The Logistics of Logistics

A Better Solution for SMB Shippers with Ryan Collier Ryan Collier and Joe Lynch discuss a better solution for SMB shippers. Small and midsize business shippers face unique challenges. SMB shippers often feel overlooked and undervalued by 3PL and brokers. About Ryan Collier Ryan Collier is a Principal Designer at Convoy focused on understanding the problem space and designing solutions to meet the needs of transportation professionals. Prior to joining Convoy, Ryan designed and led design teams in education, healthcare, and government services. Ryan earned a Master of Science in Human-Centered Design and Engineering from the University of Washington. When not dreaming up new ways to help shippers, Ryan can be found dreaming up a new guitar lick or chasing his two kids around the backyard. About Convoy Convoy is the nation's most efficient digital freight network. They move thousands of truckloads around the country each day through an optimized, connected network of carriers, saving money for shippers, increasing earnings for drivers, and eliminating carbon waste for the planet. Convoy uses technology and data to solve problems of waste and inefficiency in the $800B trucking industry, which generates over 72 million metric tons of wasted CO2 emissions from empty trucks. Fortune 500 shippers like Anheuser-Busch, P&G, Niagara, and Unilever trust Convoy to lower costs, increase logistics efficiency, and achieve environmental sustainability targets. Key Takeaways: A Better Solution for SMB Shippers SMB shippers often face the following challenges when it comes to truckload shipping: Lack of process or a very manual process for getting freight quotes, booking, tracking, and paying for truckload shipments. Distrust of transportation providers and a belief that they are paying too much, not getting access to the same rates as larger shippers. Overpaying for truckload shipments. No insights or business intelligence on their freight spend. No dedicated logistics or transportation person internally because their smaller shipping volume doesn't justify the investment Ignored by many transportation companies who are not interested in smaller shippers. By utilizing a digital freight network provider like Convoy, SMB shippers can streamline their shipping process while reducing costs. In the interview, Ryan described the following advantages that SMB shipper gain when they use Convoy: Instant truckload freight quote from Convoy's website with a competitive price that is the same whether the shipper is Walmart or the corner store. Access to a huge carrier network that has fewer freight claims and fewer accidents. Because Convoy is a preferred shipper (tons of freight, great app, and free quick pay) they attract the best carriers. Superior customer experience enabled by industry-leading technology. Monthly business review to discuss shipper metrics and carrier performance. Phone app that makes tracking and tracing easy for both shippers and carriers. Real-time visibility. Additionally, Convoy is the preferred choice for many trucking companies because they have lots of good freight and a great phone app that streamlines the process. If carriers download the Convoy app to their phone, they will get quick pay with no factoring cost. Learn More: A Better Solution for SMB Shippers Ryan Collier Convoy Promotion - Up to $3K off truckload shipping The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast

FreightTech for Fortune 500 Shippers with Brad Forester and Mike Mulqueen Brad Forester, Mike Mulqueen, and Joe Lynch discuss FreightTech for Fortune 500 Shippers. Brad, Mike, and their team at JBF Consulting advise Fortune 500 companies on the assessment, selection, and implementation of supply chain software. About Brad Forester Brad Forester is the Founder and Managing Partner of JBF Consulting. Brad is a highly recognized senior supply chain leader with over 23 years of managing, designing, and implementing freight transport technology. He has a unique mix of carrier, shipper, software, and consulting experiences that benefit clients. With functional expertise in Global TMS Programs, Change Management, Organizational Design, and Systems Integration, he has been leveraging these skills to benefit clients since he founded JBF in 2003. Brad has a BA in Logistics Management from Michigan State University. About Mike Mulqueen Mike Mulqueen is a Partner and Strategy Practice Lead at JBF Consulting. Mike is a leading expert in logistics technology solutions with over 30 years of managing, designing, and implementing freight transport systems. His functional expertise is in Multi-modal Transportation Management, Supply Chain Visibility, and Transportation Modeling. Mike earned a Master of Engineering degree from MIT and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business/Marketing from the University of Maryland. About JBF Consulting JBF Consulting is a supply chain execution strategy and systems integrator