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Saia® Becomes First LTL Carrier to Receive RC14001® Certification
Saia, Inc. recently announced that it is the first less-than-truckload, non-bulk carrier in the United States to receive the distinction of being certified RC14001®.
Saia's decision to pursue the RC14001 was two-fold. It allowed the company to build a single environmental, health, and safety (EHS) management system and a demonstrable way to provide Saia's customers with an even greater level of confidence in the company's operations.
Responsible Care® was launched in 1988 as the American Chemistry Council's (ACC) comprehensive environmental, health, safety and security performance improvement initiative. One critical additional requirement was a mandatory assessment by an independent, accredited auditing firm that reviewed Saia's policies, procedures and records for conformance and implementation of applicable standards.
"Saia became the first non-bulk/LTL motor carrier within the American Chemistry Council's Responsible Care Partnership Program to become fully certified to the technical specifications for RC14001. RC14001 is a robust voluntary environmental, health, safety and security management system combining the attributes of the Responsible Care Management System® and the ISO 14001 environmental standard. We are proud to have Saia in an active leadership role in our nationally recognized chemical industry supply chain partnership program and look forward to continual performance improvement in their already excellent environmental, health, safety and security programs," said Dave Gleason, Senior Director for the ACC's Responsible Care program.
Source: Saia.com
YRC Worldwide® Introduces YRC Brand Name for Integrated Network
YRC Worldwide recently announced that YRC is the new brand name for the combined Yellow Transportation and Roadway network. The company also confirmed that YRC is ahead of schedule to successfully integrate its national networks by early spring.
"With more than 160 combined years of moving big shipments and 38,000 transportation professionals, YRC represents the most collective expertise in the industry," said Bill Zollars, chairman, president and CEO of YRC Worldwide. "More customers rely on YRC for large shipments than any other provider, and one integrated network allows for even greater coverage and shipment density. By integrating Roadway and Yellow, we gain efficiencies and capabilities that position us to support our customers now and as the economy improves."
In large metropolitan areas around the country, the nearest YRC service center will be 20 percent closer to customers, enabling quicker pickups and deliveries, increased flexibility and reduced emissions.
As a part of the integration process, YRC also has added more than 21,000 new direct service points. The result is the ability to serve more communities and provide customers improved transit times and additional access to services.
"Our customers are reacting very positively to the integration," said Zollars. "We're delivering and will continue to deliver on our promise to provide them simple, flexible shipping solutions, prompt pickups and greater service quality."
Source: YRC.com/news
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 Unishippers' Freight Manager Tool
Frequently Asked Questions
Unishippers’ Freight Manager tool allows you to obtain and compare rate quotes from over 30 national, regional and local carriers. This powerful program also allows you to create shipping documents, track your shipments and get customized reports; all from a single web site. Freight Manager offers significant value, and is a fast and easy solution to distribution and supply chain management needs.
As convenient and simple to use as Freight Manager is, customers sometimes have questions about it. The following are some of the more commonly asked questions about Freight Manager, along with their answers.
What is the cost to use Freight Manager?
Freight Manager is available at no cost, 24/7 to every Unishippers customer, and is just one more aspect of the unbeatable Unishippers value proposition.
How do I access Freight Manager?
Freight Manager is easily accessible by visiting www.freightmanager.com. Your Unishippers representative can provide you with a unique username and password to access the application to immediately begin experiencing all the benefits it offers.
Which internet browsers is Freight Manager compatible with?
Freight Manager is optimized for Internet Explorer Version 7.0 on Windows, which is the recommended version of that software to use. Freight Manager is also compatible with Mozilla Firefox Version 3.0 on Windows. Testing is also underway on support for Macintosh Safari Version 3.0.
I’ve heard a lot about how easy to use Freight Manager’s rate return screen is. Is it really that simple?
Definitely. To use Freight Manager’s rate return screen, simply enter the information for the shipment you want to make, including the transit lane. Freight Manager immediately displays the most current rates for the carriers that service this lane, as well as their estimated transit times. Once you have decided on the carrier that best fits your needs, you will then just need to review and accept the displayed terms and conditions, and your shipment’s bill of lading will be generated.
Can I tell the carrier specific information regarding my delivery?
Freight Manager allows you to enter custom notes like "Don’t stack pallets" or "Delivery dock closes at 3 p.m." as well as input any internal reference numbers you require, such as a PO or order number.
I like to see all the details of my in-transit shipments. Does Freight Manager allow me to do so?
