Logistics Management Magazine Archives

May 2022 Logistics Management

In this Issue:

  • Tracking supply chain's digital transformation
  • 2022 Technology Roundtable: The future is now
  • Forwarders face unstable times
  • Autonomous lift trucks have arrived
  • Look back at MODEX
  • 2022 Robotics Survey
May 5, 2022 · Shipper demand, vendor innovation and advances in technology have worked together to get the vision of the digital supply chain over the finish line.
May 5, 2022 · Faced with more moving parts than at any other time, the current state of the less-than-truckload market has carriers riding high, with shippers looking to lock in strong pricing and balance their network operations and priorities.
May 5, 2022 · Our panel says that all of the software and automation tools we need to meet the new supply chain challenges are right in front of us—all we need to do is put them to work.
May 5, 2022 · Congestion and capacity shortages have been big subjects among forwarders and have resulted in high air, ground and ocean rates. The shortage of capacity has pushed freight rates to historic highs during the last 18 months. Forwarders are banking on technology to build in more agility.
May 4, 2022 · Once considered the purvey of the far-off future, autonomous lift trucks have arrived. Here’s what they can offer.
May 4, 2022 · If you offer a safe, meaningful job with fair wages they will come.
May 4, 2022 · Modex 2022 was the largest to date, with registrations reaching 37,047—­a 20% attendance jump over the pre-Covid Modex 2018. The four-day show (March 28-31) covered 405,000 net square feet of exhibit space at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center with 857 exhibiting companies. Here’s a glimpse of what our editors saw at the show.
May 4, 2022 · Indeed, the technologies with all of the capabilities that we need are right in front of us—and more affordable than ever. No more excuses.
May 4, 2022 · A new Peerless Research Group report takes an inside look at how companies are investing in robotics, how they’re putting the systems to use, and what their future robotics plans include.
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Latest in Logistics Management

April Services PMI contracts after 15 months of growth, reports ISM
The Services PMI, at 49.4 (a reading of 50 or higher signals growth) fell 2.0%. The last time the index contracted was in December 2022, when it came in at 49 and prior to that the last month seeing contraction was in May 2020, when it came in at 45.4.

2023 industrial big-box leasing activity heads down but remains on a steady path, notes CBRE report
In the report, entitled “2024 North America Industrial Big-Box Review & Outlook,” CBRE said that Food & Beverage was the third most active occupier for big-box leasing activity, at 8.6%, with Automobiles, Tires & Parts, E-commerce Only, and Building Materials & Construction rounding out the top six, at 7.0%, 5.4%, and 5.3%, respectively.

U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes are mixed in April, reports AAR
Rail carloads, at 848,882, were down 6.5%, or 58,751 carloads, annually. Intermodal containers and trailers, at 1,018,569 units, increased 8.6%, or 80,471 units, annually.

Q1 U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index sees shipment and spending declines
The report’s first quarter shipment index value, at 87.5, was off 7.8% compared to the fourth quarter and down 21.6% annually.On the spend side, the report observed that the first quarter reading, at 194.7, fell 27.9% annually and was down 16.8%, from the third fourth quarter to the first quarter.

Pitt Ohio exec warns Congress to go slow on truck electrification mandates
Taki Darakos, Pitt Ohio’s fleet manager who oversees the acquisition and maintenance of 1,550 company-owned tractors and box trucks, testified before Congress on the technological, operational and financial challenges fleets face as federal and state regulations mandate the adoption of battery-electric trucks.

Q1 intermodal volumes are up for second straight quarter, reports IANA
In its “Intermodal Quarterly,” IANA reported that total first quarter intermodal volume, at 4,286,600 units, rose 8.8% annually, growing for the second consecutive quarter, following eight straight quarters of annual declines.

Supply Chain Management Software: Build the foundation, deliver the value
As the days of slow, invisible supply chains that “worked behind the scenes” continue to fade in the rearview mirror, companies are improving their demand forecasting, gaining real-time visibility across their networks and streamlining their operations—and its software that makes that all possible.

2024 State of Freight Forwarders: What’s next is happening now
Technological solutions and platforms are being rapidly developed and are catapulting the freight forwarding industry into a new era. Today, the forwarding industry is undergoing a digital revolution, and analysts surmise that companies that fail to keep pace with these advancements risk falling behind—and fast.

Ryder opens up El Paso-based multi-client facility logistics facility
The company said earlier this week it opened up a second multiclient facility logistics facility located in El Paso, Texas, which is in close proximity to the Ysleta Port of Entry, which it said is the largest commercial port in the El Paso district, as well as a critical trade corridor for northbound goods out of Juarez, Mexico.

Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) on a mission to automate
Autonomous mobile robots are the current leading figure in the move to mobile automation. Their mission is quite simple: Reduce the cost of shipping everything.

Equipment batteries get a jolt
That’s a good thing. Lithium-ion batteries are well past the early adopter stage as they make notable inroads on lead acid. Here’s a look at the reasons why.

What’s next for trucking?
Entering into some form of asset-pooling agreement, operationally enabled by AI-based solutions, can help reduce non-productive expenses, improve service, enhance margin and lead to greater market share.

April manufacturing output takes a step back after growing in March
The report’s benchmark metric, the PMI, came in at 49.2 (a reading of 50 or higher indicates growth), down 1.1% from March’s 50.3 reading. ISM added that the overall economy grew, at a slower rate, in April, for the 48th consecutive month.

2024 Parcel Express Roundtable: Lower volumes, pricing shifts, and network changes define the market
Three of our top parcel industry sources offer their takes on the most consumer-facing segment of freight transportation and logistics. They say that while market conditions continue to affect how carriers approach the market, shippers are leveraging the benefits of lower package demand in the form of better pricing.

Show Review: Looking back at MODEX 2024
MHI’s Modex 2024 saw a record-shattering number of registered manufacturing and supply chain professionals, reaching a total of 48,733. The event, held March 11 to 14 in Atlanta, saw attendees engaged with 1,200 exhibitors showcasing the latest supply chain technology and innovation across three halls and 580,000 net square feet at the Georgia World Congress Center. This was the largest Modex event to date for MHI, with 32% more registered visitors than Modex 2022. Here’s a look at some of what our editors saw at the...


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