Over the past few weeks, there are a couple of items that have come to my attention that inspired me to write this blog. First, I had the pleasure of sitting in on the annual Masters of Logistics webcast, sponsored by Logistics Management. This is the 23rd year that these high quality researchers have surveyed […]
How to Resolve the Current “Tug of War” between Shippers and Carriers
A few weeks ago, I gave a presentation to a group of transportation professionals at a Best Practices in Cross-Border Freight Transportation conference in Buffalo, NY, sponsored by SMC3. I made the point that changes in just one variable, Currency Exchange, could make or break a company. As I look back over my lifetime (I […]
The “Fun” is Back in the LTL Freight Industry
10 years ago
As I look at the LTL freight transportation today, it is hard to believe that just a few years ago, this was one of the most battered sectors of the freight industry. The LTL freight industry took a tremendous pounding during the Great Recession as business volumes contracted by about twenty-five percent. As operating margins […]
Freight rate increases are coming this year. The economy is on the upswing. Truck capacity is tightening as driver shortages, government regulations, cost overruns from a very challenging winter and carrier financial prudence all push freight rates in one direction – – – higher What can shippers do to mitigate the impact? A lot. Here […]
The Top Freight Transportation Stories of 2013
11 years ago
As the year 2013 winds down, it is time to reflect on the major transportation trends of the past year. While I saw and read about a wide range of developments, these are the ones that resonated most with me. 1.Technology Comes to Freight Transportation Last year I predicted that we would see a flurry […]
Will your trucking company be around in 5 years?
11 years ago
If your trucking company hasn’t been purchased or doesn’t get purchased by TransForce, will it be in business in five years? That is the question that came up in a recent discussion with a long time industry colleague. The response I received was that he didn’t think his company would survive. I was a bit […]
What were the Biggest Freight Transportation Stories of 2013? / What will be the Top Trends in 2014?
11 years ago
At the end of each year, I like to take stock of the major freight transportation stories of the past twelve months and look ahead to the trends that will drive the industry in the coming year. The two blogs that I write are prepared from my perspective as a consultant to shippers and carriers. […]
Last week the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals released its 24th annual State of Logistics Report. Last year, business logistics costs were once again 8.5 percent of U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the same level they hit in 2011, the new report says. That means freight logistics was growing at about the same rate […]
In last week’s blog, I shared some ideas from the recent SCL – CITA annual conference on how to improve shipper- carrier collaboration. Various suggestions were proposed by a panel consisting of two leading shippers and two major Canadian carriers. Some other thoughts were expressed during other tracks that day. The panelists presented some suggestions […]
For the past week I have been reading with great interest the postings on the LinkedIn Sales Management Group. As of the date of this blog posting, there have been over 40 responses to the question, “What advice would you give a new salesperson”? The tips offered were so good that I thought I would […]
