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Trending retail products for Christmas morning and bottles of bubbly to ring in the new year may not make their way to consumers on time without the expert less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation providers that know when and where to have capacity available to handle seasonal demand.
Capacity gets tight in regions around the country as seasonal demand spikes, and experienced transportation and logistics providers know where to have LTL carriers at the ready. That includes at maritime ports, where most seasonal imported goods arrive on containerships and are then trucked to their final destination.
Seasonal imports also come through land ports of entry at the northern and southern borders, which requires trucking and logistics providers to have a thorough understanding of customs regulations, including tariff classification and valuation and the determination of duty rates, as well as proper documentation.
The shipping of wine and spirits, in particular, is rife with strict rules, regulations, tariffs, and permits, which can vary from state to state and country to country. Noncompliance can lead not only to delays but substantial financial and legal ramifications. Flawless execution of LTL shipments of wine and spirits is paramount, particularly when a major event like New Year’s Eve is approaching.
LTL shipments usually are placed on pallets to keep similar products together and make loading and unloading easier. An LTL shipment typically is made up of one to six pallets weighing no more than 15,000 pounds. LTL shipments also are categorized by National Motor Freight Traffic Association classes, with high-value items like consumer electronics falling into the higher classes.
Mastering the seasonal fluctuations of LTL shipping requires:
Because electronics and wine and spirits are sensitive to temperature, humidity, and handling, shippers should work with highly experienced transportation providers. When maintaining optimal temperature settings is paramount, even slight temperature deviations can lead to significant losses. At VCPB Transportation, we check the status of LTL shipments every step of the journey from pickup to delivery.
Expert transporters of seasonal goods also must be skilled in security measures. Between Oct. 1 and Nov. 20, 2023, for example, CargoNet recorded 433 reports of cargo theft, a 101% increase year over year.
“Strategic cargo theft groups … have shown that they ramp up activity around major holidays because they understand logistics brokers will be under pressure and more likely to make mistakes,” CargoNet said.
At VCPB Transportation, strict security measures protect customers’ cargo from pickup to delivery. We also utilize advanced technology to optimize routing and track goods in real time.
VCPB Transportation was built by produce haulers, and we have used that experience to grow into an industry-leading provider of innovative transportation solutions. Our expert team is adept at shipping mode and route optimization and quick decision-making to deal with situations such as port backups or delays at pickup.
At VCPB Transportation, we know that real-time tracking is of the utmost importance when shipping seasonal goods. We monitor all shipments using our state-of-the-art tech stack, and our shipping specialists provide 24/7/365 service to quickly address any issues.
With decades of experience and an unrelenting commitment to excellence, VCPB Transportation is the LTL shipping partner you can trust in any season. All year long, we efficiently handle whatever our customers need, including expedited shipments, cross-border movements, transloading and drayage management, and over-the-road, intermodal, and overweight and oversized freight.
VCPB Transportation
600 Meadowlands Pkwy Secaucus, NJ 07094
(201) 770-0111
