Supply Chain Optimization

Obvious Yes— But It Still Hurts

American Transportation Research reports trucking operating costs = $1.855 per mile, a 12.7% year-over-year increase only slightly offset by a 14.8% decrease in deadhead mileage Trucking companies hired about 73,000 new workers in the 12 months ...

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Shame On The Government (EIA)

The EIA (Energy Information Administration), which is responsible for publishing the weekly diesel fuel costs, has failed in this simple duty for June 20, June 27, and July 4. “Unfortunately, we will not be able to publish those figures by the next ...

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Predictions On Container Rates = Guesses

The contradiction is: Maersk’s CEO sees inflation pushing container rates up faster than 25% to 30%. This is aided by port and rail congestion Spot rates for containers are sometimes not below contract rates. The average rate per 40-foot container ...

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I Was Wrong

Diesel prices are holding their own— despite refineries coming online. What gives? While fuel exports haven’t hit records, they are trending higher than in prior years. Seaborne gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel shipments departing the U.S. Gulf Coast ...

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The Fallacy of Transportation Contracts

The Fallacy of Transportation Contracts

Most contracts read like this: “We’ll give the carrier x lots per year (maybe), and the carrier will accept some of them if they feel like it.” Sounds like a great basis for a partnership. So, what is happening: Ocean carriers are refusing contract ...

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No Pain Like The Fuel Pain

April 12, 2022 Diesel: $5.07 (down 7 cents). But, in March, fuel prices were up 27%! Are brokers passing fuel surcharges (FSC) on fast enough? By their very nature, FSC is in arrears—so when prices rise fast, the carrier is playing catchup—add ...

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Victory for 3PL’s

Victory for 3PL’s

This is a victory for 3PLs and everybody who uses contractors in the supply chain. While it was overshadowed by the union win against Amazon, something good came out of the Senate: David Weil’s nomination for the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour ...

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Are Carrier Costs Really Softening?

March 29, 2022 Several sources have commented that spot truckload rates have leveled off or have even declined. This may be true, but savings are being masked by fuel surcharges running 65 cents per mile (dry van) — up 19 cents from February and 33 ...

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Carriers Make Money From Diesel + We Are Helping Ukraine

Diesel topics worth repeating: Street prices react to oil’s rise quickly — but when oil falls, the price you pay lags far behind. In traditional contracts, carriers make incremental income out of fuel surcharges: Their real mpg vs. that contracted ...

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