Posts in category: News Coverage

Surging Class 8 orders in June rushed past 42,000 units as fleets and dealers scrambled to get in line for 2019 production since clogged backlogs and supply chain disruptions have largely choked off the chance of getting a new truck this year.

ACT Research Co. said June orders hit 42,200, up 133% from a year earlier when orders were 18,104. ACT cited preliminary data it will fine tune when final figures are out later in July.

“The swelling backlogs are the manifestation of all the underlying demand — the economy and the strength in freight, the capacity crunch. All those good things,” ACT Vice President Steve Tam told Transport Topics.

During the holiday season, there is always a mad dash by retailers to have the best promotions to lure in customers. In more recent years, that opportunity has moved more and more towards e-commerce and away from the traditional brick and mortar stores. As a result, the pressure has been on large parcel carriers to not only deliver but deliver on time. Due to the increase in e-commerce orders as well as the increase in larger packages (furniture, rugs, etc.), parcel carriers have a tougher time ensuring packages arrive on time.

Transportation is transportation. Not much change there except for the talk about autonomous trucks, right? Well, not exactly. Especially if you’re taking a look at the NextGen evolution of transportation management systems (TMS).

The software doesn’t manage the warehouse, pick orders or do tactical or strategic planning in the supply chain today.

Five years ago, choosing a best-of-breed warehouse management system (WMS) over an enterprise resource planning (ERP) WMS was commonplace for companies with multiple sales channels. As the functionality of ERP WMS systems continue to evolve, companies are considering ERP WMS systems.

It’s easy to understand why parcel shippers might want to use a regional carrier; they usually offer flexible pickup windows, faster transit times, and lower transportation and accessorial cost. And while a regional carrier can absolutely provide these advantages, shippers need to consider the following items before they take business away from their national carrier.