Supply Chain Gain: Shades of Green
Sustainability efforts can help companies grow more efficient supply chains.
Supply Chain Gain: Trucking Tactics
Strategic transportation management puts shippers on the road to increased fuel economy and improved asset utilization.
Supply Chain Gain: Simplified Sorting
Warehouse automation allows distribution centers to take a hands-off approach.
You’re in Charge: Selecting and Managing Freight Forwarders
Effectively managing your freight forwarders helps improve supply chain compliance.
Securing the Supply Chain
Smart shippers take the necessary steps to protect their products, shipments, and logistics operations.
The Wheels of Change: Questions & Answers with Ed Melching
When Navistar sought to position itself for worldwide growth across all divisions by recasting its supply chain operations, it wiped the slate completely clean and put an engineer with zero logistics experience in charge. Here’s the story of how Ed Melching led Navistar to global growth—and significant supply chain gains.
Sorting Through Materials Handling Decisions
What happens in the warehouse no longer stays in the warehouse. Today, optimizing materials handling equipment and processes inside the four walls starts at the top, and impacts the entire supply chain.
Following the LEED
Industrial property developers are cultivating greener distribution facilities and nurturing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards compliance.
Certifiable Results
SmartWay Partner. ISO. C-TPAT. Cargo Network Service. Cargo 2000. FAST. Logistics service providers attain a multitude of certifications, but what does it mean for shippers? Find out how providers qualify, and what you can gain from working with certified partners.
Auto Logistics: Revving Up Service Parts Logistics Operations
To boost efficiency and pave the road for global service parts logistics management, Ford is steering a 10-year plan to revamp its service parts network, processes, and technologies. Here is a peek under the hood of Ford’s new “best-in-class plus” operation.
Trends—January 2011
Supply Chain Influences That Have Made Their Mark Supply chain innovation is as old as history. Consider the very beginning, that first impulse to sow seed. Flint-sharpened sticks enabled hunters and gatherers to stop roaming, then grow and harvest staple crops. Animal husbandry soon followed. This created an impetus to store and transport goods. Surplus […]
Global Logistics—January 2011
Russia and China: Eurasia’s Odd Couple For two countries that geographically touch and have historically close trade ties, Russia and China are worlds apart in terms of economic vitality. While Russia idly pumps oil for export, leaving its economy vulnerable to global commodity price fluctuations, China is fastidious to a fault, protecting its own economic […]
On the Road: Between the Pines In Florida’s Great Northwest
Panama City, Fla., is primed for economic prosperity, thanks to the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport and a local aerospace and defense research and development facility.
On the Road: Midnight in Memphis
FedEx primary package facility processes 2,500 items an hour. A behind-the-scenes look reveals how the bustling facility operates. MORE TO THE STORY: A Matter of Choice Destination: Memphis, Tenn. Location: Memphis is the largest city in Tennessee, third-largest city in the U.S. Southeast, located in the southwest corner of the state along the Mississippi […]
On the Road: Cross-Country Running
Driving across the United States presents insights into the nation’s manufacturing, energy, transportation, and sustainability developments.
Ask the (M)experts 2011
For an update on what’s new in security, infrastructure, and manufacturing in Mexico since last year’s edition of Ask the (M)experts, Inbound Logistics checked in with a new crop of supply chain leaders and economic development experts— and some of last year’s MVPs.
Economic Development Outlook: Focus on 2011
Does lingering uncertainty about economic conditions, freight demands, and funding sources pose a threat to industrial real estate development and transportation infrastructure projects?
Unleashing Logistics Excellence
Dogged pursuit of supply chain and warehousing efficiency led pet food manufacturer WellPet to partner with two 3PLs.
Joe Perillo: The Persuader
NAME: Joe Perillo TITLE: Director of supply chain, logistics, and lean enterprise COMPANY: PTR Baler and Compactor, Philadelphia, since 2007 PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Aircraft technician, U.S. Marine Corps; FAA-certified aircraft maintenance supervisor, Continental Airlines; production plant manager, Cardone Industries; advanced lean manufacturing specialist, DVIRC EDUCATION: University of Phoenix, BS in business management, 2007 Joe Perillo’s business […]
Warehouse Slotting, Profiling: The Right Place at the Right Time
An optimization project at Tandy Brands’ belts facility makes warehouse slotting and profiling a cinch.
Logistics Gets to Work
Good news! Jobs are opening up for logistics professionals as businesses recover from the economic downturn.
