All of us here at PartnerShip would like to congratulate Polly Gordon, our truckload brokerage manager, on a very important achievement. This past weekend, Polly earned her certification as a Certified Transportation Broker (CTB) through the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA). Polly put in a lot of hard work and dedication into earning this certification. It will serve her well as we take our growing truckload brokerage services to an ever expanding customer base.

The CTB Program was developed by the TIA to increase the professionalism and integrity of property brokerage, meet the educational needs of brokers, and expand basic knowledge of the brokerage and transportation industry through a rigorous certification program. Certification provides an additional edge in the competitive transportation marketplace. It demonstrates to customers that you have the knowledge base, professional integrity, and professional commitment best suited to meet their transportation needs.  The CTB is considered one of the most valuable credentials you can earn in your brokerage career. Visit the TIA website at www.tianet.org to learn more.

If your reading this article and you are a shipper with truckload shipping needs, please let us give you a quote on your next full or partial, dry van, flat bed, or refrigerated truckload shipment. We promise that Polly and her team will find you the right carrier and the right rate to fit your need.

By Scott Frederick

In case you missed it, PartnerShip is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. In March of this year we produced a thank you video for our customers. For this video, we recorded a message from PartnerShip president and COO, John Finucane, as well as some short video clips of our office and employees. I think the video turned out very nice, and we actively showcase it on 25th Anniversary Thank You Page, and on the PartnerShip YouTube Channel. 

Although we didn't include it in our final customer thank you video, during our March video shoot we also interviewed a few PartnerShip employees and asked them to reflect on the company, our culture, and our 25th anniversary. We received some great, heartfelt comments from the brave employees that stepped in front of the camera and microphone; so I'd like to share them in this special video presentation. This is a true testament that PartnerShip is a great place work - with a genuine focus on customer service, teamwork, family values ... and having fun while doing it.

If you're interested in joining the PartnerShip team, please visit the Careers page on PartnerShip.com to see what opportunities may be open within our organization.

By Scott Frederick

PartnerShip, as in years past, exhibited again at this year's Summer Fancy Food Show - North America's Largest Specialty Food & Beverage Event. The event was held in New York City from June 29^th - July 1^st and featured 180,000 products including confections, cheese, coffee, snacks, spices, ethnic, natural, organic and more. The show also boasts 2,400 exhibitors from 80 countries & regions.

Highlights from the show included:

• The 2014 sofi Awards Ceremony — a red carpet awards ceremony acknowledging the best innovations and tastes of the past year. Check out who took home the gold this year.
• Business Builders — a free "match-making" program for exhibitors and attendees
• Numerous educational programs — ranging from —The Business of Specialty Foods to —The State of the Specialty Food Industry 2014'
• Exhibitor Showcases — the over 2,000 exhibitors always bring new, innovative products that make this show what it is

Since PartnerShip is the endorsed company that manages the Specialty Food Association Shipping Program, is an important relationship-building event for us. Harry Centa, senior program manger for PartnerShip, attended the show to spread the good word about the PartnerShip services and discounts available to SFA members for small package and freight shipping. Harry also had a chance to take a few great pictures at the show that capture the sights, energy, and fun that this show offers year in and year out. See our Flickr slide show below for the highlights.

*The winner will also be notified directly.

Business Overview

Midwest-based anti-bacterial soap and cleaning products manufacturer with strong growth secures large customer on the West Coast.  Their customer is now placing full truckload orders on a monthly basis.  

Business Challenges

The soap manufacturer tries to use LTL carriers to fulfill its West Coast orders but encounters issues with double-stacking damage, expensive shipping rates, and poor delivery service. They switch to a broker-based solution but the carrier selected for service lacked the professionalism they wanted for their product delivery, and does not provide exclusive use of the trailer. Current annualized shipping cost for this monthly truckload move is over $50,000.  The shipping coordinator also wears many hats and does not have the luxury of time to talk to numerous carrier representatives in person or over the phone. She has a preference for quick, business-direct email communications.  

PartnerShip Solution

PartnerShip reviews the soap manufacturers' truckload shipping needs.  The PartnerShip truckload brokerage manager researches current carrier agreements and national load boards to find a low-cost, reliable, and safe carrier option. PartnerShip negotiates new rates on shipper's behalf, saving them over $100 per load.  The PartnerShip account representative — respectful of the shipping coordinator's time — details the proposal in an email. All follow-up communications are also email-based as preferred by the shipping coordinator. 

Additionally, the shipper is signed-up for the PartnerPerksâ„¢ customer loyalty program where they can earn up to $100 in gift cards per quarter (they are currently using the gift cards to help fund their internal employee-wellness program).   So far the soap manufacturer is saving nearly $2,000 annually on this one, monthly truckload move to the West Coast. They are also pleased with the carrier and driver that are routinely handling the move, and service has been perfect. They especially appreciate the regular email updates on the status of the load — from pickup to final delivery. Their West Coast customer has even increased its orders!

If you'd like to create a successful truckload case study of your own, request a FREE shipping analysis or a FREE truckload rate quote from PartnerShip today.

