The use of standardized steel shipping containers, or intermodal containers, started late in the 1940s as commercial shipping operators started employing them for ocean carrier, truck, and rail transport. It wasn’t until 2005 when the International Maritime Office (IMO) established industry standards for more consistent loading, transporting, and unloading of goods in ports throughout the world, saving time and resources. Regular, dry freight containers typically cost between $1750 and $2000 and are owned by either […]
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Archive for Transportation Management Systems
One area of interest in today’s end-to-end supply chain is machine learning. And this is certainly a topic that we have written about quite often. Over the last few months, Steve Banker, Clint Reiser, and I have written about artificial intelligence and machine learning in a number of contexts and how it impacts the supply chain. These topics have included transportation management, warehouse management, and supply chain planning, among others. This technology continues to be […]
Read More →I recently wrapped up my Transportation Management Systems market study which looks at the total size of the market, the forecasted growth through 2023, and the leading suppliers across a number of categories including industry, region, and customer size. The study includes a holistic view of the TMS outlook. A TMS helps companies move freight from origin to destination efficiently, reliably, and cost-effectively. Transportation management systems include 2 types of solutions. Planning and execution is […]
Read More →The Transportation Management System market continues to grow at an impressive rate. I’ll get to the main factors that are driving this growth in another article, but the main reason is the robust ROI attributed to a TMS. Companies buy a TMS to achieve freight savings which can be attributed to simulation and network design, load consolidation and lower cost mode selections, and multi-stop route optimization. There are a number of key trends that are […]
Read More →Product recalls are a regular occurrence, making the headlines on a monthly, even weekly basis. They affect not only the consumers of potentially harmful products, but also manufacturers, retailers, transportation providers, and others throughout the supply chain. However, with a reliable technology platform and transportation network, shippers can mitigate the impact of widespread issues across supply chain functions and get operations back on track more quickly. Recalls can vary from a few thousand pounds of […]
Read More →Shippers need to consider add-on or accessorial carrier fees, not just base rates, to control shipping costs without sacrificing service. Still, downplaying the importance of keeping regular tabs on those base rates can wreak havoc on a shipper’s costs; they remain an incredibly important part of the equation. As they struggle to control their shipping costs and retain razor-thin margins, many retailers today feel like they’re at the mercy of carriers, which are commanding record-high rates for their services. This article offers practical advice on getting good service at a lower cost.
Read More →A few weeks ago, I spoke with Keli Sanford, Logistics Manager at Ocean Spray. In that role, Keli is responsible for inbound raw materials going into the plant and finished goods leaving the plant, as well as overseeing Canadian warehousing and transportation. In her years at Ocean Spray, Keli has had a lot of first-hand experience with their business relationship with CH Robinson. Ocean Spray has a two-fold relationship with CH Robinson. First, the company […]
Read More →Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is software that is used to automate high volume, repeatable tasks. RPA can be used to improve legacy supply chain software. Ryder is using it to reduce the work required to produce quality transportation plans.
Read More →I spent the last three days in Las Vegas attending the MercuryGate Velocity user conference. This was my third time attending a MercuryGate conference and with over 450 attendees, this was the largest one yet. The theme of the conference this year was Innovate Today, Own Tomorrow. This was an extremely fitting theme for both the company and the changing nature of transportation today. MercuryGate CEO Joe Juliano kicked off the conference by talking about […]
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Supply Chain Brief
Determining the ROI of a Parcel TMS
Interest in adding a TMS for parcel continues to rise among shippers as the multifaceted ROI of a parcel TMS becomes better understood. While a TMS for parcel can help shippers better manage rapid increases in parcel volume, it can also help manufacturers and other new parcel shippers instantly adapt to provide excellent customer service in a profitable way. No longer just about saving dollars, more shippers have begun to realize they can provide improved […]
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