The Shipper’s Guide to Project Logistics
Handling oversized cargo requires a special touch. Here’s how to find a project logistics provider with the know-how to get the job done right.
Food Logistics: From Farm to Fork
Demand for locally grown food is bringing supply chain sourcing back to its roots.
Managing a Customer-Driven Supply Chain
When it comes to customer service, shippers want their carriers and 3PLs to provide the complete package.
Navigating Global Supply Chain Risks
Risk management is an essential ingredient in global logistics planning. Unexpected events such as natural disasters, political unrest, regulatory constraints, and product recalls can disrupt the supply chain and, in turn, negatively impact sales, profit, and a company’s reputation in the market. Many companies, however, are still in reactive mode when it comes to adapting […]
Driven to Succeed: Building a Safer Fleet
When it comes to managing fleets, we all want to make safety a top priority. But creating a safety culture isn’t easy. And the unfortunate fact is that much of what we do to promote safety simply isn’t effective. States that passed anti-texting bans actually saw an increase in accidents, according to a study by […]
Riding Out the Recovery
An ancient Chinese proverb states, “To be uncertain is to be uncomfortable.” After the recent economic turmoil, we can all appreciate the accuracy of that statement. Although the Great Recession itself appears to be over, the feeling of uncertainty clearly isn’t. If anyone knew how the recovery will play out for the transportation and logistics […]
Global Logistics – December 2010
China Full of Beans China’s consuming population continues to expand without pause, as demand for American Joe is now competing with a long-standing cultural mainstay —green tea. Starbucks has inked a deal with the Chinese provincial government of Yunnan to set up its first coffee bean farm. The Seattle chain is partnering with local growers […]
Trends—December 2010
A Cellular Distraction Exposes DOT’s Blind Spot When U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently took one hand off the Department of Transportation (DOT) steering wheel long enough to field another call about the dangers of cell phone use while driving, freight industry outsiders were eavesdropping. Truth be told, they’d prefer riding shotgun, even at their […]
When No One Listens, It’s Time to Shout
Quiet, rational urging doesn’t work. I now feel the need to shout: our industry needs a unified voice.
Cutting Costs When Shipping Perishables
Timing is crucial when shipping perishable products because shelf life is at stake. Moving perishables domestically requires product to be inspected and released for delivery, and each state has its own agricultural regulations. Importing perishables involves a host of other issues, including clearance by three U.S. government agencies. To avoid costly delays when shipping perishables, […]
Customer Service: Who Needs it?
Last weekend, I finally compiled my holiday shopping list and headed out to brave the crowds. I live within 10 miles of Kmart, Walmart, and Target, but I will never again set foot in one of those. I usually have patience when shopping, but several bad customer service experiences— long checkout lines, unhelpful help, and […]
Nexus Distribution: A Fresh Sheet of Customer Service
When Boise Paper wanted to consolidate five Northeast region facilities into just one, it turned to Nexus Distribution for customer service excellence built on a sound implementation process.
Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM): Plus-Sized Customer Service
Women’s apparel retailer Charming Shoppes praises the red-carpet treatment it gets from logistics partner Hyundai Merchant Marine.
Cutting Costs From Your Logistics Budget
If you want to reduce logistics costs, you have to take the time to review your processes. Nathan Pieri, senior vice president of marketing and product management for Rutherford, N.J.-based Management Dynamics, offers these tips for trimming your logistics budget. 1. Eliminate supply chain bottlenecks. By periodically reviewing and analyzing their supply chain networks, companies […]
A Supply Chain PIP Squeak
At the risk of launching yet another industry acronym, efficient supply chains require PIP: people, intelligence, and good processes.
Todd Stewart: All Wired Up
NAME: Todd Stewart TITLE: Vice president supply chain, since 2008 COMPANY: WireCo WorldGroup, Kansas City, Mo. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Merchandise manager, JC Penney; product manager, then manager of distribution and customer service, then VP of distribution, transportation and customer service, WireCo WorldGroup EDUCATION: Missouri Western State University, BSBA in marketing and management, 1992; Benedictine College, Executive […]
Pallet-Sharing Programs: Better for the Planet
When evaluating a pallet program against your operational criteria— including environmental concerns— the best result comes from looking at the issue in two parts: the pallet itself, and the pallet program. The pallet’s source material, production method, size and specifications, and impact on transportation efficiencies has received much attention and discussion. But the pallet program— […]
Lean: The Next Best Thing to ‘Clip-and-Save’
Everyone respects the cost-cutting power of a good coupon. It’s simple to use, easy to grasp, and highly effective for easing pain at the cash register. The logistics sector has an equivalent that saves far more than just a few pennies. It’s called Lean. This popular quality-improvement process leads to documented savings that you can […]
Tapping Into the Power of Supply Chain Integration
In 4 B.C., Greek philosopher Plato said necessity is the mother of invention. That statement is as true today as it was then. During the past few years, it became a necessity for companies to find cost savings and run their businesses more efficiently to survive tough economic times. In addition to network rationalization, inventory […]
Transport Funding: Who Gets the Big Piece of Pie?
