​Delivery and warehousing are just some of the essential steps in the supply chain. While manufacturers deliver products to their intended suppliers or clients, certain products require specialty packaging to get to their destination. Either way, some companies find using a third-party packaging service saves precious time and money that would otherwise be spent on delivery. This service is called contract packaging. Here are some of the main reasons to use a contract packager to meet your business’s supply chain requirements.

​One of the main benefits of contract packaging is it increases delivery to geographically separate facilities. Modern technologies and delivery systems create custom packaging for well-trained teams. Contract packagers deliver based on product and location which cuts warehousing and packaging costs down to an as-needed basis. While localized packagers can deliver close to manufacturing plants, contract packagers ship to remote retailers in bulk which costs less than traditional packaging options.

​Another reason to use a contract packager is they use specialized delivery and packaging for certain products. Contract packaging fits various industries, including food, cosmetics, medical products, nutrition products, pharmaceuticals, beverages, industrial products, and more. Some of these items may require specialized delivery and equipment, such as FDA regulation and military-grade packaging. Co-packagers have the expertise when dealing with any of these products using their specialty equipment for proper delivery.

Lastly, contract packaging allows suppliers opportunities for downsizing. While this doesn’t sound ideal, it can save a small business lots of money in delivery and warehousing. Downsizing cuts costs and improves efficiency without sacrificing quality. Third-party packagers reduce the extra need for facility and personnel fees which instead can be used to upgrade facilities, training, maintenance, and quality control.

Nevertheless, when it comes to contract packaging, be sure to use us at 18 Wheels Logistics. As one of the best packaging companies in Vancouver, our expert packagers and handlers understand the importance of co-packaging for your company. Our primary and secondary packaging ensures your products get to their intended suppliers or clientele without issue. Whether it’s with beverages, food, or any other specialty packaging, our state-of-the-art technology will deliver it securely on time.

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​In each passing year, consumers are becoming more aware and vigilant of environmental issues, only purchasing from manufacturers that are implementing sustainable methods at all points of the supply chain. However, many businesses don’t give a second thought to the life of their products after they have reached the end user. As desire for sustainability increases, reverse logistics is becoming a a crucial aspect of any business. 

Reverse logistics is a recent term coined in 1992 by James R. Stock. This phrase means the process of moving goods from their end destination back to the manufacturer for capturing value or for disposal. In the current consumer industry, flexible return policies are being used as an effective competitive element. With increasing returns, companies are expected to have a working and well-coordinated reverse logistics operation. If you’re interested in implementing reverse logistics it’s important to apply factors such as durable packaging, the ability to repair items, outsourcing to a 3PL, and having a dedicated returns area.

18 Wheels Logistics is a seasoned expert in reverse logistics in addition to co-packing, distribution, warehousing, and trucking. We’re located in Vancouver, British Columbia but service across all of North America. Contact us today for all your 3PL and transportation needs! 

​​Storage of any type of chemical is a strongly controlled process. There are various possibilities of danger if proper protocols and handling methods are not present. We’ll take a look into a few prerequisites when choosing a chemical warehouse provider:

• OSHA Compliance: OSHA requirements outline various handling, storage, and record keeping standards that chemical warehouses must comply with.
• Proper Warehouse Construction: Storage areas for sensitive corrosive materials have strict parameters to their construction such as:
  • Concrete ramps at the entrance and inside
  • Ventilation
  • Auto sprinkler system
• Fully trained personnel: To prepare in unfortunate cases of spills, leakage, or explosions, members must have proper certification based on all levels of regulations.
• Hazmat Compliance: Warehouses must be able to provide up to date storage and shipment records on all chemicals.
• Transparency: An exceptional provider will allow for 24/7 transparency and visibility, easily being able to integrate their system with yours.

 
As a reliable provider, 18 Wheels Logistics based in Vancouver, British Columbia, can handle all responsibilities mentioned above. Additionally, we offer warehousing, trucking, and distribution services as well. Contact 18 Wheels Logistics today for your 3PL, transportation, and co-packing services! 

Distribution is a crucial step in the supply chain because it transports goods and services from the manufacturer to the distributor. From there, it’s accessible to the customer. Still, there’s a lot to consider with distribution networks that many small businesses don’t understand. Fortunately, this guide on how to create a distribution strategy will help by setting clear expectations, evaluating all feasible marketing channels, and consulting intermediaries for the most profitable distribution networks.

Clearly defined expectations ensure you remain on track when creating your distribution strategy. You must understand the components that affect this process and then optimize them for your success. To do that, consider the ways your distribution strategy affects the current supply chain of that industry, product, or service. Would yours make a serious dent in the streamlined process if something were to impede on your approach? If so, identify these potential issues and find alternatives. Each step in the distribution network pertains to the overall strategy, from the manufacturing facility to the retailer. Once you’ve defined these expectations, move forward with other steps.

