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I help companies that import, export, and distribute throughout the U.S. and the Americas…
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Nelson R. Cabrera shared thisLogistics used to be a back-office function. Not anymore. 🌎 The role of logistics has changed. Today, supply chain decisions influence cash flow, customer service, inventory strategy, sourcing flexibility, and overall business resilience. They have become executive-level conversations because the impact reaches far beyond transportation. That's why companies increasingly need more than someone to move freight from one point to another. They need a partner who understands customs requirements, trade regulations, inventory strategy, international shipping, and how each decision affects the bigger picture. The most valuable logistics providers aren't just solving today's shipment. They're helping businesses prepare for tomorrow's challenges before they arrive. That's the role ShipLilly strives to play—supporting clients with practical guidance, operational insight, and experience navigating an increasingly complex global trade environment. Because in today's market, logistics isn't just about moving goods. It's about helping businesses move forward. 🤝 #SupplyChain #LogisticsPartner #GlobalLogistics #InternationalTrade #FreightForwarding #BusinessStrategy
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Nelson R. Cabrera shared thisThe biggest tariff risk in 2026 may not be the tariff itself. 📦 Most conversations around tariffs focus on the percentage. But for many importers, the bigger challenge is everything surrounding it. Uncertainty makes forecasting more difficult. Policy changes can alter sourcing decisions with little notice. Heavy dependence on a single supplier can quickly become a liability. Customs enforcement continues to increase, raising the importance of documentation and compliance. Even inventory decisions become more complex when trade policy remains in flux. The companies that adapt most effectively aren't simply calculating additional duty costs. They're asking bigger questions. How exposed are we if policies change? Do we have enough sourcing flexibility? Can we support every customs claim with the right documentation? Is our logistics strategy prepared for multiple scenarios instead of just one? Managing trade risk has become a strategic business function—not simply a finance exercise. #GlobalTrade #SupplyChainManagement #Tariffs #Customs #RiskManagement #Logistics 📈
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Nelson R. Cabrera shared thisSupply chain decisions can't move slower than trade policy changes. ⚠️ Yes, we know that sounds impossible when tariffs news seems to change faster than the freight can leave the port. For years, supply chains were built around stability. Planning cycles stretched months into the future, and businesses could make decisions with reasonable confidence that the rules wouldn't change overnight. That's no longer the environment many importers are operating in. Today, trade policy can shift faster than inventory moves through the supply chain (literally). Tariffs, sourcing requirements, customs enforcement, and regulatory expectations continue to evolve, leaving companies with less time to react. That means reviewing customs processes before they're tested. Evaluating alternative sourcing strategies before they're needed. Understanding where inventory is positioned and how quickly plans can change when conditions do. Operational agility isn't just about moving freight faster. It's about making better decisions before disruption forces them. Learn more in our latest blog: https://lnkd.in/ehmm4RRt At ShipLilly, we help companies build logistics strategies that are designed for change, not just today's market. If you think we might be able to help, we’d love to have a no-pressure conversation with you. Schedule in the link in comments. #SupplyChain #Logistics #GlobalTrade #CustomsCompliance #ImportExport #TradeStrategy 🚢
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Nelson R. Cabrera shared thisTrade policy can change quickly. The organizations responding most effectively aren't necessarily the ones reacting fastest after a new tariff announcement. They're the ones that built flexibility into their operations long before they needed it. We're seeing more executives ask strategic questions like: • How exposed are we to future duty increases? • How much flexibility do we have in our inventory timing? • Are we protecting cash flow if trade conditions change? That's why FTZ conversations are accelerating. The companies that answer that question well will be the ones best positioned for long-term resilience. If you want those questions answered, schedule a free consultation with us today to see if we can help! Comment FTZ and we’ll get you the link.
