Mustafa Cokol

How not to plan. People often ask me if my WMS can alert them if an item is running low on stock. I respond… “No, why would you want that?” I don’t want stock alerts when stock is running low, in the same way I don’t want my phone to beep at me every time an email arrives. It’s annoying and I’ll deal with it later at the scheduled time. People who ask me this question don’t have an ordered purchasing process and their inventory is out of control. They are continually surprised when stock runs out and so an alert seems like a good idea. Awareness of a stock out or potential shortage within your purchasing process is something you want. Stock outs, shortages and overstocks will still happen with the best purchase planning system in the world because demand is not fully predictable, so you need to respond, but you don’t need to be reactive the moment something unexpected happens. If you’re struggling with inventory planning or warehouse management and want to talk to someone, I’m here to help and you can book a call with me by clicking the link on profile. #inventory #warehouse

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There has been a tightening of space on the Transpacific in May that we haven't seen in quite some time as the international market appears to be strengthening. - US Imports for the first half of 2024 are expected to fall around an 11% increase year over year - For comparison 2023 saw a 12.9% decrease year over year - The National Retail Federation expects annualized gains through August The increased volumes have led to most importers signing annual contracts 12-17 percent higher than 2023, and many importers have yet to sign resulting in the potential of spending the year on spot rates 2.5 times higher than contracted rates. If you're in a position of struggling with bookings in May and the remainder of Q2, please reach out and let us work for you in finding a solution. CLN Worldwide Eric.sisson@clnusa.com

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Selecting the right shipping provider is crucial for your import supply chain's success. Here are 5 things to consider: 1. Know your free days before demurrage charges start. 2. Assess how fast and far your product needs to move from the port. 3. Opt for transloading if traveling over 200-250 miles from the port. 4. Decide on the visibility level needed for in-transit freight. 5. Use a single provider for efficiency and prioritized freight handling.  Working with a comprehensive provider like Schneider: - Simplifies your supply chain management - Reduces touchpoints - Prioritizes your success This leads to cost savings and better customer focus.

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Many of you know I’ve long argued that FreightWaves Contract Load Acceptance Volume (CLAV.USA) metric is not a good representation of for-hire truckload freight volumes in the USA. The recent article Craig Fuller published (https://lnkd.in/gpa4CexE) lends support for my concerns. I want to draw attention to this quote: “Contracted load accepted volumes, another SONAR index measuring contracted load demand, tell us that the market has grown since January 2023. As of April 15, 2024, year-over-year contracted volumes are up 9%.” Here are two facts that raise serious validity concerns (in my professional academic opinion) that make me believe CLAV isn’t nationally representative: [1]: It doesn’t align with Q1 public truckload carrier financial results. When you look at the chart provided in the article, CLAV has been up throughout 2024 relative to 2023. Yet, you have carriers like JB Hunt hauling fewer loads (-6.8% YoY for dedicated and -5.2% for truckload) in Q1 2024 than Q1 2023. That decline can’t represent JBH turning down that much contractual business due to low rates from contractual customers. [2]: Other indexes such as Cass Shipments and For-Hire Trucking Ton-Miles aren’t showing strong YoY gains; they are showing the opposite in YoY declines of 2-4%. The trucking ton-mile index is nationally representative because it is constructed from the Commodity Flow Survey and various government data sources. Implication: while I really like FreightWaves’ Outbound Tender Rejection Index (OTRI.USA), which I believe is a good indicator of the current balance of supply and demand in the truckload sector, too many other data points result in me concluding that the underlying tender volume data are not representative of truckload freight demand. For anyone who wants to argue differently, ask yourself this: are you or most of the other carriers/brokers you know seeing 9% year-over-year increases in truckload freight volumes? JBH and Knight-Swift certainly aren’t. #supplychain #supplychainmanagement #freight #trucking #truckload #logistics

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I'm going to spend 280K next 45 days giving away our warehousing ops for free. Let me explain 👇 For background, we are building our GTM into Europe and the UK. We operate 12+ warehouses across Canada, the USA and Mexico for eComm / Amazon merchants now. But international has been a massive ask for us. We've been in stealth mode past 6 months setting up our warehouses and now taking on a few newer clients to pilot. In short, we are giving brands in the US / Canada the ability to sell on Amazon Europe, Amazon UK, their eCommerce store or other marketplaces. We are going to set up compliance, paperwork, shipping into the country, VAT, localize the Shopify website, and use our local warehouses to fulfill orders. The crazy part? I'm going to do it all for free. No, I'm dead serious. It'll cost me a few hundred grand to do it for a few brands. It's one of the benefits of being bootstrapped, we can pull triggers like this. But I'm betting all my marbles on international, it will work. My thought process? If we can get a brand to set up Canada, UK, and Europe we can add another 1K-3K orders per month through our international warehouses. Also, our retention will skyrocket as we are the key partner internationally and the brand grows too... win-win. We are figuring out the right pricing model at the moment - something we are testing at the moment. If you're a brand/seller doing over 250K / month or an agency managing the brand - message me. I want to set you up internationally, hmu

