---
title: "Case studies collection: Transportation cost reduction"
description: Documented cost reduction projects across parcel, truckload, air, ocean, and network design, with the result each one produced.
image: https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/Case%20studies%20-%20transportation%20cost%20reduction.png
---

[![Trans-Solutions](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/trans-solutions-2026/assets/ts-logo-white.svg)](https://trans-solutions.com/?hsLang=en)

[Services](https://trans-solutions.com/services?hsLang=en)

- [Freight Rate Negotiation](https://trans-solutions.com/services-freight-rate-negotiation?hsLang=en)
- [Parcel Rate Negotiation](https://trans-solutions.com/services-parcel-rate-negotiation?hsLang=en)
- [Carrier Sourcing & RFP](https://trans-solutions.com/services-carrier-sourcing-rfp?hsLang=en)
- [Vendor & TMS Selection](https://trans-solutions.com/services-vendor-tms-selection?hsLang=en)
- [Cold Chain Logistics](https://trans-solutions.com/services-cold-chain-logistics?hsLang=en)
- [Transportation Operations Audit](https://trans-solutions.com/services-transportation-audit?hsLang=en)
- [Freight Bills & Recovery](https://trans-solutions.com/services-freight-bill-audit-claims-recovery?hsLang=en)
- [Network Design](https://trans-solutions.com/services-network-design?hsLang=en)

[Case studies](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies)

How we work

- [About Paul](https://trans-solutions.com/paul-brinkman?hsLang=en)

[Contact](https://trans-solutions.com/contact?hsLang=en) [Savings Calculator](https://trans-solutions.com/savings-calculator?hsLang=en#step1) [Book a call](https://trans-solutions.com/contact?hsLang=en)

# Transportation cost reduction case studies

The results our engagements produced for clients like you, and what exactly we did to get there.

Mode

Mode

Parcel Truckload & LTL Air & ocean Cold Chain

Industry

Industry

Pharmaceutical & medical devices Industrial & electronics manufacturing Consumer & retail brands Food & beverage Logistics & 3PL

Consulting service

Consulting service

Freight Rate Negotiation Parcel Rate Negotiation Carrier Sourcing & RFP Transportation Operations Audit Network Design Vendor & TMS Selection Cold Chain Logistics

Clear filters

[![freight rate negotiation case study](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/ba8e743d0b0a616bbdbe01f439eccb666c3b5eb3.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-electronics-manufacturing-air-ocean-parcel-savings?hsLang=en)

Freight Rate Negotiation Parcel · Air & ocean Industrial & electronics manufacturing

## [$1.5M cut across air, ocean and parcel with no change of carrier](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-electronics-manufacturing-air-ocean-parcel-savings?hsLang=en)

Years on the same carriers, spot rates that moved every month, and no cost certainty anywhere.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-electronics-manufacturing-air-ocean-parcel-savings?hsLang=en)

[![carrier sourcing & rfp case study](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/3ac65ed58c892fe334d9567be880f7f3aa3ba1a5.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-health-beauty-3pl-transportation-savings?hsLang=en)

Carrier Sourcing & RFP Parcel Consumer & retail brands

## [25.8% cut from outbound parcel for a health and beauty brand](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-health-beauty-3pl-transportation-savings?hsLang=en)

Their 3PL bundled fulfillment with transportation, so nobody had tested the outbound rates in years.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-health-beauty-3pl-transportation-savings?hsLang=en)

[![case study: carrier sourcing & rfp, parcel rates](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/9886906f80e99310d1ce2cdc2e2793ac5f1f4355.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-sports-apparel-parcel-air-ocean-savings?hsLang=en)

Carrier Sourcing & RFP Parcel · Air & ocean Consumer & retail brands

## [Four new carriers and a strengthened renewal for TaylorMade Golf](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-sports-apparel-parcel-air-ocean-savings?hsLang=en)

A parcel renewal sitting on the desk, the number two carrier at the door, and no capacity to run a real bid.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-sports-apparel-parcel-air-ocean-savings?hsLang=en)

No related results found. Please try simplifying the filters.

![“](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/%E2%80%9C.svg)

> Paul and team expertly orchestrated a competitive process with 20+ participants across three rounds, completing the entire project in under three months. Results exceeded expectations.

![VP of Operations, TaylorMade Golf](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/0fd834b9f4cdf2f595a0f92482d60bb8d676b601.webp)

Joe Vincent. VP of Operations, TaylorMade Golf 

[![OBJECTS](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/OBJECTS.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-vincent-a079961/)

![“](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/%E2%80%9C.svg)

> I knew I had good rates. I had a feeling I could do better, so I called Trans-solutions. They delivered 4x what the incumbent offered.

