When COVID-era supply chain snafus ran rampant, buzzwords like visibility and transparency were tossed around routinely. It turns out they weren’t just words. Everyone involved in the supply chain realized the importance of visibility and transparency in providing reliable expedited freight services as a critical solution for unforeseen transportation needs.
Common Scenarios Requiring Rapid Response Solutions
Expedited freight services are required to quickly and efficiently deliver goods in response to such situations as:
Natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes.
Expedited freight services are crucial in relief efforts following natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes.
The American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) provides supply chain assistance to humanitarian organizations whenever disasters hit. In 2023 alone, the aid ALAN helped move, store, or distribute for disaster relief efforts was valued at more than $2.3 million.
“Major hurricanes are often associated with surges in freight demand, including commodities like bottled water, blankets, and non-perishable food items. Drivers hauling disaster relief freight must be patient as they deal with fragmentary information, flooded or blocked roadways and government agencies reacting to an evolving situation,” a FreightWaves article on hurricane preparedness said.
Supply chain disruptions such as factory shutdowns or port closures.
Some supply chain disruptions can have long-lasting effects — and require an extended period of expedited freight solutions to get around the roadblocks. That became glaringly apparent when a container ship brought down a major bridge. When the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed into the Patapsco River in late March and closed the Port of Baltimore, many of the imports bound for that gateway were offloaded at other East Coast ports and trucked to Maryland for distribution to the end customers.
“Aside from the obvious tragedy, this incident will have significant and long-lasting impacts on the region,” Jessica Gail, an American Trucking Associations spokeswoman, said, according to The Associated Press.
Last-minute production changes or urgent orders.
Expedited freight services are often required to rapidly respond to manufacturers’ needs for the production or distribution of goods. In the spring of 2020, for instance, personal protective equipment (PPE) was shipped using expedited freight services as soon as it was manufactured or imported. Texas was one of the states that reported receiving 2.5 million masks for distribution in just a 24-hour period.
“The Supply Chain Strike Force is working closely with the Texas Division of Emergency Management to exhaust all avenues for the purchasing and delivery of these critical supplies,” the Beaumont Business Journal quoted Gov. Greg Abbott as saying. “We continue to make tremendous progress to distribute these resources throughout the state, and with more supplies on the way, we are strengthening our state’s ability to protect our healthcare workers and the patients they serve. I thank all of our health care workers and first responders as well as the supply chain workers who are working tirelessly to deliver this essential equipment to Texas.”
Key Components of Effective Expedited Freight Services
Expedited freight solutions providers must:
Be available 24/7/365 to respond to urgent transportation needs and communicate effectively.
“Timely communication with logistics service providers is essential and can also be challenging. Providing us with multiple contacts and simple communication channels, RJ Logistics is always accessible, consistently supplying prompt and professional answers. This accessibility allows us to take full advantage of their exceptional services, helping us to manage our freight budgets and keep our competitive edge,” said the logistics manager for a global leader in automotive and industrial technology solutions.
Utilize real-time tracking systems to provide visibility and assurance during transit.
An executive with a large manufacturer of electromagnetic clutches and brakes trusts his expedited freight needs to RJ Logistics because it provides “precise tracking of truckers and prompt availability if needed to answer any questions about cargo status, truck ETA, etc. It’s just overall excellence.”
Be well-versed in a variety of transportation options, including air, ground, and multimodal solutions, to meet different urgency levels.
“Inconsistency and unpredictability best describes the multiple problems we encountered with other logistics companies,” the manufacturing executive said of the issues he routinely faced before turning to RJ Logistics. “Simple requests such as dock-high trucks, expected time of truck arrival, and the proper sized trucks — they never provided steady, reliable accommodations.”
Demonstrate expertise and quick decision-making skills in managing expedited shipments.
The manufacturing company spokesman said his “problems disappeared from the very moment” he spoke to an RJ Logistics rep.
“His remarkable knowledge of the trucking industry and his extreme confidence in his logistics team sparked my interest instantly. RJ Logistics offers very comparable rates, and with its impeccable trucking options, there has not been a trucking request that they could not accommodate. Great rates, knowledgeable account representatives, friendly drivers, and on-time pickups and deliveries are what is expected every time we use RJ Logistics.”
