Logistics Management Group News Editor recently caught up with Doug Waggoner, CEO of Echo Global Logistics, a non-asset based freight brokerage company and a provider of technology-enabled transportation and supply chain management services, at last week’s eyefortransport 3PL Summit in Chicago.

Now, more than ever in the transportation and logistics sectors, a healthy amount of merger & acquisition deal activity is taking place. Companies are making acquisitions based on need or getting into a segment of the business they may not already have a presence in through acquisition.

HK Logistics introduces a new approach to the logistics of production, allowing manufacturers to more quickly and accurately deliver supplies and parts to the production line – and in turn – improve their competitive position and achieve a higher return on assets.

The company announced this week it has acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of CTW Transport, a Peabody, Mass.-based truckload carrier specializing in refrigerated food products.

A flurry of major service provider deals captured mainstream headlines in recent months, but the consequence of this activity has yet to be measured by domestic and international shippers. Meanwhile, the EU flounders, Asia remains strong, and emerging nations may represent the next great opportunity for the major 3PL players.

Company officials said this new name “is intended to better represent the company’s broad-based capabilities which include warehousing, transportation, packaging and order fulfillment.”

A developing market like China requires an approach that differs from mature markets like Europe and the U.S

Data from supply chain consultancy Armstrong & Associates showed that total global third-party logistics (3PL) gross revenue in 2011 at $133.8 billion in 2011 was up 5.2 percent over 2010.

Data from supply chain consultancy Armstrong & Associates showed that total global third-party logistics (3PL) gross revenue in 2011 at $133.8 billion in 2011 was up 5.2 percent over 2010.

Data from supply chain consultancy Armstrong & Associates showed that total global third-party logistics (3PL) gross revenue in 2011 at $133.8 billion in 2011 was up 5.2 percent over 2010.