
What’s the most fun or interesting part about working in the supply chain?
Knowing I work in an industry that touches every aspect of everyone’s life. I like knowing that if we do our job well and someone goes to the shelf for something they need—the shelf is full.

Fueling Transportation Breakthroughs
Doug Mueller was enjoying a long, happy career at Schneider National when Craig Dickman, a former colleague, proposed Mueller join him in a new kind of business. MORE TO THE STORY: On Becoming Breakthrough Fuel would help shippers save money on fuel surcharges, allowing them to base those charges not on a nationwide index, but […]

FedEx Reserves 20 Tesla Semi Electric Trucks
FedEx Corp. has placed a reservation for 20 Tesla Semi trucks. Less-than-truckload unit FedEx Freight will operate the fully electric trucks, which are scheduled to begin production in 2019. This new big rig will deliver a far better experience for truck drivers, while increasing safety and significantly reducing the cost of cargo transport, according to […]

2018 Top 100 Logistics IT Providers
Need logistics IT solutions? These leading providers, presented alphabetically, offer the services that match your supply chain needs. Search the Logistics IT Decision Support Tool for an even deeper dive.

Checking In: The Last Grimy Mile
At the end of March, in between nor’easters in New York City, I went out for a lunchtime stroll. I wanted to check out the 14 new gleaming skyscrapers of the Hudson Yards development—a “self contained, e-commerce friendly city within a city”—where thousands of young urban professionals won’t ever have to leave their apartments to […]

Noted – The Supply Chain in Brief
Sealed Deals Gifts, toys, apparel, and accessories e-tailer Hollar deployed inVia Robotics’ Picker robots and cloud-based Robotics-as-a-Service management system to streamline e-commerce fulfillment in its Los Angeles warehouse. Hollar uses the collaborative mobile robotics platform to automate goods-to-person fulfillment, boosting warehouse productivity. The e-tailer deployed 100 inVia Picker robots and will scale as needed to […]

2018 Top 100 Logistics IT Market Research Survey
Inbound Logistics surveys the supply chain technology market to evaluate the latest trends and uncover the most innovative providers in their respective fields.

Software-as-a-Service or Outsourced Managed Services: Which is Right for Your Organization? – Transplace
When it comes to managing transportation operations, shippers are often at a crossroads. They may find themselves asking the questions: Should I implement a transportation management system (TMS) in-house or via software-as-a-service (SaaS)? Should I outsource everything to a Managed Transportation Services (MTS) provider? Or take a hybrid approach? Not all companies’ core competencies are […]

Michele van Krieken: Formulating Supply Chain Clarity
Michele van Krieken is global supply chain manager with The Chemours Company, a $1.5-billion global chemistry company with leading market positions in titanium technologies, fluoroproducts, and chemical solutions. Responsibilities Manage global supply chain for the fluoroproducts business, driving both day-to-day execution and improvements, and developing career paths for supply chain employees. Work closely with business […]

Supply Chain Strategy and E-Commerce Success – Unyson
Companies with an e-commerce strategy often sell a wider variety of products than brick-and-mortar companies. To reap the benefits of that product mix, however, they may need to adapt their supply chain strategy to accommodate the needs of every product they sell. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, e-commerce sales for the second quarter of […]

Bridging the Gap Between Craft and Technology – Crane Worldwide Logistics
Blockchain, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles…it seems like you can’t have a conversation about technology without these buzzwords being thrown around. These kinds of technologies are extremely exciting and will likely change the way we live and work. Having said that, it’s important for companies in our space to strike a balance […]
Trucking Shortage: Buckle Up for Worsening Conditions
The United States has been facing a severe trucking shortage since the electronic logging device (ELD) implementation in late 2017 exacerbated capacity issues. More than four months in and the crunch does not only seem far from easing but appears likely to worsen. Trucking spot rates are 28 percent higher through March 23, 2018 than […]

Alaska: North To The Future
A mix of experienced logistics service providers, resilient infrastructure, flexible transportation options, and a seasoned workforce combine to make Alaska a land of promise for companies doing business with the state.
Supply Chain Efficiency: Packaging for the Automotive E-Commerce Era
According to the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), the e-commerce automotive aftermarket sector is currently growing at a rate of $1 billion annually, and is expected to rise to $15 billion by 2020. For the most part, the sector is focused on two primary customers: those seeking accessories for upgrades and those interested in purchasing […]

