A semiconductor shortage is a nightmare for manufacturers, assemblers, consumers, and just about everyone else today. In powering everything from automobile systems to electronics, we rely on semiconductors in many areas of our daily life. The ongoing conflict...
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is wreaking havoc on global supply chains, impacting everything from lithium production to semiconductor manufacturing. Not only will these effects increase inflationary pressure, but they will also hinder development in many areas. One of...
Early return dates (ERDs) can give anyone the chills. For example, imagine you just successfully finished a grueling negotiation to deliver a large shipment to an overseas buyer. Your company organized a trucking company to transport goods to the port over the next...
Fuel surcharges can add up quickly, regardless of your shipping method. Aimed at offsetting fluctuating oil prices, fuel charges can become a thorn in the side for many ocean exports, freight shipping, supply chain, and logistics organizations. Fuel surcharge origins...
Everything in your home, on the shelves of your stores, and in your warehouse spent at least some time on a truck. For years we were warned that if truckers stopped, we would feel it in ways that we couldn’t imagine. Well, we’re feeling it - we are all feeling it. And...
Most people know the saying about the butterfly that flapped its wings in the Amazon which led to a hurricane on the other side of the world. Well... if you replace the bird with a bat and the hurricane with a cargo bottleneck off the coast of California, you get a...
There are many logistics articles online related to promote owning, controlling and optimizing your supply chain. However the key is to develop your own strategy based upon your issues and your network of providers. This week Paula Bellamy, Managing Director of OL UK...
We all know about gratitude, but how many of us can say that we actively practice it in the workplace? Gratitude has been repeatedly proven to have benefits not only in one's personal life, but also in the workplace when implemented as a part of company culture. Here...
Last week, OL President, Alan Baer, spoke on everything from the future of the supply chain to what makes OL "local around the world" when he appeared on Coffeebreak Logistics - No Booking. Coffeebreak Logistics – No Booking is a show on LinkedIn hosted by Jose...
China Power Situation Dear Friends, Power Rationing is now underway in China, with production capabilities down by 40%!Factories in at least ten Chinese provinces have either cut output or closed temporarily this month, after government-imposed power cuts to curb...
Town Hall Recap: The Case of the Traveling OL USA Library At a Town Hall meeting last month, OL USA President Alan Baer spoke about the pandemic’s impact on the shipping industry and the company’s changing culture. He also surprised a few people when he announced...
Terminal congestion at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have reached historical levels The Biden Administration has announced that effective November 1st, 2021, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will begin charging an “emergency fee” on all long-dwelling...