Trucking freight tonnage has increased in four of the last five months across the U.S., research reveals. The American Trucking Associations' advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index gained 0.9 percent in March after decreasing 0.7 percent in February.
Automotive suppliers are struggling to keep up with increased production, according to a new survey, raising serious concerns among purchasing executives.
Energy consumption in the U.S. manufacturing sector decreased by 17 percent from 2002 to 2010, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. It notes that manufacturing gross output decreased by only three percent over the same period.
Most procurement functions are covering the basics of incorporating corporate social responsibility (CSR) processes, but this effort is more tactical than strategic. According to a recent Procurement Leaders study, 82 percent of procurement functions have managed to include CSR in their supplier selection and evaluation criteria.
Statistics show a stabilization of airfreight markets on the back of encouraging growth towards the end of 2012. Compared to the previous year, the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) latest global airfreight demand statistics show demand for airfreight was "apparently very strong" at the start of this January with a rise of 5.0 percent.
Plans to increase coal rail freight rates by 5.7 percent across India have been outlined in the national Railway Budget 2013-14. India's Railways Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal published proposals to raise the freight rate on coal from Rs 685.10 per tonne to Rs 724.80 - a jump of 5.79 percent.
