Tag Archives: intermodal

STB rolls out proposed reciprocal switching regulations

Posted on July 29, 2016 by | Leave a comment

The proposed new regulations are opposed by the AAR as we might expect. Rules have not been updated since 1985. The finding is a small modification. Rails who want switching from another line need only show it is in the interest of lowering overall costs, not that the other line is behaving monopolistically.

Something must be done to loosen up the switching rules.  Rails argue that it would be costly and prevent them from making large capital investments. But when you consider that since the 1880’s rails have benefited from free land …

I agree with the last paragraph in the article:  this rule should keep the lawyers busy!

www.logisticsmgmt.com 2016-07-29 09-49-14  New regulations focused around reciprocal switching were proposed by the Department of Transportation’s Surface Transportation Board (STB) yesterday.

Source: STB rolls out proposed reciprocal switching regulations

Thanks to author Jeff Berman for the article!

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Posted in Production Operations, Rail, Supply Chains

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National Retail Federation’s Jonathan Gold Shares His Views on the Ocean Cargo Supply Chain

Posted on July 19, 2016 by | Comments Off on National Retail Federation’s Jonathan Gold Shares His Views on the Ocean Cargo Supply Chain

It’s not the big ships; it’s the lack of coordination. Ocean carriers need to cooperate more with upstream supply chain service providers.  That’s what the National Retail Federation members think.

While that is only one type of supply chain, I submit it’s a somewhat simpler chain than for instance a manufacturer’s chain. That’s because there aren’t as many intermediate assemblers and manufacturers in retail, and products are all expected for sale promptly.  The problem might be worse for manufacturers since they have some items that they want to buy in large batches since they are willing to inventory them, and others they want just-in-time if possible. Manufacturers might require at least two service and performance levels in their chain

  In an exclusive interview with Supply Chain Management Review’s Patrick Burnson, Jonathan Gold, vice president, supply chain and customs policy for the National Retail Federation shares his views and forecasts on the ocean cargo supply chain.

Source: National Retail Federation’s Jonathan Gold Shares His Views on the Ocean Cargo Supply Chain – Supply Chain 24/7

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Posted in Logistics, Ports, Service Management, Shipping, Supply Chains

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Terminal partnerships may respond to larger container shipping alliances?

Posted on June 25, 2016 by | Comments Off on Terminal partnerships may respond to larger container shipping alliances?

And why shouldn’t port terminals form alliances?  The rationale is the same as for liners: it might save capital expense for the ports and terminals when it isn’t being used.  And the problems are the same: how can we keep an alliance together for long enough for realized gains to  be seen by everyone, at lest enough so they won’t depart the alliances.   It’s a classic cooperative game scenario.  I don’t believe it’s been looked at yet.  One thing you can be sure of:  a pricing scheme will not guarantee stability of any alliance coalition.  There will need to be side payments, or a scheme based on some other algorithm than easily measured price.

I have a paper to be presented at IAME2016 in Hamburg on a similar problem with equipment pools for ports.

   The creation of larger container shipping alliances is proving a headache for terminals as the deal with growing volatility

Source: Could terminal partnerships answer the challenge of larger container shipping alliances? – The Loadstar

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Posted in Ports, Supply Chains

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