Apparel Logistics: Managing Truckload Transportation Costs
Scott Hothem • September 8, 2015
The women’s apparel sector alone was a $116.4 billion industry in 2013, up 4% from the previous year according . Although revenue across apparel categories is only expected to rise over the next decade, new consumer demands and increased competition is making it more challenging for apparel companies to increase profit margins.
A key contributor to these new obstacles is the explosion of e-commerce platforms. Online clothing sales exceeded $44 billion in 2014 and are projected to . A major element of the supply chain that can address budget strains and help streamline costs is transportation. Here are three keys for managing truckload transportation costs:
Isolate Transportation Costs
This is often easier said than done. As fulfillment processes become more complex, the actual cost of transportation can be difficult to identify. Shippers are often forced to revisit contract terms and look for cost-effective solutions. Looking across all of your transportation partners and options and how they fit in with your overall strategy can help to identify key differentiators and advantages that can positively impact your business.
Consider Every Transportation Variable
Every step of the transportation process from how an item enters the distribution center to how it is picked, packed, packaged, put on pallets and loaded can have a drastic impact on your transportation costs. Then beyond the doors of the warehouse factors such as carrier availability, customer requirements and the actual transit logistics need to be negotiated to create a streamlined transportation operation. The ability to optimize these variables, at least the controllable ones, will go a long way in trimming costs and expanding your existing resources.
Leverage Technology
Much like in every other facet of life today, technology is making things faster and easier than ever before. In terms of transportation this comes in the form of the TMS, or transportation management system. With the growth of cloud technology, TMS software is now becoming more advanced and affordable than ever. Updates and maintenance are no longer a burden and visibility all across the entire transportation operation is stronger than ever.
While these are only a few areas where apparel truckload transportation can be enhanced, it is important to realize that the opportunity to make improvements exists. As consumers continue to have more options and the ability to place orders from anywhere to anywhere, supply chains will face new and greater challenges. To meet these challenges, Barrett Distribution Centers creates customized supply chain and transportation strategies to meet the needs of apparel manufacturers.
Recent Blog Posts
Offering two-day shipping starts with positioning inventory closer to your customers, optimizing your fulfillment operations, and partnering with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider that has a strategically located warehouse network. By reducing transit times and improving order processing, businesses can provide fast, reliable shipping without dramatically increasing costs. Key Takeaways Two-day shipping is achieved through strategic inventory placement, efficient fulfillment processes, and optimized transportation—not just faster carriers. A multi-location warehouse network helps position inventory closer to customers, reducing transit times and shipping costs. An experienced 3PL can provide the technology, infrastructure, and operational expertise needed to consistently meet two-day delivery expectations. Why Is Two-Day Shipping So Important? Fast shipping has become an expectation for today's consumers. Whether customers are shopping directly from a brand's website or through an online marketplace, delivery speed often influences purchasing decisions. Offering two-day shipping can improve customer satisfaction, increase conversion rates, and encourage repeat purchases. For businesses, it also creates a competitive advantage by meeting the service levels customers have come to expect from leading retailers. The challenge is delivering that speed without significantly increasing fulfillment and transportation costs. How Can Businesses Offer Two-Day Shipping? Many businesses assume they need to rely on expensive expedited shipping services to achieve two-day delivery. In reality, the most effective strategy is reducing the distance between inventory and customers. By storing products in strategically located fulfillment centers, businesses can use standard ground shipping to reach more customers within two days. This approach lowers transportation costs while maintaining fast delivery times. As order volumes grow, many companies expand from a single warehouse to a multi-node fulfillment strategy, positioning inventory in multiple regions to improve nationwide coverage. Does Warehouse Location Affect Delivery Speed? Absolutely. Warehouse location is one of the biggest factors influencing shipping speed. If inventory is stored hundreds or thousands of miles away from customers, even the most efficient fulfillment operation may struggle to achieve two-day delivery consistently. Strategically located warehouses allow businesses to shorten