International business and human rights makes significant move forward in logistics sector
November 27, 2018
In an industry first, the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) announced new membership requirements to advance the sustainability performance of the mining sector, committing members to implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Shipping and Packages results shine for USPS but not bright enough to cure its financial woes
November 16, 2018
At this point, it fair to say that the strength of the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) Shipping and Package business, especially the parcel component, can be viewed as “the light in the forest” for USPS, amid its constant state of financial issues. These financial issues are well documented, to be sure, and were highlighted this week in the USPS’s fiscal year 2018 results.
3PL gap is closing at the top
November 5, 2018
In a world that is becoming increasingly commoditized, brand recognition is particularly important to the third-party logistics (3PL) industry, observes Armstrong & Associates.
U.S. ports and terminals may face new layer of scrutiny in wake of container explosion
November 1, 2018
The pre-Holloween explosion of a fully loaded outbound container at a Port of Los Angeles terminal was a scary incident for a number of reasons, say shipping analysts.
The BOSS and BOPS of holiday season online shopping
October 31, 2018
One key difference between BOSS and another fun acronym, BOPS (buy-online/pickup-in-store) cited by CBRE is that with BOPS online orders are picked up in store, whereas with BOSS, retailers ship items to stores that are not regularly stocked in stores.
Trucking congestion must also be addressed by ports: Oakland is doing its best
October 22, 2018
Port of Oakland’s TraPac terminal opens at night for truckers
Ignoring congestion on U.S. highways won’t make it go away
October 18, 2018
Research issued by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the research arm of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) in its most recent “Cost of Congestion” analysis shows that congestion added roughly $74.5 billion in operational costs to the trucking industry in 2016, the most recent year for which data is available.
Out of office economic notes of interest
October 8, 2018
While Newsroom Notes was out of the office last week at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals EDGE Conference in Nashville, there were myriad data freight transportation and logistics-related data points issued while I was out.
New ocean cargo surcharges will be foul odor for many global shippers
October 1, 2018
The Global Shippers Forum has reacted with a loud objection to proposed surcharges for ocean cargo shipping
Dedicated freight funding could be the key to fixing U.S. infrastructure woes
September 28, 2018
While much of today’s mainstream news, as it relates to the supply chain, is focused on topical trade-related things like tariffs and the future of NAFTA, one constant that remains intact, although it does not receive the commensurate amount of attention, is the state of our nation’s infrastructure.
Logistics stakeholders stepping up to the plate to ease trade complexity
September 21, 2018
Just as tensions between the U.S. and several of its trading partners has escalated, a handful of supply chain industry leaders are stepping up to the plate with some solutions for shippers.
Trade tension tariff activity figures to be in effect for more than a while
September 20, 2018
The heightened and somewhat frenetic pace of tariff activity is ostensibly full-throttle all the time these days, and this week’s events are clearly no exception. Where to begin? Well, for starters President Trump yesterday announced that the United States plans to place tariffs on $200 billion worth of imports from China, which will take effect on September 24, 2018 at an initial amount of 10%, with the additional level of tariffs increasing to 25%, effective January 1.
Port of Oakland’s post-peak season promise
September 19, 2018
August was the busiest month in the history of The Port of Oakland. But it is hardly resting on its laurels.
Holiday hiring time has arrived for the transportation and logistics sector
September 17, 2018
The time for holiday hiring has arrived, with three of the biggest household names in the freight transportation and logistics sectors-UPS, FedEx, and XPO Logistics, each making announcements to that effect over the last few days.
IANA Expo to examine ocean container shipping trends
September 12, 2018
Given the challenges that all but the top tier players have from a cost competitiveness perspective, analysts feel that it’s reasonable to assume that there will be some further consolidation.
Note to CEOs (Part 5): Stop Blaming Your Transportation People—Support Them Instead!
September 12, 2018
This has been the year that freight barged into the boardroom. It’s what happens when freight budgets are completely out of line with actual spending.
Federal Maritime Commission finally addresses detention & demurrage practice
September 11, 2018
Bringing clarity, access, and efficiency to the delivery of cargo from carrier to shipper will be key to improving the process for how and when marine terminal demurrage and ocean carrier detention charges are levied.
ATA’s ‘Freight Forecast’ report looks ahead to increasing freight volumes
September 6, 2018
The key takeaway of this year’s edition is that the ATA pegs freight volumes to increase 4.2% this year and by another 35.6% by 2029, which, if you think about it, is not as far away as it seems.
Plenty to sort through regarding the future fate of NAFTA
August 28, 2018
Based on news coming out of the nation’s capital yesterday, it appears that progress on NAFTA’s future is becoming visible, at least, with the U.S. and Mexico coming to terms on various facets of a new NAFTA, so to speak.
Note to CEOs (Part 4): Committed to reducing rising freight costs? What does different look like?
August 27, 2018
Based on the feedback we’ve received, the theme of our recent “Note to CEOs” blog posts appears to be resonating with shippers who are under the gun because of escalating freight costs. In case you missed them, these pieces highlighted the fact that in today’s transportation environment, C-Level executives have to be actively engaged if they want to reduce their company’s transportation spend.