Transportation: Vendor Inbound Freight

If you purchase with pre-pay and add-freight terms, demand that freight is clearly delineated on each vendor invoice. The industry standard markup is 40 percent.

* Adopt a core-carrier program that provides exclusive service areas to carriers that offer 100-

percent coverage. Such a program should identify pickup coverage, location of service facilities, financial stability, systems and technology prowess, and performance guarantees. Use a common rate base with common tariff provisions.