Logistics

Prior to the release of the 21st annual State of Logistics report by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) at the National Press Club last week, Penske Logistics gave LM an exclusive interview on some of the details. As the principal sponsor of the report, Penske also had some industry insider intelligence to share on the impact made by the two-year recession first felt in 2007.

Rosalyn Wilson, a transportation consultant for Delcan Corporation, provided LM with an exclusive interview on the eve of the release of The 21st Annual “State of Logistics Report,” noting that disruptions in ocean carrier deployments has had dire consequences for shippers.

Last week, IBM announced that it plans to acquire AT&T subsidiary Sterling Commerce, a provider of business-to-business integration and cross-channel solutions for $1.4 billion. The transaction is expected to close later this year.

Is the line between the top third-party logistics providers blurring? Analysts we recently spoke with think so. Richard Armstrong, chairman of Stoughton, Wisc.-based Armstrong & Associates, noted that the industry mirrors what has occurred in the ocean carrier sector over the years.

Supply chain consultancy Armstrong & Associates this week released updated figures for 2009 U.S. third-party logistics market revenues.

Just when shippers thought the worst was over, flight and service disruptions of volcanic proportions took place this spring. And when European air space finally re-opened, capacity was scarce and even more expensive on almost all global trade routes.

Responding effectively to the challenge of perpetually pricy petrol, shippers may need to revisit and potentially revamp their transportation strategies.