Posted by Laura Peterson on Tue, Jul 06, 2010 @ 11:57 AM
It's officially summer! If you live in, or ship to the desert Southwest it's time to factor triple-digit degrees into your temperature-sensitive residential deliveries.
Most shipments may endure the heat, but chances are Fido's medication or the box of bonbons won't fare as well as they safely wait for the recipient to return from work.
Luckily, avoiding high-temperature situations is easy with OnTrac. Both shippers and receivers have tools and options available to protect deliveries from the seasonal heat wave.
:: Shippers ::
Delivery Instructions
If your products can't stand the heat, get them out of the kitchen with the delivery instructions. Use the waybill field to inform the OnTrac Service Provider of any special placement arrangements you've made with the recipient.
Signature Required
At no additional cost, this feature tells the Service Provider that the shipment must be signed for by someone at the delivery address. If no one's available, a door tag is left, giving the recipient delivery options, including an area to communicate special delivery instructions.
Email Notification
In this day and age of smartphones, an email may be the fastest way to reach your customer. Email notification not only notifies the recipient of the proof of delivery but also allows you to share the shipment's information when the waybill is created. Receiving the tracking details before the delivery gives the recipient time to make arrangements if needed.
:: Recipients ::
Ship it to the Office
Subtract sleeping and weekends and you probably spend more time at the office than you do at home. Plus, your office probably has a receiving department. Even if you're not available, your shipment will be better protected from the elements in an office than if left outside.
Deliver it to the Neighbor
Good packages make good neighbors, sort of. If you know your neighbor will be available the day of the delivery, contact OnTrac" href="http://www.ontrac.com/contactus.asp" target="_self">contact OnTrac with the details and the Service Provider will be glad to deliver it next door.
Go for Gold
By upgrading to a premium service your delivery will arrive early AM, probably before you leave for work. OnTrac Gold service is up to 50% less expensive than the early AM services offered by national carriers. And, it has an earlier guaranteed delivery time, too. Check the OnTrac website" href="http://www.ontrac.com" target="_self">OnTrac website or ZIP Code Guide" href="http://www.ontrac.com/pdf/zipCodeGuide.pdf" target="_self">ZIP Code Guide for the exact delivery time for your ZIP.
Bottom line, you've got choices with OnTrac. Flexibility and a "can do" attitude is what we're known for and delivering customized shipping solutions is what we do best; just let us know how we can help" href="http://www.ontrac.com/contactus.asp" target="_self">let us know how we can help.
Posted by Laura Peterson on Wed, May 26, 2010 @ 11:08 AM
Everybody loves a good deal, or at least the perception of a good deal. We signup for the credit card with the most points, fly on a specific airline for the miles and keep a dedicated keychain for all the loyalty cards from retailers we hardly ever visit.
The result? Junk mail, spam, auto-renewing subscriptions, black-out dates and the realization that the fine print just extended the contract by another two years.
National carriers play the same game. They'll entice you with what appears to be an aggressive discount and then try to buy your allegiance with incentive tiers. All wrapped in a contract loaded with contingencies, and so complicated that it's practically responsible for the creation of an entire industry (Google "Freight Consultants").
What are incentive tiers? They're a scale that uses shipping revenue to determine a percentage reward. The more you ship, the more you get back. Just like all those loyalty cards in your wallet, incentive tiers were created to "motivate" you into using one shipping company instead of multiple carriers.
That sounds dandy, but consolidating carriers strictly because of incentive tiers or perceived discounts may not be in your company's best interest. National carriers offer these kinds of programs because they know there's competition and tier incentives are the best way to distract you from what other carriers have to offer.
That's where regional carriers come in. They are extremely flexible and aware of the capabilities within their service area. That knowledge allows them to not only push the limits on transit times, but also operating expenses. As a result, you get later pickups, faster transit times, fewer fees, earlier deliveries and rates much lower than national carriers. And, thanks to technology, regional carriers are well-equipped to provide the same features that you've come to expect from the other guys.
Not enough to change your mind? Well, before you leap off the tier-incentive cliff, be aware of a few things:
Fees & Surcharges Don't Count
Tier incentives are based strictly on package revenue. The fees that account for up to one-third of your bill with national carriers are not added.
