Parcel - January/February 2009 - (Page 15)

Shippers should seriously consider regional carriers if: 1 - Twenty percent or more of the volume to their customers is within a six hour drive 2 - They require anything unique that the globals don’t offer or charge more for 3 - If having an alternative makes sense in their overall vendor mix 4 - Saving money on transportation costs is important It’s no surprise, then, that Regionals and Globals are feasting from the failure of DHL to succeed in the bruising USA marketplace. How do carriers decipher what to offer customers when the alternatives are ever expanding: regional-national-global, dim weightsweight based, fuel surcharges, distance based by mileage-zones, discounts, ground-air, residential-commercial, drop off or pick-up, tracking-tracing, regular distribution or variable pickup, same daynext day-early bird-AM-PM-2day-3day, multiple shipping locations, outbound-inbound-third party, pickup-delivery times, agreementcontract, payable terms-edi billing, waybills-automated shipping, software-Telematics/GPS and guarantees? Many regional carriers and even the USPS have decided to turn the complex into the simplistic. The USPS’ ﬂat rate box (available January 18) offers unlimited weight in a video tape-sized box, delivery in two business days and a price of $4.95 from-to anywhere in the USA. Eastern Connection covers a third of the USA population by servicing the northeast. Its Chairman, Ted Kauffman, states, “Our ground service provides next day delivery for any ﬁve pound package picked up and delivered within the entire northeast for less than $7.00. We also provide faster priority services and handle heavier packages at very competitive rates.” Clark Security’s VP of Logistics, John Williams, tells me he is a major shipper using primarily UPS. They have had excellent experience with OnTrac, a regional parcel carrier on the west coast and would entertain next day ground from Regionals that have excellent service and competitive pricing for their distribution centers in Lexington; Chicago; Silver Springs, MD; and Waltham, MA. If you have got the wherewithal to compete, John invites you to email him at John.Williams@ClarkSecurity.com. Service to customers that is built upon “think global and act local,” with top drawer technology and simplicity can generally trump the alternatives. Rob Shirley has been in the logistics industry and its technology for the last 30 years. He is EVP of Celevoke, a key provider of asset tracking services for carriers and shippers in 154 countries. You are invited to contact Rob about concepts for his column at Rob.Shirley@Celevoke.com p www.PARCELindustry.com / JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2009 15 http://www.PARCELindustry.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Parcel - January/February 2009

Parcel - January/February 2009 Contents Editor’s Note Going Global Transportation ABCs Mastering Management Regional Alternatives Practical IT Best Practices Packaging 12th Annual UPS Rate Analysis Navigating Dim Weight Charges More than Just a Postscript Understanding RFID PARCEL Counsel New Products Reality Check

Parcel - January/February 2009

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