Articles
Commentary
Inventions Light the Way
The public knows Thomas Edison as the man who invented the light bulb. But what Edison really invented was a system for generating and distributing electricity into cities, and eventually into rural communities. This was a gigantic and, at the time, novel undertaking. In our industry, Malcom McLean is recognized for inventing the shipping container. […]
Read MoreFor Your Eyes Only: Safeguarding EDI File Data
We all want the convenience of sharing information seamlessly across departments and business partners. To eliminate cumbersome manual processes, manufacturers share Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) documents—such as shipping notices and purchase orders—with 3PLs, sourcing companies, expeditors, and freight forwarders so that these parties have the information they need. EDI documents bring manufacturers added convenience and […]
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Get Peace of Mind by Choosing the Right LTL Carrier
In the harried world of logistics, selecting a less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier is one of the most important decisions a shipper will make. LTL carriers that know and properly value the variables affecting the cost of goods delivered and the overall customer experience can mean the difference between keeping you satisfied or losing your business. Shippers […]
Read MoreGTM Technology: Why Not?
Global trade management (GTM) software simplifies trade compliance, provides visibility across the supply chain, and offers effective manufacturing cost sourcing. Yet the international supply chains of large companies are 50 percent automated at best, according to Aberdeen Group. This statistic begs the question: Why aren’t more companies investing in GTM software? Some businesses develop their […]
Read MoreChange: Count On It
In my 25 years with Inbound Logistics, I can recall few times of such rapid change. One was the dot.com era and the promise that new technology would help us make our logistics networks more efficient and our companies more responsive to customer demands. Another was the advent and meteoric growth of the 3PL segment […]
Read MoreSupply Chain Bifocalism: Go Short or Long?(Biondo)
When economic times get tight, even the most visionary business logistics managers feel pressure to set strategic goals aside and focus on savings derived from process optimization and operational ROI. Are you balancing strategic with tactical plays as you head down the field to the goal line of supply chain efficiency? Consider these questions: Q: […]
Read MoreA Matter of Life and Death
Q: I am a freight forwarder providing a service in which I deliver ISO tanks to my customer, who fills them with hazardous liquids and gas. Once the tanks are filled, I arrange to have them transported from my customer’s facility to their destination, usually in a foreign country. I recently read about a case […]
Read MoreFuel for Thought
The current fuel-cost crisis has U.S. truckers caught between a rock and a hard place. Any solution comes with a complex price tag, and has to reflect the common good. But who knows what the solution is? In March 2008, Americans drove 11 billion miles fewer than they did in March 2007, the largest drop […]
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Incoterms Let Importers Control Their Destiny
Global import and export merchandise trade is currently valued at nearly $12 trillion, according to the World Trade Organization, some 75 times more than in the mid-1960s. Despite this growth, many companies still use the same trading contract terms and structure that were prevalent decades ago. As a result, importers are missing a major opportunity […]
Read More3PL or Freight Forwarder: What’s in a Name?
After 30 years in the transportation business, I am still waiting for a clear, simple explanation of the differences between third-party logistics providers (3PLs) and freight forwarders or consolidators. Is 3PL just a fancy name for a freight forwarder, or do they actually provide services that an old-fashioned consolidator does not? Yes, there are differences […]
Read MoreOur Wiki, Wiki Ways
The best way to move forward in these challenging times is to innovate collaboratively – emphasizing the quality of openness and the values of networked connectivity, shared knowledge, and rapid information exchange. Humanity has generally been successful when “we the people” act in concert – but we didn’t arrive at the “we” factor overnight. Adam […]
Read MoreImproving Fleet Management Performance
The nation’s trucks hauled 10.7 billion tons of freight in 2005, according to the American Trucking Associations’ truck tonnage index. This figure represents nearly 70 percent of tonnage, including manufactured and retail goods, carried by all domestic freight transportation modes. Yet many in the trucking industry have been slow to recognize the strategic importance of […]
Read MoreFour Fast Ways to Cut Transport Spend
Transportation costs have become a bullish line item in virtually every corporate budget. Fuel costs have hit an all-time high and companies’ shipping needs are only becoming more complex. No wonder carriers are raising rates and transportation costs are rising. But the truth is, many companies simply lose control over transportation costs as shipping demands […]
Read MoreLess Pie in the Sky And More Meat and Potatoes
When asked about the economy, Harry S Truman said he wished for a one-handed economic advisor so he could never say, “on the other hand.” In certain sectors, the economy is bad and likely to get worse. Why? Could it be that the decades without a national energy policy are coming home to roost as […]
Read MoreSeattle’s Second-Best?
When people think of Seattle, they are reminded of its coffee, salmon, and fir trees. It’s also the hometown of American titans such as UPS, Boeing, and Starbucks. But as these companies grow, and take their operations elsewhere to compete globally, cities such as Seattle are losing a vital part of their economic identity. The […]
Read MoreTechnology Standards Hold the Key to Security
Since the advent of globalization, logisticians have sought a technology that provides real-time tracking of goods, documents, and information across supply chains. Considered a luxury for many years, the development of a Supply Chain Technology Standard (SCTS) has become an operational mandate to meet the need for heightened security. Unfortunately, no single technology creates real-time, […]
Read MoreSelecting the Right Warehouse Management System
The typical warehouse buzzes with activity every day. Products arrive at the loading docks, forklift drivers shift pallets around the floor, automated retrieval systems pull goods for shipment. Warehouse management systems (WMS) provide tools for keeping track of all that action. Today, dozens of technology vendors – from well-established to relatively new – offer warehouse […]
Read MorePerfect Order Fulfillment: Getting it All Right
The journey through the supply chain is filled with constant movement and activity, and each step holds the potential for delays, wasted money, and errors. The complexities of an extended supply chain make the odds against fulfilling a perfect order overwhelming. The Supply Chain Council describes perfect order fulfillment as a discrete measurement defined as […]
Read MoreHanging in the Balance
If one theme threads its way throughout this issue – from cover illustration to featured articles to the logistics solution providers we have selected for our annual Top 100 Logistics IT Providers list—it’s balance. Businesses today routinely balance on the brink between too much and too little – whether it’s forecasting demand, carrying safety inventory, […]
Read MoreTaking on One-Offs
Q: I operate a marine terminal, and I have an insurance policy with a $1-million limit to cover loading and discharge operations. A customer wanted me to discharge a heavy piece of machinery valued at $75 million. When I asked my insurance company to increase its limit just for this one operation, it refused to […]
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