Feature Stories
3PLs Coming to the Rescue
When supply chain and logistics trouble brews, shippers summon third-party logistics (3PL) providers for their expertise, technology, and dedication to customer service.
Cross-Border Logistics: Supply Chain Synergy
Bolstered by a new trade deal, the longstanding partnership between Canada and the United States thrives during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing ample opportunity for companies that offer cross-border solutions.
Project Logistics: Doing the Heavy Lifting
The professionals behind special logistics projects need to attend to details, focus on the big picture and always prepare for problems.
Vertical Files
This story examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on five vertical markets and describes some of the strategies used in those markets to meet the challenge.
Meat Supply Chain: Where's the Beef?
Responding to consumer demand for healthful options—and beef shortages—brands cook up plant-based meat alternatives while trying to avoid getting burned by supply chain challenges.
TMS Put to the Test
By providing visibility to items in transit, working to optimize transportation networks, and streamlining processes, transportation management systems (TMS) check off all the boxes.
Logistics Workforce of the Future
As the country moves toward a new normal, what will the workforce look like?
Traffic Control
To prepare for the return of crowded streets in urban areas, cities and shippers explore alternative vehicles, apps, pricing solutions, and distribution centers to address last-mile gridlock.
2020 Summer Reading Guide
Whether you're looking for an enlightening read in the sun or taking your book-reading indoors this summer, this 2020 logistics and supply chain reading guide will help you catch the latest wave of discussions.
2020 Top 100 3PLs
The top 100 third-party logistics providers of 2020 as chosen by Inbound Logistics' editors.
2020 Top 10 3PL Readers' Choice Excellence Awards
When shippers send out distress signals, 3PLs answer the call. The providers that earned a 2020 Readers' Choice Top 10 3PL Excellence Award are among the most responsive and respected in the industry.
COVID-19's Impact on North American Manufacturers
The latest COVID-19 Manufacturing Survey from Thomas Insights illuminates emerging trends in reshoring, labor, and technology, and reveals a positive outlook for the future of manufacturing.
COVID-19 Supply Chain Resources & Recovery Strategies
Leaders share best practices for sharpening digital strategy, developing resilience, and improving visibility as shippers re-engage in trade and navigate COVID-19 uncertainty.
3PL Perspectives 2020
Inbound Logistics' newest exclusive 3PL market research provides a snapshot of how the world appears to shippers and their logistics service providers.
Case Studies
DC Solutions
Robotics-as-a-Service Automates Order Fulfillment
Ecentria deploys inVia Robotics’ Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) system to automate order fulfillment in its Aurora, Illinois, distribution center.
LeaderSHIP
Focus on the Future
Leadership profile of Robert Johnson, CFO and COO of Future Tech Enterprise.
Reader Profile
Taking Up Space
Profile of Mark Wiese, who works at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as manager of the deep space logistics of the Gateway program.
Commentary
How-To
Ten Tips
Scaling Your Warehouse Post-Pandemic
Don White, CEO, SnapFulfil North America, shares 10 tips for adjusting warehouse operations in a post-pandemic economy.
Sponsored
Knowledge Base
Outsourced Manufacturing: Achieving Quality and Financial Goals
Manufacturers have been outsourcing noncore production processes for decades, and the trend continues. The key to successful outsourcing is assuring the 3PL value-added assembler (VAA) has a quality management system.
Knowledge Base
Tracking Shipments in Today’s World
Shippers can track inbound shipments until delivered and know if they may be delayed or delivered with damages or shortages by enlisting the assistance of a 3PL.
Knowledge Base
5 Actions to Navigate Through the Retail Landscape
To better prepare your company for the journey ahead, here are five actions to position your supply chain for the impact of market volatility.
Knowledge Base
How Your Freight Agency Can Succeed in an Uncertain Market
Staying engaged with your customers, providing solutions to their new demands, and not losing sight of your business goals can help improve your business during uncertain times.
Solved!
Getting Crafty with Supply Chain Solutions
Verst Logistics helped an arts and crafts supplies company address peak season challenges and growing sales by expanding its supply chain capabilities.
Solved!
Improve 3PL Warehouse Order Growth by 300% with the Right WMS
Learn how 3PL Central's warehouse management solutions helped Woodland Group become an "invisible" partner for its customers while growing their businesses.