Panama Canal Has a 3-in-1 Day
The Panama Canal successfully transited three LNG vessels through its Neopanamax locks on April 17, 2018, marking a first for the waterway. The Clean Ocean, Gaslog Gibraltar, and Gaslog Hong Kong vessels first arrived at the Canal from the Pacific Ocean then transited north, departing on the Atlantic side. The development marks a significant milestone […]
Supply Chain Insight: Improve Accuracy and Visibility with GS1 Standards
It’s no surprise warehouse processes have grown more complex in the on-demand economy. Greater demand and higher customer expectations mean employees must move product through the warehouse as efficiently as possible. Warehousing technology has evolved to meet these challenges, helping employees better track inventory through the receiving and put-away processes. While these advancements address concerns […]
Supply Chain Commentary:
10 Ways to Enhance Visibility
Seeing what’s happening throughout the supply chain—and being able to make changes when things don’t go as planned—is essential in today’s always-on, omnichannel shipping environment. But even though businesses have more tools, providers, and resources than ever for supply chain management, two-thirds still report they don’t have end-to-end visibility, according to the Business Continuity Institute. […]

Outsourced Manufacturing: Ethical and Environmental Concerns Grow
Some interesting trends around the ongoing trade war between the United States and China, as well as continuing challenges with environmental issues and health and safety, have emerged. That’s according to AsiaInspection’s (AI) quarterly barometer of outsourced manufacturing and the quality control services industry for Q1 2018. Highlights of the report include: As many as […]
Getting the Most Out of Foreign Trade Zones
When I first started working in logistics, I heard a horror story about what can go wrong when a single detail is missed in a given transaction. A classic-car collector found his dream car in Europe after many years of searching and bought it for several million dollars. When shipping the car to the United […]
RoadOne IntermodaLogistics Acquired Jarvis Trans
RoadOne IntermodaLogistics, an intermodal, distribution, and logistics service company, acquired Jarvis Trans, an intermodal transportation company serving the greater New England region including Boston. The acquisition allows RoadOne to address pressing issues confronting the intermodal drayage sector including a shortage of qualified drivers, the effects of federally mandated electronic logging device implementation, port-mandated clean trucks, […]

Latest Supply Chain Awards
Paint, color, and coatings brand Benjamin Moore & Co. was awarded two distinctions in the fourth annual SCM World Power of Profession Awards: Talent Payback of the Year and Talent Breakthrough of the Year. SCM World, a Gartner community, recognized the company for its efforts to transform and modernize its supply chain, increase employee retention, […]
IoT and Security in the Supply Chain: Making Smart Choices
There’s a lot of confusion about the Internet of Things and security in enterprise environments. In reality, IoT is not just one thing, and the type of IoT solution as well as the environment in which it is used should dictate security requirements. To make informed security decisions regarding an IoT solution for your organization, […]

News & Trends Impacting the Auto Supply Chain
Auto Tariffs: U.S. Pays The Price Citing a “big trade imbalance,” President Trump has threatened to place a tax on vehicles imported into the United States from Europe. In fact, such a tax already exists—a relic from a trade war fought in the 1950s. Consumers already absorb a 2.5-percent tariff on cars and a whopping […]

DHL Takes Part in the Bike MS 2018 Breakaway Event
In March 2018, 85 DHL riders and 50 DHL volunteers took part in the Bike MS 2018 Breakaway event from Miami to Key Largo. As the presenting sponsor of Bike MS, DHL brought staff from South Florida, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Arizona, and Ohio, marking its 15th year participating in the event. The 175 miles traveled […]
What Advice Would You Give Your Younger Self About Supply Chain Management?
Sometimes improving on the establishment is right and sometimes disrupting it is. When people have pain using the leader’s solution, improve. Otherwise, disrupt. Stay on the pulse of the supply chain. There is always an opportunity to improve and innovate. Evan Garber CEO, EVS I would encourage my younger self to embrace a forward-thinking attitude, […]

New Interchange 55 Logistics Park
Industrial logistics developer CT started building the 1.34-million-square-foot, $125-million Interchange 55 Logistics Park in suburban Chicago, with completion expected by the end of 2018. This two-building facility has access to I-55 and I-355 trucking routes and proximity to logistics and intermodal freight transportation via BNSF Logistics Park, Union Pacific Intermodal Terminal, and FedEx and UPS […]


Sonwil Distribution Center Deploys Electric Truck
Logistics solutions provider Sonwil Distribution Center deployed an Orange EV T-Series pure-electric terminal truck at the company’s 300,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center in Buffalo, New York. Eliminating emissions and reducing maintenance costs, the Orange EV electric yard truck demonstrates Sonwil’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability.

