The ongoing driver shortage has prompted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to solicit the OMB on a proposal to fast track a controversial driver training program. The pandemic exacerbated longstanding workforce challenges in the trucking industry, including recruitment, high turnover rates, an aging workforce, long hours away from home, and time spent waiting–often unpaid–to load and unload at congested ports, warehouses, and distribution centers. The Truck Action plan is a three-year apprenticeship program to allow carriers to employ drivers between the ages of 18 and 21 for hauling freight across state lines. Current regulations require drivers to be 21 or older to operate a truck in interstate commerce. Drivers under 21 can haul within a state subject to state laws.

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Topics: Supply Chain Management, Third Party Logistics, Transportation News, Reducing Freight Rates, Logistics Business, Maximizing Routing Efficiencies, 3D Printing, Logistics News, Industry Trends, Technology

These last two years have presented both logistics planners and provider with the most volatile supply chain environment in decades. Supply chains have been severely impacted by COVID-19.  A recent Statista survey found nearly 72% of businesses suffering detrimental effects related to the pandemic. Now, even as disruptions persist, supply chains the world around have begun picking up the pieces and charting new territory to recover. Here are some strategies a qualified 3PL can help you deploy to manage what may be ahead.

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Topics: Supply Chain Management, Third Party Logistics, Transportation News, Reducing Freight Rates, Logistics Business, Maximizing Routing Efficiencies, Logistics News, Industry Trends, Technology

We have been writing extensively on the topic of the digital supply chain revolution in recent blog posts. Digital transformation is now the overriding priority for most manufacturers and retailers, with the adoption of digital technologies aimed at improving efficiency and effectiveness in the shorter term while providing the opportunity to grow a leaner operational protocol in the future. The focus is definitely on the efficiency of operations relating to technological applications as we enter 2020. The big question is; are you ready? If not, perhaps we can help. Here are some interesting predictions from a reputable international research firm, IDC, which highlights key areas of technological applications regarding the impending digital revolution of the international supply chain.

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Topics: Supply Chain Management, Third Party Logistics, Intermodal Freight, Transportation News, Reducing Freight Rates, Maximizing Routing Efficiencies, Logistics News, Industry Trends, Technology, dimensional pricing

To enlighten those less informed about the Transportation industry I routinely remind them that everything around their home, work and recreation areas spent some time on a truck at one time. The sheer size of the United States requires a reliable distribution infrastructure. Just consider what the railroad did for the opening up of the west and feeding the rest in the 1800’s. The need for transportation is much greater today. We built the national infrastructure. Now we must continuously support it; literally, every day.

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Topics: Supply Chain Management, Third Party Logistics, Freight Bill Auditing, Intermodal Freight, Transportation News, Reducing Freight Rates, Logistics Business, Maximizing Routing Efficiencies, Freight Bill Audit, 3D Printing, Shipping News, Logistics News, Industry Trends, Technology, dimensional pricing

As the challenging year of 2021 draws to a close it may be useful to review some of your operational and freight payment protocols. With freight rates expected to continue their northbound trend and stressed equipment inventories at an all-time high, a year-end audit may be beneficial. Things are a little quieter this time of year and there is plenty of recent data to review. Typically, this is a no cost exercise provided by your 3PL so there is every reason to have the review done. If for no other reason than knowing your operational and freight payment protocols are working.

Verify Your Costs

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Topics: Supply Chain Management, Third Party Logistics, Intermodal Freight, Transportation News, Maximizing Routing Efficiencies, Logistics News, Technology

One of the biggest challenges for logistics providers is balancing their equipment with demand. To maintain profitability as well as service, carriers try to minimize empty miles and non-usage. Empty miles for a trucking company represent the cost of repositioning equipment to meet demand. Non-usage, in the case of containers, represents a lack of outbound shipments in a specific area. In both cases these pure expenses will be reflected in the outbound rate.

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Topics: Supply Chain Management, Third Party Logistics, Intermodal Freight, Transportation News, Reducing Freight Rates, Logistics Business, Maximizing Routing Efficiencies, 3D Printing, Logistics News, Industry Trends, Technology

The Covid virus has presented production challenges for global manufacturing. Food, chemical and personal products companies, among many more, struggle to meet retail demand.

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Topics: Supply Chain Management, Third Party Logistics, Freight Bill Auditing, Intermodal Freight, Transportation News, Reducing Freight Rates, Logistics Business, Maximizing Routing Efficiencies, 3D Printing, Logistics News, Industry Trends, Technology, Big Data, dimensional pricing

In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, D.C., became the focal point of reverence for America’s veterans. Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation’s highest place of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). These memorial gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I battle field conflicts at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as “Armistice Day.”

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Topics: Supply Chain Management, Third Party Logistics, Freight Bill Auditing, Intermodal Freight, Transportation News, Reducing Freight Rates, Maximizing Routing Efficiencies, Logistics News, Industry Trends, Technology, dimensional pricing

A surge in energy and metal prices is offering investors a fresh reminder of how the commodities market can fuel inflation and imperil the post-pandemic economic recovery.

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Topics: Supply Chain Management, Third Party Logistics, Intermodal Freight, Transportation News, Reducing Freight Rates, Logistics Business, Maximizing Routing Efficiencies, 3D Printing, Shipping News, Logistics News, Industry Trends, Technology, dimensional pricing

Politicians on both side of the isle support the Biden administrations efforts to revive the U.S. manufacturing base. The American Jobs Plan (AJP) was a proposal by U.S. President Joe Biden to spend $2 trillion on U.S. infrastructure over eight years. It is the second portion of Biden's three-part "Build Back Better" agenda, with the first being the American Rescue Plan and the third being the American Families Plan. It was unveiled shortly after Biden signed into law the Rescue Plan in March 2021. Biden had pitched the proposal as "a transformative effort to overhaul the nation's economy".

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Topics: Supply Chain Management, Third Party Logistics, Freight Bill Auditing, Intermodal Freight, Transportation News, Reducing Freight Rates, Logistics Business, Maximizing Routing Efficiencies, Logistics News, Industry Trends, Technology, dimensional pricing