JBF Consulting

As Thanksgiving nears, it's a great time for us in the logistics and supply chain world to take a step back and appreciate everyone who keeps things moving. Here are some unexpected Turkey Day stats... ???Nearly $60 billion worth of foods and holiday goods purchased are distributed to local stores?mainly by trucks, of course! ???Truckers are estimated to deliver about 16,600 truckloads of turkeys?to the United States on Thanksgiving alone. ?? In 2024, U.S. total turkey production is estimated to tally?around 205 million birds?raised, equaling?5.11 BILLION pounds of turkey. That's a lot of turkey legs! Remember, if you bought it, a trucker probably brought it! Enjoy the full collection of Turkey Day stats here: https://lnkd.in/eFFxnGa8 We asked DALL-E: "What’s the Best Axle Configuration to Transport a Giant Turkey?" Here’s the AI-generated result. DALL-E definitely hallucinated here. Can you spot the Easter egg?

The global supply chain is undergoing a seismic shift. By 2026, 69% of US supply chains are expected to relocate to the Americas. What’s driving this reshoring movement? Recent disruptions have exposed the risks of over-reliance on distant suppliers. Here’s what you need to know: Global events like COVID-19, geopolitical tensions, and natural disasters have tested the limits of traditional supply chain models The balance is shifting from cost-cutting to resilience and reliability Strategies like Lean Manufacturing and Just in Time (JIT) are being reevaluated for today’s challenges Businesses are focusing on reducing transportation distances, stabilizing costs, and improving agility Procurement and sourcing strategies require ongoing adjustments to keep up with market shifts The BIG question: How can we build more resilient, local supply chains without compromising efficiency? For deeper insights, check out Adam Gray’s latest article on the reshoring revolution: https://lnkd.in/gYSEDS29 Follow ???#jbfreporter?for industry news updates

With so much change and innovation happening in Logistics Technology, along with the usual dose of hype, it’s hard for companies to know where to focus. How do you navigate the big trends? How do you position yourself for implementation success in 2025? We dive into these topics and more in our recent conversation with Adrian Gonzalez on Talking Logistics podcast. Check it out!

If you’ve seen the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, you know the line: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Nowhere is that truer than in the supply chain and logistics realm, especially when it comes to technology. With so much change and innovation happening, along with the usual dose of hype, it’s hard for companies to know where to focus. To help us understand some of the big logistics technology trends and provide us with insights and advice on how companies can achieve success with their technology implementations in 2025, I interviewed Brad Forester, CEO and Founder, and Mike Mulqueen, Partner and Strategy Practice Lead, at?JBF Consulting, on a?recent episode of Talking Logistics. Read on for their thoughts on transportation management systems, AI, real-time freight visibility, how to achieve implementation success, and much more. Then click through to watch the full episode. #TMS #transportation #logistics #AI #realtimevisibility #supplychain https://lnkd.in/ekJjnS2C

Many shippers find the return on their TMS investment is harder to achieve and costlier than anticipated. Why is that? You invested millions in a TMS that seemed adequate at first. But as your business evolved, so did your needs. Suddenly, that highly-ranked solution from the "Quadrant" doesn't quite fit the bill anymore. Our latest Insider's Guide "Desired End State: An Insider's Guide to Acquiring TMS Technology" offers key insights to help you navigate this challenge. In it you will find how to: ? Define your desired end state before starting a TMS project ? Look beyond generic rankings when selecting technology partners ? Reevaluate your current transportation management system if it's no longer meeting your evolving business needs ? Assess your organization's strengths and weaknesses to determine the best approach to manage your transportation requirements By defining your desired end state, carefully selecting technology partners, and reassessing your current TMS, you can better align your logistics operations with your evolving business needs. This approach will also improve the likelihood of realizing the full ROI of your TMS investment. ??? Drop a 'TMS' in the comments, and we'll send you a copy of our comprehensive Insider's Guide.

How do you deal with externalities impacting solutions? Assuming a shipper’s TMS has effective optimization capabilities and clean data, these systems are still prone to inaccurate decision making. Real-world events such as port congestion, geo-political turmoil, weather and black-swan events all impact transport planning. ???? Unfortunately, TMS's are largely ignorant of these externalities. Shippers must understand their exposure to various externalities and press the TMS providers to develop solutions that can react to these events with no, or very limited, manual intervention. Find out how to fix these issues in this article by Mike Mulqueen here: https://lnkd.in/eHxV37A3 Follow ?? #jbfreporter for industry news updates image source: AI generated

