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I'm involved extensively in logistics, and although I'm not Flexport's target customer nor involved in their specific space of logistics, I can easily say that
by saosebastiao 11y ago
I'm involved extensively in logistics, and although I'm not Flexport's target customer nor involved in their specific space of logistics, I can easily say that they are the most exciting new thing in logistics since the container.
The thing is, they aren't doing anything revolutionary. They are doing the same exact things that a lot of companies have done for decades. What makes them revolutionary is 1) They are doing, in one point of contact, a variety of tasks that normally requires 3-10 points of contact. Tracking, quotes, customs, forwarding arrangements, carrier connections, contracts, and payments, all in one stop. 2) They are doing it faster, better, and cheaper than anybody else around.
- bluedino 11y agoRegulations are the hard part about freight. Each state has different rules on things, it's really crazy.
- calpaterson 11y agoThat was true in the container revolution also. Malcom McLean (inventor of modern shipping containers) had to sell his trucking business when he bought a shipping business because because the regulator at the time did not allow anyone to operate a trucking company and a shipping company at the same time. There were also rules in the US at various times which prevented people from operating a trucking/railroad company across multiple states as an anti-monopoly measure. Madness when you consider that this means shipments have to be unloaded at state lines!
- thedogeye 11y agoNot to mention that the federal government then decided to standardize the size of shipping containers, and picked an arbitrary size that was different that the sizes used by the only two companies that had any container ships. When they offered huge subsidies to ship builders who adopted their new arbitrary 40' and 20' standards, it made the companies that pioneered the technology almost instantly non-competitive.
- patmcguire 11y agoI know that the history of shipping containers might not sound like the most exciting thing in the world, but The Box is a great book http://www.amazon.com/The-Box-Shipping-Container-Smaller/dp/0691136408 http://www.amazon.com/The-Box-Shipping-Container-Smaller/dp/... Shipping rules used to be crazy
- afarrell 11y agoThis book had a profound impact on my life for a span of 1.5 years
- eru 11y agoHow so? I read it too, but I didn't see much impact.. It could have done with a few illustrations.
- jgalt212 11y agoI also thoroughly enjoyed this book, but it's 400 pages about the evolution of 1 device. And in those 400 pages there are 0 diagrams. A huge disservice to the read. I found myself using the wiki quite often when reading this book.
- seanlinehan 11y agoShoot me an email.. Would love to chat! sean@flexport.com
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]