genre: Freight, Supply Chain, Transportation
DAT brings together the brightest minds in transportation to discuss innovations, trends and best practices in the world of logistics. Get insights from Freightvine on the big ideas and major strategies implemented by industry experts today. Home in on the data and dig into the details with Freight Focus.
Well, Q1 2022 had no shortage of curveballs, from record-high gas and oil prices to the war in Ukraine and supply chain blockades lasting days on end, on top of record-high inflation. With the unpredictability of Q1, our team is taking a look at the trends and events as we dive into the start of Q2.
Omnicron 2.0: Surprise, a new Covid variant, is making its course throughout the globe. This new BA.2 subvariant of Omicron could account for a surge in cases impacting consumer behavior. According to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week (04/04) BA.2 spreads 80% faster than the earlier Omicron, has more than doubled in the U.S. over two weeks and will become the dominant variant.
Inflation, Inflation, Inflation: Consumer demand remained strong throughout the quarter. But March has been unusually soft in the truckload freight market. Consumers just aren’t spending like they were in 2021. New research reveals that supply chain issues are exacerbating inflation. A recent study found that during 2022 trade is expected to expand further, due to a 16% increase in exports during 2021 and imports by 12%. Production levels have been unable to keep pace with demand leading to supply shortages and will limit import growth in 2022.
Ocean Freight: Container shipping costs are higher than ever and will stay high for the foreseeable future as importers continue to battle for space in the face of record demand for consumer goods from Asia. Covid resurgence in China disrupted productivity and the supply chain in March. Next potential disruption on-deck: West Coast Longshore Union contract expiration and negotiation.
Drivers: making headlines and making late-night television. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver had an entire 24-minute segment on, you guessed it, drivers (aired just last week). Now a 24-minute spot in any programming late night or news is pretty significant, and the transportation and trucking crisis in America is of the utmost importance. 70% of the US cargo is transported by truck; nearly everything you purchase comes to you by truck. That box of Mac & Cheese that’s been sitting in the pantry for a hot second – truck. Headphones – truck. Your dogs squeaky toy that has seen better days – truck. You get the point. 3.5 million truckers supply our goods in this country. But the entire industry is facing a crisis; there’s a lack of drivers, a pretty massive lack of drivers, and it’s only increasing year over year. Not just long-haul drivers but final-mile delivery drivers. Leading to an overall shortage on shelves, congestion, the domino effect.
Domestic Shipping: Consumer goods demand remains high, filling truck capacities on tight routes due to driver and equipment scarcities. Diesel fuel spiked when Russia invaded Ukraine. As a result, unprecedented ground freight cost is the norm across North America.
It’s TIA Conference week! Our team is so excited to meet in person for this year’s annual conference in San Diego. Are you attending? Let us know below.
Over 1,200 of North America’s Most Successful Brokerage-Based Logistics Professionals for 4 Days of Reconnecting, Networking & Education.
Join #TeamTaylor! While we might be a logistics company, we’re in the solutions business. Founded in 1850, we’re backed by a rich history that’s to this day is family-owned and operated and is the logistics backbone for many of today’s most innovative and growing companies. To double down on that success, we’re looking for highly driven and detail-oriented individuals looking to add value, solve problems and join our team. If that’s you, help us reshape logistics. Learn more here!
This week, our Monroe team underwent a Safe Quality Foods (SQF) audit scoring an outstanding 97%. This is an exceptional accomplishment, as we continually strive for the highest standard in food safety for our business partners. A special kudos to the entire Monroe team. We will be adding yet another championship banner!
The Safe Quality Food (SQF) Program is a rigorous and credible food safety and quality program recognized by retailers, brand owners, and food service providers worldwide. Recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), the SQF family of food safety and quality codes are designed to meet industry, customer, and regulatory requirements for all food supply chain sectors – from the farm to retail stores. This rigorous farm-to-fork food safety and quality certification also help food producers assure their buyers that their food products meet the highest possible global food safety standards.
This farm-to-fork food safety and quality certification helps food producers assure their buyers that food products have been grown, processed, prepared, and handled according to the highest possible global food safety standards. It can immediately improve your standing in the eyes of new partners and deals. For everyone at Taylor, this achievement is an excellent validation of our hard work and our team’s commitment to safe food operations. For you, it means increased protection in the event of recalls, improved operational efficiencies in our work together, managed risks, and peace of mind with certified due diligence.
Peak produce season is approaching; our team is breaking down the 2022 season, rate increases, transport practices, and capacity challenges. Even if you do not ship or grow produce, this season can directly impact your transportation performance and spending.
What is produce season?
Produce season in the United States generally begins in February and continues through July. It’s the period in which the most significant volume of fruits and vegetables are harvested and shipped to food manufacturers, grocery stores, and other vendors across the country. In February, growing and harvesting kick off in Mexico, and we start to see an influx of produce imports into the U.S. Then, in late March, the produce wave moves to the southeastern states, southern Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, and southern California and continues to move north as temperatures rise.
The impact of produce season
Simply put, produce season it’s the rise in crop volumes and the elevated demand for trucks to transport these crops that impact capacity during this season. These factors lead to an upsurge in rates not only for shippers who utilize refrigerated trucks in harvesting areas but also for most shippers across other modes and regions.
How can you prepare for produce season?
