As 2022 comes to a close, there is much concern that world economies may experience a recession in 2023. There are a host of worrisome economic indicators that appear to be trending in this direction. Inflationary Forces The large government Covid relief payments created inflationary effects. The shift from on-site to stay-at-home workers triggered […]
Are We Headed for a “Pasta Bowl Recession” in 2023?
Freight Rates, Inflation, and the Economy
3 years ago
The White House and the media are touting the tentative agreement reached last night between the major U.S. rails and their unions to avert a strike. The agreement, if ratified by union members, would help avert a work stoppage that would have crippled supply chains and passenger trains and would have restricted the movement of […]
Sales Tips – P + T + W +S = Sales Success
3 years ago
In my last blog post, I highlighted the need for a compelling value proposition as a starting point in launching a company’s sales effort. Whether you are selling a car, real estate, clothes, or freight transportation services, having a strong and differentiated value proposition helps get the attention of prospective buyers and creates a sales […]
I have had multiple sales careers during my many years in the business world. As a teenager, I sold men’s clothing for a high-end retail chain in Montreal. For many years I sold or managed sales teams that offered freight transportation services to shippers across North America. My most challenging sales assignment has taken place […]
Some Reflections on Canada’s Trucker Protests
3 years ago
Canada has just gone through its own version of the insurrection that took place in Washington, DC. on January 6, 2021. Unlike the one-day invasion of the U.S. Capitol building, the Canadian protests were extended over 23 days, in multiple locations, and may not be over. The Protest label is truly not correct; the more […]
The 2022 Puzzle – More Questions than Answers
3 years ago
As 2021 draws to a close, many pundits are providing their forecasts for 2022. As I reflect on the past two years, and look ahead to 2022, it is difficult to predict, with certainty, how the New Year is likely to unfold. In fact, unlike prior years, there are more questions than answers. Here are […]
Ransomware is a computer virus that takes over the target device, restricts the owner’s access, and demands the victim to pay a ransom to get their device back. Modern ransomware can steal files, target locally-stored backups, spread through the network, and even bring large organizations to a standstill. The device can get infected through a […]
Shipper Strategies to Navigate through Q4
4 years ago
These are challenging times for shippers. Driver, labor and truck shortages, port congestion, escalating freight and fuel costs, coupled with the lingering effects of Covid are making life difficult for shippers across the world. Here are a few coping strategies 1. Work in Partnership with Procurement to Create Alternate Sourcing Strategies for both Raw Materials […]
Are “Dark Stores” the Future of Retailing?
4 years ago
The Covid-19 pandemic has expedited the growth of online shopping. After months of lockdown and quarantine measures, people have revised some of their perceptions about shopping. • A new survey (source: July 23, 2021, issue of Qvalon) shows that 49% of people are mostly focused on product availability—well ahead of price (36%) and quality (34%), […]
This has clearly been the year of the large M & A deal in the freight industry with TFII’s purchase of UPS’ LTL business (https://www.dantranscon.com/index.php/blog/entry/the-first-big-transportation-deal-of-the-year-tfii-s-purchase-of-ups-freight ) followed by Knight Swift’s acquisition of LTL operator AAA Cooper Transportation (https://www.dantranscon.com/index.php/blog/entry/why-are-large-ltl-trucking-companies-such-attractive-m-a-targets ). The Uber Freight purchase of Transplace for $2.25 billion is different from the other two acquisitions. […]