Logistics Management Magazine Archives

November 2021 Logistics Management

In this Issue:

  • The Future of Motor Freight
  • Tapping the brakes on trucking regulations
  • Digital freight matching
  • A shorter global supply chain
  • Truckload: The roller coaster ride continues
  • 2021 Warehouse/DC Operations Survey
November 30, 2021 · The last year and a half has pushed many logistics and supply chain operations to the brink, ushering in capacity, pricing, inventory, fulfillment, labor and global trade challenges that many have never seen before.
November 8, 2021 · As shippers and carriers work to adjust to the “new abnormal,” some of the industry’s top experts share their insights on what’s around the next corner for freight management—and what new trends may emerge by 2030.
November 8, 2021 · After a fire destroyed its warehouse, Mount Adams Fruit came back with one of the few automated facilities in the industry, including AS/RS and robotic palletizing.
November 8, 2021 · Economic recovery and pandemic relief upstage harsher rules on truckers, as the overall industry applauds productivity goals. In the meantime, big environmental rules loom at EPA, while one large TL carrier wants to speed up the process to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License.
November 8, 2021 · This marks the 11th year that we’ve devoted the majority of our November pages to the most dominant—and most complex—mode of transportation: motor freight.
November 8, 2021 · Constraints on capacity and bullish demand send truckload carriers rolling into 2022 with “very robust” market conditions. However, carriers remain concerned about finding drivers, higher equipment costs, tight supplies, and infrastructure delays. Times are good for carriers, but challenges remain.
November 4, 2021 · With capacity tight and trucking volumes steady, DFM continues to make inroads for shippers looking for much needed service.
November 4, 2021 · To better deal with growing protectionism and the need for higher agility, logistics managers must incorporate regional designs into their global networks without diluting the cost or competitive advantages of existing relationships.
November 2, 2021 · Capex budgets and headcount are both up amid signs of expansion. But underneath those positives are strains, led by concerns about labor and inventory turns. Applying more technology, say respondents, is the path forward.
November 2, 2021 · Historically, transportation regulations were focused on pricing. For about 90 years the U.S. government monitored, and occasionally enforced, rate reasonableness. Starting with rail, and later expanding on to highway and air modes, the government tried to ensure national coverage and fair pricing.
November 2, 2021 · In a post-pandemic world, supply chains must be embedded with transparency, resilience and sustainability— or brands risk their own longevity.
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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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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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