Industrial distributors are facing changing market conditions that are challenging their long-standing business models, according to a study conducted by research firm TNS on behalf of UPS.

A small collection of metropolitan markets produce, consume and distribute the vast majority of all U.S. goods, a concentration that puts enormous pressure on specific infrastructure, and demonstrates how problems in one market can spread across the entire country.

Toys "R" Us Inc. has opened a distribution center in Saint-Fargeau-Ponthierry, France, to support the company's expanding e-commerce business throughout the country and in select sections of Europe.

Consumer demand for next-day deliveries adds another level of complexity and higher costs to logistics management, says Alex Pace, logistics coordinator at the Green Design Center. Pace explains how the Green Design Center manages its many LTL shipments to individual consumers and dealers.

As a major distributor of food supplies to restaurants, Quality Custom Distribution must monitor and document warehouse and in-transit temperatures for products ranging across four different temperature zones. A custom designed fleet and tailored solutions ensure supply chain integrity for every customer.

The United States moved closer to legalizing the commercial use of drones in February, when the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published proposed regulations. Although some criticized the rules as too restrictive (for example, drones would have to fly only during daylight and within sight of the operator), there is plenty of time for the FAA to change the regulations before they become final, in one to two years.