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Global Logistics-Nov 2008
In a move that will get CN a little closer to its customers, the Montreal-based Class I is acquiring three principal railway subsidiaries of the Quebec Railway Corp. (QRC) and a QRC rail-freight ferry operation. The purchase comprises 540 track miles of rail line CN formerly owned in eastern Ontario, eastern Quebec, and northern New […]
Read MoreTrends-November 2008
Outsourcing demands spin third-party logistics providers in countless directions, a reality manifest in the array of value-added services today’s players bring to the market. Look no further than where 3PLs have evolved from—warehousing, transportation, forwarding, freight payment, truck lease, chemical, automotive, electronics—and the level of complexity, breadth of resources, and geographic scope they now wield. […]
Read MoreGlobal Logistics-Oct 2008
In tough economic times you can’t nickel-and-dime logistics process improvement. That, in itself, is a lesson for struggling retailers. The United Kingdom arm of Woolworths, the original five-and-ten discount chain, knows this reality firsthand, and is making supply chain management and leadership top priorities as it looks to reverse its fortunes. Beset by rampant stockouts […]
Read MoreTrends-October 2008
The New York City Department of Education (DOE) is learning the fundamentals of transportation and vendor management the hard way—and it shows. Facing a $300-million budget deficit, this past spring the DOE decided to revamp its decades-old milk purchasing arrangement and consolidate suppliers, according to the June 18, 2008, edition of the New York Post. “Our […]
Read MoreGlobal Logistics-September 2008
Building on successful efforts in China, India, and the United Kingdom, FedEx Express is introducing its first domestic offering in Latin America—FedEx Express Nacional. The new service, which debuts Oct. 6, 2008, provides domestic next-business-day shipping, online tracking and tracing, and a money-back guarantee to businesses across Mexico. “Adding domestic service to our portfolio of […]
Read MoreTrends-September 2008
On Aug. 10, 2008, JDA Software signed a definitive agreement to acquire i2 Technologies for approximately $346 million, uniting two key rivals in the transportation management system (TMS) space. While the implications for current customers won’t become manifest until JDA releases its much-anticipated product roadmap, it is clear that the situation for mid-sized companies seeking […]
Read MoreTrends-August 2008
West Coast ports have endured their fair share of growing pains lately, what with congestion and capacity recurring quandaries for stateside shippers and consignees. Still, the ports are moving forward with efforts to increase throughput efficiency by spreading existing traffic across more hours and optimizing valuable port assets. PierPASS’ OffPeak program, for example, has diverted […]
Read MoreGlobal Logistics-August 2008
Logistics service providers are no strangers to handling mission-critical projects. So when natural disasters strike, they serve an important role helping first responders and humanitarian relief agencies bring food and supplies to those in need. They may also bank some valuable experience for helping commercial shippers manage their own supply chain adversities. Cyclone Nargis, which […]
Read MoreTrends-July 2008
With Washington abuzz about the fall presidential election, the Federal Reserve dodging rumors of recession-fed inflation, and news outlets awash with images of flood-ravaged Midwest farms and independent truckers protesting rising fuel costs, this year’s annual State of Logistics Report echoed prevailing political and economic circumstances – with some difficult-to-swallow truths, easily digestible speculations, and […]
Read MoreGlobal Logistics-July 2008
As European manufacturing capacity gradually migrates to cheaper locations farther east, once-prominent producers such as Germany are filling the economic void by developing transportation, distribution, and logistics capabilities. As a reflection of this shifting dynamic, Ernst & Young’s Location Germany 2008: Germany and Europe—International Manager Assessment report touts Germany as the top investment destination in Western Europe. […]
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