Viewpoint: Stay planted in the “preparation business”

like many of our most relied upon analysts, we’ve taken ourselves out of the year-end prediction business. The topsy-turvy economic news along with the regulatory uncertainly that’s shrouded both carriers and shippers over the past five years has wreaked havoc with even the most thoroughly researched forecasts.

Instead, we continue to renew our vow to keep our feet firmly planted in the “preparation business” by offering shippers the clearest view available of the shifts in the logistics and transportation markets along with insight into the latest best practices that the savviest organizations are putting to work to overcome these new hurdles.

Instead of finding predictions over the next few pages of this December issue, shippers will instead find insight to help prepare for the challenges in 2014.

And what better way to prepare for change than by attending a few conference sessions? Now, we know that logistics and supply chain professionals can’t easily escape the day-to-day rigors as easily as they once could. So, we’ve delivered the highlights of a couple valuable conferences to you this month—one recently concluded live event and one virtual conference that’s now available for you attend today from the comfort of your own office.

Starting on page 90, the editorial staff of Logistics Management (LM) has complied the key highlights from CSCMP’s 2013 Annual Global Conference in Denver. Group News Editor Jeff Berman has neatly summarized a panel discussion covering the impact that new regulations will have on the future of freight movement in the U.S. as well as a couple sessions that covered the state of the third-party logistics (3PL) industry from the unique vantage point of several top 3PL CEOs.

“The effect that hours-of-service and CSA will have on the overall freight transportation system was one of the themes that dominated CSCMP discussions this year, and for good reason,” said Berman. “How carriers, 3PLs, and shippers manage these new rules will have a huge impact on the efficiency of the global freight system for years to come.”

Executive Editor Patrick Burnson offers us his take on one of several sessions that attempted to tackle the concept of Big Data. “The vast majority of shippers believe that improved, data-driven decision making will be helpful as they prepare to get a handle on how new regulation will affect their logistics operations. Yet, according to the research we heard at CSCMP, it appears that shippers differ widely in their levels of interest, understanding, and adoption, and we have a long way to go in closing this gap,” says Burnson.

But the best way to prepare for 2014 is to take two hours this month and experience Best Practices in Logistics & Transportation Management: Preparing for the new realities. This virtual conference, produced by LM and sister publication Supply Chain Management Review is available on demand.

We’ve gathered some of the market’s top analysts and thought leaders to help shippers better understand the new realities facing their freight transportation operations, help improve 3PL relationships, and better systemize global trade compliance for smoother movements across borders.

Today, logistics and supply chain management success is a journey, and we’ll be there to help you prepare every step of the way.