What is Considered LIMITED ACCESS?

In the world of LTL freight shipping, a term Limited Access is applied when the carrier views either a pick up location or a delivery location to be just that - Limited Access. When carrier makes a pickup or delivery at a location with limited access, there is usually, but not limited to an extra charge of $100.

Best practice is to always disclose the location to your Logistics Team beforehand to avoid extra variance fees.

Limited Access Locations include but are not limited to the following:

• Construction sites
• Storage Facilities
• Mines, Quarries, Natural Gas or Oil
• Fields (the site of any pit, excavation shaft, shaft or deposit at which coal, ore or minerals is, has been or will be extracted. Such site or “mine” shall include the property upon which the mine is located).
• Steel Mills
• Nuclear Generating Stations
• Military Installations
• Farms or Ranches
• Schools
• Churches or places of worship
• Prisons
• Airports
• Windfarms
• Camps
• Flea Markets
• Nursing Homes
• Restaurants
• Marinas
• Libraries
• Vineyards or Wineries
• Orchards
• Country Clubs or Social Clubs
• Ski Resorts, Chalets or Lodges
• Native American Reservations
• Utility Sites
• Fairs or carnivals
• Individual mini-storage units
• Commercial establishments not open to walk-in public

Other reasons Limited Access could be applied:

During normal business hours  

• Commercial establishments not having personnel readily available to assist with pickup or delivery
• Commercial establishments not having access to a loading/unloading dock or platform
• Sites where security inspections and processes are required before pickup or delivery can be performed.
• Locations where pick up or delivery requires smaller than 48 foot trailers, including but not limited to straight trucks
• Initial pickup and delivery attempts will be made on trailers 48 feet or larger unless special equipment requirements are noted on the original bill of lading or in the pickup request. Failure to note that a smaller trailer or special equipment is required for delivery may result in assessment of re-delivery charges or "Dry Run" fees

How to Avoid Variances? Be honest and clear about your pick up and delivery site so your transaction engineer can provide you with the best rate possible. Go123 Logistics can prepare you for seamless, headache free freight shipping. Contact us now for a Quick Quote. 

Electronic Logging Devices: Safety or Harassment?

Truckers across the country are up in arms over the Federally Mandated Electronic Logging Devices. If I am honest, the first time this mandate was brought to my attention I thought “what a great idea! This is a move to keep our highways safe!” However, in doing a bit more research and learning why the truck drivers are opposed to this mandate, I may need to rethink my position!

According to Depillis (2015) of the Washington Post, drivers are more concerned with harassment from the shipping companies. Upon first hearing of the drivers disdain of ELD’s, I thought it was more of a Big Brother concern as no one wants the government looking into their business; however, I learned it is more a concern of being harassed by shipping companies nagging them about stops made and tracking their every move (DePillis, 2015).

Luckily, the mandate is said to come with firm protections against coercion and harassment; however, we all know that said protections are rarely enforced and if they are, it is very time consuming! 

Time is money!! 

Though highway safety advocates and American Trucking Associations are for this mandate, many Independent truckers may choose to call it quits! (DePillis, 2015)

I know after learning this side of the story, my ideals on this topic have shifted a bit. 

What about you? How do you feel about ELD’s and the possible harassment endured by truckers?

DePillis, L. (2015). New federal rules will subject drivers to more monitoring than ever. Washington Post. (December 24, 2015). 

New Year in Shipping

Happy New Year!

We hit an ALL TIME HIGH in the last week of 2017 in all facets - TL, LTL and Reefer...flatbeds leveled out, but vans & reefers were up. Most technical indicators lag a bit but the best indicator market is price.

Thanks to the ELD Mandate and frigid weather across the Northern region, we witnessed a frenzy of people urgent to get their LTL and TL shipping moved. We felt it on the phone and over our email orders watching longer transit times across the boards and higher prices.

NEWS YOU CAN USE!

• Van Ratios Hit an All-Time High during the week of Dec 24 - 30 - This urgency to move freight before the end of the year, combined with the frigid weather and tight capacity due to both the holiday and the recently initiated ELD mandate meant that it cost more to move those loads last week. 
• Load-to-truck ratios surged, setting a new all-time record-high of 12.2 loads per truck for vans.
• Spot rates also reached historic highs: The national average van rate rose 2¢ per mile, the national reefer rate jumped up 6¢ per mile, and the average flatbed rate held steady, along with the price of fuel. 

A giant storm just descended on the North and - guess what? Truckers do not want to go where the roads are icey and LTL carriers park their trucks to avoid costly accidents. This wreaks havoc on logistics agents, because many times, we are locked in on quoted rates.

How do we cope?

Usually all it takes is some criticle thinking and some tactical transaction engineering - something we take pride in at Go123 Logistics.  We always answer our phones and stay on top of the problem to work the solution.  Under promising and over-delivering is the key to our consistent service. How can we help you?