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This article is so true. To attempt to guess the market is futile. Contracts mean NOTHING to the ocean carriers. Small shippers and Forwarders are at the back of the Line trying to balance business with financial prudence as are many importers. A serious catalyst for further inflation without a doubt. Government involvement is the least attractive solution but these companies will just point to the market and blame supply and demand(controlled by them of course) blanked sailings, cancelled strings and Ports. What’s next?! #oceanfreight #supplychain #monopolisticpractices #ratehikes #deflection #notourfault #getreadyforthebusyseasontax

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WMS Moto - Safety First #supplychain #supplychainmanagement #supplychainmanagment #supplychains #supplychainjobs #supplychainiscool #supplychaindesign #SupplyChainConsulting #supplychainagencymiami #supplychainagency #supplychaintransparency

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Love podcasts focused on logistics? ✅ Love when your friends connect on a podcast? ✅ ✅ Check out this great podcast with Jake Hoffman from Gnosis Freight and Joe Lynch ★ The Logistics of Logistics. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e74UukTJ

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With the 4th of July holiday fast approaching, I wanted to take a look at where June’s dry van truckload spot market rates stand to get a sense if the market is showing any signs of turning. Two charts below using data from DAT Freight & Analytics. Thoughts: •Top chart shows dry van spot rates as well as dry van broker buy contract rates. Dry Van spot rates, while up $0.06 per mile from the April low, are down $0.03 per mile from June 2023. Given diesel prices are down just $0.08 per gallon from a year ago (https://lnkd.in/g5sUVM8V), fuel isn’t driving this difference. •June 2024’s $0.03 increase over May is quite weak relative to what we have traditionally seen in dry van TL bull markets. In 2014 the increase was $0.11 per mile; in 2017 it was $0.10 per mile; and in 2018 it was $0.17 per mile. For that matter, the increase was $0.10 in 2019 (a down year)! As such, spot prices so far are a sign of a cruel summer—my daughter is obsessed with Taylor Swift—from a pricing standpoint. •Bottom chart shows the dry van spot market cycle indicator (DVSMCI), calculated as the broker buy rate less the spot rate, with the difference divided by the average of the two measures. That ratio is currently 16.6%. While better than last year’s 19.9% reading, we are well away from the 10% threshold where we have tended to see markets flip. Implication: dry van spot market data suggest that folks who made predictions of the dry van truckload market flipping from bear to bull in late Q2 or early Q3 likely made an overly optimistic forecast. I increasingly believe the earliest the market could meaningfully flip is Q2 2025, and this will require many things to go right from carriers’ vantages for this to occur. #supplychain #supplychainmanagement #freight #trucking #truckload

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The container shipping market right now can at best be described as teetering at the top of a sharp pyramid. The ability to predict — even roughly — what freight rates will do over the next six months appears more difficult than ever. This is because the two most likely paths lead to extremely different outcomes.

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Would you like to get APICS CPIM certified but need a little push to sit for the Final Exam? - Unsure about certain concepts? - No confident enough to crack the exam questions? - Feels like you still have more questions than answers? Then we offer a solution for you. Join our APICS CPIM Final Exam Prep Online Course and get the necessary tools to master the Final Exam. Who is this course for? Anyone who at some point took the APICS CPIM (Certified in Planning and Inventory Management) program but have not passed/have not attempted to pass the Final Exam. Contact us today at info@scgg.org to get the details and reserve your place. Important: you need to have access to the APICS CPIM Online Learning System. Not sure if your APICS CPIM Online Learning System is active? Contact us at info@scgg.org. Let's get you on the APICS CPIM Final Exam Train - so that you also have a chance to finally become APICS CPIM Certified! See you - Online! :) #ascm #apics #cpim

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You just started interviewing for a logistics position and would you believe it...you've been presented with the wrong candidate? I describe this scenario as a candidate having the wrong Placement Protocols. Placement protocols are those things that make a candidate suited to a particular position. And you just figured out...this one hasn't got them...and is just a waste of time. There are about 10 placement protocols. I've spent years working on perfecting the three main ones that make sure you get the right candidate every. single. time. By the time I bring you a candidate, I can guarantee that they fit those main three protocols to perfection. My candidates will know for certain exactly WHAT duties they will be expected to carry out that make them a perfect fit for the position. They will almost feel as if they've worked for you before and can get a sense of exactly what you'll be expecting them to do. I learned that there is no point bringing a candidate that doesn't know exactly WHAT will be involved. My candidates will know exactly WHO they'll be working with. It will almost be like they've worked there for years already by the time you get to speak to them. I learned that there is no point bringing a candidate that doesn't know exactly WHO they'll be working with. Exactly WHO they'll be reporting to and what will be expected of them. My candidates already know exactly HOW they'll get paid. I'll never bring a candidate who has any doubts about what you'll be able to offer. When I present a candidate like this to you, they will already fulfil all those three main placement protocols as a bare minimum. If you work in logistics and that is NOT what you get now, it may be time for you and I to talk. I'll never allow you to interview the wrong person just for the sake of putting somebody in front of you. Your time is too precious...and so is mine. #logistics #transportation #humanresources #ceo #management