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s second round of stimulus funding for infrastructure development exposes a widening gap between U.S. roads, rails, and bridges and government special interests.
CSCMP Annual Conference: Can We Talk?
Discussed in general sessions and overhead in the hallways: Shippers are focused on reducing risk and managing volatility, developing supplier relationships, and creating supply chain resilience.
Supply Chain Velocity: Shifting Into Overdrive
When expediting shipments, visibility, communication, and customer service get into gear.
How to Select Expedited Services
MORE TO THE STORY: 5 Steps to Expediency, Efficiency, Economy Expedited delivery is a necessity for all companies, whether they are meeting unexpected seasonal demand or managing shipments by exception. They use expedited service to move parcel and temperature-sensitive packages, specially packaged product, oversized equipment— and everything in between. Cost is secondary to timeliness and […]
How to Drive Collaborative Distribution
MORE TO THE STORY: Playing the Part In the retail space, competition among small and medium manufacturers is fierce. But many are missing out on significant cost savings by failing to recognize and execute shared strategies that consolidate shipments in the interests of all supply chain stakeholders. The collaborative distribution concept leverages freight consolidation as […]
How to Develop a Direct-to-Store Delivery Model
MORE TO THE STORY: Is a Direct-to-Store Delivery Model Right for You? Speed is the name of the game in today’s retail landscape. How quickly products are purchased from store shelves depends on a myriad of factors: consumer preference, special promotions, and brand recognition, to name just a few. The real trick to gaining speed […]
How to Find the Best EDI Solution For Your Operations
MORE TO THE STORY: 7 Rules to Finding the Best EDI Solution In today’s supply chain, change is a constant. Businesses have to gather and communicate information in real time to manage variability and efficiently match supply to demand. Flexibility and scalability are important. But with new sets of transactional requirements and data elements emerging, […]
How to Enable a Proactive Supply Chain
MORE TO THE STORY: 5 Steps to Supply Chain Empowerment Tomorrow’s supply chains will be intertwined supply networks predicated on responding to supply and demand changes as they happen, not after the fact. Transaction and shipment exceptions are common, so businesses must be able to account for these variables by enabling a proactive supply chain. […]
How to Leverage Rail/Intermodal For Refrigerated Freight
MORE TO THE STORY: A Refrigerated Case Rail/intermodal solutions are fast gaining traction among shippers looking for additional capacity, exploring more cost-effective transportation options, and seeking means to reduce their impact on the environment. While there has always been a captive rail audience among bulk commodity and dry goods shippers, more specialized freight, including refrigerated […]
How to Ship to Alaska
MORE TO THE STORY: Finding the Right Partner Alaska RFP/RFI Alaska can be a challenging place to move freight. The state’s vast and varied terrain, harsh and unpredictable weather, and distance from the rest of the United States present unique challenges for shippers. Whether the task is transporting consumer goods to cities in southeastern Alaska, […]
How to Select a Transportation Management Solution
MORE TO THE STORY: The TMS Revolution Selecting a new transportation management solution (TMS), whether fully outsourced, hosted, or internally installed, requires much due diligence to pair functional need with strategic vision. Shippers can get the most out of their TMS solution and service provider by following five progressions. Know what you need before you […]
How to Ship Air Freight in Alaska
MORE TO THE STORY: 4 Air Freight Takeaways Spanning 570,374 square miles of land mass— more than twice that of Texas— Alaska has the third-lowest population in the United States and the lowest population density at approximately one person per square mile. North to south, the state covers 1,400 miles, compared to 2,700 miles side […]
Logistics Outsourcing: An Active Culture at Dannon
Partnering with a 3PL keeps Dannon’s supply chain light and fit.
