Point To Point

Call it what you will – the Windy City, Chi-Town, the City of Big Shoulders – Chicago has a unique place in the pantheon of American cities. 

Efficiency and reliability can be challenging to improve when it comes to the complexity of inbound supply chains — particularly with operations involving imported cargo. With multiple service providers and touch points, your ability to make meaningful refinements to your strategy can be difficult. Fortunately, there are ways to simplify the process and establish a seamless connection between the various links in this area of your supply chain.

While for many people the name Louisville, KY conjures images of horse racing and mint juleps, the city also boasts a less widely recognized reputation – that of a critical shipping and transportation hub for companies across the country and around the world.

While the global supply chain disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic shined a bright light on the need for companies to bring their manufacturing back to North America, interest in nearshoring and reshoring has been growing steadily for several years.

In most people’s minds, Memphis is associated with three main things: delicious barbecue, soulful blues, and of course, Elvis’ beloved Graceland. But what’s less widely known is that the city also represents the single most significant shipping hub in the Western Hemisphere.

For all the variables of international commerce – with its endless combinations of commodities, origins, and destinations – there are still some things all shippers have in common: a desire to streamline the supply chain and reduce freight costs.

On March 1, 2022, the Felicity Ace sank in the Atlantic Ocean. Traveling from Germany to the U.S., the ship was carrying thousands of luxury cars from Volkswagen, including Porsches, Lamborghinis, and Bentleys. According to Reuters, without international cargo insurance coverage the financial losses could equal upwards of $155 million.

For over 15 years, the relationship between Averitt and Virco, an American manufacturer and supplier of school furniture and equipment, has continued to thrive and grow. From standard LTL services to dedicated fleet operations, and international forwarding, Averitt helps Virco deliver first-class delivery experience to schools and offices—even through the most challenging of times.