Filed in March 2013

Friday, March 01, 2013

Our annual survey finds the industry steadying for a new, slower pace of growth following the release of pent-up demand after the downturn. Yet even as planned spending inside the four walls drops off, facility activity is the highest since 2007—signaling that “doing more with less” has stuck.

Truckload carriers are increasing their fleet capacity to provide more dedicated truck options to solve complex shipper operations and eliminate volatility—and everybody seems to be happy.

Our technology correspondent examines the current state of the warehouse management systems (WMS) market, explores key trends driving the industry, and highlights the new, smarter capabilities that are just around the corner for both vendors and users.

Freight intermediaries are no longer happy waiting in the wings, and that’s great news for shippers who want deeper engagement as extra emphasis is placed on U.S. exports over the coming years.

While logistics managers wait to see how the American/US Airways merger shakes out, analysts say deals like this recent blockbuster may be a blessing in the long run for shippers.

This month we dive into the details of Logistics Management’s 2013 Warehouse/DC Equipment and Technology Survey, our annual study conducted by Peerless Research Group (PRG) that offers a comprehensive snapshot of the investment plans of managers involved in the purchase decision process of materials handlings solutions.

In a recent article by Cornelius Frolik in the Dayton Daily News, we learned that the number of licensed truck drivers in the State of Ohio dropped for the first time on record.

In this column—the third in a series of five articles focused on dynamic operations—we look at the role and importance of adaptable structure.

Brian Conrad, executive administrator for the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA), is not only regarded as a “thought leader” in the ocean shipping arena, but also as a man of uncommon candor. For the past several years now, he has weathered the storm brought on by shippers’ associations challenging pricing and operations in the world’s most active—and vital—trade lane linking North America and Asia.