Good Start for Air Cargo? Too Early to Tell
2018 looks to be off to a flying start for the air cargo industry, according to World ACD, but it may be too early to celebrate. Worldwide air cargo yield dropped to USD $1.89 (U.S. dollars) in January 2018, 7.8 percent below December, but 16.8 percent higher than January 2017. MORE TO THE STORY: World […]

2018 Global Logistics Guide
Inbound Logistics’ 14th annual Global Logistics Guide presents a transportation and logistics world atlas to help you stay on top of shifting global dynamics and identify and map out continents and countries that require further exploration.
Leveling the Ocean Shipping Playing Field
Participating beneficial cargo owners (BCOs) can benefit from enhanced purchasing power, service monitoring, and cost transparency as a result of a new partnership between supply chain consulting company Chainalytics and global shipping consultancy Drewry. The companies have joined forces to launch an innovative ocean freight procurement solution for shippers. The Chainalytics Ocean Buying Group will […]

Technology Fuels Truckload Transport
Dedicated truckload fleets fill up on technology solutions that pump crucial data from power units and trailers and deliver it to shippers ready to give their supply chains the gas.
Small Businesses Face Import Overhead
Freightos research sheds light on rampant inefficiencies within the global freight sector, trends impacting the growing import/export industry in the United States. While importing continues to grow across both small and enterprise companies, almost 50 percent of the 300,000+ American businesses that import still use spreadsheets to manage their international supply chain. Global trade is […]

German Trucks: It’s a Steal
Growing cargo thefts across Germany, resulting in product losses valued at $1.3 billion annually, have prompted business associations in the country to launch a joint initiative to tackle the problem. Physical cargo carried onboard almost 26,000 trucks is stolen in Germany every year, averaging a new attack on a truck every 20 minutes, according to […]

Imports, E-Commerce Drive Industrial Real Estate Demand
Seaports are a vital economic engine for the United States and a huge driver of demand for industrial real estate. Imports represented 63 percent of the total loaded cargo volume in 2017 for the top 13 ports in the United States. As imports continue to rise steadily in many ports across the country, and e-commerce […]
Supply Chain Commentary: Boost Productivity, Efficiency, and Security in Your Warehouse
Smoothly running logistics—a key factor in successful warehouse operations—depends on a three-legged stool of productivity, efficiency, and secure operations. Today, software underpins many warehouse functions, giving leaders a new source of productivity and efficiency insights—and a new concern for corporate security. Measuring and Optimizing Productivity Optimizing labor productivity is the number one goal within warehouse […]

High School Meets Truck Driver Challenge Hands-On
A Patterson, California, high school has an answer to the commercial truck driver shortage: kick young students’ interest into high gear. Its recently launched truck driving school program puts high school students behind the wheel. In addition to classroom instruction, they receive hands-on experience on a truck as well as training on truck simulators, where […]
FTAs Top Concern of Importers/Exporters
To gauge shipper perspectives on trade in today’s world, and particularly about the shift in free trade agreement (FTA) focus, global logistics and transportation solutions company BDP polled U.S. importers and exporters attending its 29th Annual Regulatory Compliance Seminar in Houston in late February. The results confirms that FTAs remain in the forefront of the […]
In It for the Long Haul
This first of its kind Heavy Haul Freight Carrier Survey of 258 heavy haul truckers, co-sponsored by FR8Star and Comdata, yields some interesting trends: Nine out of 10 truckers say they are tech savvy, suggesting the myth of the anti-tech trucker is just that—a myth. Of the almost one-quarter (22 percent) of truckers who have […]

Logistics Jobs: Follow The Money
The rise of e-commerce, coupled with manufacturing and logistics facilities implementing robotics and other emerging technologies in the production process, has caused demand for digitally savvy workers with trade skills to skyrocket. But with a projected manufacturing and logistics (M&L) talent shortage of two million jobs, employers must pay competitively, beyond the market salary rate, […]