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Nelson R. Cabrera shared thisWhy more finance teams are paying attention to FTZs in 2026 When people talk about Foreign Trade Zones, the conversation often starts with tariffs. But for many importers, the more immediate benefit is control. Control over when duties are paid. Control over how inventory is managed. Control over cash flow during periods of uncertainty. FTZs allow companies to defer duties until goods enter http://U.S. commerce, creating greater flexibility around inventory planning and working capital. That can help businesses: 📦Align duty payments more closely with revenue generation 📦Hold inventory without immediate duty obligations 📦Improve cash flow forecasting 📦Respond more effectively to shifts in demand In an environment where trade policies, sourcing decisions, and inventory strategies are constantly evolving, flexibility has real financial value. That's one reason FTZ conversations are accelerating in 2026. If you’re ready to talk about your tariff strategy, shoot me a DM. I’d be happy to chat and see if FTZs are right for your company. #ForeignTradeZone #SupplyChainStrategy #GlobalTrade #TradeCompliance #CashFlowManagement
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Nelson R. Cabrera shared thisMost companies wait too long to explore FTZ strategies. ⏰ For many importers, Foreign Trade Zones don't become part of the conversation until margins are already under pressure. A tariff increases. Landed costs rise. Inventory is already in transit. Suddenly, leadership is looking for ways to offset the impact. The problem? FTZs are most valuable when they're part of a proactive strategy, not a reactive one. In 2026, more companies are reassessing their duty exposure before costs escalate. They're evaluating ways to improve inventory management, preserve cash flow, and build greater flexibility into their supply chains. One of the biggest misconceptions is that FTZs are only for large enterprises with massive import volumes. The reality is that businesses of all sizes are exploring FTZs as tariff volatility becomes a more permanent part of the operating environment. If you're thinking about getting proactive about your tariff strategy, schedule a conversation with the ShipLilly team: https://lnkd.in/eCrzWaDd #SupplyChainStrategy #GlobalTrade #ForeignTradeZone #TradeCompliance #Logistics #ImportExport
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Nelson R. Cabrera shared this⚠️ The real supply chain risk in 2026 isn't tariffs. It's waiting too long to react. According to the McKinsey & Company Supply Chain Risk Pulse, 82% of companies say new tariffs are impacting their supply chains, affecting as much as 20–40% of supply chain activity. The companies getting ahead aren't just watching tariff announcements. They're asking deeper questions: • What happens if a supplier becomes too expensive overnight? • How exposed are we to a single sourcing region? • Where are duties putting pressure on cash flow? • Do we have enough inventory flexibility to adapt? • Are we using programs like FTZs to reduce friction? The organizations adapting fastest are treating logistics as a strategic advantage—not a back-office function. Because in today's trade environment, resilience isn't built during disruption. It's built before it happens. Schedule a conversation with the ShipLilly team to evaluate your supply chain exposure and identify opportunities for greater flexibility. Link in comments! #SupplyChainStrategy #GlobalTrade #ImportExport #TradeCompliance #Logistics #ForeignTradeZone
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Nelson R. Cabrera shared this💡 A lot of companies still think FTZs are only for massive enterprises. Here's a better question: How much inventory are you carrying before it's actually sold? Many importers pay duties as products enter the country—even when those products may sit in a warehouse for weeks or months before generating revenue. That means cash can become tied up in: • Inventory • Duty payments • Storage costs • Working capital that could be used elsewhere That's why more mid-market importers are exploring Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs). An FTZ can allow businesses to delay duty payments until goods enter http://U.S. commerce, helping align duty obligations more closely with inventory movement and sales activity. For many companies, this isn't really a tariff conversation. It's a cash flow conversation. The companies seeing the greatest value from FTZs aren't necessarily the largest importers. They're the ones asking better operational questions. Wondering whether an FTZ could make sense for your business? Schedule a conversation with the ShipLilly team (LINK IN COMMENTS) #SupplyChainStrategy #GlobalTrade #ForeignTradeZone #TradeCompliance #Logistics #ImportExport
