Filed in Logistics

Thursday, March 10, 2011

A prominent industry analyst maintains that several key infrastructural events will shape the global supply chain in the coming years

Parcel shippers that turn to third-party consultants (3PCs) to help them navigate myriad facets of pricing and rate structures from industry bellwethers FedEx and UPS may eventually find themselves having to fend for themselves when talking dollars and cents with these companies if a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation finds that FedEx and UPS are colluding to adopt a policy of declining to negotiate with 3PCs acting on behalf of shippers.

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

When I am asked what the big topic in the industries LM covers is these days, there is no surprise of late. It is a one word answer: fuel. How could it really be anything else at this point? If you need more proof, look at the past two weeks of diesel price increases from the Energy Information Administration. They both check in around the 15-cent mark. Ouch.

The February edition of the Ceridian-UCLA Pulse of Commerce Index (PCI) dipped 1.5 percent, following a 0.3 drop-off in January. This cumulative decline washed out a 1.8 percent gain in December, according to the report’s authors.

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Cherry Hill, New Jersey-based NFI, an asset-based third-party logistics (3PL) services provider said this week it has acquired World Warehouse and Distribution, a Champlain, NY-based 3PL and warehousing services provider with facilities in Champlain and Albany, NY and Montreal.

Freight transportation services provider ABF said this week it has rolled out its RPM service to the western one-third of the United States.

Thursday, March 03, 2011

The ISM’s index for measuring the sector’s overall health—known at the NMI—was 59.7 in January, a 2.3 percent increase from December. Like the ISM’s Manufacturing Report on Business, a reading above 50 represents growth.

The Postal Regulatory Commission filed an order to conditionally grant a USPS request to transfer Commercial Standard Mail Parcels to the competitive product list.

Wednesday, March 02, 2011

An improving economy led by various drivers for logistics services laid down the foundation for strong demand for logistics space during the second half of 2010, according to a new report from commercial real estate firm Grubb & Ellis, entitled "Logistics Market Trends United States Second Half 2010."

An improving market in the trucking sector is apparent, according to the most recent edition of the Trucking Update from FTR Associates, a freight transportation forecasting firm. FTR said that its Trucking Conditions Index (TCI), which is a compilation of factors affecting trucking, ticked up to 9.1 in January from December’s 7.1, adding that the TCI has seen steady gains since last October.