Filed in Supply Chain Management

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.

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Momentum in the manufacturing sector is continuing at a strong pace, based on the most recent results of the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) February Manufacturing Report on Business.

Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was up 13.8 percent in December 2010 compared to December 2009, increasing to $66.5 billion, according to data released by the United States Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

With the calendar turning to March 1 today, we are now two-thirds of the way though the first quarter and are seeing some favorable trends so far, which will hopefully serve as a springboard to success for the rest of the year and beyond, when it comes to assessing the marketplace.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Most recent continuing resolution to keep SAFETEA-LU funding at current levels expires on Friday, March 4.

Friday, February 25, 2011

In a sign that the economic recovery is showing some more positive signals, the Department of Commerce reported this week that new orders for manufactured durable goods in January went up $5.3 billion—or 2.7 percent—to $200.5 billion.

Want to know where all that corporate cash we hear about sitting on the sidelines is going? Try the materials handling industry.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

In response to customer demand, FedEx subsidiary FedEx Express said this week it is adding new services focused on earlier delivery of freight shipments.

FedEx said that its FedEx subsidiary has officially completed the acquisition of the logistics, distribution, and express businesses of India-based AFL Pvt. Ltd. and its affiliate Unifreight India Pvt. Ltd. The deal was originally announced by FedEx in November.