Freightquote by C.H. Robinson Blog

As the second half of 2015 comes to an end, shippers and carriers alike are planning for the new year. Let's take a look back to prepare for what's ahead. This helps us understand what has happened and gauge the next market patterns - similar to what we did in the first part of the year.

Concern over the well-being of truck drivers and the safety of all who share the road has played a part in a federal mandate that will lead to the replacement of driver logbooks with a digital counterpart.

Temperature controlled shipping, in the most basic terms, is the transport of goods that are sensitive to climate conditions. You want your produce fresh, your flowers blooming and your chocolate only melting in your mouth, right? Those items require special handling and storage during transport to maintain stable temperatures from dock to dock. 

The electronic logging device (ELD) mandate has been all over trucking industry news. The mandate is expected to make big waves, affecting 3 million commercial vehicle drivers, according to the FMCSA.

We'll get to truckload shipping, but first, let's talk about chili. Talk to fans of the cold weather staple that ranges from bland and beany to meaty, melt-your-face spicy and you'll get a different recipe from each for an award-winning, best-ever chili. It's up to you to find the one that delights your taste buds - and that's often a combination of different techniques.

When manufacturers are tasked with building or choosing a warehouse, there is a laundry list of items to consider such as location, storage requirements and much more. Failure to factor freight shipping into this equation may cost manufacturers additional time and money.

Intermodal shipments have been growing steadily over the past few years and continued growth is expected. In fact, the Intermodal Association of North America expects 3 to 4 percent growth for total intermodal volume in 2016.

Location, dimensions and weight, shipping mode and freight type are the main components that impact freight shipping rates. While the freight shipping process involves many facets, thorough research and planning can better position you to find the most competitive rates.

The possibilities abound with the internet and all of its resources, especially when it comes to freight shipping. While resources are meant to help you, sometimes it's hard to maneuver through the somewhat overwhelming amount of online assets.