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On September 9, 2018, it seemed we were all fixated with any form of technology that was broadcasting up-to-date information and storm-related events throughout the state of North Carolina with reference to Hurricane Florence. The Governor of North Carolina urged all North Carolina residents and businesses to prepare for Hurricane Florence, issuing a State of Emergency management and emergency plan. Before the massive storm even hit, North Carolina emergency officials were preparing for what meteorologists have called the second “500-year storm” to hit the state since Hurricane Matthew in 2016. As reports grew with intensity during the week, Spartan Logistics’ Executive Management Team in Columbus, OH, maintained consistent communication with Maxton, NC Warehouse Manager, Bobby Morman. Prior to evacuating the building, all hands were on deck to board up glass windows and doors; the forklift propane tank cage was chained and secured while Spartan forklift operators brought in 10,000 contract customer pallets from the outdoor elements so they would not become projectiles when the storm arrived. Bobby Morman purchased a pallet of 76 cases of bottled water from a local Food Lion store to bring back to the warehouse to be distributed to all employees before evacuating the property—and then we waited. The monster storm battered the North Carolina coast, trailing inland, leaving a path of destruction throughout eastern coastal regions. The warehouse sustained minor damage to overhangs, but the outdoor lighting was destroyed due to the strength of the wind. Local authorities created shelters for those not able to escape the wrath of the storm in time.  Read More

Topics: Logistics News

Are you in touch with what is happening in the industrial real estate market? A shortage exists everywhere, creating real challenges for businesses seeking to expand in their marketplace. For example, Napa Valley's industrial warehouse vacancies are now at 1.3 percent. The thriving wine industry finds its growth and margins constrained due to a lack of space to store inventory, and higher freight costs to store it farther away. In 2017, commercial properties in most markets enjoyed the sustained growth of demand, high occupancy rates, and rising rents. This is under added pressure in 2018 due to rising interest rates and increased U.S. manufacturing activity encouraged by recent tax reforms. U.S. industrial rents now average $5.53 per square foot with a year-over-year increase of 5.3 percent. Many tenants are in the difficult situation where expiring long-term leases are 30-50% below today’s market rates. For example, if you have been leasing space for the past ten years at a $4.50 sq. ft. rate and the owner comes to you this year to let you know the rate is increasing to $6.50 per sq. ft., your options are to absorb this cost, buy the building or vacate. Do you have an immediate plan in place to address the options you’ve been given? As top logistics markets continue to operate at a sub–3.5 percent vacancy rate, you can expect continued competition for quality warehouse and distribution space to add pressure on rents through 2018. First Quarter 2018 warehousing vacancy by US Region - Source: U.S. Real Estate News: U.S. warehouse and distribution rents rise as vacancy rates dip.  Read More

Topics: Industrial Real Estate Market, Supply Chain Strategy

With an upswing view of the reignited economy and the growing demand for diverse products, your supply chain network—manufacturing plants, warehouses and distribution centers—face challenges like never before. In light of increasing freight costs, global complexities, more demanding customer service requirements, new e-commerce challenges and risk management considerations, it has never been more important to navigate and execute supply chain strategy/operations. Today's complex global business environment - with its rapidly advancing technologies, emerging world markets, and vastly extended supply chains, places increasingly critical decision-making demands on logistics professionals. In a world expanding global, the challenges of providing seamless supply chain solutions across geographical and cultural boundaries have continued to mount. Those who invest in Lean Supply Chain Management can improve a company's competitiveness and overall profitability by identifying warehousing, transportation and trade compliance, while at the same time eliminating waste and non-value added activities. Given that as much as 80% of the operating costs are in logistics—freight, labor and inventory—it is critical to have a better understanding of your supply chain strategy. It seems the 2019 theme is to continue building a supply chain network, working together to drive collaboration and reduce inefficiencies. It's important that both manufacturers and importers discuss better ways of communicating and sharing information with their partner retailers and distributors to help improve the customer experience. Many companies have expressed interest in exploring different ways of servicing the customer, looking to become agiler by stepping out of their comfort zone—those even recently investing in their own manufacturing facilities, allowing them to be more flexible in their strategic decisions. Food & beverage manufacturers are examining the possibilities of setting up one or more distribution centers for limited shelf life items, which will allow them to provide better service to their customer base and help reduce overall transportation costs. As new regulations hit the transportation industry, a common topic of discussion is how to better navigate the new Supply Chain landscape to continue to service customers more effectively; while proactive shippers continue to search for viable 3PL warehouse distribution centers to allocate inventory in markets closer to their customers, in an overall effort to mitigate delays.  Read More

Topics: Rise of 3PL Fulfillment Services

We've seen a lot of futuristic self-driving cars and trucks on the big screen, but none of them really resemble the autonomous (self-driving) killer tractor trailers from the movie Logan. The scenes with the autonomous trucks are short but gripping. They feature a number of menacing, cabless trucks racing down the highways without any care for the human race caught in their path. It’s a scary vision of the future and needs to earn the public's trust.  Read More

