Category Archives: Trucking

Amazon blinks as transport costs surge and pushes use of collection points

Posted on October 15, 2021 by | 1 comment

The last mile is problematic for customer delivery. Amazon’s enthusiasm for ever faster delivery is causing some pain for the company. Maybe it’s the driver shortage?

The Amazon lockers, or collection points, are one way of reducing pain. The customer needs to do the last mile, and there is only one stop for the delivery van. Offering an inducement to use one is one way to get customers to try them. It might work for customers who are out and about every day, and probably drive by one. For stay-at-homes, especially during the pndemic, maybe not.

There’s no easy solution for last-mile delivery.

By Ian Putzger, Americas correspondent 15/10/2021

Amazon blinks as transport costs surge and pushes use of collection points – The Loadstar

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Shippers face tough choices in the US trucking market as costs escalate

Posted on September 23, 2021 by | Leave a comment

It’s a good time for larger shippers to consider a dedicated fleet, according to this consultant. The driver shortage and inability for carriers and 3PLs to offer good schedules are making it hard to book a good service. It certainly throws cold water on trying to forge a long term (say, annual) contract with a carrier.

There are roadblocks in forming a dedicated fleet, too. Trucks are in short supply, due to the chip shortage among other things. and if you don’t have trucking logistics specialists now, you have to set up a whole logistics department, with knowledgeable dispatchers and logistics managers. Not all firms will be able to pull that off. So there are pluses and minuses for a dedicated fleet.

I think firms need to think strategically and decide where they need to be with their customers five or more years in the future. Then once a strategy is chosen, they need to commit the resources and money they need to get the new strategy up and running in a measurable way, so they can be sure service to customers is really improved, and economically for the firm.

By Ian Putzger, Americas correspondent 23/09/2021

Shippers face tough choices in the US trucking market as costs escalate – The Loadstar

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Trucking Carriers head west for a modern-day gold rush — of freight

Posted on September 20, 2021 by | 2 comments

Apparently trucking carriers are rushing to carry loads from the West Coast to inland America. It’s because the rates are much higher for Eastbound freight.

And carriers looking to carry loads back to the West Coast are having trouble finding them. The rates there have not risen much.

Look at the excellent chart in the article, showing the recent changes in rates to and from the West Coast from Dallas.

Zach Strickland, FW Market Expert & Market Analyst Saturday, September 18, 2021

Carriers head west for a modern-day gold rush — of freight – FreightWaves

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