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Nelson R. Cabrera shared this🚢 The companies winning right now are not necessarily paying fewer tariffs. They're identifying supply chain exposure faster than everyone else. That's harder than it sounds. Nearly half (43%) of supply chain professionals report struggling to maintain supply chain visibility. The difference often comes down to understanding: • Which products carry the highest duty burden • How inventory timing impacts cash flow • Where costs are accumulating across the supply chain • Which strategies create more operational flexibility That's one reason more companies are exploring tools like Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs). The companies navigating trade volatility best aren't waiting for the next policy change. They're building supply chains that can adapt when it happens. If you're evaluating ways to improve supply chain flexibility, schedule a conversation with the ShipLilly team (LINK IN COMMENTS) #SupplyChainStrategy #GlobalTrade #ForeignTradeZone #TradeCompliance #Logistics #ImportExport
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Nelson R. Cabrera liked thisNelson R. Cabrera liked thisTechnology changes. Threats evolve. AI accelerates everything... But people are still the critical layer! ☝🤓 That was one of my biggest takeaways from today's Converged Security Summit (CSS 2026) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Spent the day with technology, cybersecurity, and physical security leaders navigating real challenges and what's coming next. One theme kept surfacing: Silos have to go! 💯 Cybersecurity can't operate separately from physical security. IT can't operate separately from the business. And AI can't simply be layered onto an organization without the right people, data, governance, and trust around it. John Eversole, CSO of Madison Square Garden, put the people side front and center in his keynote: Even with the best technology available, human judgment, design, and flexibility remain what the mission actually rests on. 🎯 That carried straight into the IT leadership panel. Technology strategy needs to connect to business outcomes. Relationships with partners and peers need to be built before the crisis hits, not during it. And as AI reshapes how we work, AI fluency paired with good old-fashioned critical thinking is becoming the real differentiator. People. Process. Technology... Always in that order! (I'm hearing that order reinforced everywhere I go lately.) Great seeing R.C. Woodson lead an excellent conversation on some of the most relevant topics impacting all of us today. Safe travels back to AK, my friend! 🫡 One of the coolest parts of the day was the behind-the-scenes tour of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.🔥 Walked through the Atlanta United FC and Atlanta Falcons locker rooms, saw areas most fans never get to, and took in the venue from field level. As a former athlete, that view hits different! Thank you to Genetec for making the tour possible, and to the stadium crew for showing us around. 🙏 Great meeting new leaders, reconnecting with old friends, and learning from people who've been in the trenches. Technology will keep changing. Our ability to connect it to people, outcomes, and each other is what determines the impact! Until next time — keep innovating, my friends. 🚀
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Nelson R. Cabrera liked thisNelson R. Cabrera liked thisIntroducing the Maritime Commerce Knowledge Series. Starting today, every Thursday we will break down one maritime commercial concept in plain language, drawing on our years on the chartering and S&P desks at Gujarathi Empire. Concept 01: Voyage Charter vs Time Charter, and who carries the liability in each. Same ship. Two very different deals, and two very different ways of sharing risk. VOYAGE CHARTER (think of a taxi) The owner carries your cargo from port A to port B for a freight rate, quoted in USD per tonne. The owner pays for fuel and port costs and plans the voyage. If loading or discharging runs past the agreed laytime, the liability shifts to the charterer, who pays demurrage. TIME CHARTER (think of hiring a car) The charterer hires the ship for a period at a daily hire, quoted in USD per day. The charterer now carries the fuel and port cost liability and decides where the ship trades, within the limits of the contract. Hire keeps running unless the ship is off-hire, for example after a breakdown, at which point that liability shifts back to the owner. WHAT STAYS THE SAME In both structures, the owner keeps the liability for crew, insurance and repairs. Cargo handling liability depends on the terms agreed (liner terms or FIO), so always read the charter party before assuming who pays what. WHY IT MATTERS The real difference is who carries the time risk. On a voyage charter, delay at the ports is settled through laytime and demurrage. On a time charter, the charterer pays hire for every day, so a slow port or a fuel price rise lands on the charterer. HOW TO CHOOSE One