Logistics KPIs are the cockpit dashboard of our logistics operations. They tell us how we’re doing against plan and flag when things are off and need attention. We’re in an execution business; metrics speak to the quality of that execution ..read more

AIB International, formerly the American Institute for Baking, was founded in 1919 to “put science to work for bakers.” Since then, AIB has grown into one of the world’s foremost training and auditing organizations on food safety, setting AIB standards for quality and safety ..read more

The current freight capacity crunch has not been kind to corporate freight budgets. But a capacity-at-any-cost strategy is not sustainable – even in the short term. It’s why we went back and updated our idea log on freight cost reduction strategies. Check out our 13 Strategies to Reduce Freight Costs. But let’s face it, in the current freight environment it’s more about supply than demand. Some of these same freight savings strategies can help secure the capacity you desperately need. Here are a few ideas ..read more

This is an update of a previously published blog on warehouse change management. With the explosion of technology on the warehouse floor and the increasing use of robots and other warehouse automation, work processes are changing. To achieve the service and cost benefits you expect from technology investments, associates must embrace new ways of working. But how do you get them to do that? Well, we’ve got a story ..read more

The logistics industry is in the grips of a disruptive labor shortage. Along with the truck driver shortage, reliable warehouse workers are also hard to find and keep, and wages continue to rise. Warehouse automation, mechanization and robotics can be part of the answer to the warehouse labor shortage, but they can’t be universally applied. We need to assess automated solutions in the context of key operational characteristics to ensure investments will have a proper return ..read more

The Annual Third-Party Logistics Study has been published every year since 1996. It provides a yearly pulse on the state of logistics outsourcing, and the relationship between 3PLs and their customers. This article provides a high-level summary of the 2022 Third-Party Logistics Study results, based on our read. Access the full report here. NOTE: Although the research was conducted in 2021, the authors refer to it as the 2022 study ..read more

Choosing a third-party logistics provider is a critically important strategic decision, made only after evaluating answers to hundreds of questions related to operational processes, systems integration and other key solution elements. But one question – rarely asked – could actually be the most important question of all in the current labor market: What is your warehouse turnover rate ..read more

The scarcity of labor has become the number one issue in US product distribution, particularly as peak season approaches. We spoke to KANE’s Senior VP of Distribution and Operations about the challenge of developing effective warehouse labor solutions, and what shippers can do to minimize the negative aspects of the labor crunch on their businesses ..read more

Mergers & Acquisitions in the third-party logistics (3PL) industry are on the upswing. Is that a good thing for users of 3PL services? It can be, but shippers working with 3PLs that are the product of recent mergers must do their due diligence to assure that these mergers have only positive benefits. Let’s look at the PROs and CONs of 3PL industry consolidation ..read more

Significant employment decreases occurred in many industries during the pandemic. But in transportation and warehousing, demand for labor continued and even grew. When there are not enough reliable workers to fill the need, warehouse operators must rely on overtime to fill the gap. This article looks at overtime-related problems and offers some strategies to reduce overtime costs in the warehouse through improved hiring and retention ..read more