Sat.May 16, 2020 - Fri.May 22, 2020

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Food Freight Costs: The Challenges & Solutions to Reign in Traditional High Freight Costs

MercuryGate

Food freight costs continue to climb in response to market demand. Regardless of what the economy does, food will always be an in-demand item. However, the costs of moving food are increasing, and those costs will only wax as companies look to improve the convenience factor. Convenient meal delivery solutions, such as meal kits, add […]. The post Food Freight Costs: The Challenges & Solutions to Reign in Traditional High Freight Costs appeared first on MercuryGate International.

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Hazmat warehousing: Is your 3PL audit-ready?

West Coast and California Logistics

When you partner with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider for chemical and hazmat warehousing, there’s a lot to consider during the vetting process. Among other steps, you’ll want to take a tour of the facility, interview management and associates, and ask for referrals. However, there is one other crucial component you don’t want to overlook: the auditing process.

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Amazon, FedEx, and UPS Prepare for the Post COVID World

Logistics Viewpoints

On Monday, my home state of Massachusetts announced the official details regarding the state’s four-phase plan to re-open the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. Phase 1 comes in a two-wave approach, with some business opening immediately and others opening on May 25. One group that found the approach disappointing is retailers. Many Massachusetts retailers see this plan as potentially too little too late.

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US Imports Drop as Canceled Sailings Increase

ShipLilly

Container lines are giving the world an economic window into the future of land-based cargo flow across the United States. This window gives a sense of the inevitability of post-pandemic hardships much the same as the inevitability of taxes and death. Container line schedules indicate that seaborne Imports for the United States will fall drastically.

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Artificial Intelligence and the Transportation Industry

Artificial intelligence has quickly become a feature of everyday life: Using face ID to unlock a phone, communicating with online chatbots, and letting “smart” appliances help manage our homes are just a few of the ways that we interact with AI regularly. Forward-looking businesses are also using AI to transform their operations and gain a competitive edge.

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4 Warehouse Automation Technologies That Are Transforming the Industry

Cyzerg

In recent years, new warehouse automation technologies are gaining momentum because of the need to optimize labor time and reduce operating and order fulfillment costs. These needs have surfaced because of the rise of e-commerce (click here to read the effects of e-commerce in the warehouse industry) and higher customer demands, such as lower costs and faster response times, as stated by MHI.

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Feel Good Friday: Refreshments for Delivery Drivers

Freight Center

It has been really inspiring to share the stories that we have come across about people and businesses doing some great things to support those on the front lines. In this Feel Good Friday series, we highlight how appreciation is coming in all shapes and sizes starting with one very creative kid who setup his own refreshment stand for delivery drivers.

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Retail Fulfillment Tips to Boost Your Omnichannel Strategy

GlobalTranz

Today’s consumers are more connected than ever before. Customers have several channels to make a purchase, such as online or mobile, bought in a store, a combination of the two, known as buy-online, pick-up in-store (BOPIS), or any other channel to purchase offered by the retailer. To stay competitive, today’s retailers need responsive, integrated technology that.read More.

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Upgrading to One Integrated Suite for all Logistics Operations with Naval Sabharwal

The Logistics of Logistics

Naval Sabharwal and Joe Lynch discuss why using one integrated suite for all logistics operations is the best approach for driving logistics and supply chain efficiency and effectiveness. Utilizing fragmented systems limits logistics companies from fully leveraging the data in their systems. Data equals dollars and the 3PLs that best harvest the data (dollars) in their systems will be the most profitable.

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Looking for a 3PL in New Jersey?  Advantages of a Cranbury, NJ Warehouse Add Up

Amware Logistics and Fulfillment

If you’re looking for 3PL eCommerce support in the Northeast, you’re not alone. With concerns about the Coronavirus still going strong, online shopping has become a lifesaver for many consumers across the country, especially those who want to purchase non-essentials. As a result, Ecommerce sales are booming.

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Scaling Logistics for Success: A White Claw Story

Speaker: Scott Campbell and Molly Feller

As the demand for your products skyrockets 🚀, you're likely experiencing logistical challenges that are preventing you from scaling your business. The sudden surge in demand can be exciting, but it can also put a strain on your supply chain and logistics operations. In this webinar, join Scott Campbell, Vice President, Logistics & Demand at Mark Anthony Services and Molly Feller, VP Logistics as a Service Operations at e2open, as they explore the challenges that arise when companies expe

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Digital Transformation in the Supply Chain

Logistics Viewpoints

Digitalization is accelerating the pace of business and transforming global supply chains. In a freewheeling discussion at the ARC Industry Forum in Orlando, I spoke with Richard Howells, Vice President Marketing Digital Supply Chain at SAP about the trends, customer expectations, the challenges, and imperatives of digital transformation in the supply chain.

