Ultimately it is the service that we provide that gives us this advantage.  Our relentless approach to ensuring that all planned activities occur provides our customer the guarantee that their cost will be reduced.

We believe that without the proper technology a logistics company cannot successfully service its customer base.  Considering the state of the trucking industry, there is only so much you can do from a rate perspective.  Carriers need to make money and they are highly valued by our company.  Leading Edge has made a significant investment into this area both from a Transportation management and a logistics modeling perspective.

LEL provides the power of i2 Supply Chain Software.  i2 is the most advanced supply chain software available, providing for tremendous optimization potential which results in cost elimination for our customers.  In one such case, we are able to reduce 9% of our customer’s shipments per month via this technology.

In addition, we have invested in leadingedgelogistics.com as an on-line track trace tool for our customers.

All of our customers’ logistics dynamics require high levels of service.  Our customers are manufacturers and distributors of products that cover virtually all SIC Codes.  Time sensitive/freight sensitive freight is our core competency.  Leading Edge Logistics manages numerous projects. We have extensive experience in deliveries of Specialized product to job sites, across border shipments- lean manufacturing programs and freight that is non typical via a dedicated staff that is committed to service excellence.

Leading Edge Logistics is a Performance Based company.  Our Risk Transference Strategy is what sets us apart from the industry.  LEL positions itself as a resource as opposed to an outsource to our client base.  We do not charge fees.  We provide our customers definitive pricing and adhere to our contract.  Should a truck not be available at the price that we quoted, Leading Edge Logistics pays the difference.

Example: A rate from Pittsburgh to Detroit is $500.00.  On a particular day we can only find equipment that will move that lane for $600.00.  The customer will be invoiced by Leading Edge Logistics at $500.00.

Second example: LEL committed to a transit that cannot be met due to a communication failure of ours.  Leading Edge Logistics will pay for all expedite cost (including air if necessary) to ensure that all service requirements are met.

LEL is structured to provide dedicated Customer Service Personnel to manage the day to day supply chain operation and communicate with our clients.  All Leading Edge Logistics customers are managed by a dedicated customer service team.  This team is cross-trained to ensure that all aspects of your company are properly managed.  Our internal communication within the team designed and designated to your account will ensure your company will not be affected by the unforeseen absence of one or two people.  An overall Team Leader supported by executive oversight coordinates your service team, 24/7.

All Leading Edge Customers are provided a dedicated Customer Service Team that includes Operations, IT, Reporting and Value Added Services as well as Financial.  Your Customer Service Manager will be available to you 24 x 7 and maintains access to our operating systems should an after hours need arise.  Leading Edge Logistics does not own voice mail.  Each time you call any of our operations personnel, you will speak to a person who is knowledgeable about your company.

Yes, we negotiate a “Rules Tariff” for each customer and historically have eliminated several of the more “frivolous” charges from various types of carriers regardless of mode.  We leverage our buying power as well as our industry knowledge to reduce, cap or eliminate most accessorial fees. 

Our strength is first and foremost our people.  Leading Edge Logistics has the finest collection of service driven people in the industry.  Without question it the service that we provide that makes our organization successful.  Secondly the i2 Technology we employ is used by some of the largest companies in the world and for good reason.  i2 technology gives us a much clearer picture and creates cost saving advantages not used by other 3PL’S.  Thirdly, the customer will never be put into box.  We can and will fully customize any aspect of our operation to meet your supply chain requirements.

Leading Edge Logistics will manage 100% of your Canada and Mexico shipments internally.  All shipments outside NA borders will be managed by our strategic partner.  The customer will receive the same “One Call” and Track Trace process regardless of where the product is shipped to or from.

Our Website has the capability of enabling our carriers to manually enter (via email) their ETA status.  In addition, our Track/Trace Department regularly communicates with our carrier base to gain status information.  We maintain communication with drivers (cell phone) as well as mandate a 24 x 7 dispatch phone number with all of our carriers.

Shipment notification should be sent electronically and will be uploaded into our i2 system.  From that point, the system does the carrier selection based on selection of the low cost/high service carrier and tenders the freight to the carrier.  Upon acceptance it goes to load status.
We believe that load status is our most important function.  To that end Leading Edge Logistics maintains EDI link with its carrier base.  Our Procurement Department has developed communication methods with our carrier base that ensures that all facets of our dispatch process are adhered to.  Leading Edge Logistics has staff dedicated to carrier communication management that cover the entire track/trace function.  Their findings are communicated to the Operations Team, as well as posted on our web site that our customers can access.  Our i2 and Key Point operating systems also contain Load Boards than enable our carriers to access and report on the status of their shipments.

