Deep Dive: Page 4
Industry insights from our journalists
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Trucking's role in untangling the web of West Coast port congestion
The driver shortage has become a "scapegoat" for bottlenecks as empty containers, low yard productivity, limited space and unavailable chassis converge.
Jim Stinson • Nov. 24, 2021 -
Pricing insanity: Material costs escalate, driving contractor desperation
Amid unprecedented supply chain challenges, firms locked into contracts based on last year's prices are feeling the heat.
Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Oct. 28, 2021 -
After years of ‘Made in China,’ supply chains consider alternatives
The change in tone from U.S.-based supply chains is not a mass exodus from China. Instead, it's an approach that embraces diversification.
Shefali Kapadia • Oct. 14, 2021 -
The rise of LTL: How e-commerce changed the middle mile
Businesses are shipping smaller quantities of freight more frequently, giving logistics professionals more to manage in increasingly complex networks.
S.L. Fuller • Oct. 6, 2021 -
Aircraft emissions present a roadblock to supply chain sustainability goals
FedEx's Chief Sustainability Officer says true aviation sustainability "is an intractable problem." Will environmentally conscious shippers move away from airfreight?
Max Garland • Sept. 8, 2021 -
What 3G's sunset means for tracking, visibility tech
Companies relying on IoT devices for their supply chains have a relatively tight window to upgrade to 4G.
Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Aug. 31, 2021 -
'You can pay or you can wait': How retailers are navigating a shipping crisis
Consumer demand came raging back this year. The supply chain wasn't ready for it, and now retailers, brands and consumers are paying the price.
Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 3, 2021 -
From sapling to pure-play LTL: The story of XPO Logistics under Jacobs
Bradley Jacobs is a relentless numbers man and a serial entrepreneur. And he's one thing neither XPO nor GXO can replace.
Jim Stinson • Aug. 2, 2021 -
As PPE demand grew, organizations stepped up to the challenge — and fought fraud along the way
Bad actors emerged during the pandemic, as a supply-demand imbalance in personal protective equipment left openings and vulnerabilities for fraud and counterfeits.
Deborah Abrams Kaplan • July 15, 2021 -
Last year, the Transpacific was a 'nightmare.' It's only gotten worse.
One shipper offered a carrier $6,000 for space. It was told $60,000 wouldn't even be enough.
Matt Leonard • June 24, 2021 -
The misconceptions in the rare earth supply chain
The problem isn't a shortage of raw materials. The problem is getting them out of the ground — and out of China.
Emma Penrod • June 17, 2021 -
More frequent, severe wildfires threaten California's growing logistics network
Fires can clog and cut off freight arteries, creating choke points for inventory traveling via truck and rail.
Deborah Abrams Kaplan • June 1, 2021 -
As storms become more frequent and volatile, some ports plan for the risk — but most do not
The interconnectedness of ports leave assets such as warehouses, trucking networks and railroads vulnerable to disruptions from climate change and rising sea levels.
Matt Leonard • Updated June 8, 2021 -
RFID's e-commerce growth spurt
The need for visibility drove companies to invest in solutions for their complete supply chain while Adidas is using the technology to verify provenance.
Deborah Abrams Kaplan • May 4, 2021 -
How construction is using technology to mitigate supply disruptions
Soaring material costs and supply chain woes threaten the industry's rebound.
Joe Bousquin • April 30, 2021 -
Supply chains do the math on reshoring's pros and cons
COVID-19 exposed risks and spurred conversations about moving manufacturing, but the pandemic is far from the only factor to consider.
Deborah Abrams Kaplan • April 8, 2021 -
4 tools to fight fraud, counterfeits and cyberattacks in the COVID-19 vaccine supply chain
Visibility technologies and real-time data provide one version of the truth in a rapidly-built supply chain.
Deborah Abrams Kaplan • April 7, 2021 -
The omnichannel age is here — and it's expensive
Profit margins are often lower for pickup than delivering from a warehouse, as retailers consider store costs, shipping expenses and channel-specific overhead.
Ben Unglesbee • April 6, 2021 -
Congested West Coast ports bring the heat to TL spot rates
Delayed off the coast of the Golden State are a mix of consumer and industrial needs that are likely to keep capacity tight and truckers busy.
Jim Stinson • March 31, 2021 -
The US has a new trade chief. What supply chains can expect on tariffs and China.
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai recognizes China as "simultaneously a rival, a trade partner and an outsized player," in the global trade landscape.
Shefali Kapadia • March 18, 2021 -
A tumultuous year of ocean shipping prompts a rethink of contracts
Negotiations are taking place earlier than usual, with greater interest in two-way commitments and tiered pricing. But a focus on resiliency and capacity comes at a cost to shippers.
Matt Leonard • March 10, 2021 -
Why the automotive supply chain is in a semiconductor jam
A shortage with no quick fix is shutting down production lines around the world, and capacity constraints at tier 3 put automakers' lean operations into question.
Matt Leonard • Feb. 23, 2021 -
What's behind supplier price hikes rippling through the construction supply chain?
The cost trend in 2021 is only going in one direction so far — up.
Joe Bousquin • Feb. 17, 2021 -
The PPE supply chain is a case of the 'haves' and the 'have nots'
Gloves and masks are in short supply, and many organizations are blowing through their budgets as they attempt to source in-demand equipment.
Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Feb. 11, 2021 -
Why the empty container math doesn't add up in US exporters' favor
What led to a global imbalance of available shipping containers? And what were the effects on U.S. businesses?
Matt Leonard • Feb. 3, 2021