Bismillah Logistics

I t is crazy, in a way, to see that the calendar is telling us we are in the first week of December, the homestretch of what has truly been a year for the ages, specifically from a logistics and supply chain perspective. That is not “news,” not by any stretch, but, at the same time, it is worth looking at the year, and seeing where things are and how we got there, and, perhaps, most interestingly, some of the key trends and themes that have developed and emerged amid the madness of these times. It goes without saying that when the pandemic kicked in back in March 2020, there was a tremendous period of uncertainty and unease, given the impact of the lockdown, which led us all to wonder “what is going to happen next?” Well, at first, we saw a lot of things simply shut down—think manufacturing operations, automobile production, in-person shopping, and many more. But that was followed by a heavy increase in online shopping, which subsequently brought about what was called “Shipageddon” as ...

T he long and unpredictable peak shipping season continues to challenge supply chains. A 2021 Peak Shipping Season survey conducted by Edelman Intelligence found hiring to be a strong concern among supply chain decision makers with 90% having a strong need to increase hiring to account for peak season and beyond. Approximately 73% of respondents cited progress in omnichannel improvements over the past year, but express cautious optimism for their company's supply chain and capacity. 94% of supply chain decision makers note that partnerships with supply chain/logistics companies are necessary to get through peak season successfully. These findings reflect a growing consensus in the value of managed services and increasing trucking efficiency. To help shippers navigate peak season, we're covering what's happening in the market and tips to stay successful through disruption. What’s Happening in the Peak Shipping Season Market? A few factors impacting peak shipping season this ...

T he shipping industry has noticed that most of the companies use preloaded containers. So, this makes us assume that drop and hook would be a hit with shippers and carriers? But what is drop and hook, and what are the advantages? Define drop and hook trucking Drop and hook trucking is terminology in the trucking industry, which refers to a delivery option that allows the driver dropping off a full load to hook up to a preloaded or empty container at the same facility. This means the driver will drop a load off without waiting for the cargo to unload, saving time for the driver. This is also known as no-touch freight since the driver doesn’t have to wait.   How does drop and hook differ from live load in trucking? With a live load, a warehouse distributer will load a container while a driver waits on site. The driver will be scheduled for a specific time and dock. While a live unload is similar, but it occurs at the delivery point. The driver will have to wait nearby while the...

T he supply chain of today is, in a word, complex. From globalized sourcing and omnichannel demand to disruptive events and ever-rising consumer expectations, it features so many intricacies that some have even likened it to a modern-day Gordian knot. With complexity comes challenges, especially in the transportation and logistics sectors: Importers are expected to find efficient and affordable ways to move goods from manufacturing facilities - often located half a world away - to distribution centers and then, finally, into consumers’ hands. Ecommerce has further complicated things, introducing new channels into the mix, and the continued market dominance of major players such as Amazon and Walmart have made same-day and/or next-day delivery table stakes. (And heaven forbid there be any sort of delay!) Of course, the logistics industry will evolve to adapt to these various challenges, just as it always has. Even now, enterprising organizations are investing in exciting new technologie...