cargo on a fixed route usually suits a voyage charter. Several cargoes, or a need to control trading, often points to a time charter. Common forms: GENCON for voyage, NYPE and Baltime for time. Which one does your business use more, voyage or time charter? Tell us in the comments. Next Thursday: The Chartering Chain. Who is who in a fixture, and who takes which risk. BUILDING MARITIME TALENT This series sits alongside two of our ongoing initiatives to grow maritime commercial knowledge in India. Train to Hire is our training programme for ex-merchant navy officers moving into shore-based commercial roles, run online through the year with offline sessions in April and December. Maritime Dialogues is our podcast on the people and deals shaping the industry, on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. If you want to go deeper than a weekly post, that is where to start. WANT TO LEARN MORE? Explore our maritime courses, including Train to Hire, and get the full details at www.gegroupcareers.com #Shipping #Chartering #ShipBroking #MaritimeCommerce #TrainToHire #MaritimeDialogues #GujarathiEmpire
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Nelson R. Cabrera liked thisNelson R. Cabrera liked thisFCBF is in Washington, D.C.! 🇺🇸 Our FCBF leadership is representing Florida’s international trade community at the NCBFAA Government Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C. It’s a great opportunity to connect with industry leaders, participate in important conversations, and ensure the perspectives of customs brokers, freight forwarders, and trade professionals are represented in discussions impacting our industry. We’re proud to see FCBF representing our members and Florida’s trade community in our nation’s capital! #FCBF #NCBFAA #GovernmentAffairs #InternationalTrade #CustomsBrokers Andrea Nicole Wilson Michelle Fajardo Mauricio Larenas Jenette Prince Gabriel Rodriguez, CCS Lucas Rodriguez, LCB Sharon Garcia Kim Highsmith Ralph De La Rosa
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Nelson R. Cabrera liked thisNelson R. Cabrera liked thisNext Stop: Guyana! 🇬🇾 DTL President Jen Diaz is headed to Guyana for the World Trade Center Georgetown International Trade and Investment Conference, October 19–23, 2026. Jen will take the stage to share practical guidance on exporting to the United States, navigating CBP requirements, and identifying tariff refund opportunities. We’re excited to bring DTL’s trade knowledge to Guyana and be part of the conversation around expanding global trade, investment, and commercial opportunities. #tradelaw #tradelawyer #internationaltrade #yourcustomsexpert
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Nelson R. Cabrera liked thisNelson R. Cabrera liked thisSEMI-TRAILER KNOWING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT FOR THE RIGHT CARGO In freight forwarding and project logistics, choosing the correct trailer is not simply about moving cargo from one place to another. The type of trailer, cargo dimensions, weight, loading method, route, and regulatory requirements all determine the safest and most efficient transportation solution. Here are some of the most commonly used semi-trailer types: Dry Van – Enclosed trailer for general cargo, pallets, cartons, machinery parts and other goods requiring protection from weather. Reefer – Refrigerated trailer for temperature-sensitive cargo such as food, pharmaceuticals and other products requiring controlled temperatures. Flatbed – Open trailer for steel, pipes, construction materials, machinery and cargo that can be loaded from the side or top. Step Deck – Lower deck configuration providing additional height clearance for taller machinery and equipment. Lowboy / Double Drop – Designed for heavy and oversized equipment, including excavators, bulldozers, generators and construction machinery. RGN (Removable Gooseneck) – Particularly useful for heavy self-propelled equipment because the gooseneck can be detached, allowing machinery to be driven directly onto the trailer. Tanker – Designed for transporting liquids and certain gases, with the trailer specification determined by the particular product being carried. Hopper / Pneumatic Bulk – Used for dry bulk materials such as cement, grain, powder and other industrial products. Dump Trailer / Side Dump – Commonly used for sand, gravel, soil, stone and other loose construction materials. Curtain Side – Provides flexible side access while maintaining protection from weather, making it useful for palletized and industrial cargo. Car Hauler – Designed for transporting multiple vehicles efficiently. Logging Trailer – Specialized equipment for transporting logs and timber. For project cargo and heavy-lift logistics, selecting the correct trailer requires careful consideration of: Length Gross and axle weight Width Height Loading and unloading method Route and road restrictions 🔗 Cargo securing and lashing requirements 📑 Permits and regulatory requirements At GIZE PLC, understanding equipment and cargo requirements is an essential part of delivering reliable freight, project cargo and specialized logistics solutions. The right cargo + the right equipment + the right route = efficient logistics. #Logistics #FreightForwarding #ProjectCargo #HeavyHaul #Transportation #SupplyChain #Shipping #RoadTransport #SpecialCargo #GIZEPLC #EthiopiaLogistics
