Logistics Blogs and Websites

In the last year I have seen a number of websites start up, this one included that are about the third party logistics and supply chain management industry. The great majority of these would be classified as "blogs," but in reality they are just websites. These are informational websites expertly crafted by logistics professionals.

Here is a list of logistics blogs that I read and what I see to be some of the better third party logistics information sites out there currently. (Not counting Logistics Trade Publications)

Logistics Articles and Research
This is a great site for finding logistics articles and information. Features good coverage of third party logistics, warehousing, RFID, supply chain management and transportation.

Supplychainer
A supply chain and logistics blog written by Ehsan Ehsani and managed by the Creative Weblogging network.

SCM Wire
This was once the shining star of logistics and supply chain blogs managed by AOL owned Weblogs incorporated and written by logistics professional Richard Weissman. In what appears to be a farewell post at the end of January, Weissman notes that there will be new authors of the blog in the future. We can only hope that they will be as good.

BlogonLog
Described as insight, foresight for the dawning conceptual age in the global logistics, transportation, and supply chain markets, this is a very good logistics blog written by Michael Stolarczyk of Exel Logistics.

3PL Wire
A great logistics news site offering regularly updated information on the third party logistics, supply chain, warehousing, and air freight industries.

Warehousing and Distribution
This is the official blog for logistics provider OH Logistics. Mostly announces new company developments, but also provides information about upcoming logistics events and other information.

Leangistics
This is a new logistics blog that I recently came across with a great design and some good information on RFID and Lean Thinking.

Biggest Logistics Companies

This is a list of the 10 biggest North American Third Party Logistics companies. These are the big guys. the largest, the most expansive logistics providers in the 3PL Industry.

1. UPS Supply Chain Solutions, Atlanta, GA :: 550 warehouses :: $4.1 billion


2. Exel, Westerville, OH :: 700 warehouses :: $3.9 billion


3. CH Robinson Worldwide, Eden Prarie, MN :: 100 warehouses :: $3.6 billion


4. Menlo Worldwide, Redwood City, CA :: 125 warehouses :: $2.96 billion


5. Expeditors International, Seattle, WA :: 149 warehouses :: $2.6 billion


6. Penske Logistics, Reading, PA :: 134 warehouses :: $2.5 billion


7. Eagle Global Logistics, Houston, TX :: 87 warehouses :: $2.2 billion


8. Schenker :: Freeport, NY :: 405 warehouses :: $2.1 billion


9. Ryder :: Miami FL :: 184 warehouses :: $1.9 billion


10. Kuehne & Nagel :: Jersey City, NJ :: 50 warehouses : $1.8 billion

Source: (2004) Logistics Quarterly

3PL Planner

Today I just got the latest copy hot off the presses of Inbound Logistics' 2006 Third Party Logistics Planner. This is probably one of the better logistics buyers guides out there, so if you are currently searching out additional information on 3PL providers I would highly recommend picking up a copy.

On another related note congratulations to Inbound Logistics for 25 years in publication! Inbound is one of the leading publications serving the third party logistics industry and one that I frequently read so I thought I'd tip my hat to them for their longevity and their informative magazine.

Nearly all of the big players in the third party logistics industry are featured in the planner so after taking a look at this site, you might want to check that out as well as it is a great resource for finding the right 3PL company.

Definition of Third Party Logistics

Third Party Logistics (3PL) is the function by which the owner of goods (The Client Company) outsources various elements of the supply chain to one 3 PL company that can perform the management function of the clients inbound freight, customs, warehousing, order fulfilment, distribution, and outbound freight to the clients customers.
Maxwell

Third Party Logistics is the activity of outsourcing activities related to Logistics and Distribution. The 3PL industry includes Logistics Solution Providers (LSPs) and the shippers whose business processes they support.
Logistics Focus

Third Supply of logistics related operations between traders by an independent organization.
Eyefortransport

A 3PL is an outsourced provider that manages all or a significant part of an organization's logistics requirements and performs transportation, locating and sometimes product consolidation activities.
Bridgefield Group

Third party logistics describes businesses that provide one or many of a variety of logistics-related services. Types of services would include public warehousing, contract warehousing, transportation management, distribution management, freight consolidation.
Accuracy Book

We define the Third-Party Logistics provider as one who is responsible to "integrate, coordinate, and manage functions for the smooth handling of sourcing, output and production".
Barthco

A standard definition of just what a third-party logistics provider is can vary from contract to contract. Is everyone who thinks they are engaged in a "third-party contract" really involved in a "third-party contract?" If a distributor, for example, has the UPS truck pull up to their door a few times a day or week, is UPS their 3PL? And are third-party agreements a threat—a possible replacement, in some cases—for distributors?
Industrial Distribution

Supply Chain Strategies

Different from Supply Chain Management which typically focuses solely on controlling supply chain operations to reduce costs, Supply Chain Strategy is much more broad.

Supply chain strategy is leveraging the internal operations of your company as well as your extended supply chain to meet a specific supply chain objective.

So with SCM you are trying to reduce costs, where as with supply chain strategies you are looking at every aspect of your operations and the cost benefit tradeoffs in order to backup the objectives of strategic business decisions.