Breaking Point: Ports Perform Under Pressure
U.S. container ports are busy trying to update aging infrastructure and ease congestion, while handling increased demand. Can the government and private sector help? What does the future hold?
Read MoreLast Mile Logistics: Key to Competing in the Retail Race
For U.S. retailers with broad global supply chain operations, “last mile”—the portion of transit from the final delivery center to the customer’s door—is really the last hundreds of miles from the destination port to the store. This crucial part of logistics, which accounts for the majority of a shipment’s cost and complexity, is becoming increasingly […]
Read MoreSlamming the Brakes On Supplier Misbehavior
Tired of dealing manually with vendor shipping violations, aftermarket auto chain Pep Boys shifts to an automated compliance system to steer suppliers in the right direction.
Read MorePaying by the Drink at D/C Expo
If you missed this year’s Distribution/ Computer Expo, May 23-25 in Chicago—and judging from the poor attendance level, it’s likely you did—you missed seeing the supply chain technology industry line up to pay by the drink. No, I’m not talking about vendors’ after-show bar habits, but rather the industry’s embrace of pay-by-the-drink software solutions. More […]
Read MoreChoosing an Intermediary? Buyer Beware
Q: Can importers be held responsible for unauthorized fraudulent acts committed by a customs broker working on their behalf? A: The U.S. Court of International Trade faced this question during a recent case where a textiles manufacturer hired a freight forwarder to act as its importer of record and to file entries on its behalf. […]
Read MoreDon Dickey: Living the Wi-Life
Don Dickey keeps an eye on his product, and his product keeps an eye out for you. Dickey is vice president of logistics and customer support for WiLife, maker of the LukWerks Digital Video Surveillance System. The Draper, Utah, startup markets LukWerks to consumers and small business owners, who use the package of video cameras, […]
Read MoreGlobal Logistics—June 2006
Global Air Cargo Flying Steady Manufacturers, retailers, and distributors shipping goods around the world have kept air cargo carriers busy lately—and the effort is showing up on carrier balance sheets. This increase in global trade, coupled with the airlines’ successful efforts to reign in costs, is starting to pay off. "Recent air cargo data from […]
Read MoreHome is Where the Heart (of Economic Development) Is
As state and local authorities survey investments in transportation and distribution infrastructure, one glaring omission interrupts their planning—a lack of oversight and assistance from the federal government. What are they doing about it?
Read MorePiecing Together the Intermodal PuzzleJune, 2006
Stumped by transportation challenges such as rising costs, capacity congestion, and infrastructure meltdowns? Here’s a clue: try mixing up modes to see if intermodal is a fit.
Read MoreGood Chemistry: Chemical Companies Tackle Multiple Challenges
In a volatile industry, chemical companies tackle multiple logistics challenges.
Read MoreTrue Shipper-Logistics Provider Inegration Inches Closer to Reality
Service providers are moving inside the fence line and working with shippers’ customers.
Read MoreChemical Producers Put New Emphasis on Logistics Safety and Security
Responsible Care becomes the common ground for shippers and service providers.
Read MoreOutlook and Opportunities in Chemical Logistics
Today: getting goods to and from the warehouse; tomorrow: where to put the warehouse?
Read MoreSelf-Criticism and Shared Pain
Jeff Shane shares our pain. Who is he and what is the cause of our shared transportation weltschmertz? Shane is the Undersecretary for Policy at the Department of Transportation and appeared to be thinking out loud at a recent speech to National Industrial Transportation League members. Shane was right there with us when we spent […]
Read MorePET Project Improves Railcar Tracking/Tracing
Amcor PET’s peeve was inaccurate data on inbound rail shipments. A new automated tracking/tracing system got the company back on track.
Read MoreSecuring Truckload Capacity While Reducing Overall Costs
The motor freight industry continues to be plagued by cost pressures that keep truckload capacity tight and drive shipping costs to record-high levels. Currently, motor freight carriers are struggling with: The growing driver shortage. The lack of long-haul drivers is the fifth-largest position shortage in America—195,000 drivers less than the existing need. Hours-of-Service (HOS) rules. […]
Read MoreSelecting RFID Middleware
Middleware for RFID applications sits between the RFID reader and conventional middleware, facilitating communication between enterprise systems and automatic identification devices. Some RFID middleware includes full track-and-trace reporting, device and network diagnostics utilities, and an open development platform, while other solutions focus solely on data consolidation and translation. How do you choose the RFID middleware […]
Read MoreTrends-June 2006
Collaboration isn’t just a supply chain buzzword, it’s fast becoming an essential tool for logistics success, according to new research from Boston-based Aberdeen Group. With ever-increasing logistics complexity and global supply chains becoming the norm, it’s more important than ever for supply chain professionals to share information and best practices across their networks, finds the […]
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