Sr. Director of Supply Chain, engineered solutions manufacturer

[![Case study: pharma parcel spend](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/499fc57d0b6fe90cb833258adf390ec32b1cefba.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-pharmaceutical-parcel-savings-no-bid?hsLang=en)

Parcel Rate Negotiation Parcel Pharmaceutical & medical devices

## [$21M cut from a top 10 pharma company’s parcel spend, with no competitive bid](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-pharmaceutical-parcel-savings-no-bid?hsLang=en)

They would not risk service by putting the freight out to bid. We used peer pricing instead.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-pharmaceutical-parcel-savings-no-bid?hsLang=en)

[![Case study: network consolidation model disproved](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/0e093b6c75b97ff13e80d607b17bbd8fd843e3b2.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-network-model-second-opinion?hsLang=en)

Network Design Truckload & LTL Pharmaceutical & medical devices

## [A $24M consolidation model disproved before the client spent a dollar on it](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-network-model-second-opinion?hsLang=en)

A consultant said closing four distribution centers would save millions. They wanted that checked before committing the capital.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-network-model-second-opinion?hsLang=en)

[![case study: transportation operations audit for cost compression](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/1b6131b192ab04b28b37b6042401b6936db9a582.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-international-transportation-audit-savings?hsLang=en)

Transportation Operations Audit Parcel · Air & ocean Industrial & electronics manufacturing

## [An operations audit that led to $15M in annual savings and 18% cost compression](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-international-transportation-audit-savings?hsLang=en)

Records on paper, track and trace by phone call, and rates nobody had tested in years.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-international-transportation-audit-savings?hsLang=en)

[![case study: nutraceutrical company](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/nutraceutrical%20company-2.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-nutraceutical-3pl-partner-selection?hsLang=en)

Vendor & TMS Selection Parcel Consumer & retail brands

## [$367K saved on $1.55M of spend with a new 3PL partner](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-nutraceutical-3pl-partner-selection?hsLang=en)

Warehousing looks like a small line item, so nobody re-bids it. Deliveries were inconsistent and costs kept rising.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-nutraceutical-3pl-partner-selection?hsLang=en)

[![case study: international air and ocean costs](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/b327ac3256f27d54b2ff5c8466b141e2f02738ec.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-security-equipment-air-ocean-savings?hsLang=en)

Carrier Sourcing & RFP Air & ocean Industrial & electronics manufacturing

## [$4M+ saved on international air and ocean for a security equipment manufacturer](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-security-equipment-air-ocean-savings?hsLang=en)

A flat rack from Malaysia, a low-boy to Turkmenistan. Lanes too specialized for the largest forwarders.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-security-equipment-air-ocean-savings?hsLang=en)

[![case study: freight savings for a food distributor](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/bae5071395efeb5819762a0292a7b8b876327b3c.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-food-distribution-multi-mode-savings?hsLang=en)

Freight Rate Negotiation Truckload & LTL · Cold Chain Food & beverage

## [$23M in savings identified for a multi-billion-dollar food distributor](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-food-distribution-multi-mode-savings?hsLang=en)

Transportation was outsourced to a provider that preferred keeping its existing carriers over finding better ones. We benchmarked every lane.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-food-distribution-multi-mode-savings?hsLang=en)

[![case study: agricultural food production and distribution-1](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/agricultural%20food%20production%20and%20distribution-1.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-packaging-category-management-savings?hsLang=en)

Category Management Food & beverage

## [$8M a year and 22% off packaging spend for a global agricultural food producer](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-packaging-category-management-savings?hsLang=en)

Six vendors, over 600 SKUs, and no agreement with the largest supplier. Nobody could see the spend.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-packaging-category-management-savings?hsLang=en)

[![case study: US based franchise pizza chain with stores-1](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/US%20based%20franchise%20pizza%20chain%20with%20stores-1.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-restaurant-franchise-truckload-savings?hsLang=en)

Carrier Sourcing & RFP Truckload & LTL Food & beverage

## [Over $2.5M a year saved by moving Little Caesars off vendor-managed freight](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-restaurant-franchise-truckload-savings?hsLang=en)

Suppliers picked the carriers and marked up the freight, then passed it to franchisees. Nobody was managing it.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-restaurant-franchise-truckload-savings?hsLang=en)

[![successful electronics company](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/successful%20electronics%20company-1.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-electronics-fulfillment-partner-selection?hsLang=en)

Vendor & TMS Selection Truckload & LTL Consumer & retail brands

## [$1M saved by testing fulfillment against the parent company’s own network](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-electronics-fulfillment-partner-selection?hsLang=en)

The easy answer was to use the parent company’s fulfillment. They wanted to know whether it was the best one.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-electronics-fulfillment-partner-selection?hsLang=en)

[![case study: warehouse network consolidation](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/da19232f3797a5f3b8d71cf9cd86aae42956bada.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-warehouse-network-consolidation?hsLang=en)

