As we all know the economy has not been the greatest in recent years and everyone has seen the effects of the recession. Therefore, companies that are willing to outsource their shipping needs to a 3PL can save a substantial amount of money on their freight cost.

A third party logistics (3PL) company is defined as an external supplier that performs all or part of a company’s supply chain management. Many 3PL’s offer a wide range of services that include inbound freight, outbound freight, freight consolidation, warehousing, distribution, and order fulfillment. Over the past few years, there has been a huge growth in 3PLs and this has been attributed to the need for companies to become leaner, reduce assets (including headcount) and focus on core business processes.

Would you be willing to pay 5% higher prices for products ordered online if they are shipped sustainably? A recent survey titled “Need for Green or Need for Speed” Survey conducted by the consulting firm West Monroe Partners revealed that 54% of e-commerce consumers are willing to pay the extra money.

One of the most concerning factors behind the current and future driver shortage is the lack of young drivers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the average age of a truck driver today is 55 or older. The Baby Boomer generation is growing increasingly close to retirement and there are not enough drivers, especially young ones, to replace them.

Capacity issues are straining relationships between shippers and carriers. A rise in trucking demand, a shortage of drivers, government regulations, and shipping inefficiencies all play a role in the current shortage of capacity.

As Truck Driver Appreciation Week rolls around, it’s time to look closer at what this country’s truck drivers actually do for us. Many times when we are at the supermarket, or ordering something from Amazon, we don’t appreciate how these goods find their way to us. All of the products sold in stores today have been moved across the country, and we usually don’t think of the long and complex path they took to get there.

On March 12th, 2014, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration FMCSA announced a change to the 2010 mandate for Electronic On-Board Recorders (EOBRs). The old rule required certain fleets to use EOBRs for hours-of-service compliance. The new rule requires more technologically advanced Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) to be used in most trucks by as early as 2016. The latest mandate consists of four parts: Mandating who uses ELDs, protections against driver harassment, hardware specifications, and rules pertaining supporting documents.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) will soon mandate the use of speed limiters, also known as speed governors or Electronic Control Modules (ECM), on large trucks weighing over 26,000 pounds. The rule targets trucks that typically travel on roads with a speed limit of 55 mph or higher. No speed limit has yet been determined, but will likely be somewhere between 65 – 70 mph. Due to the estimated fuel cost savings for large carriers, many believe this rule will be passed sooner rather than later.

Preventing driver harassment is a focal point with the latest Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate. The old rule, made in 2010, did not stop carriers from harassing drivers into breaking hours of service (HOS) rules.