Transport and Logistics Company Cuts Down Your Transport Costs

Transport makes an inevitable part of any business. It is important for the smooth running of your business. Those industries which are involved in production of goods or supply of raw materials, for them transport forms the backbone of their business. In order to make sure that the products reach their destination on time most of the companies prefer to have their own transport system. But in the long run they find out that the transport system costs them a lot and the management of the system becomes a tough job. So it is better to hand over this task to the transport and logistics companies which have good experience in handling these kinds of jobs.

The transport and logistics companies have taken over the transport industry. The main reason for this is that these companies are well experienced in handling these tasks and they cut down the overall transportation costs and save lot of money. They are well versed with the pros and cons of the transport system. Moreover these companies provide their customers with transportation logistics services. The logistics services include the management of the goods and also involve other services like material handling, transportation, inventory and warehousing. These companies very effectively handle the storage and flow of materials from their point of origin to their destination point.

The transport and logistics companies have extensive knowledge and expertise in dealing with these tasks. They know all the routes and hence can provide the best transport solutions for your business. They carry out the entire shipment tasks in coordinated manner so that there is less complication and all the shipments are carried out on time. They ensure that all the orders are delivered on time. If you outsource your transportation work to these companies then you can cut down the costs to a large extent and can use that money on other operations of your business.

The transport and logistics company free you from the burden of the daunting task of shipping your materials. Big companies largely depend upon this sector for the transportation of their materials. The smaller companies can profit even more from these companies as they rule out the need for hiring staffs and other aspects of transport. These companies are cost effective, manage the delivery tasks in well coordinated manner and provide logistics services which ensure that your products reach their destination within shortest span of time. So outsource your transport tasks to the transport and logistics company and get benefited by their services.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Comments Off

Expert Tips for Customer Service in the Transportation and Logistics Industry

People always ask me how we get and retain clients in the third party logistics industry (3PL). I think it’s pretty simple: Great Customer Service.

I know what you’re thinking – that’s a little too generic – right? Not really. Let me explain how I define great customer service:

1. Anticipate. Great customer service in the transportation and logistics industry is about beating your clients to their own thoughts. Whether it’s a need, want, or complaint – you have to communicate with your client before they communicate with you. If you can anticipate your clients’ thoughts and feelings and communicate their concerns before they do, they will feel respected. They will have received great customer service as a result.

2. Be grateful. Clients pay your bills. Every time they purchase a product or service they are giving you a part of their hard earned money. That money represents time and energy – the very stuff of life. They can invest their money at a lot of different companies, but they have chosen to invest it with you. Take every opportunity to let them know you appreciate them. Send a quick e-mail, leave a nice voicemail, take them out for dinner, or write a handwritten note and stick it in your company Christmas card. Do something at least once a quarter. Let your clients know how much you appreciate their business.

3. Plan your work and work your plan. Most clients’ frustrations come from unmet expectations. Do your best to plan for every contingency, communicate your plan well, and then follow through. When I first started in the logistics industry, I remember the company I was working for missing a narrow window to pick up a shipment from a Las Vegas trade show. It got pushed. The client was furious because the convention charged them four times as much to ship it back to them. Not only that, but we had lost valuable trust with client and we had to work very hard to build back that trust. You simply can’t afford to backslide with clients. Plan your work, work your plan, and watch your clients become your brand ambassadors.

4. Say “Yes” as much as you can (but know ahead of time when you have to say “no”). Clients love to hear you say “yes” as much as possible. As long as you can do it you should. Fulfilling a special request makes a client feel important, respected, and well served. Don’t think of special requests as a negative, rather think of them as a big curveball to knock out of the park. Your clients will love you when you do. On the other hand, there are instances when you must say “no.” In those instances, you should have an explanation ready for them. The solution can be a potential upsell for you or added value for your client. I never think of clients’ requests as problematic. Problems only arise when you’re not prepared. Never put yourself in a position to begrudge your clients because you said “yes” when you should have said “no”. Rather, find an equitable solution that you can both feel good about.

Although there are obviously many tenets to great customer service, these are the top 4 things that I consistently find myself talking about in the office.

We are nothing without great customers, and ensuring great customer service should be a no-brainer. We are in an industry where client relationships can be the greatest single competitive advantage we have. We can’t afford not to anticipate, be grateful, plan our work and work our plan, or go out of our way to make the client happy whenever feasible.

Juan Arango is the owner of 1 Trade Logistics in Dallas / Fort Worth, TX. 1 Trade Logistics is a premier, full-service transportation and logistics company based in Dallas / Fort Worth, TX that provides expedited freight forwarding,logistics management, supply chain solutions, and an international courier service. 1 Trade Logistics is a member of the World Cargo Alliance (WCA), carries a Minority/Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) and TSA Certification, and is fully licensed through the FMC, IATA, and NVOCC to name a few. They recently were named as a Top 500 US Hispanic Business with $6M in revenue for 2012. Learn more about their transportation and logistics services in Dallas / Fort Worth at http://1tradelogistics.com.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Comments Off