JBF Consulting

What does Fall Maintenance and TMS Data Decay have in common? You know how I love analogies and I couldn't resist this one. Just as fall is the time to prepare your lawn for the seasons ahead, Mike Mulqueen and I will share some wisdom on how to optimize your TMS for peak performance. Join us here on LinkedIn, next Thursday, October 17 at 2p ET for an entertaining discussion on our favorite topic! Register here: https://lnkd.in/e7yF9nBe We will dig into advanced strategies for system upkeep and explore how AI can help your TMS perform with efficiency. What you will takeaway from our conversation: • Uncover innovative approaches to "rake through" your TMS data and prune system decay • Explore how AI can act as a "smart fertilizer" for your TMS, optimizing routing, mode selection, and overall system performance • Learn strategies for "overseeding" your TMS with AI insights to enhance operational capabilities • Gain perspective on evolving from manual "yard work" to AI-driven proactive TMS management Follow 🔔 #jbfreporter for industry news updates

Cost savings and modernization for shippers on the horizon with DOT's proposes hazmat regulations overhaul. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲? The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) $100 million cost-saving proposal to simplify hazardous material regulations is expected to generate huge cost savings for businesses. The proposal includes several key updates: ☣️  Simplifying hazard communication requirements for fuels, including gasoline, transported in tanker trucks ☣️  Updating packaging practices for hazardous materials transportation to accommodate the latest technologies and business practices ☣️  Introducing video and fiber-optic technologies for inspecting and calibrating cargo tanks and improving design standards for rail tank cars ☣️  Revising bonding and grounding requirements to include combustible liquids, enhancing safety during the transfer of these materials ☣️  Allowing electronic submission for registration requirements and streamlining administrative processes 📌 𝗝𝗕𝗙 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 - 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 Kimberly Lynch The majority will welcome the DOT’s proposed rule to simplify hazardous material regulations. By modernizing outdated regulations and incorporating the latest technological advancements, the proposal addresses the evolving needs of the industry. Simplifying hazard communication requirements for fuels transported in tanker trucks will significantly reduce the administrative burden on truck drivers. Additionally, encouraging innovation in rail car design and adopting video and fiber-optic technologies for cargo tank inspections ensures our railways are also modernized. This long overdue approach aligns with current business practices and sets a foundation for future advancements, ensuring that the transportation of hazardous materials remains secure and efficient. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀? Businesses should start preparing by familiarizing themselves with the proposed changes, investing in relevant technologies, and training their workforce to adapt to the new standards, ensuring a seamless transition and continued compliance. For more information, here's the source article: https://lnkd.in/eN-RvWaq Follow 🔔 #jbfreporter for industry news updates 𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦: 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘷𝘢 𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘔𝘚𝘊𝘈 𝘏𝘢𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦

Why Most Shippers STRUGGLE with Data Management! Mike Mulqueen and I had some fun recording our tidbits of wisdom for shippers. These are some of the rough cuts. Let us know what you think! Mike: I would take slightly contrarian perspective on this just because Brad: Oh it's so like you Mike: Over the past 30 years the number of shippers that I think are really good at Master Data Management I can count on one hand. It's very very small. So if the competency of a typical shipper cannot put together processes, people, and technology to manage these systems then maybe it's incumbent upon either the tech vendors or third-party consultants, like JBF Consulting to help the clients. We see this often and we call it "the immediate decay of the application upon go-live". 

