Articles
Legislation, Public Policy, Regulations

H.O.W. | How to Manage Your Carrier Relationships After the ELD Mandate
As the mid-December deadline approaches for the implementation of the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate for most commercial truck drivers, shippers are, not surprisingly, worried about how it will affect their supply chain capacity. MORE TO THE STORY: 4 ways to manage capacity post-eld Under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules, most trucks built after […]
Read MoreSupply Chain Commentary: 3 Ways to Prepare for the ELD Mandate
The upcoming electronic logging device (ELD) mandate affects more than just the carriers and owner/operators that will be directly responsible for using the devices in their trucks. It’s truly a law that could change the entire trucking industry. And your truckload strategy may need to adjust accordingly. ELD Mandate: The Benefits Before delving deeper, we […]
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Supply Chains Double Down on Climate Change
President Donald Trump pledged to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord, but stakeholders involved with the American supply chain—often supportive of the President’s business-friendly policies—aren’t so ready to fall in line this time. Rather than push American businesses away from sustainable initiatives, many companies seem to have reaffirmed their commitments. A few […]
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Updated Uniform Bill Of Lading Changes: Are You at Risk?
Key components of the bill of lading unexpectedly changed in August 2016. While the changes may appear subtle, the implications sent shockwaves through the transportation industry. As the new standard approaches one year, it is important to re-visit the newly adopted terms to mitigate potential pitfalls. The uniform bill of lading is the default form […]
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President Trump’s Trade Policy To-Do List: Top 10 Priorities
President Donald Trump’s early days in office have been busy ones for trade policy. It is too early, however, to assess the impact of these changes, according to global trade data company Panjiva. Here’s how Panjiva prioritizes the President’s trade policy task list. 1. Light up Lighthizer. Senate approval for Robert Lighthizer’s appointment as U.S. […]
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U.S./Canada Trade Remains Strong, With Plenty of Opportunity for Growth – Purolator
Q: What trends are you seeing in U.S./Canada cross-border trade? A: I see tremendous opportunity on both sides of the border. For one thing, imports from Canada are growing, largely due to the stable U.S. dollar. We seem to have turned the tide on the currency volatility of the past couple years, allowing Canadian manufacturers […]
Read MoreWhitepaper: Who Pays for Customs Compliance Violations? It Could Be You.
The new whitepaper “Customs Compliance– Has Your Business Taken the Necessary Steps?” is an in-depth overview of the compliance process – including areas of particular vulnerability and recommendations for improving internal compliance management. You could be held accountable for customs compliance violations. And we don’t just mean your company but you – personally. A landmark […]
Read MoreCommentary: New Alliances Unlikely to Increase NAFTA Ocean Freight Competitiveness
The new shipping alliances that came into effect a month ago are unlikely to increase ocean freight competitiveness between the United States and its NAFTA partners, according to iContainers, an online freight forwarder. According to data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the dollar value of U.S.-NAFTA goods shipped by […]
Read MoreHow Battery Shippers Can Find Compliance Gaps
Companies that ship lithium batteries can benefit from a compliance assessment to improve supply chain efficiencies and enhance dangerous goods compliance procedures.
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5 Ways to Cut the Risk of Cargo Theft
Risk models provide a key advantage to firms operating globally, and are the first step in identifying key trade lanes, business partners, and the areas most likely to cause harm. The more you know, the easier it is to manage the risk. While risk modeling is an important part of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism […]
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How to Reap the Benefits of Asian Free Trade Agreements
Asian governments began developing bilateral free trade agreements (FTA) in addition to region-based multilateral agreements in 2000. These bilateral agreements were viewed as easier to negotiate and provided a quicker way to open up new export markets. The growth of bilateral FTAs in this region has led to what many economists refer to as the […]
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5 Steps to Reduce Supply Chain Risks When Going Global
Natural disasters, huge economic swings, supply shortages, and security issues present considerable challenges to supply chains. One critical area that can bring a supply chain to a screeching halt is international trade compliance. Whether you’re starting out in the global market or already dealing with supply chain issues, these five tips will help you mitigate […]
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Wild Ride?
When the IL team came up with the original issue theme for the 2017 Logistics Planner—The Upside of Down—we were anticipating yet another long term of challenging economic stagnation. The theme was that our mantra of demand-driven or inbound logistics practices would help enterprise managers and owners squeeze every last ounce of value out of […]
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Trends—January 2017
Amazon continues to rattle nerves in the transportation sector. In 2015, the company launched a fleet of branded trucks to help shuttle cargo between facilities. In 2016, it leased 40 cargo jets, and Amazon China registered as a U.S. freight forwarder. These moves made third-party logistics (3PL) and trucking companies understandably anxious, considering that Amazon […]
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Deploying Pharmaceutical Foreign Trade Zone Services
MD Logistics leverages FTZ services to provide game changing benefits to its customer base.
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The Slow, Steady Decline Of the Owner-Operator Model
Today, we face the slow extinction of independent owner-operators. These self-reliant business owners are dealing with a myriad of regulations that will soon make the owner-operator model impractical, and its survival improbable. Of the 3.5 million truck drivers in the United States, about 350,000 are owner-operators, according to the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. If you […]
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When to File Loss and Damage Claims: Know Your Rights
Damage, loss, and delays are inescapable. When these events occur, the shipper has to file a claim to recover the loss. Shippers should understand the claims process and law because the legal principles are unique to the shipping industry. First, it is important to understand that a cargo claim is based on a breach of […]
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Making a Run for the Border
Although the future of NAFTA is uncertain, and trade challenges remain, Mexico continues to attract foreign companies looking for easier access to the huge U.S. consumer base.
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Global Trade Changes Course
6 global trade rule changes you should know before you move your next import/export shipment.
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Winter Reading Guide 2017
Don’t let winter put a deep freeze on your logistics learning. Keep your knowledge evergreen by cozying up to books on wide-ranging topics, from food logistics to procurement practices.
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