Network Design Consumer & retail brands

## [$2.2M saved a year and fill rate up 15 points by consolidating two DCs into one](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-warehouse-network-consolidation?hsLang=en)

They wanted to close a warehouse. The question was whether service would survive it, and nobody could price that.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-warehouse-network-consolidation?hsLang=en)

[![case study: cold chain logistics](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/15a34acf6f6918670302d7a1377bd58bd036d33cc.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-pharmaceutical-sample-distribution?hsLang=en)

Cold Chain Logistics Parcel · Cold Chain Pharmaceutical & medical devices

## [Over $1M a year saved on PDMA-compliant sample distribution](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-pharmaceutical-sample-distribution?hsLang=en)

Deliveries were inconsistent, costly and non-compliant, and sales reps were spending their time managing sample inventory.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-pharmaceutical-sample-distribution?hsLang=en)

[![case study: producer of high-performance minerals](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/e38da7b64d5deca037a3d9a05f6af8078bccadc7.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-manufacturing-supplier-margin-improvement?hsLang=en)

Network Design Truckload & LTL Industrial & electronics manufacturing

## [Over $500K a year saved on both sides of a low-margin minerals supply chain](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-manufacturing-supplier-margin-improvement?hsLang=en)

Freight ate the margin, and every expedited load sent to hit a production schedule wiped out the profit.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-manufacturing-supplier-margin-improvement?hsLang=en)

[![case study: pharmaceutical manufacturer cold chain logistics](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/67664138193805fa627dbd932cc9ba339c10b5bb.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-active-vs-passive-pallets-cold-chain?hsLang=en)

Cold Chain Logistics Air & ocean · Cold Chain Pharmaceutical & medical devices

## [Over $500K a year saved shifting international air shipments from active to passive pallets](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-active-vs-passive-pallets-cold-chain?hsLang=en)

Active pallets cost a premium and weigh 635 kilos. Passive ones are cheaper, if the temperature holds.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-active-vs-passive-pallets-cold-chain?hsLang=en)

[![case study: network design with a European depo](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/66fe0fdc60edb365e37894bf42aae3859d4e657f.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-european-spare-parts-network-optimization?hsLang=en)

Network Design Industrial & electronics manufacturing

## [15% off spare parts distribution in Europe, with service restored](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-european-spare-parts-network-optimization?hsLang=en)

Down tools cost the customer over $100K an hour, and the depots were missing their service agreements.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-european-spare-parts-network-optimization?hsLang=en)

[![case study: cold chain freezer tanks](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/4f2e52ea62d02b4c35e2906ed279f708694f5757.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-pharmaceutical-asset-temperature-tracking?hsLang=en)

Cold Chain Logistics Cold Chain Pharmaceutical & medical devices

## [A 15% to 20% smaller freezer tank fleet for Genentech](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-pharmaceutical-asset-temperature-tracking?hsLang=en)

A physical count across three continents came up five tanks short, with no way to trace the contents.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-pharmaceutical-asset-temperature-tracking?hsLang=en)

[![case study: 3PL operations audit](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/678ea3c0d2b144233f70d67f8defbd6a9a225243.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-third-party-logistics-transportation-audit?hsLang=en)

Transportation Operations Audit Logistics & 3PL

## [The gaps that were blocking a 3PL from expanding into new modes](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-third-party-logistics-transportation-audit?hsLang=en)

Double digit growth against a manual back office, where keeping up meant adding people rather than systems.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-third-party-logistics-transportation-audit?hsLang=en)

[![case study: transportation management system selection](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/464b59a47e862003cba91de1ab713bbb7d07d52d.webp)](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-third-party-logistics-tms-selection?hsLang=en)

Vendor & TMS Selection Logistics & 3PL

## [A scalable TMS bought under budget, by cutting the functionality nobody would use](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-third-party-logistics-tms-selection?hsLang=en)

No transportation management system does it all, and most buyers overpay for functionality they will never use.

[Read the full case study](https://trans-solutions.com/case-studies-third-party-logistics-tms-selection?hsLang=en)

No related results found. Please try simplifying the filters.

![](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/trans-solutions-2026/assets/cta-bg.jpg)

## How much are you leaving on the table?

Instant estimate based on data from 600+ clients we have helped

Calculate your savings potential

### Ready to get started?

[Book a call with Paul](https://trans-solutions.com/contact?hsLang=en)

![Trans-Solutions](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/trans-solutions-2026/assets/ts-logo-white.svg)

 Trans-Solutions, Inc. Independent transportation consultants since 1997.  
 We are not affiliated with, compensated by, or acting as an agent for any carrier.

[![](https://trans-solutions.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/trans-solutions-2026/assets/linkedin.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/trans-solutions-consulting/)

© 2026 Trans-Solutions, Inc., Ladera Ranch HQ