Logistics Management Magazine Archives

January 2023 Logistics Management

In this Issue:

  • 2023 Rate Outlook: Will shippers catch a break?
  • Top 2023 TMS trends
  • Global labor rates
  • Lift Truck Series Part 1
  • Scaling mobile robots
  • 2022 Virtual Summit
January 9, 2023 · Our annual gathering of freight transportation industry analysts reveals some common themes, largely around the notion that rates are not likely to increase much—if at all—in some modes and will continue declining in others. Does this mean things are stabilizing?
January 7, 2023 · My favorite Logistics Management (LM) tradition is our Annual Rate Outlook cover story that becomes a live webcast (Jan. 26)—the ultimate one-two punch for shippers looking to gain clarity on costs in the year ahead.
January 5, 2023 · With worldwide shortages and supply chain disruptions, companies have changed how they source and manufacture parts and finished products. The Reshoring Institute studied and compared global labor rates around the world—and what follows are the high-level results of a study comparing labor rates in 13 different countries.
January 5, 2023 · The NextGen Supply Chain Awards recognized 10 industry leaders, leading solution providers, startups and supply chain visionaries who are leading the way in the adoption of NextGen technologies.
January 5, 2023 · As the transportation environment becomes increasingly complex, transportation management systems are being called upon more than ever to meet shippers’ needs. Industry analysts contend that TMS “just keeps getting better,” with much of that momentum being driven by end users that are continually asking vendors to fold more capabilities and functionalities into their software portfolios.
January 5, 2023 · With the “old guard” leaving the sector, new blood is moving into the freight payment industry. They are more data-driven, faster, and more international—and savvy shippers are benefiting by realizing lower, better-managed freight bills.
January 5, 2023 · It’s a profitable and sustainable solution to SDD and NDD that can help retailers remain competitive in today’s demanding environment.
January 5, 2023 · Service providers who can enable shippers and receivers to quickly assess their own supply chain networks, and gain insights into customer demand and order patterns, will be setting themselves up for success.
January 5, 2023 · Operational priorities and infrastructure constraints should guide motive power choice, though lithium is seen as gaining ground in the long term. Every option has its strong points, so it comes down to using the goals of each operation to guide it down the best motive power path.
January 5, 2023 · AMR deployments have been gaining ground to address labor availability issues. Fleets often start small in pilots and add robots over time, but how do you get to a better system? Success factors include proper solution scoping, RaaS options, integration platforms, and may involve software to orchestrate multiple AMR fleets.
January 5, 2023 · Here’s how companies can use automation, technology and other advanced tools to support and nurture their evolving workforces in today’s competitive business environment.
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Latest in Logistics Management

LM Podcast Series: Assessing the freight transportation and logistics markets with Tom Nightingale, AFS Logistics
During this podcast, Nightingale provided a detailed overview of the new Cowen/AFS Freight Index report and variuous market issues.

Investor expectations continue to influence supply chain decision-making
More shareholders are expecting supply chains to become resilient to protect the bottom line.

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The Next Big Steps in Supply Chain Digitalization
Technology continues to advance and new developments are building on the foundation that is now in place in many supply chains. Here are five of the most significant advances shaping the next wave of digitalization.

Under-21 driver pilot program a bust with fleets as FMCSA seeks changes
The FMSCA says only 113 motor carriers have applied for its under-21 truck driver apprenticeship program since July 2022. That is a very disappointing turnout for an initiative that the government had expected to recruit up to 1,000 carriers and 3,000 drivers.

Diesel back over $4 a gallon; Mideast tensions, other worries cited
Diesel prices are back over $4 a gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) weekly, on-highway survey of prices at 73,000 service stations and 9,500 truck stops around the country. Average diesel prices rose by 6.5 cents, increasing to $4.06 per gallon as of Monday, April 8. The Western states of Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington saw the highest average price increase for the period, rising 11 cents to $4.26 per gallon.

Four U.S. railroads file challenges against FRA’s two-person crew mandate, says report
Following the issuing of a final rule by the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) earlier this month, establishing establishes minimum safety requirements for train crew sizes, with the new rule requiring a second crew member on all trains, four U.S.-based railroads are calling on federal appeals courts to toss out the rule, calling it “arbitrary, capricious, and an illegal abuse of discretion,” according to an Associated Press report.

XPO opens up three new services acquired through auction of Yellow’s properties and assets
XPO opened up three of the 28 service center locations it acquired through an early December court-supervised auction, in which a dozen trucking companies bought properties that resold about three-fourths of Yellow’s properties for a total of just under $1.9 billion.

FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index weakens, due to fuel price gains
For February, the most recent month for which data is available, the TCI reading came in a -5.31, down from January’s -1.41, which was ahead of December’s -4.3.

U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes are mixed, for week ending April 6, reports AAR
Rail carloads, at 209,142, were off 4.5% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 241,000 units, increased 7.6% annually.

LM Podcast Series: Examining the freight railroad and intermodal markets with Tony Hatch
In this podcast, Tony Hatch offered up his views on various aspects of the freight railroad and intermodal sectors, including: market conditions, service levels, volumes, and nearshoring, among others. 

Supply Chain Stability Index sees ‘Tremendous Improvement’ in 2023
While 2023 proved to be a comeback year, there's still a ways to go before a return to pre-pandemic normalcy.

TD Cowen/AFS Freight presents mixed readings for parcel, LTL, and truckload revenues and rates
The new edition of the TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index, which was recently released by New York-based investment firm TD Cowen Inc. and Shreveport, La.-based 3PL and freight audit and payment company AFS Logistics LLC, was somewhat mixed, with less-than-truckload (LTL) and truckload rates steady, and parcel rates being impacted by fuel surcharge increases and various accessorial charges amid lower demand.

Descartes March Global Shipping Report highlights ongoing steady volume momentum
From February to March, the report observed that U.S.-bound container import volumes eked out a 0.4% increase, to 2,145,341 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), while posting a 15.7% annual gain, ahead of pre-pandemic 2019 by 20.6%. Descartes explained that the timing of the week-long Lunar New Year in Asia, which commenced on February 11 may have held import growth back, as the subsequent impact on U.S. import numbers was not realized until the last two weeks of March.

U.S.-bound import growth track remains promising, notes Port Tracker report
Amid various supply chain issues, United States retail container ports are expected to see imports top the 2-million mark in May for the first time since October, according to the new edition of the Port Tracker report, which was issued today by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and maritime consultancy Hackett Associates.

Norfolk Southern announces preliminary $600 million agreement focused on settling East Palestine derailment lawsuit
NS officials said that should this agreement be approved by the court, it will resolve all class action claims within a 20-mile radius from the derailment and, for those residents who choose to participate, personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius from the derailment.


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