July 2013

New state of logistics translates into new opportunities for shrewd managers who can leverage their unique skills and solid transportation relationships into value for their companies.

Our panel of market insiders put the new business dynamics of ocean shipping into perspective and help shippers better understand how to manage their cargo on now roiling seas.

Shippers continue to grapple with the age-old dilemma of having to choose between ERP-developed supply chain software and those targeted solutions produced by best-of-breed providers. Here are a few tips that could make the choice a little easier.

The extraordinary variations among emerging market countries suggest the need for multiple supply chains, each tailored to the needs of specific regions and supported by locally developed capabilities and talent. Our consulting team offers some suggestions for dealing with the real, rather than the ideal.

With the economy warming, fleet owners are navigating a new array of customized financing options as their fleets return to normal utilization.

Rich get richer, others looking for options

So-so demand but capacity shortage looming

Staying steady during uneven times

Not a sprint, it’s a marathon

Freight volumes stagnant

Continued pressure to function globally

Once completed in late 2014 or early 2015, the expansion project will accommodate vessels more than twice the size of current Panamax ships. However, the projected overall impact on shippers, carriers, ports, and service providers appears to be up in the air.

Looking for a great way to kick off your summer reading? Well, look no further than page 28. Once again, we’ve devoted a sizable portion of our July issue to putting the Annual State of Logistics Report into context for shippers.

In last month’s column I focused on the volatility of domestic intermodal rail. I cautioned that shippers should expect pressure in major routes associated with import and export because ocean rates are in turmoil as world markets adjust to new capacity and an uneven economic recovery.

Some large companies believe that their commitments to risk management stifle innovation.