Logistics Industry Update: June 2014 in Review

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="293"] Long Beach container port.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption] We like to keep you up to date with what's going on in and around the world of supply chain logistics. As facts and figures start to flow in at the start of the month, we'll be reporting what we see to keep you up to speed with our rapidly-moving industry. Here's what we have for the logistics industry in June, including reports released last month that cover wider periods and trends:

• From the Bureau of Labor Statistics:  "Transportation and warehousing employment increased by 17,000 in June." This is a significant increase of the 12-month average (11,000 per month) and supports previous data predicting a strong year for wider intermodal activity.

• The national manufacturing index dropped marginally in June, although the overall level of 55.1 keeps us firmly in growth territory for the year.

• A CSCMP report highlights that total U.S. business logistics costs rose to $1.39 trillion in 2013, a 2.3% increase on 2012. 

• U.S. freight traffic was up 6.3% for the final week of June, capping off a strong month that saw gains posted every week.

• The month ended with concerns over a trucker strike at the Port of Los Angeles / Long Beach over "unfair labor practices," but subsequent reports indicate that  the parties are closer to agreement than previously thought.

  If there are any industry headlines that you'd like us to focus on in more depth this month, don't hesitate to let us know on Facebook, Google+, or Twitter. (If you're not already following Capacity LLC on one or all of those networks, we'd love to connect asap!)