It’s important for shippers to closely watch how all these current issues may magnify the typical challenges of the season. Here’s what you can do to avoid the potential problems during this season:
Partner with a team of logistics experts to help keep you informed of changes in the freight market during produce season
Ship your freight as early as possible and add flexibility into your delivery date
Factor in the longer lead time it may take to source trucks
Consider multimodal shipping solutions to explore alternate transport options
Work with a partner that keeps you informed about the effects of the produce season and educates you on how to adjust your network in response to agricultural fluctuations.
Taylor has a vast network of qualified carriers across the country. In addition, we’ve built a rapport with trucks that produce routes regularly and can help you deftly navigate capacity jumps.
The Commodity Classification Standards Board (CCSB) has released a Notice of Disposition outlining the suggested amendments considered at the public meeting on February 8, 2022.
Dispositions resulting in amendments to the National Motor Freight Classification® (NMFC®) will be published to supplement the NMFC. The supplement is scheduled to be issued on March 10, 2022, with an effective date of April 9, 2022.
Here are a few callouts; view the entire list here.
Cookware, 52890,52895, 52896 and 52900 (canceled) Refer to item 52880 (new).
Cookware, 52880 (new) Eleven density freight classes.
Sheet or Plate, Plastic NOI, 156300 Was classified based on packaging and united inches; amending to being classified based on greatest dimension and density, 9 subs/classes.
Fruits, Meats, Vegetables and Dairy Products, 76850 Density breaks and classes Changing. Currently, classes 70, 110 and 200; will be 100, 175 and 250.
Explosives, consisting of ammunition, propellants, etc., 64300 Item amended to clarify that explosives moving under this provision must be transported in U.S. DOT authorized packaging.
Ink Cartridges, 116030 Will now fall under 101740, Dry Ink or Toner, 101740.
Dry Ink or Toner, 101740 Currently, straight class 70. Being amended to three density-based classes (77.5,100 & 175)
Cables, Mechanical Control, 39510 Class changed from a straight class 70 to 11 density-based freight classes.
Door Lites, Sidelites or Transom Lites 34250 (new) Six freight classes based on greatest dim and density.
Friction Fabric or Friction Tape, 49450 and Cloth or Tape, Insulating, 49680 (canceled). Refer to 181823 (new)
Tape, Friction or Insulating NOI including Electrical Tape, 181823 (new). Eleven density-based freight classes.
Bags, Apparel, Bedding, Clothing or Garment Storage, 20510 (canceled). Refer to Bags NOI, 20580; 11 density-based freight classes.
Kernels, pumpkin seed, cooked, salted or not salted, etc 73710 (canceled). Refer to 73705 (new).
Kernels, Pumpkin Seed, cooked, salted or not salted, etc., 73705 (new); three density-based freight classes.
Filters cigarette, with integral plastic holder, disposable, 69083 Class changes from 100 to 200.
On March 28th through the 31st, companies involved in manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and distribution will gather in person in Atlanta, Georgia, to learn and take action at MODEX 2022. Team Taylor will be there, and we want to talk with you! We are here for you if you have any questions or want to chat on areas of interest in fulfillment, packaging, eCommerce, operations, transportation, food safety, and logistics.
MODEX 2022 is a space to make new contacts, discover cutting-edge solutions, and learn the latest trends that are sure to give you a leg up on the competition. From illuminating education to next-generation technology and equipment in action, MODEX lets you see what’s coming — and take advantage of it to power your supply chain with more possibilities for years to come.
Find the best the industry has to offer to:
Connect with over 900 of the leading providers and see in-person, in-action how their efficiency-enhancing and cost-cutting equipment and technology solutions can futureproof your supply chain.
Learn from the industry’s best minds how key industry trends and innovations can transform your manufacturing and supply chain operations during 100+ free education sessions and four powerful keynotes.
Meet with your industry peers from the U.S. and countries across the globe.
CINCINNATI, Ohio. – FEB, 28th 2022 – Taylor Logistics, A third-party logistics solutions provider announced that industry veteran executive Will Roberson has joined the company as Chief Operating Officer. Roberson will oversee all Taylor companies’ logistics, distribution, and warehousing, including sales, IT, and marketing departments working on overall operational strategy and execution. He will also improve operational efficiency and scale the team to serve a growing base of business partners.
In 2021, Taylor added two public warehouses, scaled their brokerage and distributing divisions, and added several new jobs to its roster. In 2022, the company plans to leverage that growth by strategically placing employees into roles that best position Taylor for long-term success. This includes positioning non-Taylor family members into executive positions, setting up Taylor on a more promising course for succession planning.
“Will is a trusted leader who consistently delivers results. He is uniquely qualified to drive strategic prioritization and accountability within Taylor, with a laser-focus on operational excellence,” said Grant Taylor, Vice President of Operations, Taylor Logistics Inc. “I have tremendous confidence in Will’s ability to align Taylor’s solutions with industry-leading operational practices to drive and extend the next era of Taylor’s leadership.”
Roberson brings an extensive business background and strong transportation and distribution operational competencies in various retail spaces such as CPG, eCommerce, and manufacturing organizations. Before joining Taylor Companies, Roberson held senior leadership positions and led cross-functional teams with companies such as Office Depot, Schneider Electric, Blue Buffalo, and Kelloggs.