Soliciting, analyzing and awarding transportation contracts through a bid process is a complex process. To get the best outcome, transportation buyers need to conduct a thorough opportunity assessment and make sure they have the infrastructure and framework in place to effectively manage the bidding process, says Art Nourot, senior director of carrier procurement at Unyson Logistics.

The economic crisis has provided shippers a great opportunity to step back and rethink their logistics and supply chain operations to see where they can pull costs out of the system and become more efficient, says consultant Dan Goodwill. "Everyone knows that beating up on carriers to bring costs down can't go on forever."

When Intel realized it lagged behind competitors in meeting same-day delivery of its chips, it knew a drastic makeover of its supply chain was necessary, says Viju Menon, director of worldwide supply planning operations at the company. He discusses how the paradigm shift has improved customer responsiveness and inventory optimization.

Dick Metzler, chief commercial officer of Greatwide Logistics Services, discusses whether the transportation and logistics market is returning to health or if signs of life merely illustrate Wall Street's colorful term for a small, brief recovery.

This recession required trucking companies to exhibit new levels of grit and business acuity. Lessons learned and changes implemented will have implications that stretch well into the next business cycle.