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Transportation of Goods in a Changed World

Kuebix

The Covid-19 pandemic has altered every aspect of both small and large businesses for the foreseeable future. Supply chains throughout the country are adapting to changes in demand and new rules and regulations. Manufacturers, suppliers and truck drivers are adjusting to changes posed by Covid-19 every day. How Truck Drivers are Operating in an Economy […].

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The 5 Billion Dollar Overcharge with Steve Ferreira

The Logistics of Logistics

The 5 Billion Dollar Overcharge with Steve Ferreira. Steve Ferreira and Joe Lynch discuss the 5 billion dollar overcharge which refers to the amount that ocean shippers are overcharged every year. Steve is well recognized expert in ocean freight auditing and in the interview, he describes the problem of ocean freight overcharges and ways to recapture the difference.

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Railroad Carloads Plummet

Supply Chain and Logistics

This nice essay from Escalation Consultants, delivered on 5/21/2020, shows very large decreases in rail carloads after mid-March of 2020, approaching 30% for most carriers. Only Union Pacific is down by only 18%. Another graph shows the differences by commodity.

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Rethinking Direct Materials Sourcing: The Tools You Need To Manage Costs, Risks and Sustainability

Direct materials sourcing is evolving, with procurement now tasked not only with cost efficiency but managing sustainability and risk management. The environment is marked by heightened demand and expectations, compounded by challenges such as rising input prices, supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions. While some embrace cutting-edge tools like AI and blockchain for global trade functions, others lag in technology adoption.

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Near Term Forecasting powered by AI

Logistics Viewpoints

One thing that I find interesting in the AI movement is the creative use of data and algorithms to solve old problems in a new way or to solve new problems. My colleague, Vikram Srinivasan talked about one such new problem in a previous blog post: AI is Changing Everything We Thought About Forecasting Demand. Vik discussed how AI is helping improve demand forecasting with additional data and new algorithms.

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FedEx and Microsoft partner up for supply chain collaboration

Logistics Management

Two global companies with household names—freight transportation and logistics bellwether FedEx and software and technology services giant Microsoft—announced they have partnered up for a multiyear collaboration, with an emphasis on meshing their respective key elements, including the FedEx global digital and logistics network, with Microsoft’s intelligent cloud power.

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Securing the First, Middle and Last Mile with Andrew Kelley

The Logistics of Logistics

Securing the First, Middle and Last Mile with Andrew Kelley. Andrew Kelley and Joe Lynch discuss securing the first, middle and last mile. As supply chains evolve, the need for secure asset transfer increases for both consumers and business to business applications. About Andrew Kelley. Andrew Kelley is the Chief Commercial Officer at BoxLock is an experienced technology executive and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in supply chain, logistics, SaaS, software, and technology-enabled

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10 Most Effective Tips for Optimizing Your Supply Chain

GlobalTranz

Supply chains are complex ecosystems of people, tools, and strategies that are getting increasingly difficult to manage efficiently. With so many stakeholders involved in the process, only a comprehensive supply chain management plan can help you improve business results in the long run. It’s not a feat you can achieve with only one major tool.read More.

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How to Conduct Workplace Incident Investigations to Create Safer Workplaces

This white paper provides a comprehensive overview of global workplace incident trends, focusing on the top three biases leading to such incidents. It also highlights the significance of CSA Z1005 as a risk management standard and outlines the ROI of thorough incident investigations, covering emergency response to post-incident interviews. Additionally, it introduces an Investigation Evidence Gathering Matrix.

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Supply Chain Data Visibility Paramount as Industry Lurches into Next Chapter

IoT World Today

Key Takeaways from This Article: COVID-19 has unveiled the fragility of a global supply chain predicated on lowest-cost principles. Increasing supply chain data visibility is a priority for logistics organizations looking to improve resilience. Supply chain recovery hinges on incorporating robust data analytics and other data-driven tools into business operations to increase efficiency, reduce costs and proactively manage risk.