Beware of the Little Details
According to a presentation by the Navigo Consulting Group, your tier status is most often calculated every 13 weeks as opposed to 26 or 52 weeks. In other words, if your business has "busy seasons" you'll likely wind up on a tier roller coaster.
Mind the Gaps
Know the range of your tier incentives and volume discounts. You may be able to benefit from other carriers without modifying your current rate and incentive structure.
Industry Trends
Thanks to technology, innovation and standardization, companies can easily incorporate multi-carrier software solutions to take full advantage of each shipping company's particular strengths.
In the end, all it takes is some number crunching and fact finding to learn that the incentive tiers and percentage discounts offered by national carriers may not benefit your shipping goals. What you may lose in incentives and discounts from one carrier pales in comparison to what you stand to gain from the rest. The tiers aren't worth the tears.
OnTrac offers free, detailed price comparisons. Interested? Email shippinganalysis@ontrac.com to get started.
Posted by Laura Peterson on Wed, Apr 21, 2010 @ 05:31 PM
Earth Day is designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. In the United States, Earth Day is celebrated each year on April 22nd. In an effort to do something good for the environment, OnTrac has taken action to initiate recycling programs with our customers. Thank you to all who participated in our Cell Phone Recycling Program as it was a great success! Since this program was received so well by our customers, we'd like to present you with another chance to recycle. If you have any used or unwanted printer toner cartridges and would like to help out on Earth Day, then please recycle these items with OnTrac.
In an era where it's important to monitor our carbon footprint and increase our conservation efforts, it's imperative to be aware of our role in the condition of the environment. For instance, did you know that over 375 million empty toner and ink cartridges are thrown into the trash every year and nearly 25 million of those cartridges go to landfills each month? Or that the plastic used in printer cartridges are made of an engineering grade polymer that has a very slow decomposing rate which can take more than ten centuries to biodegrade? That's over one thousand years!
This mountain of waste can be reduced through reuse and recycling. In fact, by remanufacturing toner cartridges, we can save over 38,000 tons of plastic and metal from ending up in landfills. Not only does this trash pile up in landfills, but ink cartridges may also leak printer ink which can pollute the surrounding environment. It can often require more than 3 quarts of oil to produce just one laser cartridge. By recycling printer cartridges, we also conserve the natural resources and energy used to manufacture these items by reducing the need for virgin materials, or non reused parts.
The recovery, reuse and recycling of these empty cartridges can also save tax dollars. Since we all pay taxes for landfills through waste management costs; that is something that everyone can appreciate. Above and beyond that, you'd be doing something good for the Earth and for your community. By purchasing and returning printer cartridges, you're supporting the local economy as the remanufacturing business employs thousands of people spread out over many smaller and locally owned companies.
OnTrac is offering to collect, recycle and dispose of your empty cartridges with no cost to you. You can recycle cartridges from copiers, printers and fax machines. We will not receive any profits for recycling or collecting these cartridges. In fact, all credits received by recycling these items, will go directly to Habitat for Humanity which will be used to help build homes for under-privileged and homeless families. Habitat for Humanity has built over 350,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.75 million people in 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. So, as an added contribution for such a charitable cause,
All you have to do is send us an email at Marketing@OnTrac.com and tell us you'd like to recycle your used cartridges. We will take care of the rest by sending you a free waybill and polybag to send us your cartridges. OnTrac will ship these items to the appropriate destinations. We will handle all the shipping services, proper salvage methods and all cost involved in the recycling of these items. Additionally, every person who recycles through OnTrac will receive their own Eco-Friendly bag which can be used and reused as grocery bags, for school books, gym bags, shopping and more.
Join OnTrac and the many businesses, organizations, government and individuals who are doing their part by donating their old or empty laser toner and inkjet printer cartridges. These empty cartridges are providing relief and much needed support to local non-profit organizations like Habitat for Humanity.
Posted by Laura Peterson on Mon, Apr 05, 2010 @ 01:32 PM
You've probably noticed that "go green" messages are everywhere these days. They are apparent in the media, politics, fashion, technology and even your local grocery markets. With a million messages coming at us from all sides, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the ubiquity of these green advertisements and lose sight of their true meaning.
