Ocean freight is on the rise, according to a report by Research and Markets. The research company has projected a 3% compound annual growth rate for this mode of transportation through 2025.i If that holds true, terms like LCL and its close cousin, FCL, will only increase in popularity as more businesses start moving goods via ocean freight.  If you're one of those companies interested in ocean freight—or you simply want to learn more about this mode—we'll walk you through exactly what exactly LCL freight is. We'll also show you why it might be right (or not!) for your organization.  (And, if you have questions about any other terms, make sure to check out our Approved glossary...

It's estimated that 11 billion tons of goods move via ocean freight every year. In 2020, 775 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) were shipped globally—the equivalent of 387 million 40′ containers. Additionally, that volume is projected to continually increase into 2024ii—and likely beyond.  In short, ocean freight is big business, and it all centers around the containers used to transport cargo and goods.   If you want to discover more about this critical shipping mode, we'll walk you through the most common option for moving freight via ocean transport: FCL shipments. We'll explain what FCL means, and we'll also discuss why it might be the right choice for your business—or not!  (If you want to explore more logistics lingo, make sure to check out our Approved glossary of freight and logistics terms!)  What...

Savvy business owners and operators are always looking for ways to keep more of their revenue, and reducing taxes is a great place to start. Because your location plays such a central role in the taxes you pay, you may find yourself looking for a business-friendly spot for your operation. This might be especially true if you’re running a business in one of the 10 worst state tax climates in the U.S., as ranked by the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index. The list takes into account a number of different factors—including corporate, property, sales, and unemployment taxes—and rates how well states structure their...

With sustainability initiatives popping up all over the transportation and logistics industry, it’s only natural that attention would turn toward over-the-road transportation and its diesel emissions. While diesel-powered medium- and heavy-duty vehicles represent only 5% of road traffic, they account for more than 20% of emissions. Additionally, truck traffic in and out of busy ports like the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach contributes to overall emissions, which have been linked to higher incidences of cancer and asthma in surrounding areas. Recent advances in electric vehicles—including semis, box trucks, and delivery vans—offer the transportation industry an appealing alternative. Some of the industry’s biggest names...

eCommerce enjoyed explosive growth in 2020, with a 44% year-over-year increase from 2019, according to an estimate from the research organization Digital Commerce 360. While a great deal of that spike was due to the COVID-19 pandemic, online retail was on a continual rise long before reports of COVID emerged. Case in point: Estimates from Digital Commerce 360 report that online sales growth of 15.1% from 2018 to 2019. As demand for online retail has increased, so have customer expectations. A 2020 survey from software company ShipStation revealed that two out of three consumers expect free shipping options from brands, especially in light of the...

Supply chain vulnerabilities are high in the minds of many leaders in both the public and private sectors. On February 24, 2021, President Joe Biden set in motion a 100-day government review of potential vulnerabilities in U.S. supply chains, centered around critical items including medical gear, batteries for electric cars, and computer chips. Additionally, a private-sector research report showed that 73% of companies surveyed were hit with some kind of supply-side challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. Going forward, it’s clear that suppliers will be a big focus for supply chain managers looking to build more flexibility into their operations. In this installment of our Insights...