Road Scholar | Transport Blog's

The freight shipping landscape is evolving, and businesses are under increasing pressure to optimize costs and efficiency while ensuring accuracy in billing and space utilization.  This is where dimensional freight shipping steps in—a game-changer for industries managing complex logistics.  Leveraging advanced tools and expertise, companies like Road Scholar Transport offer tailored solutions to navigate the nuances of dimensional freight, ensuring optimal results for shippers. What is Dimensional Freight Shipping? Dimensional freight shipping goes beyond simple weight-based pricing.  Instead, it incorporates the freight's dimensional weight (DIM weight)—a calculation that factors in the package’s size relative to its weight. DIM weight is used to reflect the space a shipment occupies in relation to the available capacity in a truck, ensuring carriers maximize vehicle utilization. How DIM Weight is Calculated: DIM Weight=Length×Width×Height/DIM Fact...

In a world driven by instant gratification and real-time supply chain demands, expedited shipping has become a cornerstone of logistics.   The ability to deliver time-sensitive freight quickly and efficiently offers a competitive edge for carriers and essential value for shippers across industries.   Road Scholar Transport, with its expertise in expedited and emergency shipping, is a prime example of how to navigate this dynamic landscape. What Is Expedited Shipping? Expedited shipping prioritizes speed, ensuring that freight reaches its destination faster than traditional delivery services.   This service often involves direct routes, team drivers, and specialized vehicles to reduce transit times. It is particularly critical for: Medical and Pharmaceutical Deliveries : Transporting life-saving medications or medical devices. Just-in-Time Manufacturing : Preventing production delays by quickly delivering essential parts. E-Commerce : Meeting th...

Transporting temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals poses unique challenges, especially during freezing conditions.   The stakes are high-failure to maintain proper temperatures can compromise drug efficacy, violate regulatory standards, and result in financial losses or reputational damage.   Below, we delve deeply into best practices, compliance requirements, and strategies for ensuring pharmaceutical shipments remain protected from freezing temperatures. Understanding GDP Standards and Regulatory Compliance Good Distribution Practice (GDP) standards set by regulatory authorities like the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) establish comprehensive guidelines for pharmaceutical logistics.   Key compliance elements include: Defined Temperature Ranges : For example, cold-chain pharmaceuticals typically require storage at 2–8°C.   Even short exposure to freezing temperatures can render some products ineffectiv...

New York City is expected to roll out its controversial congestion pricing program January 5, 2025, marking the first implementation of such a tolling system in the U.S. Modeled after international systems like those in London and Singapore, the program aims to alleviate traffic and fund mass transit upgrades.   However, the trucking industry has voiced strong concerns about the impact on supply chains, costs, and fairness. What is Congestion Pricing? The congestion pricing program will charge vehicles entering Manhattan’s Central Business District (below 60th Street) during peak hours.  Most vehicles equipped with E-ZPass will incur a $9 fee, while trucks will face a $21.60 toll, with even higher charges applied to vehicles without E-ZPass. While passenger cars receive discounted rates, commercial trucks will face steep charges each time they enter the zone, raising concerns about the cumulative financial burden on trucking operators. Industry Pushback The tru...

With the 2024 elections leading to a Republican victory across the executive and legislative branches, the trucking industry is poised for shifts in regulatory approaches, tax policies, and environmental mandates.   Industry groups, many of which have long advocated for trucking-friendly policies, are optimistic about the future, citing opportunities for lower costs and increased flexibility across operations.   Here are three significant areas where a Republican administration could bring impactful changes to the trucking industry.   1. Reduced Corporate and Truck Taxes The Republican stance on tax cuts is often seen as favorable for business, and a federal trifecta may lead to reduced corporate and truck-specific taxes.   Many Republican lawmakers have voiced support for extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which lowered the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%.   A Republican-controlled Congress could further decrease corporate taxes, potentially to as lo...

In a recent announcement, the FDA issued updates on exemptions from the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) final implementation deadline, extending compliance timelines for specific partners within the pharmaceutical industry.   This decision acknowledges the difficulties faced by some manufacturers and distributors in meeting the stringent traceability requirements, despite the Act being in place for over a decade.   The FDA aims to minimize potential disruptions in the pharmaceutical supply chain to ensure critical medications remain accessible to patients. Background of the DSCSA The DSCSA, enacted in November 2013, was established to enhance drug traceability within the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain.   By mandating unit-level serialization and visibility from manufacturers to dispensers, the DSCSA addresses issues of counterfeiting, contamination, and drug shortages.   Under this law, each pharmaceutical product moving through the supply chain must b...

The report quantifies the direct and indirect losses stemming from detention times, totaling billions in lost productivity and additional costs.   Fleets are charging detention fees, yet fewer than half are paid, indicating a widespread acceptance of unpaid wait times.   Additionally, the report uncovers that detained trucks are driven faster post-detention, and drivers are also speeding on routes known for detainment. Financial Impacts of Driver Detention ATRI's research reveals staggering numbers: the for-hire trucking sector alone lost over 135 million hours to detention in 2023, translating to $3.6 billion in direct expenses.   Not only does this amount to unpaid labor for drivers, but it also incurs operational costs for fleets, particularly when unplanned delays push delivery schedules or require last-minute rerouting.   Although 94.5% of fleets impose detention fees, fewer than half of these invoices are paid, which poses a severe cash flow problem and lea...