---
title: Balancing Cost, Speed & Green Shipping | Opendock
description: Nick Pombonyo of Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare on balancing shipping cost and speed, consolidating loads, and greener delivery.
image: https://blog.opendock.com/hubfs/heroepisode10-1.png
---
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# Episode 10 of What's Up Dock? Podcast
by [**jpallmerine**](https://blog.opendock.com/author/jpallmerine) on 17 May, 2023
**Key Takeaways**
- Shippers balance cost and speed by consolidating loads onto fewer trucks.
- Slower shipping options let e-commerce customers cut transportation emissions.
- Free-shipping thresholds work by bundling more items into a single shipment.
- Electric trucks are coming, but fuel volatility still worries logistics teams.
When you've got a good thing you just know it. But how do you get there, and how do you keep it?
In this episode, we discuss how companies can optimize their supply chains with [Nick Pombonyo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-pombonyo-348366107), Director of Logistics at [Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare](https://www.drivemedical.com/en-us/).
We cover topics such as the importance of visibility, balancing cost and service, and the benefits of mode conversion. We also touch on the role of technology in logistics and the impact of e-commerce on the industry. And lastly, what incentives are offered by these platforms to encourage more eco-friendly shipping practices and what is the effect of these incentives on the consumer's decision-making process?
Join us as we discuss:
- Common strategies shippers use to optimize their operations
- Why consumers choose different shipping options, such as same-day or standard delivery
- How e-commerce companies are incentivizing customers to choose more eco-friendly shipping options
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## How Do Shippers Optimize Their Operations?
**Shippers optimize by holding non-urgent freight for a fuller truck and switching shipping modes when it saves time or money.** [Shipping medical supplies](https://blog.opendock.com/telehealth-logistics-overcoming-barriers-to-innovation) may sound like a straightforward process, but the strategies behind getting these life-saving items to patients should not go unnoticed.
Because medical supplies are extremely varying in weight and density, there's a lot that goes into making the shipping process as smooth as possible. Logistics teams have to get creative and at the end of the day make decisions based on what's best for their customers. Medical distributors feel the same pressure at the receiving end, which is why [Cardinal Health cut truck wait times by 20%](https://blog.opendock.com/case-study-cardinal-health) after moving dock appointments off spreadsheets and phone calls.
That same responsibility shows up inside hospital walls too, where [a hospital supply chain team manages tens of thousands of specialized SKUs](https://blog.opendock.com/episode-11-of-whats-up-dock-podcast) that can't simply be substituted.
#### *“Whether it's a respiratory item or a wheelchair, there's a* ***level of importance*** *and* ***responsibility*** *to ship the products we stock* ***damage-free, on time and cost-effective****.” (Nick Pombonyo)*
If an item is not time-sensitive, it could be held until there is a truck heading in the same direction with more products to reduce the costs of shipping. Switching the mode of shipping can also allow for more items to be shipped at once. [Fine-tuning the processes with real shipping data](https://blog.opendock.com/its-your-dock-and-your-data-use-it) is an ongoing strategy as shipment days are never going to look the same.
Shippers are constantly encouraged to continue their education and work with their service providers and partners to see what they do for other customers, taking note of how to apply it to their own business. Nick says shippers need to be “perpetual students of the industry and learn from each other.”
[](https://loadsmart.navattic.com/904j01ru?g=cmm0qo58p004d04l16aswd4fk&s=1)
## How Are E-Commerce Companies Incentivizing Eco-Friendly Shipping?
**E-commerce companies nudge customers toward slower shipping and consolidated orders by framing them as greener choices.** In an Amazon-crazed world, [the demands of direct-to-consumer shipping](https://blog.opendock.com/the-logistics-of-meal-kits) have gotten faster and faster, with some items even being able to be shipped on the same day with Prime.
When selecting an item on Amazon, you are often given a few options for shipping. One option is to get it the same day, another option is to get it the next day. Finally, you can opt to receive all of your items sent in one box instead. This option does require a few extra days. But by waiting a few days to get your package, you're making an environmentally friendly choice to cut back on both transportation emissions and products used to ship your order.
As someone in the shipping industry, Nick can understand that these options are to ship more efficiently and effectively. Customers who are not in the industry may not realize the implications of selecting a later shipping date but just putting the option out there makes a difference.
#### *“There are* ***important conversations*** *for the industry to have and to* ***come together*** *and make sure each side is held accountable for doing their part to* ***keep goods moving throughout the country.****” (Nick Pombonyo)*
Another incentive consumers will often see is 'spend x amount of money and receive free shipping,' this is by design. Because you are hypothetically ordering more items, more will be shipped together, ultimately cutting the shipping costs down and increasing the revenue of the company. The logistics of it balance out in a way that benefits both the business and the customer.
## What's Next for Logistics and Shipping?
**Nick expects electric trucks and more conservative supply chain planning to define the next phase of shipping.** Environmental impacts are becoming more and more central in the logistics and shipping conversation and have a lot of say in the industry's future.
Nick predicts in the near future more and more companies will be using electric trucks as there have been increasing regulations surrounding emissions. This will inevitably come with increased costs for businesses as electric vehicles are higher in price. However, it would eliminate the volatility of fluctuating fuel prices affecting shipping costs for consumers.
And the volatility of the industry over the past two years has started to take a toll on the decisions made by logistics teams. De-risking supply chains and shipments will become more common as teams are forced to think about risk in a more critical way.
#### *“Approaching your supply chain and shipments in a more* ***conservative fashion*** *will be a* ***common trend going forward.****” (Nick Pombonyo)*
*Keep connected with us by subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you get podcasts. [Find all the episodes here.](https://lp.opendock.com/whats-up-dock-podcast?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=hyperlink&utm_campaign=whats-up-dock-warehouse-opendock-q1-23&utm_content=episode-1-blog)*
Nick's conversation is a reminder that shipping decisions ripple well beyond the warehouse dock, touching cost, service, and the environment all at once.
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## Frequently Asked Questions
### Who is Nick Pombonyo?
**Nick Pombonyo is Director of Logistics at Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare, a medical supply company.** He joined the What's Up Dock? podcast to talk about balancing cost and service, mode conversion, and how e-commerce shipping habits are changing the industry.
### Why do e-commerce companies offer slower shipping options?
**Slower shipping options let e-commerce companies consolidate orders and frame the wait as an eco-friendly choice for the customer.** Nick explains that waiting a few extra days to receive a combined order cuts down on transportation emissions and packaging.
### Will electric trucks change the future of shipping?
**Nick predicts more companies will adopt electric trucks as emissions regulations increase, even though the vehicles cost more upfront.** He believes the tradeoff is worth it because electric trucks would remove the volatility of fluctuating fuel prices from shipping costs.
Topics: [Opendock Blog](https://blog.opendock.com/tag/opendock-blog)
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