for logistics-intensive companies of every size and any industry. JBF's background and deep experience in the field of commercial logistics technology implementation position them as industry leaders whose craftsmanship exceeds client expectations. JBF expedites the transformation of supply chains through logistics & technology strategy, commercial & bespoke software implementation, and analytics & optimization. Key Takeaways: FreightTech for Fortune 500 Shippers In the podcast, Brad and Mike explain the process they use for helping Fortune 500 shippers select and implement FreightTech. The process begins with a needs assessment, which is a systematic process for determining and addressing needs, or gaps between current conditions and desired conditions or wants. As part of the needs assessment, the following factors must be considered: Strategic plan for the company to ensure that the technology selected works even if there are acquisitions or rapid growth in locations. Users and their geographic locations. Supply chain resiliency to mitigate potential supply chain disruptions, like COVID. Transportation services required including inbound, outbound, TL, LTL, small parcel, etc. Supply chain visibility. Payment, auditing, and freight claims. Understanding the vision and technology roadmap for potential technology providers to ensure alignment with the shipper. From the needs assessment, a technology vendor is selected and the implementation begins. Implementing freight technology is potentially a high-risk project so a robust implementation framework is required. Custom integrations are typically required to connect systems. Experience and expertise in freight technology integration is a big plus. The return on investment (ROI) only happens only after the "go live" so Brad and Mike emphasize the importance of the stewardship phase. During the stewardship phase, the team focuses on user adoption, improvement, and maintenance. Learn More About FreightTech for Fortune 500 Shippers Brad Forester Mike Mulqueen JBF Consulting The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast

Freight Forwarding Catches Up with Sharm Chelliah Sharm Chelliah and Joe Lynch discuss the topic, "freight forwarding catches up" which refers to the recent technology advancements made in freight forwarding that has enabled it to offer a customer experience and visibility on par with tech-enabled 3PLs and freight brokers. About Sharm Chelliah Sharm Chelliah is a Global Account Executive at Flexport, a digital freight forwarder, and customs broker. Sharm is laser-focused in achieving Flexport's goal to make global trade easy and accessible to everyone with total visibility. With 15 years of experience in Healthcare, Retail, Supply Chain, Consumer Packaged Goods, Insurance, and Automotive industries and having delivered enterprise solutions to companies such as Coco-Cola and Home Depot, Sharm approaches each customer on their own merit, He maps out their unique supply chain requirements to deliver a customized platform that gives control to each client in an ever-changing operational environment. Sharm, having lived in several international cities, possesses in-depth knowledge of the diverse global environments and the vision to operate seamlessly in the global freight market space. Sharm earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Information Systems and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Maryland. Sharm enjoys spending time with his wife, their dog, and cat. An avid golfer, Sharm's way of unwinding is at a golf course. About Flexport Flexport is a freight forwarding and customs brokerage company based in San Francisco, California. Flexport is the first international freight forwarder and customs brokerage built around an online dashboard. Flexport was first to market with purpose-built cloud software and data analytics platform, Flexport today serves more than 10,000 clients in over 100 countries, offering a full range of services, including ocean, air, truck and rail freight, drayage & cartage, warehousing, customs & compliance, financing, and insurance – all powered by Flexport's software platform. Flexport has offices in San Francisco (HQ), New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Copenhagen, Vancouver, and Dallas (and expanding rapidly). We have warehouses in Los Angeles, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Chicago. Flexport is #8 on Inc. 5000, a list of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. Key Takeaways: Freight Forwarding Catches Up Freight forwarding technologies and systems have lagged behind the tech-enabled 3PLs and freight brokers. One reason for the disparity in tech is the differences in the businesses. Freight forwarding is much more complex than domestic transportation. Each freight forwarding shipment involves many more companies, people, borders, languages, and cultures than the average domestic freight shipment. Because of the extra