February 13, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (5)

In this week's TT,  an article about East/NE states wanting to fine drivers for not sweeping the snow off their tractors/trailers.

While snow and/or any flying debris is a problem, this issue could create problems for shippers and receivers who do not have covered loading and unloading areas. If a law is passed that would fine a driver for moving a snow covered trailer... would the driver and the carrier be willing to take the fine and become liable under civil prosecution should an accident arise from flying snow/ice???  Maybe, but I think not. 

Would shippers/DCs become responsible for providing equipment that would sweep the snow from the trailer?  Would states have to provide ways for drivers to keep the snow and ice from building up during driving? During rest periods?

Will this keep bigger carriers out of the NE/...Read More

January 17, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (1)

How much should we invest to protect our assets? What are the odds an airline would ever need one of those 'ditch switch' thingies. And besides, if the plane hits the ground/water it's likely just to break apart so why would anyone waste their precious captial dollars a some "Ditch Switch"?

Well, for U.S. Airways, it looks like the 'Ditch Switch' was a great investment. It closed the vents that prevented water from entering the fuselage via the ventilation ports and helped keep the passengers alive and their investment from sinking.

The most important lesson that we can glean from this is that forward thinking companies are consciously making decisions to spend money for something that does not make an immediate return or perhaps may not ever provide a ROI because they wanted to take every opportunity to protect their investment and thei...Read More

November 19, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (3)

From November's issue of OOIDA's Landmine magazine an article on page 27 from their Government Affairs Committee on their key strategies for 2009.... The OOIDA plan will target operational efficency, pushing for greener docks by streamlining logistics/shipping practices and extending shipper's hours to 'get trucks in and get trucks out'. Our current system capacity is way inter utilized said [Howard ]Hart (board member from Spokane). Truckers work 24/7. But the places where we pick up and deliver have never worked on that schedule, so the industry is totally out of step. To make trucking a cleaner, more efficient, more profitable place, that boondagle has to get better. It is our position to push for those changes.

So here we have OOIDA's Goverment Affairs Committee planning to seek governmental support to force shippers to staff operat...Read More

November 9, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (3)

The odds, that your Percent of Logistics to Sales will soon be on the rise because of an Administration change, are more than likely....they're for sure!

The Employee Free Choice Act endorsed by Presidential Elect Obama will likely be enacted by congress early in his administration; and regardless of who becomes the Secretary of Transportation it is clear to me that all aspects of trucking and the transportation industry will soon be increased regulatory constraints which will quickly flow down to shippers and 3PLs in terms of prices, service and reduced capacity.

I expect HOS to be revised and perhaps even codified and I would not be surprised to see driving hours reduced to 10 based on a 12 hour work day. You should expect to see a mandatory fuel surcharge program and stronger enforcement of the EPA Model Anti-idling law; and many (not ...Read More

August 23, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (2)

The failure of the U.S. 4x100 Track Relay teams this week at the Olympics is a great example of how superior athletes can fail to deliver world class results because: they lacked leadership; were taught/self taught poor or different forms(processes); and didn't practice enough - tried it a few times and thought they had it down.  Well they had it down alright...and the women seeing the failure of the mens' team did the same thing.  It's amazing and sad at the same time.  How could this happen on the world stage? How could these talented people simply drop the baton?  Well it happens every day and it is happening in Logistics and Transportation as you are reading this article.

When I see this type of problem it is a strong indication that management has either assembled talented 'individuals' who are only interested in themselves and can't spell 'T...Read More