January 2013
1 post
4 tags
Fresh Procurement Insights from Stale Rates Study
Editor’s Note: In 2012, Kevin McCarthy and Chris Brady wrote a post for the TMC Blog . We’re sharing their original post here on Transportfolio because procurement and cost savings are always relevant topics. Please share your thoughts and read Kevin and Chris’s blog post, Fresh Procurement Insights from Stale Rates Study. Should your freight business be put out to bid regularly or on an ad...
December 2012
1 post
6 tags
Guest Post: Is Your Intermodal Perception Reality?...
Intermodal rail has experienced tremendous growth as a transportation solution of choice, with volume increasing more than fourfold since 1980, to over 14 million units moved last year. *Several factors in the transportation industry, such as changing shipper perspectives and the macroeconomic environment support the continued projected growth of intermodal rail, including:
Highway congestion
...
November 2012
2 posts
3 tags
Guest Blog: Medical Devices: Does Supply Chain...
At first glance, when considering the production of medical devices, the key driver should be innovation, at least in theory. However, with recent changes and amendments to taxes and regulations, the key driver has changed. Today, the entire chain of patient care must be considered as key factors in decision-making.
Why is supply chain management so critical? Although the pharmaceutical...
3 tags
6 Strategies for Creating a Successful Technology...
If you are like me, the idea of streamlining all of the complex facets of corporate technology into a simple, straightforward brand message is daunting. Managing rapid release cycles, endless acronyms and cross-functional team dynamics, while keeping the needs of the customer front and center, is the recipe for a true challenge. So how do you ensure success? Here are 6 guiding principles that will...
October 2012
4 posts
3 tags
Is Your Supply Chain "Gangnam Style"?
Can social media really impact the supply chain? Why should you, as a supply chain professional, pay attention to social media? Of course, social media is an important medium for connecting and communicating with suppliers or vendors. But the way consumers use social media can also have a huge impact on product development and demand—and, in the end, on your supply chain. Here’s an example. On...
4 tags
How to Create a Truckload Strategy That Works Any...
Not every surprise is a good one—especially when your customers, shipments, and transportation are concerned. But you can develop a comprehensive truckload plan so you’re prepared to handle just about anything. Here’s a simple formula that many successful shippers already use as a truckload strategy in any market environment. [more]
Core Carrier +1 (or CC+1 for short).
Here’s how it works for...
Cloud-Based and Managed Service Solutions Increase...
If you’re involved in transportation, I’m sure you’ll agree that supply chains continue to evolve and grow more complex and more global. This trend places great importance on increased multi-party interactions, both external and internal, to execute logistics in this new environment. Supply chain visibility, dynamic optimization, service interruption resolution, and technology are all critical to...
3 tags
Why You Care About Who Owns Your Technology...
I am often asked why we invest a substantial amount of capital in technology. It’s a good question. This is why: we believe that the best way to efficiently support our customers’ supply chains is to own the platform. And this is one of the most critical technology questions you can ask before settling on a potential logistics service provider (LSP) or 3PL. Who owns the software they will use to...
September 2012
1 post
2 tags
How Green Freight Europe is Mapping a Route to...
In Europe, any discussion that concerns the efficiency of logistics operations will almost certainly touch on sustainability. Despite the importance of green supply chains, however, most companies struggle to measure the environmental efficiency of their own, and their providers’, transportation networks. A new initiative will help to change this by giving freight managers the means to evaluate...
August 2012
2 posts
4 tags
What’s Missing in Your Total Landed Cost
From what we’ve seen, it is rare that a company knows their true total landed cost (TLC) for each item they produce and deliver. There’s a reason for this. For most companies, there are many costs in hiding. And unless you hunt down and include those hidden costs in your TLC calculations, you’re basing supply chain decisions on incomplete data. [more]
So if it’s the norm for companies to not...
3 tags
Outstanding Customer Service As a Self Fulfilling...
Anyone earnestly involved in supply chain thinks a lot about customer service, but it’s been on my mind even more since the release of the Inbound Logistics July issue. In that issue, C.H. Robinson was honored as the #1 Top 3PL for the second year in a row. [more]
Two things make the Inbound Logistics ranking especially meaningful to me. First, customers do the ranking. They vote based on their...
July 2012
2 posts
3 tags
Where Do You Get Your Industry Info?
On a recent flight from Miami to Minneapolis, I had an interesting conversation with the passenger seated next to me. It started out with the usual (Where do you live? Do you have kids? What were you doing in Miami?). But it was after I mentioned that I’d just attended the Transportation Marketing & Sales Association’s annual conference that my conversation became more than idle chitchat....
3 tags
Transportation Bill Summary
On Friday, June 29, 2012, the House and Senate passed a transportation bill after 9 short term extensions. This version of the bill will likely be referred to as MAP-21 (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century). While the headlines in trade publications will report the important top line figures and financing sources that will fund roads and bridges through September 2014, there were a...
June 2012
3 posts
3 tags
5 Ways Reusable Cargo Drives Sustainability
As C.H. Robinson continues to develop Reverse Logistics solutions for our client base, I see a wide range of client needs and capability requirements. There has been a strong trend in recent years to take a closer look at efficiently managing reverse logistics flows as shippers realize the positive impact a best-in-class process can have on their bottom line. Additionally, shippers are turning to...
Think Small for Big Supply Chain Collaboration
We’ve all heard about the concept of collaborative shipping in the logistics world. To many shippers and logistics providers, collaboration conjures images of ambitious initiatives that take a lot of time, cost, and effort to pull off. These include continuous moves involving multiple companies, and optimization of partial truckloads across multiple shippers to squeeze efficiencies out of...
4 tags
Get Ready for the World’s Largest Charity Kickball...
In just one month Chicago’s Grant Park with be filled with over 1,500 kickball fanatics taking over all 15 fields on Chicago’s lakefront for the 9th annual Kicks for a Cure. If you’re not familiar with the event, it’s the world’s largest charity kickball tournament hosted by TMC , a C.H. Robinson division. Since 2003, enthusiastic kickballers have gathered in downtown Chicago to raise funds. This...
May 2012
2 posts
4 tags
Guest Blog: Why the Chemical Industry Cares About...
Just a couple months ago, Kristopher Glotzbach highlighted some of the key factors in serving the chemical industry. Taking an even higher level view, I’d say that what the chemical industry cares about most from its supply chain are safety (including regulatory compliance), security, cost efficiencies, and innovation. I’d like to share some thoughts on the last two priorities—cost...
3 tags
How Global Companies Maximize Transportation...
I frequently talk to companies about problems they experience with their transportation network. The transportation pain points usually get serious when their supply chain starts to go global. The operational processes grow more complicated, more people get involved, and the number of diverse language and cultural requirements increase. Further, it gets harder to track currencies, local shipping...