By Scott Frederick

The past few days I had the opportunity to represent PartnerShip at the Transportation Marketing & Sales Association (TMSA) Annual Conference in Dallas, TX. As was the case in past years (see 2013 and 2012), the conference provided a great forum for networking and education with the top marketing and sales professionals in the transportation industry.

This year's theme, Driving Results Together, focused on the alignment between sales and marketing business strategies. There were a number of educational tracks that provided insights and tools to help transportation companies overcome shared obstacles and increase their bottom lines. Three particular highlights for me included:

• Opening keynote on the State of the Transportation and Logistics Industry by Adrian Gonzalez, President of Adelante SCM. Mr. Gonzalez posed the question "What Business Are You In?" and made the case for a broader perspective of the market, the competitive landscape, and a company's value proposition. 
• Eight Content Marketing Habits for 2014 presented by Nate Riggs, President of NR Media Group. Mr. Riggs did an excellent job presenting a framework to help industry marketers cut through the clutter and win more attention from customers by bridging the gap between the art and science of content marketing. 
• Closing keynote on Creating Strategic Impact - Making Great Ideas Reality by Mike Brown, Founder of Brainzooming Group. Mike, a former colleague of mine, used his trademark approach of creativity and humor to persuade the audience to embrace creativity within their own organizations, and how to make a meaningful impact on business strategy at all levels of an organization.

The biggest conference highlight for me, however, was when PartnerShip was presented with an Award of Excellence in the TMSA Compass Awards program. PartnerShip received its award in the prestigious —Integrated Campaign' category for our integrated brand-building efforts that past couple years, and we joined a short list of 33 other transportation companies that were recognized with awards of merit or excellence in this year's contest.

The Compass Awards program represents the hallmark of achievement offering TMSA members the opportunity to showcase their work, receive recognition, and benchmark work against others. All entries are evaluated by a judging team of industry peers, and then audited by the TMSA using a points-based scaling system. Fifty percent of the total score is based on the —Work Blueprint,' and the other fifty percent is based on the —Work Sample.'

As part of the awards program, each winning company was asked to submit a 1-2 minute video highlighting the entry and the team that worked on the project. Here is the video that we produced and submitted on behalf of PartnerShip:

Along with the Award of Excellence, TMSA provided the following comments that came from the judges who reviewed the PartnerShip entry: "Very well written. Really liked how your results and metrics matched up with your goals and objectives and that these numbers were included in that section. We really thought the timeline you provided was great as it helped keep track of all the moving elements. We also enjoyed the tie in with the internal aspect of re-launching a brand and that is to get employees on the same page."

On a personal and professional level, it is so cool to have PartnerShip recognized among some of the most well-respected transportation companies in the world (some of which are important partners with us), including FedEx, Pilot Freight Services, Pitt Ohio, C.H. Robinson, and many others. To view the PartnerShip winning award submission and to learn more about the TMSA Compass Awards, visit www.tmsatoday.org/recognition/compass-awards.

Sorting out all of the necessary steps for shipping internationally can be intimidating. Our small package alliance partner, FedEx, has the services and tools to simplify the international shipping process for small businesses.

FedEx Express International Services:
FedEx offers a variety of international service options to fit your delivery and budgetary needs:

• FedEx International Priority^® 
  Provides customs-cleared delivery typically in 1 to 3 business days to more than 220 countries and territories. You can import from more than 220 countries and territories too. 
• FedEx International Economy^®
  Provides cost-effective, customs-cleared delivery typically in 2 to 5 business days to more than 215 countries and territories. You get delivery in just 2 or 3 business days to Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. You can import from more than 100 countries and territories too. 
• FedEx^® International Next Flight
  The fastest-possible delivery to and from more than 220 countries and territories. Reach major cities in just hours depending on flight availability. It's available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 
• FedEx International First^®
  Reach many destinations in Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland as early as 9 a.m. in 2 business days. You can also take advantage of inbound delivery to select U.S. ZIP codes from more than 60 countries and Caribbean islands in just 1 or 2 business days by 8 or 8:30 a.m. 

FedEx Express International Shipping Tools:
Through the FedEx Global Trade Manager, you have several tools right at your fingertips to get everything ready for your international shipment:

• Find International Documents: Get help finding the necessary documents for your international shipment.  
• Estimate Duties and Taxes: Estimate the duties and taxes that will be levied against your international shipment. 
• Country Profiles: Get a snapshot of country information including demographics, business information and statistics. 
• Shipping Advisories: Get important regulatory information specific to your shipment. 
• Denied Party Screening: Identify individuals, companies, and other parties that have been denied international business transactions.
• Harmonized Code Search: Find the World Customs Organization (WCO) tariff classification for your product.

Through an association shipping program managed by PartnerShip, you can receive discounts on your international shipments with select FedEx services. PartnerShip works with over 120 major trade associations, across many industries, to provide their members with the money-saving tools to help them be successful. If you belong to an association we work with, take advantage of our free shipping benefits today and save on your international shipping. If you're not sure if you qualify for one of our FedEx small package shipping programs contact us and we'll find the solution that's right for you.

