Long waiting lines of incoming trucks at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach create an unacceptable drag on productivity, says Mike Stark, president and CEO of Pacer Distribution Services and an active member of the Harbor Trucking Association. Stark explains how adaptive appointment software could help remedy this situation.

U.S. vessel imports have declined almost 3 percent from May to June. Imports are also 1.6 percent below TEUs (twenty foot containers) seen in June of 2012. This year, U.S. ocean imports had a steady increase of 1 percent compared to the volume seen in 2012, but with the low June numbers that percentage has changed. Zepol has found that in the first six months of this year, compared to January through June of 2012, import volume is virtually stagnant. In fact, 2013 is down 0.3 percent, if you want to be picky.

Leading transport and logistics insurer TT Club says analysis of 9,500 claims over the past seven years, valued at $ 400m, confirmed an ongoing trend in avoidable damaging events that resulted in claims.

From the ground, Colombo's port does not look like much. But viewed from high up in one of the growing number of skyscrapers in Sri Lanka's capital, it is clear that something extraordinary is happening: China is creating a shipping hub just 200 miles from India's southern tip.

The complexities of managing global trade are many, which may be why a lot of companies overlook savings available in Free Trade Agreements. Scott Byrnes explains how to leverage FTAs and discusses other strategies to optimize global trade.