The process of securing enough carrier capacity - trucks, trailers, containers, or other equipment - to move forecasted freight volumes on time, especially during demand surges, peak seasons, or tight market conditions.

A risk management strategy where shippers distribute freight volume across multiple carriers and modes to reduce dependency on any single provider and improve resilience against capacity disruptions.

An ongoing, data-driven approach to incrementally improving logistics performance - cost, speed, accuracy, and service - by measuring results, identifying inefficiencies, and refining processes over time.

A carrier service model where trucks and drivers are exclusively assigned to a single shipper under a long-term contract, combining the control of a private fleet with the operational management of a for-hire carrier.

Lowering the total amount spent on moving goods by optimizing carrier selection, load efficiency, mode choice, accessorial management, and invoice accuracy - without compromising service levels.

An analysis of current and projected freight market conditions - including capacity availability, rate trends, demand patterns, and economic indicators - used by shippers and carriers to plan procurement, budgets, and network strategy.

The shift of manufacturing or sourcing closer to end markets - nearshoring to neighboring countries, reshoring back to the domestic market - which restructures transportation networks, carrier needs, and freight patterns.

The end-to-end business process from receiving a customer order through delivery, invoicing, and payment collection - encompassing order management, fulfillment, transportation, proof of delivery, and accounts receivable.

The operational process from the moment a customer order is released for fulfillment through final delivery at the destination - encompassing warehouse processing, shipment planning, carrier execution, in-transit visibility, and delivery confirmation.

The strategic decision between operating your own trucks (private fleet) and hiring external carriers (common carriers) to move freight - each with different cost structures, control levels, and scalability trade-offs.

Indirect greenhouse gas emissions from a company's value chain that it doesn't directly control - with freight transportation typically the largest contributor, covering emissions from carriers, 3PLs, and other logistics providers moving the company's goods.

The surge in freight volumes driven by seasonal demand cycles - holiday retail, produce harvest, back-to-school, promotional pushes - that strains carrier capacity, inflates rates, and tests operational readiness.

The systematic process of improving supply chain performance - cost, speed, reliability, and service levels - by analyzing data and refining operations across sourcing, production, transportation, and fulfillment.

A supply chain's ability to anticipate, absorb, and recover from disruptions - whether demand surges, carrier failures, weather events, or systemic shocks - while maintaining acceptable service levels.

The practice of reducing the environmental impact of freight transportation through strategies like load optimization, mode shifting, carrier selection based on emissions data, and carbon footprint measurement and reporting.

The complete cost of moving goods from origin to destination - including freight rates, accessorial charges, warehousing, packaging, insurance, claims, technology, and internal labor - not just the line-haul rate on a carrier invoice.

The process of minimizing freight costs and maximizing service levels by selecting the best combination of carriers, modes, routes, and load configurations for every shipment.