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Craters & Freighters has established itself as a leader in ensuring the safe transportation of valuable assets through superior crating and packing solutions. Their expertise ensures that each item, whether it's a sensitive server rack or an expensive aerospace component, reaches its destination in pristine condition. The company’s custom-designed crates are built to absorb shock and prevent damage, safeguarding assets and upholding the integrity of your brand. With a nationwide network of offices and a multitude of global resources, Craters & Freighters provides customers with specialty crating, packaging, and a seamless transportation process. This extensive infrastructure ensures that no matter where a client is based, their valuable items are handled with the utmost care and precision. Local representatives across the country take full responsibility for ensuring the safety of these items and are always available to address any questions or concerns. Finding a specialty crating, packing, and shipping company to handle custom jobs can be a significant task, but Craters & Freighters welcomes the challenge. Their teams are eager to develop the perfect solution for each unique need, demonstrating a commitment to overcoming any obstacles to achieve successful outcomes. Three Decades of Excellence For over 30 years, Craters & Freighters has been a trusted name in crating and shipping high-value assets. Their commitment to quality and precision has made them the go-to partner for industries ranging from Information Technology, Aerospace components, Medical equipment, heavy machinery and more. With more than 65 locations nationwide, Craters & Freighters offers the largest footprint among crating companies in the U.S., providing unparalleled reach and accessibility. Tailored Solutions for Diverse Industries Craters & Freighters serves a wide range of commercial businesses, offering specialized services that meet the unique needs of each industry. Their extensive network allows them to deliver customized solutions efficiently, leveraging their local presence and national strength to meet diverse client demands seamlessly. “It doesn’t matter where our client is based; we have the infrastructure and capabilities to fulfill their requirements,” says Matthew Schmitz, CEO of Craters & Freighters. Engineering Excellence at Their Core The in-house engineering team at Craters & Freighters is at the heart of their operations, specializing in high-end, customized crates. Engineering is crucial in the custom crating and packing industry, where precision and attention to detail are paramount. The process starts with a detailed analysis of client product drawings, utilizing advanced 3D modeling to understand critical factors such as weight distribution, material composition, and sensitivity. This comprehensive analysis ensures every aspect of the item is considered, leading to custom solutions tailored to each client’s unique requirements. State-of-the-art equipment, including CNC panel saws and automatic feeder-up-cut saws, ensures precision and consistency in every crate built. The integration of advanced technology facilitates complex crate designs, enhancing the protective capabilities with innovative materials and techniques such as anti-static foams, moisture-vapor-proof barriers, and reinforced structures.
Direct Connect Transport is a name tied to opportunities and new possibilities for companies seeking to dominate product distribution. Whether clients need to manage complex supply chains or streamline transportation and distribution, it is a guiding compass that helps businesses reach their destinations. The trusted third-party logistics company offers the ultimate solution for businesses of all sizes. Recognizing the dearth of quality carriers, Direct Connect Transport has built a database of over 30,000 carriers across the U.S. and Canada to help customers address this issue. It works diligently with national carriers to obtain excellent discounts on freight while assisting clients in moving their products faster at a more competitive cost. The direct connectivity for freight transportation allows clients to transport products, ranging from a single pallet to heavy equipment weighing up to 200,000 pounds. Expertise spans open deck freight, van freight, and heavy hauls and provides less-than-truckload (LTL) services. It also extends its services to cover ocean and rail freight transportation. Clients benefit from a complete array of options that cater to their specific transportation requirements, whether a small shipment or a large one. Direct Connect Transport’s team of seasoned professionals possesses years of combined market experience, enabling it to provide exceptional services at an affordable price. Direct Connect Transport is a name tied to opportunities and new possibilities for companies seeking to dominate product distribution. Whether clients need to manage complex supply chains or streamline transportation and distribution, it is a guiding compass that helps businesses reach their destinations.
Let’s be clear about something: freight brokerage is a service business. Not a product. Not technology. But a service. And as a B2B service, what customers are looking for first and foremost is a tripod of (1) service quality (what in other industries is governed by a written SLA - Service Level Agreement), (2) customer experience and (3) price. This won’t change anytime soon, and it probably shouldn’t. These 3 items are table stakes: deliver on your promises (pickup/deliver on time), provide easy, frequent communication and offer a competitive price. Loadsmart invests a lot of time and effort to deliver on these three areas -- and will keep doing so to meet our customer expectations. But we believe we can do more. Not only providing these 3 main and important priorities, but more. We believe our technology is the incremental value-add proposition that sets us apart. Loadsmart was the first to introduce instant FTL pricing and booking to the US market, and then expanded that into API pricing directly into our shipper’s TMS. Why does that matter? Because for spot shipments, shippers receive an automatic price for every single load they need to move, without the manual processes. We believe in a few years, spot transactions - at least on the enterprise side - will be done 100% via APIs, with zero email/calls for quote discovery and tender bookings. On this journey we discovered that, although we were providing prices automatically and instantaneously for every load, transportation planners were checking those prices manually to know if they were good or bad rates.
Greg Javor, SVP, Global Supply Chain Operations, Mattel
Joe Mare,CSCP, Sr. Manager of Logistics, Kem Krest
Monica Hayden, Senior Transportation Manager at DCL Logistics
Navigating the Future of Specialty Packaging and Shipping Services
In today's dynamic and fast-paced marketplace, the specialty packaging and shipping industry stands at the intersection of innovation and necessity. The demand for customized, efficient, and sustainable packaging solutions has never been higher, driven by the exponential growth of e-commerce, the rise of direct-to-consumer brands, and an increasing awareness of environmental impact. As companies vie for consumer attention and loyalty, specialty packaging and shipping services are evolving to meet and exceed these expectations. One of the most significant trends reshaping the industry is the adoption of advanced materials and sustainable practices. Biodegradable and recyclable materials are becoming standard, reflecting a broader shift towards ecofriendly solutions. Companies are investing in research and development to create packaging that not only protects products during transit but also reduces the carbon footprint. Innovative designs are also gaining traction. Customization is key, with brands seeking unique packaging that enhances the unboxing experience and reinforces brand identity. Smart packaging, which incorporates technology such as QR codes and NFC tags, is on the rise, offering consumers interactive experiences and providing companies with valuable data insights. Despite these advancements, the specialty packaging and shipping industry faces several challenges. The ongoing global supply chain disruptions have highlighted the need for greater resilience and adaptability. Companies are reevaluating their supply chain strategies, diversifying suppliers, and investing in local manufacturing to mitigate risks. The future of specialty packaging and shipping services lies in continuous innovation and adaptability. Companies must stay ahead of trends and anticipate consumer needs while remaining committed to sustainability. Strategic partnerships and investments in technology will be essential in driving progress and maintaining a competitive edge. In this edition, we have featured Craters & Freighters. With a nationwide network of offices and a multitude of global resources, the company provides customers with specialty crating, packaging, and a seamless transportation process.