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Investing in a logistics partner often requires a crash course in acronyms. Companies talk at length about 3PLs, 4PLs, and other equally confusing designations, sprinkling in terms such as "brokers" and "brokerages." It's enough to make anyone's head spin. In essence, you only need to understand the concept of a <a>logistics service provider </a>(LSP) and a broker; all other terms are superfluous. For instance, a third-party logistics (3PL) company is typically the same thing as an LSP. The same holds true for a fourth-party logistics (4PL) company, a relatively recent outcropping that further muddies the logistics waters. You can often...

To cut through the confusion and determine whether a broker or an LSP meets your needs, you need to ask several key questions.

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Broker or logistics service provider?

Ocean carriers’ schedule reliability rose in April amid falling volumes 

Market headwinds push CMA CGM Q1 revenue, profit sharply lower

CBP rules US chassis manufacturer evaded tariffs on China-sourced parts

Shippers bemoan lack of progress in ocean visibility despite heavy investment 

Hydrogen-driven barge debuts on Europe’s inland network 

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The port congestion in Asia and North America that compromised vessel on-time performance during the pandemic began to ease last fall with declining cargo volumes, and the reliability improvements have accelerated since. 

The carrier's CEO said inflation and destocking in global markets heralded a “phase of normalization” for container shipping.

The ruling could place an additional burden on US chassis manufacturers to ensure their subcontractors are using US materials or paying duties on parts from China. 

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Ocean carriers’ schedule reliability rose in April amid falling volumes

Market headwinds push CMA CGM Q1 revenue, profit sharply lower

CBP rules US chassis manufacturer evaded tariffs on China-sourced parts