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Aiming to lock down truckload capacity, Amazon goes nationwide with its freight brokerage

Commercial Carrier Journal

Amazon this month rolled out its freight brokerage operation nationwide, a strategic move that not only brings the company into competition with other large digital brokerages like Uber Freight and Convoy, but that also is intended to give the company leverage over its retailer and shipper rivals during peak shipping seasons.

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U.S.-bound shipments see April gains but concerns remain, says Panjiva

Logistics Management

April shipments—at 1,126,970—saw a 13% annual increase, well ahead of March’s -10% reading, and on a year-to-date basis through March, U.S.-bound shipments—at 3,836,078—were off 1.6% compared to the same period a year ago, an improvement over the -6.8% year-to-date drop through March. Even though there was clear improvement in April shipments, Panjiva reported containerized shipments lagged, down 5.1% annually in April to 2,243,208 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) and down 5.2% year-to-date th

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How COVID-19 Is Impacting Blockchain and Cryptocurrency

Supply Chain Brain

Out of the coronavirus pandemic will emerge a new digital society status quo — one that will accelerate major technological advances that are already underway.

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Brick & Mortar Retail Relevance: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve

Speaker: Jay Black, Senior Account Executive

Let's set the record straight: in-store retail isn't dead - it's evolving! Faced with the digital age and the demands of omnichannel shopping, some retailers are thriving while others are struggling to adapt. Join Jay Black in this exclusive session as he explores the strategies that set successful stores apart, including: Crafting unique and unforgettable in-store experiences 🛍️ Mastering the art of retail demands 🛒 Navigating inventory challenges in today's climate 📦 an

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Preventable, or not: How to DataQ for FMCSA’s crash review program

Overdrive Online

Having a crash determined to be non-preventable in the FMCSA's newly permanent review program could pay insurance and other dividends with its removal from carrier safety scoring in CSA. Here's what to consider in the DataQs process for submitting the review and more.

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Commentary: How drivers can avoid identity theft

Commercial Carrier Journal

In times of considerable uncertainty, such as an economic crisis or global pandemic, crimes of opportunity like identity theft become more commonplace. In some cases, this is because people are worried about keeping food on the table. ID theft tends to be inversely proportional to overall economic stability.

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U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes are down for week ending May 16, reports AAR

Logistics Management

Rail carloads—at 184,415—plunged 30.2% annually, which marked the lowest weekly annual percentage decline, for total carloads, going back to 1988, when the AAR first started tracking railroad volumes. This tally trailed the week ending May 9, at 184,144, and the week ending May 2, at 189,100.

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Can a ?Monorail? for Containers Solve Port Congestion?

Supply Chain Brain

At a time when ports are suffering from severe congestion and scarcity of land, one designer of cargo-handling equipment is proposing a radical new way of moving ocean containers between ship and shore.

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How Intent Data Helps Marketers Convert A-List Accounts

One of the biggest challenges for any B2B marketer is understanding your prospects’ next move — who is most likely to buy and when. Without these insights, marketing campaigns can feel more like guesswork, with high investment and little return. We’re here to tell you there’s a better way. By tracking buyers’ digital footprints and online activity, such as website visits, product reviews, and spikes in content consumption, you can engage prospects with a message that really resonates.

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Impact of COVID-19: Insights from Indago Supply Chain Members

Talking Logistics

This time of the year, I’m usually on the road delivering keynote presentations at industry conferences. But with all in-person events cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, I am at home like everybody else. COVID-19, however, has not cancelled the need for supply chain and logistics professionals to stay informed of industry trends, and for. Read more Impact of COVID-19: Insights from Indago Supply Chain Members.

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The Importance of Supply Chain When Reopening the Economy

3PL Insights

Businesses across the country are making plans to reopen and looking for solutions to make up for the time lost due to COVID-19. With unemployment hitting a high of 30 million people, the economy will need time to stabilize back to where it was before the outbreak. While the country recovers, supply chain will have an important role to play in stimulating the economy.

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April truck tonnage drops to lowest level since 1994, reports ATA

Logistics Management

The ATA’s advanced seasonally-adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index for April—at 104.9 (2015=100)— fell 12.2%, following a 0.4% March gain, which was downwardly revised from an initial reading of a 1.2% increase. This came on the heels of a 1.8% February gain over January, which came in at 119. On an annual basis, the April SA reading was off 113%, which ATA said represents the largest annual decline going back to April 2009.

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