As a year unlike any other ends, many of us are wondering what we can expect for the transportation and logistics industry in 2021.  Drawing on nearly six decades of experience, our own Richard Thorne provides insights, optimism, and a strategy for how to prepare for 2021 and beyond. 

 

Transportation and logistics is such a core element of how the economy functions, it doesn’t seem like there’s a way that it can ever go away. It’s the only way that products get to people, when it comes down to it. It’s all in the people that move the products across the country and around the world. But, it’s certainly going through a period of change and adaptation.

Well, I don’t think transportation at its core has ever changed. The only thing that has changed within the transportation industry is the tracking and tracing we can do with the advent of computers. Transportation is still about getting a single package from point A to point B. Going all the way back to the Pony Express and passing off mail bags without ever slowing down their horses. Then the invention of airmail where you had like a football stadium and a string between two goalposts. A bag would hang from it, the plane would come down with a hook and pick that up and bring it up to the top of the plane. And then they fly it from point A to point B, come down and drop it and then they hook up another one. 

Logistics today is not so different at all. We go in, pick up a full trailer load and get it from point A to point B. This is all people driven – getting people what they want. Today, they want to know that their package was picked up in Seattle at 8am in the morning, on November 17. And they want to know each day where their package has moved, even if they’re not going to get it until November 23. They still want to know every day where their package is and how it’s going to get to them. That’s the change of logistics today – the immediacy of information. And whomever provides the best information and the most accurate information to the customer will win. 

 

And we’ve seen more and more challenges this year with accurate tracking information being available and meeting delivery expectations. Where do we go from here?

So the million dollar question: Where are we going next year? My philosophy has always been one of ‘he who hesitates is lost.’ It is our job. It is our job to figure the problems out. How are we going to do it? My theory is we are not going to sit and wait for somebody else to tell us what to do. We’re going to be ahead of the game and we’re already starting. We want to know the truckers better and become partners with them in their small trucking company. We want to help them. They’ve got five trucks? Let’s get them to 10 or 15 trucks. Now we’re working in a partnership. We’re building them up as we’re also expanding our resources. So our theory is to grow. But we’re going to do it as planned, intelligent growth.

We’ll take each step as what’s given to us, but we’re working on building a strong foundation for this time. And as long as you have a strong foundation of people in your organization, you can build anything. 

 

So it really seems like the focus is on one of the tenets that everyone at Pride Logistics talks about, that it all comes down to relationships, that’s what makes every gear work.

Absolutely.

 

And looking at the values and the way that the company operates, even in this time, your growth and forward movement will continue to be based in fostering those relationships.

Without relationships where you’re working with people and satisfying their needs,  you don’t have anything a person really wants. You have to be able to extend yourself to be part of what that company wants. And when you get in there, then you’re going to actually work for that company. 

You have to be able to understand the customer’s needs. Once you understand the customer’s needs, you can work with them and become a partner. And once you’re a partner, then you can work together and help them lower their transportation costs and give them the service that best suits their needs. And both of you can then grow together to come up with new ideas to be creative, to save money, and never sacrifice a great level of service. That’s what it’s all about. That’s how you survive tomorrow.

 

Do you think that’s one of the biggest lessons to be reinforced this year – to be helpful and creative in your solutions? 

Yes, yes. We have to be creative. We’re going to have to work with the customers and work with them as a partner, and we have to be willing to change. There will continue to be multiple ways to do everything. 

So sit, listen, and create a partnership with the customer. Working as a team, within your company and with other companies, is a total success. And being a real team member, not just this ancillary group that comes in to fulfill a purpose, instead making it very clear that we’re actively involved in wanting to better the way that our clients can do their business.

If you want your business shipping and logistics to run smoother in 2021, contact the experts at Pride Logistics today.

 

One of our favorite things to do on cold, wintery nights, is to grab some hot cocoa or hot cider and head out to view holiday lights. All across the country, there’s something especially magical about exploring fantastical and breathtaking light displays created just for the holidays. It really brings to life the cities and gateways through which millions of freight shipments pass throughout the year.

So kick back and enjoy as we bring you the 9 most dazzling holiday light extravaganzas in the United States. Hopefully one is in a city near you and you’ll be inspired to venture out to enjoy the spectacle firsthand!

Hershey Park’s Sweet Lights

Hershey, Pennsylvania

At this annual display in Hershey Park, you can drive through two miles of pathway littered with almost 600 illuminated and animated displays. It takes up to an hour to get through the forest trails and includes special Holospec glasses that make it appear that it’s snowing.

