Logistics Management Magazine Archives

July 2014 Logistics Management

In this issue:

  • 25th Annual State of Logistics: It’s complicated
  • 2014 State of Logistics: Less-than-truckload’s welcomed rebound
  • 2014 State of Logistics: Truckload—capacity tight and drivers needed
  • 2014 State of Logistics: Rail rides high
  • 2014 State of Logistics: Ocean is slow and steady
  • 2014 State of Logistics: 3PL—Omni-channel fulfillment to reshape market
  • 2014 State of Logistics: Air’s slight improvement despite headwinds
  • Exclusive Transportation Study: The HOS rule change and trucking operations
  • Global Logistics: Cargo security and fine print
  • Improving Labor Management: 6 steps to effective labor standards
  • Panama Canal Expansion: Questions mount as time draws near
  • Moore on Pricing: Dimensional rates and breaking the NMFC paradigm
  • Viewpoint: State of Logistics is complicated
  • Pearson on Excellence: Manufacturers need to address the talent supply chain
July 1, 2014 · Rollercoaster demand levels and uneven freight volumes in 2013 created havoc in one of the more complicated years on record. In 2014, shippers will need to manage with all the savvy and experience that they can muster to get the capacity they need at a rate that’s fair.
July 1, 2014 ·
July 1, 2014 ·
July 1, 2014 ·
July 1, 2014 ·
July 1, 2014 ·
July 1, 2014 ·
July 1, 2014 · Varying estimates from positive to pragmatic existed before the new rule became effective in July 2013. However, the grim reality is that trucking stakeholders are now experiencing substantial losses in productivity due to the change—and in many cases it’s much worse than was predicted.
July 1, 2014 · While not all proposed global cargo security solutions have been practical or enforceable, our analysts suggest that there are a few fundamentals every global shipper needs to accept. Here’s how cargo stakeholders are working in unison to gain clarity.
July 1, 2014 · One of the best ways for logistics professionals to start chipping away at labor costs while achieving productivity gains inside the four walls is by setting up labor standards. Here are six surefire ways to start doing this today.
July 1, 2014 · The much anticipated Panama Canal expansion has promised a great many enhancements for U.S. shippers waiting to book cargo on the new generation of “mega” container vessels. But a few lingering questions are also troubling some industry analysts who question U.S. port readiness to accommodate these huge loads.
July 1, 2014 ·
July 1, 2014 · If you’re searching for a good summer read, look no further than the current issue of Logistics Management (LM)—especially if you like mysteries
July 1, 2014 ·
Not a subscriber? Apply online today.
 

Latest in Logistics

Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger application is filed with the Surface Transportation Board
When the merger agreement was initially announced, the rail carriers said it would create the nation’s first transcontinental railroad—which will connect more than 50,000 route miles across 43 states from the East Coast to the West Coast and connect around 100 ports as well.

FedEx posts fiscal first quarter earnings growth
Quarterly revenue, at $23.5 billion, increased 7% annually, and operating income, at $1.38 billion, was up 31%. Earnings per share, at $4.82, beat Wall Street expectations, at $4.02.

U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes are down, for week ending December 15, reports AAR
Rail carloads, at 224,620, fell 1.7% annually, and intermodal containers and trailer volume, at 294,284 units, decreased 1.2% annually.

DAT’s November Truckload Volume Index sees more mixed results
November’s TVI dry van freight reading—at 197—fell 18% compared to October, while falling 12% annually. The November refrigerated (reefer) TVI—at 172—was down 11% sequentially and off 6.0% annually. And the flatbed TVI—at 243—was down 22% sequentially and posted a 3% annual gain.   

November intermodal volumes see annual decline, reports IANA
Total November volume, at 1,456,259 units, fell 4.1% annually, following a 2.0% annual decline in October and respective 2.4% and 1.6% annual gains seen in September and August, respectively. Which was preceded by July’s 4.4% annual gain, which saw higher volumes due to the pulling-forward of goods being imported during the previous pause on the White House’s reciprocal tariffs.

