World Trade - January 2009 - (Page 36) LOGISTICS Intermodal Grows Up The trade-off between price vs. reliability is shrinking. BY KAREN E. THUERMER W hile fuel prices are now on the wane, the stings of exceedingly high gasoline costs, and now the global recession, are factors weighing heavily on shippers as they consider transportation options. Most contend lower fuel prices will be short lived, and no one can predict how long the economy will remain in the doldrums. But one fact is certain: Business is off, meaning shipment volumes are down, and all efforts must be made to hold onto a respectable profit margin. Add to this the growing trend to “think and act green”—a practice that, for many companies, can add expense because it means introducing new processes. Thankfully for many, where transportation is concerned there are economical options. So, as a way to combat all the above mentioned ‘negatives’ out there, many shippers are now considering intermodal. “Today, customers are increasingly more apt to fit into the intermodal mix,” comments Jeffrey R. Brashares, 2009 president of Logistics Services Group, Pacer Logistics Inc. But so far, he says it’s the large companies, particularly retailers and importers of electronics, which are using the mode. The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., one of the country’s largest regional departments store chains, for example, is using intermodal as a logistics mode for the first time. “With the cost of fuel on the rise, we had to rethink our supply chain,” says Robert Hook, divisional vice president, transportation. “After a successful trial run, we implemented Schneider Intermodal into our day-to-day transportation plan and have shifted a significant amount of freight to rail.” Like Bon-Ton’s Hook, Steve Van Kirk, vice president, intermodal commercial management at Schneider National, believes more shippers should look at the opportunities for intermodal solutions to support their supply chain management strategy. Why? In trying economic 36 WORLD TRADE JANUARY Schneider Intermodal
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of World Trade - January 2009 World Trade - January 2009 Contents Supply Chain Finance Conference: The Right Stuff at the Right Time! Is the Dollar's 'Exorbitant Privelege' as the Global Standard at Risk? Supply Chain Watch Tradewinds The Rise of the 4PL An Evolving Tech Backbone Makes 4PL Service More Effective The Changing Landscape of U.S. Railroads Intermodal Grows Up Port of Hamburg Grows as Distribution Point to Eastern Europe Outsourcing Without Fear Measuring the Carbon Footprint World Trade - January 2009 World Trade - January 2009 - World Trade - January 2009 (Page Cover1) World Trade - January 2009 - World Trade - January 2009 (Page Cover2) World Trade - January 2009 - World Trade - January 2009 (Page 3) World Trade - January 2009 - World Trade - January 2009 (Page 4) World Trade - January 2009 - Contents (Page 5) World Trade - January 2009 - Contents (Page 6) World Trade - January 2009 - Supply Chain Finance Conference: The Right Stuff at the Right Time! (Page 7) World Trade - January 2009 - Is the Dollar's 'Exorbitant Privelege' as the Global Standard at Risk? (Page 8) World Trade - January 2009 - Is the Dollar's 'Exorbitant Privelege' as the Global Standard at Risk? (Page 9) World Trade - January 2009 - Supply Chain Watch (Page 10) World Trade - January 2009 - Supply Chain Watch (Page 11) World Trade - January 2009 - Supply Chain Watch (Page 12) World Trade - January 2009 - Tradewinds (Page 13) World Trade - January 2009 - Tradewinds (Page 14) World Trade - January 2009 - Tradewinds (Page 15) World Trade - January 2009 - Tradewinds (Page 16) World Trade - January 2009 - Tradewinds (Page 17) World Trade - January 2009 - Tradewinds (Page 18) World Trade - January 2009 - Tradewinds (Page 19) World Trade - January 2009 - The Rise of the 4PL (Page 20) World Trade - January 2009 - The Rise of the 4PL (Page 21) World Trade - January 2009 - The Rise of the 4PL (Page 22) World Trade - January 2009 - The Rise of the 4PL (Page 23) World Trade - January 2009 - An Evolving Tech Backbone Makes 4PL Service More Effective (Page 24) World Trade - January 2009 - An Evolving Tech Backbone Makes 4PL Service More Effective (Page 25) World Trade - January 2009 - An Evolving Tech Backbone Makes 4PL Service More Effective (Page 26) World Trade - January 2009 - An Evolving Tech Backbone Makes 4PL Service More Effective (Page 27) World Trade - January 2009 - An Evolving Tech Backbone Makes 4PL Service More Effective (Page 28) World Trade - January 2009 - An Evolving Tech Backbone Makes 4PL Service More Effective (Page 29) World Trade - January 2009 - The Changing Landscape of U.S. Railroads (Page 30) World Trade - January 2009 - The Changing Landscape of U.S. Railroads (Page 31) World Trade - January 2009 - The Changing Landscape of U.S. Railroads (Page 32) World Trade - January 2009 - The Changing Landscape of U.S. Railroads (Page 33) World Trade - January 2009 - The Changing Landscape of U.S. Railroads (Page 34) World Trade - January 2009 - The Changing Landscape of U.S. Railroads (Page 35) World Trade - January 2009 - Intermodal Grows Up (Page 36) World Trade - January 2009 - Intermodal Grows Up (Page 37) World Trade - January 2009 - Intermodal Grows Up (Page 38) World Trade - January 2009 - Intermodal Grows Up (Page 39) World Trade - January 2009 - Intermodal Grows Up (Page 40) World Trade - January 2009 - Intermodal Grows Up (Page 41) World Trade - January 2009 - Intermodal Grows Up (Page 42) World Trade - January 2009 - Port of Hamburg Grows as Distribution Point to Eastern Europe (Page 43) World Trade - January 2009 - Port of Hamburg Grows as Distribution Point to Eastern Europe (Page 44) World Trade - January 2009 - Port of Hamburg Grows as Distribution Point to Eastern Europe (Page 45) World Trade - January 2009 - Port of Hamburg Grows as Distribution Point to Eastern Europe (Page 46) World Trade - January 2009 - Outsourcing Without Fear (Page 47) World Trade - January 2009 - Outsourcing Without Fear (Page 48) World Trade - January 2009 - Outsourcing Without Fear (Page 49) World Trade - January 2009 - Measuring the Carbon Footprint (Page 50) World Trade - January 2009 - Measuring the Carbon Footprint (Page Cover3) World Trade - January 2009 - Measuring the Carbon Footprint (Page Cover4)
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