Mission Inn Festival of Lights

Riverside, California

For almost three decades, the Mission Inn Festival of Lights has been a favored holiday tradition in Southern California. During the holiday season, no corner of the historic hotel is left untouched as five million lights adorn the grounds, along with over 400 animated angels, elves, carolers, and reindeer. 

WildLights at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

Palm Desert, California

With over a million lights transforming this desert zoo into a lighted nighttime oasis, it’s sure to be a memorable experience. Life-sized light animals line all areas of the zoo and garden grounds along with a light and music tunnel.

Illumination at Morton Arboretum

Lisle, Illinois

This award-winning light show is truly unlike any other on this list! Throughout the entire 50 acres of the arboretum, visitors are welcomed by a one-of-a-kind light show with swirling light projections and music creating an all-encompassing holiday light experience.

ABQ BioPark Botanical Garden’s River of Lights

Albuquerque, New Mexico

The BioPark Botanical Garden’s River of Lights takes a unique spin on holiday light shows. In this special display, you’re taken into a colorful underwater ecosystem as it comes to life with marine animals, other wildlife, and millions of sparkling lights.

Oglebay Winter Festival of Lights

Wheeling, West Virginia

This Festival of Lights features a six-mile drive through 300 acres of twinkling lights. Beginning in 1985, the experience has grown into one of the nation’s largest holiday light shows with 90 lighted attractions and over a million lights.

Candy Cane Lane

Woodland Hills, California

For over six decades, local homeowners have teamed up to create what has now grown into an eight-block holiday light extravaganza affectionately termed Candy Cane Lane. Year after year, home displays get bigger and brighter as competition and ideas grow.

Bentleyville Tour of Lights

Duluth, Minnesota

Featuring over four million lights displayed throughout a 20-acre park sitting on the shore of Lake Superior in Duluth, Minnesota, the Bentleyville Tour of Lights is a breathtaking walk or drive-through light extravaganza. Making it extra special is all the light reflections off the waters of Lake Superior (if it’s not frozen).

Glittering Lights at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Las Vegas, Nevada

On this 2.5-mile holiday lights drive through the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, visitors experience a completely redesigned area of tunnels filled with twinkling lights. Showcasing various themes and every color you can think of, it’s an impressive holiday light show.

The Legendary Lights of Historic Clifton Mill

Clifton, Ohio

For over 30 years, the Clifton Mill has illuminated the mill, the gorge and the surrounding riverbanks, trees, and bridges with over 4 million lights. There’s even a 100-foot waterfall of twinkling lights along with a synchronized lights and music show on the old Covered Bridge.

Hopefully one of these spectacular holiday light extravaganzas is in a city near you and you’ll be inspired to venture out to enjoy it firsthand!

Every year, the holiday season can put a major strain on business operations as companies look to ship at the busiest time of the year for transport. Not only are you dealing with increased volume and maxed out carrier networks, but also the unpredictability of winter weather. 

When making a holiday shipping strategy, planning ahead is essential to avoid challenging mishaps while also improving shipping efficiency. So, let’s take a look at what you should be doing now for a smooth holiday shipping season.

 

Make Freight Appointments

The holidays are the busiest time of year for freight shipping, so one of the most useful things you can do for your business is to set freight appointments. Whenever you’re able to, schedule pick-up and delivery appointments for your freight in advance. 

When you know where your shipments are going, you’ll have time to secure your appointments and the capacity you need for your freight. This will help lower the chances of delays or needing to use expedited shipping. 

 

Set Pick-Up and Delivery Capabilities

During the holiday shipping season, it’s safe to assume that all delivery carriers are on tight delivery schedules. So any flexibility they may be able to show at other times is pretty much gone now. To best plan for this aspect, make sure that you have any necessary equipment in place already.

That means ensuring that you have the right capabilities to load your freight onto a truck at the pick-up location. Then, depending on the capabilities of the truck, you may need to arrange a lift-gate to be on site at the delivery location. This will help lower the chances of delays and unexpected, additional fees.

 

Get Weather Updates

Following weather patterns is important throughout the year, but it’s critical during the holiday shipping season. It becomes especially crucial when preparing shipments to and from regions of North America that are known to have harsh winters. 

Planning for inclement weather can be very difficult, so sign up for weather updates well in advance to start familiarizing yourself with what’s happening in the areas you need to know. You should consider leaving 1-2 days of additional time in shipments to account for any unexpected delays due to storms.

