Is Your Logistics Provider Hurting Your Bra...
Is Your Logistics Provider Hurting Your Brand?
When a Bellevue, Washington consumer’s shipment failed to arrive on the scheduled day, she did what many consumers would do and called the retailer’s – […]
Read MoreImporters take Note: Commerce Dept. Reports...
Importers take Note: Commerce Dept. Reports Surge in Anti-Dumping/Countervailing Duty Investigations
When the U.S. Department of Commerce self-initiated anti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of aluminum sheet from China, it brought […]
Read MoreMedical Device Exporters Face Haphazard Cus...
Medical Device Exporters Face Haphazard Customs/Regulatory Challenges
On the one hand, export opportunities have never been better for U.S. medical device manufacturers, as global demand continues to grow for high […]
Read MoreSingle Window Initiative – Long-Awaited R...
Single Window Initiative – Long-Awaited Relief for U.S. Trade Community
If you needed any convincing that the U.S. customs compliance process was in need of an overhaul, consider this statement from U.S. Customs […]
Read MoreSupply Chain Top Jobs Increasingly Held by ...
Supply Chain Top Jobs Increasingly Held by Women
When the President hosted a White House ceremony in June to mark the 50th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act, included among the invited […]
Read MoreChanges to Driver Rules Likely to Cause Hig...
Changes to Driver Rules Likely to Cause Higher Trucking Rates
New rule changes took effect on July 1 that directly impact truckers and trucking companies. But the effect of the rule changes are […]
Read MoreState of Logistics Report – Slow but Stea...
State of Logistics Report – Slow but Steady Rebound
More of a casual jog than an all-out sprint is one way to describe the rate at which the logistics industry has regained […]
Read MoreNearshoring Attractive to U.S. Fashion Indu...
Nearshoring Attractive to U.S. Fashion Industry
Given the average “shelf life” of an article of clothing in some fashion retail chains is about six weeks before discounting begins, it’s […]
Read MoreFuel of the Future? The Growing Allure of N...
Fuel of the Future? The Growing Allure of Natural Gas
Many U.S. businesses took a “never again” attitude when diesel prices topped the $4.50 per gallon mark in the summer of 2008. Managers looked askance […]
Read MoreTips for Managing LTL Costs
Tips for Managing LTL Costs
A recent analysis by Logistics Management reported widespread expectations for a LTL rate increase this year in the range of two to four percent. The […]
Read MoreCanadian Sites Vie for Share of Ecommerce M...
Canadian Sites Vie for Share of Ecommerce Market
Despite signs that Canadian consumers may be losing patience with Canadian retailers’ slow progress at introducing online shopping venues, more than a few […]
Read MoreLack of Carriers keeping US Businesses out ...
Lack of Carriers keeping US Businesses out of Export Market
A not so well kept secret – less than one percent of U.S. businesses engage in some type of export activity. This is […]
Read MoreConsumers Show Little Patience for Late Del...
Consumers Show Little Patience for Late Deliveries
“Hell hath no fury like a consumer with a late delivery,” could be the new mantra for today’s businesses. After all, expectations for […]
Read MoreTrade Programs Expedite the US-Canada Borde...
Trade Programs Expedite the US-Canada Border Process
A study of U.S./Canada border crossing delays found the average wait was 29 minutes. But for participants in the U.S./Canada “Free and Secure […]
Read MoreCloud Technology Leaves Americans Fuzzy
Cloud Technology Leaves Americans Fuzzy
A study by Gartner technology consultants found usage of cloud-based solutions within the supply chain management sector increased by 40 percent during 2012. Further, the […]
Read MoreHelp Wanted: Supply Chain Candidates with C...
Help Wanted: Supply Chain Candidates with Communication and Technology Skills
Considering a career in supply chain or logistics management? If so, then it might be helpful to know what types of experience and […]
Read MoreReturn on Investment Doesn’t Always Mean ...
Return on Investment Doesn’t Always Mean Lowest Cost
It used to be when a business looked for return on investment (ROI) from its logistics provider, the provider would be expected to […]
Read MoreBorder Compliance Provides a Competitive Ed...
Border Compliance Provides a Competitive Edge
Growing frustration about the increasingly complex U.S./Canada border clearance process has been well documented. But some affected businesses seem to be turning the […]
Read MoreWhen it comes to Exporting – Logistics is...
When it comes to Exporting – Logistics is Local
According to data from the U.S. Commerce Department, less than one percent of U.S. companies’ export – and of those that do, 58 percent […]
Read MoreACE: Easing Cross Border Clearance Process
ACE: Easing Cross Border Clearance Process
As anyone who regularly brings commercial goods into the U.S. knows, U.S. Customs Border Protection (CBP) has been involved in a years-long undertaking […]
Read MoreSupply Chain Visibility – Essential to Ef...
Supply Chain Visibility – Essential to Efficiency & Results
If your supply chain is a network of closely aligned moving parts, then doesn’t it make sense that if a breakdown occurs, it’d […]
Read MoreBorder Delays Cost US and Canadian Business...
Border Delays Cost US and Canadian Businesses
A study by the departments of economics at Ontario’s University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University found that border delays cost the U.S. and Canadian […]
Read MoreU.S. Retailers Continue with Canadian Invas...
U.S. Retailers Continue with Canadian Invasion
When upscale department store chain Nordstrom Inc. announced in September that it would open four locations in Canada beginning in the fall of 2014, it […]
Read MoreMexico Offers Nearshoring Opportunities for...
Mexico Offers Nearshoring Opportunities for Canadian Businesses
While there are no predictions Canadian importers are ready to move away from China as a leading provider of manufactured goods, favorable business […]
Read MoreWhen It Comes to Supply Chain Data, Is Less...
When It Comes to Supply Chain Data, Is Less More?
