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Industrial IoT: Friend of the Environment

February 8, 2019

Adopting Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies to improve environmental sustainability ranks as a crucial priority for transportation and logistics companies, according to a new Inmarsat study. Read More

Food Distributor Plays It Cool

February 8, 2019 Jennifer Baljko

Food services distributor Golden State Foods found the cold chain performance monitoring capabilities it needed to meet customer compliance requirements from fleet management solutions provider Coretex. Read More

New App Drives Compliance

February 6, 2019

It can be challenging for rental trucks to meet the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate. One solution is to provide drivers with easier Hours of Service (HoS) functionality. To that end, Penske Truck Leasing has introduced Penske Driver, a fully integrated and ELD-compliant custom app. Read More

Asia Pacific Companies: Green Giants

February 5, 2019

Asia Pacific companies place more importance on green transportation than other regions, finds DHL's latest research report on ground transportation logistics. Read More

Freight Flow and the Economy: Asked and Answered

February 4, 2019

Arrive Logistics partnered with Transportation Analyst Donald Broughton, principal managing partner of Broughton Capital, to address the following crucial questions shippers need to answer about their freight. Read More

India Bales on Cotton Exports

February 1, 2019

India's annual cotton output could drop 12 percent to the lowest in nine years as limited rainfall in the top two producing states has slashed crop yields, potentially cutting exports from the world's top producer, according to a report in the Economic Times. Read More

Pushing Blockchain Past the Hype

January 31, 2019 Diane Fanelli

Businesses across the supply chain are finally embracing blockchain as an asset capable of unlocking tremendous value, especially as supply chains grow more globalized and susceptible to compromise. Read More

Six of One: Merger Creates UK's Largest Logistics Provider

January 30, 2019 Inbound Logistics Staff

Hong Kong private equity investor EmergeVest has consolidated ownership of six of the UK's leading logistics companies to create EV Cargo, one of the country's largest providers of transport, logistics, freight forwarding services, and logistics technology, and a global supply chain company operating in more than 120 countries. Read More

Automation Is a Game Changer for E-tailers

January 29, 2019 Sid Chatterjee, Vice President, Products, GreyOrange

E-tailers can sustain customers over the long term when their retail operations are driven by technology integration and automation, across the entire supply chain. Read More

Not So Fast: Rethinking Multi-Item Orders

January 28, 2019 Nick McLean

In the name of speed and satisfaction, many retailers think they're doing the right thing by delivering products to customers as quickly as possible, shipping partial orders, but that isn't always the case. Read More

Weather Forecast: Supply Chain Disruptions Ahead

January 25, 2019

Global supply chain disruptions continue to grow at an alarming rate and the potential for financial or revenue impacts is the highest it has been in three years, finds Resilinc's recent EventWatch Supply Chain Disruption report. Read More

Why Millennials Deserve Our Attention

January 24, 2019 Ben Tyrrell

By 2020, global millennial spending power will total $20 trillion plus. Not paying attention to the needs of this burgeoning demographic is business suicide. Read More

Economic Nationalism Challenges Global Supply Chains

January 23, 2019 Felecia Stratton

Sixty-six percent of manufacturers responding to a new survey of global senior supply chain decision makers by software company LLamasoft say they would change their supply chains in order to tackle economic nationalism.  Read More

Noted

January 21, 2019

New and noteworthy in the supply chain Read More

Keeping Truckers Safe on the Road

January 18, 2019 Pat Larkin

Keeping drivers safe is important for everyone on the road, especially with 115 million cars and trucks hitting U.S. streets every day. Not everyone who drives will get into an accident. However, the risk is much higher for truckers who drive every day for work. Read More

Trade Wars, Cyber Threats Top Maritime Concerns

January 17, 2019 Felecia Stratton

The global maritime industry is cautiously optimistic about the global business environment for world trade, but also concerned about the potential impact of trade tensions, cyber security, fuel costs, and other headwinds to industry recovery.  Read More

Selecting a Cloud-based TMS

January 15, 2019

Selecting and implementing a SaaS-based Transportation Management System (TMS) requires careful thought. Future users and decision-makers need to do the following. Read More

The Changing Logistics of Grocery Delivery: It’s In The Bag

January 14, 2019 Karen M. Kroll

Food retailers are working to satisfy consumers' growing appetite for rapid delivery of everything from tomatoes to orange juice. To feed this demand, they're educating personal shoppers, developing new technologies to handle the last-mile, rethinking distribution networks and inventory planning, and partnering with technology companies. Read More

U.S. Infrastructure Investment: A Private Matter?

January 10, 2019 Inbound Logistics Staff

Leasing America's largest existing toll roads, bridges, airports, seaports, water and wastewater facilities, and university parking systems to private partners could generate $720 billion to $885 billion for state and local governments to spend on new infrastructure projects, finds a new Reason Foundation study. Read More

How Retailers Earn 5-Star Reviews

January 8, 2019 Merrill Douglas

The human touch, product education, smooth delivery, sturdy packaging, and good cup of coffee help retailers rate high with customers. Read More

Building a Global Experience Through Connected Service

January 7, 2019 Craig Bruns, Vice President, Customer Support, Crown Equipment

The Internet of Things (IoT) is bringing a new level of connectivity that is evolving the forklift service call and changing how companies approach equipment maintenance. Read More

5 Ways a WMS Can Cut Supply Chain Costs

January 7, 2019

The right warehouse management system (WMS) can improve efficiency and cut supply chain costs. TECSYS, a supply chain management solutions provider, offers the following tried-and-true strategies. Read More

Reader Profile: Denise Kopko

January 4, 2019 Karen M. Kroll

Here's how Denise Kopko, vice president of operations—commercial, supply chain and logistics, with Veolia North America, powers its regeneration business Read More

Mail Merge: China Post, Lufthansa Enter Capacity Agreement

January 2, 2019 Inbound Logistics Staff

With the goal of jointly building a more stabilized and comprehensive channel of air mail transportation connecting China and Europe, China Post Group Corporation, the official postal service of the People's Republic of China, and cargo airline Lufthansa Cargo are partnering on a strategic capacity agreement.  Read More

A Lot to Learn

January 2, 2019 Felecia Stratton

There are a multitude of resources available to help even the busiest logistics professionals hone their skillsets. Read More

2018: A Year to Remember

December 31, 2018 Sandra Beckwith

2018 was marked by tariffs, trade deals, and technological advancements. Let's look back at the highlights. Read More

Tis the Season to be Agile

December 31, 2018 Rob Kriewaldt

If you work with a capable 3PL, you may rest assured that you already have the supply chain agility needed to meet any challenges the New Year may bring. Read More

Continuing Education: What's on the Menu?

December 28, 2018 Tamara Chapman

No matter how skilled or credentialed, today’s supply chain managers have a lot to learn–and a lot of ways to do so. With the marketplace growing more complex, continuing education professionals are introducing new programs and revising old standbys. Read More

A New Combined Approach to Labeling and Artwork Management

December 27, 2018 Josh Roffman, Loftware Vice President Product Management

Companies have struggled for many years to manage the growing complexities of their supply chains and go-to-market packaging content. Labeling has become more complicated, and Artwork Management has been challenged to meet an increasing number of demands on a global basis.  Read More

10 Tips: Minimizing Airfreight Costs

December 26, 2018 Jeff Metersky, Vice President, Solutions Strategy, LLamasoft

To combat trade wars, tariffs, and other obstacles, it’s important to optimize your supply chain. One way is to minimize the cost of air freight, which is generally a fast and reliable—but expensive—option. Read More

Holiday Cargo Theft Q&A

December 21, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

A Q&A with Scott Cornell, transportation business lead and crime and theft specialist at Travelers, on how to avoid theft during the holiday season. Read More

Wait Loss Program

December 21, 2018 Felecia Stratton

The supply-demand dynamic in the trucking market is out of balance, even as more drivers enter the field. With tight capacity, carriers can pick and choose which shippers and facilities to work with. In order to remain competitive and have access to consistent and reliable supply, it is crucial for shippers to become a shipper of choice. Read More

GPA on Track for 4.3M TEUs

December 20, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

The Georgia Ports Authority is on track to reach 4.36 million twenty-foot equivalent container units handled in 2018. Read More

Plastics Supply Chain Turns Off the Tap

December 19, 2018 Felecia Stratton

HP Inc. and IKEA are joining the NextWave Plastics global consortium—a collaborative initiative that brings together leading companies to "turn off the tap" of plastic entering the ocean. The goal is not only to scale their own ocean-bound plastics supply chain efforts, but to also extend across industries to make it commercially viable for all. Read More

What Will Retailers Find Under The Tree?

December 18, 2018 Felecia Stratton

A common theme connects several strategies retailers are using to prepare for the holiday season: Enhanced capabilities to seamlessly cater to shoppers in stores, online, and on mobile devices. CBRE's annual Holiday Retail Trends Guide outlines four trends shaping this season as it unfolds. Read More

Panama Canal in the Zone

December 18, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

The Panama Canal closed its 2018 fiscal year with a record 442.1 million Panama Canal tons (PC/UMS), which represents a 9.5-percent increase from the previous year. This surpasses cargo projections of 429.4 million PC/UMS tons for FY 2018, as well as the 403.8 million PC/UMS tons registered in FY 2017. Read More

Automated Material Handling Equipment Market Lifts Growth Projections

December 14, 2018 Felecia Stratton

The growing presence of start-up companies offering robotic solutions for warehouse automation, the increasing popularity of automated material handling (AMH) equipment among leading industries, significant recovery in global manufacturing, and rising labor cost and safety concerns are among the key factors driving the growth of the AMH market, according to a new study from industry analyst firm Research and Markets. Read More

Meet Your Match

December 14, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

Supply chain management is increasingly recognized as critical to an organization's success. As a result, it's harder to come by top-tier talent through traditional methods. Read More

Self-Driving Trucks Will Transform Trucking and Logistics

December 13, 2018 Maryline Daviaud Lewett and Paul Stith, Black & Veatch

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) will have a dramatic effect that will be felt in the shipping, trucking, and logistics industries. How can supply chain stakeholders leverage this technology? Early pilot projects provide a roadmap.  Read More

Click & Collect Not Clicking Yet

December 13, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Of the 2,000+ worldwide retailers participating in Omni-2000 Research: Global, only a surprising 38.1 percent show basic inventory visibility on product pages.  Read More

New NAFTA Winners and Losers

December 12, 2018 John Costanzo, President, Purolator International

Although the recently announced trade deal between the United States, Mexico, and Canada is not likely to take effect until 2020, assuming each country grants final approval, many have been quick to seize upon the agreement in search of "winners and losers." Read More

Things are Looking Up for Multistory Warehouses

December 12, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Multistory warehouses used to distribute e-commerce orders are popping up in densely populated U.S. metro areas, but conditions for developing the structures aren't as ideal in the United States as in Asia and Europe, finds a CBRE report. Read More

Post Office Dings E-Commerce?

