LTL shipping, also known as Less Than Truckload, refers to shipments that do not require a full trailer for transport. Many growing businesses rely on this service to deliver their goods to customers in all industries across North America. Choosing the right 3PL for LTL shipments can be very crucial to a small business’ livelihood.
There are many terms in logistics that can be easily confused if you’re new to the industry. Third-party logistics 3PL companies and freight forwarding services are two terms that may seem to be interchangeable but are completely different in the world of logistics.
It is not uncommon for freight forwarding and 3PL services to exist under the roof of one provider. Nor it is uncommon for them to offered by separate providers.
When it comes to order fulfillment, online sellers are always looking for new ways to improve speed and cut costs.
One of the secret weapons that a 3PL, and thus a retailer using a 3PL, has at its disposal is the ability to put items together in kits. The process of doing so is called kitting & assembly services. It is usually carried out by the same facilities and staff that handle order fulfillment.
To save a good chunk of this time, and, with it, a good chunk of money, many manufacturers utilize the kitting & assembly services of third-party logistics (3PL) companies.
In today’s fast-paced technological world there are a few “smart” items that we rely on every day. You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t have a smartphone within arm’s reach at all times. And smart homes with central units to control heating and cooling, lights, security and more are becoming increasingly common.
If we apply the definition of smart to a warehouse one could say that a smart warehouse is a warehouse designed to operate with maximum efficiency by incorporating best practices, automation and other technologies to ensure that it can function at the highest level.
