No matter the company, the ability to compete in a challenging economic climate is a necessity, and the amount of time, money, and energy spent on finding new ways to do this is exponential. Companies that don’t use the right type of fleet risk higher costs, inefficient service, low reliability, and wasted time. Re-evaluating the type of fleet your company uses can bring an invaluable advantage.

A new term to describe a supply chain that is all-seeing, real-time, productive, optimized, and cognitive has recently emerged. The “sentient supply chain” refers to a supply chain that’s nodes communicate 24/7.

UPS Adds 400 Dangerous Commodities to Its Fly List. The shipping and transportation mammoth has chosen to add 400 “dangerous” commodities onto its current global air network. The company also increased the allowable shipment size and added 300 products to its European ground network. (Read more here.)

Trust and respect: twiStock-503226977.jpgo words that are imperative for a mutually rewarding outsourcing relationship. And so it is for an optimal 3PL experience. It seems easy, right?

Trucking has provided drivers and families with a decent living for decades. Although the demand for truckers has been persistent, most don’t expect it to last forever, especially since major truck manufacturers and startups have been busy testing automated and driverless trucks.

Analyzation of countries such as Myanmar, Vietnam, and Cambodia, prove that emerging markets are popular again, as suppliers are increasingly flocking to these new manufacturing hubs. Small, independent suppliers within emerging markets offer great benefits to established retailers in developed markets, and the relationship is one that is valuable and extremely worthwhile for both parties.

Somali Pirates Hijack First Commercial Ship Since 2012. Pirates have hijacked an oil tanker with eight Sri Lankan crew on board, Somali authorities said last week, the first time a commercial ship has been seized in the region since 2012. (Read more here.)

Nowadays, we’re living in the age of the “spoiled consumer.” E-commerce shoppers have an undying demand for both fast and free shipping, one that has been perpetuated by benefits like Amazon’s Prime membership, a $99 per year membership that qualifies buyers for free two-day shipping on eligible products. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a Prime member who will buy a product with no “Prime” logo without extensive searching for a substitute that comes with the free two-day shipping benefits first.

A substantial amount of over-the-road freight transportation is handled by freight brokers. A freight broker is a person or company that brings together a shipper (with freight to move) and a qualified carrier (who has the capacity to move the freight).

Shippers are expecting higher rates and less capacity this year, so many are trying to lock in contract rates and secure trucks before the spike. Carriers have been hammered by low fuel prices, strict regulations, and rising equipment costs.