Will Shippers Benefit from the ELD Mandate?
All interstate commercial trucks must install and update electronic logging devices (ELDs) by November 30, 2017. An ELD allows truck drivers and commercial carriers to efficiently record and track their hours of service.
3 Ways CPG Shippers Reduce LTL Shipping Costs
CPG shippers rely heavily on LTL transportation, which leads to several inefficiencies. CPG shippers rarely have the freight volume to utilize a full truckload, and often feel stuck using more expensive, slower LTL transportation. But, there are ways to make LTL shipping as efficient and cost-friendly as TL shipping.
The State of Reshoring: What Supply Chains Need to Know
reshoring Companies are strategically moving manufacturing facilities, examining labor costs and time to market, plus looking for accessibility to existing or developing markets and sources of innovation. Some companies are moving facilities offshore or nearshore, while many others are bringing production back to the US. According to a study from Boston Consulting, 54% of US manufacturers with more than $1 billion in revenue are considering reshoring some or all of their manufacturing.
3 Steps to Cut Inbound Transportation Costs
Inbound freight management is multifaceted. A large manufacturer could have hundreds of suppliers, and a national retailer can expect business partners to deliver shipments to thousands of facilities.
Industrial Distributors Can Create Value With Transportation
Industrial distributors are beginning to see the potential of proper transportation management, how it can add much-needed value throughout their supply chain, and how it can address some of their toughest challenges. The challenges distributors face are unique, but the effects of these challenges are representative of the difficulties many are having in the broader industrial sector – restricted supply, plummeting demand, dropping revenues and out of control operating costs.
New Research: Assessing Inbound Freight Management
Transportation is coming to the forefront of shippers’ cost reduction, efficiency and operational strategies due to its oversized contribution to supply chain costs. Inbound transportation is particularly inefficient and costly, eating up 3.6% to 5.2% of a company’s total annual sales.
The Latest HOS Update
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) hours of service (HOS) rules have been controversial and complicated. A lot of talk has surrounded the HOS regulations, and whether they will become a rule again or not is up in the air. However, it appears the HOS rules have been dealt a decisive blow.
Truck drivers and carriers said the rules were unnecessary and costly. FMCSA and safety advocates said the HOS rules were a step in the right direction for highway safety. Neither side has been able to factually prove their point yet.
As a reminder, the 34-hour restart provision was the most controversial part of the 2013 HOS update. The 2 main components of this provision are:
Two periods of 1:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. had to be included within the mandatory 34-hour restart period
One restart per week
When Partial Truckload Shipping Is Right for You
What is Partial Truckload Shipping?
Partial truckload, or volume LTL, is a mode used by shippers looking for faster transit times, less handling and lower costs. Partial truckload shipments are used by shippers whose freight is less than a full truckload, but more than an LTL shipment. The exact amount of freight needed for a partial truckload shipment depends on the weight, linear feet and service requirements.
State of Rail Transportation: Rising Costs but Still Viable Option for Shippers
Rail transportation has historically been cheaper and slower than over-the-road (OTR) transportation. It’s a valuable service for raw materials, freight that is not time-sensitive or freight that is expensive to haul. As OTR costs rise, many shippers look for new opportunities to reduce overall transportation spend, and despite the current rise in rail costs, intermodal is a practical alternative.
Trending Transportation News: February 2016
Non-Manufacturing Grows for 72nd Straight Month. The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reported that non-manufacturing activity continues to point towards growth. ISM uses the NMI index to measure non-manufacturing growth and found the economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector continued to grow especially in finance/insurance, real estate/rental, agriculture, health care and public administration.