December 11, 2018 Keith Biondo

Two recent and important developments will impact domestic and international e-commerce shipments. The first one concerns the U.S. Postal Service's relationship with Amazon.  Read More

How Shippers Can Relieve Delivery Anxiety

December 10, 2018 John Nadvornik, Vice President of Product Management, GrandCanals

Consumers' delivery anxiety is your single largest obstacle to converting orders into sales. Here's how to overcome it. Read More

3PLs, Tech Providers Empower Ethical Supply Chains

December 7, 2018 Tom Gresham

Shippers do not always spend adequate attention and resources on the ethical issues involved in their highly complex supply chains, but a company can suffer severe brand damage when ethical issues along its supply chain become exposed. Read More

Take a Load Off Your Fleet

December 6, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Maintenance and repair (M&R) is the top factor motivating fleet executives to acquire new trucks, say 40 percent of respondents to a recent Fleet Advantage survey of more than 1,000 fleet executives. Read More

Cold Comfort: Finding the Right Winter Warehouse

December 5, 2018

The 2018-2019 winter season is projected to be colder than normal, so it's time for companies to ensure their inventory is protected. Here are three tips for choosing the right warehouse for your business this winter: Read More

How to Become a Shipper of Choice

December 4, 2018 Rachal Snider

As shippers, carriers, and logistics service providers prepare for a busy Q4 2018, here are some ideas for easing the capacity crunch, controlling costs, and becoming a "shipper of choice." Read More

Shipping Containers Get a Second Life

December 3, 2018 Katrina Arabe

They're far from washed up. Compact, watertight, and easily soundproofed, used shipping containers get a second job as building blocks in some exciting new projects. Read More

Growth in the Line of Beauty

December 3, 2018 Felecia Stratton

To serve its rapidly growing customer base in mainland China, Feelunique—Europe's leading online beauty retailer with more than 32,000 products and 500 brands across makeup, skincare, haircare, and fragrances—is set to open a distribution hub in Hong Kong in partnership with SEKO Logistics. Read More

Keeping up with B2B Fulfillment Demands this Holiday Season

December 3, 2018 Michelle Fischer, Chief Customer Officer, Kibo

According to a recent report by CBRE, the average U.S. warehouse is under significant strain to keep up with demands. Inevitably, this puts retailers in the B2B space in a pickle, especially during the holiday sales season. Read More

The New Faces of Trucking

November 30, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

Approximately just 6 percent of the commercial truck driver workforce is made up of females and, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this is up only 1.1 percent since 2008. These young high school students may help turn the tide. Read More

Companies Go for IoT

November 30, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Companies will spend $434.9 billion to design, plan, build, and run Internet of Things (IoT) solutions by 2023, up from $186.1 billion in 2017, according to research company Forrester. Read More

Committing Head and Heart to Health

November 29, 2018 Merrill Douglas

Chris Cassidy, president of global healthcare logistics strategy at UPS, tells IL about the interests and principles that drive his leadership, and about his mission at UPS. Read More

Strong Im/Ex Market Fuels South Korea Trade Growth

November 29, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Air trade in South Korea will remain steady due to strong exports of high technology, basic materials, and machinery parts, as well as imports of industrial raw materials and machinery parts, predicts the DHL Global Trade Barometer. Read More

Factory Robots: Better Safe Than Sorry

November 28, 2018 Andy Szal, Thomas

A Massachusetts company believes lidar technology could be the key to developing a safer factory robot—and to enabling those robots to take on many of the remaining tasks still completed by human workers. Read More

The State Of Logistics Outsourcing

November 26, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

In an era where technology continues to migrate consumer spending habits online and away from brick-and-mortar stores, the 2019 Third-Party Logistics Study highlights how supply chains are also going digital and using science to keep pace. Read More

Cargo Airports Do Brisk Business

November 20, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Cargo airports were bustling in 2017, according to the Airport Council International's finalized list of the world's top 20 busiest cargo airports in 2017 (see chart). Total cargo volumes handled (loaded and unloaded freight and mail) increased by 7.8 percent from the previous year, to 50.6 million metric tons. Read More

Do's and Don'ts of Hurricane Relief

November 19, 2018 Felecia Stratton

American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN), an industry-wide organization that provides supply chain assistance to disaster relief organizations and other non-profits, offers a few practical do's and don'ts to help during a disaster. Read More

BattleBots: Robots vs. Workers

November 16, 2018 Felecia Stratton

The public is broadly fearful that automation will lead to significant job losses, with many populations skeptical that the technologies will boost economic efficiency, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey of 10 countries. Read More

Retailers Plug Into AI

November 14, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Nearly two-thirds of retail supply chain professionals struggle with disconnects between systems, finds Symphony RetailAI's Strengthening the Retail Supply Chain survey of North American retailers. Read More

Freight Forecast Stays Sunny

November 9, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Freight volumes are projected to increase 4.2 percent in 2018 and increase 35.6 percent by 2029, according to the latest edition of the American Trucking Associations' Freight Forecast. Read More

Intermodal Transport: Finding the Road to the Right Track

November 7, 2018 Merrill Douglas

Tight trucking capacity, the strong economy, and ongoing improvements on the rail are spurring more shippers to consider intermodal transportation. But finding a container, or a truck to haul it to or from the rail terminal, isn't always easy, either. Read More

No Industry is Amazon-Proof

November 6, 2018 Brittain Ladd

If you think Amazon can't or won't do something, banish the thought. Well-run companies with qualified and competent executives should insist that every effort be made to identify how and when Amazon can impact its business. Read More

Hone for the Holidays

November 5, 2018 Katrina Arabe

Holiday preparations are in high gear with hiring sprees and e-commerce investments reported by retailers and logistics service providers alike. Read More

Maritime Update: Staying Above Water

November 1, 2018 Karen M. Kroll

Five trends shaping the maritime industry will also impact shippers: carrier consolidation and alliances, the increasing sizes of ships, ports that have become chokepoints, advancing technology, and increasing concerns about the environmental impact of shipping. Read More

The Supply Chain World is Not Flat

October 31, 2018 Pierre Francois Thaler

Instead of making, using, and disposing of products and materials, leading companies keep components in use in the value chain and logistics process for as long as possible. Read More

Talent Gap or Training Gap?

October 30, 2018 Keith Biondo

Workforce and career development are on the national radar and many companies are stepping up with financial, time and expertise commitments to accomplish the goals of developing the U.S. workforce for tomorrow. Read More

Optimizing Ocean Transport

October 29, 2018 Patrick Pretorius, Director of Business Development, Transporeon Group Americas

These best practices will help streamline your ocean freight process. Read More

Peak Season is Coming. Can You Work it Out?

October 25, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Wage corrections, shift preferences, and more flexible human resource policies are key to attracting and retaining hourly warehouse workers, finds the 11th annual EmployBridge Warehouse Employee Opinion Survey of approximately 16,000 hourly workers. Read More

Global Air Freight in Slow Motion

October 24, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Demand for global air freight, measured in freight tonne kilometers (FTKs), rose 2.1 percent in July 2018, compared to the same period the year before, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This was the slowest pace of growth since May 2016, and well below the five-year average growth rate of 5.1 percent. Read More

Examining the Workforce of the Future

October 23, 2018 Felecia Stratton

To help prepare Los Angeles County youth for career and college pathways in global transportation, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), has joined with the County of Los Angeles to create a Transportation School. The curriculum will be developed to teach students transferrable industry skills focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). Read More

Top 10 Global Supply Chains

October 22, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Vero Solutions, a UK-based provider of tracking and safety solutions, analyzed Gartner's annual list of the best supply chains over the past decade. Here's what Vero discovered.  Read More

Rooted in Data, Business Blooms

October 21, 2018 Jennifer Baljko

Metrolina Greenhouses integrates ERP and customized, industry-specific tools to improve order, shipping and billing management. Read More

Crowdsourcing: Facing the Crowd

October 20, 2018 Sandra Beckwith

Companies use crowdsourcing throughout the supply chain—from product design to final-mile delivery—to become the leader of the pack. Read More

Super-sized Logistics

October 19, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Thanks to the Amazon Effect, fast and free delivery is the new normal, forcing other online sellers to keep up.
However, there's one area of e-commerce where online sellers can still compete logistically with Amazon and big box players: delivery of oversized, larger-than-parcel items, such as furniture, sofas, armoires, mattresses, treadmills, and more.
But every opportunity comes with certain hurdles. Read More

U.S. Businesses Fight Tariff Battle

October 18, 2018 Felecia Stratton

More than half of U.S. businesses are battling the effects of the unfolding trade war with China; the majority are already feeling the squeeze of the tariffs introduced earlier in 2018, according to a new AsiaInspection report. Read More

China's Economy Stays Resilient

October 17, 2018 Felecia Stratton

China's railway freight volume, an indicator of broad economic activity, expanded at a faster pace in the first seven months of 2018, notes a Xinhua report. Read More

Hub Group Sells its Mode Transportation Subsidiary

October 16, 2018 Felecia Stratton

As part of a business plan to centralize operations and move away from independent owner-operator networks, Hub Group sold its Mode Transportation subsidiary to an affiliate of York Capital Management, a diversified investment manager, for approximately $238.5 million, with about $20 billion under management. Read More

Drones: Most Likely to Succeed

October 12, 2018 Katrina Arabe

A new class of drones can speed inventory counts, administer life-saving medicine, anticipate your caffeine needs, and keep golfers on course. Read More

6 Ways to Find Hidden Capacity

October 9, 2018 Sandra Beckwith

As shippers puzzle their way through a record truckload capacity shortage, they have to change how they do business to find the right truck at the right time for the right price. Read More

Shipping and Delivery: How to Get it Right

October 3, 2018 Sean Wilcox

Executing against the wrong e-commerce strategy – or not having a strategy at all – is a recipe for higher costs and lower customer satisfaction levels and can have a major negative impact on your business. Read More

New York City Introduces Off-Hour Deliveries Program to Combat Congestion

October 1, 2018 Diniece Peters, Director, Office of Freight Mobility, New York City Department of Transportation, 212-839-4850

New York City Department of Transportation is collaborating with shippers, transporters, and receivers to rethink their delivery schedule and shift to off-hour deliveries (OHD) with the goal of targeting 900 business establishments by the end of 2019. Read More

TMS Brings the Power

September 26, 2018 Jennifer Baljko

Electronics company Celestica plugs into a TMS solution to cut costs, increase visibility, and power continuous improvements. Read More

A Real-Time, Cost-Saving Opportunity

September 17, 2018

A client looked to PLS Logistics for a way to drive real-time visibility, performance and cost savings to allow each of its 200+ office locations to operate effectively. Read More

Moving Cross-border Shipments

September 12, 2018 Alex Fuller

As your suppliers and customers become more geographically diverse, more of your supply chain and customer experience depends on moving shipments through Customs accurately and without delay. Read More

TradeLens Caps Blockchain Initiative

September 11, 2018 Felecia Stratton

In an effort to apply blockchain to the world’s global supply chain, Maersk Line and IBM have collaborated to develop TradeLens, a blockchain-enabled shipping solution to promote more efficient and secure global trade, bring together supply chain partners to support information sharing and transparency, and encourage industry-wide innovation. Read More

Back-to-School Supply Chain

September 10, 2018 Katrina Arabe

The second-busiest shopping season (after the holidays) gets ports bustling, retailers scrambling, and consumers wallet-busting. Read More

Returning Experience

September 8, 2018 Keith Biondo

The war between the retail/e-commerce customer experience and increasing costs is heating up, thanks to the impact that rising transportation prices are having on the retail process. That trend plagues e-commerce players and retailers, both large and small. Read More

Home Depot Builds New Supply Chain

September 7, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Home Depot will spend $1.2 billion to overhaul its supply chain to offer faster delivery for consumers and businesses. Walker Sands' 2018 Future of Retail report offers the home improvement retailer some advice: Read More

Is Asia The New Bermuda Triangle?

