CT Dev, Author at Devin Cummins Site

Top 5 Factors for Successful Logistics Operations with Los Angeles 3PL Warehouses

A crane removing a shipping container from a container ship docked at a port

Managing logistics in southern California isn’t for the faint of heart.

There are thousands of miles of roadways that span across the region, and, every day, millions of drivers take to these roads to make their daily commute. There are also railways headed in nearly every direction and dozens of ships arriving at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach every day.

The good news is that you don’t have to go it alone. Partnering with a 3PL warehouse vendor can help you nail logistics operations in the region.

Here’s how.

1. They Strategically Locate Their Facilities Near the Ports and Major Roadways

After imported goods arrive at either one of the region’s ports, companies need to store them in a warehouse. But choosing the first warehouse you find on Google won’t suffice.

Warehouse operators in southern California need to strike a balance. They must locate their facilities near enough to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to minimize the amount of time it takes for trucks to pick up the items and drop them off, and to keep their logistics operations efficient.

At the same time, warehouses need to be located in a part of the region that is as close as equidistant to its major centers of commerce, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Long Beach, and Anaheim, as possible. Just as importantly, warehouses must be in close proximity to major highways and railways.

2. Their Employees Understand the Factors that Can Disrupt Logistics in the Region

There are countless sources of logistics operations disruption in southern California. It’s not a matter of if they will happen, but when.

Whether it’s a wildfire in one of the region’s forests, an earthquake, or just your everyday traffic jam, potential slowdowns are inevitable. Skilled 3PL providers can, however, minimize the frequency of delayed orders by having contingency plans in place. If, for example, the I-5 is shut down because of a car accident, the 3PL could prevent slowdowns in logistics operations by alerting drivers and redirecting them toward an alternative route used in the past.

Alternatively, 3PL partners can choose the optimal source of transportation. During periods when freight trains are offering low rates, for instance, they could choose to ship goods to their final destination via train rather than truck.

3. They Can Receive Imported Goods–and Then Quickly Get Them Back on the Road

During periods of high customer demand, items can move off of warehouse shelves quickly. This fast movement of goods can make logistics operations in southern California even trickier than usual.

Top 3PL warehouse companies are prepared for these periods of elevated activity. Through a process called cross-docking, items can be unloaded from an inbound truck and quickly loaded onto an outbound truck. With cross-docking, items are never removed from pallets. Instead, the pallets are transferred from one side of the facility to the other. Great operators can unload a truck and have items on their way in short order.

4. You Can Get Real-time Access to Your Company’s Inventory Levels

Nothing can complicate a company’s logistics operations more so than inaccurate inventory data.

Stockouts can lead to missed sales, while overstocking can inflate storage costs. Fortunately, modern technology has made it easy for companies to see how much inventory they have on hand at their 3PL partner’s warehouse facility. Inventory management software allows users to see how much inventory is stored in the facility, when their next delivery is expected to arrive, and more.

This type of transparency makes it simple for companies to coordinate with their contacts at the 3PL facility, and follow up with their suppliers if orders are delayed or incorrect.

5. They Are Responsive to the Needs of Their Clients

Companies are constantly changing. A once popular product could quickly fall out of favor with customers. Suppliers can change. Customer bases can expand.

No matter the change, 3PL providers need to be ready and willing to change alongside their clients. Whether it’s expanding the amount of storage space their client needs in a short amount of time or adjusting how pallets are stored in the facility, nimble operators have the personnel and systems in place to quickly adapt.

Inflexibility is one of the most significant factors behind inefficient logistics operations. The best 3PL warehouse providers understand this and are always willing to evolve.

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Comparing the Top 3PL Warehousing Companies in Los Angeles: What You Need to Know

Overhead shot of the exterior of a warehouse facility with trucks parked in an adjacent parking lot

If your company is seeking out 3PL warehousing solutions for the first time, you may be thinking all of the vendors on the market are the same and that price is the only factor worth considering. Nothing could be further from the truth.

An unreliable 3PL provider can drive up your company’s operational costs and cause customer satisfaction to plummet due to deliveries—especially in a region as large and complex as the Greater Los Angeles area. Top 3PL warehousing companies, on the other hand, can streamline your supply chain and logistics function.

If your company is comparing warehousing vendors in Southern California, here are some questions worth asking.

1. Does the Vendor Prioritize Customer Service?

Look at the website of any warehousing company—or any company, for that matter—and you’ll likely see a mention of how they’re dedicated to customer service. Few, however, can explain how they actually deliver this service.

For example, many vendors struggle to answer basic questions, such as how much inventory your company has on hand at any time or when your next order will arrive. As a top 3PL warehouse company in Los Angeles, the team at Cummins Logistic can tell you exactly why we’re widely regarded as leaders in customer service.

Unlike many other providers, who talk about the wide range of 3PL services they offer, we focus exclusively on 3PL warehousing. This allows us to focus on designing tailored 3PL warehousing solutions for each of our customers, and ensuring they always have a direct line to our management team.

2. Can I Easily Access My Company’s Inventory Data?

Two women warehouse employees walking down an aisle between shelves at a warehouse facility

In the past, it was challenging to access data about your company’s inventory levels at a moment’s notice. Today, top 3PL warehouse companies have made it simple for their clients to pull inventory level reports—and so much more.

The ability to access this type of data is powered by inventory management software. Every item of inventory exists as a data point within these systems. So, as shipments arrive at the warehouse and then leave for orders, the system automatically updates overall inventory levels. Companies can access this data at a moment’s notice using an application on the phone or computer. Unfortunately, not every 3PL company can offer this capability.

As one of the top 3PL warehousing companies in Southern California, we consider technology one of our key areas of strength, which is why we use cloud-based inventory management software from Extensiv, one of the market leader’s. Our clients can access reports customized based on their business needs through any device 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

3. Are the Vendor’s Facilities in Close Proximity to Major Ports?

Southern California is home to two of the nation’s busiest ports. The region is a hub for international commerce, and many businesses within it want to take advantage of its access to overseas markets.

Top 3PL warehousing companies are aware of this fact and strategically locate their facilities a short distance away from major ports. Whenever shipments arrive, trucks can quickly transport items to nearby warehouses before they’re sent off to customers.

Cummins Logistics’ 3PL warehousing solutions take it a step further. We’re located in City of Commerce, CA, which is not only a short distance from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, but also major markets in the area, including Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange Counties.

As a top 3PL warehousing company, we also offer cross-docking and transloading services. When items arrive from overseas, we can quickly process them in our warehouse and send them off to your customers using the optimal transportation method.

4. Does the Vendor Require Your Company to Sign a Long-Term Lease?

Many warehousing vendors attempt to lock their clients into long-term leases that offer them little flexibility. This can be a major problem if the business needs change or if they’re unsatisfied with the services provided to them by the warehousing vendor.

At Cummins Logistics, we believe top 3PL warehousing companies should be responsive to the needs of their clients. We don’t force our clients to sign annual or multiple-year leases. Instead, agreements are formed on a month-to-month basis. If you need more or less storage space, or if you’ve simply found a 3PL warehousing solutions vendor willing to offer you better rates on storage, we are willing to amend your agreement immediately rather than waiting a year or longer.

Find Out What Makes Cummins Logistics Different Today

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