Analyzing the evolution of class I LTL motor carriers: an examination of expansion into warehousing

The current research uses Porter’s differentiation strategy framework to examine Class I LTL motor carrier service expansion habits over the last twenty years. The examination focuses on carriers bundling transportation and warehousing services together to help differentiate their service offerings from competitors. Results indicate that carriers are expanding service offerings to include warehousing services and are providing significant value-added services to customers. Continuous growth in warehouse service expansion was evident from passage of the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 to the mid-90’s

Examining America’s logistics programs via the internet

This study uses the Internet and a two phase methodology to help gain insight into the current state of America’s logistics programs. Phase I examines logistics program structure while phase II employs a modified, electronic version of the Delphi technique to help examine global logistics education practices. The results of the research indicate that, while key differences exist in America’s logistics programs, academicians of the discipline largely agree on the relative importance of key functional areas of the discipline. However, a potential gap may exist between the skills addressed in logistics and business education programs and the skills required for successful global logistics practice

An examination of risk and resource sharing behavior between LTL trucking companies and warehouse providers

Increased demand for third-party logistics providers who can offer multiple services to their customers has encouraged many entities to explore innovative ways to expand service offerings. The current research examines Class I LTL motor carriers who have expanded their services to include warehousing. While there are several ways to achieve a service expansion into warehousing, the current research focuses on firms who have elected to expand by creating a strategic alliance type relationship with an external warehouse provider. The research examines carriers attitudes about risk and resource sharing in the alliance relationship. The results indicate that carriers are moderately receptive to sharing resources with their warehouse partner and relatively less interested in sharing risks with the warehouse partner

Using life-cycle costing and the strategic profit model to enhance motor carrier capital equipment management

Participants in the increasingly competitive motor carrier industry are constantly trying to identify ways to enhance customer service levels and/or reduce costs. This research summarized case-based data from three large carriers to examine the use of life-cycle costing as a method to enhance motor carrier equipment management. The financial results of applying the technique are then examined by applying the Strategic Profit Model

Using active learning to enhance supply chain knowledge

The constantly evolving logistics discipline confronts practitioners with the challenge of keeping pace with the many advancements in the field. The authors examine ways in which logistics trainers may be able to improve their ability to effectively convey knowledge to logistics practitioners by supplementing the traditional lecture-based approaches with active learning exercises. The results of a recently conducted survey detailing current usage levels and approaches of active learning exercises, specifically simulations, by logistics educators is then presented. The paper also summarizes comments from individual simulation participants after they have completed a training experience designed to immerse them in a real world supply chain scenario. The article concludes by providing suggestions and managerial implications

LTL pricing: Looking back to the future

Numerous LTL carriers struggled during the recent recession as customers demanded lower prices. This study is designed to qualitatively evaluate the data gathered from three industry segments regarding LTL pricing. Researchers used semi-structured interviews to conduct an in-depth investigation with over two dozen industry experts who represented shippers, carriers, and 3PLs. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a grounded theory coding technique. Five major themes emerged from the interview transcripts. These themes are used to describe possible future adjustments to industry pricing structure

A financial analysis of the interstate commerce commission (ICC) termination act of 1995 on the motor carrier industry

Since the late 1970\u27s the United States has progressively deregulated the motor carrier industry. Throughout the 1980\u27s, deregulation was viewed as a positive trend by most industry practitioners. Past research has determined that, despite the fact that bankruptcies have increased since deregulation, the motor carrier industry has benefitted by less government intervention. The current study attempts to ascertain if motor carrier deregulation is still perceived positively in the mid-1990\u27s. This research uses an event study methodology to examine the immediate financial impact of the ICC Termination Act of 1995 on 44 motor carrier industry participants. The results indicate deregulation is still perceived positively by shareholders as illustrated by the average publicly traded motor carrier benefittingby between $1.25 million and$6.1 million duringthe period surrounding termination of the Interstate Commerce Commission. In all likelihood, shareholders of companies in this industry benefitted due to the perception that industry deregulation leads to the ability to expand and pursue business opportunities previously restricted while operatingunder a more regulated regime

The Death Throes of a Stripped Massive Star: An Eruptive Mass-Loss History Encoded in Pre-Explosion Emission, a Rapidly Rising Luminous Transient, and a Broad-Lined Ic Supernova SN2018gep

We present detailed observations of ZTF18abukavn (SN2018gep), discovered in high-cadence data from the Zwicky Transient Facility as a rapidly rising (1.3 mag/hr) and luminous (M_(g,peak) = −20 mag) transient. It is spectroscopically classified as a broad-lined stripped-envelope supernova (Ic-BL SN). The rapid rise to peak bolometric luminosity and blue colors at peak (t_(rise)∼0.5-3 days, L_(bol)≳3×10^(44) erg sec^(−1), g−r = −0.3) resemble the high-redshift Ic-BL iPTF16asu, as well as several other unclassified fast transients. The early discovery of SN2018gep (within an hour of shock breakout) enabled an intensive spectroscopic campaign, including the highest-temperature (T_(eff) ≳ 40,000K) spectra of a stripped-envelope SN. A retrospective search revealed luminous (M_g ∼ M_r ≈ −14mag) emission in the days to weeks before explosion, the first definitive detection of precursor emission for a Ic-BL. We find a limit on the isotropic gamma-ray energy release E_(γ,iso) < 4.9×10^(48) erg, a limit on X-ray emission L_X < 10^(40) erg sec^(−1), and a limit on radio emission νL_ν ≲ 10^(37) erg sec^(−1). Taken together, we find that the data are best explained by shock breakout in a massive shell of dense circumstellar material (0.02 M⊙) at large radii (3×10^(14)cm) that was ejected in eruptive pre-explosion mass-loss episodes

Biomass production of herbaceous energy crops in the United States: field trial results and yield potential maps from the multiyear regional feedstock partnership

Current knowledge of yield potential and best agronomic management practices for perennial bioenergy grasses is primarily derived from small-scale and short-term studies, yet these studies inform policy at the national scale. In an effort to learn more about how bioenergy grasses perform across multiple locations and years, the U.S. Department of Energy (US DOE)/Sun Grant Initiative Regional Feedstock Partnership was initiated in 2008. The objectives of the Feedstock Partnership were to (1) provide a wide range of information for feedstock selection (species choice) and management practice options for a variety of regions and (2) develop national maps of potential feedstock yield for each of the herbaceous species evaluated. The Feedstock Partnership expands our previous understanding of the bioenergy potential of switchgrass, Miscanthus, sorghum, energycane, and prairie mixtures on Conservation Reserve Program land by conducting long-term, replicated trials of each species at diverse environments in the U.S. Trials were initiated between 2008 and 2010 and completed between 2012 and 2015 depending on species. Field-scale plots were utilized for switchgrass and Conservation Reserve Program trials to use traditional agricultural machinery. This is important as we know that the smaller scale studies often overestimated yield potential of some of these species. Insufficient vegetative propagules of energycane and Miscanthus prohibited farm-scale trials of these species. The Feedstock Partnership studies also confirmed that environmental differences across years and across sites had a large impact on biomass production. Nitrogen application had variable effects across feedstocks, but some nitrogen fertilizer generally had a positive effect. National yield potential maps were developed using PRISM-ELM for each species in the Feedstock Partnership. This manuscript, with the accompanying supplemental data, will be useful in making decisions about feedstock selection as well as agronomic practices across a wide region of the country