September 6, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Large shipping losses declined by 38 percent globally over the past decade, but losses in Asia rose year-on-year, with incidents in the South China, Indochina, Indonesia, and Philippine maritime regions rising 25 percent. Read More

LeaderShip: Fail Fast, Then Move On

September 5, 2018 Merrill Douglas

Jim Barnes did not have a mentor at the start of his career. "No one taught me how to become a leader," recalls Barnes, chief executive officer of enVista, an Indianapolis-based supply chain consultancy and software firm. Read More

In Iceland, There's No Place Like Drone

September 4, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Drone technology company Flytrex, in partnership with Aha.is—Iceland's largest online marketplace—launched 13 new routes for an autonomous on-demand urban drone delivery service to serve nearly half of Reykjavik. Read More

Will Airbnb for Warehouses Take Off?

September 3, 2018 Ben Conwell

On-demand services are becoming so much a part of our daily lives that millennials can't imagine a world before Uber or Postmates. Now, on-demand service is becoming a reality in the logistics real estate sector. Read More

Reader Profile: Erik Snyder Keeps His Spirits Up

September 2, 2018 Karen M. Kroll

Erik Snyder, president of North America supply and procurement with Diageo, oversees Diageo's end-to-end supply chain and procurement operation in North America, including sourcing raw materials, distillation, manufacturing, packaging, planning, and customer service. Read More

Returns in the E-Commerce Retail Supply Chain

August 31, 2018 John Sell

In recent years, a rise in e-commerce sales has led to an increase in the amount of items returned. This increase in returns creates a challenging situation for retailers and an opportunity for their 3PL providers. Read More

Europe Stays in the Loop

August 29, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Virgin Hyperloop One will open a $500-million Advanced Technology Development and Testing Center in Spain, the company's first European development facility. Read More

How Using BI Can Transform Your Business

August 28, 2018 Timothy Leonard, CTO, Trimble Transportation

General insights and “what if” scenarios, derived from business intelligence, can have a profound impact on transportation and logistics. Read More

Protecting Your Supply Chain

August 26, 2018 Tom Gresham

Do you sometimes feel like cushioning your facilities and workers with bubble wrap to keep them safe? Here are five ways to pop that problem. Read More

What Do the New UPS Surcharges Mean?

August 24, 2018 Felecia Stratton

To help shippers understand UPS's recent surcharge increases, Spend Management Experts, a supply chain spend management consultancy, outlines the carrier's new fees and their potential impact. Read More

The Three P’s of Sales & Operations Planning Success

August 23, 2018 Henry Canitz, Director of Product Marketing & Business Development, Logility

If your company seems stuck and can’t get to the level of maturity you would like in your sales and operations planning process, follow these three keys to success. Read More

A Fresh Look at Intermodal

August 22, 2018 Tom Gresham

With driver shortage and capacity issues affecting trucking, once wary shippers are taking a different view of rail intermodal. Read More

Straighten Up and Fly Right

August 16, 2018 Karen M. Kroll

Shippers can take several steps to rein in airfreight costs. These include checking that it’s truly necessary, combining air with other modes of transportation, incorporating air into their ongoing logistics planning, and developing strong relationships with freight forwarders. Read More

Anatomy of Hospital Supply Chain Disruptions

August 15, 2018 Poornima Apte

The aftermath of Hurricane Irma, which hit Puerto Rico in September 2017, created a severe shortage of IV bags in the continental United States. The reason: Baxter International, one of the major suppliers, manufactures the products in the U.S. territory and was crippled by the loss of electricity to the island. As a result, many hospitals in the United States suffered an acute shortage of the critical resource. Read More

U.S. Seaports Need Multimodal Funding

August 15, 2018 Felecia Stratton

U.S. port authorities identify more than $20 billion in projected multimodal port and rail access needs over the next decade, while one-third cite pressing rail project needs costing at least $50 million for each of their ports, according to a new American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) survey, The State of Freight III. Read More

Driverless Trucks: A Different Idea

August 15, 2018 Brittain Ladd

There is so much effort and capital being directed at wanting to make trucks driverless, but if you don't need the driver, why do you need the truck? Read More

Disruptive Technologies Shake Up Supply Chains

August 14, 2018 Poornima Apte

When efficiency is the primary focus in integrated supply chain management, every little bit that helps to tighten both front- and back-end processes helps. Increasingly, companies in a variety of verticals are achieving such efficiencies by leaning on disruptive technologies. Read More

Internal Audits: The Cornerstone of Compliance

August 14, 2018 Tammy Flanders Hetrick

Internal audits are the cornerstone of your compliance program. Monitoring your performance, and that of your customs broker, is the only way to determine if the policies and procedures you’ve put in place are effective. Read More

Bridging the Gap Between Women and Funding

August 13, 2018 Nicole Slaughter Graham

Thirty women have become small business owners in the trucking industry thanks to the efforts of Expediter Services (ES), in conjunction with the Women in Trucking Association. Read More

Footwear E-Tailers: Shoe Me The Money

August 13, 2018 Sandra Beckwith

As e-commerce continues to grow, footwear brands and retailers benefit from continually increasing sales. The challenge for e-tailers is to be profitable while dealing with fickle consumer tastes and product seasonality, a high return rate and large number of SKUs, and packaging that’s larger and bulkier than its parent category, apparel. Read More

Italy's Ritrama Sticks a Landing in SC

August 12, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Ritrama, an Italian multinational self-adhesive materials producer, chose Ferretto Group's technological solutions for its new automated warehouse located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Read More

Are You Ready for Omnichannel Retail?

August 12, 2018 Paul A. Myerson

While many challenges arise from an omnichannel retail strategy, supply chain professionals must rise to the occasion and stay ahead of these changes. Read More

What's Driving Truck Regulation?

August 12, 2018 Noel Perry

After nine years of regulatory changes almost every year, we are looking at no new regulation until 2021 or 2022. The sharp change in the regulatory environment will change the market direction: downward in price and upward for better capacity utilization. Read More

Fleet Operators Get No ELD Satisfaction

August 11, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Slightly fewer than half of fleet operators responding to a Coretex Electronic Logging Device (ELD) satisfaction survey say the mandate is good for the transportation industry. Coretex surveyed 303 U.S. trucking companies of various sizes. Read More

Industrial Development Returns to the Rails

August 11, 2018 Steven Pastor

Led by a new crop of innovative executives, modern Class 1 railroads, along with real estate professionals, are responding to new logistics demands and spearheading substantial rail-oriented industrial development projects across the nation. Read More

Data Management—Vital Today!

August 11, 2018 Robert Walters

There are value points in managing information gathered from a strong TMS system that can also provide a solid pre-audit program to double check accuracy of bills before payment. Read More

A Sweet deal: Nestlé, XPO Build Digital Warehouse

August 10, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Nestlé, the world's largest food and drink company, and XPO Logistics, a global provider of transport and logistics solutions, are co-creating a 638,000-square-foot distribution center at the new SEGRO East Midlands Gateway Logistics Park in Leicestershire, UK. Read More

The Future of Supply Chain Visibility

August 10, 2018 Martin Hubert

We are evolving to the point where we can share information between members of the supply chain, automate processes such as ordering, quotation and route optimization, and collaboratively work together to manage the exceptions. Read More

Fresh Fish Shippers Breathe Easy

August 9, 2018 Felecia Stratton

The world's only approved airfreight oxygen delivery system will revolutionize live seafood transportation throughout continental Europe and the UK through an agreement between FloatPac, the owner of FishPac live seafood oxygen transport systems, and LipFish AS, based in Troms, Norway. Read More

Securing Capacity for Freight Moving In and Out of Mexico

August 9, 2018 Eric Meyer

For shippers, importing to and exporting from Mexico can present a unique set of challenges. One of the toughest challenges that cross-border shippers in today’s market face is securing high quality capacity on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Read More

Manufacturers Take on Amazon

August 8, 2018 Felecia Stratton

In response to the "Amazon effect" and today's consumer demands, manufacturers are reprioritizing and focusing their technology investments on inventory optimization solutions (43 percent) and integrated planning and execution technologies (41 percent), according to findings from JDA Software's 2018 Intelligent Manufacturing Survey. Read More

Mitigating Cargo Theft Risk

August 7, 2018

Cargo theft continues to be a challenge to shippers, totaling an estimated $145 million in losses each year in North America. Use these tips to keep your cargo safe. Read More

How to Choose a TMS

August 6, 2018 George Kontoravdis, PhD

Use this advice to navigate the process of selecting and deploying a TMS solution in a fraction of the time and cost of traditional solutions. Read More

Getting Wise to Smart Ports

August 5, 2018 Gary Frantz

The nation’s ports are testing technologies and investing in infrastructure improvements to adapt to a world where the ultimate consumer increasingly embraces Amazon-like expectations. Read More

How Small Businesses Can Win at E-Commerce

August 2, 2018 Sophia Shoate, Vice President, UPS i-parcel

If you’re a small business trying to establish yourself or grow in e-commerce, you know it can be an uphill battle. That doesn’t mean you can’t compete. Read More

Thinking Beyond Home Delivery

August 2, 2018 Brian Bourke

Consumer expectations are becoming increasingly demanding, and matching supply to demand is crucial for any successful supply chain. Read More

World Cup Nets Big Numbers

August 1, 2018 Katrina Arabe

1 million fans in the stands. 2 billion TV viewers. 32 teams. 64 matches. It all adds up to scoring a logistics planning goal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Read More

Readers Choice: Top 10 3PL Excellence Awards 2018

August 1, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

Each year, the Inbound Logistics Readers’ Choice Top 10 3PL Excellence survey gives shippers the chance to give a shout-out to providers that have taken on so much of their load. Here are the best of the best. Read More

Pork Processor Brings Home the Bacon

August 1, 2018 Sandra Beckwith

Consolidating three independent operating companies into one at Smithfield Foods is triggering significant changes in the three organizations’ supply chains. Reducing complexity and improving visibility are not only making supply chain processes more efficient, they’re also saving money and helping the corporation achieve its sustainability goals. Read More

Preparing for the Digitization of Logistics

July 31, 2018 Brandon Rowan, VP of Operations, Omni

By 2019 there could be 224 million digital shoppers in the United States, and according to research by McKinsey, about 70 percent of those shoppers will choose the cheapest form of home delivery. Why? Because of increased consumer preferences and the evolution of warehouse-to-home delivery systems.  Read More

Gaining Control: Why European Time Slot Management Makes Sense in the United States

July 24, 2018 Wes Tone, Business Development Manager, Transporeon Group

Inefficiencies at the dock can cause long lines of trucks outside a warehouse, congestion on access roads, delayed deliveries, and long driver wait times, all with the potential of accruing steep detention fees. European logistics managers deal with these inefficiencies—resulting from space constraints and too few docks for trucks—on a regular basis. Read More

Humans Are What's Wrong with the Global Supply Chain

July 17, 2018 Matthew Tillman, CEO & Co-founder, Haven, Inc.

