Shippers are often surprised when I suggest setting targets for service providers in transportation sourcing events. Economists refer to this concept as "anchoring". Many, if not most, shippers simply... View More
Based on Profit Point’s recent Transportation Survey of industry leaders, 90+% of shippers identify cost, service, and finding adequate transportation capacity as their continuing priorities in... View More
No Free Lunch; No Free Shipping The old adage “there’s no such thing as a free lunch” holds parallels for today’s shipping industry pros. The phrase is generally traced back to... View More
Through supply chain visibility technology, it is now possible for companies to view their parcel and freight shipments no matter their locations, and track them in as close to real time as data feeds... View More
I was recently asked to review three companies that make it simple to sell in foreign markets. In essence, these three companies can help any company market their products to foreign consumers with all... View More
Everybody’s talking about Business Intelligence (BI). So what is it, and how can it help you? In short, BI is using existing data to drive a desirable future outcome. Savvy BI programs know: a) What... View More
At first glance, logistics and Olympic snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis’ infamous gold-medal-losing race may not appear to have much in common. But take away the snow, the global television audience... View More
There are several ways that shippers can minimize the impact of Mideast tensions on transportation spending. Political and military unrest in the Mideast is causing fuel costs to rise, which will have... View More
The Rules of our personal and business lives exist to protect us. Rules of the Road keep us safe while driving. Robert’s Rules of Order protect the democratic process of many organizations and governments.... View More
In last month’s article we talked about the similarities between the parcel carriers’ list rates, rating logic, and accessorials and surcharges. This month we’ll delve into the more recent,... View More
What’s new at FedEx and UPS? Plenty! Both carriers continue to develop new services and technologies to compete for your business. FedEx Have you noticed your parcel reps pushing other divisions... View More
I often hear clients complain about the similarities between UPS’ and FedEx’s rates. Their concern is that UPS and FedEx appear to have colluded to set rates and are somehow conspiring against... View More
The CCSB has approved a change in the NMFC classification of clothing from Class 100 to a range of Classes from Class 70 to Class 400 based on density. Usually I would go into detail of what the CCSB was,... View More
By now, many Supply Chain Managers and their upper managements know the answer to that critical question raised above. As this is being written, the human cost of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster... View More
When thinking about parcel shipping options today most shippers would say there are only two; UPS and FedEx. Many feel that their hands are tied and that they are “captive” to the two carriers.... View More
The business world is changing so rapidly that supply chain professionals can no longer depend on their normal process to manage change that can literally greet you tomorrow morning. Major change can come... View More
You don’t have to dig very deeply into reports from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) to confirm what we already know, which is that even though current fuel prices may be lower than... View More
Talking to your carrier more frequently can help you save money and improve operations. Most shippers talk to their carriers when there is an operational problem or when their agreements are being renewed.... View More
Logistics professionals have been hearing the same two words for years: “Cut costs.” But each year these words have a different tone. In 2009 the tone was panicky, which resulted in layoffs... View More
Companies shipping goods to customers have several things to consider, from what carrier and transportation mode to utilize, to the packaging for the shipments. In addition to these essential details,... View More
A recent Fast Company article written by the chief sustainability officer of Blue Yonder, Saskia van Gendt, caught my attention. Van Gendt wrote that while free returns have become a “powerf
Everyone has heard the pitch: upload your invoices and carrier agreements into AI and let it tell you what you're owed. We wanted to test that claim. So we hired an independent AI engineerin
Many e-commerce brands face rising levels of dead stock — the merchandise deemed unsellable or unlikely to sell soon. As executives evaluate e-commerce dead stock reduction options, some initially a
The world’s largest parcel carriers are shrinking physical footprints while expanding algorithmic control. UPS now processes the majority of its volume through automated facilities, and maj
What does an optimal e-commerce network look like? Is it the network with the fewest facilities, the fastest delivery promise, or the lowest transportation cost? In practice, the answe
A freight damage claim often points attention toward the carrier, but the root cause can start much earlier. If pallet loads leave a facility with inconsistent containment, shifting and instab
BROOKFIELD, Wis. – ProShip, a leading and award-winning provider of multi-carrier shipping software, has announced the return of ProS Who Know, an annual virtual event focused on the trends
Facilities handling high-volume parcel sorting and cross-docking operations face unprecedented challenges as cargo theft networks grow more sophisticated and insider threats multiply. Identifying th