Coping With Trade Compliance Challenges
The Thomson Reuters-KPMG International Third Annual Global Trade Report reveals leading practices from top global trade practitioners in the following areas: Centralization Centralizing the governance of global trade is a good starting point, report many large and experienced multinationals. They find that once one area is centralized, companies tend to centralize more trade processes than […]

New Jersey, Rhode Island: Highways to Hell
The nation’s top-performing, most cost-effective highways can be found in North Dakota, Kansas, South Dakota, Nebraska, and South Carolina, according to the latest edition of the Reason Foundation Annual Highway Report. Reason Foundation’s Annual Highway Report ranks the performance of state highway systems in 11 categories, including pavement condition, deficient bridges, traffic congestion, fatality rates, […]

Consumer Confidence Builds Up Industrial Real Estate
2017 was another banner year for the industrial real estate market, in large part due to consumer confidence, which hit a 17-year high in December, according to Transwestern’s year-end national industrial report. The U.S. market witnessed its eighth consecutive year of growth in 2017, marking 31 consecutive quarters of positive absorption and 29 consecutive quarters […]

Capacity Crunch? Carriers Weigh In
Shippers express concern about finding capacity, but how do carriers see the situation? To find out, Transporeon Group, a cloud-based supply chain execution platform provider, surveyed its base of more than 3,000 North American logistics service providers. Most carriers surveyed claim they are at capacity utilization rates of 95 percent and higher, both in the […]

Georgia: Pathways to Progress
In the logistics sphere, Georgia offers every important road—as well as air and sea route—to success.


Advantages of a Niche Third Party Logistics Provider – MD Logistics
Third-party logistics (3PL) providers provide detailed logistical solutions for companies, in an array of industries, in need of contract warehousing, personalized fulfillment, and/or freight management. Often, these 3PL providers will specialize and target a specific industry or geographical market, or will limit their service offering. Those who specialize are referred to as niche 3PLs. Q: […]

E-Commerce: Cultivating a New Logistics Landscape
E-commerce continues to mow down traditional business practices. To adapt, companies serving manufacturing, industrial, and retail customers are seeding their portfolios with new services, and not letting any grass grow under their feet.
Essentials of a Healthy Supply Chain Partnership
The supply chain has always been central to providing a satisfying customer experience, but as digital transformation continues to offer labor-intensive services such as overnight shipping and customized products, consumer expectations have never been higher, and the supply chain has never been so complex. To ensure brands are managing the most efficient, optimized supply chain, […]

Shipment Visibility Gets a Digital Facelift – Amber Road
Q: Why is digital technology important to shipment visibility? A: Asking why digital technology is important to shipment visibility is similar to asking why you need fuel to operate a car. Without collecting data through the many technology channels, shipment visibility is reduced to phone calls, manual web searches, and Excel spreadsheets. This may be […]

Long Beach Port Goes With the Flow
As cargo volumes and the complexity of port operations continue to increase, the Port of Long Beach and GE Transportation are collaborating on a pilot project to improve cargo flow, increase visibility, and enhance real-time decision-making. After a successful pilot with the Port of Los Angeles that increased visibility of incoming cargo from two days […]

Trouble Finding Capacity? How a 3PL Can Help
Partnering with a 3PL could be the best solution to improved visibility and lower costs over the long haul.

Customized TMS Delivers Annual Savings
WD-40 Company teamed up with Unyson for better network oversight and improved on-time service.

Advance Your Career – SCTL at the University of Washington
Companies concerned with cost control, competitive differentiation, and innovation are more than ever seeking professionals who can drive substantive change.
Supply Chain Finance:
Capitalizing on Growth Trends
The business case for capitalizing on record freight volumes is clear. Here’s how to unlock immense sums of money in the supply chain.