Once your shipment is picked up by the carrier, up-to-date information is available in the Shipment Management window on your homepage. From there, you’ll be able to immediately view details about your shipment, including its current location and estimated time of delivery. All of your company’s shipments, as well as those of your subsidiaries, can be managed from this interface, giving you one location where you can quickly gather information vital to your company’s success.
Does Freight Manager have reporting capabilities?
Pre-packaged and customizable reports are available for online viewing from the Freight Manager homepage. You can view this information right on the screen, or it can be scheduled for delivery to your email inbox at times that meet your schedule, giving you peace of mind about the status of all of your in-transit and delivered shipments.
I often make multiple shipments through multiple carriers. How many invoices will I receive?
Through Freight Manager, you get one consolidated, pre-audited bill regardless of the number of shipments or how many carriers you use.
Freight Manager can make your shipping process more efficient, while reducing your overall costs for both outbound and inbound shipments. For more information regarding Freight Manager or any other valuable Unishippers service, contact your local Unishippers office.
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 Did U Know?
Carrier Spotlight: A Duie Pyle®
Headquartered in West Chester, PA, A. Duie Pyle is one of the premier transportation and logistics providers in the Northeast, with extended service coverage into the Southeast, Midwest, and Canada. The company was recently voted the number one New England and Mid-Atlantic LTL carrier by Logistics magazine readers. Family-owned and operated for more than 80 years, A. Duie Pyle provides a complete range of transportation and distribution services, with a specialty in industrial traffic and hazardous materials. In fact, all of the company’s drivers are Haz Mat and forklift certified.
Duie Pyle, as it is known in the industry, operates 16 services centers strategically located throughout the Northeast region. Duie Pyle’s resources include 835 trucks, two million square feet of public and contract warehousing and distribution space and a wide range of specialized equipment.
Duie Pyle has earned a reputation as one of the most effective, efficient and well-respected carriers for many reasons.
"They have an extremely low claim ratio, and when they do have a claim they follow through on the damages," says Miles Shepard, Transportation Products Director for Unishippers.
"The company is also innovative with its use of technology. All of their trucks are equipped with satellite communications, which provide complete in-transit visibility through the Internet with what's known as Pyle's Dashboard to Desktop® Technology." This "real time" in-transit visibility is unique for an LTL carrier.
Time-definitive delivery and specialized equipment (liftgates, cranes, curtain side trailers, heaters, etc.) are the service features for which A. Duie Pyle, Inc. is probably best known. Liftgates are particularly unique when you consider the company’s market includes residential delivery. Another innovative service feature is 24/7 freezable protected trucks because the company can put heaters on its trailers.
Miles says that in the three years Unishippers has worked with Duie Pyle, it hasn’t had one complaint from a customer. "Their quality, service, delivery, documentation and innovation are exceptional," he says. "We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with them."
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 Saving U Time, Trouble and Money
Carrier Cargo Claims: An Ounce of Prevention
Errors made in cargo claims cost shippers tens of millions of dollars every year. Filing a carrier cargo claim can be an inconvenience, but if done properly it doesn’t have to cost you money. One of the major errors is failure to file claims within the required time period. Another mistake many customers make is failure to follow up on a claim after it’s been filed. To reduce the incidence of these and other common errors, Unishippers offers several recommendations to ensure a smooth process:
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If you notice your shipment is damaged upon arrival, keep the driver at the dock to review the damage with you. Detail the damage on the BOL and make sure to sign the BOL damage and print your name, time, and date. Also, have the driver print his name and sign the BOL with time and date. Make sure the driver notes the same damage that you are putting on the BOL.
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Don't break the pallet apart or use any product without first making a claim or receiving approval from the carrier to use any undamaged product. If someone gives you permission over the phone, make sure you log their name, time and date in case there’s a dispute. It’s also a good idea to take pictures of the damaged product for visual proof. The damaged articles should be retained, along with all of the packaging material until picked up by the carrier or until the claim is settled.
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A claim must be presented with a statement describing the goods lost or damaged and how the amount of the claim was determined. This statement should be supported with a copy of the BOL or carrier freight bill, and a copy of an inspection report if one was performed.
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Once your claim has been received with the proper documentation, the carrier will acknowledge receipt and attempt to settle it within 30 days. The investigation of some claims may take longer. For the most part, however, carriers process over 90 percent of claims within 30 days or less. If your claim can’t be settled within 120 days, the carrier should notify you and keep you informed at 60-day intervals until the claim is settled.
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Use common sense when packing your products, and you can often avoid claims altogether. Always use the correct packing gauge and pack light items on top and heavy items on the bottom.
If you remember to follow these simple guidelines, you will save significant costs and trouble, along with having smoother, more incident-free shipping. |
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