Intergistics Online, A Logistics Directory Guide

IWLA Unveils Expanded Political and Government Education/Advocacy Effort

2010-09-07T16:54:00.001-04:00

IWLA is pleased to announce the launch of an expanded political education effort by establishing the IWLA Corporate Political Education Fund (CPEF). CPEF was created to help support IWLA's advocacy efforts. IWLA recently talked to Mark DeFabis of Integrated Distribution Services about the program and its importance to all IWLA members. Mark, with Doug Sibila of Peoples Services, co-chairs IWLA’s Government Affairs Steering Committee.

Click here to read more.

Inbound Logistics Names Jacobson to 2010 Top 100 3PL List

2010-08-17T23:58:00.001-04:00

Des Moines, IA – Jacobson Companies has recently been named to the 2010 Top 100 3PL list by Inbound Logistics, a leading publication for demand-driven logistics.

Felecia Stratton, Editor of Inbound Logistics quotes, "How do today's leading business logistics managers face the challenges of demand volatility, compliance with complex customer requirements, and achieving the lean operational process so fundamental to success? By relying on a world-class logistics partner like those found on the Inbound Logistics Top 100 3PL Providers list. Inbound Logistics selected Jacobson Companies as a 2010 Top 100 3PL Provider because of its successful track record in acting as a business change agent for its customers, while delivering the operational efficiency needed to be globally competitive."

TOP 100 SELECTION METHODOLOGY
Inbound Logistics' Top 100 3PL Provider's list serves as a qualitative assessment of service providers we feel are best equipped to meet and surpass readers’ evolving outsourcing needs. Distilling the Top 100 is never an easy task, and the process becomes increasingly difficult as more 3PLs enter the market and service providers from other functional areas develop value-added logistics capabilities. Each year, Inbound Logistics editors select the best logistics solutions providers by carefully evaluating submitted information, conducting personal interviews and online research, and comparing that data to our readers’ burgeoning global supply chain and logistics challenges. IL editors selected this year's class of Top 100 3PLs from a pool of more than 300 companies. The service providers we selected are companies that, in the opinion of IL editors, offer the diverse operational capabilities and experience to meet readers' unique supply chain and logistics needs.

About Inbound Logistics
Inbound Logistics the leading trade magazine targeted toward business logistics and supply chain managers. The magazine's editorial mission is to help companies of all sizes better manage corporate resources by speeding and reducing inventory and supporting infrastructure, and better matching demand signals to supply lines. More information is available at http://www.inboundlogistics.com/.

About Jacobson Companies
Founded in 1968, Jacobson Companies is a leading third-party logistics (“3PL”) company, providing value-added warehousing, contract packaging & manufacturing, staffing, freight management, and international air & ocean freight forwarding services. As of today, Jacobson has more than 35 million square feet of warehouse space in 35 major markets across the United States with approximately 7,000 employees. Jacobson maintains a website at http://www.jacobsonco.com/.

Georgia Adopts IWLA Proposal to Bring Warehouse Law Into the High Tech Era

2010-08-02T16:45:00.000-04:00

August 2, 2010 (DES PLAINES, IL) – The International Warehouse Logistics Association made more progress in its campaign to get states to adopt changes to the Uniform Commercial Code when Georgia became the latest state to do so.

The Georgia state legislature passed legislation adopting the changes, which was signed into law by Governor Sonny Perdue on May 27 and went onto effect on July 1.

The UCC was established in 1952 and is one of a number of uniform acts that have been created to harmonize the law of sales and other commercial transactions in all 50 states. Article 7 of the code pertains to warehouse receipts, bills of lading and other documents of title. In 2003, IWLA began an effort to get the states to adopt a revised Article 7 that allows for many of these documents to be in electronic form.

The new Georgia law also deletes obsolete references to tariffs, classifications and regulations that no longer track modern commercial practices. In addition, it deals with permissible contractual limitations of liability; negotiation and transfer; lien of the carrier or warehousemen on the goods and right to enforce lien in a commercially reasonable manner; altered, lost and stolen instruments; and the effects on holders resulting from insolvency of the warehouse customer.

Continue reading about the IWLA's campaign here.

IWLA Asks FDA to Maintain 3PL Warehouse Responsibility Over Recalled Food Products

2010-07-28T12:30:00.000-04:00

July 28, 2010 (DES PLAINES, IL) – Joel D. Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Warehouse Logistics Association, asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to clarify a recently issued draft regulatory guidance regarding the reporting of adulterated food product by third-party logistics providers.

The FDA guidance document implements the requirements of the Reportable Food Registry and the reporting of adulterated food products. IWLA’s letter specifically responds to FDA’s request for recommendations for determining when a food product has been transferred in the supply chain.

