U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index shows strong Q1 freight shipment and spend growth

BusinessBy Brian Bateman April 28, 2018 Leave a comment

First quarter freight spend, at 187.8, was up 1.4% compared to the fourth quarter and 24.5% annually, as well as being the highest-ever quarterly reading, according to U.S. Bank. The report explained that the surge in freight spend was largely attributed to the ongoing truck driver shortage, which, in turn, led to rising rates in…

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U.S. e-commerce logistics costs expected to keep heading in one direction: up

BusinessBy Brian Bateman April 28, 2018 Leave a comment

The ongoing impact of e-commerce related to logistics costs in the United States continues to head up rapidly, due to a variety of factors, according to a new report issued this week by supply chain consultancy Armstrong & Associates.

Demand Modeling helps improve the design of your supply chain to better account for explainable changes in demand.

Put the Factory to Work: Vendor Shipment Booking

BusinessBy Brian Bateman April 27, 2018 Leave a comment

When we said 2017 was one of the most disruptive years for global supply chains in recent years, thanks to natural disasters, geopolitical conflicts, and regulatory upheaval, we couldn’t have foreseen the twists and turns that would take shape in 2018.

Georgia Ports: Crane and Able

BusinessBy Brian Bateman April 27, 2018 Leave a comment

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What’s the most fun or interesting part about working in the supply chain?

BusinessBy Brian Bateman April 27, 2018 Leave a comment

Readers share the most fun or interesting part about their work in the supply chain.

Trucking Challenges Impact SCM

BusinessBy Brian Bateman April 27, 2018 Leave a comment

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2018 Business Trends: For Better, For Worse

BusinessBy Brian Bateman April 27, 2018 Leave a comment

Investing in new and improved information technology and robotic process automation (RPA), talent shortages, and trade protectionism are predicted to be the top trends in service delivery for 2018 and the next several years, according to the latest quarterly KPMG Global Insights Pulse survey.

Warehousing
Your business is growing by leaps and bounds and now you need additional warehousing capabilities. When warehousing needs are more long-term and predictable, contract warehousing ensures that you receive guaranteed space whenever you want it at a reliable cost for the amount of time you specify. Dedicated services and specially-chosen resources are precisely designed to meet your needs.

First Logistics will perform the warehousing functions for you. Your contract warehousing agreement provides you with a one-stop integrated logistics solution that can be combined with cross docking, kitting, pick & pack, material handling services, and even freight brokerage. As a result, you can focus more fully on the strategic side of business development and at the same time, save substantially on operating costs.

If your products require special care, your volumes are predictable, your customers require system functionality that you don’t offer, or if your labor agreements discourage adding company head count, contract warehousing may be a smart choice for you.
Pick and Pack
As a key component of our standard services, we can pick and pack individual items into multi-pack cartons. This process of managing open case inventories requires hands-on experience, and First Logistics has long been a leader.

Our pick and pack expertise dates back to the mid 1990s when we launched the first large scale pick and pack operation in the Chicago area focused on Internet fulfillment. We quickly demonstrated our ability to pick hundreds of multi-part orders for rapid next-day delivery. Some of our biggest accounts went on to become household names.

Today First Logistics offers you a wide range of options that can be customized to any market. Whether you are producing infomercials or selling online, we can seamlessly manage the data, billing, and fulfillment to meet your needs.

In addition, we streamline transportation, ensuring undamaged delivery while simultaneously lowering costs and minimizing packaging materials.
Site Leasing
There is much more to warehousing leasing than negotiating the right amount of square footage at the best price. You need to ask yourself: is the location near a hub so that we can quickly ship directly to customers? Is it configured to get your products from racks to trucks and back? Is there temperature control for perishable items?

First Logistics can carve out any amount of space, structured as a basic lease and based on a per square foot rental. We work with each customer individually to determine the best warehouse space for the business’ special needs.
POP Display Fulfillment
Retail POP displays and accessories for multiple store locations can tax the existing space of even the largest companies. With more than 500,000 square feet of storage space, First Logistics can easily handle your largest displays, even for national rollout. We are experts at assembling, collating and shrink-wrapping even intricate POP displays.

And, our fulfillment capabilities are second to none. We understand that potential sales revenue is lost if your POP materials or brand promotional products do not reach your store locations on schedule. Count on us to make it happen. We are strategically located at America’s crossroads so that stores receive your displays quickly, no matter where they are located.