players, distances, timezones, and hassles, developing a system that would connect the far-flung operations was tougher. Today, freight forwarders like Flexport provide a system that enables their customers to enjoy the experience, automated functionality, visibility, connectivity, and speed of communication that is the hallmark of the best tech-enabled 3PLs serving domestic freight customers. The best freight forwarders are now able to deliver the following: Ability to manage by exceptions using filters. Predictive transit times with confidence levels. Easy to use, intuitive customer interfaces that improve communication and collaboration. Search functionality on a variety of attributes including part number, order number, invoice, customer name, etc.. Email functionality within the system so all communication is connected to the system of record. This functionality encourages faster, more useful collaboration around the shipment. Learn More: Freight Forwarding Catches Up Sharm Chelliah Flexport The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast

Building Supply Chain Resiliency with Richard Sharpe Richard Sharpe and Joe Lynch discuss building supply chain resiliency. Because of the supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID 19, companies have a renewed interest in improving supply chain resiliency. About Richard Sharpe Richard Sharpe is the CEO of Competitive Insights, LLC. As an industry leader for the last 30 years, Richard is a frequent speaker at industry forums and a lecturer at Georgia Tech and is a founding member of the American Logistics Aid Network, a non-profit consortium serving Disaster Relief Agencies. Richard writes the DC Velocity blog on Analytics and Big Data. Formerly, President of CAPS Logistics, Inc., Richard leads the company which pioneered supply chain optimization solutions adopted by 15% of the Fortune 500 companies worldwide. About Competitive Insights Combining the power of supply chain expertise, data governance, and machine learning, Competitive Insights' cloud-based solutions search, find and highlight opportunities to increase revenue, reduce costs, increase efficiency and continuously drive profitable performance. Competitive Insights transforms multiple data sources into an actionable database, creates Net Landed Cost to Serve and Net Landed Profit for customers, products, and channels, provides insights from advanced analytics that pinpoints areas that need prioritized attention and monitors to measure decision impacts. With over 20 years of supply chain and data analytics expertise, these solutions are accurate, trusted, agile, repeatable, and efficient. About American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) is an industry-wide organization that exists to provide supply chain assistance to disaster relief organizations (and other non-profits). We do this by bringing the expertise and resources of the logistics industry together with non-profit disaster relief organizations so that we can help solve their most pressing supply chain challenges immediately after disasters strike. That way, help – and hope – arrive sooner. Key Takeaways: Building Supply Chain Resiliency Supply chain resilience is the ability of a supply chain to both resist disruptions and recover operational capability after disruptions occur. COVID-19 has disrupted supply chains around the world and reminded supply chain professionals of the importance of building supply chain resiliency. While COVID is the latest crisis to disrupt supply chains, it is certainly not the last. Consumers, investors, governments, and communities may ultimately judge companies on how they respond to this period of disruption. As supply chains have become larger, more sophisticated, and global, there is a greater chance for disruption. There is a reactive and proactive element to building supply chain resiliency. There are 3 types of supply chain disruptions: geopolitical, commercial, and physical. Supply chain resiliency process begins with understanding where your supply chain is vulnerable to disruption. Once a supply chain vulnerability is identified, measures should be taken to minimize or eliminate the vulnerability. Learn More About Building Chain Resiliency American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) Competitive Insights Richard Sharpe The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast

Using Resilience to Get Out of Your Own Way with Ann Holm Ann Holm and Joe Lynch discuss using resilience to get out of your own way. In times of stress, people need to become even more aware of their mental fitness. In this interview, Ann describes some of the challenges people face when under stress along with some strategies to become more resilient. About Ann Holm Ann C. Holm, MS, PCC, is a Professional Certified Coach specializing in executive, career, and sales coaching. In addition to being a certified Master practitioner of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, she offers the Type Coach online assessment, with a focus on personality as it relates to the process of generating leads, closing, and maintaining sales accounts. She also has 25 years of experience in applied brain science, using her hands-on experiences to help her coaching clients understand how to stay focused, be engaged, and energized given the demands of the 21st-century workplace. Ann has both a BA and an MS from the University of Michigan which focuses on psychology, brain science, and language. About Ann Holm's Coaching Practice Ann helps individuals position themselves for success by increasing their self-awareness, which is a must-have skill in the 21st century. Through coaching and proven assessment tools, Ann helps people become aware of their personality, emotional intelligence, and how they manage their brain energy. She also helps her client to better understand their value proposition or personal brand. Areas of expertise include: personal self-awareness, sales coaching for logistics professionals, emotional intelligence, communication and influence, team building, MBTI Master Practitioner, extensive experience with the MBTI Step III, 360 Reach/Personal Branding, and applied brain science. Key Takeaways: Using Resilience to Get Out of Your Own Way Resilience is the ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change. Below are some of the highlights from the interview with Ann. COVID has increased the stress levels for logistics and supply chain people and when people are stressed they may fall into predictable self-sabotaging behaviors. In the last podcast interview with Ann, the topic of grit was discussed. In this podcast, Joe and Ann discuss resilience or mental fitness which is the way we navigate the waters with ease and flow. When we are looking at mental fitness, we are looking at expanding our options and proceeding with a calm laser focus. But that's easier said than done. In fact, we often get in our own way and even get tricked into thinking we are actually doing the most optimal thing when we are not. In a previous podcast, we talked about saboteurs. We are bringing that back because right now, so many people's saboteurs are out in full force because of the uncertainty we are experiencing. High stress greatly increases the chances that we will get in our own way. The Positive Intelligence framework identifies the following 9 saboteurs. There are three saboteurs that try to create independence: The controller: individuals who must have control of everything. The stickler: somebody who is trying to make sure that every detail is covered. The avoider: an individual who doesn't want to be pinned down. Next is the group that is trying to gain acceptance: The hyper-achiever: one who has no idea of what is good or excellent because they need to be perfect. The pleaser: an individual who tries to gain acceptance by pleasing everybody. The victim: people who feel like their situation is uniquely flawed and they can't do anything about it. The last group is the people who are trying to gain security: The restless: people who are always wanting to move on to the next thing. The hyper-vigilant: always scanning the horizon for the next thing. The hyper-rational: they have a very difficult time with the relationship side of things. Strategies for building resilience: First of all, you need insight. You can't maximize your potential without accurate self-awareness. Most people think they are self-aware, but most people are not nearly as self-aware as they believe they are. A Harvard Business Review publication in 2018 revealed that 95% of us think we are self-aware but only 10-15% actually are. Self-awareness peels back in layers, almost like the layers of an onion. So, go to the Positive Intelligence website and take the free saboteur assessment. This will jumpstart your thinking on self-awareness If you'd like to go further, visit Ann's website www.annholm.net and schedule a free consultation to really dig into your report and get any questions answered. Then if you want to start building your mental muscle to make changes that will last, sign up for Ann's 6-week mental fitness Bootcamp that provides the structure, motivation, and ways to track your mental fitness progress. Learn More: Using Resilience to Get Out of Your Own Free Assessment - How You Self Sabotage Schedule Your Free Coaching Session to Review Your Self Sabotage Asesssment Ann Holm AnnHolm.net Related Topics: Emotional Intelligence in Sales with Ann Holm Understanding Your Sales Personality with Ryan Schreiber and Ann Holm Developing Grit with Ann Holm The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast

Why Great Prospects Don't Become Customers with Zach Ramirez Zach Ramirez and Joe Lynch discuss why great prospects don't become customers. As the director of sales and marketing at a leading logistics provider, Zach has learned the things in the sales and marketing process that scare off great prospects. About Zach Ramirez Zach Ramirez is the Director of Sales and Marketing at Ally Logistics. With a background in video advertising and a successful corporate consulting track record, Zach is passionate about educating the logistics industry on the power of marketing and clean processes. Zach is a believer in playing to people's strengths and bringing out the best in the teams he has the privilege of working alongside. Zach believes that: intentional listening leads to healthy communication and that healthy communication is the foundation for lasting relationships. About Ally Logistics Ally Logistics is a full-service brokerage servicing the U.S. and Canada. Ally operates at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and trustworthy relationships. Using these tools is what allows Ally to deliver maximum value, and an exceptional customer experience – every time. Founded in 2012 by Dan Manshaem and Jeff Chidester, Ally has seen continual growth throughout the years. Utilizing and building an environment where each rep thrives is the cornerstone of Ally's success. Key Takeaways: Why Great Prospects Don't Become Customers 4 reasons that great prospects don't become customers. Not Following Through on Your Brand Promises is a trust killer. Example: Saying "We service the hell out of our freight" then falling flat after 3 months and leaving the shipper hanging. Buy-in doesn't exist from top brass to the individual contributors. RadioShack Example: RadioShack: You've Got Questions..We've Got Answers. Have you been inside a Radioshack Store? Very often questions aren't answered. Expertise isn't always felt when shopping in the stores. Apple Example: "Think Different" They've been pushing innovations for years in turn fulfilling their brand promise. Whether or not you are "bought-in" to their brand style or characteristics, if you own a smartphone you more than likely are holding on to a piece of tech influenced by Apple. No Separation Between You and a Competitor - You'll be reduced to price quickly! Do you have Brand Pillars? Promises? Cornerstone Values? The price will be a part of the customer conversation one way or another. Are you prepared to explain why your price is fair, higher? worth it? What differences are you bringing to the table and how are you elevating/amplifying those to the customer? These aren't just marketing phrases to take for granted or get tangled in. These are values that both internal employees and external customers can unite around and find common ground. This also plays heavily into your hiring strategy and the type of candidates you'll gain Siloed Marketing and Sales Teams - No bridges, No collaboration, No refinement = No (calculated) growth. I've seen many teams where there isn't collaboration between "the creatives" and the "boots on the ground"...this is a huge pitfall When a sales team faces challenges in the sales cycle that should be the first place that marketing teams step in to receive feedback and listen to those challenges. This is one of the first places where creative problem solving can take place and link our sales teams with our marketing teams Calculated Pivots can't be driven without Intentional Feedback Don't get me wrong...feeling is a big part of what we as salespeople engage in. Although putting resources and spend behind "a feeling I have" isn't going to get you far, especially in years like 2020 where unexpected variables are introduced at a rapid pace. Customer Onboarding is not tailored to the customer's needs. Do you know your customer profiles well enough to tailor their onboarding experience? A mom and pop shop is likely not going to respond well to a 12 step onboarding process, although major manufacture may need exactly this to feel secure in the buying cycle. The customer onboarding experience can play into the intended "tone" throughout the customer experience, but this expectation must be followed thru on. Learn More: Why Great Prospects Don't Become Customers Zach Ramirez Ally Logistics The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast

3PL Basics: An Introduction to 3rd Party Logistics with Roberto Cadena Robert Cadena and Joe Lynch provide an introduction to 3rd party logistics. 3rd party logistics services include 5 major categories: 1.) Transportation 2.) Warehousing 3.) Logistics 4.) Technology and 5.) Special Services. Robert is the Co-Founder and CEO of a company that provides operational, sales, marketing, and technology support to over 100 3PLs, so he has a very thorough understanding of the business. About Robert Cadena Robert Cadena is the Co-Founder and CEO of Lean Staffing Solutions, which provides operational, marketing, sales, and technology services to the logistics and transportation industry. Prior to the founding of Lean, Robert was the Founder and CEO of Chain Express, Corp, a full-service transportation brokerage specializing in LTL, volume, and truckload transportation. Robert's experience and expertise in