About LEL > Leading Edge Logistics' DNA



What Third Party Logistics Should Be


Leading Edge Logistics is and will always remain a non-asset based company that provides for its customers Third Party Logistics, and Project Transportation Management services. The company operates in the logistics segment of supply chain management focusing primarily on transportation and distribution of manufactured product to or from all parts of the world. We utilize all modes of transporting, storing and adding value to our customers’ product from a diverse group of (primarily) asset based service providers whom the company maintains relationships with.

We focus our service offering on small and midsize manufacturing and distribution companies primarily in North America, although we do not limit ourselves to borders.

The service methodology that we employ provides our customers logistics resource in the form of people, process and technology i.e. dedicated customer teams to manage the movement of goods on behalf of the customer utilizing pre-selected asset based service providers governed by definitive pricing and a Service Standard Procedure of Operation, that is derived by thorough analysis of our customers historical shipment experience.

The Leading Edge Logistics operating methodology provides our customer the ability to move as much product as needed via “One Call” or one method of communicating the need to ship. We balance the service we provide with a high level of technology in the form of robust TMS for efficient shipment management and optimization, Web Tracking that provides real time visibility to all shipments, and a PO Portal that enables customers and their vendors to create and communicate ship requests to the Account Teams.

Our mission is to provide our customer end to end logistics resource that increases the efficiency of our customers supply chain regardless of mode. This includes providing our customer customized shipment management and cost reports, managing claims, customized billing; and logistics modeling.

The Leading Edge Logistics business model does not charge fees. As a Performance Based Logistics Company, Leading Edge Logistics employs a strategy of Risk Transference. Leading Edge Logistics may be the only 3PL that accepts risk on behalf of its customers via providing definitive pricing thereby delivering our customer a guarantee in cost reduction. This business model underscores our position as an internal resource to our customer as opposed to an outsource relationship.

A successful Leading Edge Logistics customer relationship begins with the strategic decision maker (usually the CEO/COO or CFO) who understands and champions the project. Today's increasingly complex and dynamic supply chains are challenging to manage in nearly every industry. Fueled by global competition, commoditization of products as well as changing market dynamics, supply chain managers and executives are seeking new solutions that better position their organizations for market share retention as well as future growth. The challenge of a company like ours is to effectively communicate that need to our prospect in a way that they see the need to affect a strategy that can provide positive results. Leading Edge provides the strategy as well as executes the plan in conjunction with the customer’s internal team. However, it starts with the strategy. Typically the Logistics Manager or in some cases Purchasing Manager is involved at the strategic level and ultimately is the person that we work with day to day. This person is integral to the success of the project.


Why Employ a 3PL


The decision to employ a 3PL is a strategic decision, usually driven by the need to reduce cost, or gain value in other areas of the logistics supply chain. For example in the case of one customer, the opportunity for cost reduction came through optimization of its shipments. In another case it came through modeling and re-engineering its distribution network, and in a third it came through leveraging our buying power. In each case, our customer achieved cost reduction, and improved level of service and has increased visibility on its shipments.

In today’s Logistics market, the term Third Party almost seems as though the logistics company bears no responsibility for the result or success of the customer. They charge fee’s and expenses for value added services and bear little if any responsibility for things like shipper and vendor compliance, carrier performance or commitment to price. The Leading Edge Logistic business model and value proposition places us in an area where we accept responsibility. Therefore the expectation of service levels we provide for our customers increases beyond the point of what they would expect internally. Leading Edge Logistics brings visibility to customer’s supply chains well in excess of what the customer ever saw or knew before. Some would think that this is a blessing and a curse, but in fact it is a plus. By bringing visibility to all the good and bad, the Leading Edge Logistics business model (if partnered correctly with our customer) enhances our customers business by reducing cost and increasing efficiency well beyond what the customer could see internally.


Service Offering


In order to be successful our company must maintain excellence in the following areas:

  • • Logistics Service of every type regardless of mode
  • • Reporting- Static and dynamic
  • • Tracking and visibility of all shipments in transit
  • • Communication
  • • Optimization and technology enhancements for our customers

Furthermore, we must be able to dynamically provide 3PL Service- Specialized Transportation- International Logistics Service and Transactional TL and LTL Service to and from all points in the world at a service standard that meets our customers expectations from both a price and delivery perspective. It is incumbent on our General Operations Managers working in lockstep with our Customer Relations and VAST Department to communicate the need and to execute at a high level.

This is the value of what a Third Party Logistics Company should be a true resource as opposed to an outsource. We must effective communicate the difference to the market niche that we serve, the customer values and relationships we strive for.

Technology, high level reporting, relationship management, customer service, and continuing to seek ways of improving and delivering freight in a more efficient manner is what Performance Based Logistics is all about. The Leading Edge Logistics Way!