"Whether or not an article of food has been transferred from customer to the 3PL warehouse is a significant issue for the 3PL industry," Mr. Anderson said in a July 26 letter to FDA. He urged the agency to make clear in its written guidance that a transfer of product occurs upon transfer of ownership, not upon transfer of possession.

You can read the rest of Joel Anderson's letter to the FDA here.

China’s Chokehold on High-Tech Supply Chains

2010-06-28T16:08:00.003-04:00

We’re all familiar with the supply-chain risks posed by this country’s heavy dependence on imported oil. We’ve seen what happens when big producers like Saudi Arabia temporarily turn off the spigot that feeds our insatiable appetite for petroleum-based products. But there’s another looming crisis of supply for manufacturers, one that is just beginning to get the attention of major media. It’s the issue of so-called rare earth minerals.

Read the rest of this article on SupplyChainBrain.com here.

Trucking should be back to normal today

2010-05-04T17:10:00.001-04:00

Trucking officials said they may be hampered now by flooding concerns, but expect to be back at 100 percent capacity within days or — at least in one case — even by tomorrow...

...Nashville-based M&W Logistics Group should have its transportation side back to normal shortly, but warehousing operations may lag behind, according to Jason Pitt, M&W's manager of warehousing.

"We had some drivers that did get out, so we’ll be back to normal from a transportation standpoint," Pitt said.

Massive flooding hits Nashville

2010-05-03T17:13:00.002-04:00

Thousands of Middle Tennessee homeowners and business owners will spend this week — and in some cases much longer — working to recover from a weekend of widespread flooding that came as the result of two days of record-setting rainfall in Nashville.

Read more: Massive flooding hits Nashville - Nashville Business Journal

Has you personally been effected by the flooding? Are you associated with a 3PL company that has been effected?

Is Supply Chain Mangement Emerging from the Clouds?

2010-04-08T11:41:00.001-04:00

By 2012, research firm IDC estimates that $7.7 billion will be spent worldwide on cloud services, but the lion’s share of it will go to ERP (enterprise resource planning) and CRM (customer relationship management) cloud services providers, not to supply chain management. Supply chain cloud solutions lag the marketplace, but there are signs now that initial enterprise trepidation about outsourcing supply chains is starting to fade.

Read the rest of Mary Shacklett's article on WorldTrade.

Economic Recovery Tops Supply Chain Agenda

2010-04-01T10:31:00.000-04:00

Economic recovery has surpassed economic downturn in the list of business drivers for 2010, according to results of Capgemini Consulting’s new study of 300 leading companies across Europe, US, Asia-pacific and Latin America.

Specifically, the study found that:

Over 58 percent of the supply chain managers say their main business driver for 2010 is “Meeting (changing) customer requirements”.

More than 50 percent of the participating companies indicate they will start up or continue with operational excellence / LEAN.

37 percent of the participating companies plan to centralize supply chain organizational functions.

On average, supply chain IT projects (e.g. TMS and WMS implementations) increased by 3 to 12 percent, compared with the results of Capgemini’s 2009 study.

Sustainability is the second most important business driver for 2010 — up 16 percent over last year. However, the survey results suggest that this has not yet directly translated into a significant increase in supply chain sustainability projects.

Read the rest of the article on @Risk.com

Public Warehousing Facilities

2010-03-29T11:00:00.000-04:00

Whether you need short or long-term storage solutions, a2b Fulfillment's public warehousing facilities in Georgia can house a wide array of products and arrangements.

a2b Fulfillment offers complete flexibility with both short and long term storage solutions. Their GA warehousing space is configured to accommodate a variety of product configurations, including standard pallet racking, bulk/high cube, and bin locations, with a capacity of approximately 20,000 pallet positions and 7,500 picking bins.

The entire space incorporates Radio Frequency coverage to support best-of-breed, system-directed warehousing activities. Security, Fire Prevention, and Surveillance systems protect the facilities at all times. All warehouse personnel doors are self-locking and access to the buildings are tightly controlled with keypad access.

Why Desert Empire

2010-03-25T15:57:00.001-04:00

"Desert Empire is centered on service, responsiveness and flexibility. We are obsessed with perfection and innovating ways to provide the highest level of service to our customers. This commitment to perfection results in the avoidance of costly errors that save you and your customers aggravation, time and money.

Desert Empire is owner managed and has owner involvement in daily operations. This gives our customers immediate access and interaction with ownership so that decisions are not delayed and service can be expedited."

For more information on why to choose Desert Empire, please visit our California Value added services and Los Angeles supply chain solution.