transportation, logistics, technology, and executive leadership make him uniquely qualified to run one of America's fastest-growing companies. Robert earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Florida International University. About Lean Staffing Solutions Lean Staffing Solutions provides operational, sales, marketing, and technology support to over 100 leading 3PLs. To succeed in the transportation and logistics business, 3PLs need to be able to hire and retain the very best talent, while keeping a lid on costs. Since the competition for the best talent is fierce companies need an edge that will help them win. Lean Staffing Solutions is that edge. Lean provides a turnkey solution to staffing challenges using a proven process that will improve profits while reducing employee costs. Lean can deliver on this promise because they are the pioneers in helping U.S. based companies set up satellite offices in Colombia. Since 2014, Lean has worked with over 100 satisfied U.S. based transportation and logistics providers. Lean ensures that your satellite office in Colombia is staffed with highly educated, English speaking professionals trained in your company's processes and systems. The Lean approach is low cost, low risk, low hassle, and they manage the entire process with their account managers. Lean Staffing Solutions offers a suite of product offerings from traditional staffing to technology, sales, and marketing services. Key Takeaways: An Introduction to 3rd Party Logistics According to CSCMP, a Third-Party Logistics Provider (3PL) is a company that provides multiple logistics services for use by customers. Preferably, these services are integrated, or "bundled" together by the provider. These firms facilitate the movement of parts and materials from suppliers to manufacturers and finished products from manufacturers to distributors and retailers. Sometimes 3rd party logistics companies are described as: Asset-based – companies that own actual assets like trucks, boats, planes, warehouses Non-asset based – companies that don't own assets like brokerages, service providers, etc.. these companies tend to invest in technology Asset light – companies with assets and brokerage capabilities The definitions are confusing because the space is so dynamic and ever-changing. The easiest way to look at 3rd party logistics is by the service they provide, which fall into 5 buckets: 1.) Transportation 2.) Logistics 3.) Warehousing 4.) Technology 5.) Special Services Transportation Services Small Package Air Cargo Less Than Truckload (LTL) Truckload Intermodal Ocean Rail Bulk Dedicated Contract Carriage Field Acquisition Equipment / Drivers Final Mile Warehousing Services Pick and Pack, Sub-assembly Cross-docking Distribution Center Management Site Location Transloading Vendor Managed Inventory Fulfillment Logistics Services LLP/4th Party Logistics Integrated Logistics Just-in-Time (JIT) Global Trade Svcs Inbound Logistics Logistics Process Reengineering Payment Auditing / Processing Inventory Management Vendor Management Shared Services Technology Services Customer / Supplier Management EDI Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Freight Payment / Claims Auditing Global Trade Management (GTM) Optimization Predictive Analytics SC Design Sustainability Transportation Management System (TMS) Visibility Warehouse Management System (WMS) Special Services Direct to Store Direct to Home Foreign Trade Zone Import / Export / Customs Reverse Logistics / Product Lifecycle Management Marketing / Customer Service Global Expansion Supply Chain Security Analysis Contingency / Crisis Planning Logistics/Transportation Consulting Labor Management Sustainability and Green Logistics Learn More: An Introduction to 3rd Party Logistics Lean Staffing Solutions Robert Cadena The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast

Launching a Successful 3PL in the Age of Tech with Nicholas Reasoner and Jeff Dangelo Nicholas Reasoner, Jeff Dangelo, and Joe Lynch discuss launching a successful 3PL in the age of tech. Nick is the founder and CEO of a 3PL that uses technology to deliver a superior customer experience and gain a competitive advantage. Jeff is the co-founder of a technology company that developed the collaborative logistics platform used by Nick's company. About Nicholas Reasoner, Founder & CEO of Transloop Nicholas Reasoner is the founder and CEO of Transloop, a digital freight network revolutionizing logistics for shippers and carriers. Nick has significant experience and expertise in transportation and logistics especially truckload shipping. Nick began his career at Total Quality Logistics, the second-largest freight brokerage firm in the nation. While at TQL, Nick held various positions of increasing responsibility within sales, logistics, and operations. Nick left TQL to join FourKites, a real-time visibility platform for supply chain logistics companies. Nick earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Public Relations, from