How a Top-100 Amazon FBA Brand Cut Transit Times by over 25%
CGK Linens, a leading Amazon retailer in the home goods industry, optimized its transportation program by partnering with Flock to ship via Shared Truckload. This approach delivered substantial cost savings, faster delivery times, and completely eradicated damages.
Key wins
Transit time reduction
25%
Cost savings compared to TL
23%
Damage-free shipments
100%
Reduced inventory holding
~50%
Clearwater, Florida
Amazon
Home Goods
The headwinds
As a top-100 Amazon FBA brand (Fullfillment by Amazon), CGK manages high volumes of freight going into Amazon distribution centers. To optimize inventory and maintain a competitive edge, the company requires fast, dependable, and cost-effective shipping. Before partnering with Flock Freight, their transportation program faced several critical challenges that impacted efficiency and profitability.
Long and unreliable transit times
Shipping with traditional less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers created significant delays. Freight was often taken to a cross-docking facility, where it would sit before the final delivery was arranged. This multi-step process could extend transit times to over 30 days, creating uncertainty and making it impossible to optimize inventory levels. These delays directly impacted storage costs, risked fees for being understocked or overstocked, and ultimately affected customer delivery times and sales.
Paying for underutilized truckloads
To avoid the delays of LTL, CGK sometimes shipped truckload freight. More often than not, the truckloads moved partially empty, leading to higher transportation costs per pallet and eroding profit margins.
Poor communication and customer service
A lack of visibility, poor communication, and inflexible pickup schedules created issues at their 3PL warehouse, where clearing dock space on a tight schedule is critical. The CGK team found themselves playing a waiting game, trying to get updates on delayed shipments with little to no proactive communication from their carriers.
"With traditional LTL carriers... a shipment is typically scheduled, then brought to a cross-dock, and then final delivery is arranged. This process can take 30+ days in some cases, and we’ve experienced a lot of pain around communication, estimations, visibility, [and] proactivity." - Katie Friend, Senior Logistics Manager
The solution.
As CGK expanded, the demand for a more efficient and dependable shipping solution became increasingly critical. The company required a partner offering competitive pricing, consistent reliability, and transparent shipment tracking to keep pace with their growing needs. Flock Freight’s Shared Truckload (STL) service, FlockDirect®, proved to be the perfect match.
With FlockDirect®, CGK’s mid-sized shipments pool with other Flock shipments heading in the same direction. Freight moves as soon as its ready and never leaves the truck until it’s final destination, this eliminates cross-docking, reducing the risk of damage and delays for a smoother, more reliable shipping experience. Instead of paying for a full truck, CGK only paid for the space their freight needed. This allowed them to enjoy the speed and efficiency of truckload service while optimizing their transportation costs.
Furthermore, Flock Freight’s commitment to sustainability aligned well with CGK’s brand values. As a company focused on a transparent and responsible supply chain, partnering with a certified B Corp that actively reduces carbon emissions was a key factor in their decision.
"Flock is a key partner because not only do they deliver the best service on LTL shipments, they are aligned with our goals to reduce our carbon footprint."
Katie Friend, Senior Logistics Manager
CGK's Flock Freight Experience
Working with Flock Freight has delivered measurable and impactful results across CGK's operations.
Faster transit and appointment reliability ↘
Flock’s Shared Truckload service has reduced transit times by over 25%, a crucial advantage that sets CGK apart from competitors.
Delivery appointments at Amazon facilities are scheduled immediately to get product moving quickly.
Lower storage costs ↘
This speed and reliability allow CGK to keep 25-50% less inventory on hand, significantly reducing storage fees and improving their ability to manage stock levels effectively within Amazon's system.
“Before working with Flock Freight, it was impossible to optimize our inventory. Now we’re able to keep 25-50% LESS inventory on hand, and then reduce our storage fees by that same percent.” - Katie Friend, Senior Logistics Manager
Significant cost reduction ↘
Shared Truckload was pivotal in bringing down transportation costs. By paying only for the space they use, CGK has achieved 23% savings compared to shipping the same freight via full truckload.
Flawless service and zero damage ↘
Because shipments aren't transloaded at terminals, the risk of damage is virtually eliminated. CGK has maintained a 100% damage-free record on their shipments with Flock Freight, ensuring their products arrive in perfect condition every time.
A true partnership ↘
Beyond the technology and cost savings, the relationship has been a key driver of success. The dedicated support from their Flock Freight representative has made logistics simpler for CGK’s small operations team, turning a potential source of problems into a seamless part of their business.
"We continue to partner with Flock because they’ve not only been great partners, they’ve supported us through incredible growth and demanding shipping requirements. Our Flock Rep is a true team-member of ours, and we know we can rely on them for incredible service." - Katie Friend, Senior Logistics Manager