Topics: Future of Logistics, Driverless Trucks

Any growing business must inevitably evaluate its fulfillment process from time to time. Beyond fulfillment, many companies that want to scale growth or transform themselves to compete in the world of manufacturing and e-commerce, typically turn to a 3PL provider. The reasons behind this are simply because most small or midsize companies don’t have the resources or what it takes for successful supply chain redeployment – such as the in-house experience, WMS (Warehouse Management Software), or seasoned labor support to effectively make it happen. Third-party logistics providers typically have a network of operations including warehouses, mobile handling equipment, a truck fleet, and experienced warehouse forklift operators and pickers/packers.  Read More

Topics: Rise of 3PL Fulfillment Services

Remember your first brand new car? What a well-oiled machine it was?  Read More

Topics: Outgrown Your Warehouse

When Spartan Logistics began to build a presence in Northwest Ohio in 1990, we quickly realized the untapped potential for warehouse and fulfillment services for our customers. From a single location, we expanded to a footprint of over 1.4 million square feet of warehouse storage and distribution. Our approach to 3PL is highly personalized. No task is too large, no detail too small, no storage and handling project too complicated. Spartan’s Northwest Ohio DCs and warehouses are often in proximity to major transport routes and terminals. For global manufacturers and suppliers looking to accelerate performance in today’s competitive marketplace, all roads lead to Toledo, Ohio. Although Toledo has a "rust belt" automotive reputation because of its manufacturing history, companies continue to move everything from raw materials to finished products to and from Toledo. If you haven’t had the pleasure—a day spent in the warehouse district is a day well spent. There’s renovation and resurgence going on in Toledo’s Warehouse District—It’s growing in leaps and bounds with great entertainment, restaurants, shopping and nightlife. It’s the new urban playground of what was once known as “Glass City”.  Read More

Topics: Warehouses in Toledo Ohio

The Ohio State University hosted a discussion of Disruptive Innovation in Logistics at the Harvard Business School of Columbus in Columbus, OH. Spartan Logistics President, Steve Harmon, was asked to give a presentation to an audience, piggy- backing the discussion. Steve's presentation —Big Data in Logistics, focused on how big data is revolutionizing many fields of business, and logistics analytics is one of them. The complex and dynamic nature of logistics, along with the reliance on many moving parts that can create bottlenecks at any point in the supply chain, make logistics a perfect case for big data. In case you are not familiar with the term…Big Data- It is essentially the ability to mine billions of data points to make better predictive decisions. Logistics- especially the 3 V’s of Velocity, Volume, and Variety has always been reliant on forecasts; if there is one thing we know about predictions about the future it is that they are always wrong. Supply chains have always been dependent on measuring statistics, point of sale data, and quantifiable performance indicators. Big Data is something else- it is driving the car more effectively with a better roadmap, rather than just a rear-view mirror.  Read More

Manufacturers and retailers used to value 3PLs for their physical assets.The very idea of outsourcing transportation and logistics functions evolved as all the elements of the supply chain became part of a single management perspective. Thirty years ago, pricing was king, contracts were short, and performance was measured in three-year bids. That has all changed. It seems like only yesterday when "3PL" was just a new acronym thrown about at industry conferences and logistics trade magazines to describe a different kind of transportation and warehousing company. Today, Spartan Logistics is appreciated more for our cerebral approach and adaptability to define your strategic direction and execute it. Let’s say you are the owner of, or you are responsible for, a company that sells or distributes footwear to a segment of the population. Before commiting, ask these five questions of a 3PL provider:  Read More

Topics: Common 3pl Questions

I have heard about the family logistics business for as long as I can remember. I've heard my parents and grandparents come home and talk about the latest successes or failures of the company. I never really understood what they were discussing and wasn't always interested at such a young age. All I cared about was sports and being outside with friends. My Summer Internship: My name is Nick Harmon and I will be a sophmore, majoring in Business at Mount Vernon Nazerene University in Mount Vernon, OH. This summer I was given the opportunity to intern at my family's business—Spartan Logistics in Columbus, OH. They are a third-party logistics (3PL) logistics company, family owned and operated since 1988. They've grown from a small, regional public warehouse and distribution provider, to a logistics company with 13 strategically placed locations throughout North America. Typical Responsibilities on the Job: Over the summer, I was tasked with working on financial projection spreadsheet projects, assisting in marketing functions, and also hands-on experience in the warehouse. I accompanied my Grandfather on business trips and meetings. All of these opportunities have truly changed the way I view the business and the business world. It has made me appreciate how important the family business is to so many people, and has helped me gain insight into what a successful business should look like.  Read More

Topics: Logistics Internship