Articles
Commentary
Freight Equals Politics
As the population shifts and Republicans gain control of Congress, it is time to strengthen the connection between our economic engine and political tide.
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Top Five Ways Warehouse Management Systems Deliver ROI
As the economy recovers, many companies are considering upgrades to their existing warehouse management systems (WMS) or deciding to invest in a WMS for the first time. All executives making these decisions want to know when they can expect to see a return on investment (ROI) for their technology selection. Here are five areas where […]
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Do You Know Who You’re Doing Business With?
Q: My company’s cargo volumes are increasing now that the economic slowdown is beginning to turn. We are receiving orders from new customers we developed through international marketing efforts. What should we look for when screening new clients? A: As you enter into new business relationships, it is important that you know your customer. Five […]
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Navigating Global Supply Chain Risks
Risk management is an essential ingredient in global logistics planning. Unexpected events such as natural disasters, political unrest, regulatory constraints, and product recalls can disrupt the supply chain and, in turn, negatively impact sales, profit, and a company’s reputation in the market. Many companies, however, are still in reactive mode when it comes to adapting […]
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Driven to Succeed: Building a Safer Fleet
When it comes to managing fleets, we all want to make safety a top priority. But creating a safety culture isn’t easy. And the unfortunate fact is that much of what we do to promote safety simply isn’t effective. States that passed anti-texting bans actually saw an increase in accidents, according to a study by […]
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Riding Out the Recovery
An ancient Chinese proverb states, “To be uncertain is to be uncomfortable.” After the recent economic turmoil, we can all appreciate the accuracy of that statement. Although the Great Recession itself appears to be over, the feeling of uncertainty clearly isn’t. If anyone knew how the recovery will play out for the transportation and logistics […]
Read MoreWhen No One Listens, It’s Time to Shout
Quiet, rational urging doesn’t work. I now feel the need to shout: our industry needs a unified voice.
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Customer Service: Who Needs it?
Last weekend, I finally compiled my holiday shopping list and headed out to brave the crowds. I live within 10 miles of Kmart, Walmart, and Target, but I will never again set foot in one of those. I usually have patience when shopping, but several bad customer service experiences— long checkout lines, unhelpful help, and […]
Read MoreA Supply Chain PIP Squeak
At the risk of launching yet another industry acronym, efficient supply chains require PIP: people, intelligence, and good processes.
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Pallet-Sharing Programs: Better for the Planet
When evaluating a pallet program against your operational criteria— including environmental concerns— the best result comes from looking at the issue in two parts: the pallet itself, and the pallet program. The pallet’s source material, production method, size and specifications, and impact on transportation efficiencies has received much attention and discussion. But the pallet program— […]
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Lean: The Next Best Thing to ‘Clip-and-Save’
Everyone respects the cost-cutting power of a good coupon. It’s simple to use, easy to grasp, and highly effective for easing pain at the cash register. The logistics sector has an equivalent that saves far more than just a few pennies. It’s called Lean. This popular quality-improvement process leads to documented savings that you can […]
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Tapping Into the Power of Supply Chain Integration
In 4 B.C., Greek philosopher Plato said necessity is the mother of invention. That statement is as true today as it was then. During the past few years, it became a necessity for companies to find cost savings and run their businesses more efficiently to survive tough economic times. In addition to network rationalization, inventory […]
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Elephants Chasing TIGERs
It wasn’t that long ago that Rajahs in India used elephants to hunt tigers. It seems the hunt is on again. The recent Republican resurgence is hunting for a very specific type of TIGER: Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants as part of the TARP fund. The latest round of grants continues the spending […]
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Getting a Seat at the Leadership Table
Supply chain management’s evolution from a purely tactical to a critical strategic function has earned logistics executives a seat at the leadership table. What attributes do you need to earn that chair — and keep it? According to Korn/Ferry International studies of best-in-class executives, success is about 50 percent attributable to leadership characteristics, 40 percent […]
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3PL Partnerships: Finding Your Better Half
Just like people, companies seeking long-lasting relationships need to keep a strategic focus when choosing their “other half.” In the high-stakes world of international shipping, smart companies considering logistics outsourcing for their supply chain needs should carefully consider the question, “How do I choose the right provider?” Here are five tips to help you properly […]
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Currency Events
Recent actions by the U.S. House of Representatives and calls from the Obama administration may impact global trading patterns next year. One such resolution — H.R. 2378, the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act passed in early October 2010 — allows the United States to peg import tariffs directly to what is determined to be […]
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Supplier Disruptions: Preparing for the Unpredictable
Supplier disruptions are a reality for most shippers. In fact, 75 percent of supply chain professionals responding to a recent AMR Research poll indicated that at least 10 percent of their supply partners had experienced a disruption in the past year. Even worse, 12 percent of respondents saw half or more of their suppliers experience […]
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Capitalizing on Mexico’s Economic Growth
Continuing economic development across Mexico is opening the doors to exciting growth opportunities for U.S. businesses. Mexico is already the United States’ third-largest trading partner, while the United States ranks first among Mexico’s trading partners. Mexico’s established manufacturing base has created many jobs and an increasingly prosperous working class. As a result, Mexico is attracting […]
Read MoreBalancing Risk Management With Your Operations Strategy
As the nation’s economy recovers from the recent downturn, the domestic freight industry represents a leading indicator of commercial activity and (hopefully) corporate profits. Asset-based carriers, a segment that has taken it on the chin the past few years, are thought to have pricing power because increasing freight volumes—albeit off severe lows—have been met with […]
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