XPO Logistics Taps Mobile Technology in Europe

XPO Logistics, a global provider of transportation and logistics solutions, will expand its Drive XPO mobile technology to Europe in spring 2018, following a successful launch in North America. The app, designed for carriers, supports real-time visibility across transportation modes, and integrates carrier operations with daily productivity tools in one technology. The company’s proprietary Freight […]

Vertical Focus: The Agriculture Supply Chain

FARM AID The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make disaster payments of up to $2.36 billion, as provided by Congress, to help America’s farmers and ranchers recover from hurricanes and wildfires. The funds are available as part of the new 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program. The USDA’s Farm Service Agency will make these […]

Joel Kamp: Never Out of Gas

Joel Kamp is head of the bulk scheduling center, Americas region, with The Linde Group, a leading gases and engineering company operating in more than 100 countries. He oversees the transportation and delivery of liquefied gases such as oxygen and nitrogen to plants and depots in this region. Responsibilities: Directs the bulk scheduling center for […]

Turn Up the Volume on Omnichannel Fulfillment

Customers are changing the way manufacturers, transportation and logistics firms, and retailers operate, finds the Future of Fulfillment Vision Study conducted by Zebra Technologies with research partner Qualtrics. Among the study’s key findings are these three factors to consider when preparing your company for omnichannel fulfillment: Omnichannel is difficult to attain. If you feel like […]

Reshoring + FDI = U.S. Jobs

Combined reshoring and related foreign direct investment (FDI) added more than 171,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs in 2017, up 2,800 percent from 2010, according to the Reshoring Initiative’s 2017 Reshoring Report. The total number of manufacturing jobs brought to the United States from offshore is more than 576,000 since 2010. The reshoring and FDI jobs equal […]

In Brief: New Services & Solutions

Services Supply chain solutions provider Bolloré Logistics USA opened a FTZ facility in Miami. The 200,000-square-foot site consolidates freight forwarding and contract logistics activities previously housed at two different locations, improving cargo turnaround time for shippers with time-critical logistics requirements. DHL relocated its Ontario, California, service center to a larger, $7-million facility to accommodate increased […]

Inventory in the Clouds

Lufthansa Expands Access to Capacity, Rates

Speed and reliability play a major role in transportation even when cargo is not in transit. For instance, during the booking request, sometimes every second counts. To address this need, Lufthansa Cargo now offers shippers two new programming apps: GetCapacity and GetRates, which provide direct access to capacity and rate data. Companies can use the […]

Rolling on the River

To establish and grow an alliance designed to generate new business by promoting international and inland trade routes at strategic locations along the Mississippi River is the intent of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) recently signed by The St. Louis Regional Freightway, Plaquemines Port Harbor & Terminal District located in the State of Louisiana, and […]

Leave IT to Your 3PL

Still struggling to get your logistics technology up to speed? You’re not alone. See why companies are increasingly outsourcing IT to their third-party logistics providers.

Put the Factory to Work: Vendor Shipment Booking – Amber Road

Q: What are the biggest issues facing supply chain executives in 2018? A: When we said 2017 was one of the most disruptive years for global supply chains in recent years, thanks to natural disasters, geopolitical conflicts, and regulatory upheaval, we couldn’t have foreseen the twists and turns that would take shape in 2018. The […]

U.S. Imports: It’s a Steel

While the Trump administration introduced tariffs of 25 percent on the import of steel and 10 percent on aluminum, many of the United States’ most important steel trading partners were granted exemptions, at least temporarily. These exemptions apply to the selected major steel exporters shown in the chart below, including the European Union, Brazil, Canada, […]

A Cool Supply Chain Solution

A 3PL’s cold call leads to a cool technology solution that streamlines processes and minimizes service disruptions

Find the Data You’ve Been Looking For – RateLinx

Q: Why do companies struggle to get good data? A: It’s no secret that data is the foundation for a world-class logistics strategy. It’s also no secret how to find the right data, yet many companies struggle to find the data they’ve been looking for. Companies have a lot of data, but not the data […]

Georgia Ports: Crane and Able

The first of Georgia Ports Authority’s (GPA) four new Neo-Panamax cranes have come online, bringing its operating fleet to 27. The super-sized crane is tall enough to lift containers 152 feet above the dock. Konecranes of Finland designed these massive cranes, which can work the largest ships now calling the U.S. East Coast, reaching across […]

Robots in the Supply Chain: The Perfect Employee?

Robotics systems help distribution facilities gain speed, increase accuracy, cut costs, and handle the grunt work so employees can focus on more productive tasks. And no resume or job interview required.

Keeping Order Changes in Check

Today, retailers face not just competitive pressures, but also heightened consumer expectations for convenience and a wide product selection. As a result, the retail grocery industry is working to increase flexibility in the supply chain and clean up disjointed practices that add unnecessary cost and, ultimately, negatively impact the consumer experience. Recently, a retail grocery […]

Simplifying Supply Chain Complexities

Manufacturing has never been more global, productive, profitable, or vulnerable. Despite tremendous advances in breaking down global barriers and adding efficiency to the supply chain, there are still challenges to move products quickly, safely, and seamlessly. To appreciate the complexity of today’s global supply chain, consider Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner passenger jet. Each jet is comprised […]

Engaging the Informed Consumer

Retailers and branded manufacturers can differentiate themselves in a crowded marketplace by showcasing their most unique assets, according to Kibo’s annual 2018 Consumer Trends report. Based on responses from 3,000 U.S. consumers, the report suggests that while price is still the primary factor in purchasing decisions, consumers are increasingly seeking out a differentiated shopping experience—one […]

Global Trade Networks Bring Certainty to Uncertain Times

There is no magic bullet to overcome the capacity crunch. The supply chain has proven to be the competitive battleground of the future, and organizations that act proactively by implementing a flexible, adaptable supply chain solution will be the ones in the best position. Weather-related events and other inevitable tragedies have taken a tight market […]

Casting a Light on Procurement

As closer supply chain ties are forged with vendors, logistics managers must increasingly collaborate with procurement. To provide insight, a new study illuminates today’s procurement process, and the many challenges
purchasing managers face.

Track and Trace Is Old News – Crane Worldwide Logistics

When an industrial manufacturer needed to optimize staffing levels for incoming shipments, they turned to Crane Worldwide Logistics for a solution.

2018 Business Trends: For Better, For Worse

Investing in new and improved information technology and robotic process automation (RPA), talent shortages, and trade protectionism are predicted to be the top trends in service delivery for 2018 and the next several years, according to the latest quarterly KPMG Global Insights Pulse survey. Respondents predict these trends will have the largest positive impact: intelligent […]

Vertical Focus: News & Trends Impacting the Aerospace Supply Chain

Steeling For Tariff Impacts What impact will the proposed tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum have on sourcing activity for domestic suppliers in the U.S. aerospace industry, which relies heavily on foreign aluminum? Some interesting activity has already occurred. For example, sourcing activity for aluminum coils on industrial purchasing site Thomasnet.com is up 53 percent […]

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 […]

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.

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

Olympics 2018: Supply Chain Gold

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.

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.

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 […]

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 […]

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.

E-Commerce Trends

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.

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.

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 […]

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, […]