| If your company has grown to the point that it is | | | | a 3PL provider, you're paying for logistics |
| ready to start shipping its goods to other states, | | | | professionals to act as middlemen between your |
| then you've probably heard more than your fair share | | | | company and freight carriers, whereas with logistics |
| of transportation logistics talk. In the freight logistics | | | | software, you're paying for a computer application |
| industry, you'll rarely meet someone that seems as if | | | | that has been developed by logistics professionals. |
| they don't know what they're talking about, and each | | | | In addition to costing less as a service, logistics |
| consultant or company can tell you why their logistics | | | | software also gives its users greater control over the |
| solutions are the best. | | | | shipping process by providing them with more |
| So, how do determine the good from the bad and | | | | shipping options. Because 3PL providers make their |
| mediocre from the awful? To put first things first, | | | | money by charging their clients more than a TL |
| your initial concern with achieving the right shipping | | | | shipping solution actually costs, in order to keep their |
| solutions should be how much they cost versus the | | | | rates reasonable, they only partner with carriers that |
| benefit that they'll deliver. With this in mind, most | | | | offer preferred "discounts". What this means, of |
| midsized and growing companies that have truckload | | | | course, is that you only have the option of shipping |
| (TL) shipping needs quickly arrive at a crossroads: | | | | with carriers that allow 3PL providers to make a |
| should they hire a third party logistics (3PL) provider | | | | profit, regardless of whether a non-discounting carrier |
| or should they implement TL transportation | | | | might be able to save you the most money |
| software? | | | | concerning other shipping cost factors, such as route |
| Also known as truckload logistics software, TL | | | | length. |
| transportation software is offered by software | | | | Some companies are happy to use 3PL providers |
| companies that specialize in transportation logistics. TL | | | | because they simply don't want to handle logistical |
| transportation software can be implemented into | | | | concerns. But this attitude is usually based on the |
| your company's shipping process as either an online | | | | idea that, if a company doesn't boast logistics as one |
| software application that allows for remote access or | | | | of its core competencies, it won't able to handle |
| an internal application, depending on your wants and | | | | transportation logistics. When you opt for you opt |
| needs. In either case, the software comes with an | | | | for TL shipping software to achieve TL shipping |
| easy to use user interface that allows you to | | | | solutions, you quickly realize that this isn't the case. |
| become your own logistics provider. | | | | While 3PL can certainly provide you with valuable TL |
| When you opt for logistics software, you don't have | | | | shipping solutions, there's simply no need to spend |
| to hire logistics professionals to operate the | | | | extra money and have a decreased range of shipping |
| software, and that's where part of the cost savings | | | | options when you can easily handle your own logistics |
| comes in versus hiring a 3PL provider. When you hire | | | | with the aid logistics software. |