Every day the Baltic Exchange in London releases the Baltic Dry Index, which tracks the prices of shipping bulk freight. This week, prices are up 14 percent over last week, and have reached the highest level of the current year. Though most company representatives only agreed to speak with reporters anonymously, most are in agreement…
Before Republicans gained a majority in the House in 2008, Obama’s “cap and trade” legislation failed to pass. Since then, no new legislation to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. has been seriously considered. Environmentalists have complained that the President is doing nothing to reduce emissions. Instead of trying to push new legislation through…
At long last, the longstanding goal of America (according to both major political parties) seems within reach. The U.S. is set to overtake Saudi Arabia as the world’s largest oil producer by the year 2017. By the year 2025, the U.S. will be exporting more than its importing, and should be fully energy independent by…
Even as unemployment hovers above 7 percent, and 25,000 trucking jobs wait open for drivers, companies are still unable to fill those seats. As experts predict the industry to grow by 21 percent in the next seven years, companies try new ways to lure drivers and boost the retention rates of their new hires. Some…
Supply chains dependent on shipping between Europe and Asia could see even higher costs in the coming months. The government in Cairo is seeking ways to increase revenues. Revenues have fallen recently due to a slump in Egypt’s tourist industry and other factors. As President Mohamed Mursi and officials seek a loan from the International…
On Monday, July 1, the hotly contested new hours of service regulations imposed on the trucking industry by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) went into effect. Carriers and drivers hoped the Federal Appeals Court would rule in their favor before the new rules took effect, and even requested that the FMCSA hold off…
Durable goods manufacturing, seen as a key indicator of market strength and business confidence in the economy, rose in May for the third consecutive month. This is the third time this sector has seen a three month straight increase in orders since the fall quarter of 2011. According to the report by the U.S. Commerce…
Reuters news agency reports that the Army Corps of Engineers is being forced to close numerous locks along the Mississippi River due to rising flood waters. According to spokespeople for the Corps, it is unclear when barge traffic will be allowed to resume due to chances of even more rains in these regions in the…
As production costs and energy prices rise overseas, the U.S. is looking more attractive to companies looking for low-cost areas to manufacture goods. Top manufacturers such as Caterpillar, GE and Ford, which led the way towards moving manufacturing overseas, are once again considering the U.S. for new manufacturing facilities. This growth in U.S. manufacturing jobs…
Since 2000, supply chain disruptions have been on the rise. Dr. Alan Punter, a risk management consultant with 25 years’ experience, carefully studied the rise to try to identify reasons. The study examined business-to-business processes and how automating these processes can benefit companies in the long run.