the University of Cincinnati. About Transloop Transloop is a digital freight network revolutionizing logistics for shippers and carriers. Transloop brings cutting-edge technology together with white-glove service to deliver unprecedented transparency, industry-leading reliability, constant innovation, and real-time collaboration with every shipment. Transloop's mission is to be a true partner for the road ahead, and their battle-tested team has experience working with companies of all sizes, from small shippers moving one load a day to Fortune 500 brands shipping thousands. Transloop has locations in Chicago, IL, and Nashville, TN. About Jeff Dangelo, Co-Founder of Turvo Jeff Dangelo is a Co-founder of Turvo leading the enterprise sales organization. Before founding Turvo, Jeff spent 13 years in the logistics and transportation space. Jeff was the Vice President of Sales at a third-party logistics start-up. As the first employee, he was tasked with building and growing the sales organization. He was instrumental in its growth to $150m in sales in less than 5 years. Prior to joining the 3PL start-up, Jeff was a Senior Sales Executive at TQL, a $4 billion third-party logistics company, where he helped grow revenue from $20m to over $500m in sales. Jeff is a graduate of Miami University (Oxford, OH), with a degree in Marketing and Operations. About Turvo Turvo is the world's first multi-enterprise collaborative platform specifically designed for the global supply chain. The Turvo platform connects people and organizations across the supply chain, allowing shippers, logistics providers, and carriers to digitally transform their workflows with cloud-based software and mobile applications. The technology unifies all systems, internal and external, providing one end-to-end system of record set for all operations and analytics while eliminating redundant manual tasks and automating business processes. Turvo is based in the San Francisco Bay Area with offices in Dallas, Texas, and Hyderabad, India. Key Takeaways: Launching a Successful 3PL in the Age of Tech The transportation and logistics space is becoming increasingly competitive. To survive and thrive 3PLs and brokers will need to up their game. The following problems are still common in the industry: Inefficient manual processes that drive extra headcount to make follow up phone calls. Outdated, legacy systems that do not enable companies to automate processes. Poor customer experience - too many touchpoints, poor interface, clunky technology, no system integration. No real-time visibility. Poor hiring practices and bad culture leading to high employee turnover (resulting in inconsistent customer service). Bad relationships with carriers. Launching a successful 3PL in the age of tech requires business leaders to take a fresh new approach that should include the following: A superior customer experience from beginning to end. To accomplish this transportation companies must understand customer needs. A tech-centric approach that delivers easy-to-use interfaces, automated processes, real-time visibility - a system that customers will want to use. A collaborative logistics platform that is built not just for the 3PL, but for the shipper, suppliers, carriers, and any other organization within the digital ecosystem. Eliminating manual processes with digital automation. Contract or strategic customers who want their 3PL to become an extension of their suppply chain group. A culture that emphasizes ethical values and win-win relationships with both customers and carriers. Hiring, training, and retaining the best people – people who believe in the company and culture. A partnership with technology providers who can provide a collaborative logistics platform that will give your company a competitive edge. Learn More About Launching a Successful 3PL in the Age of Tech Transloop Turvo Nicholas Reasoner Jeff Dangelo The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast

The New Reality of Amazon FBA with Ephraim Ausch Ephraim Ausch and Joe Lynch discuss the new reality of Amazon FBA, also known as Fulfillment by Amazon. Ephraim is an expert in Amazon FBA and he works closely with Amazon sellers. About Ephraim Ausch Ephraim Ausch is the Chief Logistics Officer at Tactical Logistics, an end-to-end provider of supply chain logistics services. Ephram is a trusted advisor to retailers, ecommerce companies, and Amazon sellers. Ephram is an expert in Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Ephraim started his career at a bulk candy company that had retail locations in New York. Ephraim was given to opportunity to relaunch candy sales on Amazon and grew sales to over $1,000,000 per year. After his success with selling candy on Amazon, Ephraim launched a gift basket company and became a successful Amazon seller. Ephraim started and developed Tactical's Amazon FBA business into one of Tactical's biggest customer segments. About Tactical Logistic Solutions Tactical