Let’s face it, the freight audit and pay process is one of the least favorite tasks within the logistics industry. One would think moving freight from anywhere in the country to anywhere in the country on any given day comes with challenges that would never approach paying a bill, but that is just not the case. Paying an invoice or…
Then logistics experts discuss the challenges and prospects for global supply chains in 2023, it’s clear that a multitude of factors are involved. Many shippers and players in the transport and logistics business are currently under great pressure. This is due to a number of lingering issues including the pandemic; huge increases in energy prices; large fluctuations in the supply…
A transportation management system (TMS) is a logistics platform that uses technology to help businesses plan, execute, and optimize the physical movement of goods, both incoming and outgoing, and making sure the shipment is compliant, proper documentation is available. This kind of system is often part of a larger supply chain management (SCM) system. Sometimes known as a transportation management solution or transportation management software, a…
Managed transportation services continue to be the #1 topic we talk with shippers about as they look to optimize their supply chain performance against the challenging backdrop of rising freight rates, tight truck capacity, along with changing and more challenging customer requirements. As we work our way through the discussion of Managed TMS, we invariably are asked what we believe are…
Dynamic decision making is the foundation of every successful supply chain. To achieve this, customers need access to accurate, actionable data. To get transaction-level data, shippers and 3PLs connect to a variety of online sources, creating strong, unique technological bonds between a carrier and its customers. Technical innovators are creating new markets and services by the aggregation, standardization and orchestration…
Cargo airlines enjoyed a period of high revenue—driven by scarce capacity—during the pandemic. But after the boom of the past three years, yields are gradually falling from the 2021 peak. Belly cargo capacity is recovering, and demand is softening, leading to uncertainty as cargo airlines brace for the risk of a “back to normal” scenario. This raises the issue of…
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending October 29, 2022, as well as volumes for October 2022. U.S. railroads originated 952,074 carloads in October 2022, up 0.5 percent, or 5,121 carloads, from October 2021. U.S. railroads also originated 1,062,422 containers and trailers in October 2022, down 1.4 percent, or 15,095 units, from…