shipping distances and improve transit times using ground transportation. This not only supports faster deliveries but also helps reduce parcel shipping costs compared to relying on expedited air services. Barrett Distribution operates a nationwide fulfillment network with facilities in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Texas, and California, allowing businesses to position inventory closer to customers across the country. How Does a 3PL Support Two-Day Shipping? An experienced third-party logistics provider offers much more than warehouse space. A 3PL helps businesses improve fulfillment speed through optimized warehouse operations, scalable labor, advanced technology, and established carrier relationships. Instead of building this infrastructure internally, companies can leverage an experienced partner with proven processes already in place. Barrett Distribution supports both business-to-business retail distribution and direct-to-consumer ecommerce fulfillment through customized omnichannel solutions. Its nationwide warehouse network, transportation management capabilities, and customer-focused operations help businesses improve delivery performance while maintaining flexibility as demand grows. What Technology Helps Enable Two-Day Shipping? Fast shipping depends on accurate and efficient warehouse operations. Modern Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) help optimize receiving, inventory management, order processing, and picking workflows. Real-time inventory visibility allows businesses to fulfill orders from the most appropriate location while reducing delays caused by inventory discrepancies. Barrett utilizes a Tier 1 Warehouse Management System, transportation management software, and customer reporting tools that provide real-time visibility into inventory, orders, and fulfillment performance. These technologies help improve operational efficiency while supporting faster, more accurate order fulfillment. Is Two-Day Shipping Right for Every Business? Not every company needs to offer two-day shipping nationwide, but many can benefit from offering it in key regions where customer demand is highest. Businesses should evaluate factors such as customer locations, shipping volumes, product characteristics, and transportation costs when developing their fulfillment strategy. In many cases, strategically placing inventory in regional fulfillment centers provides the speed customers expect without dramatically increasing logistics expenses. Working with an experienced 3PL can help businesses determine the right warehouse locations and fulfillment model to balance cost, speed, and scalability. Frequently Asked Questions How do I offer two-day shipping? The most effective way to offer two-day shipping is by storing inventory closer to customers, optimizing warehouse operations, and partnering with a 3PL that has a strategically located fulfillment network. Do I need multiple warehouses for two-day shipping? Not always, but multiple warehouse locations can significantly improve delivery coverage by positioning inventory closer to regional customer bases. This often allows businesses to use ground shipping instead of more expensive expedited services. Can a 3PL help me offer two-day shipping? Yes. An experienced third-party logistics provider can provide warehouse space, fulfillment technology, transportation expertise, and a strategically located distribution network to support two-day delivery goals. How does Barrett Distribution support fast shipping? Barrett Distribution operates a nationwide network of fulfillment centers and utilizes advanced warehouse and transportation technology to support efficient omnichannel fulfillment. By strategically positioning inventory and optimizing warehouse operations, Barrett helps businesses improve delivery performance while maintaining high service levels.
Lot tracking in warehousing is the process of assigning and monitoring a unique lot or batch number for groups of products throughout the supply chain. It helps businesses maintain inventory accuracy, improve product traceability, manage expiration dates, and quickly identify affected inventory if a recall occurs. Key Takeaways Lot tracking allows businesses to trace products from receipt through fulfillment using unique batch or lot numbers. It improves inventory accuracy, supports product recalls, and helps businesses manage expiration dates and regulatory requirements. An experienced 3PL with advanced warehouse technology can simplify lot-controlled inventory management while improving visibility across the supply chain. Why Is Lot Tracking Important in Warehousing? For many industries, knowing exactly where inventory came from and where it was shipped isn't just a best practice—it's a business requirement. Lot tracking gives businesses complete visibility into specific groups of products as they move through the warehouse. Instead of treating inventory as identical units, products are tracked by their assigned lot or batch number, making it easier to identify when they were received, where they're stored, and which customers received them. This level of traceability is especially valuable for companies that manage products with expiration dates, shelf-life requirements, or strict quality