2010 IWLA Annual Convention Offered Industry Insights and Education

2010-03-10T13:15:00.003-05:00

March 9, 2010 (San Diego) – The International Warehouse Logistics Association offered members unique opportunities to learn how to better manage their companies and deal with a rapidly changing political environment at the 119th IWLA Annual Convention.

Expert speakers provided insights into trends in world trade and supply chain management, how the changing political scene in the U.S. is impacting logistics providers, management techniques that have been proven to improve the bottom line performance of organizations, and how to deal with a host of specific challenges facing warehouse operators, such as food safety regulation.

Among the breakout session topics were data driven management; your Web presence as a marketing tool; safety as a competitive profit center; managing supervisors; key elements of an effective insurance program; the bankruptcy enforcement process and goods disposition; and more ideas from associate members on how warehouses can grow revenues and improve margins using different technology, employment, systems and collections solutions.

Attendees also enjoyed the opportunity to learn about leading-edge products and services at the convention trade show and were able to network among their colleagues during daily social activities.

The 7 Principles of Supply Chain Management

2010-02-18T10:40:00.000-05:00

The most requested article in the 10-year history of Supply Chain Management Review was one that appeared in our very first issue in the spring of 1997. Written by experts from the respected Logistics practice of Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), "The Seven Principles of Supply Chain Management," layed out a clear and compelling case for excellence in supply chain management. The insights provided here remain remarkably fresh ten years later.

By David L. Anderson, Frank F. Britt, and Donavon J. Favre -- Supply Chain Management Review, 4/1/2007

*Principle 1: Segment customers based on the service needs of distinct groups and adapt the supply chain to serve these segments profitably.

*Principle 2: Customize the logistics network to the service requirements and profitability of customer segments.

*Principle 3: Listen to market signals and align demand planning accordingly across the supply chain, ensuring consistent forecasts and optimal resource allocation.

*Principle 4: Differentiate product closer to the customer and speed conversion across the supply chain.

*Principle 5: Manage sources of supply strategically to reduce the total cost of owning materials and services.

*Principle 6: Develop a supply chain-wide technology strategy that supports multiple levels of decision making and gives a clear view of the flow of products, services, and information.

*Principle 7: Adopt channel-spanning performance measures to gauge collective success in reaching the end-user effectively and efficiently.

Bonded Logistics Blog

2010-02-09T15:24:00.004-05:00

Bonded Logistics has been focused on warehousing and distribution in the Charlotte, N.C., market since 1972. Since modest beginnings in a 15,000-square-foot, two-story brick facility, Bonded has steadily grown to become one of the largest distribution entities in the area. The scope of operations currently includes nine locations and about 1 million square feet of warehousing, distribution, packaging and transportation-related space.

Bonded Logistics opened a new warehousing facility on June 3rd, 2005. The new facility has a capacity of 97,500 square feet and has temperature control as well as ambient storage to meet variable customers needs. The new facility manager is Bob Siezaga and the facility is located in Charlotte, NC.

Find out more on the Bonded Logistics blog.

Quality Warehouse Blog

2009-06-24T10:48:00.002-04:00

Quality Warehouse operates in the New York / New Jersey piers on a daily basis providing export and import services to Philidelphia Piers, and other locations. We have concurrences with all the steamship lines and we are a member of the Uniform Intermodal Interchange Agreement (UIIA). We strip, stuff, or transload containers. Quality Warehouse transports less container loads (LCL) to container freight stations in New Jersey daily.

Find more about Quality Warehouse & Distribution at their Import and Export Logistics Blog.

What is WMS (Warehouse Management Software)

2009-05-13T08:28:00.002-04:00

This day in age many logistics companies are shopping for the best available software at the best prices. So what is Warehouse Management Software and how can it help your business?

The right software always depends on your specific needs, but there is always a basic outline:

- higher profit margins
- customer loyalty
- reducing costs
- increasing volume

Warehouse Management Software is exactly what it says. Software that manages your warehouse operations. The software helps reduce order times, produce higher-volume, reduce labor costs and helps control inventory.

Tecsys provides the perfect software for any type of business when it comes to managing your warehouse.

Are You A Logistics Guru?

2008-12-31T16:15:00.003-05:00

As we begin to leave 2008 behind the auto markets are in a slump, financial institutions are fighting for a bailout, (not to beat a dead horse) but in all the economy is just plain awful. Lets hope in 2009 there will be some bounce back.

Since freight transportation volumes have been down for the past three consecutive years, its official, the "transportation peak season" is a thing of the past. Well I came across this logistics quiz designed to take you back a year in logistics and test your knowledge in various sections of the logistics industry. Take this logistics quiz to see if you are Logistics Guru who is prepared for 2009. Credit be given to logisticsmanagment.com for creating this great logistics quiz.

