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
Bipartisan legislation focused on supply chain resilience is introduced in the Senate
May 23, 2024
The bill, entitled the “Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act,” was introduced by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), a senior member of the Committee. This bill was also introduced in the House (H.R. 6571) by Reps. Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and passed last week by a 44-0 unanimous vote.
How to Optimize Your RFID Mandate Labeling within the Supply Chain
May 23, 2024
Unlock supply chain success by joining SATO America, Loftware, and GS1 Global experts to master new RFID mandates, retail labeling, and compliance strategies.
Gartner releases its 20th Annual Global Supply Chain Top 25
May 23, 2024
Schneider Electric maintained its top position, with Cisco Systems and Colgate-Palmolive rounding out the top three. NVIDIA also made a strong debut at seventh place.
U.S.-bound imports see growth in April, reports S&P Global Market Intelligence
May 22, 2024
April imports, at 2,524,299 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), saw a 7.7% annual increase, growing for the eighth consecutive month, following a 14-month stretch of annual declines, while up 8.5% compared to pre-pandemic April 2019. Annual growth in April was well short of March’s 16% annual gain. Imports grew 1.2% from March to April.
Industry experts dissect White House’s tariffs announcement
May 22, 2024
As reported by LM earlier this month, after a statutory four-year review process of Section 301 tariffs levied on United States-bound imports from China conducted by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the final outcome, the White House announced, that those tariffs are remaining intact, with ones for certain products, to see increases.
April intermodal volumes turn in solid performance, reports IANA
May 21, 2024
Total April volume, at 1,456,241 units, increased 12.0% annually, topping March’s 6.7% annual increase, and in line with February’s 14.6% annual increase.
Packaging Efficiency: The modern way to reduced freight costs
May 21, 2024
Join our webcast to discover how Packsize & Paccurate can help your operations and outbound logistics teams cut costs and boost efficiency through innovative order fulfillment strategies.
Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach monthly volumes head up again
May 21, 2024
Total POLA volume, at 770,337 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), rose 12% annually, marking the ninth straight month of annual volume growth. The Port of Long Beach reported that total April volume, at 750,524 TEU, headed up 14.4% annually.
National diesel average drops nearly 6 cents, for lowest reading since July, reports EIA
May 21, 2024
The national average, at $3.789, decreased 5.9 cents, following a 4.6-cent decline, to $3.848, for the week of May 13.
Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Dali cargo ship is finally on the move
May 20, 2024
Authorities aim to reopen the main shipping channel by the end of May.
Bloomberg/Truckstop 1Q24 Truckload Survey points to improving spot market sentiment
May 20, 2024
Despite 62% of carriers reporting lower freight volume in 1Q, 33% predict freight demand to increase in the next 3-6 months. Only 19% predict freight demand to decline in the same timeframe, which represents a 12-point percentage decline vs. the 4Q survey.
BlueGrace Logistics Confidence Index sees signs of stabilization for the third quarter
May 20, 2024
For revenues, the report viewed third quarter expectations as “an interesting paradox with shipper optimism on the rise, but the expected magnitude of growth has moderated greatly, with 70% of the report’s respondents expecting positive third quarter revenue growth, topping expectations for the first and second quarters, which each respectively came in at 65%.
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index falls to lowest level since last September
May 17, 2024
For March, the most recent month for which data is available, the TCI came in at- 7.25, following February’s -5.31 reading.
U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes are mixed, for week ending May 11, reports AAR
May 17, 2024
Rail carloads, at 209,319, fell 7.0% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 254,429 units, rose 7.7% annually.
Cass Freight Index points to annual shipments and expenditures declines
May 17, 2024
April’s shipment reading, at 1.098, decreased 4.0% annually, and expenditures, at 3.227, were off 16.8% annually.