The supply chain is broken because there are too many people who are doing too many things wrong. The result is human suffering. While identifying symptoms is easy, finding root causes is difficult when the problem behaviors are taken for granted. Read More

75 Green Supply Chain Partners

July 16, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

Inbound Logistics features its annual G75—a carefully curated list of 75 companies that go above and beyond to ensure their global supply chains are sustainable, and their operations are socially and environmentally friendly. Read More

Tech Drives Trade Growth, Say Upbeat SMEs

July 11, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) struggling for equal footing in the global economy increasingly look to cross-border trade for growth, seeing technology as a way past obstacles in shipping and compliance, according to new research from Shipa Freight. Read More

The Key to Logistics Visibility: Connecting Things

July 10, 2018 Sanjay Sharma, CEO & co-Founder, Roambee

Tracking shipments independent of the carrier or mode of transport provides you with analytics that help you cut through the noise and make sense of the data to improve operational efficiencies. Read More

The Bionic Warehouse Worker

July 7, 2018 Katrina Arabe

Brace yourself for some mechanical marvels that could punch up DC and factory productivity. Fighting gravity, strain, and injury, these mechanized support systems give warehouse and assembly line workers near-superhero strength and Iron Man-like stamina Read More

10 Ways to Drive Supply Chain Performance With Big Data

July 6, 2018 Andy Moses, Penske Logistics senior vice president of global products

Is more always better? When it comes to a shipper's supply chain and big data, more data doesn't necessarily equate to better productivity. How you leverage and utilize the influx of data is what's key. Use these tips to utilize big data to drive performance in their supply chains. Read More

Digital Logistics: From Trend to Norm

July 3, 2018 Dan Stoll, senior technical manager, Nintex

Microsoft has entered a partnership with ocean carrier OOCL to develop artificial intelligence (AI) in shipping, with the goal of helping Microsoft better understand and predict shipping patterns and variables. Read More

The Logistics Long(er) Run

July 2, 2018 Felecia Stratton

The current expansion phase for U.S. industrial and logistics real estate appears poised to surpass the typical lifespan of an economic cycle due to demand from e-commerce companies, according to a new report from CBRE. Read More

5 Ways Warehousing is Going Green

July 1, 2018 Felecia Stratton

The future looks bright for warehousing. This is especially true when it comes to taking a green approach to procurement and manufacturing. Read More

Clarifying The Business Case For Green Supply Chain Management

June 26, 2018 Yossi Sheffi, Elisha Gray II Professor of Engineering Systems at MIT, and Director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics

For most companies, sustainability is not a simple case of "profits vs. planet" but a more subtle issue of people looking for jobs and inexpensive goods versus others who seek a pristine environment. Here's how your supply chain can satisfy these conflicting motivations to achieve both economic growth and environmental sustainability. Read More

An Awesome Supply Chain Scholarship

June 25, 2018 Felecia Stratton

To attract women who want to pursue graduate degrees in supply chain management, the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics announced a new scholarship in partnership with AWESOME (Achieving Women's Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management, and Education), an industry-wide organization for senior-level women in the supply chain field. Read More

GDPR: Privacy, Yes. Innovation, No

June 25, 2018 Keith Biondo

If you spend too much time clearing privacy protection notices from your email box, thank the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). But what exactly is this regulation and how might it impact future supply chain technological innovation? Read More

Load and Expedite

June 23, 2018 Tim Zubradt

There are a lot of moving parts in the production of a product. The key is to value stream your supply chain to make sure everyone understands the risks and rewards in the process. Read More

Teaching Logistics Excellence

June 21, 2018 Felecia Stratton

The talent gap continues to be a concern in the supply chain/logistics sector. To help combat it, many universities and educational institutions are working to attract new students to the sector, and provide appropriate training. One such school is the University of Washington, College of Engineering-Supply Chain Transportation and Logistics master's program. Read More

Combat Cargo: The Challenges of Military Logistics

June 20, 2018 Jason McDowell

Think you're a project cargo master? If you really want to be all you can be, try moving difficult cargo into an area with terrible infrastructure and hostile combatants, something military logisticians do every day. Read More

Implementing Blockchain Technology

June 19, 2018 Sean Elliott, chief technology officer, HighJump

Blockchain technology creates a global and trustworthy history of a product—from transaction to production to consumption. It has the potential to revolutionize workflows across international borders, empowering an automated, connected supply chain with simplicity and traceability. Read More

Solution Generates Cost Savings

June 18, 2018

When an industrial manufacturer needed to reduce supply chain costs they teamed up with Crane Worldwide Logistics for an innovative solution. Read More

Choosing a TMS: What’s Your Endgame?

June 14, 2018 Emma James

With so many choices available, shippers must truly understand what they want a Transportation Management System to accomplish in order to make the right selection. Read More

It’s Supposed to Be, But ACE Isn’t Simple

June 12, 2018 Gary M. Barraco, Director, Global Product Marketing, Amber Road

The aftermath of the overhaul of U.S. customs admissibility program – Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) – has created a heavier administrative burden on importers, not a lighter one. Find out how it misses the mark in this key area. Read More

Demanding Service

June 10, 2018 Keith Biondo

It is exactly the wrong time to abandon a demand-driven approach to the supply chain. Read More

Subscription Retailing and Order Fulfillment

June 10, 2018 George Mimikos

Time will tell if subscription retail is a viably long-term innovation for the retail industry as a whole, or merely the next iteration of online shopping. But it’s a retail trend that has certainly not yet reached its peak. Read More

What Does World-Class Supply Chain Planning Look Like?

June 8, 2018 Robert A. Giacobbe, PwC Partner, Advisory Services

Despite its criticality, most companies are very poor at supply chain planning. Here’s a recipe for dealing with complexity and deploying a set of world-class supply chain planning capabilities. Read More

The Power of Supply Chain Visibility

June 8, 2018 Dan Clark

The key to supply chain visibility is a common system that all stakeholders can use to plan their moves, be alerted to changes as they occur, and make real time adjustments to keep the supply chain moving smoothly. Read More

Reinventing Your Warehouse or DC

June 6, 2018 Karen M. Kroll

Warehouse improvements in layout and organization, docking, picking and receiving, fulfillment, and packaging can boost your bottom line and improve customer satisfaction. Read More

Don't Let Your Office Go to Waste

June 3, 2018 Paul Myerson

It can be easy to ignore the efficiency of administrative activities in the supply chain but office activities can constitute approximately 50 percent of the order to shipment lead time. Here’s how to apply lean tools to your office. Read More

Sunset's Rising Star

June 1, 2018 Merrill Douglas

When Lindsey Graves joined Sunset Transportation in 2006, the founder and CEO—who happens to be her father—asked her to learn the business by spending some time in every possible role. As the years progressed, that didn't mean dealing just with the company's freight operations. Read More

Invest in Logistics IT in a Grow Economy

May 28, 2018 Tom McAllister, Principal, Brightlight Services, LLC, 404-314-4046

Creating an ongoing logistics technology investment strategy can radically advance supply chain efficiency. In a growing economy, it’s essential. Read More

IATA Automates Dangerous Goods Compliance Checks

May 22, 2018 Felecia Stratton

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched an innovative new solution that will enhance safety and improve efficiency in the transport of dangerous goods by air and support the industry's goal of a fully digitized supply chain. Read More

IoT Goes Green

May 21, 2018 Felecia Stratton

The Internet of Things (IoT) will play a pivotal role in enabling the transport and logistics sector to reduce its carbon footprint and minimize any negative impact on the environment. According to research from Inmarsat, a provider of global mobile satellite communications, 95 percent of companies in the sector are actively implementing IoT technologies to improve their environmental sustainability. Read More

Switching On The Smart Grid

May 20, 2018 Felecia Stratton

A radical new charging technology that overcomes the challenge of simultaneously recharging an entire fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) without the need for an expensive upgrade to the power supply grid has been deployed in London by a UPS-led consortium. Read More

Alibaba Ties Thailand To Online Commerce

May 19, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Thailand and Alibaba have signed a letter of intent to cooperate on initiatives to develop e-commerce in the country—from providing training to small and mid-sized companies and individuals to exploring ways to enhance the country's logistics capabilities to support Thailand 4.0 and Digital Economy strategies. Read More

India Loses GDP To Poor Logistics

May 18, 2018 Felecia Stratton

India is losing 14 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) due to inefficient logistics, which impacts the competitiveness of the country's products, according to CR Chaudhry, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry. Read More

How to Manage Supply Risk in Uncertain Times

May 17, 2018 Carrie Ericson, Michael Zimmerman, Sonali Agarwal, and A.T. Kearney

For most organizations, it is not a matter of if but when a supply disruption will occur. Yet few have invested in the systems and programs needed to respond. Read More

XPO Logistics Taps Mobile Technology in Europe

May 17, 2018 Felecia Stratton

XPO Logistics, a global provider of transportation and logistics solutions, will expand its Drive XPO mobile technology to Europe in spring 2018, following a successful launch in North America. The app, designed for carriers, supports real-time visibility across transportation modes, and integrates carrier operations with daily productivity tools in one technology. Read More

Lufthansa Expands Access to Capacity, Rates

May 16, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Speed and reliability play a major role in transportation even when cargo is not in transit. For instance, during the booking request, sometimes every second counts. To address this need, Lufthansa Cargo now offers shippers two new programming apps: GetCapacity and GetRates, which provide direct access to capacity and rate data. Read More

Survey Shows Growing Workforce

May 15, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Seventy-six percent of transportation industry professionals responding to HireRight's 2018 Annual Employment Screening Benchmark survey expect to grow their workforce this year, despite the challenges of recruiting and retaining qualified candidates. The survey also reveals planned strategies to overcome these challenges. Read More

Driver Pay and Benefits Rise

May 14, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Driver pay has climbed as rising demand for freight transportation services raises competition for increasingly scarce drivers, according to data gathered from more than 100,000 drivers in the American Trucking Associations' (ATA) latest Driver Compensation study. Read More

Blockchain Solution Passes the Test

May 14, 2018 Felecia Stratton

A blockchain solution that can eliminate the need for printed shipping documents and save the transportation and logistics sectors hundreds of millions of dollars annually has been tested successfully by a consortium comprising AB InBev, Accenture, APL, Kuehne + Nagel, and a European customs organization. Read More