Gaining Alignment With Your 3PL is Key to Supply Chain Success
When choosing a supply chain partner, it is essential that goals, expectations and strategy are all in alignment. In order to achieve this synergy, open and honest communication between business partners needs to be in place to move the relationship beyond one of simply executing services to one of real collaboration. Measurement, monitoring, and corresponding […]
Elephants Chasing TIGERs
It wasn’t that long ago that Rajahs in India used elephants to hunt tigers. It seems the hunt is on again. The recent Republican resurgence is hunting for a very specific type of TIGER: Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants as part of the TARP fund. The latest round of grants continues the spending […]
Trends—November 2010
A Break in the Chain: Solving the Port Chassis Problem When the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) started enforcing its discursive Requirements for Intermodal Equipment Providers and for Motor Carriers and Drivers Operating Intermodal Equipment rule in December 2009, there weren’t enough containers flowing through U.S. ports to cause immediate alarm. Shippers and trucking […]
Global Logistics – November 2010
Heineken Tests Beer Float Heineken’s business is all about flow—from the brewery to the beer tap, and all logistics touches in between. Thanks to the new Alpherium inland container terminal in Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands, the beverage manufacturer’s supply chain flows a whole lot smoother. Heineken now ships export containers from its Zoeterwoude brewery […]
Getting a Seat at the Leadership Table
Supply chain management’s evolution from a purely tactical to a critical strategic function has earned logistics executives a seat at the leadership table. What attributes do you need to earn that chair — and keep it? According to Korn/Ferry International studies of best-in-class executives, success is about 50 percent attributable to leadership characteristics, 40 percent […]
3PL Partnerships: Finding Your Better Half
Just like people, companies seeking long-lasting relationships need to keep a strategic focus when choosing their “other half.” In the high-stakes world of international shipping, smart companies considering logistics outsourcing for their supply chain needs should carefully consider the question, “How do I choose the right provider?” Here are five tips to help you properly […]
Currency Events
Recent actions by the U.S. House of Representatives and calls from the Obama administration may impact global trading patterns next year. One such resolution — H.R. 2378, the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act passed in early October 2010 — allows the United States to peg import tariffs directly to what is determined to be […]
Global Logistics – October 2010
Northern Wind Blows Off Course Efforts to build offshore wind farms in Northern Europe are meeting gale force resistance because of supply chain limitations, according to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal. The United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium are among the countries seeking to expand capacity to meet European Union mandates […]
Great Logistics Sites: Supply Chain Central
At some spots on the map, the elements combine to create the perfect setting for logistics success.
Integrate Contract Packaging Into Distribution Operations to Cut Costs by 30%
Specific consumer products look exactly the same when they roll off the manufacturing line. To satisfy retailer requirements, however, these identical products are wrapped, sealed, tied and packed in dozens, even hundreds, of different ways for presentation on the retail shelf. Consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies often outsource final packaging to outside contract packagers, adding […]
Memphis: America’s Aerotropolis
Geography, transportation infrastructure, and a strong distribution sector make Memphis a natural logistics hub.
Reassessing Rail Reregulation
Will rail reregulation untie captive shippers but tie up rail productivity?
Randall Plost: Plugged Into the Pipeline
NAME: Randall Plost TITLE: Houston distribution manager COMPANY: Victaulic, since 1981 PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Travel agent; inside sales representative, Orbit Valve; customer care and distribution manager, Victaulic EDUCATION: University of Texas, Austin, BBA in marketing, 1978 Randall Plost didn’t worry much about his warehouse when he managed inside sales in Houston for Victaulic, a global […]
Optimizing Global Supply Chain Management
Today’s complex and dynamic global business environment presents increased operating challenges for companies striving to achieve sustainability while working with an array of global trading partners, regulations, business requirements, risk management concerns, cost control issues, and competitive objectives. Andrea Robinson, business development manager-United Kingdom, at supply chain management software provider CargoWise, offers these tips for […]
Predicting Demand Levels Down the Road
No business wants to face a drop in demand for its products, but many companies have experienced just that during the global economic downturn. One such company, Wichita, Kansas-based polymers and fibers manufacturer INVISTA, seized the opportunity to get better visibility into, and control over, its demand and inventory planning. As one of the world’s […]
Trends—October 2010
U.S. Transportation Investment: A Political Pothole Drive any measurable distance across the United States and you’re bound to run into “Schneider Eggs”— trucker slang for sometimes-scrambled orange construction barrels. As much as road construction is an obstacle to efficiency and timeliness, it’s also a sign of progress, investment, and your tax dollars at work. Ironically, […]
Supplier Disruptions: Preparing for the Unpredictable
Supplier disruptions are a reality for most shippers. In fact, 75 percent of supply chain professionals responding to a recent AMR Research poll indicated that at least 10 percent of their supply partners had experienced a disruption in the past year. Even worse, 12 percent of respondents saw half or more of their suppliers experience […]
Capitalizing on Mexico’s Economic Growth
Continuing economic development across Mexico is opening the doors to exciting growth opportunities for U.S. businesses. Mexico is already the United States’ third-largest trading partner, while the United States ranks first among Mexico’s trading partners. Mexico’s established manufacturing base has created many jobs and an increasingly prosperous working class. As a result, Mexico is attracting […]
Trucking Alert: Steep Grade Ahead
A capacity shortage and a driver deficit that’s likely to grow worse are putting the squeeze on companies that ship by truck. Times like these call for shifting gears and trying new tactics.
