Dr. Richard Mikes, Managing Partner of Transport Capital Partners (TCP) recently spoke on the subject of the Truckload Market on a conference call hosted by Stifel Nicolaus & Company. Here are some excerpts from the survey results presented by Mr. Mikes. “The freight rate market as a whole started switching directions about a year ago. […]
Smaller Carriers are “Feeling the Heat” in the Truckload Market
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 […]
As we approach the mid-point of 2013, here is a peek at some of the major trends that are having an impact on freight transportation. Economic Growth to remain Modest and Uneven The economy continues to deliver mixed signals. In the past week, the US and Canada reported strong growth in employment. In fact, the […]
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 […]
On April 17, Food & Consumer Products of Canada (FCPC) held their annual Supply Chain Symposium. It was an excellent event that attracted many of the top food and consumer products manufacturers in Canada. I have attended a number of very good supply chain educational events over the years. This one ranks up there with […]
Almost 20 years since NAFTA, the Mexican Freight Boom May Finally Be Here – Intermodal Shipping may be Big Winner
12 years ago
It is hard to believe that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into effect on January 1, 1994, almost twenty years ago. Like so many of us in the industry at the time, my colleagues and I rushed down to Laredo/Nuevo Laredo and other key Mexican points to learn the intricacies of the […]
The fourth quarter 2012 financial results for America’s leading truckload carriers tell a story of an industry going through transformation and change. The most dramatic poster boy of this change can be seen at the largest carrier in the group, JB Hunt. Basic point to point truckload carriage has fallen so far that it is […]
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 […]
The economic forecast for this year and for the balance of the decade is rather glum. Many economists have projected a two percent growth in GDP will become the norm for the next several years. This scenario is supported by the fact that 24 million Americans are out of work and millions more are underemployed […]
Manufacturers and retailers spend millions of dollars a year on freight transportation. Freight costs can represent between 1 and 10 percent of a company’s operating expenses. Many companies treat freight costs as a necessary evil. Once a year they engage in an annual ritual, the freight bid or RFP. The current carriers are squeezed in […]