Rolling on the River

May 13, 2018 Felecia Stratton

To establish and grow an alliance designed to generate new business by promoting international and inland trade routes at strategic locations along the Mississippi River is the intent of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) recently signed by The St. Louis Regional Freightway, Plaquemines Port Harbor & Terminal District located in the State of Louisiana, and four ports in the St. Louis region. Read More

Leave IT to Your 3PL

May 12, 2018

Still struggling to get your logistics technology up to speed? You're not alone. See why companies are increasingly outsourcing IT to their third-party logistics providers. Read More

Put the Factory to Work: Vendor Shipment Booking

May 11, 2018 Andrew Cheung

When we said 2017 was one of the most disruptive years for global supply chains in recent years, thanks to natural disasters, geopolitical conflicts, and regulatory upheaval, we couldn’t have foreseen the twists and turns that would take shape in 2018. Read More

U.S. Imports: It’s a Steel

May 11, 2018 Felecia Stratton

While the Trump administration introduced tariffs of 25 percent on the import of steel and 10 percent on aluminum, many of the United States' most important steel trading partners were granted exemptions, at least temporarily. Read More

Find the Data You’ve Been Looking For

May 9, 2018 Shannon Vaillancourt

It's no secret that data is the foundation for a world class logistics strategy. It's also no secret how to find the right data, yet many companies struggle to find the data they’ve been looking for. Read More

Georgia Ports: Crane and Able

May 8, 2018 Felecia Stratton

The first of Georgia Ports Authority's (GPA) four new Neo-Panamax cranes have come online, bringing its operating fleet to 27. The super-sized crane is tall enough to lift containers 152 feet above the dock. Read More

Robots in the Supply Chain: The Perfect Employee?

May 7, 2018 Merrill Douglas

Robotics systems help distribution facilities gain speed, increase accuracy, cut costs, and handle the grunt work so employees can focus on more productive tasks. And no resume or job interview required. Read More

Trucking Challenges Impact SCM

May 7, 2018 Felecia Stratton

The shortage of drivers and ripple effect from the ELD mandate have caused trucking delays and pricing increases across the country, and are now affecting global supply chains. Indianapolis-based logistics solutions provider TOC Logistics has been monitoring these industry changes closely. Here's what they find. Read More

Keeping Order Changes in Check

May 6, 2018 Angela Fernandez

Advance ship notices (ASNs) can boost the retail supply chain’s ability to deliver what the consumer wants with speed and accuracy. Read More

Manufacturing Reaches Pre-Recession Levels

May 6, 2018

The U.S. manufacturing sector will regain all of the output lost since June 2009 by April 2019, indicates a recent report from the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI). A global economic rebound, the passage of U.S. tax reform legislation, and the depreciation of the U.S. dollar are the chief components MAPI identifies as contributing to the best outlook for manufacturing growth in more than a decade. Read More

Engaging the Informed Consumer

May 5, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Retailers and branded manufacturers can differentiate themselves in a crowded marketplace by showcasing their most unique assets, according to Kibo's annual 2018 Consumer Trends report. Read More

ELDs: Ready or Not, Here They Come

May 4, 2018 Felecia Stratton

While most owner-operators are ready for the ELD mandate, many are unhappy with the electronic logs, and blame them for a loss of productivity and a resulting decline in income, finds a recent DAT survey of 645 carriers and owner-operators. Read More

Unblocking the Blockchain: Beyond the Hype

May 3, 2018 Anna Shaposhnikova

The industry giants leading the blockchain charge are backing closed, permission-based blockchain initiatives, which are bound to limit their effectiveness in the long run. Here’s how to unleash the full potential of blockchain. Read More

Casting a Light on Procurement

May 3, 2018 Jason Scheer

As closer supply chain ties are forged with vendors, logistics managers must increasingly collaborate with procurement. To provide insight, a new study illuminates today's procurement process, and the many challenges Read More

Track and Trace Is Old News

May 2, 2018

A leading industrial manufacturer with multiple warehouses across the globe needed to know when shipments were being delivered so they could adequately staff warehouses to meet volume demands. Read More

2018 Business Trends: For Better, For Worse

May 2, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Investing in new and improved information technology and robotic process automation (RPA), talent shortages, and trade protectionism are predicted to be the top trends in service delivery for 2018 and the next several years, according to the latest quarterly KPMG Global Insights Pulse survey. Read More

Competing With E-Commerce Giants

April 30, 2018

Despite the highly competitive environment, it’s possible to compete with e-commerce giants. It just takes creativity, a strong, optimized supply chain and, of course, excellent customer service. Read More

FedEx Reserves 20 Tesla Semi Electric Trucks

April 29, 2018 Felecia Stratton

FedEx Corp. has placed a reservation for 20 Tesla Semi trucks. Less-than-truckload unit FedEx Freight will operate the fully electric trucks, which are scheduled to begin production in 2019. Read More

Checking In: The Last Grimy Mile

April 28, 2018 Keith Biondo

Are last-mile deliveries being left to ununiformed, lightly skilled, newly hired Uberesque drivers, despite technology upgrades and changing consumer demands. Read More

Bridging the Gap Between Craft and Technology

April 25, 2018 John Magee

Having tools such as predictive analytics technology integrated with artificial intelligence while still enthusiastically embracing the craft of logistics will be how our industry truly innovates for our clients. Read More

Alaska: North To The Future

April 23, 2018

A mix of experienced logistics service providers, resilient infrastructure, flexible transportation options, and a seasoned workforce combine to make Alaska a land of promise for companies doing business with the state. Read More

Supply Chain Commentary: 10 Ways to Enhance Visibility

April 16, 2018 Jon Slangerup

Supply chain visibility isn’t about seeing the 999 shipments that arrived on time—it’s about spotting the one that didn’t. Here’s how businesses can gain the insight and control they need as they move their goods around the globe. Read More

New Interchange 55 Logistics Park

April 8, 2018

Industrial logistics developer CT started building the 1.34-million-square-foot, $125-million Interchange 55 Logistics Park in suburban Chicago, with completion expected by the end of 2018. Read More

Olympics 2018: Supply Chain Gold

April 8, 2018

Every two years, the Olympics bring together some of the best athletes in the world. But in between the games, supply chain professionals, logistics experts, and manufacturers work to bring the event itself together. Read More

Good Start for Air Cargo? Too Early to Tell

April 7, 2018 Felecia Stratton

2018 looks to be off to a flying start for the air cargo industry, according to World ACD, but it may be too early to celebrate. Worldwide air cargo yield dropped to USD $1.89 (U.S. dollars) in January 2018, 7.8 percent below December, but 16.8 percent higher than January 2017. Read More

2018 Global Logistics Guide

April 6, 2018 Inbound Logistics

Inbound Logistics' 14th annual Global Logistics Guide presents a transportation and logistics world atlas to help you stay on top of shifting global dynamics and identify and map out continents and countries that require further exploration. Read More

Leveling the Ocean Shipping Playing Field

April 6, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

Participating beneficial cargo owners can benefit from enhanced purchasing power, service monitoring, and cost transparency as a result of a new partnership between supply chain consulting company Chainalytics and global shipping consultancy Drewry. Read More

Technology Fuels Truckload Transport

April 5, 2018

Dedicated truckload fleets fill up on technology solutions that pump crucial data from power units and trailers and deliver it to shippers ready to give their supply chains the gas. Read More

German Trucks: It’s a Steal

April 4, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

Growing cargo thefts across Germany, resulting in product losses valued at $1.3 billion annually, have prompted business associations in the country to launch a joint initiative to tackle the problem. Read More

Imports, E-Commerce Drive Industrial Real Estate Demand

April 4, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Seaports are a vital economic engine for the United States and a huge driver of demand for industrial real estate. Imports represented 63 percent of the total loaded cargo volume in 2017 for the top 13 ports in the United States. Read More

FTAs Top Concern of Importers/Exporters

April 2, 2018 Felecia Stratton

To gauge shipper perspectives on trade in today's world, and particularly about the shift in free trade agreement (FTA) focus, global logistics and transportation solutions company BDP polled U.S. importers and exporters attending its 29th Annual Regulatory Compliance Seminar in Houston in late February. Read More

In It for the Long Haul

April 2, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

This first of its kind Heavy Haul Freight Carrier Survey of 258 heavy haul truckers, co-sponsored by FR8Star and Comdata, yields some interesting trends. Read More

Logistics Jobs: Follow The Money

April 2, 2018

The rise of e-commerce, coupled with manufacturing and logistics facilities implementing robotics and other emerging technologies in the production process, has caused demand for digitally savvy workers with trade skills to skyrocket. Read More

Coping With Trade Compliance Challenges

April 1, 2018 Felecia Stratton

The ideal trade function for large, global companies is a pyramid-shaped hierarchy of needs: achieving compliance, scaling operations, and becoming a trusted advisor. Read More

New Jersey, Rhode Island: Highways to Hell

April 1, 2018 Felecia Stratton

The nation's top-performing, most cost-effective highways can be found in North Dakota, Kansas, South Dakota, Nebraska, and South Carolina, according to the latest edition of the Reason Foundation Annual Highway Report. Read More

Consumer Confidence Builds Up Industrial Real Estate

March 31, 2018 Felecia Stratton

2017 was another banner year for the industrial real estate market, in large part due to consumer confidence, which hit a 17-year high in December, according to Transwestern's year-end national industrial report. Read More

Capacity Crunch? Carriers Weigh In

March 31, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Shippers express concern about finding capacity, but how do carriers see the situation? To find out, Transporeon Group, a cloud-based supply chain execution platform provider, surveyed its base of more than 3,000 North American logistics service providers. Read More

E-Commerce Trends

March 30, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

E-commerce is an increasingly powerful engine for growth, and offers the best opportunities for small and mid-sized businesses, according to research conducted by DHL. Read More

Advantages of a Niche Third Party Logistics Provider

March 30, 2018 John Sell

Providers that specialize and target a specific industry, geographical market, or will limit their service offering are referred to as niche 3PL’s. Here are some of the advantages to using a niche 3PL over a traditional provider. Read More

E-Commerce: Cultivating a New Logistics Landscape

March 29, 2018

E-commerce continues to mow down traditional business practices. To adapt, companies serving manufacturing, industrial, and retail customers are seeding their portfolios with new services, and not letting any grass grow under their feet. Read More

Shipment Visibility Gets a Digital Facelift

March 29, 2018 Gary M. Barraco

With a digital model of the global supply chain, companies can realize collaboration, automation, analytics and flexibility. The result is a transformed global supply chain with improved margins, greater agility, and reduced risk. Read More

Long Beach Port Goes With the Flow

March 28, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

As cargo volumes and the complexity of port operations continue to increase, the Port of Long Beach and GE Transportation are collaborating on a pilot project to improve cargo flow, increase visibility, and enhance real-time decision-making. Read More

Advance Your Career

March 27, 2018 Bill Keough

Companies concerned with cost control, competitive differentiation, and innovation are more than ever seeking professionals who can drive substantive change. Read More

U.S. Manufacturers Brace for Tariff Backlash

March 26, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Shortly after the Trump administration announced the United States would impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, Harley-Davidson was among the companies expressing concern. Read More

Internet of Things to Come

March 26, 2018 Paul A. Myerson

The Internet of Things offers greater differentiation and innovation of the supply chain, which can let to a competitive advantage. Read More

Supply Chains Get Smart

March 25, 2018 Felecia Stratton

MIT and JDA Software will team up to advance research on intelligent supply chains, including machine learning, optimization, and consumer behavior modeling. The collaboration leverages both parties' business domain expertise and customer base. Read More

Georgia at the Center of Innovation

March 24, 2018 Felecia Stratton

A Georgia senate committee has named Savannah and Augusta as locations for new logistics technology innovation and information technology corridors. Read More

Sky. Falling or Not?

