The sharp and sustained decline in the price of oil has had far-reaching consequences across the U.S. economy. There are numerous factors that have caused oil prices to drop. And now, with excess oil supply, the effects are all-encompassing, with positive and negative impacts on carriers and shippers.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

What is resilience in supply chain management? Supply chains are diverse and complex, so are the potential risks that could disrupt them. A good supply chain management strategy invests in resilience. Resilience refers to the time it takes supply chains to predict and avoid risk, as well as respond and recover from costly disruptions. how to supply chain management strategy75% of companies experience at least one major supply chain disruption a year.

Only 23% of companies have a big data strategy, which isn’t surprising, considering there’s an estimated 2.5 quintillion bytes of data created each day. It’s impossible to analyze it all, but leveraging big data in transportation and logistics can enhance operations and elevate the bottom line.

Automated_Trucks.jpgTraffic and population growth create demand for new roads, but most regions don’t have space or money to build new infrastructure. Today’s concerns over infrastructure, traffic congestion, energy use, and safety are being addressed by new transportation-focused technology.