How Technology Improves Freight Accountability
Freight accountability starts with information. Who quoted the shipment? What details were used? Which carrier was selected? Where is the shipment now? What documents are available? Has the invoice been issued? Is there a dispute? Was a claim filed? When those answers live in separate emails, spreadsheets, carrier portals, and inboxes, accountability becomes difficult. That […]
Why Visibility Matters as Much as Price
Price matters in freight. But price without visibility is incomplete. A shipment that looks inexpensive at the quote stage can become costly if the customer cannot see what is happening, access documents, identify delays, review charges, or resolve issues quickly. Visibility is what allows transportation teams to act before problems compound. At Freight Partners Group, […]
Reunited and Ready to Grow
Who would have imagined that, nearly 40 years after we first met, I would be working side by side with Pat Cermak. I first got to know Pat while helping reposition leased containers on the Soo Line Railroad (CPKC now) between Minneapolis and Chicago. Today, we are bringing decades of experience, relationships, and industry knowledge […]
Defensible Transportation Management
The future of freight management is defensible transportation management. That means transportation decisions should not be random, undocumented, or based only on who answered the phone first. They should be supported by process. They should be supported by data. They should be supported by documented carrier review. They should be supported by clear operating procedures. […]
The Answer Is Not Eliminating Brokers – It Is Eliminating Weak Broker Processes
There is a growing reaction in the market right now: “We are going to stop using brokers.” I understand why some shippers, freight forwarders, and NVOCCs are saying it. The latest Supreme Court ruling has made carrier selection, broker process, and transportation documentation a much bigger conversation. But eliminating brokers is not the real answer. […]
The Hidden Cost of Accessorial Charges
Freight budgets rarely get derailed by base rates alone. It’s the unexpected accessorial charges—liftgate, residential delivery, limited access, detention, overlength, reclass, and reweigh fees—that quietly chip away at margins. Individually, these charges may seem minor. Collectively, they can create significant budget overruns, strained carrier relationships, and invoice discrepancies that take hours to untangle. The root […]
Some Freight Is More Than Freight
Freight Partners Group is proud to have been awarded the transportation of a truly remarkable piece of American art: a massive eagle designed and built by Kevin Stone of Kevin Stone Metal Art, moving from Las Vegas to the Port of Kalama for the USA 250 July 4th Celebration. This is the type of project […]
The Cheapest Carrier May Become the Most Expensive Decision
The cheapest carrier may become the most expensive decision you make. In freight, price is always part of the conversation. It should be. But when price becomes the only filter, risk starts to compound. A low rate does not tell you whether a carrier is properly insured. It does not tell you whether their authority […]
Questions Shippers Should Ask Their Providers
A few days ago, I posted about the recent Supreme Court ruling and why carrier selection, documentation, and transportation controls matter more than ever. The next question is practical: What should shippers and freight forwarders be asking their transportation providers today? Here are a few starting points: The transportation market has changed. The lowest rate […]
Why Managed Transportation Helps Reduce Risk
The latest Supreme Court ruling on freight broker liability should be a wake-up call for every shipper, freight forwarder, NVOCC, and logistics buyer. The issue is no longer just “who can get the load covered?” The better question is: Who is managing the transportation process in a way that is documented, defensible, and safety-focused? The […]