Logistics

Uncertainty Affects Entire Airfreight Industry, Says Head of American Airlines Cargo

September 26, 2012

Uncertainty is the only certainty in the current airfreight market, according to Kenji Hashimoto, the new man in charge of American Airlines Cargo.

Companies Want Innovation When Outsourcing Distribution Operations, Study Finds

September 26, 2012

Tompkins Supply Chain Consortium

More than 40 percent of companies that outsource intend to conduct a bid or rebid for part of their network to a logistics service provider within the next 12 months, according to the Outsourced Distribution Report by Tompkins Supply Chain Consortium.

Class 8 Commercial Vehicle Demand Remained Soft in August

September 26, 2012

ACT Research

Weakness at the front end of the demand cycle for heavy-duty commercial vehicles persisted into August, although underlying fundamentals are healthy. This updated status of the North America commercial vehicle market was included in the State of the Industry report, released by ACT Research Co., which covers Class 5 through 8 vehicles for the North American market.

Could Rising U.S. Exports and Reshoring Help Create Up to 5 Million Jobs by 2020?

September 25, 2012

Boston Consulting Group

Manufactured exports - a bright spot of the U.S. economy in recent years - are set to surge. Combined with jobs created as a result of reshoring, higher U.S. exports could add 2.5 million to 5 million jobs by the end of the decade, as manufacturers shift production from leading European countries and Japan to take advantage of substantially lower costs in the U.S., according to new research by The Boston Consulting Group.

Is Amazon About to Enter the Grocery Delivery Business in California?

September 25, 2012

Bloomberg Business Week

Building a profitable service is difficult because grocery stores have painfully low margins. Remember dot-com flameouts HomeGrocer and Webvan? Peapod, a pioneer in the space, still delivers in such cities as Chicago, New York and Philadelphia, but recently it's resorted to opening actual pickup locations to make the model work. FreshDirect has come as close as anyone to building a brand around home grocery delivery, but it remains small, operating primarily in the New York area. Yet, Amazon seems poised to move into the business in at least two California cities.

Report Raps Under-Investing in U.S. Airport, Marine Port and Inland Waterway Infrastructure

September 24, 2012

ASCE

Aging infrastructure for marine ports, inland waterways and airports threatens more than a million U.S. jobs according to a new Failure to Act report from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Logistics Management for Mining Companies: Fine Tuning a Neglected Function Can Drive Profit, Service Excellence

September 24, 2012

PLS Logistics Services

Third-party logistics providers (3PLs) who specialize in industrial freight can provide targeted solutions that reduce operating costs and improve service levels.

Creating competitive advantage with Forward Stocking Locations

September 22, 2012

Challenge: A $17 billion medical technologies and services firm approached us in need of a logistically cost-effective way to respond to equipment service calls at medical facilities more quickly. Furthermore, the client's field engineers required fast, easy access to parts and tools availability information.

Survey Finds Retailers Upbeat About Year-End Sales

September 21, 2012

BDO USA

Following a better-than-expected back-to-school season, retailers are optimistic for year-end retail sales. According to a new survey from BDO USA, LLP, retail CFOs expect a 4.5-percent increase in total 2012 sales.

Research Indicates Retail Store Growth Either Steady or Accelerating

September 21, 2012

Evoco

Research by Evoco Inc., a provider of design and construction project management software, has found that retail store growth, especially among retailers with 1,000 stores or more, is either steady or is positive.

Logistics

The latest news, analysis, services and systems regarding logistics and freight and their impact on global supply chains. Today’s companies are transporting and delivering perishables and manufactured goods in a more timely and efficient manner than ever before through logistics solutions. New technologies that provide information during local and global shipments are transforming the way companies do business - and allowing them to stay ahead of the competition in their industries. As transportation and distribution services continue to evolve, businesses are discovering new ways to increase efficiency and cut costs. Learn how companies are using logistics and cargo solutions to power their supply chains.