Accessorial charges are additional fees applied by freight carriers for services that go beyond standard pickup and delivery, such as packing, unloading, or storage. These fees cover the extra time, labor, and equipment needed to complete a shipment and can significantly inflate your shipping costs if left unmanaged. Shipping is a complex process that has […]
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Shipping insurance is a service that protects packages from damage, theft, and loss during transit to help reduce the risks of shipping high-value or delicate items. Carriers may include insurance with certain shipping methods, or you can buy it separately from carriers or third-party providers. If you’re a business with a high-risk shipping profile or
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With the right tools, strategies, and partner, you can save time, money, and stress on one of the most important parts of your supply chain. This article outlines 8 freight audit and payment best practices to help improve accuracy and streamline your supply chain. You’ll learn how to centralize data, use automated solutions, enhance carrier
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With the FedEx 2025 general rate increase now in full effect, shipping costs are getting higher – again. Both UPS and FedEx have announced their General Rate Increase (GRI) changes for 2025 to keep up with an increasing supply and demand chain. Their base rates for all shipping services are increasing by an average of
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Are rising freight costs cutting into your bottom line? Reducing freight fees without compromising on service is essential for your business’s cost efficiency. But, it’s easier said than done. In this guide, we’ll provide you with actionable strategies that any business can use to secure better rates and lower expenses without sacrificing service quality. Before
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The FedEx 2026 GRI represents another year of sustained rate pressures for shippers as FedEx implements a 5.9% average rate increase effective January 5, 2026. This percentage increase matches the previous year’s adjustment, maintaining consistent upward pressure on shipping costs across the carrier’s network. The implementation follows a two-phase approach. Base rate adjustments and most
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Park West Gallery was facing skyrocketing freight costs and opaque data. Within six weeks of partnering with Zero Down, the organization transformed logistics from a volatile cost center into a data-driven competitive edge, achieving a 22% rate reduction and $3.5 million in annualized savings. What is the Supply Chain Innovation Award? The Supply Chain Excellence
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A fuel surcharge is a fee carriers add to cover fluctuating fuel costs, helping them manage the financial risks of price volatility. A key to profitability is understanding and managing fuel surcharges, which now play a crucial role in controlling freight costs—especially in the volatile 2025 fuel market. For shippers, simply paying these fees isn’t
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Effective freight optimization is the process of making your shipping operations more efficient to cut transportation costs. It involves strategies like freight audits, route planning, and load consolidation to prevent overspending and maximize cost-efficiency without lowering service quality. A streamlined logistics process is crucial for maximizing your profitability. That means you need to spend less
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Freight Fees Explained: How to Reduce Common Charges Freight fees are the collection of charges incurred when transporting goods, encompassing everything beyond the base transportation rate. These costs include a variety of surcharges and accessorials for fuel price fluctuations, special handling, customs clearance, and more. Understanding this breakdown is the first step toward managing and
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