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Nelson R. Cabrera liked thisNelson R. Cabrera liked thisOld Dominion Freight Line was founded in 1934. Transportes Tresguerras was founded in 1935. You can probably name one of them. I spent last week building a chart of 45 US logistics companies against 45 Mexican ones, and the thing that stuck with me wasn't the trade numbers. It was how much history sits on the right-hand side that never makes it into a US conversation. A few of them. Tresguerras started in Celaya, Guanajuato, as a cooperative with eight vehicles running the Celaya–Salvatierra–Acámbaro route. The name came from the monument they parked next to, a 19th-century architect called Francisco Eduardo Tresguerras. Today it's 2,200+ highway trucks, around 700 last-mile vehicles, roughly 160 warehouses, and more than three million shipments a year. Ninety years old and almost invisible from a US desk. Traxion is the one that reframed the whole exercise for me. 11,200+ units. 24,600+ people. Over 1.2 million square metres of warehouse space. And it owns both Solística and Egoba - two other names I'd listed separately, because that's genuinely how they show up in the market. Three entries on my chart, one group behind them. The market is more concentrated than the map makes it look. CPKC is the only railroad that runs as a single line from Canada through the United States into Mexico. That merger closed in 2023. If you move rail freight across that border and you haven't looked at what it changed, that's an afternoon well spent. Nuvocargo is the outlier, a Y Combinator company, not a ninety-year-old family business. Raised $36.5 million in 2023, expanded to all the major border crossings, and then did something telling: it built its own customs brokerage. A venture-backed startup decided brokerage was too central to outsource. That should tell you how the category works down there. That last one is the pattern, really. Customs brokerage isn't an administrative step in Mexico. It's leverage. Old Dominion and Tresguerras both started hauling freight before the war. One became a name every US shipper knows. The other moves three million shipments a year and had to be introduced to you just now. That gap isn't about quality. It's about which side of the border the reading list was written on. Which Mexican operator should I have led with? I'm building the next one of these and I want the names that don't come up.
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Nelson R. Cabrera liked thisNelson R. Cabrera liked thisLeaders in warehousing + Distribution since 1996Explore what makes ShipLilly the best choice to handle your warehousing & fulfillment needs.Explore what makes ShipLilly the best choice to handle your warehousing & fulfillment needs.
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Nelson R. Cabrera liked thisNelson R. Cabrera liked this¡Faltan solo 3 días! ✨ Estamos cada vez más cerca del Lima Trade Show 2026, un encuentro creado para fortalecer conexiones, compartir innovación y generar nuevas oportunidades de negocio junto a grandes marcas de la industria tecnológica. 📅 21 al 24 de septiembre 📍 Lima, Perú ¡Nos vemos muy pronto para vivir esta gran experiencia! 🚀 #LimaTradeShow2026 #AbboudTrading #Tecnología #Innovación #Networking #NuevosNegocios #JBL #Razer #Lexar #HP #Conair #Acer #Linksys #Cudy #Epson #SanDisk #Samsung #Brother #Royal #Creality #Kingston #Belkin #Targus
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2012 Guerilla Marketing Intensive @ Jay Conrad's house, The Father of Guerilla Marketing with over 21 million books sold
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Spanish
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Lanta Logistics
📦 Lanta LLC Insights: Freight Pulse & Law Update: Port Congestion Hits Records as FMC Clarifies Demurrage Claims September 4, 2026 : Global freight conditions are tightening. Container capacity waiting at ports reached 11.13 million TEU, while typhoons and vessel bunching continue to disrupt schedules. Why is port congestion worsening? North Asia holds 51.4% of waiting container capacity. Global schedule reliability fell to 56.4%, with average delays reaching 6.06 days, according to Korea Herald reporting. Reduced effective vessel capacity may pressure rates and inventory plans through the peak... Read more → https://lnkd.in/eU_62jEX #Logistics #3PL #Warehousing #FreightTransportation #midatlantic #maryland #USA #GlenBurnie #Transportation #Supplychain
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