March 24, 2018 Keith Biondo

Demand-driven logistics can help manage supply chain disruption caused by trade uncertainty, tariffs, protectionism, and retaliation. Read More

New Floor & Decor Facility

March 21, 2018 Katrina Arabe

Floor & Decor, a specialty retailer of hard-surface flooring and related accessories, opened a 1.4-million-square-foot distribution center in Savannah. Read More

H&M Tries on Supply Chain Improvements

March 19, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Retailer H&M will increase supply chain investments and continue cost control measures to address slow growth in 2017, and keep pace with e-commerce rivals. Read More

Intermodal Delivers in 2017

March 18, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Intermodal freight volumes posted a fourth-quarter growth rate of 5.8 percent year-over-year, according to the Intermodal Association of North America's (IANA) fourth quarter and year-end Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics report Read More

A Slap on the Wrist

March 17, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Amazon receives patents for wristband systems to monitor warehouse workers. Read More

Man vs. Machine

March 16, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Business leaders are divided in their vision of the future of human-machine partnerships. Read More

Yes, NAFTA Affects Your Industry Too

March 15, 2018 Gabrielle Griffith

The symbiotic relationship between trade compliance and supply chain is the cornerstone of a shipper’s competitive advantage. You know this well, but you may be unfamiliar with how NAFTA affects your entire supply chain. Read More

6 Supply Chain Terms Creating the Buzz

March 12, 2018 Gary Frantz

What does 2018 have in store? Inbound Logistics asked industry watchers what tops their list of terms that will dominate conversations this year. The consensus is that the supply chain community will see these six terms continue to emerge and gain traction in the market. Read More

The Human Experience

March 11, 2018 Keith Biondo

In the rush to satisfy ever-increasing demands for speed and efficiency, and the clarion calls to deliver your best customer experience, supply chain managers need to consider that impact on the worker experience. Read More

Mark Your Calendars: Logistics Events to Watch

March 9, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

These can't-events dive into the latest innovations and top-of-mind challenges facing supply chain professionals. Come for the insightful perspectives and stay for the thought-provoking discussions.  Read More

Current State of the 3PL Market

March 8, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

Shipper demands, customer expectations, and 3PL capabilities increase, pushing supply chain to the forefront, according to the 2018 22nd Annual Third-Party Logistics Study. Read More

Let's Get Visible

March 7, 2018 Tom Gresham

Shippers gain powerful insight from end-to-end supply chain visibility, where execution and technology converge right before your eyes.  Read More

Inventory Strategies That Satisfy and Retain Customers

March 6, 2018 Jonathan Tran

The Amazon Effect continues to weigh heavily on the supply chain. Consumers expect to receive packages within a few days—or within one day—of placing an order. The demand for lightning-quick fulfillment, coupled with myriad small-order additions, has led to a complex operating environment. Read More

Slowing Down the Driver Shortage

March 6, 2018 Randy Swart

The driver shortage has been an issue in the transportation industry for well over a decade. Carriers need to develop successful tactics and strategies for recruiting and retaining drivers in order to remain competitive. Read More

5 Supply Chain Financing Trends

March 6, 2018

Supply chain financing solutions that allow both buyers and suppliers to optimize cash flow are becoming increasingly popular as more options become available. Here are five trends that are on the money. Read More

Global Trade Disruption: Managing the New Normal

March 5, 2018 Lisa Harrington

Global trade disruptions come in all shapes and sizes, and can wreak havoc on supply chains. Find out what proactive strategies and tactics leading companies use to tackle the escalating challenge of supply chain risk management. Read More

Supply Chain Impatience: No Time To Wait

March 5, 2018 Emma James

Supply chains are adapting to serve today's "hurry up" world of impatient consumers. Meet delivery expectations or customers go elsewhere—faster than a mouse click. Read More

VMI Strategies: A Matter of Trust

March 4, 2018 Tom Gresham

Vendor-managed inventory programs rely on strong working relationships, collaboration, and mutual trust between supply chain partners to make things happen. Read More

The Benefits of Using the Cloud for Attendance

March 3, 2018 Scott Mulka

Cloud-based employee time and attendance systems enable administrators to view and manage employee timesheets in real time, monitor overtime, track when and where workers are on the job, and get a better handle on overall labor costs. Read More

U.S. Manufacturing: Resurgence Sparks Dramatic Change

March 3, 2018 Charlie Fiveash

With one in every six jobs now tied to manufacturing, American-made products are making a profound comeback. Industry 4.0 innovations—3D printing, robotics, big data, and the Industrial Internet of Things—are changing the fortunes of U.S. manufacturing and its workers, with dramatic impact on the domestic supply chain. Read More

3PLs & Shippers: In It For the Long Haul

March 2, 2018 Jason McDowell

Shippers seek 3PLs to provide transportation, distribution, fulfillment, and warehousing solutions. The right 3PL partner, however, offers continuous improvement in ways that some shippers couldn't hope to expect. Read More

U.S. Economy Going Strong and Steady

March 1, 2018 Felecia Stratton

The U.S. economy continues to experience robust growth supported by real wage increases, lower unemployment, and easy access to credit, which all support stronger private consumption, according to the Atradius December Economic Update report. Read More

Funding High-Tech Supply Chain Startups

March 1, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

Singapore-based investment company, Temasek and Kuehne Nagel International AG, a global logistics group, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a joint venture to invest globally in early stage companies developing cutting-edge technology for logistics and supply chains. Read More

Ethiopian Airlines Is Leasing Two Converted B737-800 Freighters

February 28, 2018 Felecia Stratton

With delivery dates of June 2018 and January 2019, Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services, a division of the Ethiopian Airlines Group, is leasing the first Aeronautical Engineers Inc.(AEI)-converted Boeing 737-800 freighters (737-800SF) from GE Capital Aviation Services. Read More

Middle East Gain for Crane

February 27, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

Crane Worldwide Logistics has expanded in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, opening a fully operational office based in Dammam. Read More

Status Grow? Yes.

February 27, 2018 Felecia Stratton

There is a great opportunity for growth in many business sectors, and the role of supply chain excellence is fundamentally important in that economic environment. Read More

Fleets Don’t Fail Me Now

February 27, 2018 Felecia Stratton

The number of active fleet management systems deployed in commercial vehicle fleets in Russia/CIS and Eastern Europe was 4.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2016, according to a new report. Read More

Peak Season Piques Airfreight Demand

February 26, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Global air freight is on track to achieve its strongest operational and financial performance since the post-global financial crisis rebound in 2010. Read More

Capacity Crunch

February 26, 2018 Mike Finn

The perfect storm is here: between the back-to-back hurricanes of 2017, the (ELD) mandate going into effect, and the ongoing driver shortage crisis, the transportation industry is experiencing a critical capacity crunch. These variables have forced a drastic increase in freight rates. Read More

Global Food Safety Update

February 24, 2018 Karen Kroll

Armed with certification programs and a collaboration platform, the Global Food Safety Initiative is battling to defend the global food supply chain from contamination. Read More

Acquiring Shipt Will Bring Target Shoppers Same-Day Delivery

February 24, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Target recently acquired Shipt to leverage the same-day delivery company's proprietary technology platform and community of shoppers, and quickly and efficiently bring same-day delivery to customers across the country. What does this $550-million deal mean for Target and other retailers? Read More

Three Supply Chain Trends You Need to Know

February 23, 2018 Ken Wood

The pace of supply chain and logistics transformation shows no signs of stopping in 2018, and changes in commerce, technology, demographics, and regulation will have huge implications for the sector. Here are three trends to keep top of mind. Read More

Digital Supply Chain: What's Your Reality

February 22, 2018 Merrill Douglas

What does the digital supply chain mean for your company? More integration, better visibility, a single version of the truth, a clearer view of the future—and maybe a few flying robots. Read More

Lease Me a Loan: Transport Financing on the Upswing

February 21, 2018 Anthony Sasso

Today more businesses rely on leases, loans, and equipment lines of credit to finance increased spending on new equipment. Businesses have increased their capital equipment spending for the seventh consecutive year, with overall new business volume growing by 2.5 percent. Read More

Creating The Internet of Everything

February 20, 2018 Merrill Douglas

As the Industrial Internet of Things evolves into an Internet of Everything, new solutions are creating benefits all along the supply chain. Read More

10 Ways To Play IT Safe

February 19, 2018 Christopher Skinner

Here are 10 threats and trends to look out for across business, governmental, and personal arenas. Read More

LTL Carriers: E-Commerce Powerhouse

February 18, 2018 Emma James

As more consumers choose e-commerce for a variety of goods, how are less-than-truckload carriers being impacted? Trucking companies are developing new strategies to serve retailers and manufacturers creating the goods that impatient consumers expect fast and free. Read More

The Supply Chain Strategist

February 17, 2018 Karen M. Kroll

Steve Ahern, manager of supply chain operational design with BASF, puts his team in a position to succeed. Read More

Fraud Goes Broad

February 16, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

The use of analytics to mitigate third-party supply chain fraud, waste, and abuse risk jumped to 35 percent in 2017 from 25.2 percent in 2014,according to a Deloitte poll. Read More

Multi-Stop Steps

February 15, 2018 Inbound Logistics Staff

Here are four ways shippers can reduce rates and increase acceptance of multi-stop loads, according to a whitepaper published by the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics and TMC, a division of C.H. Robinson. Read More

Status Quo? No.

February 14, 2018 Keith Biondo

Status quo will not be the norm in 2018 as major and minor changes are brewing in business operations. Read More

Valentine’s Day Logistics

February 14, 2018 Katrina Arabe

Nurturing and maintaining delicate flowers throughout the supply chain is not for the faint-hearted. Here are a few stats showing logistics savvy in full blossom. Read More

Research: Tracking Trucking

February 13, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Data scientists at fleet management solutions provider Omnitracs recently conducted some research into what the trucking industry looked like in 2016 vs. 2017. The main findings revolved around Hours of Service and Key Performance Indicator metrics. Read More

5 Things to Consider When Choosing an ELD Provider

February 8, 2018 Sebastien Ruffino and Abe Levine

Now that the ELD Mandate has taken effect, grabbing an ELD device off the shelf may seem like a quick and effective fix. It’s not. Here’s what to look for and avoid when making this critical selection. Read More

Supply Chain Collaboration: Myth or Reality?

