News and Insights for Logistics and Supply Chain Professionals
For an industry that is forever on the move, the world of logistics is in a perennial state of change, facing numerous challenges and vague demands. Staying ahead in this dynamic landscape can be quite a roller coaster. Adding to this dynamic is the arrival of ‘Uberization’ that is knocking on the doors of logistics, [...]
Will freight brokerage pricing evolve toward a discounted, transparent fee model like stock brokerage pricing? To answer that question, let’s examine some of the similarities between the two industries. The Evolution from Full-Service to Discount Stock Brokers Back in the 70’s and 80’s full-service stock brokerages dominated the industry. The industry leaders, like Merrill Lynch, [...]
Auxiliary power units (APUs) are one of the best tools that you can supply your truck drivers with to combat wasting fuel. The APU makes it possible to power a truck’s heating, air conditioning and other comfort systems without the need to keep the engine idling during rest stops. They help drivers avoid wasting fuel, [...]
There is something up with shippers. I sell transportation services, so I talk with shippers most every day. They look and act normal, but there is something weird going on with those people. Most of the shippers I know work for manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers. Nothing really out of the ordinary there. When you first [...]
The smart folks at TMS software research firm Software Advice have published an insightful new transportation management software study titled Transportation Management Software - Small Business BuyerView. What is a Transportation Management Software? A transportation management software (TMS) is a subset of Supply Chain Management (SCM) software focused on transport logistics. The TMS serves as the [...]
I often hear from novice shippers: “How can I find a great freight forwarder?” The truth is that finding a great freight forwarder is actually rather easy. Here are nine items to look for when searching for the best freight forwarder for your company: Research, Research, Research Before seeking out a great freight forwarder, it [...]
LTL rate increases are here and I believe they are here to stay for the foreseeable future. The price and tonnage increases for the carriers is a good thing. Of course, no shipper or 3PL wants to pay more, but we all need good healthy carriers. Supply Chain Digest: Large US LTL Carriers See Profits [...]
This is a list of the Top 25 LTL Carriers 2014 Ranking is based on 2013 revenue including fuel surcharges. Revenues provided are based on LTL operations only, unless indicated otherwise and include Canadian operations. *Revenue is mainly LTL and includes less than 10% for truckload and other services. 1. FedEx Freight - The [...]
Free Shipping For Customers: When “Crazy” Makes Sense Major Australian fashion retailer The Iconic has broken their previous holiday season’s sales record, and is estimated to almost triple their previous profits by the end of the year. Remarkably, the reason for this success is not a revolutionary new business model, or a price-slashing sale. It’s because [...]
Best Pick and Pack Shipping Systems for 2014 Order fulfillment has seen a rise in technology in 2014 and there is now a large offering of advanced products to help make your warehouse function more efficient. With software plugged into your warehouse management system, picking and shipping orders has become a lot more accurate. The [...]
Could you “Bump” Yourself to Some Savings? Dimensional weight is not applicable in LTL…or is it? While, in the truest form, dimensional weight is typically only applicable when dealing with parcel carriers and freight forwarders. However, just as parcel carriers want to invoice for the capacity that the carton occupies and perhaps not the weight, [...]
Don't Wait for the Truck Driver Shortage to Hit Your Business A truck driver shortage exists. News media like CNN, trade groups, trucking firms and industry watchers all agree a shortage exists and will worsen over the next 5 years. So what’s causing this shortage? There’s no singular cause. But many industry insiders mention: driver [...]
