Jerry Hempstead, chief animator of Hempstead Consulting, shows how shippers can untangle the complex tariffs and surcharges of express and parcel carriers, and implement strategies that can save money while improving service.

Michael McComb, regional vice president of sales with the Hub Group, says there are multiple benefits - both environmental and financial - to participating in the U.S. EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership program.

Those specialized sectors, with their need for strict regulatory compliance and product control, have lagged other industries in the use of third-party service providers. But the picture is beginning to change, says Angela Watson, UPS's vice president of enterprise sales for the healthcare sector.