Generate additional value by being there for customers when needed and offering effective solutions to meet budgets and deadlines.
“Timely communication with logistics services providers is essential and can also be challenging,” an RJ Logistics customer testimonial said. “Providing us with multiple contacts and simple communication channels, RJ Logistics is always accessible, consistently supplying prompt and professional answers. This accessibility allows us to take full advantage of their exceptional services, helping us to manage our freight budgets and keep our competitive edge.”
Proactive Strategies to Prepare for the Unforeseen
While unforeseen circumstances are exactly that, shippers can expect the unexpected by:
1. Conducting risk assessments.
“In today’s fast-paced and unpredictable world, the ability to identify and manage risks effectively has become paramount for individuals, businesses, and organizations across various sectors,” ERMA said. “Risk assessment, the process of evaluating potential threats and vulnerabilities, plays a crucial role in mitigating uncertainties and safeguarding success.”
ERMA said risk assessment includes identifying potential threats, prioritizing risks, making informed decisions, enhancing preparedness, promoting stakeholder confidence, ensuring compliance with local and federal regulations, and continuously improving.
2. Having contingency plans in place.
“You can’t control many disastrous situations that can occur, but you can plan for them,” a Forbes guide said. “Remember to think about your resources and how you can overcome obstacles to keep your business operations running smoothly after a disaster happens.”
Forbes said effective contingency plans can help businesses recover from unforeseen events faster and avoid major financial hits.
3. Forming strong partnerships with reliable logistics providers like RJ Logistics to ensure readiness for any urgent transportation needs.
Inbound Logistics addressed the importance of partnerships in a 2023 article on humanitarian logistics. “Whether it’s with carriers that transport relief supplies or manufacturers that provide equipment of merchandise, you want to be in good standing with providers that need to respond quickly.”
RJ Logistics’ Expertise in Handling Unforeseen Transportation Needs
At RJ Logistics, we are experts at managing expedited freight services for unforeseen transportation needs. We utilize advanced technology and real-time data integration to enhance our rapid response capabilities.
Most importantly, we are true partners for our shipping customers.
“There was total disruption for our production scheduler in charge of the planning of incoming and outgoing products if we were unable to deliver on time. It was a true failure in trusting a company that could not provide exactly what was requested,” the manufacturing executive said of the logistics provider his company worked with before partnering with RJ Logistics.
He said RJ Logistics provides “truth — instant reassurance of exact requests, from obtaining quotes to scheduling pickups and deliveries. There’s an extremely quick turnaround time on every quote request, and I’m impressed with the competitive costs/rates, especially the all-in rates with fuel included.”
At RJ Logistics, we provide:
- Real-time visibility of expedited shipments through advanced technology can help provide solutions to even the most complex transportation problems.
- Robust communication and coordination for seamless delivery of expedited freight.
- Accurate paperwork and compliance adherence are both essential to ensure fast delivery.
- The right equipment and the right people to execute flawless expedited delivery every time.
Shippers Have ‘Complete Confidence and Trust in RJ Logistics
“Life is a breeze” with RJ Logistics as a partner, the manufacturing exec said. “Having complete confidence and trust in RJ Logistics definitely puts all of my trucking dilemmas at ease. It’s such a wonderful feeling knowing that RJ Logistics ‘has it covered’ — every time!”
At RJ Logistics, we work with our shipping partners to develop their supply chain strategies for handling expedited freight — and then we deliver. We also communicate with our customers every step of the way.
We offer our shipping partners:
- Dedicated account managers.
- Continuous communication.
- 24/7 service.
- Advanced technology.
- White-glove service.
- Global shipment tracking.
- Specialized experience.
- Cross-border expertise.
In addition to expedited freight services, the expert service options offered through our strategic partnerships include flatbed, Conestoga, cargo van, and dry van.
At RJ Logistics, our mission is to deliver positive experiences for our shipping partners and the community through actions guided by our core values and principles. Schedule a call with us today to learn what we can do for you.