Teamsters Rail Conference makes its case for the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern proposed merger to not be approved by the STB
With a merger application for the proposed $85 billion historic merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern expected to be filed with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) this week, more than half of union employees at the railroads indicated they are not in favor of the merger. That is the word from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen (BLET) and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, whom collectively account for 53% of UP and NS union employees, with the two unions...

USPS bets on last-mile expansion to drive revenue and enable faster delivery for retailers and logistics providers
With a focus on expanding access to its last mile delivery network, the United States Postal Service (USPS) said this week that shippers of all sizes will now be able to access more than 18,000 USPS delivery destination units (DDU) across the country.

Cass Freight Index sees annual declines in November
The November shipments reading, at 1.004, fell 7.6% annually, in line with October’s 7.8% annual decline, and November expenditures, at 3.163, decreased 1.2% annually and were down 0.2% compared to October.

Zebra Technologies is looking at strategic options for its robotics automation business
Acquired in 2021 and enhanced since, Zebra's mobile robot collaborative order picking solution may be sold off.

ISM forecast sees a manufacturing rebound in 2026 as services maintain steady expansion
While economic conditions for the manufacturing and services sectors are mixed, both are expected to see growth in 2026, at different paces, according to the new edition of the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) Supply Chain Planning Forecast.

PwC report indicates transportation and logistics dealmaking activity is focused on strategy, not scale
The report observed that T&L dealmaking activity gained renewed traction over the second half of this year, with buyers prioritizing strategic alignment over scale. And it added that acquirers focused on subsectors offering defensible growth, operating efficiency, and exposure to high-barrier markets, with activity across what the firm called the full value chain, ranging from infrastructure to asset-light platforms, coupled with capital allocated for things like technology modernization, resilient supply chains, and specialized logistics services.

ShipMatrix reports strong Cyber Week delivery performance results
For Cyber Week, which ShipMatrix defines as the week of December 1-7‑and a period in which more than 100 million parcels per day are handled, with more than 80% of these parcels being holiday gifts and delivered to residences—the firm reported very strong performance results for FedEx, UPS, and the United States Postal Service (USPS).

National diesel average falls for the fourth straight week, reports EIA
With a 5.8-cent decline, the national average, for the week of December 15, came in at $3.607, following a 9.3-cent decline, to $3.758, for the week of December 1.

FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index shows modest growth
For October, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI reading rose to 0.3, after September’s -0.5.

Trucking executives are set to anxiously welcome in New Year amid uncertainty regarding freight demand
Top trucking industry executives are hoping 2026 will—finally—be the year when pent-up demand translates into higher freight rates and a return to profitability in both the truckload and less-than-truckload (LTL) sectors.


Latest Resources

The Warehouse Efficiency Playbook
The Warehouse Efficiency Playbook
Warehouse leaders are under pressure to move faster, scale smarter, and keep teams engaged, all while dealing with labor shortages and rising...
Drive Agility and Resilience Across Your Supply Chain
Drive Agility and Resilience Across Your Supply Chain
Today’s supply chains face nonstop disruption—from global tensions to climate events and labor shortages. Avoiding volatility isn’t an option,...

November Edge Report: What’s shaping freight now
November Edge Report: What’s shaping freight now
Stay informed and ready for what’s next with the November Edge Report from C.H. Robinson.
Worried About Supplier Risk? This Template Helps You Stay Ahead
Worried About Supplier Risk? This Template Helps You Stay Ahead
We all know how stressful it gets when a supplier issue catches you off guard - late delivery, a missed order, or...
Close the warehouse labor gap with overlooked talent pools
Close the warehouse labor gap with overlooked talent pools
The warehouse workforce has more than doubled between 2015 and 2025. However, the labor gap is still growing, with the U.S. deficit projected...