February 6, 2018 Paris Gogos

Supply chain collaboration (SCC) is vital for companies to make critical decisions quickly and outpace the competition. But, are the key concepts of collaboration a current reality or a myth? This article breaks them down. Read More

Predictive Applications Take Supply Chains into the Future

February 2, 2018 Monte Zweben

Many companies handle supply chain anomalies with reactive planning systems, but this approach leaves them vulnerable to disruption. One new way to deal with supply chain uncertainty is to use machine learning to predict what might go wrong. Read More

Clinical Trial Supply 2018 Report: The Quest to Shrink Wastage Levels

January 31, 2018 Chanice Henry

In clinical trials, supply managers reduce the risk of stock outs by supplying a surplus of medicine. But this leads to wastage. A recent Pharma Logistics IQ report finds the key trouble areas, from sourcing, planning and forecasting, to temperature-controlled logistics, and recommends solutions. Read More

It's Now or NAFTA

January 10, 2018 Felecia Stratton

The odds are “about 50-50” that NAFTA will be terminated, according to Gerónimo Gutiérrez, Mexico’s ambassador to the United States, following a fifth round of renegotiations among the United States, Mexico, and Canada on the nearly 24-year-old free trade agreement. Read More

Building Resilience in Your Global Supply Chain

January 8, 2018 Felecia Stratton

If your company has a business continuity plan in place in the event of a supply chain disruption, you are not alone. Nearly 75 percent of organizations have made business continuity arrangements related to supply chain management. Read More

The Human-Centered Supply Chain

January 5, 2018 Felecia Stratton

The fashion supply chain is moving toward a human-centered model, which shifts from a sequenced approach of siloed operations to a flexible network of participants and partnerships that will enable agile and adaptable supply chain operations. Read More

Meet a New Breed of Procurement Professionals

January 3, 2018 Felecia Stratton

In a workforce being transformed by the rise of the gig economy and industry restructuring, what attitudes and behaviors do procurement professionals need to climb the career ladder? The first global survey from Procurious.com reveals some answers. Read More

Simplifying Trade Complexity

January 2, 2018 Felecia Stratton

Amber Road and AAEI published The Trade Trends Report, 2017 Survey on Sourcing, Trade and e-Commerce, which identifies these global trade challenges and strategies. Read More

Get Your Supply Chain Up to E-Commerce Speed

December 27, 2017 Fauad Shariff

Supply chains face a conundrum when it comes to speed: No matter how automated your processes are internally, you’re only as fast as the next guy in the chain. Here’s what it takes to be e-commerce fast. Read More

Supply Chain Commentary: What Does the Share Economy Mean for Manufacturers?

December 15, 2017 Gary Brooks

The rent-over-own consumer mentality is driving the share economy, with end users interested in only spending what’s needed, rather than investing in a depreciating product. Manufacturers – especially those with dealer networks – need to consider a shift in thinking that reflects the shift their customers are making. Read More

K Line, Agunsa Drive KAR

December 14, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

To leverage rising automotive import traffic in Latin America, particularly in Chile, multinational logistics agency Agunsa has partnered with Japanese shipping firm "K" Line to create a dedicated automotive logistics company. Read More

Do Buy, Says Dubai

December 12, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

E-commerce is booming and everyone wants a piece of the pie, including Dubai . Read More

Addressing Expedited Delivery Expectations

December 11, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Amazon and other large retailers set customer expectations by offering expedited delivery at low or no cost. Retailers of all sizes must compete on the same turf, yet lack the negotiating power that could net meaningful discounts with commercial carriers. Read More

Assessing U.S. Shipments and Spend

December 7, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

A tighter truck market, increase in national shipments, and accelerated factory output are among the highlights of the Q3 2017 U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index, which measures quantitative changes in shipment and spend activity (see chart) based on data from transactions the company processes. Read More

Industrial Companies Map Data Gap

December 6, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Eighty-four percent of industrial companies face a disconnect between data from connected devices and strategic decision making and operations, limiting the Internet of Thing's (IoT) digital transformation potential, according to a research study conducted by IFS, a global enterprise applications company. Read More

6 Strategies for Finding the Right 3PL Partner

November 30, 2017 Bob Farrell

RFP season is upon us. It’s the time of year when shippers request bids and plan their optimal logistics strategy for 2018. Here are 6 tips to help you through your next round of RFPs. Read More

Primed for Amazon

November 29, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

In September 2017, Amazon announced plans to open another headquarters in North America. Called "HQ2," the facility will cost at least $5 billion to construct. Locations are going the extra mile to win the bid for HQ2. Read More

Supply Chain Commentary: How to Reduce Supplier Inventory Costs

November 28, 2017 John Kelser

Many shippers rely on the Advanced Shipping Notice (ASN) in which the supplier alerts you of pending deliveries. You may see a product name, a PO#, and select dates, but the ASN does not contain the details that receiving or warehouse management needs. Here's a better way. Read More

China Ups Delivery Service to the U.S.

November 27, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Two leading express companies are joining forces to leverage their complementary networks, service portfolios, technologies, and logistics expertise. Read More

Debt: A Rising Risk in Your Supply Chain

November 20, 2017 William B. Danner

Supply chain managers face many types of risk on a daily basis—cargo theft, natural disasters, long lead times, and unpredictable demand. But none is currently at an inflection point quite like debt. Read More

Is Supply Chain Planning Right for the Cloud?

November 13, 2017 Henry Canitz

Cloud-based deployments can remove IT obstacles and accelerate the launch of supply chain initiatives. However, are the advantages of cloud deployments for supply chain solutions real and worthwhile? Read More

Facts About Friction

November 9, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Clunky payment processes cause supply chain friction. Find out how to achieve a frictionless process. Read More

Supply Chain Commentary: Out Darn Spot! Out, I Say!

November 8, 2017 David Landau

Should companies use the spot market less? Capacity is getting tighter across the board. Some carriers may not be willing to commit capacity in lanes they were previously happy to do so. What's a shipper to do? Read More

Urban Logistics: You Can't Fight City Haul

November 7, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

The impact of urbanization on business growth and sustainability concerns nearly all companies surveyed in a new report. However, only 47 percent feel prepared to address the associated business challenges. Read More

The Red Wings Beneath My Feet

November 2, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

The Red Wing Shoe Company gets customers to share how their boots are serving them—and the supply chain—well. Read More

Supply Chain Commentary: Why Manufacturers Should Adopt an Ecosystem Strategy

October 23, 2017 Russ Rasmus

As the needs of buyers become more unpredictable and complex, and as they begin to demand more frequent product launches and extreme personalization, manufacturers are struggling to keep up, let alone profitably. It’s time for manufacturers to begin creating the ecosystem they’ll need to dominate their markets. Read More

E-commerce Retailers Target Germany

October 18, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Approximately one-third of leading U.S. e-commerce retailers are planning to enter the German market in the next four years, according to a recent study. Read More

Missing Ingredients to FSMA Compliance

October 17, 2017 John W. Sammon III

While the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2011 set the guidelines and rulemaking for the Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food (STHAF) in process, there are still gaps in compliance. Here's how to address them. Read More

Fashion Supply Chain: What to Where

October 16, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Executives from leading fashion and apparel brands, retailers, importers, and wholesalers reveal the supply chain challenges topping their list. Read More

IBM: Working on the Blockchain Gang

October 5, 2017 Jason McDowell

IBM aims to make blockchain tangible for the global supply chain, and has begun building a proof-of-concept blockchain-based supply chain network after signing a memorandum of understanding with shipping line Pacific International Lines (PIL) and the Port Authority of Singapore (PSA). Read More

Supply Chain Recovery: The Calm After the Storms

October 4, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Among the lasting effects of catastrophic natural disasters such as Hurricanes Harvey and Irma is a positive one: Knowledge. It's an understanding of what companies need to do in the wake of a disaster, which efforts worked and which failed, and how to be better prepared. Read More

3 Signs of a Siloed Supply Chain—and How to Fix Them

September 20, 2017 Nick Foy

Supply chains must be faster and more agile than ever. Siloed systems can slow down the process, causing frustrated customers to take their business elsewhere, resulting in lost revenue, resources, and time. Here are three signs of siloed supply chains and what to do about them. Read More

Supply Chain Commentary: Prepare for Mobile Commerce

September 18, 2017 Louis DeJianne

Mobile commerce is expected to become a $250-billion market by 2020, with an increasing number of sales being done via smartphone apps, says the 2017 UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper. Here are key takeaways for retailers. Read More

Supply Chain Shout Out: In Appreciation of Truck Drivers

September 15, 2017 Matthew K. Vesey

The supply chain that is supported by professional drivers often includes three or more cogs to eventually get the product safely, and on time, to the end user. When an interruption occurs within the supply chain, the professional drivers are the individuals who step up and make sacrifices to get the gears back in line. Read More

Digital Change: Realizing the Potential

September 14, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Digital Transformation (DT) is coming of age. Eighty percent of respondents to a recent IFS Digital Change Survey see themselves as “enabled”, “enhanced” or “optimized” to leverage DT. Read More

U.S. Manufacturers Respond to Regulatory Plans

September 13, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Manufacturers and wholesale distributors are optimistic about the perceived impact of the Trump administration’s plans for trade deregulation on their businesses, according to new research commissioned by business software provider Exact. Read More

Does Multimodal Logistics Have a Future in Europe?

September 7, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

When it comes to multimodal logistics moving freight by combining two or more transport modes Europe still lags the more advanced U.S. market, but has made steady progress, according to Colliers International's latest industrial research for the EMEA. Read More

Digitally Transform Your Supply Chain Today

August 24, 2017 Earl van As

Supply chain executives need not consider digital transformation as a large-scale undertaking with an expensive and complex integration process. Applying simple-to-implement steps like document automation can greatly improve productivity and elevate the customer experience. Read More

Global Supply Chain Suffers Disruptions Amid Diplomatic Crisis

August 17, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Disagreements in the Middle East left the supply chain reeling as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Libya, and Yemen cut political and business ties with Qatar and accused the small Middle Eastern nation of supporting radical Islamic terrorism in the region. Read More

Retailers Struggle to Control Fulfillment Costs

August 11, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

More than 55 percent of consumers use multiple channels—such as online and mobile—to shop, yet more than 40 percent of retailers describe fulfillment costs as a major challenge impacting their business Read More

Amazon Files Patent To Parachute Packages

August 10, 2017 Jason McDowell

Now that it has filed a series of patents for drone delivery systems, Amazon seems to be following through on promises that Prime Air will eventually become a reality. Read More

Choosing a Freight Auditing and Payment Vendor

August 4, 2017 Garry Oswald

These seven selection criteria present a straightforward process to penetrate beyond a company’s sales brochure and determine how well a service company can actually do the best job for your company. Read More

How Walmart’s OTIF Policy Creates New Baselines for Suppliers

August 3, 2017 Matt Elenjickal

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. caught many shipping companies off guard when it released its new “On-Time In-Full” policy. This program mandates that if any shipment arrives early, late, or on-time but not packaged properly, the shipper will be charged 3 percent of the total items’ value. Read More

Report: Multimodal Transportation Has a Future in Europe

August 1, 2017 Colliers International

In its latest industrial research, Colliers International highlights a number of examples of established and emerging European multimodal platforms and discusses the drivers and prospects for multimodal logistics in Europe. Read More

The Key to Lasting Supply Chain Innovation: Get Real

July 28, 2017 Jeff Shorts

Managing a business for sustained growth means finding and implementing innovative solutions to the challenges of complex supply chain logistics. To achieve lasting, repeatable innovation, check out these real-world solutions. Read More

Supply Chain Commentary: The Battle of Retail Titans

July 11, 2017 Scott Deutsch

Amazon and Walmart are battling it out to conquer the last mile of the supply chain. It's important to note that this is not a competition for the grocery industry, but rather a battle of the distribution center. Read More

Choosing a TMS Today: Measure Five Times, Cut Once?

