The volatility of global spot freight rates since the start of 2015 has continued to increase in comparison to 2014, according to rate assessments on 11 routes gathered by the World Container Index (WCI). Price turbulence on the globally important Asia-to-Europe routes has been particularly high in 2015 with monthly volatility increasing 43 percent on average in comparison to 2014.

Tim Brown, managing director of the Supply Chain & Logistics Institute at Georgia Tech, describes how supply chain education has evolved over the past two decades and highlights how the Institute is employing internet and hybrid classes to expand its continuing education program.

Hiding illicit drugs and money among an otherwise legal freight move greatly reduces the risk for criminals working in the multibillion-dollar drug trafficking business. John Murphy of the DEA discusses what makes companies vulnerable and how to protect corporate assets.

Consumer demand for next-day deliveries adds another level of complexity and higher costs to logistics management, says Alex Pace, logistics coordinator at the Green Design Center. Pace explains how the Green Design Center manages its many LTL shipments to individual consumers and dealers.

The dry bulk shipping market is not expected to return to profitability until 2017, despite a modest recovery in earnings anticipated over the next two years, according to the latest edition of the Dry Bulk Forecaster, published by global shipping consultancy Drewry.

The U.S. government is taking steps to allow for larger post-Panamax-sized vessels along the lower Mississippi River as the date for the opening of the expanded Panama Canal draws closer.