White Papers

To reduce overall costs, shippers often modify their fuel surcharges by changing the index, raising the peg, or raising the escalator. But which of these methods actually can achieve the goal? Using the latest research on fuel surcharges, this paper explains:

• How fuel surcharges work
• What actually happens to costs as shippers employ three common tactics to modify fuel surcharges
• Which of these three tactics can lower costs

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Chemical manufacturers face unique supply chain requirements. The way a chemical company responds to supply chain risks can ultimately determine their success. Research shows market leaders:

• Source critical supply chain expertise and experience
• Apply process engineering to integrate sales and operations with business management practices
• Use integrated technology for visibility to the full order life cycle

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Volatile demand, growing regulation, compressed order lead times, and other factors are putting greater pressure on manufacturers and retailers. Research organization IDC looked at these and other factors to learn:

• How consumers define fulfillment excellence
• How IT investments are changing
• What warehouse management and transportation best practices can lead to better service metrics

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Used together, live loading and drop trailers create a distribution strategy that’s ready for any business condition. But what is the best combination of the two for your business? Discover how you can add elasticity in capacity to your supply chain by considering such factors as:

• How the shipper operates their dock
• Amount of space for staging
• Flexibility of loading times
• Number of shifts

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Do regular procurement events help control transportation costs, or are frequent rebids a waste of time? This white paper answers the question, based on the results of Iowa State University research:

• How carriers adjust and honor contract rates between procurement events
• Why regular procurement events lower costs
• How procurement events promote strategic relationships with service providers

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You can improve efficiency and lower costs by outsourcing your LTL (less than truckload) freight. Read this paper to discover:

• Why companies outsource LTL
• How LTL pricing and discounts can work for you
• Advantages of collaborative LTL outsourcing
• 5 criteria for selecting an LTL outsource provider

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As companies navigate an environment of changing motor carrier safety rating assessments and regulations, many express concern about their risk profile and potential involvement in lawsuits. This white paper explores:

• Ways to mitigate risks in motor carrier selection
• 7 items to consider when structuring a motor carrier qualification process
• Comprehensive risk management through 3PLs

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A shipper's level of preparation before outsourcing and the role they play after the strategy begins are crucial to the engagement’s success. This white paper explores:

• Elements that drive logistics outsourcing
• 5 steps to prepare for a successful logistics outsource
• How a collaborative relationship between shipper and provider impacts innovation

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Globalization puts forward opportunities to companies of any size who can effectively provide or source products and services in dynamic markets. Review our white paper and learn:

• How to gain a competitive advantage through global transportation logistics
• Factors that influence international shipments
• Five characteristics of a global TMS and why companies worldwide should consider TMS technology

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Strategic truckload procurement will help you obtain better access to capacity, regardless of economic and market conditions. Learn:

• Which shippers are likely to experience the most trouble obtaining equipment in times of tight capacity
• How to align your business goals and outcomes with the carriers’ for better rates and exceptional service over time
• How to prepare an ongoing strategy for fluctuations in the market

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Use the tips in this white paper to learn how you can aggregate low volume lanes to obtain more favorable pricing. Learn:

• How long haul, point-to-point pricing on RFPs leads to spot market pricing
• How you can aggregate low volume lanes by broadly defining origin and destination sizes
• How aggregation leads to contract pricing that can help you save up to 15 percent over spot market rates

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With globalization of raw material sources and a growing number of origins and destinations for project cargo, efficient transportation is becoming crucial to success. This white paper explores:

• How transportation impacts the project cargo supply chain
• The role of transportation, from preplanning to project completion
• How transportation best practices can improve project cargo outcomes

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Food and beverage companies that employ best practices in perfect order fill find opportunities for revenue growth and cost reduction. Find out how fulfilling the perfect order helps companies:

• Maximize productivity and profits
• Protect brand equity
• Improve customer satisfaction and competitiveness

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CSA remains a work in progress. As the FMCSA prepares to implement SMS in December 2010, review our updated white paper to learn:

• What CSA is designed to do
• How CSA tracks for SMS and SFD differ
• What you can do now to prepare for CSA implementation

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Know what can happen at the U.S.-Mexico border with your truckload shipments and understand:

• How carrier restrictions, inspections, cargo insurance, and equipment availability affect your shipments
• The steps involved in crossing the U.S.-Mexico border
• How you can choose the best provider for your cross-border needs

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Discover whether a China warehouse solution is right for you by learning about:

• The benefits of overseas warehousing and shipping directly to end customers
• Potential challenges
• Implementation strategies

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Your truckload procurement strategy can lead to excellent customer service and significant savings—if you can avoid common pitfalls. Read this paper to discover:

• What dynamics influence the truckload market
• How you can align shipper and carrier networks for optimal performance
• What tools you will need to execute a strategic procurement plan

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Learn what makes freight more attractive from a carrier perspective by understanding:

• How shipper freight complements an individual carrier's network
• What influences carrier price and volume commitments
• What can help reduce costs for both carriers and customers

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Learn how you can apply outbound process improvements to inbound transportation to obtain:

• Reduced costs
• Improved service
• Minimized delays
• Reduced confusion
• Increased performance

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Find out what makes a successful outsource for all or part of a freight network, including:

• New approaches to outsourcing
• How these approaches help drive down costs and build smarter, stronger supply chains

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Explore these ten ways to cut transportation costs and learn:

• How can you achieve the greatest transportation savings with the least amount of effort
• What kind of ROI you can achieve as a result

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Reduce transportation costs by altering the load tendering process. Discover:

• Some of the factors that cause a higher rejection of load tenders
• What your company can do to employ the practical results and realize savings

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As U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) steps up enforcement of customs regulatory compliance, more companies find themselves faced with a customs audit. This white paper explores:

• The factors that increase the risk of being audited
• How companies can prepare an audit team to practice for such an event
• How a customs audit can lead to smoother processes and better communications with CBP

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Global trade management (GTM) is about more than compliance. To support a comprehensive GTM program, experts should consider both supply chain finance and visibility as equal components with compliance. American Shipper provides in-depth analysis regarding the following questions:

• How GTM experts can articulate their challenges to management
• What a well-rounded GTM program requires
• Where the future of GTM is headed as supply chains grow in geography and complexity

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Did you know 58% of shoppers polled switch stores due to perceived declining quality of produce? Do you wonder what attributes—from quality and freshness to price and variety—cause shoppers to choose one store over another?

Find the answers and more from C.H. Robinson’s leading panel of produce consumers and gain consumer insight on product purchase behavior.

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