 

Look At Your History

Consider what you’ve done in the past for shipping strategies during your busiest times. Analyzing your own freight data can help you prepare. Examining the data from these periods will give you a better basis to forecast what the holidays will be like and help you build a foundation that you can use to form a plan. This practice will also help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and allow you to plan around them.

While building a holiday shipping season plan may seem daunting, starting early and incorporating these strategies will go a long way in making your holidays smooth. And if you’re ever uncertain, working with an experienced freight service provider can help alleviate the burden of planning for the holidays off your plate.

At Pride Logistics, we’re always prepared with the experience, creativity, and strategy you need for a stress-free holiday shipping season. Sign up for our newsletter today to receive news, tips, and exclusive offers to streamline your supply chain and logistics management.

Winter storms throughout the U.S. have the ability to create some of the most hectic, harsh, and harrowing weather conditions. The National Weather Service has been tracking storms across the country since its initial founding in 1890. In that time, almost every state across the country has experienced intense ice and snow storms, blizzards and hurricanes during winter months.

To kick off our move into the winter weather season, we thought it’d be fun to reveal the five worst winter storms to ever hit the U.S. And then we can all feel thankful that there’s still time to plan and prepare so any storms this year can have minimal impact on supply chains.

The Knickerbocker Storm of 1922

 

Taking place over about two and a half days from January 27-29, this storm was a complete surprise. On January 26, the Washington Times reported fair weather and slowly rising temperatures in its forecast for the D.C. region.

Over this short period of time, a record-breaking 28 inches of snow blanketed the city. Cars and trolleys ended up stuck on streets wherever they were left as people headed home. The storm is named for the famed Knickerbocker Theatre in Washington, D.C. Because of the heavy and prolonged dumping of snow, the roof of the theatre collapsed under the weight, killing 98 people and injuring another 133 who were there watching a silent film.

The Great Appalachian Storm of 1950

 

Part blizzard and part hurricane, this winter storm is one of the most meteorologically unique storms on record. Also called the Great Thanksgiving Storm since it started on November 24 and lasted over the Thanksgiving holiday. Cycling through 22 states, areas from Maine to Florida experienced torrential rain and coastal flooding. 

Snowstorms covered the country from West Virginia to Pennsylvania with more than 30 inches of snow, some areas even reaching 57 inches of snow. High, freezing winds reaching gusts of 160 mph in some regions caused over 1 million power outages.

The storm completely covered Ohio in a foot of snow, but the annual Ohio State vs. University of Michigan football game traditionally played over the holiday went on as planned. It immediately became a legendary winter sports game and earned the nickname the Snow Bowl. Michigan won, 9-3.

The Superstorm of 1993

 

Also known as the Storm of the Century (although this term has often been used to describe many storms including others on this list), this superstorm had an incredibly devastating impact. The entire Eastern third of the country experienced record snowfall and deadly tornadoes.

Beginning on March 12, snow covered the country from Maine to Florida, affecting more than 100 million people living in those areas. Tennessee and North Carolina measured up to 60 inches of snow, New York saw 43 inches of snow, and most of the northeast had at least 20 inches.

The snowstorm was much more than a blizzard, being categorized as a cyclone and a category 5 storm. In the end, the superstorm caused $2 billion worth of damage and holds the record for the largest interruption to air travel due to weather in United States history.

Snowmageddon 2010

This winter storm of February 5-6 was actually two blizzards that hit back-to-back over a two day period. Residents throughout the Northwest and Mid-Atlantic regions were completely snowed in and Washington, D.C. completely shut down.

For 30 straight hours, snow fell completely uninterrupted, leading to whiteout conditions in many areas. Just over 32 inches of wet, heavy snow fell. The weight of the wet snow caused a slew of property damages from collapsed power line poles to collapsed roofs to a destroyed airport hangar. In total, six states throughout the region declared national emergencies.

The Polar Vortex of 2019

In late January, an Arctic cold front known as a “polar vortex” swept across the Midwestern United States. Over several days, the region was rocked with the coldest, most severe temperatures on record.

Basically a frigid cyclone, upwards of 2,000 flights were canceled, hundreds of schools were closed, and hundreds of cases of frostbite and hypothermia were reported. Over 30 different temperature records were broken with windchills in Minneapolis-Saint Paul plunging as low as -65 degrees Fahrenheit. In these conditions, frostbite could affect exposed skin in less than five minutes.

