Transportation

As cities continue to grow, both in terms of population and resource needs, they are running up against what will become one of the increasingly important questions of the 21st century: How to manage that growth sustainably.

Anyone who has talked to a motor carrier knows that it costs a lot more to operate a truck today that it did three years ago. Despite the increased operating expense, shippers have been able to avoid significant rate increases to this point.

Given the fluctuations in demand, many chemical companies have sought ways to better manage their overhead costs such as warehousing and distribution – arriving at flexible, volume-based solutions.

Panama’s Colon free trade zone is becoming a distribution option for Latin America, particularly as the Panama Canal widening nears completion. Yet, the location has significant challenges, according to the just-released report, “Panama’s Colon Free Zone: Challenges and Opportunities of a Logistics Hub.”

A Spanish-led consortium charged with a multibillion-dollar expansion of the Panama Canal lock system has halted work after a disagreement over massive cost overruns in the project.

The Logistics Hub Initiative aims to establish Jamaica as the premier logistics node within the Americas. The initiative will involve the creation of state of the art logistics zones, upgrading and further development of air and sea port infrastructure and the creation of an enabling environment which will allow businesses to fully exploit Jamaica's strategic location.

To improve the logistics of tracking and tracing members of Team USA, a new Team USA Guide app (developed by AT&T) helps athletes, coaches and delegation members communicate with each other.

An increase in trucking loads is expected in 2014, good new for the 125,000 inland residents who hold jobs in sectors related to that industry.

Marine cargo insurance policies are unique compared to other insurance policies. This is because international ocean and air shipments are subject to a unique set of laws that limit the liability of carriers. So how do you better protect your freight in transit? Here are six things you may not have known about marine cargo insurance and why it’s a good idea to add a policy.

As New Jersey prepares to host one of the biggest single sporting events on Earth, experts on traffic, security, electric power and foul weather huddle to make sure no one drops the ball on Super Bowl Sunday.

While intermodal and truckload are similar services, each has strengths that complement one another for a stronger 53' capacity solution. Shippers not looking at these strengths are leaving money and capacity on the table.

Teamsters workers on Sunday approved a revised contract offer from Overland Park-based YRC Worldwide Inc., an outcome both sides called critical to the struggling freight hauler’s future.

Customers depend on WSI for integrated logistics solutions that help them operate their supply chains more efficiently, shorten lead times, deliver more reliable performance, and reduce costs.

You can read the experts’ views in this report. And we also present some suggestions on how transportation and logistics companies can position themselves. One thing is clear: the race is a marathon, not a sprint. Talent management will need to be at the very top of the agenda for transportation and logistics leaders for decades to come.

The Logistics Trend Radar is very different to most other trend studies. It doesn't just deliver a one-off insight into global trends and new technologies. Instead it is a dynamic living document which screens and reports on a regular basis. Highly systematic research and evaluation ensure we focus on the right topics.

So how will 3D Printing impact the supply chain and logistics? It will accelerate a shift from “push supply chains” to “pull supply chains.” Some recent findings indicate that nearly 20% of those transport, logistics and supply chain executives surveyed were currently using 3D printing to some degree. Just under 40% believed 3D printing would have the most impact on increased customization.

Leaders from Teamster local unions that represent workers at YRC Worldwide Inc. (YRCW) overwhelmingly recommended to approve a tentative agreement and to send it out to the membership for a vote. The tentative agreement with YRCW, if ratified, will provide a pathway for substantial debt reduction and refinancing initiatives that will permit the company to protect and preserve more than 30,000 good American jobs.

So what's next for YRC? Whatever road YRC chooses, it’s clear that shippers and its own 26,000 Teamsters employees hold the key to long-term survival of the venerable 90-year-old company whose roots date to the golden age of trucking.

The Teamsters Union announced (January 17, 2014) that it reached a tentative agreement with YRC Worldwide Inc. (YRCW) that, if ratified by the membership, will provide a pathway for substantial debt reduction and refinancing initiatives that will permit the company to protect and preserve more than 30,000 good American jobs.

As a 3PL, do you feel like you are stuck between a rock and a hard place? Having to reduce costs, but not knowing how your actions might affect profitability? This was the most common answer in a recent survey conducted with over 100 3PL executives.