As everyone knows, the price of fuel has been, and will likely continue to be, on the rise. The increases/fluctuations in jet fuel and highway diesel prices contribute to more than just carriers’... View More
Many small and mid-sized shippers feel that they don’t have the time or resources to effectively negotiate carrier contracts or manage their transportation spend. In many cases, they feel inti... View More
Think about your last negotiation. No, I’m not talking about the later curfew your teenager tried to negotiate with you this past weekend. Those negotiations usually involve someone (let’s... View More
Every merchant has a contract, which they typically renegotiate either annually or semi-annually, with a major shipping carrier. As merchants sit down to renew their contracts, they aim to negot... View More
For most shippers, negotiating with carriers can be intimidating. Whether it’s your first time at the table or you’re a seasoned veteran, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The carriers are... View More
Surveys show that market intelligence and benchmarking are the most valuable assets a shipper can have going into a transportation negotiation process. The information below will address how shippers
I often find myself explaining the importance of separating various cost reduction strategies. It is common for shippers to reference one or two cost reduction strategies and insinuate or assume that... View More
It's easy to understand why parcel shippers might want to use a regional carrier; they usually offer flexible pickup windows, faster transit times, and lower transportation and accessorial cost. And... View More
In every bid event, you want to make sure you have all your bases covered and are setting yourself up for a great relationship with your carrier over the life of the contract. Fully understandin... View More
The booming trend of e-commerce shopping continues to grow, and not just in massive sales, but also in the actual size of products available. Sales of non-traditional, bulky items are now accessible f
With the FedEx GRI that was announced several weeks ago, FedEx also announced increases to accessorial fees that will have a significant impact. This link provides a chart that highlights the ch... View More
Negotiation pre-season is about to kickoff. Annually, we should be reviewing our agreements, adjustments, and invoices (invoices are our Magic 8-Ball to reveal rates and weights). A little pre-s... View More
As has been widely reported in many industry trade journals, FedEx Corp announced that they will be raising shipping rates in 2018 for FedEx Ground, FedEx Express, and FedEx Freight by 4.9%. If... View More
As most of us have heard by now, FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Freight, subsidiaries of FedEx Corp., will increase shipping rates effective January 1, 2018 by an average of 4.9%. The ch... View More
FedEx’s 2018 GRI announcement talks about the increases that will take place January 1; however, there are other substantial changes that will take place on January 22 that will have a major cost... View More
The names FedEx and UPS are so ubiquitous in the parcel space that there’s often no room to talk about other options. But other options do exist — potentially valuable options. Regional carr
Dozens, if not hundreds, of articles have been published on contract negotiation: the dos, the don’ts, benchmarking, cost basis negotiations, and so on. While these tips are certainly valuable and... View More
On many levels, your relationship with your parcel carrier is like a partnership. You need your carrier so that you can perform your business, and the carrier needs you for revenue. You sign an agreem
Editor’s Note: This is a web exclusive that delves more into one of the main topics Glenn covered in his recent March/April article, titled Tips to Thinking Like a Carrier. Negotiating with t... View More
One of the biggest mistakes a shipper can make is to nickel and dime a negotiation. Routinely chipping away at pieces only weakens the entire structure. Visualize your agreement as a milk bottle... View More