standards. How Does Lot Tracking Work? When inventory arrives at a warehouse, each lot is recorded with its unique identification number. Depending on the product, additional information—such as manufacturing dates, expiration dates, or supplier details—may also be captured. As inventory moves through receiving, storage, picking, and shipping, the warehouse management system maintains the connection between each product and its assigned lot number. This creates a complete record of inventory movement throughout the fulfillment process. If a quality issue or product recall occurs, businesses can quickly identify which inventory is affected rather than placing every unit on hold. Which Industries Benefit Most from Lot Tracking? Lot tracking is particularly important for businesses that distribute regulated or date-sensitive products. Industries that commonly rely on lot-controlled inventory include: Food and beverage Consumer packaged goods (CPG) Health and beauty Nutritional supplements Medical devices Pharmaceuticals Pet food For these businesses, lot tracking supports inventory accuracy while helping ensure products are shipped according to customer and regulatory requirements. How Does Lot Tracking Improve Inventory Management? Lot tracking provides greater control over inventory by giving warehouse teams detailed visibility into product movement and availability. For products with expiration dates, warehouses can follow inventory rotation methods such as First Expired, First Out (FEFO), helping ensure older inventory ships before newer inventory when appropriate. This reduces spoilage, minimizes waste, and improves inventory utilization. Businesses also gain more accurate inventory records, making forecasting, replenishment, and quality management easier. How Does Warehouse Technology Support Lot Tracking? Managing lot-controlled inventory manually can quickly become complex, especially as product volumes increase. Modern Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) automate much of the lot tracking process by recording lot numbers during receiving, maintaining traceability throughout storage and fulfillment, and providing real-time inventory visibility. Barrett Distribution utilizes a Tier 1 Warehouse Management System that supports advanced inventory management and real-time visibility across warehouse operations. The company's technology platform, customer dashboards, and reporting tools help customers monitor inventory and fulfillment performance with greater accuracy. This technology helps businesses manage lot-controlled inventory more efficiently while reducing the risk of manual errors. Can a 3PL Help Manage Lot-Controlled Inventory? Yes. An experienced third-party logistics (3PL) provider can simplify the complexities of lot tracking by combining technology with standardized warehouse processes. Barrett Distribution supports customers with sophisticated inventory control capabilities, including lot and expiration date management for products that require enhanced traceability. These capabilities are particularly important for industries such as food and beverage, where inventory accuracy and product quality are critical. By partnering with a 3PL that has experience managing lot-controlled inventory, businesses can improve operational efficiency while maintaining confidence in their inventory data. Is Lot Tracking Right for Your Business? If your products have expiration dates, are subject to regulatory requirements, or require detailed traceability, lot tracking should be an essential part of your warehouse strategy. Even businesses outside highly regulated industries can benefit from improved inventory visibility and stronger quality control. As supply chains become more complex, having the ability to quickly trace products throughout the fulfillment process helps reduce risk, improve customer service, and support long-term operational success. Whether you're shipping food products, cosmetics, consumer packaged goods, or other lot-controlled inventory, working with an experienced logistics partner can help ensure your warehouse processes are built for accuracy and scalability. Frequently Asked Questions What is lot tracking in warehousing? Lot tracking is the process of assigning and tracking unique lot or batch numbers for groups of products throughout receiving, storage, and fulfillment. It provides complete product traceability and improves inventory management. Why is lot tracking important? Lot tracking helps businesses improve inventory accuracy, manage expiration dates, support product recalls, and comply with industry regulations while maintaining better visibility across the supply chain. What industries use lot tracking? Industries including food and beverage, consumer packaged goods (CPG), health and beauty, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, and pet food commonly use lot tracking to manage inventory and maintain product traceability. Can a 3PL manage lot-controlled inventory? Yes. Experienced third-party logistics providers, including Barrett Distribution, use advanced warehouse technology and standardized processes to manage lot-controlled inventory, including lot and expiration date tracking for customers that require enhanced inventory visibility.
