Ocean

Expanded emissions model enables "Green" decision making for shippers

You make your business decisions on the best information you can. But it’s easy to be held back by assumptions that don’t always hold up. Busting the following two major myths and constituent assumptions will help you make the best decisions you can with regard to choosing a logistics company.

Jack Pollak, an owner of a successful freight brokerage for over a decade, saw first-hand the inefficiencies and inequalities of the entire shipping business -- the incredible amount of back-and-forth calls involved in getting quotes and booking freight -- just for a single load.

A recently released study from the National Shippers Strategic Council (NASSTRAC), entitled “Freight Transportation 2013,” revealed many interesting takeaways on various links of today’s supply chain operations and performance.

This report explores shippers’ perspectives of emerging trends in the freight transportation industry. It addresses issues related to business strategy, collaboration practices, carrier selection, rates, capacity, mode selection, outsourcing, advocacy issues, technology, sustainability, and more.

With the cloud, every handoff is automatically recorded, and everyone involved can see it—the manufacturers and suppliers, the freight companies, the truck dispatchers, and the buyer.

Bryn Heimbeck, president of Trade Tech, explains how his company's technology allows shippers and forwarders to streamline their sales, operations and accounting processes.

Japan’s Advance Filing Rules require vessel operators and NVOCCs to electronically submit detailed information on maritime container cargoes at least 24 hours before departure of the vessel from a port of loading. Japan’s 24-hour rule mirrors requirements already in place for the US, Canada, Mexico and the European Union.

The transportation system that supports the movement of freight across America is facing a crisis. Our highways, railroads, ports, and waterways require investment well beyond current levels to maintain – much less improve – their performance. Millions of jobs and our nation’s long-term economic health are at risk.

In this first of a three-part report, Transportation Reboot describes what is changing in America and why those changes demand new transportation capacity. Future segments address the capacity increases required to meet the burgeoning freight demand, and to access the economic might of rural America.

Rural states are essential to the nation’s success, not only to meet the needs of their own citizens, but also to maintain their part of the national network on which the U.S. economy depends. Highways across rural states also serve as a “bridge” for traffic between population centers for people and freight.

With the Eurozone in full free fall, the continent’s forwarding giants continue to dominate the global market. This disconnect can be explained, say analysts, by the fact that these leaders adhere to one fundamental business practice: building upon established worldwide networks.

UPS enhances its global ocean and air freight forwarding product, UPS Supplier Management, with the introduction of UPS Order Watch, a cloud-based technology platform that allows customers to more efficiently collaborate with international suppliers and better manage their inbound supply chains.

Maersk Line, the world's largest ocean container shipping company, has contracted with GT Nexus to provide Maersk Line’s customers with advanced e-commerce capabilities.

When transportation and commodity costs rise like they did from 2006 through 2008, many companies examine their logistics spending to look for ways to save money. Should they switch carriers? Should they find alternative sources closer to home? Are carriers actually charging the agreed-upon rates?

UPS commissioned a study by comScore polling more than 3,100 online shoppers to gain insight into the consumer online shopping experience. Unlike most customer experience surveys, the study evaluates consumer shopping habits and preferences from pre-purchase to post-delivery, including areas such as free shipping and returns.

Using UPS customized logistics, this e-retailer improved its bottom line and customer experience, becoming an industry leader in the process.