While it's easy to be inundated by these messages, it's also simple to begin making a positive impact. Sometimes it's helpful to understand the big picture by setting smaller personal goals. Even the act of recycling can eliminate waste problems in underdeveloped countries. Eighty percent of our discarded mobile phones, computers, printers and other electronic devices end up being thrown away. According to PBS and Frontline, that waste gets exported to third-world countries, like Ghana, where it turns into an environmental nightmare.
The truth is that every single thing we do every day has an impact on the planet - good or bad. The good news is that, as an individual, you have the power to control your choices and the impact you create. For this reason, OnTrac is offering an opportunity for you to recycle your old cell phones so that they don't end up in a landfill somewhere.
In conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency's Cell Phone Recycling Week occurring April 5 - 11, 2010, OnTrac encourages you to recycle your old mobile phones and PDA devices. Recycling cell phones helps the environment by saving energy and keeping usable materials out of landfills. Cell phones and PDAs are made of precious metals, copper and plastics - all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. Recycling conserves these materials so that they can be turned into new products. Recycling 1 million cell phones can save enough energy to power 185 US homes with electricity for one year.
OnTrac is offering to recycle and or dispose of these devices properly per the standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency. The majority of these devices are recycled depending on material type. No electronic waste goes into landfills or incinerators and no electronic scrap is shipped to underdeveloped countries. Additionally, all personal, corporate or any other non-operating system data is removed and destroyed from the device.
These cell phones are sent to cell phone recycling companies like Full Circle Wireless, Pace Butler and Cell Phone Cycle where they are recycled, reused or turned into cash to help support charitable causes like the American Diabetes Association, Children's Miracle Work, the Coalition Against Domestic Violence and many more organizations. The funds have also been used to help the following causes:
- Sending Missionaries to China
- Treating malnourished children in Asia after the 2004 Tsunami
- Building new homes for low-income families
- Providing overseas military men and women with pre-paid phone calling cards
All you have to do is send us an email at Marketing@OnTrac.com and tell us you'd like to recycle your old phone. We will take care of the rest by sending you a free waybill and polybag to send us your phone. OnTrac will not receive any profits or credits for recycling or collecting these devices, but will ship the cell phones to the appropriate destinations at no cost to you. We will handle all the shipping services, proper salvage methods and all cost involved in the recycling of these electronic devices. Additionally, every person who recycles their mobile device through OnTrac will receive their own Eco-Friendly bag which can be used and reused as grocery bags, for school books, gym bags, shopping and more.
Also, tell us what you do to "be green", whether it's cleaning up neighborhood trash on your evening walks, taking quick showers or volunteer work at the local park. Each person who posts a comment will receive an Eco-Tote Bag from OnTrac.
Embracing a greener lifestyle isn't just about eating organic foods and turning the lights off when you leave the room. It's much bigger than that. So, take a small step to do something good for the earth by allowing OnTrac to help you recycle your old cell phones during the EPA's Cell Phone Recycling week.
Posted by Laura Peterson on Fri, Mar 26, 2010 @ 02:16 AM
"Being on par in terms of price and quality only gets you into the game. Service wins the game." -Tony Allesandra, motivational speaker and author
Tony isn't kidding. A recent 16-country survey found that poor customer service is costing about $338.5 billion per year. Why? Long waits, lack of required skills and needless repetition. Add the current economic mess and that number could get a whole lot bigger.
What does this have to do with package delivery? Shipping companies not only influence customer service with on-time arrivals but also by providing easy-to-use tools and workflows that speed-up package preparation and reduce delivery problems. A faster, more accurate shipping operation keeps customers happy and lowers operational costs.
WebOnTrac, the OnTrac(SM) web-based desktop shipping application, delivers just that. Its non-intimidating workspace does a whole lot more than print shipping labels online. Here are five WebOnTrac gems that streamline parcel shipping and add to your customer's service experience.
Email Notification
Email notification is a great way to keep a customer in the loop about their overnight package. OnTrac separates e-notifications in two ways: Shipment and Delivery. Check "Shipment" and you'll share the generated tracking number and destination details. Check "Delivery" to share the time your shipment arrived and the P.O.D. (Proof Of Delivery) information, i.e. the signature. Better yet, check both.
