Logistics Management

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During talks before industry groups, I often reference the story about the frog and boiling water… Drop a frog in boiling water and it will jump out; however, if you put a frog in cold water and bring it to a boil, the frog will meet its Maker… The story highlights the fact that when frogs or people are hit with a sudden crisis, they will react or respond immediately. However, if you don’t address the hazardous conditions, the crisis can severely hurt or even kill the subject.  

I don’t mean to be an a...Read More

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One of the nice things about this Blog is the opportunity to occasionally vent about some of the stupid things we’re seeing in the marketplace. The grand prize winner in the “we’re really stupid when it comes to energy and transportation” category, belongs to some incredibly obtuse Senators and Congressman in Washington D.C. 

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I’m told that these Blogs are read by thousands of people. So it’s not surprising that one reader took me to task and let me know that he was frustrated by these articles that suggest that he can be a difference maker, because he said: “I’m just one person.” With all the things that are happening, what can you expect one person to accomplish in this marketplace?

Since the title of this Blog is “It’s Personal,” allow me to share the fact that I love the music of James Brown, ...Read More

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The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind - which is why it has been awhile since the last blog entry. During that time I’ve been in ‘school’ and have met inspirational people who taught me some great lessons on leadership.

Three weeks ago my wife and I had the privilege of having dinner with General George Casey, Chief of Staff for the US Army, and his delightful wife, Sheila. The following day, we met with leaders of the US Army for a special briefing about world events. Then I was off to Bosnia (where I am happy to report, there was no sniper fire) to sp...Read More

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In this blog entry, I’d like to share something that may upset a couple of people. I really wonder how many transportation and logistics professionals realize, or understand that their jobs – notice I didn’t say careers – hang by a thread.

Since the start of the year, I have received more e-mails and phone calls from highly competent transportation professionals (just like the readers of this blog) than I care to count. Most of them have an urgent request; they’re looking for a job!

Why am I getting so many requests? Maybe I’m a good person to have in...Read More

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I’ll spare you the standard speeches and clichés about the topic of change. There are a lots of transportation issues on the table that will make your life interesting over the next couple of years. But I am concerned that a number of logistics professionals may not understand the magnitude of these issues or their impact on their companies. I’m not talking about those professionals who work for companies that actively support groups such as the NIT League, NASSTRAC, AST&L, CSCMP, DNA and TIA, I’m talking to the other group. The group that consists of industry professionals who are sitting on the sidelines because they’re too lazy. Or because they work for companies that are too cheap, or too stupid to access resources that will help them understand what is really happening in transportation....Read More

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If you’ve been reading the trade journals, or general business publications, you’ve undoubtedly read something that talks about sustainability; it’s a hot business topic. A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of speaking at the Denver Traffic Club’s annual Operation Stimulus meeting where the theme was Sustainable Logistics.

In preparing for the talk, one of the organizers asked if I could work the theme of sustainability in to my comments. To honor his request, the topic of my talk was Building the Sustainable Career. Based on the positive feedback, the talk was ...Read More

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One of the things I love about my work is that I get to give a fair number of talks and meet lots of people every year. For example, this past week, I had the privilege of speaking at the Denver Traffic Club’s annual meeting, Operation Stimulus. The theme for the conference was sustainability, and my keynote address was “Building A Sustainable Career.”

One of the bullet points in the talk highlighted the need for individuals to make decisions. The reason this bullet point is so important is because fewer and fewer people are willi...Read More

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Last week I attended a meeting with other industry professionals. During the meeting we talked about the current challenges that face industry professionals. Interestingly, the consensus as the top challenge was the need for supply chain professionals to invest in their careers by getting the education and training they need to be effective in their positions.

One veteran industry consultant noted however, that while the need for continuing education and training has never been greater, fewer and fewer companies are spending the dollars, or giving their associates the time to get this training. What advice would this consultant give to supply chain professionals who are facing this challenge? “If they want training and education, tell them that they ar...Read More

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Be A Difference Maker In 2008.

As we head in to 2008, you can’t say things are boring in logistics. Oil has broken the $100 per barrel mark; the economy appears to be faltering; and while the FMCSA has issued their decision on the hours of service (HOS), another challenge in court is already underway, and potential Congressional intervention is likely. And that’s just beginning. On top of that, your company is most likely expecting you to do more with less, and wants you to lower corporate transportation c...Read More

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