Crossdocking

Crossdocking is an effective solution leveraged to improve transportation service to customers and reduce handling and storage costs.  It allows clients to route product from one or multiple manufacturing site(s) to a Nexus distribution center strategically located near to the designated customer population.  Product is shipped in bulk from manufacturing plants to Nexus where it is then deconsolidated into multiple shipments and delivered directly to customers.  Additionally, special packaging and labeling requirements can be met as a value-added function of the Nexus crossdock service offering.

Crossdocking is a sound strategy for companies that:

• Find they are consistently shipping from manufacturing site(s) to multiple customers, resulting in frequent and costly small shipments (less-than-truckload) that have to travel long distances.  Crossdocking allows companies to send bulk shipments via full truckload, intermodal container, or railcar to a strategic Nexus distribution center that is closer to the customer base, making pool delivery possible and/or reducing the LTL expense by reducing the distance to the destination.

• Require the unloading and merging of bulk shipments from various points of manufacture for the combining of specified SKU’s to fulfill individual or store orders.

• Have a regional customer base that is far from the origin of manufacture and demands a short delivery window between the time of order placement and the requested delivery date.

• Do not have the physical space, equipment, labor, or materials required for special order fulfillment, palletizing, labeling and packaging activities at their manufacturing site.

• Wish to reduce the amount of excess inventory stored at their own facility or manufacturing site, either to reduce inventory carrying costs or simply due to limited available space.

Container Freight Station and Rail Service

Every Nexus facility is rail served.  In many cases, companies can reduce transportation expenses by shipping via rail to cover long distances.  However, not all end customers have stores or plants that are rail-served and not all customers purchase railcar-sized orders in bulk.  By crossdocking product at a strategically located Nexus distribution center, companies can still reap the cost-saving benefits of rail transportation and meet customers’ delivery requirements. 

Nexus provides crossdocking services for containers shipped to the US from domestic and international origins.  Upon arrival at a Nexus facility, containers are unloaded and product can be sorted, palletized or packaged according to customer specification before re-loading into domestic trailers for LTL or truckload shipment.  Nexus can provide drayage services to retrieve containers from intermodal yards.  In Chicago, Nexus can actually transport containers from a local intermodal yard directly into our container freight station without touching public roadways via the “Chicago Land Bridge”, enabling shippers to fully maximize container capacity and ship “heavy” containers to the Midwest region of the US.

Visibility

The Nexus Crossdocking process can be as visible, or invisible, to the consignee as the Manufacturer desires. Nexus, customer service representatives will contact the consignee to schedule delivery appointments representing the shipper. This creates the appearance that the consignee is only interfacing with one organization.  Conversely, several other shippers prefer that Nexus contact their Customers using the Nexus name, as Nexus is a trusted and respected name in 3rd Party Logistics resulting from 25 years of service and commitment to meeting unique delivery requirements. As a bonus both the shipper and the consignee can benefit from online real time tracking of inventory and delivery information via this website.

NexDock Express

NexDock Express is expedited, emergency service for distressed shipments currently moving via truck or rail that must be diverted to a Nexus distribution center on short notice requiring special care.

Some examples of emergency services include:

Railcars that require unloading and expedited truckload service to a specified destination

Truckload or rail shipments that require emergency re-working due to loading error or shifting

Product that must be stored temporarily until a Customer is able to receive it

Product that must be stored temporarily due to extreme weather conditions

Shipments that require value-added services prior to delivery such as palletizing or banding

Diversions and emergencies in every variety require immediate action, frequent communication, and strong partnerships with truckload carriers, rail carriers, customers and consignees.

For more information on Nexus crossdock services fill out our information request form or contact us at 800-536-5220