Exclusive Research: Trucking Perspectives 2010
Every place you turn there are signs pointing to where the motor freight industry is treading—both good and bad. Near coastal ports and along hinterland highways, at truck stops and across borders, the day-to-day travels of shippers and carriers alike expose the hairpin turns and straightaways that are emerging in an otherwise shiftless economy. Around […]
Freight Payment Systems: From Dollars to Data
For freight payment and audit services, rooms full of rate clerks poring over paper freight bills are a thing of the past. Today, these firms provide business intelligence data that delivers even more value.
Balancing Risk Management With Your Operations Strategy
As the nation’s economy recovers from the recent downturn, the domestic freight industry represents a leading indicator of commercial activity and (hopefully) corporate profits. Asset-based carriers, a segment that has taken it on the chin the past few years, are thought to have pricing power because increasing freight volumes—albeit off severe lows—have been met with […]
First They Came For Our Trucks
The War on Trucking. Are You Prepared? That’s the headline of the ad on page 111 of this issue, sponsored by NASSTRAC, an association comprised of a cross-section of shippers. Citing the challenges posed by CSA 2010, cap and trade, and Hours-of-Service changes, NASSTRAC is undertaking advocacy to guard the interests of anyone using trucks […]
Xylophones, Checkerboards, and Gestalt Theory
Using colors, shapes, numbers, and mnemonics in warehouse signage can help reduce training and picking errors, while improving service.
Global Logistics – September 2010
Audi Stops For Green Light Audi is pushing the accelerator in its pursuit of greener cars and a more sustainable supply chain. For example, in December 2009, Green Car Journal honored the German automotive manufacturer’s 2010 Audi A3 TDI as its Green Car of the Year. But the carmaker doesn’t stop there. Audi transports its […]
Conflict in the Supply Chain
Everyone wants a smooth-flowing supply chain, free of conflict, says Perry A. Trunick, associate editor, Inbound Logistics. But the U.S. government has added a new wrinkle to the issue of supply chain management in the context of global politics and human rights.
Gemma Fillmore: Supply Chain Advocate
TITLE: Corporate logistics projects COMPANY: Medco Health Solutions, Franklin Lakes, N.J., since 2009 PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Various supply chain and logistics positions, Bonaventure Textiles; warehouse manager, inventory supervisor, Tibbet & Britten (now Exel Logistics); corporate operations supervisor, Reckitt Benckiser; senior transportation manager, operations and other supply chain positions, Nabisco Foods; senior manager procurement—logistics, Kraft Foods; director […]
Locating a Global Distribution Hub
Before adding a global distribution hub, hone your skills in compliance and cross-border import and export, advises John Miller, senior vice president global business development, Flash Global Logistics, Inc. He offers these tips on what companies should consider when locating and choosing a global distribution hub. Map your market. Determine your customer install base, which […]
Collaborative Distribution Eases the Capacity Crunch
Q: The current crunch in trucking capacity has made mainstream news lately. How should the transport industry solve this problem? Kane: The truth is there is no capacity shortage. Also, there are plenty of truck drivers, even after we lose 100,000 drivers through CSA 2010, as industry experts predict. The problem is not capacity or […]
Want Better Service? Take the Driver-Friendly Approach
Q: How are you addressing the shipper’s concern about capacity now and in the future? Miller: I believe shippers understand that capacity issues are stimulated more by the driver shortage than any other single factor. At Miller Transporters, we are asking our shippers to help us be more driver- friendly. Keep detention low and utilization […]
The Best Partner Carriers Provide Transparency
Q: How can service accountability and innovation help shippers stay one step ahead in a tough economic climate? O’Dell: Vigilant shippers make sure every dollar they spend counts by choosing carriers who offer them the opportunity to shine in front of their customers. While there are different ways to accomplish this, one of the best […]
Trends—September 2010
