Companies that don’t have a dedicated logistics department don’t always have insight into how complex shipping their freight can be. Some of them, however, are aware of this shortcoming and, therefore, rely on big corporations with high brand/name recognition that they see as leaders in the transportation industry. Unfortunately, the biggest name in the business Read more…

If you’ve ever seen a kids’ soccer match, you know how adorable yet ineffective these games can be. The kids still haven’t learned how to communicate and pass the ball well enough to get it in the right goal. When they do score, it’s at least partly due to luck. In the world of shipping, Read more…

Investing in a logistics partner often requires a crash course in acronyms. Companies talk at length about 3PLs, 4PLs, and other equally confusing designations, sprinkling in terms such as “brokers” and “brokerages.” It’s enough to make anyone’s head spin. To cut through the confusion and determine whether your company needs to partner with an LSP Read more…

The holiday season always brings a sense of urgency to the shipping industry, but this year’s normal rush has been exacerbated by the impending Dec. 18 deadline for mandatory electronic logging devices. Fleets and trucks found to be skirting the law will face fines through April 2018, but they eventually will be forced to adhere Read more…

Sheer Logistics announced today that they have joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA). BiTA (www.bita.studio) believes blockchain is one of the most significant developments for the logistics industry since the creation of the internet. By providing more clarity and standards around blockchain through education and promotion of the technology, BiTA intends to be the leading Read more…

Omnichannel supply chains provide a variety of well-integrated order fulfillment and distribution channels to efficiently reach and serve consumers in the digital age. While multichannel supply chains also provide a number of channels, they are not nearly as well-integrated and well-coordinated as they are under the omnichannel approach. Thanks in part to the rapid rise Read more…

There are at least five good reasons to adopt a strong inbound logistics strategy—to restore the balance of power between you and your vendors; to support carrier selection and negotiation; to improve inventory management; to reduce hidden shipping costs; and to improve quality control. Let’s take a close look at each: 1. Restoring the balance Read more…

According to a survey from the Harvard Business School, outsourcing key components of business operations has increased in recent years.  Almost half of respondents to that survey said they preferred outsourcing to hiring new, full-time employees.  Only 1 in 4 felt that hiring new employees was preferable to outsourcing. Why Is Outsourcing So Attractive to Read more…

The creation of even simple products involves huge numbers of participants who don’t know each other. Leonard Read’s classic essay, “I, Pencil,” illustrates this point eloquently, showing that nobody in the world knows everything about making the pencil you buy in a store. He notes the “absence of a master mind” in its creation. People Read more…

Sustainability in logistics, and shipping in particular, is of vital importance to a sustainable economy as a whole. However, the shipping industry has received less attention from advocates for change than other sectors of the economy, such as the airline industry. So let’s take the time now to turn our attention toward “green shipping” and Read more…