Six Strategies for Getting the Most out of Your Expedited Logistics

adam • August 18, 2023

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When time is ticking on delivering your goods, enter expedited logistics to make meeting last-minute deadlines possible. This proven solution has become a go-to delivery option for major industries, including food and drink, e-commerce and retail, and shipping


It is the quickest delivery service available, and with the benefit of covering almost anywhere, combined with real-time tracking capabilities, you get complete visibility and control over expedited logistics freight movements. This means your deliveries arrive on time, every time.


When you're contending with the complexities and unpredictability of modern supply chains, expedited logistics is the smart solution for dealing with unexpected challenges. Plus, it can play a crucial role in your broader logistics strategy. 


To expedite logistics effectively and to know when to use it, careful planning and fine-tuning are needed to get the best out of it. Here are six strategies to help you do just that:


Strategy 1: Know Your Needs

When considering expedited logistics, the starting point should be an evaluation of your specific shipping requirements. There's a lot to consider:


  • What type of goods are you shipping? 
  • Are they perishable, fragile, hazardous, or valuable? 
  • What is the final destination of your shipments?
  • How quickly do they need to be delivered?


This is 'need to know' information to help you identify critical shipments that require expedited logistics. Plus, ask yourself, what is the risk of opting not to expedite logistics for specific shipments?


For example, let's say you're a shipper facing a
last-minute delivery over a long distance. If you use traditional trucking, you run the risk of longer transit times and missing the deadline. This scenario calls for expedited logistics.


If you transport perishable goods, like food, where the stakes are high for
maintaining food safety and freshness during transit, you would need reefer trucking to expedite logistics.


When planning expedited shipments, you should leverage data to forecast demand. Gather relevant historical data on your shipments, like order volumes, delivery times, locations, and other relevant information. This will enable you to accurately forecast demand and optimize your logistics operation to manage expedited shipments.


Strategy 2: Trust the Experts

Partnering with an expedited logistics provider will prove to be decisive for your business. However, what you want is a company that's more than a provider, be on the lookout for a strategic partner like Entourage Freight Solutions (EFS).


A provider might merely quote you the best routes for expedited shipping;
a partner will service routes for you. Providers offer solutions, but partners offer and execute them. That's why reliability and experience are attributes you should be looking for when choosing an expedited trucking company.


Expedited shipping relies on many functions. That means you should prioritize a logistics partner that can offer: 


  • An extensive
    network of carriers that have been appropriately vetted.
  • End-to-end shipping visibility with 24-hour support.
  • A solid record of regulatory compliance.
  • A proven track record of on-time delivery.
  • Multiple services and equipment types.
  • Speed and flexibility.
  • Access to integrated technologies.


All these factors will give you the agility to anticipate and respond to changing supply chain conditions.


The right logistics partner will use a combination of experience and technology to give you value-added services like tracking, real-time updates, and dedicated customer support.


Strategy 3: Communication is Key

Clear communication is valuable to expedited logistics. According to Food Processing, food manufacturers consider communication the most critical factor when choosing an expedited carrier.


That's why you must establish solid communication channels between your business and logistics partner. Communication should be built on trust and reciprocity — it goes both ways.


Every detail matters when trying to get the most out of expedited logistics. Make it a culture to proactively share shipment details, deadlines, and special requirements for expedited logistics freight.


This will keep communication channels open throughout the shipping process and deal with any issues without delay.


Strategy 4: Optimized Logistics Requires Optimized Loading

A strategic and organized approach to loading and unloading goods can prevent delays in expedited logistics.


Efficient and effective loading all starts with optimizing your packing process. What you pack items in will determine how much space is used and affect load capacity. Getting the packaging wrong has a knock-on effect on loading, and suddenly delivery deadlines get even tighter.


Then there's the loading and unloading itself. Implementing efficient loading and unloading procedures that minimize handling time is important. 


A proven way to improve loading and unloading efficiency to make the most of expedited shipping is to use technology and automation. This will help optimize your loading and unloading times while preventing unnecessary delays. 


In fact, according to
Robotics and Automation, Automatic Truck Loading Systems (ATLS) can reduce loading and unloading times from 30 minutes or more to a matter of minutes.


Strategy 5: Safety First

Speed of delivery should not come at the expense of safety. The correct safety measures can enhance expedited logistics. For example, take securing cargo. If cargo isn't secured properly, delays will occur because of having to resecure shipments or, worse still, clear up any damage. The knock-on effect is lost profits and unhappy customers.


Failure to comply with safety regulations and industry standards will delay expedited logistics. There's nothing more frustrating than missing paperwork or unsafe goods making it onto trucks, which leads to compliance and safety issues.


It's also best to designate regulatory and compliance requirements to a team that can identify and resolve any issues ahead of shipping. This helps time be well-spent further along in the process.


Security is another crucial area that must be managed to prevent expedited logistics delays. Theft and unauthorized access can cause significant disruption to shipping schedules and will often result in missing deadlines. Not only can this result in lost profits, but it will also affect your reputation.


You must implement measures to safeguard against security threats. For example, you should choose secure shipping routes, use container security devices and tracking systems, and even train your staff to help spot signs of tampering or theft.