Global Shipping Adapts to Rising Costs and Changing Trade Dynamics Now that the U.S. election is over and Trump is returning as president, it is likely there will be geopolitical shifts and realignments in trade. What does this mean for shippers? ?? JBF PERSPECTIVE - Insights from Hugo Perez, PMP Key issues to watch out for include: TRADE TARIFFS Companies have already been adjusting supply chains to navigate US-China tariffs by rerouting through Mexico. However, there could be more dynamic routing that adds complexity to shipping. On the other hand, higher tariffs may slow trade with China and other key partners, potentially impacting shipping volumes, especially for companies focused on containerized goods between the U.S. and China. ENERGY Trump's energy policies are expected to favor fossil fuel production, particularly coal and oil, which could benefit dry bulk and tanker markets as U.S. exports to Asia increase. UKRAINE CONFLICT If Trump’s policies ease sanctions on Russia, oil prices could fall, affecting energy markets more broadly. Additionally, if the conflict winds down and reconstruction begins, demand for steel, cement, and other construction materials could drive bulk shipping growth, particularly in Europe. REGULATORY IMPACT A shift in the administration's focus away from global climate efforts could slow the adoption of international standards for cleaner shipping fuels and technology, leading to a fragmented regulatory landscape. SUPPLY CHAIN SHIFTS An emphasis on reshoring or regional manufacturing in the U.S. could gradually reduce long-haul trade demand, resulting in fewer goods shipped across the Pacific. Additional insights: https://lnkd.in/eGdwZCnZ Image source: URSA Shipbrokers Follow ???#jbfreporter?for industry news updates

Have you ever considered that you may not be getting the most out of your transportation freight bid? Or worse, have you ever been part of a transportation freight bid that went wrong? You’ve spent countless hours, preparing data, over-communicating with carriers, analyzing results and running scenarios, only to have a significant portion of your awards rejected. Or perhaps you’ve made it past the awards but find that carriers are significantly less prepared for onboarding than you thought they were. Or maybe you are running a bid for the first time. You may be asking yourself, “Is it possible to run a painless transportation freight bid?” Kyle Spataro shares 7 key tips to streamline your next transportation bid: https://lnkd.in/e-thZ9jq A well thought out procurement process is critical to executing an organization’s transportation management strategy, but sometimes even the most seasoned veterans have difficulties carrying out an effective bid.? Follow ???#jbfreporter?for industry news updates

FMCSA updates registration system to enhance security and fight cargo theft in trucking industry The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is updating its online registration system to improve customer convenience, enhance security for motor carrier data, and reduce online fraud, which is crucial for combating cargo theft. The move from the current Unified Registration System (URS) to the new FMCSA Registration System (FRS) is targeted completion in 2025. ?????? ????????????????: ????An identification verification process will be introduced for first-time registrants, requiring them to scan an ID document and undergo a facial recognition check using IDEMIA technology. ????There will be no fees for ID verification, and users can access 300 IDEMIA enrollment centers nationwide for assistance. ????FMCSA has established a fraud alert webpage to help carriers identify current fraud practices and will update it regularly based on reports from carriers. ????Once the FRS is implemented, only USDOT numbers will be used online, phasing out MC numbers and USDOT PINs. Each user will have a separate account for transactions. ????This initiative is part of FMCSA’s broader efforts to modernize its registration system, enhance security in the trucking sector, and address the increase in theft incidents and their estimated values since 2021. ?? ?????? ?????????????????????? - ???????????????? ???????? Kimberly Lynch The FMCSA’s initiative to update its online registration system represents one of the many steps needed to combat fraud in the trucking industry. By enhancing security measures and streamlining processes, this update aims to protect motor carriers from fraud and improve overall efficiency. The introduction of identification verification for first-time registrants is particularly noteworthy, as the primary purpose is to safeguard sensitive data. A secure and transparent registration process is essential for maintaining the integrity of our supply chains. ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????? As we navigate the complexities behind cargo theft and fraud, it’s imperative that motor carriers and shippers safeguard their business from cyber breaches, implement real-time tracking, and work with lawmakers to support these advancements. The increasing rise of cargo theft not only impacts motor carriers and shippers but consumer pockets as well. ??????????????????: For more information visit: https://lnkd.in/eYF-VzJB Carriers can get updates on the transition from URS to FRS, plus answers to FAQs, at: https://lnkd.in/ePdAYmK7 Follow ???#jbfreporter?for industry news updates

?? Touch Down! Very cool things happening! JBF Consulting provided Enterprise Logistics Technology Strategy Development for our Global Apparel Manufacturer client. We established the groundwork for their TMS selection and implementation for their world-class global freight logistics operation. ???????????????? ????????????????: ???Identification of business requirements and future state conceptual designs ???Financial analysis of benefits of an in-house TMS implementation versus outsourcing transportation services ???Transportation & Logistics software fit/gap analysis #transportationmanagement #logisticstechnology #apparelmanufacturing