Many of today's third-party logistics (3PL) providers are challenged with rising fuel costs, the race against electrification, ensuring driver safety, complying with ever-changing regulations and more.
But, thanks to the implementation of emerging technologies, cutting-edge transportation management solutions and end-to-end visibility solutions, 3PLs in the cold food chain space continue to keep on truckin'.
In the same token, cold storage providers are challenged with slowdown in inventory levels and meeting "audit-ready" mandates, but at the same time, they're implementing robotics and wearables and multi-temperature solutions to better meet ever-changing demands of the temperature-sensitive market.
That's why it's important to honor and celebrate the top 3PLs and cold storage providers, both nationally and internationally.
Meet the winners of this year's Top 3PL and Cold Storage Providers award.
Many of this year’s winners offer a variety of 3PL services, with the top being LTL/TL (87% of winners), refrigerated trucking (85%), and truckload brokerage (84%), while many of the top cold storage services offered are warehousing/distribution management (80%); storage (78%), cross docking (78%), and fulfillment (7450%).
This year's winners are also investing in a plethora of technologies, including WMS/TMS (79%), software solutions (76%), and cloud-based and food safety, tied at 70%.
Nearly 93% of the submissions received are in the 3PL space, while 64% operate in the cold storage space.
And, 57% of the companies operate in North America, while 17% are strictly within the United States, 14% in the Midwest region and 13% international.
Meet the winners of this year's Top 3PL and Cold Storage Providers award.
Thank you to this year's sponsors!
MoLo
https://arcb.com/molo-solutions
MoLo, a service of ArcBest, provides truckload brokerage services across North America, connecting shippers and carriers to deliver products when and where they’re needed. Backed by ArcBest’s asset-based system, MoLo offers the capacity to scale and keep supply chains moving and businesses growing, all while prioritizing transparency and trusted relationships.
One example of an achievement is how MoLo's commitment to service excellence led to becoming one of its customer’s largest brokers in their network by the end of 2024. MoLo partnered with this customer in October 2020, joining their network as a spot/backup provider. As the partnership continued to grow and strengthen, MoLo discussed the use of API pricing to streamline the customer's procurement process, reduce time spent on rate negotiations and improve overall supply chain efficiency. Leveraging MoLo's dynamic pricing tools and data analytics helps provide this customer with real-time, market-driven rates tailored to their shipping lanes. In December 2024, MoLo received its first shipment via API and has since handled over 200 shipments for this customer.
Source Logistics
www.sourcelogistics.com
Source Logistics is the go-to logistics partner for multi-cultural brands trying to reach U.S. consumers. With 25 years of experience, Source Logistics enables some of the world’s most popular food and beverage and consumer brands to efficiently reach their consumers through their specialized warehousing, fulfillment, and transportation services. Source Logistics offers dry, refrigerated, and frozen storage options across 24 locations and over 5.6 million square feet of warehousing space.
Source Logistics recently acquired LaGrou Distribution’s warehousing division, adding 8 new facilities to its network and significantly strengthening its footprint in the Midwest. This strategic acquisition expanded total warehousing capacity to 5.6 million-plus square feet, including enhanced cold storage capabilities (both refrigerated and frozen) to better serve the growing demand for temperature-controlled logistics solutions. With this expansion, Source Logistics can now reach 75% of U.S. consumers with same day, and by integrating LaGrou’s assets and expertise into their operations, Source Logistics has strengthened its ability to support international brands entering the U.S. market and domestic manufacturers seeking a reliable, strategic 3PL partner.
TRAFFIX
www.traffix.com
Since 1979, TRAFFIX’ team of supply chain experts has been leveraging experience, industry-leading technology, and a trusted carrier network to tackle the most complex logistical challenges with precision and expertise.
One example of an achievement is how TRAFFIX developed an innovative cold storage and fulfillment solution to support a client shipping product into Costco. Given the challenges of import delays and Costco’s appointment-based receiving system, TRAFFIX implemented a flexible cold storage and fulfillment process that ensures product availability while minimizing spoilage and detention fees. This operation runs on TRAFFIX's warehouse management system, giving the client a real-time view of held inventory, shipment statuses, and order fulfillment. The system's transparency and automation have significantly improved their supply chain efficiency, and is now exploring ways to scale this solution for additional customers facing similar challenges.
Meet the winners of this year's Top 3PL and Cold Storage Providers award.