Running a Global Organization Like Family
When Frank Guenzerodt joined Dachser USA as its president and CEO in 2004, this U.S. unit of the German-based global logistics firm was bringing in $11 million annually. By 2016, annual revenues had ballooned to $181 million. MORE TO THE STORY: Get Your Passport Ready That strong growth has continued, and Guenzerodt expects to see […]

U.S. Manufacturers Brace for Tariff Backlash
Shortly after the Trump administration announced the United States would impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, Harley-Davidson was among the companies expressing concern. The U.S. motorcycle manufacturer stated it would suffer a severe impact on sales if other countries countered by imposing a punitive or retaliatory tariff on its bikes. If President Trump follows […]

Internet of Things to Come
The Internet of Things (IoT) allows users to collect and make data visible at key points, improving customer satisfaction and optimizing supply chain responsiveness. It can also offer greater differentiation and innovation, leading to a competitive advantage. IoT is widely discussed, but what does it refer to and how does it relate to the lean […]
Increasing Supply Chain Visibility
In our "now" economy, consumers demand real-time visibility, along with the near-immediate delivery of goods. This has created a great deal of supply chain disruption, causing businesses to reevaluate the way they operate. Gary Allen, vice president of supply chain excellence at Ryder, provides tips on how to achieve end-to-end visibility, and ultimately ensure a […]
Supply Chains Get Smart
MIT and JDA Software will team up to advance research on intelligent supply chains, including machine learning, optimization, and consumer behavior modeling. The collaboration leverages both parties’ business domain expertise and customer base. Professor David Simchi-Levi of the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society has been tapped to lead the multi-year collaboration. The MIT and […]

Mike Parsley: Supply Chains Suits Him Well
Responsibilities E-commerce and retail distribution, transportation and logistics; national tailoring service and tuxedo distribution. Experience Vice president, operations, Macy’s; senior director, distribution, Men’s Wearhouse; senior operations manager, Amazon; director, operations, Vistaprint; president and operational roles, H.P. Reid; instructor, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Education M.S., aerospace engineering, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 1992; B.S., chemistry and mathematics, Cumberland College, […]
Georgia at the Center of Innovation
A Georgia senate committee has named Savannah and Augusta as locations for new logistics technology innovation and information technology corridors. The cities were chosen following a committee report that identified incentives for technology growth, and the best locations to establish these innovation corridors. In December 2017, the Senate Information Technology Corridors Study Committee released a […]

Sky. Falling or Not?
Trade uncertainty. Tariffs. Protectionism. Retaliation. Supply chain disruption. What is happening? For the past year, we have been hearing shouted warnings that global trade as we know it will end in 2017…no, in 2018….no, in 2019. “The future of the global trade system faces more risk and uncertainty than at any time since it was […]
15 Key Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Outsourced Fulfillment Partner
In a highly competitive market, outsourcing order fulfillment can provide most companies a competitive advantage. The right provider can cut costs, improve customer service, allow you to focus on core competencies, and help you stay ahead of the competition by managing your entire supply chain. Is outsourcing your fulfillment the best option for your business? […]
Supply Chain Awards
Logistics solutions provider Purolator International won a 2018 Eggie Award as tech-focused e-retailer Newegg’s Best International Logistics Partner. This is the third consecutive year Purolator International has received this award, recognizing its employees across the United States and Canada for providing outstanding delivery service to Newegg’s Canadian customers. Dachser USA Air & Sea Logistics was […]

5 Reasons to Make Demand Modeling Part of Your Supply Chain Design Process
Predicting customer demand is incredibly difficult. Economic indicators, weather, seasonal influences, and industry trends constantly change and need to be continually factored in to your analysis. This insight helps improve the design of your supply chain to better account for changes in demand. In today’s marketplace, it’s crucial to understand your customers’ buying behavior, as […]

The Model Port of the Future
The Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, is working with IBM on a long-term digitization strategy that will transform the port—not only to improve safety and efficiency today, but also to accommodate autonomous ships, as well as process and ship metal 3D-printed ship components on demand in the future. Key elements of the digitization strategy […]

Sealed Deals
Meal kit delivery service Sun Basket chose sustainable box liners from Sealed Air, a provider of protective e-commerce packaging materials. In addition to using organic produce, sustainable ingredients, and recyclable packaging, Sun Basket wanted new insulation materials for its shipping boxes while retaining its commitment to 100-percent recyclable packaging. Sun Basket selected Sealed Air’s TempGuard […]

New Floor & Decor Facility
Floor & Decor, a specialty retailer of hard-surface flooring and related accessories, opened a 1.4-million-square-foot distribution center in Savannah. The new Floor & Decor facility sits on a 90-acre site and facilitates product storage and more efficient distribution to retail stores in the eastern United States. The complex, located near the intersection of Interstates 16 […]

