We all know that postal rates went up as of June 30, 2002. But more important to our industry is the big change in Priority Mail, which could affect both how you ship Priority Mail parcels and the cost... View More

If you think you were challenged in the past to deliver high-quality service each and every day, think again! Its even tougher now. The distribution of documents, both physically and electronically, is... View More

During times of plenty, financial reins loosen and no one is particularly concerned when budgets exceed their estimates. Obviously, we enjoy the abundant mentality and wish it could last forever. But,... View More

When most people think of dangerous, action-filled jobs, they usually conjure up images of people like Steve Irwin the Crocodile Hunter, not the person who handles products or packages in his local warehouse.... View More

For years, the workhorse for industrial and commercial material handling of heavy loads has been the forklift with an internal combustion (IC) power plant. Accepted as a necessary evil are the noise, emissions... View More

OK, so business is picking up, or maybe your business is coming into its busy time of the year. Either way, you realize you dont have enough man power to handle the increased volume. So what to do? Hire... View More

Question: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (West Coast) held on February 11, 2003 that a clause in AT&Ts contract that required long distance customers to submit claims to mandatory arbitration... View More

Has your company ever received a bill from an express carrier for a past shipment, claiming that it believes you shipped more packages than were billed? These additional bills have been known to appear... View More

Are you planning a new warehouse or distribution center or reorganizing or expanding an old one? You know youll be able to ship more products more efficiently, but the benefits of a new warehouse can sweep... View More

The last few months have seen some dramatic changes in the shipping industry. Former competitors like the U.S. Postal Service and FedEx are launching joint ventures. UPS is announcing several significant... View More

In the parcel shipping and handling industry, the focus is to boost productivity, specifically with cost-effective hardware and software to maximize operating efficiency. Your challenge is moving more... View More

So its been nearly six months since the close of the (drum roll).... second ever holiday online shopping season. How did the parcel industry do? Were we able to overcome the problems of 1999? Will the... View More

Seven centuries ago, Marco Polo returned to his native Italy filled with wondrous stories of the amazing cities and countryside of Cathay (China). And he backed it up with items that he had obtained through... View More

Suffice it to say, FedEx Ground struggled with the decision. No doubt great debate occurred before marching orders were given. But, alas, service (a.k.a. the customer) came second. A very close second,... View More

So what is really to blame for the demise of so many dot-coms in the last year? The usual reasons given are the tumbling stock market and venture capitals new and very strange demand that the company actually... View More

Is your organization planning a brand new warehouse or the expansion of an existing warehouse? Of course the planning of the project will incorporate the physical requirements of the building(s), but youll... View More

In 1995, Congress enacted legislation deregulating the trucking and airline industries� intrastate operations. At the time, very few, if any, shippers (and probably few carriers) fully comprehended... View More

For more than 200 years, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service has been responsible for safeguarding the customers of the U.S. Postal Service. As the criminal investigative arm of the U.S. Postal Service,... View More

The more things change, the more they stay the same. That old adage is as true as ever, even in today's ever-changing economy. As industries enter the 21st century, the management of human and material... View More

Recently, I was asked to speak at a logistics and shipping conference held in Chicago. Prior to my presentation, I asked the audience the burning question, Five years ago, how many of your companies were... View More