In this Issue:
- 12th Annual Rail/Intermodal Roundtable: A rocky ride
- Modern inventory management
- FTZs gain popularity
- Autonomous lift trucks
- Top 30 Ocean Carriers: Riding high on wave of profits
- Top 30 U.S. Ports: Volumes swell, challenges persist
Logistics Management Magazine Archives
October 2022 Logistics Management
October 3, 2022 · Three of the nation’s top market analysts examine the current state of the freight railroad and intermodal markets, including a look at pricing, service levels and competition with other modes.
October 3, 2022 · As e-commerce sales volumes continue to climb, third-party logistics providers are offering an expanded portfolio of services aimed at this segment of the market.
October 3, 2022 · Inventory control at the warehouse level is simple, right? Follow WMS processes, set some minimum SKU levels, be diligent about scan verifications to track consumption, and you’ve nailed it. While that worked 20 years ago, in today’s more complicated world with automated storage and fulfillment systems that hold inventory, you may need WES capabilities.
October 3, 2022 · Due to mounting disruptions, free zones and economic zones are gaining in popularity all around the world—which is causing some confusion about the specifics of the U.S. Foreign Trade Zone program. Our FTZ consultant shares some of the basics and the overall benefits these zones can bring to your supply chain operations.
October 3, 2022 · Operations are deploying autonomous lift trucks to offset pressures like rising order volumes and the inability to secure enough skilled operators. The ironic tinge here is that even though industry needs robots, it turns out the robots need people.
October 1, 2022 · This year it didn’t take us long to realize that the need to improve strategies to attract, hire, and apply the technology necessary to retain a workforce should be top of mind for logistics and supply chain management professionals.
October 1, 2022 · The push by global forwarders toward purely digital, end-to-end transparency is proving to be crucial amid frequent disruptions that are likely to continue through 2023.
October 1, 2022 · Schedule reliability remains a significant headache for carriers. Meanwhile, seaports remain flooded with containers, labor negotiations on the West Coast are ongoing, and issues regarding congestion are slow to be resolved as ports continue to look for answers.
October 1, 2022 · While the industry is still caught in the wake of the pandemic and the subsequent string of unprecedented events, profits for the top carriers has never been better.
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Latest in Logistics Management
With deadline way past due, now is the time for a West Coast port labor deal to be struck
June 6, 2023
The push for a new West Coast port labor deal continues….with no end in sight? OK, that is an exaggeration, but, yes, that is what it feels like, at times., to be sure. Not all that long ago, there were clear signs of optimism, or progress, in terms of a deal being reached between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA).
ODFL issues Q2 operating metrics update
June 6, 2023
ODFL reported that revenue per day fell 15.7% in May compared to May 2022, which it said was mainly driven by a 14.4% decrease in LTL tons per day. And it said that the decrease in LTL tons per day was due to an 11.4% decrease in LTL shipments per day and a 3.4% decrease in LTL weight per shipment.
C.H. Robinson tabs Bozeman as its next CEO, effective later this month
June 6, 2023
The search for a new CEO for Minneapolis, Minn.-based global logistics services provider and freight forwarder C.H. Robinson has come to an end, with the company announcing today it tabbed David Bozeman to take the position, effective June 26. Bozeman will also serve as a member of the company’s Board of Directors.
National diesel average is down, for the week of June 5, reports EIA
June 6, 2023
The national average decreased 5.8 cents to $3.797 per gallon, marking the first time the national diesel average fell below the $3.80 per gallon mark since the week of January 24, 2022, when it came in at $3.78.
Transfix announces partnership with Highway
June 6, 2023
A key objective of the partnership is to integration is to increase transparency and efficiency during the carrier compliance and onboarding process, while also expanding the Transfix carrier network.
Logistics Labor: Increasing retention
June 5, 2023
To better manage through the constrained labor market, logistics operations are courting more women and other diverse job candidates; ramping up their training programs; investing in automation; and ensuring that positions offer the work-life balance that many new recruits are seeking.
Voice picking solutions gains impact with integration in the warehouse and beyond
June 5, 2023
Voice-directed solutions do more than translate pick lists in voice instructions. These solutions are multi-modal, using wearable scanners and Android device screens when appropriate, and have evolved to handle work execution functions and integrate with mobile robots.
Services economy activity continues to grow in May, reports ISM
June 5, 2023
The Services PMI—at 50.3 (a reading of 50 or higher signals growth)—fell 1.6% off of May’s 51.9 reading, growing, at a slower rate, for the fifth consecutive month. ISM said that the services sector has seen growth in 35 of the last 36 months, with December 2022 being the one month with a decline.
2023 State of Robotics: Measurable performance and integration come into focus
June 5, 2023
There were hordes of robots at ProMat 2023, but what are they doing for operations in terms of high-value applications, and how do they integrate to help material flow? To find out, we asked a few exhibitors about the top warehouse robotic apps and trends.
Transportation Best Practices/Trends: Private fleet growth soars
June 5, 2023
We take a deeper dive behind the numbers to examine why private fleets have had eight consecutive years of consistent growth in four key metrics—shipments, volume, value, and miles-run.
LMS Update: Expanding into networked labor management
June 5, 2023
Companies of all sizes are leveraging labor management systems to detect workforce issues, improve asset utilization, and incentivize employees across a distributed network.
RK Logistics announces expansion into Arizona
June 5, 2023
Company officials said that this new office will support customers throughout the greater Phoenix area, as well as southern Arizona. And they added the office will, at first, be the location for the company’s local sales, business development and administrative staff, with a focus on providing logistics services for current and also emerging industrial and manufacturing businesses and also their suppliers in Arizona’s Silicon Desert region.
2023 Cross-border Update: Business Booms
June 5, 2023
What has been called “phenomenal” growth in near-shoring will only increase cross-border trade as manufacturers seek sites closer to their markets. While freight transportation providers are streamlining cross-border moves with strong data, partnerships, and expertise, there’s still a lot shippers need to understand before setting up a long-term strategy.
Preliminary Class 8 truck orders see May gains
June 5, 2023
FTR reported that May preliminary orders, at 13,600 units, beat expectations, as orders had seen declines in six out of seven months through May, rising 9%, from April to May. ACT reported that preliminary North American Class 8 May orders—at 15,500 units—was up 10% annually and rose 29%, from April to May.
EVs + AVs = FVs (Future Vehicles): A seismic wave?
June 5, 2023
This is a game-changing transformation for transportation, with much the same impact of the jump from sail to steam power and steam to diesel propulsion.