Latest Supply Chain Products
Radio frequency identification (RFID) solutions provider Alien Technology unveiled a handheld RFID reader with all-day battery life for use with the latest smart devices. The new ALR-S350 RFID reader is designed for heavy inventory tasks, letting supply chain owners quickly locate RFID tagged merchandise and immediately respond to customer requests. By including the RFID capability […]
AI Ushers Supply Chains Into Data-Driven Future
Over the years, organizations have deployed an array of transactional and analytic systems for supply chain operations. While gains have been made, supply chains remain far from the ideal of real-time visibility and data-driven decisions that define the supply chain of the future. Supply chains have grown infinitely more complex in today’s faster digital environments. […]

Mergers & Acquisitions
Sunset Transportation, a third-party logistics company, acquired 3PL Snowland Freight Services, integrating its offices in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and St. Paul, Minnesota, to the Sunset network. The new branches, which operate under the Sunset Transportation name starting in February 2018, provide expanded coverage and support to Sunset’s national freight network in the upper Midwest. Flatbed […]

Airline Confidence Stays High
Airline management confidence remains high, despite concerns about higher fuel costs, and an expectation that profits will fall from 2017, according to the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) latest Airline Business Confidence Index. Among the index highlights: Nearly 75 percent of airline CFOs and heads of cargo indicate an improvement in year-on-year profitability in Q4 […]
H&M Tries on Supply Chain Improvements
The world’s second-largest fashion company, Sweden’s Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), says it will increase supply chain investments and continue cost control measures to address slow growth in 2017, and keep pace with e-commerce rivals. After a supply chain reorganization in 2016, H&M’s new focus includes investing in data analytics and intelligence to enhance retail assortment […]

UPS Ups Cross-Border Investment
To support commercial and residential commerce in the growing North America Borderplex, UPS will develop a new package operations center there. The strategic investment serves a manufacturing region that stretches across Texas, New Mexico, and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. The North American Borderplex area is home to 2.5 million people and one of the world’s […]

Taking the Measure of Global Trade
Cross-border trade of intermediate goods and early-cycle commodities point to a moderate increase in world trade through March 2018, according to the DHL Global Trade Barometer for January 2018. On its initial release, the index scored 64, which is slightly below the values calculated for previous months (see chart). That means that world trade is […]
Noted: The Supply Chain in Brief-2018
Green Seeds Fast-fashion brand H&M became the first retailer to roll out a line of clothing made from Circulose, a new natural material derived from old jeans, T-shirts, and other cotton clothing, which can help retailers reduce their waste, climate, and deforestation footprint. The CMA CGM Group partnered with the Energy Observer, a hydrogen-powered vessel […]

Raising the GPA
Georgia ports authority (GPA) has developed a strategic plan that allows for 10 million twenty-foot equivalent container units, one million rail lifts, and more than one million auto and machinery units per year, GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch told attendees at the 50th annual Georgia Foreign Trade Conference in early February. Lynch provided an overview […]

Intermodal Delivers in 2017
Intermodal freight volumes posted a fourth-quarter growth rate of 5.8 percent year-over-year, according to the Intermodal Association of North America’s (IANA) fourth quarter and year-end Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics report. International volume increased by 7.7 percent; domestic containers grew by a modest 2.5 percent; while trailer loads increased by 12.2 percent. "The imbalance between […]

You Can’t Control Mother Nature, But You Can Be Ready For It
For senior financial executives at large U.S.-based companies with operations in Texas, Florida, or Puerto Rico, the 2017 hurricane season served as a risk management wake-up call. Commercial and industrial property insurer FM Global surveyed these executives at companies with more than $1 billion in revenue and found: Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of respondents say […]

A Slap on the Wrist
Amazon has received two patents for a wristband system that monitors how warehouse workers move their hands. Currently, when a product order is received, the details are transmitted to the handheld computers that all Amazon warehouse staff carry. The workers must then rush to retrieve that product from one of many inventory bins on shelves, […]
Guarding Your Business Against Data Loss
Data loss is every company’s nightmare. In fact, most companies that do experience a mass disappearance of vital, computer-kept information never turn their lights on again. It comes down to the idea that how you protect and treat your data is commensurate with how important you think it is, says Penny Garbus, co-founder of Soaring […]
Man vs. Machine
Business leaders are divided in how they envision the future of human-machine partnerships, according to global research from Dell Technologies. Half of the 3,800 global business leaders surveyed forecast that automated systems will free up their time, while the other 50 percent believe otherwise.Similarly, 42 percent believe they’ll have more job satisfaction in the future […]