From there, evaluate each channel your distribution strategy affects. Create a spreadsheet with each marketing intermediary along with your plan for selling the product either directly or indirectly. Consider the type of intermediary you wish to consult. Agents and brokers can sell the product for a fee or commission, whereas wholesalers and distributors purchase in bulk and sell to customers via retailers and e-commerce sites. Alternatively, contractors—also called value-added resellers—can purchase products and sell them along with their service. Evaluate each intermediary and the ways they can benefit your success. When researching each type of intermediary, consider the business relationship you’ll establish with them. Ask thorough questions regarding their support as a partner, potential strengths and weaknesses, and markups and upsells with products and services.

The last step in creating a distribution strategy is to narrow down the most profitable distribution channels. Choose the one that generates the best revenue. Whether this is through one distribution channel or multiple, they are meant to offer the highest return on investments. These channels are grouped into any of the following categories: intensive distribution, selective distribution, and exclusive distribution. Intensive distribution refers to many intermediaries whereas selective only uses a few. Both could carry various products from multiple brands. Exclusive is the fewest and ensures intermediaries only carry specific products and not similar ones from competitors.

Of course, when creating your distribution strategy, you must have the best logistics fleet available. Luckily, that’s where we come in. At 18 Wheels Logistics, we offer the best distribution and single-source warehousing, trucking, and co-packing unlike any other. As a Vancouver trucking company, we understand the importance of food, medical, and other essential goods moving from the manufacturer to the retailer and customer. We offer the best experience for small businesses looking to expand their distribution outreach, so call today and we’ll happily assist you.

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​Often times growing companies wonder whether it’s best to manage their transportation through a private fleet or to partner with a provider that can supply dedicated transportation services. We’ll be taking a look into both these options to understand their benefits and capabilities.

A private fleet is when a company is essentially creating its own transportation company to handle all distribution. This means the company will lease its own equipment and hire personnel with the advantages of scalability and control in mind. In contrast, a dedicated trucking service is when a company will hire a 3PL provider to manage all distribution services.

One big downfall of a private fleet is its unforeseen costs. There’s a multitude of investments that must be made in order to have a private fleet such as ELD systems, insurance, equipment leasing/purchasing, maintenance, driver hiring and training, and much more. In contrast, a dedicated fleet has already handled all the variables and will charge a flat rate to cover your unique volume and requirements. Furthermore, a dedicated fleet service contract allows for periodic adjustments or renegotiations to account for volume shifts. This is easier to manage than to undo or increase your private fleet operation if your volume doesn’t match up.

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia, 18 Wheels Logistics can handle all your dedicated trucking needs in addition to co-packing and warehousing. We can help your company acquire the flexibility and reliability in order to grow your business and cultivate success. 

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​Once your company is ready to outsource warehousing operations to a 3PL it’s important to determine what type of warehousing needs you require. This will dictate whether you would move forward with a dedicated or shared warehouse service.

In shared warehousing, your companies’ operations are one of several that use the 3PL’s resources such as the space, employees, systems and equipment. In this type of warehousing, you would pay for the resources that your business requires in addition to the overhead costs that are included in the rate. This type of service is usually ideal for companies whose service and space needs can shift, for those who store less than 5,000 pallets, or those who aren’t ready to fully commit to a dedicated model.

On the other hand, dedicated warehousing, also called contract warehousing, is when you would hire a 3PL to manage your warehousing operations with a facility typically dedicated to your business alone. In this service, almost every facet of the operation can be tailored to fit your specific needs. Dedicated warehousing is best for larger companies with a high volume of activity, require a specific location for ideal distribution, and/or want lower operational costs with an experienced 3PL partner.

​Here at 18 Wheels Logistics, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, we offer both of these services and have a team ready to help you find the right fit for your company. You can rely on us to be the best single source solution for all your transportation, 3PL, trucking, and co-packing needs. 

​It’s no question that all businesses want a quality logistics provider. The real question is if your 3PL provider is on the same page as you when it comes to quality standards. The following are three important factors that produce quality logistics.

• Reliable Retail Compliance: This means that your 3PL can guarantee that the right stock is at the correct place, time, and price in order to allow for efficient distribution and optimal sales. The increasing challenges that accompanies retail compliance make it crucial that companies find a provider that can maneuver these complexities successfully.
• Terrific Customer Service: Sublime customer service is of great importance when considering a 3PL provider. This trait means reliability, expertise, and responsiveness. Having a provider that can adeptly handle your inventory and logistics will give you opportunities to focus on growing your business.
• Solid Partnership Mentality: In order to fully experience excellent logistics quality, it’s crucial to collaborate with a company who partners with you. Your unique business calls for a provider willing to work through unique obstacles that face your company. They should be able to listen carefully to your challenges and help offer solutions that are innovative and cost-efficient.

