Daimler Chrysler’s V.P. of Product Development, Wolfgang Bernhard, and Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval are introducing the world’s first officially recognized self-driving truck. The truck they're introducing to the American public is the Freightliner Inspiration, a “tech-ed-up version” of the Daimler Chrysler 18-wheeler sold around the world.  According to Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, it will make long-haul road transportation safer, cheaper, and better for the planet. 

Orders for durable goods fell in February, capping a downward trend in the last four months, reflecting a broad-based slowdown that underscores lingering softness in U.S. capital investment. New orders for manufactured durable goods in February decreased $6.6 billion or 2.8 percent to $229.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This decrease, down three of the last four months, followed a 4.2 percent January increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 1.0 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 1.9 percent. Transportation equipment, also down three of the last four months, led the decrease, $4.9 billion or 6.2 percent to $74.2 billion.

Economic Implications

Economists viewed the big decline in durable goods orders as evidence that manufacturing companies remain under pressure. Manufacturing experienced a challenging year. The outlook for 2016 remains uncertain among most economists. The industry is being hurt by economic weakness in major export markets and a strong dollar.

“A lot of it is a function of businesses not being very confident about the outlook,” said Stephen Stanley, chief economist at Amherst Pierpont Securities LLC in New York, who correctly projected the drop in durable goods orders. “That’s a combination of a few things -- businesses who export are potentially facing weaker demand, and another important element of it is the policy landscape is very uncertain right now.” The absolute circus, it seems at times, that is the 2016 Presidential election in the U.S. is adding to the economic uncertainty. 

Automation and robotic engineering applications are being tested in all sorts of unskilled labor positions in manufacturing and customer service areas. Anyone who has been lost in the maze of an automated telephone system knows what I'm talking about. 

During 2015, the Ports of New York and New Jersey handled 6,371,720 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) or 3,664,013 cargo containers, an increase of 10.4 percent compared with 2014. The record volumes allowed the port to maintain its position as the East Coast's busiest port, with nearly 30 percent of the total market share, PANYNJ officials said in a press release. 

Among the evolving areas where both 3PLs and shippers need to be aware is change management. Currently, the global and domestic markets for outsourced logistics services are continuously changing, so it is essential that both users and providers of 3PL services arm themselves with the very best in terms of people, processes and technology. 

Watch your back Amazon. A new patent awarded to Google suggests that the search giant is looking into developing self-driving delivery trucks, just as Amazon readies its autonomous delivery drone fleet.

Engineers began to fill the new Pacific end locks of the Panama Canal with water in June in preparation of testing the new gates prior to  opening to commercial traffic in April 2016.  This phase puts the 5.3 million dollar canal expansion project on track with the revised timetable for completion.

What is a 3PL?

A 3PL (third-party logistics) provider is a provider of outsourced logistics services. 

Selecting the right 3PL provider for your business means more than just selecting a company that can do what you need at a price you can afford. When you allow another company to manage your logistics, you’re making that outsider a part of the very heart of your business—a decision that makes excellent returns when you choose well, but might prove disastrous should you choose poorly. Today, we’ll help you understand five key factors to consider when selecting a 3PL provider: Experience, Modernity, Connections, Services and Customization.

Supply chain management companies such as Land Link Traffic Systems can provide you with superior freight bill auditing service and other logistical needs – all designed to help manage your freight costs.

Freight bill auditing service from Land Link Traffic Systems can help alleviate one of your company’s biggest headaches – dealing with invoice audit and freight payment problems. We can help with all of your auditing service for freight bill issues.