Supply Chain Needs More Accurate Costing Information
Supply chain professionals need more accurate and effective cost information to help their decision-making, highlighting the need for supply chain and finance departments to work more closely together. They also need to adopt progressive costing practices that are focused on informing internal decisions. That’s according to a joint research report from APICS, the professional association […]

How to Contain Rising Truckload Prices
You’ve no doubt seen your truckload shipping costs skyrocket. If you’re a niche user—flatbed or refrigerated—you’re probably reeling at the price increases. Your brokers tell you prices will moderate; they’re wrong. Let’s explore strategies to help you contain increasing prices. Let’s talk about why these prices are here to stay. First and foremost, the driver […]

Average Is for Other People
Derek Leathers embarked on his first big business venture when he was 12 years old. The scene was the circus, where his stepfather helped him get a job selling popcorn up and down the aisles. MORE TO THE STORY: Call Him Coach “They weren’t able to employ me officially, but I got to keep whatever […]

Yes, NAFTA Affects Your Industry Too
The symbiotic relationship between trade compliance and supply chain is the cornerstone of a shipper’s competitive advantage. You know this well, but you may be unfamiliar with how NAFTA affects your entire supply chain. Service providers who stay current on the global trade landscape are assets to their clients. I know, I used to be […]

How Georgia Designed an Innovative Logistics Landscape
Industry groups need to come together and support a sustainable logistics ecosystem. State organizations play a critical role in achieving this goal, as they are often the hub that facilitates seamless interactions between businesses, government agencies, industry groups, and educational institutions. Georgia, for example, supports a robust industry that’s successful on a national and global […]

Howie Mann: Helping to Train a New Generation
Howie Mann is a founder and board member with the Urban Assembly School for Global Commerce in New York City, which provides opportunities for economic mobility through access to college and career pathways in supply chain management and freight logistics. Responsibilities Helping to guide the school in its CTE (career and technical education) program, including […]

Sourcing Packaging Globally Boxes Up Savings
Hungry to reduce food packaging costs, Church’s Chicken flies the domestic coop and finds an economic supplier on the other side of the world.


Newest Technology Innovations
Logility, a provider of retail planning and collaborative supply chain optimization solutions, unveiled Dynamic Allocation and Replenishment, a new capability within Logility Voyager Retail Optimization. Retailers with multiple distribution centers can now automatically allocate and replenish merchandise to each store location or channel from any combination of distribution centers to boost inventory velocity and support […]

Core Competencies Every Supply Chain Manager Needs
Acquire these skills and competencies to build success in your supply chain—and your career.


Supply Chain Commentary: Five Challenges to Embrace and Channel into Business Advantages
Disruption can be daunting, especially coupled with pressure from increasing competitive forces and shrinking margins. However, strategic navigation and preparation can lead to positive outcomes. In the supply chain, challenges can lead to improvements in key areas such as inventory management and order fulfilment. Technology innovation can help. A PwC study found that companies with […]

6 Supply Chain Terms Creating the Buzz
Word! Brush up on the latest supply chain and logistics terms so you can hold your own at the next industry conference.

The Human Experience
I am adding something to the acronym alphabet soup: HX or the Human Experience. In the ever-evolving supply chain process—shaped by automation, co-bots, and the global search for the lowest skilled hourly wage—are the cards irrevocably stacked against the humanity who grind the operational logistics gears that make it all happen? Recent developments in supply […]

Latest Transportation Services
The Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore begins a roll-on/roll-off service to New Zealand and Australia in March 2018. The monthly service on Hoegh Autoliners starts in Baltimore then includes service to the ports of Auckland, Brisbane, Port Kembla, Melbourne, and Fremantle. The first sailing will be on the Hoegh Jeddah, which is scheduled to […]

Want to Run a More Successful 3PL? Learn from the Best. – 3PL Central
Today’s third-party logistics and warehouse community is accomplishing spectacular things in our rapidly changing environment. From increasing productivity, to growing their customer base, to raking in higher profits, warehouses are thriving in today’s marketplace. Like any 3PL owner, you’re always looking for ways to improve your own results, as well. At 3PL Central, we have […]