is an end-to-end provider of supply chain logistics that specializes in freight forwarding, warehousing, distribution, and domestic transportation. Tactical boasts end-to-end logistics designed for maximum flexibility and cost efficiency, allowing clients to outsource all or specific parts of their supply chain requirements. Tactical has a highly experienced management team with decades of collective experience in the logistics industry, and the latest technology necessary to streamline the process. Tactical has warehouses in both Chino, California, and Elizabeth, New Jersey. Key Takeaways: The New Reality of Amazon FBA The COVID 19 pandemic resulted in a huge sales surge at Amazon. The sales increase pushed Amazon's operational capacity and capability. To manage the increased volumes, Amazon has implemented higher standards for Amazon sellers. The new reality of Amazon FBA: Carriers picking up and delivering to Amazon locations will now be measured on a carrier performance scorecard. The new performance metrics were a result of carriers arriving late and or missing appointments. If carriers fail to meet Amazon standards, they will be unable to schedule appointments with Amazon facilities. The Inventory Performance Index, (IPI) is a score Amazon assesses to determine how well sellers are managing their inventory. Sellers can score between 0 and 1000 on the IPI. If sellers fall below 500 (previously 350) on the IPI, they will have unit restrictions imposed on them. Amazon raised the bar and the IPI because their warehouses are overflowing with goods. There are four factors that affect a sellers IPI: Reducing excess inventory to increase profitability Increasing sell-through to balance your inventory weeks of cover Ensuring inventory is buyable by fixing listings that are stranded Increasing sales by keeping popular items in stock Amazon is limiting the amount of inventory that sellers can send to Amazon warehouses. The unit restrictions on sellers are in response to Amazon's warehouses having too much inventory. Learn More About The New Reality of Amazon FBA Ephraim Ausch Tactical Logistic Solutions White Paper: Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) Workflow SOP 5 Biggest Mistakes Sellers Make When Using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) with Ephraim Ausch Seller Chain The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast

Becoming More Confident on the Phone with Chris Jolly Chris Jolly and Joe Lynch discuss what it takes to become more confident on the phone. Chris is an experienced freight sales coach and consultant who helps transportation and logistics professionals grow their sales. About Chris Jolly Chris Jolly is the founder of CJolly Freight Consulting and the host of Coffee w/#TheFreightCoach podcast. Chris has over 14 years of experience in transportation with the bulk of his experience in freight brokerage. His experience within freight brokerage includes operations, sales, and leadership ranging from start-ups to one of the largest brokerages in the transportation industry. His passion is training and development of sales and operations professionals in the brokerage business. Chris earned his Bachelor's degree in Management from the University of Wisconsin- Stout located in Menomonie, WI and holds an associate in Management from Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire, WI. About the Freight Coach (CJolly Freight Consulting) CJolly Freight Consulting partners with growth stage transportation companies ranging from traditional freight brokerages, asset-based trucking companies looking to expand into brokerage, as well as technology companies looking to implement their product into the industry. Our main objective is to utilize niche specific transportation training methods to improve efficiencies within the sales process and use our experience to enhance your operations team to execute your freight mix at a higher level. The Freight Coach provides one on one training with leadership as well as carrier and customer sales representatives to ensure that they overcome the barriers they are facing now to pave the way for greater success. Key Takeaways: Becoming More Confident on the Phone To become more confident on the phone, follow these tips from Chris: Be yourself, the best version of you, engaged, positive, authentic, and interesting. Don't be salesy and don't use your sales voice - it's a turn-off. Skip the canned sales script that makes you sound fake. Reading a canned speech makes you sound inauthentic and inexperienced. Whatever you say, own every word. Be passionate about what you are selling. Pick a niche, specialize in a particular area of the business. Become a little famous by blogging, vlogging, podcasts, and or social media. Being a recognized expert in the industry will help you grow your sales. Learn More About Becoming More Confident on the Phone Chris Jolly The Freight Coach The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast