Delivery Notes

Safety practices to reduce accidents, minimize injury

Your warehouse and transportation operations play a key role in the success of your business. Any operation interruptions or mishaps can drastically affect your company and its customers.  It is important to have guidelines for safety compliance designed specifically for your work environment and regular health and safety meetings, which will lead to fewer workplace accidents and absenteeism due to injury.
 
Reducing the risk of injury and accidents should be actively sought after by any business owner. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, one in 20 warehouse workers will suffer a workplace injury in a given year. Meanwhile, the average cost of a recordable injury in the United States is $35,000 in workers’ compensation and lost productivity costs, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

ELD Rule may create opportunities for 3PLs, LTL Deliveries

By Jason Burns, QCS Logistics President and CLDA Treasurer

The time is now to prepare for the electronic logging device (ELD) mandates. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires transportation service companies to be compliant with the driver hours logging rules by Dec. 18, 2017.  

The ELD Rule applies to most motor carriers and drivers who are currently required to maintain records of duty status (RODS). The rule requires the use of electronic logbooks for all interstate commerce for trucks that are model year 2000 and newer.

Jason Burns, Sr. is named President, Ronald Burns, Sr. becomes Chairman and CEO

QCS Logistics, one of the region’s premier courier and logistics companies, has named Jason G. Burns, Sr. as its new President, replacing Ronald V. Burns, Sr., who takes on the role of Chairman of QCS Logistics Board of Directors in addition to his role as Chief Executive Officer. Jason joined the company in 2007 as Vice President of Business Development. Ronald Burns, QCS Logistics founder, has grown the company into one of the largest courier companies in Louisiana and an Inc. 5000 “Fastest Growing Private Company" for the past four years.

QCS Logistics provides parcel delivery, medical courier services and customized logistics management services throughout the Gulf South.

CLDA Conference Focuses on Shipper-Carrier Best Practices

Marking its 30th anniversary as a leading association representing those who keep the wheels of commerce rolling in North America, the Customized Logistics & Delivery Association annual meeting brought together 400 members of the industry for three days of networking, educational sessions and focus groups. The logistics industry association meeting was held May 3-5 in Orlando, Fl., and focused on shipper-carrier best practices and creating new business opportunities for CLDA members.

CLDA Annual Meeting & Expo Chair Chuck Moyer said conference planners’ aim was to provide participants the opportunity to walk away with new business contacts, state-of-the-art technology updates, business best practices and information necessary to remain competitive and meet the ever-changing needs of shippers.

QCS Logistic's Jason Burns among industry experts providing logistics industry forecast

This article appeared in the Winter 2017 issue of CLDA Magazine.

The escalating growth of e-commerce, rising consumer expectations, the emergence of same-day distribution and verticals that will grow and shrink. All of these will shape the way those in the customized logistics and delivery industry do business in 2017. 

CLDA Magazine culled these forecasts from the sessions at the PARCEL Forum in September and through interviews with top industry insiders.

Here’s a peek at the factors that we expect will impact our business in the coming year.

A strategic partner will create customized solutions, give competitive advantage

Today, more and more health systems are moving from self-distribution to third party medical supply distribution companies to manage their logistics. With the rapidly changing nature of healthcare, knowing how to evaluate a potential courier to meet your company’s medical courier needs is an important step in running an efficient operation that allows you to focus on providing quality care.

Six Logistics Trends in the Healthcare Industry

Many trends in logistics are impacting the healthcare supply chain and healthcare transportation. From the Internet of Things and drone technology to decentralization of supplies and increased supply chain visibility, the healthcare industry is following—as well as leading—some of the most common logistics trends seen across the supply chain.

Customer Satisfaction is key for Companies Seeking Competitive Advantage

Customer satisfaction is key for companies seeking a competitive advantage. Reliable product delivery in the supply chain is a main factor in maintaining customer satisfaction, and logistics is an integral cog in the supply chain wheel.

The 2016 20th Annual Third Party Logistics Study shows 3PLs and their customers are becoming more proficient at what they do, individually as well as together, which is improving the quality of their relationships. Seventy percent of those who use logistics services (shippers) and 85% of 3PL providers said that outsourcing logistics to a 3PL has contributed to overall cost reductions, while, 83% of shippers and 94% of 3PL providers said using a 3PL contributes to improved customer service. 

Overhaul of nation’s food safety practices impacts virtually every link in food supply chain

New regulations approved under the largest overhaul of the nation’s food safety practices in decades are now being instituted. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) gives comprehensive new regulatory and enforcement powers to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and applies to food manufacturing facilities, food labeling, inspection of imports, shipping and virtually every link in the food supply chain, including shippers and food and beverage transportation specialists.

The law, which was approved with bipartisan support by Congress in 2010, aims at enlisting a preventative approach to food control to address biotechnology and nutrition labels and protect consumers from unsafe imported food and foodborne illness.

This article appeared on the Courier Magazine blog in October 2016.

Courier Magazine: Could you give me some background on your company? Fill me in on how your company has survived/thrived over the years, along with its history.

SB: Quick Courier Services, d.b.a. QCS Logistics, corporately headquartered in New Orleans, La., is a multi-service transportation logistics firm. Established in 1984 by founder Ronald V. Burns, Sr., we recently celebrated our 30th anniversary in business last year. We provide expedited and routed delivery service to a diverse clientele across many industries throughout southeastern Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region. QCS maintains service on a twenty-four hour basis, seven days a week, including holidays. Our drivers are uniformed, drug-tested, and trained.

In this competitive industry, we are fortunate to have loyal customers who have stayed with us because we focused on quality service at affordable prices. Many are still with us today.