Related articles:
FedEx and UPS Peak Season Surcharges: The Important Differences
Your Guide to the 2020 FedEx and UPS Rate Increases
How to Manage Customer Returns with FedEx
How to Schedule a Pickup with FedEx
Take Advantage of Simple, Flat Rate Shipping with FedEx One Rate®

We have completed 10 weeks of our "25 prizes in 25 weeks" promotion to celebrate our silver anniversary of helping small businesses save on shipping! We already announced of our first 5 winners, and now have a whole new group:*

As your shipping connection, PartnerShip is always looking for ways to improve our service and offer you options for your shipping needs. We continue to bring on new and reputable carrier partners like AAA Cooper Transportation to accomplish that goal.

With its headquarters located in Dothan, Alabama, AAA Cooper Transportation has a rich history of providing quality shipping solutions to customers in the southeast United States. Today, AAA Cooper Transportation is a multi-regional transportation solutions provider offering less-than-truckload, truckload, and international services. With directly operated facilities in the Southeast, Southwest, Midwest, and Puerto Rico along with partner carriers with coverage into Canada, Mexico, and across the globe.

PartnerShip customers located in the southeast now have access to competitive rates with AAA Cooper Transportation. Along with these rates, AAA Cooper Transportation offers guaranteed freight services, specialized equipment, and port/cross-boarder International services through PartnerShip to fully support your shipping needs.

If you have any questions about shipping with AAA Cooper Transportation through PartnerShip, contact us today at 800-599-2902 or email sales@PartnerShip.com. Or simply click the button below for a FREE rate quote on an upcoming LTL, truckload, expedited, or tradeshow shipment.

PartnerShip is a leading shipping solutions provider to small business nationwide. So, this week we'd like to officially celebrate small businesses across the country. Small businesses are the backbone to the U.S. economy and they're a primary customer segment for PartnerShip.

Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America's entrepreneurs and small business owners.

More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.

As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from all 50 states and U.S. territories.  Every day, they're working to grow small businesses, create 21^st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America's global competitiveness.

If you're interested in learning more about National Small Business Week, you can visit the www.sba.gov/nsbw website. There you'll find a schedule of both live and online events and other helpful information.

FedEx recently announced that dimensional weight pricing will apply to all FedEx Ground shipments, effective January 1, 2015. This is a significant change from the rating structure in place today. Currently only FedEx Ground packages measuring at least three cubic feet (5184 cubic inches) are subject to dimensional weight pricing. 

UPS is likely to make the same changes, as FedEx and UPS have a history of matching one another's pricing strategies. Both of their general rate increases (GRI) have matched over the years, including similar accessorial fees and special handling charges.

Even though this change is still several months away, it's important to determine what this will mean for you and your business for future planning. So what can you do?

Educate yourself
Dimensional weight pricing is a common industry practice that sets the transportation price based on package volume, in relation to its actual weight. Carriers use dimensional weight in order to account for the space packages take up on their trucks and planes. This allows for a more precise way to charge for their services.

According to the 2014 FedEx Service Guide, FedEx Express calculates dimensional weight for shipments within the U.S. by multiplying the package length by width by height (in inches) and dividing the total by a DIM Factor of 166 (the DIM Factor represents the volume of a package allowed per unit of weight). Dimensions that measure one-half inch or greater are rounded up to the next whole number, dimensions less than one-half inch are rounded down, and the final number is rounded up to the next whole pound. If the dimensional weight exceeds the actual weight, the former becomes the billable weight. It is likely that the new FedEx Ground dimensional weight pricing will follow the same guidelines.

Determine the impact
Start by looking at the FedEx Ground packages you typically ship and their box sizes. For example, if you tend to ship 24x12x12 boxes, the dimensional weight is 21 lbs. Here is how that is calculated:

length x width x height = volume
24 in x 12 in x 12 in = 3,456 cubic inches

volume/dimensional divider = dimensional weight
3,456/166 = 21 lbs.

You then compare the dimensional weight to the actual weight, and the higher of the two becomes the billable weight. In this example, if your actual package weight is 15 lbs., you will instead be billed at the dimensional weight (21 lbs.).

The change in dimensional weight pricing for small package ground shipments is only part of the impact you'll see on your budget for 2015, but it will be an important one. Keep an eye out around the New Year for the PartnerShip Small Package Rate Increase white paper that will come out after all of the general rate increases are announced by the carriers.

Find ways to offset the rate increase
Be mindful when you select the packaging for your small package ground shipments. Make sure you're not using unnecessarily large boxes for lighter shipments.  If you don't currently have one, investing in a scale can be helpful when determining how to ship out your small packages and selecting box size, so you know exactly what you're working with and how much you can expect to pay.   

Securing discounts for your small package shipments is one of the best ways to offset this rate increase. PartnerShip offers association members discounts on select FedEx services. If you're not sure if you qualify for one of our small package shipping programs Contact Us and we'll find the solution that's right for you. Also, if you click the button below, we can provide you with a free, no-obligation shipping analysis to determine how much we can help you save on your small package shipping.