3PL Logistics

LTL refers to orders of less-than-truckload quantity typically co-mingled with other similar-sized shipments headed for the same destination. Truckload (TL) shipping is for larger orders that require all or most of the capacity of a trailer. However, in certain circumstances (usually dictated by the receiver or for shippers to avoid compliance issues), shippers will ship LTL orders by themselves as TL to expedite delivery.

Our in-house, asset-based carrier, Colonial Cartage, has more than 70 power units and 220 refrigerated and dry trailers. All equipment is food-grade and uses electronic logging devices (ELDs) for drivers and GPS systems for tracking equipment. Colonial’s truck management system (TMS) has been integrated with ABW’s warehouse management system (Blue Yonder) for increased order visibility.

Cross-docking is the transfer of products from a truck or rail car to one or more outbound vehicles across a staging area within a short time — eliminating the additional handling and storage required in a standard warehousing process. This strategy helps reduce costs, shortens the delivery cycle, and reduces the risk of damage by limiting multiple handlings.

Atlanta Bonded Warehouse handles cross-dock for many customers. We serve as a pool point for cross-docked orders for our in-house less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier, Colonial Cartage Corporation.

A temperature-controlled warehouse uses heating or cooling systems (HVAC) to maintain exact temperature ranges for storing perishable or non-perishable goods before they are shipped to retailers.

Temperature-controlled warehousing helps protect products from potential spoilage, damage, or contamination caused by fluctuating temperatures. In a temperature-controlled environment, products are more likely to retain their quality, have an extended shelf life, and stay safe for human use or consumption.

Different products require storage at different temperature ranges, which include ambient (40°F–90°F), mid-temperature (55°F–75°F), refrigerated (28°F–42°F), or frozen (0°F and below)

Atlanta Bonded Warehouse offers temperature-controlled warehousing solutions for products requiring storage at mid-temperature (55°F–75°F) ranges. We also provide storage at ambient (or “room”) temperatures (40°F–90°F). Examples of mid-temp warehousing products include pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, confectionery products, snacks, and beverages, and other products susceptible to high heat and humidity such as rice, pasta, flour, spices, and packaging.

Ambient temperature warehousing solutions are typically dry, clean, and well-ventilated – ideal for storing non-perishable products such as bagged, canned, or glass-pack goods, packaging, and CPG products.

ABW does not offer temperature-controlled warehousing solutions for fresh produce, refrigerated, or frozen products needing to be stored below 50°F.

Co-packaging, contract packaging, and co-manufacturing are three terms often confused.

What is co-packaging?

Co-packaging, short for “contract packaging,” encompasses two distinct applications in the food packaging process. Co-packaging can refer to taking a finished food item and putting it in its primary package – putting a candy bar in its wrapper, for example. Co-packaging can also include secondary packaging, where the wrapped candy bar is placed in a carton or case, or cartons/cases are packed into a built retail display.

What is co-manufacturing?

Co-manufacturing is the actual mixing, blending, baking, or cooking in the food production process. A co-manufacturer can be hired by another food processor looking for additional line capacity, a unique processing skill, or the necessary equipment for creating a finished product. Or a co-manufacturer can be engaged by a “virtual” food company that outsources all of its food processing. More often than not, the co-manufacturer puts the finished product into its primary package. However, there are situations where the “co-man” will ship the finished goods in bulk to a co-packager, who will put the product in its primary packaging.

Benefits of outsourced packaging

Outsourcing packaging needs to 3PLs or co-manufacturers gives food processors the flexibility to scale to meet demand. Food processors and CPG manufacturers frequently outsource their secondary packaging to contract packagers and some/all of their production to co-manufacturers if they don’t have the appropriate facilities, resources, and staffing to manage these operations in-house.

Outsourced co-packaging services give processors and manufacturers more flexibility to prepare their products for retail shelves, display, or promotion. Third-party co-packagers have the flexibility to change lines from day to day or even shift to shift.

Co-packagers frequently utilize high-volume and high-speed equipment to bag, pack, wrap, or carton both “naked” products and products already in their primary package. These products are now ready for retail shipment or secondary packaging into SRPs, counter displays, powerwings, retail shippers, or quarter, half, or full pallet displays.

Atlanta Bonded Warehouse offers our clients outsourced co-packaging (or contract packaging) services for secondary packaging or kitting. We do not provide solutions for our clients that include product manufacturing.

However, we do have the line capacity, labor, quality control, and management infrastructure in place to handle all your secondary packaging and kitting requirements.

Our co-packaging applications also include repackaging from bulk, retail-ready packaging, and promotional packaging into new packaging or configurations for product launches or promotional campaigns.