July 7, 2017 David Landau

Lengthy, months-long selection processes are a thing of the past. For roughly two-thirds of shippers, the focus is on improved efficiencies, execution, and visibility. For these companies, a modern TMS can be live and saving money within weeks or even days. Read More

Supply Chain and Logistics Services Delivery: Study Reveals Future Trends

June 29, 2017 Dave Brown and Stan Lepeak, KPMG

Organizations have already begun to transition the delivery of supply chain and logistics services from an internal model to an external one, says a recent market study by KPMG and HfS Research. Here's how companies should leverage future trends revealed by the study to create intelligent supply chains. Read More

An Inside Look at Freight-Based Development in Kansas City

June 28, 2017 Chris Gutierrez

CVS Pharmacy, Amazon, and others have invested more than $456 million in warehousing and distribution centers in the KC region, adding 4,700 jobs since 2015. How has this mid-sized Midwestern region been so successful attracting logistics operations? Why are experts predicting continued growth? Read More

President Trump's Trade Policy To-Do List: Top 10 Priorities

June 28, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

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. Read More

Bots on the Ground

June 27, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

These pavement-pounding robots are making inroads in final-mile delivery. Read More

Intermodal Bounces Back in Q1

June 23, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Intermodal freight volumes returned to growth in the first quarter of 2017 following declines during 2016, according to the Intermodal Association of North America's Intermodal Market Trends and Statistics report. Read More

Putting an End to Black Box Shipping

June 21, 2017 Ryan Rusnak

Sometimes, for even the most critical shipments, the shipper receives information for only two data points: when the shipment left their hands and confirmation the shipment has arrived. Here's why so-called black box shipping is on its way out. Read More

Online Shoppers Turning To International Retailers

June 15, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Nearly half of avid U.S. online shoppers bought items from international retailers, demonstrating the need for retailers to offer more personalized services as a way to compete against lower prices, according to the sixth annual UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper study. Read More

APICS Expands Supply Chain Stem Program

June 14, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

The program aims to introduce K-12 students to the concept of supply chain, demonstrate the importance of supply chain management, and highlight promising career paths within the industry. Read More

Commentary: Supply Chain System Security Starts in the Cloud

June 12, 2017 Scott Kameron

Hackers can shut down entire organizations by infiltrating systems, locking down digital assets, and making all files and folders inaccessible. No fulfillment. No new client acquisition. No checking inventory. Here's how to make sure that doesn’t happen. Read More

Commentary: IoT for Shippers

June 9, 2017 David Frentzel

Powered by the Internet of Things, the next generation control tower will extend supply chain visibility and control tower services down to the level of things – however large, small, or geographically dispersed they may be. Read More

New Warehouse Lease Pre-Commitments Reach New High

June 8, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Warehouse development is at its highest level since 2000. Almost half of the U.S warehouse space currently under construction is already pre-committed to tenants, primarily e-commerce, third-party logistics, and retail users. Read More

Use Your Supply Chain to Earn Customer Loyalty

June 7, 2017 Lior Sion

As businesses look for ways to improve and optimize the supply chain with customers in mind, they need to factor in elements that will allow them to leverage the supply chain in order to fuel customer loyalty. Read More

Port of Baltimore Planning for Bigger Ships and More Containers

June 2, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Supersized container ships traveling through the newly enhanced Panama Canal have been arriving at the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore since last year and the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Maryland Port Administration continues to make plans to handle the increased amounts of containerized cargo. Read More

Will Stagnant World Trade Hurt Air Cargo?

June 1, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Global airfreight demand, measured in freight tonne kilometers, grew by 3.8 percent in 2016 compared to 2015, according to data released by The International Air Transport Association (IATA). Read More

Food Delivery Robots: Coming to a Sidewalk Near You

May 31, 2017 Jason McDowell

Marble, a maker of autonomous ground-delivery robots, teamed up with Yelp Eat24 to test food deliveries in San Francisco. Running on technology similar to self-driving cars, Marble's robots can safely share city sidewalks with pedestrians. Read More

New Innovation Center Uses Technology to Advance Supply Chain Management

May 31, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

J.B. Hunt and University of Arkansas' innovation center will enable engineering, computer science, and business researchers and students to work with J.B. Hunt employees in finding solutions to real-world problems through innovative design and technology-driven supply chain solutions. Read More

Blockchain Survey Shows Awareness, Key Applications, and Implementation Plans

May 30, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

The primary use for blockchain is improving supply chain transparency and traceability, according to a new benchmark survey focused on blockchain in supply chain management and trade finance. Other important advantages include transaction cost reductions and enhanced trust between supply chain partners. Read More

Spot Truckload Rates Trending Up

May 30, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

National average spot truckload rates for van and flatbed freight rose during the week ending May 20 while the rate for spot refrigerated freight remained at its highest mark since January, according to DAT Solutions. Read More

Electrifying Big Truck Fleets

May 25, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Hyster Company is testing high capacity lift trucks with electric motors. The company suggests that, in the near future, ports and heavy industry will be able to electrify their big truck fleets, producing zero emissions while achieving comparable full shift performance. Read More

Port of Baltimore Sees Record First Quarter

May 25, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

The public marine terminals of the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore got off to a fast start in 2017 by posting a record first quarter with 2.5 tons of general cargo. Read More

Four Tips for Cargo Theft Prevention

May 23, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Memorial Day weekend is one of the most popular times for cargo theft. In contrast to non-holiday weekends, Memorial Day weekend has seen a 40% higher rate in theft. Use these tips to your protect cargo. Read More

The Search for Digital Solutions That Drive Down Costs

May 22, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Senior executives have set their sights on digital and automated solutions that cut costs and plan to invest in a number of key areas over the next two years, according to the 2017 State of the Outsourcing, Shared Services, and Operations Industry report. Read More

How to Get Accurate Counts from Your Scales

May 19, 2017 Terry Clark

In any business venture that sells vast amounts of product at a time, fast and accurate counting methods are essential. Here are some ways to make sure you get the most accurate and efficient count from your counting scales. Read More

ATA Seeks Trucking Industry’s Future Leaders

May 19, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

American Trucking Associations opened the application window for its premier industry leadership initiative, LEAD ATA. The program is searching for diverse trucking industry leaders looking to grow their careers and meet other ambitious trucking professionals. Read More

Gelnius Launches Supply Chain Management Software

May 18, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Gelnius’ new technology platform has the ability to save money based on customers achieving reduced transportation cost and better management of administration overhead, as well as cost savings linked to visibility of all freight transactions on a single platform. Read More

Study Finds Growing Demand for Retail Click and Collect

May 17, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Click and collect has become a key component of retailers' overall e-commerce strategy. Nearly one third of shoppers purchased products online and subsequently picked them up at a store during the 2016 holiday season. Read More

5 Ways to Prevent Forklift Accidents

May 12, 2017 Scott Stone

Forklift accidents have a devastating effect on warehouses – and they happen more often than you think. Use these five keys to prevent forklift accidents and promote warehouse safety. Read More

Same-Day Delivery Powers Grocery E-commerce Revolution

May 11, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

E-commerce grocery delivery is seeing massive growth, and is expected to continue to shake up the traditional grocery industry as online grocery sales are forecasted to account for as much as 20% of all grocery sales by 2025. Read More

U.S. Sales Fluctuation Offers New Threat to Automotive Supply Chain

May 10, 2017 Evolution Time Critical

The dip in April vehicle sales in North America is synonymous with the fluctuating demand experienced within the automotive industry, which can lead to increased inventories, production rescheduling, and subsequent supply chain ramifications, advises emergency logistics expert Evolution Time Critical. Read More

SC Ports Has Strongest April on Record for Container Cargo

May 10, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

South Carolina Ports Authority had its strongest April container volumes on record, with 189,315 twenty foot-equivalent units (TEUs) handled last month. In addition to being the strongest April in SCPA history, last month’s volumes were the second-highest ever handled by the Port. Read More

Commentary: Will the Panama Canal Correct Problems?

May 8, 2017 The International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots

Only half of the projected number of ships per day are transiting through the new canal locks due to a lack of staff and infrastructure, according to Masters, Mates & Pilots. Read More

7 Solutions to Mitigate Global Supply Chain Risks

May 5, 2017 Michael D. Parrish

In a globalized economy where finalized products have components manufactured all over the world, effective management of supply chains is critical. Adopt these habits to reduce and mitigate risks faced by supply chain parties. Read More

Embracing the Circular Economy in the Supply Chain

May 4, 2017 Sudipta Ghosh and Harry Morrison, Accenture Strategy

Ready to adopt the "full circle" approach to waste elimination in your supply chain? An Accenture Strategy report finds that while companies welcome this approach, their efforts are often only skin deep. Here's how to capture the full potential of the growing circular economy. Read More

New Packaging Innovation Center

May 3, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

UPS and Sealed Air’s new center will help solve e-commerce retailers’ packaging and shipping challenges by maximizing efficiency, minimizing waste, and reducing shipping costs.   Read More

Upcoming Events

May 2, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

Expand your logistics knowledge and jump on these networking opportunities. Read More

Where Global Logistics Brands Stand

April 27, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

UPS remains the world's most valuable logistics brand at US$22 billion, while TNT Express's brand value dropped 42 percent, making it the fastest-falling brand in 2017. That's according to valuation and strategy consultancy Brand Finance, which values the brands of thousands of the world's biggest companies. Read More

Warehouses Eye Robots

April 26, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

To better serve customers and remain globally competitive, warehousing and logistics providers are continuing to evaluate robotics solutions.  Read More

Trade With China: A Question of Balance

April 26, 2017 Jason McDowell

President Trump hasn't been shy about his desire to put America on more equal trade footing with China, but business leaders have traditionally fought against efforts to force the trade rival into an agreement that's more equitable for both sides. Dissent is growing, however, according to the American Chamber of Commerce in China's (AmChamChina) 2017 Business Climate Survey. Read More

Can Forwarders Survive an App Attack?

April 25, 2017 Inbound Logistics Staff

 With rumors that Uber and Amazon may be about to launch their own global freight brokerage businesses, traditional forwarders and brokers are understandably nervous. Read More

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