American Shipper

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union said 82 percent of its members voted in favor of ratification.

Changes to Maritime Security Program could harm other U.S.-flag carriers.

Strategic View with Walter Kemmsies    Given trends in place, freight logistics managers and transportation planners should be factoring in intermodal more than ever before.    During the last 15 years, railroads have increased their expenditures on infrastructure, while federal expenditures on highways and waterways have declined. This is shown in the accompanying chart depicting […]

Manufacturer of server components uses TMS to automate transportation management.

   In recent weeks, I happened upon a vendor guide from 2007 compiled by the analyst Gartner.    What led me to this document was the news in early April that the supply chain design software provider LLamasoft had purchased the IBM LogicTools solution.    I wanted to know more about the background of LogicTools, […]

   This is an eventful year for new technology being introduced at container terminals with the opening of APM Terminals Maasvlakte II in Rotterdam, and introduction of leading-edge systems at the TraPac Terminal in Los Angeles and OOCL’s Long Beach Container Terminal.     How might terminals innovate even further in the future?    Grid Logistics, […]

Container Analytics with Ben Meyer    Hamburg Süd must feel like the prettiest girl at the dance these days. Speculation about the German ocean carrier has been running rampant the past few weeks, as industry analysts have predicted the imminent expansion of the Ocean3 Alliance of CMA CGM, China Shipping Container Lines and United Arab Shipping Co. to include Hamburg Süd, despite […]

   It’s not necessarily in software vendors’ or technology consultants’ natures to be pragmatic about the application of IT systems to supply chain functions.    But at this year’s Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference in Phoenix, it was hard to ignore the tone struck by the majority of speakers — Gartner’s own analysts, shippers, and vendors. All focused […]

   It will be interesting to see how the sharing economy is viewed from a labor standpoint in 10 years. Right now companies with apps that can provide any kind of service imaginable are sprouting up in cities like mushrooms.    Besides Uber, Lyft and Sidecar for ridesharing, there’s Luxe, a personal parking valet that […]

   Express package delivery and logistics services provider DHL is trying out a number of innovative approaches to support the growing demand for electronic retail transactions.    The idea that commerce can be conducted everywhere, at any time, is becoming ingrained in the global middle class, which is growing by leaps and bounds in the […]

Clamor over detention and demurrage fees is growing among shippers.

   U.S. Customs’ five-week postponement of mandatory filing of electronic air import manifests through a new IT system is actually a positive development and reflects well on the agency’s ability to manage the rollout of the Automated Commercial Environment, air industry officials said.    Customs and Border Protection recently notified the trade sector that the […]

   Tom Sanderson, chief executive officer of the progressive third party logistics firm Transplace, recently told an audience of shipper and carrier representatives in Dallas: “It’s a great time to be in the supply chain space.”    And he’s absolutely right. The 3PL business has continued to be the healthiest market within the slow five-year […]

Pitney Bowes and Borderfree together will extend their global reach.

Air Transport with Jon Ross    Recently, Delta, United and American got the attention of federal regulators by alleging that Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways receive unfair subsidies from their governments which puts them in violation of the open skies agreement.     The U.S. Open Skies Agreement asks that foreign airlines establish a level […]

New Balance executive says region’s importance in global sourcing won’t diminish.

Greenbriar Equity investment gives 3PL resources for expansion.

LTL carriers attempt to turn shippers onto density-based pricing.

On Second Thought with Jerry Cook    In my last column, I wrote that 2015 could to be the year of international trade, and so far it has lived up to that potential. This is largely due to strong leadership by the United States, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske. The […]

   Does your warehouse contract have a “dishonest acts” exclusion? If so, beware. That may be the takeaway from a recent court decision. (Warehouse Wines & Spirits, Inc. v. Travelers Property Casualty Company of America. S.D.N.Y. No. 13-Civ. 5712. March 31.)    Warehouse Wines operated a wine and spirits store in Manhattan. Steven Goldstein, president […]