For grins...

The Good Old Days....

2008-10-17T11:01:00.004-04:00

Remember back when the cost of a gallon of gas was pocket change. Well in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, people were filling their tanks for 35 cents.

Yes, its true 35 cents! A Citgo gas station advertised their "Premium"gas for $3.43 but the pump cost read $0.349 a gallon. I'm sure it was a wild circus waiting in line for the pumps. But to bad it lasted only for 90 minutes. Read the rest of the story here :

Stupid Cheap Gas

Let me know if you have stumbled upon stupid cheap gas.

Totally irrelevant but funny....

Improving The US Infrastructure

2008-10-14T10:56:00.004-04:00

The nation’s roads, bridges, airports, ports, intermodal links and waterways are deteriorating to an embarrassing point where it threatens U.S. competitiveness. This is just one of the many domestic problems the next president will have to face. Regardless of who's elected, if the economy is to grow, you need reliable transportation.

I believe that expansion of our transportation infrastructure should be one of the top domestic priorities. The nation hasn't added a new runway at any significant airport since Denver International Airport opened in 1995. This issue isn't a widely discussed issue in the news due to the economy and election. But who ever is elected as the next president, should realize that growth in the economy isn't possible with out improving the infrastructure that delivers it.

UPS Places Largest Hybrid Truck Order

2008-05-14T09:22:00.002-04:00

On May 13th UPS placed the largest ever order on 200 hybrid electric vehicles. This has been the largest order yet of such a truck by a big company. They also ordered 300 Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV) for the U.S. Fleet.

UPS has been working with alternative fuel research to help mitigate climate change risks. These fleets operate not only in the U.S., but also in Germany, France, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the UK.

Currently UPS is the industry leader in alternative fuel vehicles.

Going Green

2008-03-04T16:44:00.002-05:00

Because of growing gas prices and transportation costs, logistics companies are moving more toward going green. Why, not? It not only saves tons of money, but it saves the economy and ozone.

A few of the big players so far have been Wal-Mart, Xerox and SC Johnson. Some companies have even bought Toyota Priuses for technicians.

It is good to see this move, everyone can benefit.

Ports Fee Approved

2008-01-16T16:08:00.001-05:00

A $15 dollar per 20 foot equivalent on loaded containers entering or leaving the Los Angeles and Long Beach port has been approved. This fee will be added to truck or rail leaving the port and was approved by the port commissioners.

The fee will be applied once per loaded container, helping to avoid double charges. The first terminal to handle the container will collect the fee. Fees will not be collected on empty container moves.

The new fees are expected to generate around $1.4 billion for transportation projects.

China's Growing Logistics Industry

2007-12-11T11:52:00.000-05:00

China's logistics industry is expected to grow 20% every year. This will put the industry at $162 billion U.S. dollars by 2010.

In 2006 alone China's logistics industry rose more than 12.1% over the previous year.

To date, more than 60 cities have initiated logistics development plans.

A little update from the chinadaily news.

Kitty Hawk Files Chapter 11

2007-10-17T13:24:00.000-04:00

Kitty Hawk, Inc. and all of its subsidiaries announced yesterday that the "Company" filed voluntary petitions for re-organization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. The filing was made as an effort to address financial issues and potentially find a financial investor.

Kitty Hawk is an air cargo, air freight transportation company, that has been providing over 30 years of air cargo transportation throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Wal-Mart Reduces Carbon

2007-09-27T16:33:00.000-04:00

Walmart has stated recently that it will decrease products on the shelves that are based around non-renewable energy. For example they will cut back on basic detergents, focusing more on high concentration soaps.
This is a great step towards saving money and taking care of mother nature by reducing warehousing needs, storage costs and shelving the products.

Freight Trail Derailed!!!

2007-09-27T16:25:00.000-04:00

In Des Moines, Iowa on Wednesday the 26th, a 27 car freight train derailed. 16 of the cars had been overturned and were carrying soybean product. No one was reported injured according to the railroad spokesman.

The tracks around the area were also destroyed, making this stretch of track inoperable until repairs can be made.

Story reported in Forbes.

Volumes on the Rise

2007-09-19T10:49:00.000-04:00

Freight traffic volumes have been on the rise at a rate of 2.2% since 96. This increase has created stand still traffic during peak travel and demand times.

The DOT just announced aid to at least 5 metro cities that will help begin the process of relieving congestion on roads due to freight transportation.