Save Delivery Addresses on the Fly
Repeat business is bliss. And if there's a chance you may ship to a recipient again, use the "Save Address" feature on the bottom of the "New Shipment" screen. Name the code whatever you'd like: company name, customer number, etc. Saving the address speeds up future waybill printing.
Special Delivery Instructions
GPS devices tremble in the presence of an OnTrac Driver (a.k.a. Service Provider). They know the ins, outs and in-betweens of their entire delivery area. What they don't know is that the recipient's gate code is mom's birthdate or that deliveries need to be placed inside the red wicker basket around the corner. Spend 30 seconds asking for and adding special delivery instructions. It ensures a smooth delivery and eliminates additional phone calls.
One-Click Return Labels
Sure, no one likes to process returns but it's part of business. Prepare for it by using the one-click return waybill link displayed below the populated waybill. The "To" and "From" get flipped, giving you the return shipping document. Include it inside the delivery for the "just in case" approach or keep a PDF version on file should the customer contact you for a return. There's no extra charge to generate a return waybill, you're only invoiced if it's used.
Reference Fields
One back-end perk you may not know about is that OnTrac can sort your invoice by the reference number. Depending on how you handle billing, a reference-sorted invoice could save you time.
But you don't have to get bogged down with numbers. The reference field is limited only by your creativity and can be used for anything: order numbers, promotional codes, your URL, you name it. It's a great way to add to the label.
Take time to explore WebOnTrac and its features. You’ll be pleasantly surprised (and so will your customers).
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Need WebOnTrac help? Call 877.225.6837 or mailto:softwaresupport@ontrac.com.
Don't have a WebOnTrac login? Getting one is easy and FREE.
Curious about how OnTrac stacks up? View our shipping rate comparison.
Posted by Laura Peterson on Fri, Mar 05, 2010 @ 06:17 PM
Ever heard of the Butterfly effect? No, not the Ashton Kutcher movie, but the metaphor it's based on? The idea is that a butterfly's wings create tiny changes in the atmosphere that could eventually alter the path of an entire weather system! Okay, way too deep. Let's refocus.
Ever ponder how your decision to choose OnTrac affects a whole lot more than just packages getting from point A to point B? Think about it.
Customers get their orders faster and for less cost, which creates a positive impression and a higher chance for repeat business. Repeat business turns into capital, infrastructure, jobs, household brands, you name it.
Rather stick to numbers? No problem. Here's the math:
Next-Day Shipping Rates from Los Angeles, CA to San Francisco, CA
Weight
| OnTrac | FedEx | UPS |
| Letter | $11.95 | $23.40 | $21.70 |
1 lb.
| $16.50
| $34.05 | $31.60 |
| 5 lbs. | $20.70 | $50.35 | $46.70 |
| 10 lbs. | $26.65 | $68.60 | $63.60 |
15 lbs.
| $34.10 | $86.65 | $80.35 |
And, that doesn't even include the money you save on all the fees. Here's a look at one of the dozens of fees you're avoiding by choosing OnTrac:
Daily Long-Term Savings of No Residential Delivery Fee
| Volume | Per Day
| Per Month
| Per Year
|
| 100 | $250 | $5,500 | $66,000 |
| 250 | $625 | $13,750 | $165,000 |
| 500 | $1,250 | $27,500 | $330,000 |
| 1,000 | $2,500 | $55,000 | $660,000 |
| 2,000 | $5,000 | $110,000 | $1,320,000 |
Sure, there are more variables in the business equation, but choosing the right shipping company can be a big part of your success. A low cost, high-quality carrier can easily be a game-changer; not only in a bad economic environment, but a good one too.
But hey, you're already shipping with OnTrac so this is old news.
Fewer fees add up to BIG savings! See a fee comparison of the most common surcharges here.
Posted by Laura Peterson on Fri, Feb 19, 2010 @ 05:30 PM
Thank you to everyone that participated in the "Share the Love" contest! We had so many great stories about OnTrac and "different" packages that have been shipped. Some packages were strictly for business and some were of a more personal nature.
Thank you to everyone that participated and commented on the blog. We appreciate it and were happy to see that the feeling is mutual with many of you.
