Transportation TIP List: Week of November 18th, 2018

While every family has its own traditions, we can all agree that there is a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Our TIP List this week highlights some of the latest supply chain trends to gobble up, including the impact of “Turkey Day” on the reefer and van markets and the most recent consumer spending numbers. Read on for a serving of this week’s industry news!

• U.S. Retail Sales Rebound, But Consumer Spending Slowing: U.S. retail sales rebounded sharply in October as purchases of motor vehicles and building materials surged, but data for the prior two months was revised lower and the underlying trend suggested that consumer spending was slowing down.

• Thanksgiving Surge Boosts Reefer Prices; Van Freight Heads East: With Thanksgiving approaching, it’s the reefer segment that is driving seasonal demand, as grocery stores prepare for the big day. And with e-commerce season still building, we may soon see an increase in van demand and rates as well.

• As Freight on Trucks Becomes More Valuable, Thieves Get Creative in Their Attempts to Steal It: Virtually every commercial big-rig truck rolling down the highway these days is carrying goods that can represent hundreds of thousands of dollars. For cargo thieves, those are inviting targets that are easy to attack, and in many cases the products can quickly be turned into cash.

• As Disruptions Accelerate, Supply Chains Learn to Measure Them: At a time when supply chains are growing increasingly complex, disruptions such as natural disasters, cyberattacks and geopolitical conflicts can have a significant impact on speed and sourcing. As a result, a new wave of KPIs is emerging — such as time-to-recovery — to help executives benchmark their operations.

• FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index (TCI) Falls, But Remains Solid Overall: For September, the most recent month for which data is available, the TCI reading was 4.58. This marks a drop-off from July’s 14.04 (which was a 14-year high) and August’s 10.24.

What supply chain trends are you following this Thanksgiving?