Logistics Management Magazine Archives

March 2022 Logistics Management

In this Issue:

  • E-commerce Effect: Change for the better
  • Parcel challenges persist
  • Transform reverse logistics
  • 2022 Warehouse/DC Equipment Survey
  • LTL Market Update: LTL carriers flex muscles
March 31, 2022 · Europe’s transport and logistics industry faces new challenges.
March 28, 2022 · It’s expected that the USPS will broaden its revenue base with new services, and that will offset the steady decline in first class mail volumes. It’s also expected that USPS will raise its competitive profile by delivering mail and other services to businesses and consumers.
March 28, 2022 · Here’s how to build a culture of equality.
March 7, 2022 · The impact of e-commerce on freight transportation has been profound, and it’s not restricted to any single mode—in fact, all have been affected. What’s the reality and what does it mean going forward?
March 7, 2022 · The labor crunch is a serious issue, not just for front-line employees in DC and other supply chain sites, but when it comes to higher-level supply chain talent, too. We surveyed supply chain professionals and found less than one-third feel their companies are highly prepared to handle demand with current staff, while two-thirds have increased wages to try to retain more people.
March 3, 2022 · By working in tandem with other warehouse systems, robotics and automation, WMS has positioned itself as a must-have supply chain application for companies across the board—especially in tackling the labor shortage and adapting to change.
March 3, 2022 · Three of our top parcel industry sources offer their respective takes on one of the most ubiquitous parts of freight transportation and logistics—parcel and last-mile delivery. With providers and carriers continuing to have the upper hand over shippers, they suggest to leave no stone unturned when it comes to carrier selection and leveraging partnerships.
March 3, 2022 · We use the March issue of Logistics Management to track the evolution of e-commerce and how this tectonic shift continues to make an impact on how we manage the new pressures of order fulfillment and freight transportation.
March 2, 2022 · Reverse logistics can no longer be considered a standalone capability. It should be seamlessly incorporated into the end-to-end supply chain as a standard process—contributing to the delivery of a superior customer experience while being mindful of cost and sustainability impacts.
March 2, 2022 · Warehouse and DC managers are feeling the pressure of e-commerce growth, high order volumes, as well as deep concerns around labor availability and international supply chain snarls. In response, our survey found that they’re ramping up spending for automation—but also spending more on their labor force to ensure an adequate pool of workers to keep goods flowing.
March 1, 2022 · LTL carriers are in command of a tight capacity market as the sector takes advantage of e-commerce, last-mile, and time-sensitive deliveries. Rate hikes can be expected, but savvy shippers can avoid the bulk of those increases through elimination of wasteful practices.
March 1, 2022 · The consolidation of the major logistics services continues. A.P. Moeller-Maersk, the largest ocean carrier group, recently announced the acquisition of U.S.-based Pilot and gave notice of more purchases of transport and warehousing assets to come soon.
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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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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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