Commentary

How tech is helping firms manage logistics, compliance risk

Timothy Donaghy, vice president for technology, Contract Logix

The transportation and logistics industry is heavily regulated, with myriad federal, state, local, and international laws on the books whose terms are directly reflected in the contracts. This poses a compliance burden. Fortunately, technology is helping forward-thinking organizations in this arena mitigate risk.

Peter Tirschwell

There has been little momentum to address the menace of container ship fires. That is despite the fires killing crew members and causing tens of millions of dollars of cargo losses and supply chain disruption annually. Something needs to change.

Why LA-LB’s new portal is vital

George Boyle, president/chief executive officer, Quik Pick Express

Last month, the Port of Long Beach agreed to join and partner with the Port of Los Angeles in the portwide portal — the GE Transportation Port Optimizer. The portal’s goal is to give the industry one platform to exchange data, and improve visibility and driver productivity in the process. This portal will ensure that LA-LB remains the leader in communication, innovation, and productivity.

Why there is suddenly a mad rush to seal the NAFTA deal

Cora Di Pietro, vice president, global trade consulting, Livingston International

Given the importance of NAFTA to the economies of all three countries and the sense of uncertainty the negotiations have been causing over the past eight months, one might conclude the urgency to wrap them up is rooted in creating greater economic stability and spurring investment. This is not so.

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor

Given less attention than the resin boom and Asia import growth, but still deserving a close watch is the potential for Gulf ports to funnel a rebound in Latin American trade

New NAFTA auto-content proposal contains opportunities and risks

David Rish, president, global trade management, Livingston International

In exchange for dropping its proposal for 50 percent of content to come from the United States, US policy makers tabled a new suggestion that would require US automakers to have their auto content produced in jurisdictions with a set minimum wage in exchange for financial credits to help offset the additional labor costs. It is a proposal that is being given serious consideration by Canadian and Mexican policy makers, as well.

Is your business ready to deploy the temporary warehouse?

Pierre Liguori, director, Tokema International

The warehouse revolution is on. It is time for third-party logistics providers to embrace the changes of this new brave world or disappear. To be sure, the change will not be easy or quick but there is a considerable upside for your business.

Digitization is not the 'disruption'

Fauad Shariff, co-founder/CEO, CoLoadX

What, exactly, is the true competitive edge, or threat, posed by digital forwarders?

Peter Tirschwell

To paraphrase the late, great writer Mark Twain, the reports of legacy forwarders' death are greatly exaggerated.

Claim without proof of damage is of no value

Colin Barrett, president, Barrett Transportation Consultants

If a freight shipment is contaminated or in some other way rendered of diminished value by virtue of the fact that it made some portion of its journey without whatever protection a seal was intended to provide, that is an injury for which the carrier could be held liable; but where is the evidence that such is the case?

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor

Yilport, which signed a memorandum of understanding with the Mississippi State Port Authority in February, is promising to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the state’s Port of Gulfport, for which it sees serving a distinct purpose.