Logistics Management Magazine Archives

October 2022 Logistics Management

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
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

FTR Shippers Conditions Index takes a step back but remains positive
For January, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI reading came in at 3.3, marking a 3% decline December’s 6.4 reading and also below November’s 6.3. October had topped September's 4.3 by 2%, with FTR saying at the time reflected the most favorable market conditions for shippers since June 2023.

U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes are mixed, for week ending March 23, reports AAR
Rail carloads, at 219,586, fell 0.6% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 255,010, saw a 13.8% annual increase.

Expensive, lengthy delays expected before Port of Baltimore can re-open to vessels following Key Bridge collapse
The collapse of the 47-year-old, 1.6-mile Francis Scott Key Bridge is going to have supply chain repercussions for months, if not longer, supply chain experts are saying.

DAT Truckload Volume Index sees February declines after a strong January
The van TVI, at 245, down 4% compared to January, with the reefer TVI, at 193, down 4% compared to January, and the flatbed TVI, at 242, increased 3% compared to January.

In Pyrrhic victory, Teamsters win as judge tosses Yellow’s $137 million lawsuit
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has won what the union calls “a major victory” in a breach of contract lawsuit against Yellow Corp. Unfortunately for about 24,000 Teamsters who lost their jobs when Yellow ceased operations last August, the victory arrives about nine months too late.

project44 and Everstream offer up analysis on Port of Baltimore situation
Chicago-based supply chain visibility services provider project44 noted that in addition to the Dali, there are also three other container vessels currently moored in the Port of Baltimore. And for container vessels that were scheduled to arrive at the Port of Baltimore now re-routing to alternative ports, Everstream Analytics reported the following: four at the Port of New York and New Jersey; three at the Port of Norfolk; one at the Port of Philadelphia; and one unconfirmed.

Industry experts examine the impact of Baltimore bridge collapse on supply chains
Following yesterday’s bridge collision in Baltimore, when the 32,000-ton container ship, Dali, collided into the 1.6-mile Francis Scott Key bridge over the Patapsco River in Baltimore, causing it to collapse and stopping ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore, for an indefinite period, it has created yet another uncertain situation for supply chains.

Port of Baltimore closed indefinitely to ships after 1.6-mile Key Bridge collapses following maritime accident
The most severe U.S. bridge collision since the Tampa Skyway Bridge disaster in 1980 happened at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday near Baltimore where a 32,000-ton cargo ship Dali rammed a bridge over the Patapsco River in Baltimore, causing it to collapse. The collapse of the 47-year-old, 1.6-mile Francis Scott Key Bridge has brought ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore, an important East Coast trade hub, to a halt. The port said maritime traffic is suspended “until further notice.”

UPS presents updated financial goals and strategic targets at its investor day
Atlanta-based global freight transportation and logistics services provider UPS unveiled details regarding its strategic growth and productivity initiatives and its three-year financial targets at its Investor Day. Company officials stated that through its ongoing “Customer First, People Led, Innovation Driven” strategy, UPS is focused on setting up to the company to be the “premium small package provider and logistics partner in the world.”

Q&A: Mike Burkhart, VP of Mexico, C.H. Robinson
LM Group News Editor Jeff Berman recently spoke with Mike Burkhart, VP of Mexico, for Minneapolis-based global logistics services provider and freight forwarder C.H. Robinson, about the ongoing nearshoring push into Mexico and what shippers need to know and be prepared for in order to establish cross-border supply chain and logistics operations south of the border.

National diesel average heads up for second straight week, reports EIA
The weekly average, at $4.034, saw a 0.006-cent increase, following a 2.4-cent increase, to $4.028, for the week of March 18.

February and year-to-date U.S. import growth is solid, reports S&P Global Market Intelligence
February imports, at 2.44 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) increased 21% compared to February 2023. And when taking into account the timing of the Lunar New Year, coupled with the impact of ongoing Red Sea and Panama Canal disruptions, the firm explained that U.S.-bound imports over the first two months of 2024, at 5.04 million TEU, posted a 14% annual increase over 2023’s 4.40 million TEU, with 2022 and 2021, at 5.21 million TEU and 5.09 million TEU, respectively.

LM Podcast Series: 3PL market update with Evan Armstrong
Themes focused on over the course of this podcast included: the state of the market; ways in which the pandemic affected 3PL operations; M&A; how 3PLs are adjusting to and leveraging nearshoring; and the economy, among other topics. 

CPOs shift focus on AI from what’s possible to implementation
Annual Voices of Sourcing survey from Keelvar also finds technology use is ramping up as the workforce shrinks

FedEx fiscal third quarter earnings see gains amid ongoing volume declines
Quarterly revenue, at $21.7 billion, was off 2.3% annually, and operating income, at $1.24 billion, rose 16% annually. Earnings per share, at $3.51, topped the $3.05 from a year ago, topping Wall Street expectations of $3.30. Net income, at $879 million, was up 12% annually.


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