The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) released the 28th Annual State of Logistics Report during a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington DC recently.
CSCMP collaborated with global strategic management consulting firm A T Kearney as the author and researcher, with Penske Logistics continuing in its role as presenter of the report.
“This highly anticipated report contains the statistics and industry insights that will not only help our members do their jobs better, but also better prepare them for the business demands ahead, in a very dynamic marketplace,” said Rick Blasgen, president and chief executive officer of CSCMP.
The report includes: a focused narrative on the economic environment impacting logistics; insights from interviews with industry leaders, including shippers, carriers, and analysts; a spotlight on relevant trends; and a strategic point of view on the state of the industry.
“We believe readers will be interested in this year’s report for the retrospective view on 2016 market dynamics,” said Sean Monahan, A T Kearney partner and report co-author. “Most importantly, it will provide the forward-looking view on considerations for the coming 18 months and beyond.”
This year’s report shows the first decline in United States Business Logistics Costs (USBLC) since 2009, even as a surging e-commerce sector propelled demand for parcel delivery services.
“Even in this current uneven economy, we are seeing upticks in demand for outsourced logistics services,” said Marc Althen, Penske Logistics president.
Highlights of the report include:
•US economic growth will be strong in the near term.
•Rising interest rates and an appreciating US dollar could increase the costs of doing business.
•Businesses appear to be cautious in adding inventory under the cloud of uncertainty.
•Fluctuations in truck tonnage demand will continue as businesses adjust their outlook over time.
Access www.cscmp.org or www.penskelogistics.com for further information.