With so many great stories, we decided add a few things to our contest. We are still awarding the red iPod nano. But we have two runner up stories as well that will receive $50 in American Express Gift Cards. And everyone else that submitted a "Share the Love" story will receive an OnTrac 1G Flash Drive.
So, the winner of the red iPod nano is....
Jake Greidanus from 1.800.RADIATOR!
Here is Jake's winning story:
OnTrac always make our franchise the hero of the day. We will get calls late from other warehouses to ship out parts because they know and trust myteam to make it happen. This, in turn, puts dollars in both of our pockets. Your competitors simply can not compete with the flexibility and willingness of your Visalia Team! Also, my HIGHEST respect and praise for Lucy and Becky- they have an awesome attitude and work ethic. They go above and beyond whenever we ask! -Jake Thanks, Jake!
When we spoke to Jake about winning the iPod, he said that he truly appreciates how flexible our service is and loves the fact that we can work together so harmoniously. He says some of his customers refuse receiving FedEx packages because of their historic damage rate and whenever he uses OnTrac he doesn't need to worry because it's all good. Thanks again, Jake!
Our two runner up stories are:
1) I work for a national medical distributor, last week at our yearly meeting we started to compare shipping numbers and dollars, which was a new thing for us. My region stood out from the others. Not just in numbers, but in dollars. Ontrac made me look so good, I'm now in charge of planning our companies shipping operations going forward. I was literally seen as someone ahead of the game and the envy of every other Regional Manager due to Ontrac's incredible service and pricing. As companies are incurring reduced margins, the type of savings a company like Ontrac can add to the bottom line are invaluable. -Tim R.
2) A few months back, I received a call from one of my co-workers. She asked me if she could send out a personal package. I let her know that as long as she paid for it, then yes. She came up to the front and handed me the package filled with photos and little trinkets. I noticed she had tears in her eyes. She told me that the box was for her husband who was to deploy from a base here in California and she wanted him to have these items to give him a sense of home wherever he was. I was fighting back tears while putting this package together, and I have to say that was the best package I have ever sent out with you guys. -S.T.
These two winners will receive $50 in American Express Gift Cards. And, since we wanted to "Share the Love," everyone that commented will receive a 1GB OnTrac Flash Drive.
Congratulations to all the winners and thanks for "Sharing the Love!"
We will post new contests here periodically, so check back often or go to ontrac.com.
Posted by Laura Peterson on Fri, Jan 29, 2010 @ 04:42 PM
Valentine's Day is coming up and a great day to "Share the Love." Everyone likes to receive gifts on Valentine's Day. Chocolates are always a favorite and Mom usually likes flowers and cards. OnTrac has a team of people that are ready to deliver all of your Valentine's Day gifts. And, if you're a last minute shopper, use OnTrac Saturday Delivery to get the flowers to Mom right on time. 
We thought we would "Share the Love" by starting a new contest.
Share with us your favorite item you have sent or received via OnTrac by commenting on this blog.
The contest ends on Valentine's Day. The winner will be selected on Monday, February 15th from all posts on the blog. The winner will receive a red iPod nano!
For more information about all OnTrac Shipping Services, go to ontrac.com.
Posted by Laura Peterson on Tue, Jan 19, 2010 @ 05:59 PM
It is so frustrating when the customer you shipped something to doesn't think the package is there. You've gone to the trouble to ship it overnight. You packaged it up, scheduled a pickup and tracked it all the way there. Your customer can't find it, doesn't think it was delivered and now she's mad at YOU!
Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could easily see who signed for the package so you could tell your customer? Well, now you can with OnTrac. As an OnTrac customer, you can sign up for our online shipping software, WebOnTrac. It's free and allows you to print shipping labels, view shipments and other reports and manage your address book - all online.
And now, you can also see the signature of the person who signed for the package. When you send a shipment and mark it signature required, a free service from OnTrac, we'll post the signature of the person who signed for the package online with the details of the shipment. All you need to do is log into your account, click on view shipment, select the package and the actual signature appears at the bottom of the screen (see image below).
It's that simple and you can tell your customer who signed for the package at their location. For more information, visit ontrac.com.
Look for a new contest coming at the end of January!
Posted by Laura Peterson on Tue, Jan 05, 2010 @ 12:19 PM
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We would like to extend warm wishes to all of our customers. We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!