One such solution may involve moving delivery times to off-peak hours. This change could have many side effects. Shipments could miss cut off points, delivery receivers would have to have someone available for delivery and some businesses just can't afford to change times like the restaurant business.

Logistics services will have to take a good look at how all these changes will impact business.

Shipping Scam, hits the Pentagon Hard

2007-09-11T12:04:00.000-04:00

It has been discovered recently that a pair of sisters / owners of C&D Distributors of Lexington, South Carolina had been scamming the Pentagon by sending small parts via high priority to U.S. Military bases in Iraq. The shipping on these .19 to 1.30 parts was coming out to sometimes over $500,000 dollars which was sent to C&D to cover the costs of shipping, when in reality the shipping was rarely over $100 dollars the report states.

What a loop hole in Pentagon's automated shipping where a couple of people can scam 20 million in funds, and what type of people would actually do this?

The two sisters have been caught and put behind bars, potentially serving the rest of time there.

This story was posted by www.bloomberg.com.

Port Jersey Makes top 100 list

2007-08-28T16:52:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Port Jersey Logistics of Monroe Township NJ for making InboundLogistics Top 100 Third Party Logistics companies of the year! Port Jersey has been rated up there with Bax Global, Ryder, CT Logistics and many other big named companies.

I am glad to see another very reputable company make the top 100 list this year. I wonder who will be next.

08 IWLA Convention

2007-08-27T13:55:00.000-04:00

Don't miss the Annual IWLA Convention and Expo. Located in Palm Springs California, this trip will be well worth it!

The information is as follows:
-The convention is from March 9th to March 11th, 2008
-Over 400 members already going!
-New condensed version for more savings and better management!

For more information contact Scott Brewster at the IWLA.

Diesel Gas Prices

2007-08-14T11:24:00.000-04:00

Reported on Monday Diesel fuels national price average dropped 5.1 cents to $2.846 a gallon. This was reported by the Energy Department.

The decline followed last weeks 1.3 cent increase and left truckings main fuel 21.8 cents below the same week last year.

The decrease was only the third drop in the past nine weeks according to DOE. DOE surveys about 340 filling stations nationally to compile average price data.

This news was recorded and posted by Transport Topics Logistics News

Logistics of Sourcing to China

2007-04-16T17:13:00.000-04:00

Outsourcing is real and it's here to stay it seems. As you all know China's economy is growing leaps and bounds over previous years. One company has taken a different approach to the booming off shore industry growth. 889 Global Solutions creates relationships with manufacturers in China and uses those relationships to exploit cost savings to it's clientele. They handle many of the aspects involved in strategic sourcing to China, including the logistics of it all. They provide expertise in the areas of transportation management, materials handling, fulfillment and planning. For more information on China manufacturing processes visit their website.

Barrett Distribution expands to New York

2007-04-11T14:19:00.000-04:00

For the first time, Barrett Distribution has expanded it's warehouse operations outside New England with the opening of their newest facility in Selkirk, NY just outside Albany. The 35 door, 350,000 sqaure foot warehouse sits adjacent to the CSX Selkirk railyard which is the main CSX hub in the Northeast. The newest operation is another sign of Barrett's dedication to providing superior Northeast warehousing services.

National Warehouse Marketing Coops

2007-04-05T13:37:00.000-04:00

National logistics cooperative associations are a great way to increase your visibility online and by word of mouth. By teaming up with a organization who's sole job is to promote your warehouse and logistics operation, you benefit from another advocate working on your behalf. Often times vendors contact these organizations because of the one stop shopping to satisfy their needs throughout the country through various members. The American Chain of Warehouses, Inc. provides supply chain solutions for manufacturers and retailers with operations throughout the country from their membership base of 20 or more. So consider joining a cooperative logistics and warehouse marketing association to get your next lead.

Palisades Marketing Launches New Site

2007-03-30T10:18:00.000-04:00

Palisades Marketing, a cooperation of third party logistics providers who offer warehousing, distribution and a multitude of fulfillment services, has launched their new website. The new website developed by ebasedEVOLUTION, reflects Palisades' commitment to their members in driving qualifies leads to them.

2007-03-20T10:56:00.000-04:00

Food Logistics has Identified the 50 leading 3PL companies that service the food industry. Among them was named Murphy Warehouse Co., full service 3rd party logistics company serving more than 200 companies. From Minneapolis, services include: public warehousing; distribution; crossdocking; fulfillment; administrative as well as international logistics through our Midwest International Logistics Center.

Welcome

2007-03-20T10:34:00.000-04:00

Hi All,

This is an online forum where people are free to post topics concerning Logistics Marketing Online. More information will be posted on a regular basis, so keep visiting and contribute to the cause!