Bob Dalton

Blog Post written by Ohad Azgad, CEO of Cinch Logistics leaders must control costs while maintaining service quality, but hidden freight charges often erode profits due to poor visibility. Cinch analyzed over 7,000 line-item charges from 30+ freight forwarders, brokers, and carriers in FMCG and manufacturing, uncovering three major cost drivers: The Frequency-Impact Paradox Frequent charges like fuel surcharges appear in 14.4% of invoices but contribute just 4.2% of hidden costs. In contrast, customs duties—though present in only 5.8% of invoices—account for 52% of hidden costs. Identifying these patterns helps logistics teams focus on impactful cost reductions. Inconsistent Invoice Terminology Charge names like “Fuel Surcharge” vs. “Bunker Adjustment Factor” vary between carriers, reducing cost visibility and negotiation leverage. Standardizing terminology improves tracking, clarity, and vendor negotiations. Hidden Budget Risks: Customs, Duties & On-Carriage Fees Customs duties account for 46% of hidden costs, while on-carriage fees add 26%, despite appearing in only 4.3% of invoices. These charges are often underestimated during quoting, leading to budget overruns. Proactive management prevents unexpected expenses.   Strategies to Optimize Freight Costs Real-Time Data Analytics: Platforms like Cinch provide charge visibility during quoting, improving cost forecasting and negotiation leverage. Standardized Terminology: Consistent charge names enhance cost…

Special Guest Blog Post from Amazon Freight   For supply chains across the globe, goods in motion are promises in motion. When a palletised shipment is delayed or goes dark, the impact is felt not just in transport teams, but in customer service, inventory planning, and broader network performance. In a conversation, economist Dr. Rebecca Harding and Chris Roe, Managing Director of Amazon Freight, explored how technology and collaboration are changing the way freight networks operate. While their primary focus was freight, their insights map directly onto the resilience challenges supply chain leaders face every day.   Old pressures, new data In a study supported by Amazon Freight, every shipper surveyed agreed that technology is crucial to the freight industry’s resilience. While this isn’t a surprise, it’s an important reminder of the role that technology plays. Roe shared a key example where Amazon Freight connected a customer’s system to its own system. Visibility on the end-to-end movement went from essentially zero to a high level of coverage. Instead of discovering problems only when a shipment failed to arrive, the customer could now see disruptions as they emerged and act earlier. For supply chain teams, that move from partial, delayed information…