In a recent interview with Ed Smith, Vice President of Averitt Distribution and Fulfillment, we gained valuable insights into the current state of the warehousing market. In the discussion, Smith highlights the current challenges and shifts in consumer dynamics that are playing out in the marketplace.

The holiday season is a critical time for retailers, presenting both sizable opportunities and significant challenges. As consumer demand skyrockets, the resilience and efficiency of a retailer’s supply chain are put to the test.

Initially, the concept of transloading might raise concerns about complicating the supply chain and triggering extra costs – whether due to transit delays or other variables. However, reality presents a different picture.

Jumping headfirst into any new industry can be overwhelming, especially in the transportation industry.  Understanding the common terminologies and industry jargon used in conversations can feel particularly daunting at first. To help you jump right into conversation with your peers, we’ve put together a list of nine key industry terms that you should become acquainted with. 

Defining continuity in the corporate world is, at times, difficult to do. Everyone has their own outlook on what continuity means to them. Longevity, for instance, isn’t necessarily the core of continuity. As we have seen time and time again in the transportation industry, even long-standing companies can experience critical issues that negatively impact their associates and customers when continuity is an afterthought.  

International trade can often seem like a labyrinthian maze of jargon and abbreviations. It’s a world with an extensive list of unique rules, procedures, and terminology that can seem daunting at first glance. And one word that gives many new global shippers pause is the abbreviation “Incoterms.”

Big Ass Fans (BAF) – a global manufacturer and distributor of high-volume fans based out of Lexington, KY, trusts Averitt with transporting their industry-leading airflow products. As a trusted and reliable transportation and supply chain solutions provider, Averitt helps businesses like BAF achieve their goals by working side-by-side to develop customized transportation solutions. 

In 1980, the Motor Carrier Regulatory Reform and Modernization Act was signed into law, effectively deregulating the trucking industry and allowing carriers to price independently.  

“Just load the truck.” 

For anyone not versed in the finer aspects of logistics and transportation management, those four words may appear to represent one of the easier links in the supply chain. However, far more goes into safe and efficient load planning than simply firing up the forklift and moving a few pallets.