Express carriers have a special place in supply chains, oftentimes they’re the ‘go to’ service when time is of the essence or a shipment requires special accommodations. The asset-based global integrators have a suite of products and services, including customs brokerage, which move shipments quickly through the pipeline, while a handful of niche players stand out for their flexibility and customized service.

Panther Expedited Services, located just outside of Cleveland, Ohio, is an example of the latter. The company was founded in 1992 as an expedited trucking company serving the automotive industry, and has grown to a diversified, international company over the years. “Our service orientation has always been high, because our customers really value having a shipment arrive on time,” says Andy Clarke, president, CEO, and director. Timeliness is key, stresses Clarke, because getting a critical shipment moved on time can, in some cases, prevent an entire assembly line from having to shut down while everyone’s waiting for a part.

The company is non-asset based, utilizing a global network of more than 4,000 transportation providers, with over 1,600 pieces of equipment, like cargo vans, tractor-trailers, and temperature-controlled vehicles for its ground transportation. In addition, every Panther vehicle is equipped with Qualcomm OmniVision satellite tracking, says Clarke, “which lets us know where every one of our trucks is at all times,”

Panther keeps staff on-site 24/7 and 365 days a year, says Clarke. But, it’s Panther’s technology offerings that are the real market differentiator, he points out. For example, in addition to the Qualcomm on-board communications for its ground equipment, Panther offers a geofencing service that lets customers define a virtual, geographic area to ensure that freight is following an approved route. If a designated boundary is crossed, a customer notification is generated. The additional layer of security not only helps manage freight in high-risk geographies, in many instances, it can lower a customer’s insurance costs.

A robust technology offering also provides customers with “certainty of service, and certainty of price,” says Clarke. “The sooner we can respond to a customer’s request for pricing, the better, especially towards the end of the day (when a customer needs an immediate quote).” Panther’s shipping procurement engine searches for more than 200,000 transportation options for every freight shipment. The technology optimizes price and service for every shipment, so a customer can “buy up” or “buy down” within a range of options.

Among the wide array of industries Panther serves, including government and defense, life sciences, and high-tech, the company also excels at providing transportation and logistical support for events and entertainment. Recent projects range from the NFL Superbowl to the Blue Man Group. “No matter what, the show must go on,” reminds Clarke.

That ‘show’ can take many forms. For DHL, several transportation assignments not only illustrate the company’s industry expertise, but its goodwill too.

In January, DHL teamed up with Pizzas 4 Patriots and America’s Dairy Farmers to transport 10,000 Gino’s East Deep Dish Pizzas and Honey Milk to U.S. servicemen and women stationed throughout Iraq to enjoy while watching the Super Bowl. Specifically, on January 29, thousands of pizzas packaged in temperature-controlled containers, along with high protein Honey Milk and 500 footballs were picked up in Chicago and loaded onto DHL Express trucks. The shipment departed Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport for DHL’s principal air hub for a direct flight to DHL’s hub in Leipzig, Germany, and then onward to the DHL hub in Bahrain. Then, the shipments were re-iced and separated for transportation to several military bases in Iraq in time for the ‘big game.’

DHL Express operates the most extensive logistics service center in the Middle East region and was the first international express carrier to provide service to Iraq and Afghanistan.

In October, DHL Express Worldwide and DHL Import Express Worldwide were chosen by Madison Components, a global supplier of active and passive electronic components, as the preferred international express shipping provider. According to Madison Components’ president and CEO, Matt Pelletier: “We were looking for a global transportation carrier that could reduce lead times for our customers to help them meet extremely tight production schedules. Since we started using DHL Express, we already have seen significant reductions in transit times along the U.S.-Asia Pacific trade lane, and our customers have already noticed and appreciated these service improvements.”

Meanwhile, DHL launched a direct less-than-container-load (LCL) service from New York and Chicago to Pusan, South Korea, in February. The two weekly services target the growing market for exporters and small- to medium-sized enterprises involved in bilateral trade between the U.S. and South Korea, which expanded to $67.9 billion in 2009.

 “These new services are part of an ongoing roll-out of direct consolidations bringing fast, cost efficient and reliable services to the market to help American companies succeed even in the most challenging business environments,” remarked Tara Caputo, DHL Global Forwarding director for LCL services in North America.

Last year, DHL launched nine other direct LCL services from New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles to cities in Europe, Asia, and South America.

For its part, FedEx introduced its FedEx International DirectDistribution service in January, designed to replace multiple distribution channels with a single, fast moving and flexible end-to-end solution that optimizes the supply chain, increases speed to market, and reduces costs.

FedEx International DirectDistribution consolidates multiple packages or freight into one shipment, so shippers can reduce costs, bypass distribution centers, and streamline clearance through customs before distributing individual shipments directly to their final destination.

“Our customers are always seeking ways to improve their speed to market and extract costs from their supply chain,” said Rajesh Subramanian, FedEx senior vice president of international marketing. “FedEx International DirectDistribution enables customers to quickly and easily move their goods across oceans and borders from the point of manufacture directly to their customers and retail stores.”

UPS, meanwhile, opened a distribution center at the Calgary International Airport in Calgary, Alberta, in February. The hub will provide direct access to the U.S. and key international markets such as China, India, and Mexico, the company said.

“The rise of middle classes in China and India offers great potential to businesses in the Calgary area,” explained Mike Tierney, president of UPS Canada. “And this new facility will provide our customers with access to those markets in a more convenient and reliable fashion than ever before.”

Construction of the 150,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility began in June 2008. The $30 million distribution center will allow UPS to double its package processing capability. The hub houses 157 trucks for ground transportation to surrounding communities in addition to serving as a staging point for aircraft. wt