As the supply chain rose in prominence around the world, so too did the scrutiny it now faces. Because of that, it should not come as a surprise that global ESG (environmental, social, governance) legislation is driving up labor violations. In fact, laws such as the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, Canada’s Modern Slavery … Read more

One day after dockworkers at 36 United States-based East and Gulf Coast ports, from Maine to Texas, officially walked off the job—when a deal between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) could not be struck by 12:01 AM ET on October 1—the National Retail Federation (NRF), in conjunction with more … Read more

Thousands of truckers, mostly independent contractors whose living is dependent upon drayage and other hauls from the nation’s ports, have been idled along with those represented by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA). Some 45,000 dockworkers are on strike. They have largely shut down three dozen or so ports, shutting most of Newark-New York and shipping … Read more

September manufacturing output remained in contraction territory for the sixth consecutive month, according to the new edition of the Manufacturing Report on Business, which was issued today by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). The report’s benchmark reading, the PMI, at 47.2 (a reading of 50 or higher indicates growth), matched August. ISM added that … Read more

As of 12:01 AM ET this morning, roughly 14,500 union workers at 36 East and Gulf Coast ports, stretching from Maine to Texas, are on strike for the first time since 1977. This development was largely expected, especially in recent weeks. As previously reported by LM, the current six-year labor contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) … Read more

Having the ability to quickly adapt to things like change management, emerging technologies such as AI, and meeting consumer expectations are front and center—for both shippers and 3PLs. That could well be viewed as the chief takeaway of the annual 2024 29th Annual Third-Party Logistics Study, entitled “Navigating Change: Insights Into Evolving Dynamics in Supply … Read more

New truck design increases load visibility With a 512-inch lift height and 5,500-pound capacity, Toyota’s moving mast reach truck increases productivity and operator visibility at full height. The combination of a transparent roof and mast design offers the operator excellent upward visibility with minimal load view obstruction. In addition, the tilting operator compartment allows easy fork … Read more

In recent years, the resilience of the U.S. supply chain has emerged as a pivotal concern for policymakers and industry leaders alike. As the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and other agencies seek to fortify domestic supply chains, the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) program stands out as a key component in this strategy. Currently employing an … Read more

Lisa Caldwell, retired EY Americas business consulting leader, said it best in a recent ey.com article titled “What strategic operations means for your business” when she noted that supply chains should be “…the epicenter of operations driving integrated decision-making with business functions, from sales and marketing to product development, to finance, to procurement and manufacturing.” … Read more

Boeing Co. and the union representing 33,000 striking workers reached a tentative agreement October 19 on a new contract with help from the White House, underscoring the high stakes to end a work stoppage that has crippled one of the largest U.S. exporters. The proposal hammered out overnight in Seattle includes a wage increase of … Read more