U.S. Ports Dig Panama Gold For a wee slip of waterway, 48 miles in length and 33 feet wide at its narrowest, the Panama Canal has publicity buoyancy the likes of the two great oceans it connects—and the buzz is only building. Despite technology and globalization, the Canal has remained a vital gateway in the […]
Inbound 3.0 at Walmart
During the almost three decades that this publication has been preaching the benefits of matching demand more closely to supply, we’ve published scores of articles on Walmart’s efforts to master inbound logistics. The first major milepost along that road was acknowledging the value of controlling inbound logistics, making it a company-wide mission, and developing the […]
Trends—August 2010
Shipping Maintains Traction Despite Gulf Slick The considerable environmental impacts from British Petroleum’s (BP) Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico have cast a pall over the region, endangering delicate ecosystems and tourism industries alike. But to date, the oil crisis has had little negative impact on shipping in the heavily trafficked corridor. Gulf […]
Consumer Packaged Goods: Lightening the Load
Sorting through logistics challenges can be a dirty job for CPG companies. But well-planned manufacturing, smart packaging, and cost-effective transportation can help wash away inefficiencies from any supply chain cycle.
Enhancing Cross-docking Efficiency
Cross-docking operations increase throughput at critical distribution points by unloading shipments from an inbound trailer or railcar directly onto outbound transport. This practice eliminates the need to store freight. To improve throughput, you must minimize travel, footsteps, material handling distance, and freight touches. Discover how to increase cross-docking efficiency with these tips from Nelson Bettencourt, […]
Give Me An F… Give Me An R…
Who says politicians can’t spell “freight?” But, more importantly, can Senator Frank Lautenberg’s (D-NJ) FREIGHT Act of 2010 deliver on its promise?
Kevin Miles: Supermarket Superstar
NAME: Kevin Miles TITLE: Manager, inbound logistics, since 2007 COMPANY: Ahold USA PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Industrial engineer, UPS; senior process engineer, Ahold USA EDUCATION: University of Connecticut, BS, manufacturing engineering, 2000; University of New Haven, MBA, management technology, 2003; APICS, Certified Supply Chain Professional, 2007 When a water main serving the Boston area burst on Saturday, […]
Blended Learning: An Educational Hybrid
Statistics show earning a graduate degree increases the potential for higher earnings during your working life. Not surprisingly, an increasing number of applicants who already hold one or more graduate degrees are enrolling in executive and professional graduate degree programs. “You can never stop learning if you want to succeed, and if you want to […]
Oversized Shipments: Good to Grow
Although container shipping remains the dominant form of ocean transport, breakbulk shipping, in which heavyweight freight is transported without being packed in containers, has seen significant growth. Non-container cargo covers a variety of shipments, ranging from oversized tires for earth-moving equipment to complete electrical power plants. One reason breakbulk shipping grew despite the economic downturn, […]
It’s Time to Implement Cross-Border Trucking
When the United States signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which included a commitment to open our roads to Mexico’s cargo trucks, we were paving the way for economic opportunity, job growth, and prosperous foreign investment. Unfortunately, the United States has never fully complied with NAFTA’s cross-border trucking program, costing our country billions […]
Your Guide to Routing Guides
They surface after the sale…at the last minute…potentially costing a fortune. They’re the biggest hidden challenge vendors face.
Energy Security for the Future
When selecting a site for a new warehouse or distribution center, there’s a second infrastructure that demands attention—the power generation and delivery system.
Ports-to-Plains Alliance Corridor: North America’s Energy and Agricultural Heartland
Spanning the U.S. heartland and reaching into Canada and Mexico, the Ports-to-Plains Alliance corridor links North America’s vital agricultural and industrial communities.
Brrr! It’s Cold in There!
Get the scoop on a voice-enabled picking system that keeps Dreyer’s Edy’s workers productive and equipment functioning in sub-zero environments.
Lean Six Sigma: Leaning by Degrees
Lean Six Sigma enablers and practitioners are using continuous improvement methodologies to squeeze cost and inefficiency out of the supply chain.