Solved!
Holman Logistics Uses Artificial Intelligence to Increase Forklift Safety
Holman partners with OneTrack to bring AI solutions to the issue of forklift accidents.
Solved!
Thriving Amidst a Competitive Supply Chain Labor Market
Faced with a labor shortage exacerbated by the pandemic, MD Logistics developed a recruitment strategy to attract talent for present-day conditions as well as allow for continued growth.
Solved!
Drone Technology Improves Warehouse Performance
An innovative drone-based technology solution enables Romark Logistics to automate pallet counts and offer inventory analytics and insights to its customers.
Solved!
Building a Supply Chain in One Week
When their client pivoted to make a low-cost, readily available bed to quickly serve those on the front lines, SEKO Logistics rapidly set up distribution operations to meet urgent demand.
Solved!
Sustaining Operational Excellence
TA Services' transportation management solutions helped MRC Global, a distributor of pipe, infrastructure products, and valves and fittings, improve visibility and enhance service levels.
Thought Leaders
Setting Up a Successful RFP
Matt Tiedens, director of logistics solutions with Ruan Transportation Management Systems, discusses how to manage the RFP process and attract the best results.
Thought Leaders
Supporting Shippers' COVID-19 Adjustments
George Kontoravdis, president at Fortigo, discusses how the transportation management solutions provider adjusted its feature set in response to changing customer needs resulting from COVID-19.
Thought Leaders
Finding the Right 3PL Partner Delivers Key Benefits
Thomas Griffin, president with DLS Worldwide, discusses how finding the right 3PL partner is more important than ever in the transportation sector as companies recover from COVID-19.
Past Issues
Digital Editions
©2020 Thomas Publishing Company
3PL Line: Third-Party Logistics PerspectivesNick Shroeger
Addressing Shippers' Top Concerns
Although shippers should be prepared to see varying results compared to their original 2020 goals, a recovery in consumer demand is not too far away.
Checking InKeith Biondo
What Can 3PLs Do?
Can third-party logistics (3PL) providers bring chaos to order? Or order to chaos? For starters, they can help you wrangle and bring some order to the current COVID-caused confusion in your logistics process.
COVID-19Antony Lovell
5 Ways to Attain Resilience
To better weather the next supply chain disruption, organizations should consider these five ways to enhance day-to-day planning and improve shock resilience.
EcoDevChris Gutierrez
Becoming the Next Leading Logistics Hub
Kansas City, which offers an appealing central location and established "inland port," provides a blueprint for distribution hotspots.
E_CommerceRyan Richard
Online Grocery Shifts into Hyperspeed
Here are three ways retailers can ensure e-commerce capabilities run efficiently by focusing on trading partner collaboration.
Fine Print: Supply Chain Legal IssuesJon Daniells
Power of Prevention: Compliance Audits
New contract audit methodologies uncover root causes of value leakage and help prevent future losses.
Global LogisticsMike Wychocki
Automating Short-Haul Intermodal with Electrified Overhead Rail
Additional port and intermodal automation is needed to prevent our global supply chain from future natural, and man-made interruptions.
Good QuestionKatrina Arabe
What supply chain technology would you accelerate?
From real-time tracking to traffic advisories, 12 supply chain leaders share the technologies they would accelerate.
IT Matters: Logistics & Supply Chain TechnologyRob Bailey
Fixing Our Broken Supply Chain
COVID-19 is clearly a catalyst for necessary change and our collective global supply chain disruption makes it clear that the time to bring transparency and efficiency is now.
Risks and Rewards: Risk Management StrategiesDavid Pignolet
Three Ways to Mitigate Insider Risk in Your Supply Chain
Without proper identity access and management procedures for third-party users in place, entire supply chains are vulnerable to attacks.
The Lean Supply ChainPaul A. Myerson
Traditional Retail Supply Chains Tackle Omni Challenges
As e-commerce demand grew, retailers went from using small, existing distribution centers to opening entire fulfillment centers to combining omnichannel facilities. Paul A. Myerson discusses the advantages.
Viewpoint: Logistics & Supply Chain AnalysisMohammad Ansari
Four Behaviors of Design Thinking
To safeguard customer loyalty and drive sustainably innovative solutions, some supply chain experts are turning to the design thinking methodology, which focuses on four crucial behaviors.