Devastating winter storms are all a feature of the season. Thankfully, we can be much better prepared for when these storms hit and downplay any big surprises. When it comes to your winter freight needs, be sure to partner with an experienced team known for their weather planning and proactive safety measures. That’s the Pride Logistics difference, every time.

Expertly navigating the logistics of moving oversized loads from state to state and coast to coast requires a special skill and unique mind. Our in-house expert, Mary Busby, has spent a lifetime cultivating just those things. She will tell you that masterminding the transportation logistics of over-dimensional freight and oversized loads is in her blood. We sat down with Mary to pick her brain about the intricate and precise needs of these loads, and share exactly why once customers work with Mary on their oversized haul, they never go back.

 

What’s your first experience with an over dimensional or oversized load?

Well, I’m a truck driver’s daughter. My father almost exclusively drove oversized and over dimensional loads and my brother still does it. I’ve been on that road, making those runs sitting in the passenger seat since before I could see over the dashboard all the way. I grew up watching countless in-the-moment decisions being made that all come from knowledge and experience at how to best get a shipment delivered, safely, securely, and on time. And there was just always something special, something magical about the large hauls.

 

That’s interesting – what is that magical feeling?

Doing oversized and over dimensional is so self-satisfying. To know that you put something that big on your machine, moved it X amount of miles across the country, arranged everything so that it gets there perfectly and makes the customer happy. No matter what, that is always the biggest part. It’s what makes me smile and feel like it’s a job well done with a little bit of creative magic to pull it off.

 

Tell me about a time you felt that magical feeling with a load?

It was for a leading entertainment studio and it was called the Flying Dragon. It went from the West coast to the East coast in pieces. They had to take the wings off because it was so oversized. They got it down there, got it off the truck and reassembled. When it premiered, the first evening was only for employees and their families. Well, they recorded it as the dragon was flying over the park with its lights on and with flames coming out of its mouth. It was just so cool and so impressive what they had built and how we had moved it.

It also stands out because there were absolutely no hiccups with that one. And there are always hiccups – little challenges that make oversized and over dimensional freight such incredible puzzles to put together. One time we had a shipment where they continuously told us it was 102” wide, but by the time they got it in the crate, it was 103”. So we had to re-order permits, release the truck we had lined up and order another truck. But we had that truck there within a couple of hours and the shipment was still able to move on time. Those challenges are usually always present and always come down to the tiniest details. So often it all comes down to the person operating the tape measure.”

 

That does seem like a heavy burden to need to accommodate.

Everything we do is at the mercy of the process and accuracy of others, no matter what. Our truckers, our eyes, our ears, our hands, they’re just everything out there for us, and our success with oversized and over dimensional freight comes from building very close relationships with them and seeing things through their eyes so we know how best to plan and prepare with the customer.

 

Does it always work out so smoothly?

No, and there have been some real doozies. A few years ago, we had a load that consisted of three oversized trucks. Well these trucks sat at a port for almost three and a half weeks because of permit issues that came down to inaccurate measurements. The size of the freight was 103” long. They had to take out gates and polls to get these trucks out of the port the back way. There was no way to go through the front because of the automatic meters installed. So they had to take down fencing and gate and create somewhat of a new road leading out the back way. And then by that point, the local apple festival was going on, so we couldn’t transit through the town, we had to drive completely around the town adding about another day of time. We got that freight to its destination, but it was a minute by minute experience. So when I say it all comes down to the details, it’s absolutely true. An inch off will completely change the picture.

 

Then what have you done to figure out the best logistics for these loads?

What is a game changer for why we can be so successful and stay ahead of the game for strategically planning oversized and over dimensional freight is that we have access to Landstar’s heavy haul system where we are able to run incredible accurate rates for the permitting. So for example, it will incorporate all of the most current information about frost to accommodate Michigan’s frost laws. Every single year it changes as to when the frost law is enacted and when it’s lifted, so that changes weight and size viability. And for states like Virginia, they require two to three weeks to acquire permits, so planning that far out takes on a whole new dimension. And there are certain things to do with the equipment that can’t travel everywhere. So three axle trucks with the adjuster set of wheels on the back, they can’t get into California. You can take them all across the United States but the extended axle cannot get into California – no way around it.”

 

It just doesn’t seem like there’s any comparison to make to how unique each oversized load is and the type of creativity it takes to move them.

