Supply Chain Optimization

The Future of Supply Chain

Will electric “Semi” become the norm? Right now, my guess is that the electrification of trucks will revolve around the following: Battery technology – not up to big rig standards – and progressing slower than expected. Recall that Tesla promised an ...

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The Nation At Risk

You have probably heard that a 3PL that distributes a large share of frozen food lost all its systems in a cyber-attack. I don’t want to focus on the poor company – they have suffered enough. Instead, look at the downstream impacts: many companies ...

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Container rates + Thanksgiving + History

Average spot container freight rates from Shanghai have hit all-time highs, according to Jefferies. Rates from North Asia to the West Coast of North America were… Firstly – Happy Thanksgiving to all readers! Average spot container freight rates from ...

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Year-End Woes

Year-end will be tough for direct-to-consumer businesses… Year-end will be tough for direct-to-consumer businesses: Cardboard lead times are getting much longer Delivery (UPS/FedEx/etc.) is projecting capacity constraints despite adding 99K people ...

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Yard delays cost lives

While we have always known that time spent inside the gate – waiting to be loaded or unloaded – pushes up carrier charges, it also endangers life and limb: according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, “a 15-minute ...

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Big Ships Hurt Global Trade

The very large container ships (14,000 TEU’s* or larger) were supposed to help commerce – they have not because … The very large container ships (14,000 TEU’s* or larger) were supposed to help commerce – they have not because they go against all ...

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UK Mail Points The Way

The chairman of the U.K.’s Royal Mail says the existing universal mandate for letter delivery is “not economic.” They should know – they have been around since 1516, but they are now a for-profit company. With a much larger geography and allocating ...

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JB Hunt: Shares Shipper’s Pain

JB Hunt reported results Friday – the details are below….including remarks from the CEO highlighting their big problem: trailers being held by “ delays at customer warehouses.” Once trailers go through the gate, there is a “black hole.” YMSs tell ...

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Freight Costs Rising

Average price per mile of $2.46 = U.S. truckload spot market in the first week of October – up… Average price per mile of $2.46 = U.S. truckload spot market in the first week of October – up 20.6% since July and a record high in the DAT Solutions ...

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Uber Freight Getting Friends With Benefits

Greenbrier – a private equity company – focused on logistics and transportation, is buying a stake in Uber Freight. Uber gets $500 Million, which values the Freight business at $3.3 Billion, and it also gets Greenbrier’s expertise. But Uber Freight ...

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