Logistics Management Magazine Archives

October 2017 Logistics Management

In this Issue:

  • Alliance Award Winner: SalonCentric: One Beautiful Network
  • Rail/Intermodal Roundtable
  • Improve your inventory management
  • Foreign Trade Zones
  • Top 35 Ocean Carriers: Still a puzzlement
  • European Update: Logistics hubs key to e-commerce efficiency
October 31, 2017 · While the Trump administration works to water down some trucking regulations, states are more aggressive than ever in their pursuit of more revenue.
October 31, 2017 · “Uber for freight.” “On-demand trucking.” Call it what you want, but the race to develop mobile apps to match an available truck with a pending load is heating up—and the players are well-funded and looking to stand out in an already saturated market.
October 31, 2017 · Today’s freight forwarders now need to ramp up their value-added visibility services in an effort to boost revenues and put shippers at ease.
October 31, 2017 · As e-commerce fulfillment pressure continues to climb, our annual survey points to the many changes taking hold—from more investment in automated approaches to piece picking, more use of robotics, increased interest in throughput metrics and general process improvement.
October 31, 2017 · Various events are creating the tightest TL market in at least four years—and our experts say that it’s going to get tighter and rates are going to go higher over the next year.
October 31, 2017 · For shippers, the lack of pricing regulation in the various modes they’re dependent upon is causing an increasingly worrisome financial squeeze.
October 31, 2017 · We tend to take it for granted, and it’s not until you stop and really digest some of the numbers that you realize just how dominant trucking is as a mode of freight transportation in the United States.
October 16, 2017 · In an era where effective supply chain collaboration is both highly valued and elusive, Logistics Management and SMC³ shine the spotlight on some of the nation’s best examples in its annual awards ceremony.
October 3, 2017 · Our digital world has allowed us to connect with colleagues and business partners over great distances, creating the illusion that time zones and space have evaporated between us—that we’re there in the same room at the same time.
October 3, 2017 · A leading distributor of professional salon products in the U.S. forms unique partnerships with its key LTLs to lower transport costs, reduce its carbon footprint and improve service to its 565 store locations.
October 3, 2017 · For all the advances in lift truck technology and fleet management, operators will always be the heart and soul of a fleet. As manufacturers and equipment purchasers place more value on that piece, the role of the operator extends from design to daily use.
October 3, 2017 · Four of the nation’s foremost experts in the market help shippers better understand the current state of the nation’s ever-complex and competitive rail and intermodal network.
October 3, 2017 · Plagued by stock-outs and poor inventory visibility? Here are a few practical best practices and technologies that can significantly improve inventory management inside today’s rapidly evolving warehouse and DC operations.
October 3, 2017 · With new bilateral agreements and global e-commerce deals reconfiguring the global marketplace, the popularity of Foreign Trade Zones (FTZ) is not likely to diminish any time soon. In fact, there’s reason to believe that they will become even more popular once additional regulatory oversight is put in place.
October 2, 2017 · The collapse of Hanjin in 2016 fueled speculation that new players might be emboldened to enter the “top tier” and begin competing for market share. With this, logistics mangers putting container shipping to work are facing the biggest shift in their carrier base in 20 years—and now must adapt their procurement and contract strategy.
October 2, 2017 · The warehousing and distribution center (DC) market in Western Europe is experiencing one of the highest levels of rental growth ever recorded. Here’s where the action is and what you need to know if you’re expanding your EU operations.
October 2, 2017 · Some past project teams found themselves spending a small fortune on building models to run on powerful optimization platforms.
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Latest in Logistics Management

Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach report strong February volumes
Total POLA volume, at 781,434 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), saw a 60% annual gain, and POLB reported that total February volume, at 674,723 TEU, increased 24.1% annually.

Supply chains are facing new pressures as companies seek cost savings
Boston Consulting Group report finds that 65% of executives are prioritizing supply chain and manufacturing costs.

Progress is made in FTR Trucking Conditions Index but growth rate remains negative
The new edition of the Trucking Conditions Index (TCI), which was recently issued by freight transportation consultancy FTR, saw some signs of improvement but again remaining short of growth.

Ambitious charging, refueling heavy truck network plan unveiled by Biden administration
The Biden administration just released its plan to establish a charging and refueling infrastructure network for zero-emission commercial trucks. It’s an ambitious initiative that seeks to maximize the impact of charging infrastructure investment by guiding development toward high-volume-priority corridors and existing freight hubs.

Explaining hoarding for the Post-COVID inflation for goods
Did the fear of product shortages contribute to the rapid price increases?

U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes are mixed, for week ending March 9, reports AAR
Rail carloads, at 214,585, fell 3.7% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 258,077, saw a 13.5% annual gain.

February retail sales see gains, reports Commerce and NRF
Commerce reported that February retail sales, at $700.7 billion, rose 0.6% compared to January and were up 1.5% annually. NRF reported that February’s core retail sales, which it bases on Census data and excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, saw a 0.2% seasonally-adjusted increase over January and a 5.5% annual increase on an unadjusted basis.

GXO’s acquisition of Wincanton remains on track for completion by late April
The pending acquisition of Chippenham, UK-based Wincanton, a supply chain solutions services provider across myriad vertical markets, by Greenwich, Conn.-based global contract logistics services provider GXO Logistics appears to remain on track, according to a “scheme of arrangement” recently issued by Wincanton.

MHI Report notes investment increases as supply chains become more tech-forward and human-centric
A new report released this week at Modex by MHI and Deloitte finds that 55% of supply chain leaders are increasing their supply chain technology and innovation investments with 88% saying they are planning to spend over $1 million. Forty-two percent plan to spend over $10 million.

New TIA Q4 Market Report sees declines amid some positive trends
Challenging market conditions on various fronts, for freight transportation brokers and intermediaries, were the main themes of the new edition of the “3PL Market Report Fourth Quarter 2023, which was issued this week by the Alexandria, Va.-based Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA).

Millions of dollars worth of ex-Yellow tractors, trailers up for auction
The liquidation of Yellow Corp., once the largest less-than-truckload (LTL) and the nation’s 13th-largest trucking company when it ceased operations last August, has continued to prove that Yellow’s assets were valuable even without operating as a functioning trucking company.  

Industry groups call on ILA and USMX to get back to the table for a new labor deal
While 2023 marked the overdue conclusion of a new West Coast port labor agreement between the International Longshore Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association, an East Coast labor agreement awaits to be completed in 2024, by the end of September, between the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX).

Crisis Management 101: A helpful supply chain primer
Disruptions happen, but some crisis can put the organization’s survival in jeopardy if there is not a plan in place.

Panama Canal Authority ups number of available spots in Panamax locks
In an advisory issued yesterday, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced a new adjustment to accommodate the growing demand for transits, by increasing the number of daily slots available in the Panamax Locks. ACP officials said that this announcement was made in response to the present and projected level of Gatun Lake.

UPS executive Seward touches upon various supply chain and logistics topics at Modex
Bill Seward, President of UPS Supply Chain Solutions, took center stage to deliver the keynote address to kick off MODEX 2024. Hosted by Katie Kirkpatrick, President and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the discussion touched on several topics including the future trajectory of supply chains, UPS' strategic investments in technology, and Seward's personal journey from loading trucks to executive.


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