Anything that helps to minimize the risk of damage, theft, and delays will maximize favorable outcomes in expedited logistics.


Strategy 6: Top-Tier Performance Requires Top-Tier Technology

A combination of industry experience and technology powers the very best expedited logistics. The easiest way for your business to get the best of both is via a logistics partner like EFS. 


Your business gets the benefit of experience and access to advanced technology without the associated costs and disruption of overhauling your existing systems.


With the ability to monitor shipments in real-time using advanced tracking systems, every step of the expedited logistics process is visible. 


Your customers benefit from that same visibility, too. 


They experience the power of expedited logistics through real-time status updates that integrated technology can offer. This means they know exactly when they will receive their shipments.


Plus, there's the bonus of technology gathering essential data to help you optimize delivery routes, maintain safety and security, and more, all of which helps to eliminate delays and ensure on-time delivery. 


Across every function of your logistics operation, the blend of professional experience and technology will help shape your business's future.


With the Right Data, Improvement is Inevitable 

The role of data visibility now matters more than ever, especially amid the complexities and challenges of the modern supply chain. This is true for expedited logistics. Thanks to integrated technologies, data is more readily accessible. But it's only by gathering the right data that you can improve your expedited logistics.


One essential data set you should focus on is customer and internal stakeholder feedback. Therefore, honest feedback should be encouraged to determine whether you are making the most of expedited logistics. Your customers and internal stakeholders are the people experiencing the service first-hand.


Their feedback is crucial to identifying issues and fine-tuning your expedited logistics strategy.


Equally, you should analyze key performance metrics to identify where you can enhance areas. The details and metrics really do matter when it comes to minimizing delays, cutting costs, and maximizing the full availability of your logistics network.


To ensure that the right data is gathered and used effectively, implement a culture of continuous improvement. This stops your expedited logistics strategy from becoming stagnant while providing a roadmap for the future of your business.


Sustainable Expedited Logistics Starts Here

Armed with these six strategies, the experience of professionals like EFS, and integrated technologies, you're equipped to shape an expedited logistics strategy that's manageable and sustainable. 


Offering 24/7 solutions proven to deliver outstanding customer service, you can access a wide selection of expedited trucking services, including
full and less-than-truckload deliveries, refrigerated transportation, special projects, and more.


With the rise in foodservice subscriptions, meal kits, and same-day delivery for goods, Entourage Freight Solutions doubled down on traceability and instant access to capacity through
expedited shipment services. We leverage our expertise and resources to find your capacity when you need it most.


Request a freight quote today
and delight your customers with a new level of expedited logistics that goes the distance.