There just isn’t. For standard freight, you take a van, back it up to a dock, it’s loaded up with some thirty pallets, close the door, put a lock on it, sign the paperwork and say ‘here you go sir, have a nice day.’ The heavy haul, no way. I mean they get there, they get out, there’s chains on the ground, there’s tarps on the ground. They’re trying to get a big crane positioned where they can get this piece on. It may take them all day. I’ve seen them rearrange things and it’s taken them all day; half a day, half the night to get it absolutely correct with the right width and height to be exactly what the permit said. They’ve even let the air out of the tires of certain things because they have said it was 14 feet five inches and you get there and it’s 14 feet nine inches. Well that ain’t gonna work! So they’ve let the air out of the machine to get the tires down to the proper height to meet those permits.

 

What would you say is the single most important quality for approaching planning and strategizing for these loads?

You cannot be afraid to ask questions with oversized and over dimensional loads. If you’re afraid to ask or don’t know what to ask, guaranteed you’re going to get a surprise during that shipment, sometimes multiple surprises. My experience has taught me to always ask for a visual, a picture or detailed description of what it is. Then I can envision what the piece is, how it may have to be disassembled, how it needs to be secured, and I can brainstorm all the creative ways to get this shipment where it needs to go exactly when it needs to get there based on what the options are for that particular piece. I want to do everything right the first time; it’s just the way I was raised. And the questions are important, asking them to measure three times is important. And in the end, the questions and the creativity always save the day.

The next time you’re moving oversized or over dimensional freight, contact the experts at Pride Logistics for your smoothest delivery yet.

Expedited shipping logistic solutions are becoming more ‘normal’ fixtures in a growing number of industries. For many, traditional freight delivery times aren’t cutting it anymore for their business and customer needs. In a global market that’s constantly responding and adapting to fluctuating supply and demand, there are a few major industries that have seen expedited shipping be a game changer for business.

Medical & Pharmaceutical 

You’re unlikely to find shipments that require more care, attention, and regulatory compliance than those within the pharmaceutical and medical industry. For this group, the speed feature of expedited shipping is not necessarily the biggest need – it’s the added level of security and accountability. 

This entire industry runs on the integrity of their products as they are involved in life-saving situations. Controlling temperature, light, and humidity is a major factor in ensuring that pharmaceutical and medical industry shipments are delivered safely. Companies in this sector are often in search of white glove levels of customer service that secures the supply chain and can provide the most current information at a moment’s notice.

Automotive 

Many of the biggest automakers have an estimated 80,000 new, unique part numbers introduced each year and an aftermarket inventory of millions of parts. With that many pieces and the ever-growing number of technology-based parts used in modern cars, the auto industry has adopted expedited shipping as an essential part of their operations.

Manufacturers and repair centers prefer to keep small inventories to lower their overheads. Also, with the expansion of parts being available for purchase online directly by consumers, suppliers are forced to compete with fast delivery expectations. 

Aerospace

Similar to the automotive industry, aerospace faces constant demands for new and innovative aircraft and parts that feeds an ever-growing parts inventory. This sector serves passenger traffic as well as being a vital logistics component in a global supply chain for moving goods.

Requirements for capacity, quality, and on-time delivery have turned expedited shipping into a relied upon method of transporting needed parts. If you can imagine, the failure of a single part to arrive on time, safely and securely, could shut down an entire assembly line and lead to major impacts on bottom-line deliverables and revenue. Reliable expedited shipping providers relieve that concern and keep everything moving smoothly.

Entertainment

Usually a less-often thought of industry that benefits greatly from expedited shipping is entertainment. Concerts, festivals, and large events being pulled off perfectly all rely on a vast array of equipment showing up and being assembled with order and efficiency.

From stages and lighting to sound systems and massive monitor set-ups, the entertainment industry thrives on expedited shipping. Same as with an assembly line, if a sound mixing board or lighting panel short circuits or breaks, getting a new one in place in the shortest time possible is essential to keeping the show going.

Seasonal

Holidays and specific times of year – like swimsuits in summer and back to school in fall – require stores to keep extra inventory on hand. Incorporating expedited shipping into logistics planning means that businesses won’t run out of stock when customers are buying the most.

Also, because these events are marked by a shorter window of time, businesses can’t afford to lose days on a shipment when there may only be days left. Speed and dependability will keep products on the shelves during crucial moments of consumer interest.

If your business is in need of getting a shipment to its destination as safely as possible, Pride Logistics will make it happen. Get in touch with our team of expedited shipping experts and experience the Pride Logistics difference!