Freight costs have historically been calculated on the basis of gross weight in kilograms or pounds. By charging only by weight, lightweight, low density packages become unprofitable for freight carriers due to the amount of space they take up in a trailer or container in proportion to their actual weight. Dimensional weight is also known […]
A Shipper’s Guide to Preparing for Dimensional LTL Pricing
How to Mitigate Freight Rate Increases
10 years ago
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. Mitigating Freight Rate […]
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 […]
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 […]
Transportation Trends in 2013
12 years ago
The New Year will be an exciting one that will likely be shaped by the financial talks currently taking place in Washington. Here are some of the key trends to watch for in the coming year. 1. The “Fiscal Cliff” Crisis may determine the level of the Economic Recovery in 2013 As the year comes […]
It is not a joke. It is happening out there. The fact that it is happening caused a tidal wave of comments on the LinkedIn “A Truckload, Trucking, Logistics, Supply Chain, 3PL, Distribution group” over the past week. Here is a sample of what the group members had to say. “I have asked for and […]
A Look at the New Paradigm of Freight Transportation
13 years ago
The world of freight transportation is changing rapidly. The signs are there and they are unmistakable. Recognizing and responding effectively to these signals may help determine which shippers and carriers will survive in the years ahead. Let’s examine the components of the new paradigm of freight transportation. The Era is Cheap Oil is Over The […]
