Allen Yi’s Post

Most companies lose 1000-1000000 of their landed cost every year. Not because of freight or ops, or insert department here... Because the trade team wasn’t in the room. Here’s what happens when supply chain runs without trade compliance: → Duty savings are missed → Shipments get delayed in customs → Landed costs are wrong → Audit risks multiply Trade isn’t admin. It’s a strategy. They know how to cut duties, prevent fines, and move goods faster. Bring them in early during sourcing, routing, and planning. That’s where the real savings are made. If your supply chain team isn’t working with your trade team, you’re leaving money on the table. PS: Before you ask. This is not my voice. PPS: This is baby Kyle, yes. This is my own experience and not that of TE Connectivity.

When your supply chain runs without trade compliance, it’s not efficiency; it’s exposure. Too often, businesses focus on moving goods fast and forget the hidden costs that come with non-compliance ; penalties, delays, re-assessments, and damaged credibility. Don’t leave everything to chance. Have someone in your team who understands the true cost of bringing your supplies in, not just the logistics, but the compliance behind every shipment. Trade compliance isn’t paperwork it’s protection.

🔭 Q4 Outlook: Opportunity in a Soft Market The sentiment heading into Q4 is clear — bearish, but not without opportunity. 📉 Rates remain under pressure. ⚓ Carriers are tightening capacity through blank sailings. 📦 Seasonal cargo may lift demand in November — but it’s far from guaranteed. For retailers and importers, this is the window to reset procurement strategies and lock in stability for 2026. At Fabrik, we see this as the perfect time to structure long-term savings while the market is still soft. #Freight #Shipping #Logistics #SupplyChain #Retail #Fabrik

Port efficiency means nothing if freight stalls outside the gate. That’s the hard truth in today’s supply chain. You can offload a vessel in record time, but if the trucking window is missed or the warehouse isn't synced, the customer still feels the delay. The difference isn’t speed. It’s coordination. What we’re seeing across the Americas is this: when terminals and logistics start operating as one, performance follows: Containers move faster. Bottlenecks shrink. Customers stop asking who’s to blame — because there’s one team, not five vendors. This is where integrated operations really earn their name. Not on paper. In execution.

81% of shippers say that supply chain disruption is the top reason they seek out deeper partnerships with their 3PLs - https://bit.ly/46K6RGw - via @SupplyChain247

In logistics, negotiation is not just about cutting costs — it’s about creating win-win partnerships that ensure reliability, efficiency, and long-term sustainability. Here are a few principles I follow for smart negotiations in logistics: 1️⃣ Know Your Data: Before entering any discussion, analyze your freight cost trends, route efficiency, and vendor performance. Data-backed insights give you real negotiation power. 2️⃣ Focus on Total Cost, Not Just Freight Rate: Look beyond the per-ton or per-km rate. Consider loading time, transit reliability, demurrage risks, and service quality — all of which affect your actual cost. 3️⃣ Build Relationships, Not Just Contracts: Vendors who trust you will go the extra mile during crises. A transparent and respectful relationship often saves more than a hard bargain ever can. 4️⃣ Leverage Volume & Consistency: If you offer steady business, negotiate on commitment and reliability — not only on price. Carriers value predictability. 5️⃣ Think Long-Term: Smart negotiation means planning for future fuel trends, compliance norms, and seasonal fluctuations — not just this month’s dispatch. At the end of the day, logistics negotiation is an art of balance — between cost, quality, and partnership. When you negotiate smartly, you don’t just move goods efficiently — you move the business forward. 🚀 #Logistics #NegotiationSkills #SupplyChain #Transportation #BusinessLeadership #SmartStrategy

🚨 Ever felt like your shipping costs have a mind of their own? Last month, a client told me their logistics bill was almost 40% of their total order cost. Not because their products got heavier… but because of dimensional weight, fuel surcharges, and container shortages that hit them out of nowhere. Sound familiar? You think you’ve done everything right — negotiated good supplier terms, optimized packaging — yet when the invoice lands, the numbers tell a different story. 📦 Dimensional weight rules charge you for space, not actual weight. 🚢 Peak season container shortages send rates soaring. ⛽ Fuel costs fluctuate with no warning. Before you know it, your profit margin has quietly slipped away — and you’re left wondering where it all went wrong. Here’s the truth: you can’t control global logistics trends, but you can control how you source, ship, and plan. The right strategy can save you thousands per container and give you back predictability in your supply chain. 💡 If you’d like my sourcing guide from China — packed with actionable ways to cut logistics costs and avoid these traps — just reach out. I’ll gladly share it with you. #ShippingCosts #GlobalTrade #Sourcing #Logistics #Ecommerce #ImportExport #SupplyChain

📦 The Role of a Freight Broker in Today’s Supply Chain 🚛 In the logistics world, shippers need reliable carriers, and carriers need consistent freight. That’s where freight brokers come in. A freight broker acts as the bridge between shippers and carriers, ensuring that goods are moved safely, on time, and at competitive rates. 🔹 For shippers: We provide access to a vast network of trusted carriers, negotiate fair rates, handle paperwork, and monitor shipments from pickup to delivery. 🔹 For carriers: We keep their trucks full, reduce their empty miles, and provide them with consistent freight opportunities. 🔹 For the supply chain: We add efficiency, reduce costs, and provide real-time communication. In today’s fast-paced market, freight brokers are more than middlemen—we are problem solvers, relationship builders, and logistics experts.

One unexpected roadblock can disrupt your entire supply chain and impact sales. Stay ahead by identifying common logistics challenges before they slow you down.

Freight volume faces challenges as August shipments decrease by 1.5% month-over-month and a significant 9.3% year-over-year decline. The downturn notably impacts less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments while truckload (TL) and intermodal shipments exhibit year-over-year growth. The outlook remains cautious due to softer demand and tariff pressures. An early pullback in private-fleet expansion could potentially benefit for-hire carriers in the long run. My colleagues Wil G. Knibloe III, CSCM and Michael Taelman, CSCP are on top of staying ahead of the curve and further enhance key strategies: - Implement price & margin guardrails - Refresh freight surcharges - Establish lane-based price floors - Update quoting rules to prevent mix-driven margin erosion - Recalculate lane/stop cost curves - Shift LTL to multi-stop TL where feasible - Identify SKUs where LTL spikes reduce contribution margin Carrier Procurement: - Run rapid RFQ with index-linked clauses and auto-rebasing - Renegotiate detention/accessorial while volumes are soft Network Optimization: - Implement consolidation windows, pool points, and cross-docks - Target TL conversions to maximize cube/weight utilization - Enhance On-Time In-Full (OTIF) performance and reduce $/order Working Capital Management: - Align lead-time variability with reorder points - Optimize buffers where service is stable - Right-size DC inventory and reduce premium-freight triggers S&OP Calibration: - Utilize shipment trends as an external demand signal - Ensure smooth overtime and changeovers - Protect Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) during volume dips #SupplyChain #Logistics #FreightManagement