Commentary

Managing Supply Chain Complexity

Mark Michaels

As companies pursue global business expansion, their supply chains become more complex and segmented. These companies are looking to expand their business and increase competitiveness by selling and distributing finished goods in new global markets, or may be diversifying their sourcing origins to minimize disruptions to their supply chains.

Q&A: A Harsh Lesson on Due Diligence

Colin Barrett

A shipper’s arrangement with a broker passing itself off as a forwarder goes horribly wrong, leading to dire consequences.

10 Steps to Improve Discretionary Grant Programs

Paul Lewis and Joshua Schank

The United States needs better and more sustainable discretionary grant programs in order to fund innovative transportation investments across modes. Here are 10 possible improvements to the process.

Q&A: Chilly Outlook in Reefer Dispute

Colin Barrett

A refrigerated shipper and motor carrier get two different readings on a temperature-controlled product. Now what?

Ocean Carriers’ Internal Battle

Gary Ferrulli

The trans-Pacific eastbound trade is taking considerably longer than in the past to settle annual service contracts that will run through next April. Some ocean carriers walked away from large deals, while others are walking into them even at rates that appear to be below costs.

5 Top Trends in Transportation Procurement

Larry Ouyang

More so than at any time in the past decade, forces ranging from macroeconomic trends to technology innovations are demanding transportation procurement practitioners to be part subject matter expert, part diplomat and part visionary to accomplish value creation.

Peter Tirschwell

The alarm bells are ringing. Maersk Line CEO Soren Skou told Lloyd’s List late last month that the industry “is at the risk of a full-fledged rate war unless the industry comes to its senses.” “Where is the bottom for container rates?” Jeffries’ Johnson Leung asked in his most recent weekly update. So what do the carriers need to do now?

Tangled Up in TWIC

Denise Krepp

The Transportation Worker Identification Credential program is broken and the Department of Homeland Security should halt it until it fully understands if it truly enhances port security.

Taking the High Road in DC?

Ted Prince

The two political parties, with all their arguing about taxes and budgets, are consuming Washington. The Democrats advocate investing in our future, while Republicans want to avoid a future that looks like Greece.

Q&A: Contracts vs. Bills: One or the Other

Colin Barrett

With a new management policy, we have signed one-year “evergreen” contracts with a few motor carriers. I was told to stop preparing bills of lading and to send shipments out just with the manifests we generate from our warehouse. Is this the right thing to do?

Return of the Quackers

Stephanie Nall

A phrase repeated during congressional hearings and bar arguments during the early days of the Reagan administration, "If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a tax," was always a pretty good hint that someone wasn't a fan of the user-fee approach to reducing the federal budget deficit.

Q&A: Crossing Borders Into a Whole New World

Colin Barrett

A veteran shipper finds that expanding into the international arena provides an entirely new set of transportation challenges.

William B. Cassidy

As the long, slow economic recovery grinds on, collaboration between shippers and carriers and 3PLs is moving toward the mainstream.

William B. Cassidy

In an industry increasingly driven by technology, YRC Worldwide CEO James Welch stresses the importance of LTL freight basics — including "don't bust it."

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Commentary

Managing Supply Chain Complexity

Q&A: A Harsh Lesson on Due Diligence

10 Steps to Improve Discretionary Grant Programs

Q&A: Chilly Outlook in Reefer Dispute

Ocean Carriers’ Internal Battle

5 Top Trends in Transportation Procurement

Racing to the Bottom

Tangled Up in TWIC

Taking the High Road in DC?

Q&A: Contracts vs. Bills: One or the Other

Return of the Quackers

Q&A: Crossing Borders Into a Whole New World

Working Together at NASSTRAC

'Don't Bust It'

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