For years, the U.S. military has operated drone aircraft in countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan for the purpose of seeking out and eliminating terrorists in these countries. As of now, operating unmanned aircraft on U.S. soil is prohibited except under strict circumstances, primarily because these craft could potentially crash any of the 70,000 manned…
The spot freight market, freight that needs to be delivered but falls outside a regular contract, is showing strong signs of growth as the year 2013 draws to a close. Though the overall numbers were down slightly from the month of October, November had fewer work days. If the growth is adjusted for the same…
The Baltic Dry Index keeps track of the costs of overseas shipping of bulk dry goods. A rising index indicates growth in the market, as prices go up when demand is high. Conversely, a lowering index means overseas shipping trade is down. This quarter looks to be the best gain in the overseas shipping industry…
Beijing based CEO Wang Jing has made the Nicaraguan government a proposal that could bring intense competition to traffic along the Panama Canal, as well as drastically change the landscape of the South American country. The plan involves Jing’s company building a $40 to $50 billion canal from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast…
In an attempt to make the supply chains for those bidding on certain projects with the Department of Defense more secure, the Department has issued a new rule. The rule, howeverm, makes it completely unclear what bidders are expected to do, and if a bidder is found to be lacking in regards to supply chain security, they…
Hiring for the month of November was strong, according to the Labor Department’s Friday announcement. Businesses added 203,000 new jobs total, and unemployment rates are down to about 7 percent. Many of these jobs were in manufacturing, logistics, and warehouses. But analysts aren’t yet convinced that these new jobs are enough evidence of a strengthening…
The high-speed rail program spearheaded by President Obama was intended to improve access to and service by passenger trains to commuters in the Pacific Northwest, specifically in the state of Washington between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. However, the same railways used for Amtrak’s commuter trains are shared by freight trains, owned by BNSF Railway,…
Honda is preparing to open their first new auto manufacturing facility in 23 years. The plant is located just north of Tokyo in the rolling green hills of Yorii. It is one of the most technologically advanced auto manufacturing facilities in the world, making use of new automation technologies that can be used as a…
The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) announced their quarterly index for manufacturing growth this quarter through November was up to 57.3 percent, which is a significant improvement over the 56.4 percent reading announced in October. Any percentage over 50 is considered a sign of market growth. This is the highest growth seen in two and…
The manufacturer’s organization of the UK, EEF, is revising projections for the 2013 production year to indicate stronger than expected growth, and is further gearing up their supply chain infrastructures in anticipation of an even stronger year in 2014. While the overall economy of the UK is expected to grow by 2.4 percent, manufacturing output…