Logistics Management Magazine Archives

March 2017 Logistics Management

In this issue:

  • E-commerce: Major modes join the mix
  • Paying for parcel performance
  • Next-gen WMS
  • 2017 Warehouse/DC Equipment Survey results
  • Quarterly Transporation Update: LTL's upbeat outload for 2017
  • 2017 Alliance Awards: Recognizing outstanding supply chain partnerships
March 28, 2017 · This marks the 33rd year that Logistics Management (LM) has published the results of our “Salary Survey,” a research project conducted by Peerless Research Group (PRG) that fuels our best-read editorial feature and is the foundation of the most downloaded report that PRG produces over the course of our publishing year.
March 2, 2017 · WMS vendors are stepping up to the plate and developing functionalities and solutions that meet the complex needs of today’s companies. Our top analysts take a peek into these developments and discuss the DC of the future and the software that will support it.
March 2, 2017 · The world of supply chain management is exciting, challenging and rapidly changing. According to supply chain managers and executive leaders at a Fortune 50 company, these five trends are affecting the design and management of supply chains.
March 1, 2017 · Our annual survey of reader investment levels in materials handling equipment and technology shows that with e-commerce-related pressures growing, they’re bumping up investment in the key enablers for flexibility and efficiency.
March 1, 2017 · Our panel provides an update on all the market shifts in store for parcel shippers—especially when it comes to pricing, service and managing an e-commerce-centric supply chain.
March 1, 2017 · There’s a dawning awareness of the importance of a reverse logistics strategy—especially in light of the critical role it now plays in e-commerce. Our experts say that level of thinking will not only help improve customer service, but will contribute significantly to an organization’s bottom line.
March 1, 2017 · While last mile carriers receive much of the attention, the traditional modal heavyweights are in charge of connecting the growing web of facilities that enable e-commerce. Today, all modes as well as freight intermediaries must be poised for growth and flexible enough to keep evolving.
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Latest in Logistics Management

Understanding the FTC’s ban on noncompetes
Crowell & Moring law partner Stefan Meisner discussed the recent decision by the Federal Trade Commission to ban noncompete agreements.

UPS rolls out fuel surcharge increases
Earlier this week, Atlanta-based global freight transportation and logistics services provider UPS announced it is increasing fuel surcharges for various service offerings, including UPS Ground Domestic, UPS SurePost, and UPS Domestic Air

U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes, for week of April 20, are mixed, reports AAR
Rail carloads, at 216,945, fell 6.7% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 257,599 units, rose 8.2% annually.

Baltimore suing ship that crashed into bridge, closing port, costing jobs
The city of Baltimore is suing the owners of the cargo ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse and closing the Port of Baltimore for months.

Intermodal growth volume remains intact in March, reports IANA
Total March volume, at 1,464,782 units, increased 6.7% annually, below February’s 14.6% annual increase, while topping November, December, and January, which saw gains of 3.8%, 6.4%, and 5.5%, respectively.   

Descartes announces acquisition of Dublin, Ireland-based Aerospace Software Developments
Earlier this week, Waterloo, Ontario-based Descartes, a provider of logistics based on-demand, software-as-a-service offerings, continued to flex its M&A muscle, acquiring Dublin, Ireland-based Aerospace Software Developments, a provider of customs and regulatory compliance service.

Amid ongoing unexpected events, supply chains continue to readjust and adapt
Expecting the unexpected going back to the onset of the pandemic in March 2020 has really been a part of supply chain and logistics lexicon. As we know, there were many logistics and supply chain “lessons learned” coming out of the pandemic, which clearly still remain intact today, especially including the need for supply chain resiliency and preparedness, as well as flexible and nimble deployment of labor, assets, and technology, among others.

Shipment and expenditure decreases trend down, notes Cass Freight Index
March’s shipment reading, at 1.113, fell 3.6% annually, down from February’s 4.5% decrease and January’s 7.6% decline.

March trucking tonnage trends down, reports ATA
The ATA’s advanced Seasonally Adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index fell 2%, to 113.4 (2015=100), following a 4% February gain, to 115.7, and a 3.2% January decline.

FTR Shippers Conditions Index enters negative territory
For February, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI reading came in at -1.4, below January’s 3.4, which was 3% below December’s 6.4 reading and also below November’s 6.3.

DAT March Truckload Volume Index sees modest March gains
From February to March, the the van TVI, at 260, was up 4%, with the refrigerated TVI, at 200, up 2.6%, and the flatbed TVI, at 242, up 4.4%.

National diesel average, for week of April 22, is down for the second straight week
For the week of April 22, the national average fell 2.3 cents, to $3.922. This followed a 2.3-cent decrease, to $4.015 per gallon, for the week of April 15, which was preceded by a 6.5-cent increase, to $4.004, for the week of April 8.

UPS reports first quarter earnings decline
Quarterly consolidated revenue, at $21.7 billion, fell 5.3% annually, and adjusted earnings per share, at $1.43, saw a 35.0% annual decline. Consolidated quarterly operating profit came in at $1.6 billion, which was off 36.5% annually.

LM Podcast Series: Assessing the freight transportation and logistics markets with Tom Nightingale, AFS Logistics
During this podcast, Nightingale provided a detailed overview of the new Cowen/AFS Freight Index report and variuous market issues.

Investor expectations continue to influence supply chain decision-making
More shareholders are expecting supply chains to become resilient to protect the bottom line.


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