July 2014

Rollercoaster demand levels and uneven freight volumes in 2013 created havoc in one of the more complicated years on record. In 2014, shippers will need to manage with all the savvy and experience that they can muster to get the capacity they need at a rate that’s fair.

The $35 billion less-than-truckload (LTL) market, benefitting from a rebound in the U.S. industrial sector, is enjoying a renaissance after five lean years. And leading LTL executives say it’s about time.

The $300 billion for-hire truckload (TL) sector is enjoying a fairly busy 2014, with most carriers reporting a balanced picture of tighter-than-average capacity against decent if not spectacular demand levels.

While there are currently more good signs than bad regarding the economy, it’s safe to say that we may need to “curb our enthusiasm,” as comedian Larry David may observe, until we see more sustained signs of growth and improvement. That is, of course, unless you follow the railroad and intermodal sectors.

Analysts and observers of global ocean cargo movement see a number of emerging trends surfacing in the ocean carrier arena later this year.

As noted in the 25th Annual State of Logistics report, the airfreight industry has been facing chronic overcapacity and deteriorating yields. New details surfacing in similar new research mirror these findings.

The 25th Annual State of Logistics Report states that revenues for the third-party logistics provider (3PL) sector rose 3.2 percent in 2013, much lower than the 5.9 percent growth the market saw in 2012.

Varying estimates from positive to pragmatic existed before the new rule became effective in July 2013. However, the grim reality is that trucking stakeholders are now experiencing substantial losses in productivity due to the change—and in many cases it’s much worse than was predicted.

While not all proposed global cargo security solutions have been practical or enforceable, our analysts suggest that there are a few fundamentals every global shipper needs to accept. Here’s how cargo stakeholders are working in unison to gain clarity.

One of the best ways for logistics professionals to start chipping away at labor costs while achieving productivity gains inside the four walls is by setting up labor standards. Here are six surefire ways to start doing this today.

The much anticipated Panama Canal expansion has promised a great many enhancements for U.S. shippers waiting to book cargo on the new generation of “mega” container vessels. But a few lingering questions are also troubling some industry analysts who question U.S. port readiness to accommodate these huge loads.

If you’re searching for a good summer read, look no further than the current issue of Logistics Management (LM)—especially if you like mysteries

According to a recent Accenture survey of manufacturers, 82 percent plan to increase U.S.-based production, 75 percent report a significant shortage of skilled resources, and 11 percent say that they estimate an average percentage drop in earnings due to increased production costs and revenue losses resulting from skills shortages.