18 Wheels Logistics, located in Vancouver, British Columbia is a top 3PL provider that can guarantee satisfaction and high quality results all across North America. Not only do we handle logistics, but we can take on the responsibilities of transportation, co-packing, warehousing, and trucking. Reach out today to see how we can help you. 

Warehouse management systems, or WMS, are software specifically designed to optimize warehouse functionality. They can direct, control, plan, organize, and utilize staff and resources in any warehouse location. Whether you want to refine your current warehouse practices or improve upon them, here are some of the advantages of using a warehouse management system you should know.

Inventory management is crucial in warehousing. With a current warehouse management system, you can significantly increase your inventory visibility. Using real-time data, you can manage inventory with barcodes, serial numbers, and radiofrequency identification. This enables you to track products’ movements during transportation. From this traceability, you can manage damaged or tainted goods, faulty batches, and recalls with ease. Another advantage of inventory visibility is just-in-time inventory management. This ensures fast, reliable inventory flow between warehouses and deliveries. Accurate demand forecasting helps generate optimal inventory levels. This technique will reduce safety stock and carrying costs, which can improve revenue and decrease waste

Part of warehousing is keeping inventory secure in one location. Warehouse management systems require employees to use individual accounts for transactions. This can improve accountability with specific employees and their daily transactions. In turn, this reduces theft or inventory misplacement. WMS can also improve accountability with reports and analysis. These systems account for every aspect of warehouse security in their design and functionality.

Another advantage of using a warehouse management system is more efficient labor management. WMS allows you to freely pick, pack, and store items with the right employees. These systems help you choose the ideal candidate based on skill level, task management, and work efficiency. All of this ensures a fast, reliable warehouse operation. With this systematic efficiency, you can gain a better understanding of your employees. Managers can identify any strengths, weaknesses, or necessary improvements in staff, all with the simplicity of WMS services.

Lastly, WMS increases the speed of inbound/outbound inventory, which increases the warehouse’s overall efficiency. Scheduling and storage management tools optimize inbound shipments. You and your supplier can set the best time and date for shipment retrieval based on your current needs. This can also help with outbound transportation. WMS can identify the best routes and zones based on load size, location, and order prioritization. Each of these solidifies liability with your shipments, which strengthens your relationship with suppliers and distributors.
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With that information, be sure to check us out at 18 Wheels Logistics. As a copacker in Vancouver, we understand warehouse management better than anyone else. We offer primary and secondary packaging for warehouse distribution so that you supply clients efficiently and smoothly. Whether it’s solid or liquid goods, our co-packing services work well with any WMS at your warehouse facility.

​Millennials are an ever-growing force in the workplace, taking on crucial roles in virtually every industry. However, many have a differing perspective from preceding generations on the way they regard the workplace and their roles within it.

• Millennials place value on experiences, and would much rather have the option to choose the tasks they take on.
• Increased flexibility and the choice to pursue other experiences outside of work are of high priority.
• The diversity and inclusivity (age, gender, ethnicity) of a company’s workforce are important factors for millennials.
• Millennials have a desire to feel that their work and their companies’ work contributes value to society.
• As opposed to prior generations, millennials may be more content with finding a role they thoroughly enjoy and excelling in that role.
• Millennials appreciate companies who can integrate a higher degree of personalization for employees, helping them advance in their roles and career paths.

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In order to encourage and empower millennials in the warehouse, companies should take these differences into consideration. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, 18 Wheels Logistics has an exceptional team that can handle any role such as: distribution, co-packing, trucking, and much more. As your leading 3PL, warehousing, co-packing, and transportation provider, we place a high regard on the well-being and success of our team members.

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​While there is increased cross-border trade between the U.S. and Canada, there are additional fees and taxes imposed on goods entering Canada. Additionally, before importing goods, a company must guarantee that their shipments comply with CBSA and CRA regulations. The following are 5 important border considerations in order to ship goods from across the border:

• Commercial businesses must obtain a business number before shipping any goods. Business numbers are given by the CRA, free of charge.
• Companies must also identify and provide valid proof of the initial country from which the goods are originally from.
• A company must also verify that the goods imported are legally permitted into Canada. For example, live animals, perishable goods, and mattresses are just some items that are prohibited.
• A majority of shipments entering Canada are subject to federal and provincial taxes. There is a 5% federal GST tax, however, at the provincial level it varies.
• The CBSA also encourages companies to maintain records of imports for up to 6 years of shipment into Canada.   

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As Canada’s leading warehousing, co-packing, trucking, and 3PL specialist, 18 Wheels Logistics can help get your shipments across borders efficiently and with ease. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia with warehouses across North America, we can be contacted for all your transportation and distribution needs.