Once the project is awarded the first agenda item is to assign a cross functional team comprised of key stakeholders from each organization to design the Implementation meeting.  This is a formal meeting where deadlines for start up are assigned along with the necessary action items (in Project form).  The LEL Implementation Team is dispatched to your site(s) to meet with and review documents as the following statement addresses, it is equally critical for LEL for the start up to be as seamless as possible.  This can only be accomplished with a comprehensive team that is mutually committed to the success of the project.

The LEL Value Added Services Team that has the sole responsibility to track and trace every shipment everyday.  Our process calls for Leading Edge Logistics to manage the shipments.  As shipments are tendered, our staff monitors shipment activity immediately including verifying that the order actually shipped.  We will have direct communication with each of your shipping locations as well as your vendor sites.  There will be a robust and active communication between our Operations Center and the shipping location that will verify the shipment.

Our process calls for Schedule A rating that has savings built in to our customer that aligns with the savings guarantee that we provide prior to implementation.

As we are a performance based company, we will absolutely ensure that the carrier best in both service and low cost is used for each opportunity. 

This information will be made available through many means.  First, all shipments are dynamically tracked and communicated via real time in the event of delay.  All shipments will be posted on our website.

Freight that is damaged in transit will be communicated immediately by phone, email or what ever means your need to the site for disposition and instruction if an expedited replacement shipment is necessary.  Our Track Trace Department is trained to communicate any out of plan activity to their Team Leader as well as the customer.

Leading Edge Logistics manages all claims for our customers.  We provide weekly status reports of all claims to key stakeholders.  Should we determine that repetitive damage is occurring, LEL will schedule site visits with carrier and customer representatives to provide training on the care and custody of your freight and design an SOP for same.

We look to receive a minimum of 90 days of your shipment history.  This data gets modeled in i2 to find opportunities for cost reduction (rates) shipment optimization, frequency analysis and the like.  Once complete, we submit our findings to our customer's Senior Management.  We will work with your sites in concert to determine the process and establish the proper metrics to measure our collective result.

Leveraging the collective LEL freight spend gets us part of the way there.  Optimization/modeling freight management are the keys to significant savings.  This is not only accomplished via one customer’s freight, but must include exploring collaboration of other Leading Edge Logistics customers’ freight that can be used in consol/deconsol/pool opportunities.  The days of internally leveraging freight spend are rapidly coming to an end considering the state of the transportation industry.  The game has shifted from rates to freight management.  The only way to get there is through investment into powerful modeling technology.  The Leading Edge Solution provides these tools and opportunities on our customer’s behalf and for their benefit.

Currently our carrier base exceeds 10,000 asset based vendors.  LEL manages the carrier
base on the following criteria:

· Accurate Pick Up Time
· Accurate Delivery Times
· Damaged Claim Issues
· Rates-Fuel
· Operating Authority
· Insurance Coverage
· Fleet Capabilities
· Coverage Area
· Fleet Maintenance

Our Procurement Department will solicit commitments from our carrier base providing benchmark pricing and service levels that will meet the savings and service criteria of our customers.  Once complete, lanes and volumes will be assigned and committed to.  All loads will be tracked and on time service will be monitored and measured as one of the Key Performance Indicators.

These are just a few areas we monitor on a daily basis.  Our IT Systems allow for prompting in certain areas to ensure we receive the information on a timely basis.

It is not the philosophy of Leading Edge Logistics to practice gain sharing.  We see gain sharing as a “year 1” solution and it does not challenge a logistics company after the first year, although the customer is made to pay for future years for no continuous improvement.  We do not feel that it is fair to our customer.  Ours is an analytical approach utilizing sophisticated modeling tools that are aimed at producing guaranteed savings to our customer.  All of the savings that we produce are for the benefit of our client base.  Our practice is to produce new savings each year for our customer base.  We employ metrics to monitor the savings that we create, and report them to our customer on a quarterly basis.  All savings are guaranteed, as Leading Edge Logistics also manages the freight to ensure that all things occur as planned.  Once year 1 is complete, we do it again.

Each hazardous material must have its own bill completed. Please contact one of our specialists at 1-888-328-7573 to discuss this further.

Substitution drawback was eliminated on exports to Canada and Mexico effective January 1, 1994. However, exports to Canada are still eligible for drawback under same condition direct identification. Please contact one of our specialists at 1-888-328-7573 to discuss this further.

Although the machines do not qualify for unused drawback (based on the fact that they were sold and used for their intended purpose prior to being returned due to defective operation), they should qualify under rejected merchandise which has no restriction on use and which, under the Mod Act, has been extended to 3 years from date of import to date of return to customs custody. Please contact one of our specialist to discuss this further at 1-888-328-7573.