The city's most famous poet, Carl Sandburg, called Chicago the "nation's freight handler." That title stands true today.

Analyst Insight: Visibility in the supply chain has long been a challenge that supply-chain managers have struggled with, especially when it relates to assets in motion. Fortunately, we now live in a world of constant connectivity, and with that the emergence of applications that enable true real-time visibility to assets or inventory in motion through the support of the Internet of Things (IoT). - John Santagate, research manager, IDC

Analyst Insight: Concern over a potential economic slowdown in 2017 is showing up in both government policy and business strategy in ways that positively impact the logistics sector. Government policies are showing concern for profitability of businesses. Many of the new incentives are centered around logistics. Meanwhile, businesses are taking a harder look at where to make profit in sectors which have thus far shown little margin, such as e-commerce logistics. – Jim Serstad, managing director, Asia, Tompkins International

Last October the British and Chinese governments agreed to allow more than double the number of passenger flights between the two nations and threw the door open to unlimited cargo flights. To date, however, no air carrier has availed itself of the opportunity. Instead, rail, as well as rival ground-based modes, have risen in popularity.

U.S. freight railroads are projected to spend an estimated $22bn to maintain and upgrade the nation's private rail network in 2017, according to the rail industry's trade group, the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

A U.S. startup pursuing Elon Musk's vision for near-supersonic rail transport announced an agreement on a feasibility study for a hyperloop system connecting two European cities.

The first freight train has set off from China to the U.K. on the reintroduced historic Silk Road trade route.