Yes. Outsourcing fulfillment to an experienced third-party logistics (3PL) provider can significantly improve order accuracy by combining standardized warehouse processes, advanced technology, trained fulfillment teams, and continuous quality control. The result is fewer shipping errors, improved customer satisfaction, and a more efficient supply chain. Key Takeaways Experienced 3PLs use proven processes and warehouse technology to reduce picking, packing, and shipping errors. Improved order accuracy leads to fewer returns, lower operational costs, and a better customer experience. Outsourcing fulfillment allows businesses to scale efficiently while maintaining consistent service levels. Why Does Order Accuracy Matter? Order accuracy is one of the most important performance metrics in fulfillment. Every order that arrives complete, on time, and with the correct products reinforces customer trust. Conversely, shipping the wrong item, missing products, or incorrect quantities can quickly lead to returns, replacement shipments, negative reviews, and lost revenue. As businesses grow, maintaining high order accuracy becomes increasingly challenging. More SKUs, additional sales channels, and higher order volumes introduce complexity that can strain internal operations if the right systems and processes aren't in place. That's why many growing brands turn to third-party logistics providers to help improve fulfillment performance. How Can Outsourcing Fulfillment Improve Order Accuracy? A reputable 3PL is built around fulfillment excellence. Rather than relying on manual processes or inconsistent workflows, experienced providers use standardized operating procedures designed to ensure every order is picked, packed, and shipped accurately. From receiving inventory to final shipment, each step follows established quality controls that reduce the likelihood of errors. Dedicated warehouse teams receive ongoing training and follow repeatable processes that promote consistency regardless of seasonal demand or order volume. For businesses that have outgrown their in-house fulfillment operations, these established processes can make an immediate difference in order accuracy. What Role Does Warehouse Technology Play? Technology is one of the biggest advantages an experienced fulfillment partner can offer. Modern Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) help guide warehouse associates through each step of the fulfillment process while maintaining real-time inventory visibility. Barcode scanning verifies products during picking and packing, reducing the risk of incorrect shipments and inventory discrepancies. Barrett Distribution utilizes a Tier 1 Warehouse Management System, transportation management software, customer dashboards, and embedded analytics to provide customers with real-time visibility into inventory, orders, and operational performance. These technology investments help improve inventory accuracy while giving customers greater visibility into their supply chain. How Do Standardized Processes Reduce Fulfillment Errors? Consistent processes are just as important as technology. Leading 3PLs establish standardized procedures for receiving inventory, putaway, order picking, packing, quality inspections, and shipping. These workflows reduce variability across warehouse operations and help ensure every order is processed according to the same quality standards. Many providers also monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify trends, measure accuracy, and continuously improve operations over time. This disciplined approach helps maintain reliable fulfillment performance even during peak seasons or periods of rapid growth. Can Outsourcing Help Businesses Scale Without Sacrificing Accuracy? One of the biggest challenges for growing businesses is maintaining service quality while increasing order volume. As new products, customers, and sales channels are added, internal fulfillment operations can become stretched. Hiring additional warehouse staff, implementing new technology, and expanding warehouse space often require significant investment and operational expertise. Partnering with a 3PL provides access to scalable warehouse capacity, experienced operations teams, and proven fulfillment processes that allow businesses to grow without compromising order accuracy. Instead of building logistics infrastructure internally, companies can focus on product development, sales, and customer relationships while their fulfillment partner manages day-to-day warehouse operations. Why Choose an Experienced 3PL? Not all fulfillment providers offer the same level of expertise. When evaluating a 3PL, businesses should look for a partner with a proven track record, advanced warehouse technology, quality management programs, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Since 1941, Barrett Distribution has provided customized third-party logistics services for companies across industries including consumer products, apparel, health and beauty, food and beverage, retail, and ecommerce. Barrett supports omnichannel fulfillment through standardized warehouse processes, advanced technology, dedicated account management, and continuous improvement initiatives designed to deliver reliable operational performance. Choosing an experienced logistics partner can help businesses improve order accuracy today while creating a stronger foundation for future growth. Is Outsourcing Fulfillment the Right Choice? If your business is experiencing increasing order volumes, recurring fulfillment errors, or difficulty maintaining service levels, outsourcing fulfillment may be the right next step. An experienced 3PL provides the people, processes, and technology needed to improve order accuracy while creating a more scalable and efficient supply chain. By reducing errors and improving consistency, businesses can lower operational costs, strengthen customer relationships, and focus on long-term growth. Frequently Asked Questions Can outsourcing fulfillment improve order accuracy? Yes. Experienced 3PL providers improve order accuracy through standardized warehouse processes, advanced technology, trained fulfillment teams, and ongoing quality control. How does a Warehouse Management System improve fulfillment accuracy? A Warehouse Management System provides real-time inventory visibility, guides warehouse associates through standardized workflows, and uses barcode scanning to verify products throughout the fulfillment process. Why do businesses outsource fulfillment? Businesses outsource fulfillment to improve operational efficiency, reduce fulfillment errors, lower logistics costs, gain access to specialized technology, and scale without investing in additional warehouse infrastructure. 锘� How does Barrett Distribution help improve fulfillment accuracy? Barrett Distribution combines Tier 1 warehouse technology, standardized operational processes, quality management programs, and continuous improvement initiatives to support accurate omnichannel fulfillment for both retail and direct-to-consumer customers.