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According to a new report, U.S. port and import performance was strong in May. Container import volumes rose by 6.2% from April and by 11.9% year-over-year. For the most part, growth was driven by increased imports from China, Japan, and Taiwan. But there are some concerns that lingering global supply chain disruptions—conditions at the Panama and Suez Canals, the Middle East conflict, and labor negotiations—could still have an impact this year. #thefreightarchitects #jaguarfreight #logistics

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If you are a shipper importing into East/Gulf Coast ports during peak season, capacity that hasn't been procured already will likely be difficult - and definitely more expensive - to obtain in the coming months. Why? Planned East/Gulf Coast capacity additions have been consumed by the Asia to Europe routes because of longer shipping times due to Cape of Good Hope re-routings and congestion. Increased asset capacity was planned for West Coast ports in an attempt to alleviate the original, larger capacity and congestion problems. This maneuver by shipping lines came before the problems on the East Coast became apparent. No single solution will help shippers avoid higher ocean rates. But they can potentially reduce the risk of higher rates and maintain timely deliveries by diversifying their shipping options and being adaptable during this fluctuating peak season. For more details, see our recent blog post. https://lnkd.in/gKPPDVhG

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🚨Attention Shippers🚨 Reminder: UPS is moving the goal line again Starting next Monday, June 17, 2024, UPS will change the applicable zone for certain origin/destination ZIP code pairs. What does this mean for you? You'll find out exactly how this impacts you on the same day the changes go into effect. (Yes, the constant changes are challenging.) Between the ongoing changes in fuel surcharges, delivery area surcharges, and now zones, it's crucial to reassess your revenue commitment tiers. 🔍 Opportunity Alert: This is a great time to leverage the strength of carrier diversification. Avoid the punitive pricing models of UPS and FedEx by exploring other carriers. #DeliverDirect is ready to be a long-term partner for your company. Stay proactive and stay ahead! P.S. What strategies are you using to navigate these changes? Share in the comments below. ♻️ Repost this to keep your network informed. Thank you! #ecommerce #parcel #finalmile

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🚚💰 UPS, FedEx Fuel Surcharge Hikes to Impact Delivery Prices 💰🚚 Published: May 2, 2024 By @Max Garland, Senior Reporter 📦 UPS recently increased its fuel surcharge calculations for deliveries, with FedEx following suit next week. These adjustments are adding pressure to shippers as carriers aim to boost per-package revenues. 🔥 Highlights: UPS raised the percentage markup for its domestic Ground, Air, and SurePost fuel surcharge tables by 50 basis points on Monday. FedEx is set to hike its U.S. ground and Express fuel surcharge tables by 100 basis points effective May 6. These increases build upon fuel surcharge hikes initiated by both companies in December, according to Shipware. OnTrac, a fast-growing competitor, is also increasing its fuel surcharge tables by 50 basis points starting May 27. 🌐 Insight: FedEx and UPS' index-based fuel surcharges are adjusted weekly based on prices reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Fuel surcharges for air shipments are based on the U.S. Gulf Coast price for kerosene-type jet fuel, while ground parcel shipments are based on the national average on-highway diesel fuel price. The recent uptick in fuel prices is expected to impact delivery expenses, with fuel surcharge hikes and other fee tweaks likely to drive up rates per package in Q2, according to the TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index. 📈 Quote: "The fuel matrix is inherently designed to account for changes in the price of fuel, so modifying the fuel matrix is simply a lever the carriers pull to drive more revenue per piece," said Paul Yaussy, senior consultant for professional services at Shipware. 🔍 Analysis: Fuel price fluctuations have challenged UPS and FedEx's results in recent quarters, with lower fuel prices leading to decreased fuel surcharges. However, projections of increased fuel costs are expected to reverse this trend, prompting adjustments to surcharges. Customers not exempted from surcharge changes will need to prepare for higher delivery expenses as a result of these adjustments. 🔗 Read the full article Keep an eye on your shipping costs as these adjustments may impact your bottom line. Stay informed to make the best decisions for your business! 💼📦 #Shipping #Logistics #BusinessImpact

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Perspective and belief. Reading some of the comments making fun of Cam newton got me thinking. Logistics may be recession proof to Cam if he owns a brokerage or has mainly food shippers? I know some brokerages of all sizes that are growing despite this recession. Their leadership may view themselves as “recession proof”. I’ll tell you what I’d rather have Cam newtons overly positive attitude, then be surrounded by a bunch of people spreading gloom and doom about the market. Telling you how something is impossible or that you can’t do that. Wonder how many people told Cam he would never make it to NFL, or made fun of his childhood dreams . I’d guess a lot. The majority of successful people I have met In sales and business have a overly positive attitude. Happy Friday! #sales #mindset #logistics #trucking

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