The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) International Roadcheck is scheduled for May 14-16, 2024. International Roadcheck is a high-visibility, high-volume commercial motor vehicle inspection and regulatory compliance enforcement initiative that takes place over three days in Canada, Mexico and the United States. This year, International Roadcheck will have two focus areas – tractor protection systems and alcohol and controlled substance possession. Road Check Week = Fewer Trucks Failed inspections can result in fines or other penalties for the drivers, such as out-of-service orders. T ..read more

Welcome to the second quarter of 2024! Where the heck does time go?Zipline Logistics is excited to spice up our usual quarterly update by tapping into the expertise of the one and only Katie McGovern, our Senior Director of Operations. McGovern guest starred on the TRUCK YEAH! podcast to share her insights on the current state of the freight market for CPG shippers. Give it a listen or read on for more information. Economic Factors  Inflation  Inflation rates have remained consistent over the last few months, now residing at 3.2%. This mark is close to the lowest level since early 20 ..read more

This press release was originally published on Newswire.com. COLUMBUS, Ohio – Zipline Logistics, a third-party logistics provider exclusively servicing the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) sector, announced today its acquisition of Summit Eleven, a multi-modal transportation provider located in Austin, Texas. Backed by its private equity sponsor, Frontenac, this strategic move enables Zipline to expand its resources and opportunities to further its transportation management solutions and strengthen its foothold in the CPG space. ”Cultivating success isn’t just about the numbers; it’s a ..read more

This article was originally published in Forbes. Organizational change is a complex and dynamic process that demands meticulous planning and execution – especially when the change involves integral software. From establishing leadership buy-in to transition debriefs, each step of the approach requires careful consideration to avoid major malfunctions.  Pre-Change: Set the Foundation 1. Ensure leadership is on board with realistic expectations  Any organizational change requires the blessing of leadership. In the case of a company-wide software change, this is especially important. Re ..read more

On January 31st, Walmart announced a change to its supplier OTIF (on-time, in-full) requirements via its Retail Link platform. Starting in 2020, 98% was the OTIF requirement. On February 1st, these requirements changed to 90% for on-time and 95% for in-full metrics.   How to Improve OTIF Performance   The consequences of not meeting OTIF standards go beyond fumbled revenue for not having product on the shelf. Walmart employs a minimum three percent fine of the cost of goods sold for all orders that arrive outside their OTIF program’s confines, and this adds up quick if a br ..read more

Did you know…?  The most recent valuation of the 2023 pet supplies industry in the United States is $133 billion.  North America is the largest market for pet supplies.  The industry is segmented into categories like pet food, pet care & services, and pet products.  Mars Petcare Inc. and Nestle Purina Petcare are the market leaders by revenue.  The pet supply industry experienced significant growth during and after the pandemic, when many people brought pets into their home to combat the isolation of lockdowns.  As it continues this trajectory, pet supply br ..read more

This article was originally published in Forbes The phrase “innovative culture” is often used in business to position a company on the cutting edge of new technology, processes or ideas. Many of the world’s most successful, well-known brands are also known as the top innovators in their space. Most organizations want to follow that lead and build a culture that breeds innovation, but many business leaders face the issue of there being no singular “correct” path that exists to create an innovative culture. Leaders tend to overcomplicate the process, muddying the water by bringing in speakers or ..read more

This article was originally published in Forbes. As Artificial Intelligence systems have gained steam in 2023, so too have business efforts to implement them into their day-to-day operations.   Many companies are feeling pressure to adapt as the integration of AI into operations has been extremely fast in many industries. If a business doesn’t embrace the new technology soon, they will be behind the competition, right?   In general, yes. Every business should be actively exploring how AI will change the way they do business. But when dealing with such transformational advan ..read more

It’s common knowledge in the supply chain industry that challenges are an unavoidable part of day-to-day operations. In recent years, it seems that the universe is only trying to prove that point: a global pandemic, natural disasters, a war in Ukraine, trucker protests, and other obstacles have created many problems for transportation professionals to navigate.  In the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) transportation space, optimal problem-solving is a crucial skill. CPG brands that do not deliver their product to retail shelves on time are losing out on thousands of dollars per day.  If ..read more

This article was originally published in Spiceworks. Artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT have been introduced to most industries, including the supply chain space. Dustin Verdin, executive director business innovation of Zipline Logistics, shares how using AI in a brand’s supply chain strategy has many benefits, such as improved efficiencies, overall performance, and on-time in-full (OTIF).  ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence (AI) tools have been trending in all industries for the past couple of months. These AI advancements are constantly evolving, and their adoption i ..read more