By Nick Terry April 28, 2025
In 2025, trade policy is no longer something that the freight industry can leave on the back burner. Trade policy today is shaping strategy at every level. From tariff escalations and retaliatory duties to sweeping regulatory changes and targeted maritime fees, supply chain leaders are navigating a freight market in which unpredictability is the only constant. Sourcing decisions are shifting, pricing dynamics are unstable, and long-standing operational models are being rewritten in real time. This edition brings together key stories highlighting the growing pressure across logistics channels. Each development points to an industry moving fast, and often reactively, to keep pace with volatile policy decisions. Tariffs Stall US Freight Recovery as Shippers Pause Orders The recent move by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to impose entrance fees on Chinese-built ships calling U.S. ports has only added to the confusion and uncertainty gripping global supply chains and freight operations. Shippers are pausing plans and slashing orders, with truckload volumes, containerized imports, and manufacturing output all showing signs of contraction. Ocean freight spot rates have collapsed: Asia-U.S. West Coast rates have fallen 61% since January to $2,050 per FEU, while East Coast rates have dropped 53.7% to $3,100 per FEU . Blank sailings are rising, with vessels leaving Asia half-empty. Amazon and Five Below are among the major retailers reducing orders from Asia. Container imports jumped 15.3% in 2024, but forecasts now predict a 20-27% decline through the summer. Exporters, particularly agriculture and forestry suppliers, are also squeezed, facing 125% retaliatory tariffs from China. Truckload and intermodal rates remain stagnant, while U.S. factory output fell sharply in March. US Apparel Importers Brace for Long-Term Volume Declines According to Trade Partnership Worldwide, a 124.1% tariff on Chinese clothing and footwear is expected to reduce U.S. apparel imports by 1.6% annually . China still accounts for 41.7% of apparel shipments, leaving limited flexibility for diversion. The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) is warning of price hikes and mounting infrastructure stress as sourcing pivots toward Vietnam, India, and Indonesia. A looming May 2 deadline for de minimis exemptions could further complicate flows and delay deliveries. Even with a temporary 90-day pause in reciprocal tariffs, the policy uncertainty already affects long-term planning. AAFA CEO Steve Lamar calls the shifting policies “chaotic,” and warned that high tariff pressure will hit both importers and U.S. manufacturers reliant on Chinese components. Port and rail capacity limitations at larger gateways are adding to concerns. Retailers now face rising costs, shrinking margins, and operational delays — all while consumer demand continues to shift rapidly. Freight Pricing Gains Lose Momentum According to the TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index, Q1 truckload rates rose 5.9% above the 2018 baseline, but are expected to decline slightly in Q2. Shippers are responding to tariff threats with aggressive front-loading and shorter-haul routes, driving per-shipment costs to three-year lows. LTL carriers remain focused on profitable lanes and high-quality freight rather than chasing volume. The index forecasts a 0.7% year-over-year increase in LTL rate per pound for Q2 , despite sustained demand softness and macro uncertainty. A key driver behind the softening spot market conditions is a shift to shorter hauls and regionalized distribution, pushing per-shipment costs to their lowest point in more than three years. This trend reflects how retailers and manufacturers are repositioning inventory in response to tariff volatility, as NRF’s Jonathan Gold and DAT analyst Dean Croke noted. Meanwhile, the LTL sector is seeing a 4% rise in fuel surcharges, offsetting lower weights and shorter hauls. With the freight market still under pressure after 26 months of contraction, optimism remains subdued as we enter the midyear period. US Truckload Freight Spot Rates Continue to Fluctuate National benchmark rates have experienced a decline across all categories. As of April 18, dry van decreased by 4 cents to $1.62, reefer by 2 cents to $1.88 , and flatbed by 3 cents to $2.16. This marked the first overall decrease since late January, signaling potential shifts in market dynamics. These changes can be attributed to factors such as tariff uncertainties and tighter capacity, especially affecting the flatbed market. Flatbed rates rely heavily on manufacturing activity in the country, which has been particularly hard-hit by the ongoing trade war with China, and to some extent, with the rest of the world. US Finalizes Tiered Fee Plan Targeting Chinese Ships The U.S. is moving forward with a revised plan to levy voyage-based fees on Chinese-owned and Chinese-built ships calling at American ports. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the measure as part of a broader Trump administration effort to counter China’s dominance in shipbuilding and logistics while reigniting domestic ship construction and port infrastructure investment. Starting in six months, Chinese operators will be charged $50 per net ton, with an annual increase of $30 for three years . Non-Chinese carriers using Chinese-built vessels will face lower rates, beginning at $18 per ton or $120 per container, with annual increases. The USTR capped fee applications at five voyages per vessel annually, scaling back its original, more punitive per-port-call proposal after intense industry pushback. The fees are tied to findings from a USTR investigation, which concluded that China’s shipbuilding dominance — producing 29% of global fleet capacity and 70% of all container ships on order — stemmed from unfair trade practices. Exemptions apply to ships arriving empty, those in the Great Lakes or U.S. territories, and some bulk exports. LNG vessel transport restrictions will phase in over 22 years to support U.S. production. China’s largest container carrier, Cosco Shipping Lines, has sharply criticized the USTR’s plan. In a strongly worded statement, Cosco labeled the move as “discriminatory,” and warned it would disrupt global industrial and supply chain stability. Cosco denied allegations from that USTR investigation that claimed China manipulated its shipping and shipbuilding sectors to gain an unfair advantage. The carrier said it upholds “integrity, transparency, and compliance” in global competition and remains committed to ensuring the resilience of international trade. Walmart Investing $6B in Mexico, Central America Store Expansion Walmart of Mexico and Central America will invest $6 billion to open new stores across the region , reinforcing its long-term commitment to growth in Latin America. The expansion will include Bodega Aurrera, Walmart Supercenters, Sam’s Club, and Walmart Express formats, building on a robust network of 3,200 stores across all 32 Mexican states. This latest move echoes Walmart’s earlier $1.3 billion investment in 2016 for regional distribution and operational upgrades. The retailer entered the Mexican market in 1991 with a Sam’s Club in Mexico City. In a statement, Walmart said the new expansion reflects confidence in the region’s economic potential and consumer demand. Globally, Walmart continues to invest aggressively in infrastructure and store development. The company has pledged about $4.5 billion for its Canadian operations and $1.3 billion in Chile to build 70 new stores and a distribution center. In the U.S., Walmart is executing a five-year plan to build or convert more than 150 stores while modernizing 650 existing locations under its “Store of the Future” initiative. Experience Seamless Shipping with Entourage Freight Solutions Entourage Freight Solutions believes in total transparency in the shipping process. That is why we invest in tech solutions that track every shipment extensively, monitor every driver, and extract every bit of efficiency without sacrificing quality. Our state-of-the-art platform utilizes cloud-based GPS tracking to keep you informed, reroutes shipments on the fly to avoid delays, and even responds to real-time market changes to ensure you receive your shipment on time and as soon as possible. Our Services Full Truck Load (FTL): When you need a truck all to yourself. Less-Than-Truckload (LTL): Efficient solutions for multi-stop shipments or combining smaller loads to save on costs. Refrigerated Trucking: Keeping your temperature-sensitive products fresh and safe. Cross-Docking: Strategically located facilities in Shelby, Ohio, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Romulus, Michigan, for streamlined consolidation, storage, and distribution. Ready to experience a new level of service and control in your freight shipping? Request a quote today to see how Entourage Freight Solutions can help with your freight movement and other supply chain needs.
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