Topic: TMS

This month marks the 25th year that Logistics Management’s September issue has featured the findings of the “Annual Study of Logistics and Transportation Trends (Masters of Logistics),” the clearest picture available of transportation spending across the modes—and by far the most comprehensive summary of how logistics professionals are currently managing their operations.

Transportation optimization helps shippers, 3PLs, and transportation consultants analyze shipments, rates, and constraints to produce realistic load plans that reduce overall freight spend.

Which carriers, third-party logistics providers and U.S. ports have crossed the service-excellence finish line ahead of their competitors? Our readers have cast their votes, and now it’s time to introduce this year’s winners.

Niles, Illinois-based third-party logistics (3PL) services provider AFN Logistics said today it has acquired HA Advantage, the Transportation Management System (TMS) and less-than-truckload (LTL) division of HA Logistics Inc., a Columbus, Ohio-based provider of transportation and logistics services for small- and medium-sized companies.

July 2016 Logistics Management - Management Update

Regardless of economic conditions and capacity availability, the truckload (TL) brokerage market continues to expand. We enlisted the help of three expert voices in the freight transportation and logistics markets to help provide some perspective.

It’s a buyer’s market for business logistics right now, but that is a fleeting condition subject to rapidly changing conditions in the $1.408 trillion U.S. freight sector, based on data in the 27th Annual State of Logistics Report released today at the National Press Club. The report is sponsored by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP).

With the complex economic and global trade environment pushing rates higher and capacity tighter, shippers and their procurement teams are under pressure to nail down the right suppliers and transportation partners—while squeezing as much value as possible out of their transportation network.

During this webcast we'll examine the path needed to gain 100% visibility across all modes as well as explore the common challenges companies face when managing complex multi-modal, multi-leg shipments.

By enabling collaboration and optimization across previously siloed functions, supply chain software convergence helps shippers better leverage their IT investments across the enterprise. Here’s how the concept has evolved—and the vendors that have jumped into the game.

Do you have full visibility into your supply chain?

Over 300 air cargo shippers recently surveyed by the International Air Cargo Association (IATA) expressed continued reticence to use air cargo because of eight factors. According to the IATA, the persistent issues included the mode being too complex; having a lack of transparency; bad past experiences; a weak value proposition; poor customer service; carriers maintaining an old-fashion culture; no real-time information on tracking; and overall inefficient processes.

TMS users achieve an average freight savings of 7.5 percent thanks to increased usage of preferred carriers, better procurement negotiations, and use of lower-cost mode selections. Now the cloud is making it easier than ever for midsized businesses to reap the benefits.

Recently, Uber announced that they’re beginning to coordinate small package express deliveries by their independent cars in New York City—competing, of course, with global players like FedEx, UPS, and even the bicycle messenger services.

If recent stories are any indication, transportation, sourcing, inventory management and supply chain resilience will dominate supply chain projects next year.

With adoption levels still low, three top industry analysts outline their reasons why every shipper should be integrating TMS into their overall supply chain management efforts.

Current conditions have rendered the primary pursuit to reduce transportation costs ineffective. A cure for the “cost savings addiction” is a collaborative partnership that has an aligned long-term view of mutual success.

We define the meaning of “supply chain software convergence,” show how it’s being put to work in logistics operations, and share how vendors are stepping up to offer platforms that work seamlessly with one another in an effort to solve today’s complex challenges.

Supply chain management is evolving from a series of sequential links in the chain to a supply network. That may impact how the warehouse of the future operates.

Fleet optimization and delivery tracking solutions improve “last mile” e-commerce deliveries, but success with final delivery depends on a solid process. Beginning upstream with DC network design, implementing fulfillment rules at the order management and WMS levels, and streamlining processes in the DC all pave the way for an efficient last mile.