There is no disputing that today’s supply chains are data driven, faster and leaner than before, some industry experts are starting to question […]
Read MoreEnvironmental Factors Not a Concern for Mos...
Environmental Factors Not a Concern for Most Shippers
Earlier this year, Canada’s Environment Minister Peter Kent announced new regulations to cut greenhouse gas emissions from new on-road heavy-duty vehicles. The new regulations, according […]
Read MoreTrucking Capacity Shortage May Finally Be H...
Trucking Capacity Shortage May Finally Be Here
Carriers have been warning for the past two years that the trucking industry is facing a serious capacity shortage, and that it was […]
Read MoreCanada/European Trade Agreement A Threat to...
Canada/European Trade Agreement A Threat to U.S. Businesses?
Talks between Canada and the European Union aimed at reaching a free trade agreement have reached a critical phase, with final sign-offs expected in […]
Read MoreBusinesses Find Revenue in Smart Returns Ma...
Businesses Find Revenue in Smart Returns Management
It used to be that customer returns were treated as the ugly duckling of retail management. Returns were tolerated, because they had to […]
Read MoreYour Supply Chain – One Bad Storm Away fr...
Your Supply Chain – One Bad Storm Away from Disaster?
One thing every business can agree on, the need has never been greater to safeguard supply chains against the unexpected. Last year’s harsh […]
Read MoreNatural Gas Vehicles – Next Step in Suppl...
Natural Gas Vehicles – Next Step in Supply Chain Sustainability?
With the price of a gallon of diesel fuel seemingly stuck above $4, it is not surprising talk is growing about options for […]
Read MoreU.S. Clean Fleet Initiative Mirrors Purolat...
U.S. Clean Fleet Initiative Mirrors Purolator’s Greening the Fleet
When President Barack Obama announced a “National Clean Fleets Partnership,” he challenged the nation’s businesses to find ways to help reduce the nation’s […]
Read MorePallet Industry – Are changes on the hori...
Pallet Industry – Are changes on the horizon?
Unless you have a direct interest in pallet design or manufacture, you probably have not followed recent trends in the industry. Which means, […]
Read MoreOpposition to Service Changes for US and Ca...
Opposition to Service Changes for US and Canadian Truckers
Canadian truckers doing business in the United States will soon have to change their modus operandi, as a result of regulatory changes issued […]
Read MoreHorizonal Collaboration – Yankees and Red...
Horizonal Collaboration – Yankees and Red Sox Sharing a Plane?
In a sign of how integrated today’s business environment has become – and how “yesterday” competitive rivalries could soon be – manufacturers are […]
Read MoreCollaborative Outsourcing – Efficiencies ...
Collaborative Outsourcing – Efficiencies & Savings
Just the phrase sounds very corporate-speakish, and readers will be excused if their eyes start to glaze over contemplating a post on this […]
Read MoreHot Tips for Shipping to Canada
Hot Tips for Shipping to Canada
Surface trade between the United States and Canada jumped by more than 11 percent during December 2011, and has soared by 27 percent […]
Read MoreDoes Your Supply Chain Include a “Plan B�...
Does Your Supply Chain Include a “Plan B”?
At one point last winter, Florida was the only one of the 50 states that did not have snow on the ground. The. Only. One. […]
Read MoreTSA missed Deadline to Screen International...
TSA missed Deadline to Screen International Cargo
Maybe it wasn’t such a big deal when Transportation Security Administration head John Pistole announced that his agency would miss a December 31 […]
Read MoreSurge in Canadian E-Commerce Opportunities ...
Surge in Canadian E-Commerce Opportunities for Global Logistics Providers
While Canadian consumers may have been slow to embrace the Internet and online shopping, the trend has caught on with a vengeance, and […]
Read MoreMessage to Congress: Highways/Truckers are ...
Message to Congress: Highways/Truckers are Top Priority
Don’t underestimate the effect of new regulations on the nation’s commerce, was the unmistakable message delivered by a contingent of shippers, carriers and […]
Read MoreIs Your Logistics Provider a Problem Solver...
Is Your Logistics Provider a Problem Solver?
With the spotlight pointed directly at the predicted capacity shortage, businesses are looking to ensure that their shipments will not be left behind. […]
Read MoreDriver Shortage Squeezes Already-Tight Capa...
Driver Shortage Squeezes Already-Tight Capacity
It’s no secret that the recession had a serious impact on capacity – with the Internal Revenue Service reporting that as many as 3,000 carriers […]
Read MoreSupply Chains have Enhanced Post-Recession ...
Supply Chains have Enhanced Post-Recession Value Survey Finds
A recent survey of supply chain and logistics professionals found that 89 percent of respondents believe that the supply chain function has become more important […]
Read MoreSupply Chain Component Needs Consideration ...
Supply Chain Component Needs Consideration in Demand Management Processes
In its simplest form, demand management refers to the process whereby businesses utilize various indicators to forecast customer demand, and align its supply […]
Read MoreAutomotive Aftermarket Suppliers Need to Id...
Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Need to Identify Logistics Efficiencies
Results from the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association’s (AASA’s) quarterly “Supplier Barometer,” indicate strong concern among suppliers about higher manufacturing and fuel costs. According to Steve […]
Read MoreU.S. Customs’ Internal Assessment Program...
U.S. Customs’ Internal Assessment Program – Right for your Business?
Businesses that regularly import goods into the U.S. face the possibility each year of being selected for a Customs and Border Patrol “Focused Assessment.” What is […]
Read MoreSeven Top Questions to Ask to Create an Eff...
Seven Top Questions to Ask to Create an Efficient Supply Chain
According to the bellwether Institute for Supply Management, April marked the 23rd consecutive month of overall growth for the U.S. economy. In addition, the ISM […]
Read More