How will the ILA strike affect the truckload freight market? We are arguably deep into a soft demand cycle for Truckload freight. The ILA strike in 36 ports related to international cargo seems unrelated to the domestic truckload segment. However, we all know the US supply chain is interconnected, and the current truckload recession is based on a dwindling demand over the past couple of years -- squeezing supply out of the market with rates that keep going lower.  So, will the ILA strike squeeze demand even lower? Not likely, overall demand will still be there, but there will be a disruption to flow and source points and transit lanes. Most retailers and other industries have prepared for this strike as a contingency, likely putting inventory in non-traditional locations along with increasing imports through the West coast ports.  The most likely outcome is that port closures for more than a few days will cause significant network shifts that lengthen will length-of-haul.  In-transit shipments will need to be diverted to alternative ports, such as Vancouver, Prince Rupert, or Halifax in Canada, or Lazaro Cardenas in Mexico. From there, they can be transloaded onto rail for further transportation and, where the rail network cannot support this incremental volume or the transit time needs, truckload will also see these increased long-haul moves. All of this will manifest as a temporary “demand increase” for truckload, which should easily be absorbed and welcomed by the current truckload market. A longer-term strike could impact the truckload market could spawn with additional challenges and disruption. Repositioning equipment will increase empty miles and potentially cut into thin trucking margins. The uptick in volume/miles from the ILA strike followed by a fall-off in volume/miles could further deepen the pain and force even more truckers out of business if ‘false-positive’ recovery signals lure trucking companies to invest in the wrong areas.  A backdrop for this entire setting is that it is an election year, and the government is focused on controlling inflation. Companies may incur additional costs by rerouting goods or opting for air freight, which is much more expensive than ocean shipping. These added costs are often passed on to consumers, leading to higher retail prices. If the strike continues for an extended period, prolonged disruptions in the supply chain and increased operational costs could contribute to sustained inflation, making a wide range of products more expensive for consumers. Buckle up and stay tuned! Follow 🔔 #jbfreporter for industry news updates

It takes a great deal of effort to produce a quality podcast. The sound, the editing, the choice of guest, the topics, the ability of the hosts to guide the conversation, the rapport, and the sponsors who support the efforts all play a part in creating a great show.  Today, we want to acknowledge the incredible content producers in our industry who consistently deliver valuable insights. The logistics geeks at JBF Consulting thank you all! Back in 2020, we started a modest list of 30 podcasts focusing on our industry. Today, our curated list features 121 remarkable shows covering topics from procurement and trucking to sustainability and freight tech. Check it out and let us know which ones are your favorites! ⭐️ Give a listen, and if you like a show, let the hosts know with a 5-star rating! This is a 📣 Shout Out 📣 to just a small sampling of hosts! Be sure to explore the full directory of over 121 podcast shows we track each month: https://lnkd.in/e-KzkR-Q And if you know of an industry podcast we've missed, please let us know! 🎙 Adrian Gonzalez 🎙 Bernie Wagenblast 🎙 Blythe Brumleve 🎙 Boris Felgendreher 🎙 Chris Barnes 🎙 Chris Jolly 🎙 Garry Skinner 🎙 Joe Lynch ★ The Logistics of Logistics 🎙 Kelly Barner 🎙 Kevin Hill 🎙 Kevin Lawton, CLTD 🎙 Michael King 🎙 Nate Cross 🎙 Nate Shutes 🎙 Paul-Bernard Jaroslawski 🎙 Philip Ideson 🎙 Radu Palamariu 🎙 Robert Bain 🎙 Robert Bowman 🎙 Sam Gupta 🎙 Sarah Barnes-Humphrey 🎙 Scott Luton 🎙 Timothy Dooner 🎙 Tom Raftery #internationalpodcastday

🎉 Brad Forester, Chris Doersen, PMP, Tony Wayda, Bernadette Harmon, and Griffin Holub from our team will be attending the 2024 Descartes Forum. And this year JBF Consulting is a proud sponsor of the event! Let us know if you'll be there. We'd love to connect!  

This edition of The Digital Logistician presents a Commercial Trucking Operating Costs Mid-Year 2024-Q3 Update. Truckload costs and the associated market prices are—for three years in a row now—still at or near the lowest threshold that the market can support. Last year, we predicted a gradual rise in truckload rates as demand increased incrementally and capacity kept pace. Rates have remained stable, with reduced fuel prices countering rising driver wages and equipment costs.

Join us for an engaging (and entertaining) conversation featuring Tony Wayda of JBF Consulting and Brian Carlson of Cornerstone Edge, both leaders in Transportation and Warehouse Management, as they discuss the complexities of mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures and how it impacts your logistics strategy. We'll dive into: * Taming runaway software costs * Seamlessly splitting operations * Streamlining distribution networks * Managing external partner shakeups You will learn actionable strategies and practical tips, backed by real-world examples and expert insights, to help you navigate common pitfalls and keep your supply chain running smoothly during major business transitions.