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PGL Video Newsletter – January 2023

PGL Video Newsletter – January 2023

Welcome to the PGL Video Newsletter, where we give you a brief recap of all of the activity from the prior month. January was full of activity, and here’s a peek at just some of it:

  • We celebrated Lunar New year and attended the SHOT Show in Las Vegas in January.
  • Next, we hear from Jodi Flynn of PGL Customs who gives us customs tips and talks about PGL’s unique capabilities.
  • Preview: In this Special Report by Tim Gundlach, we explore many factors involved in the current state of the logistics industry and provide our analysis on what it means moving forward into 2023.
  • PGL Is Hiring! We are looking for great people to join our fun and dynamic team. We are hiring at multiple stations across the U.S..

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Industry Insights Special Report: Moving Past 2022 and Looking Ahead to 2023

 

Industry Insights Special Report: Moving Past 2022 and Looking Ahead to 2023

January 2023

By Tim Gundlach

As a leading logistics service provider, PGL does more than move cargo for our client/partners. Much of our “value add” is in keeping them advised of current conditions and offering our best advice on what we see coming that can have an impact on their business. As such, thank you for watching and allowing us to share some thoughts on what lies ahead.
First let’s discuss 2022…

It was another highly challenging year for all of us involved in the global supply chain. The story of 2022 cannot be told without discussing “Black Swan Events”. “Black Swan Events” are defined as an unpredictable event that is beyond what is normally expected of a situation but that has potentially severe consequences. The truth is that “Black Swan Events” are nothing new to the logistics business. However, the frequency and severity of facing so many events within such a short period is unprecedented and a “Black Swan event” in itself. In 2022, these events included things such as Chinese covid lockdowns of entire cities, massive port and rail congestion, actual or threatened labor strikes, geopolitical events such as the war in Ukraine, blockage of the Suez Canal, etc. All of these events would have profound consequences on their own, but when combined caused additional layers of complexity resulting in a “bull whip” effect going from one extreme to another in a short period of time.
As we enter 2023, let’s examine the current status of the two of the major modes of international transportation:

Ocean Transportation:
With the sudden rise in capacity and drop in demand, rates have plummeted reaching near pre-pandemic levels. With the abundance capacity, Steamship Lines are increasing blank sailings to help mitigate further collapse in rates. Labor issues have been pushed down the line for now, and rail congestion issues are clearing up.

Air Freight:
Air Freight volumes ended 2022 with nine consecutive months of decline. Some of the factors leading to this decline are related to the return of supply on the ocean transportation mode as a more cost-effective option for non-urgent or low valued merchandise. The drastic fall in ocean rates is pulling many shipments back to the ocean freight mode. Additionally, the return of increasing capacity via belly space on passenger aircraft now that travel recovery is gaining momentum. Although considered weak by the pandemic era, performance in many regions remain 85% above the pre-covid levels.
Looking to the future, the following are thoughts on what we might expect on the industry and the major events that impacted us in 2022.

Ocean Freight:
Demand should remain well below 2022 level at least until major retailers have cleared out the stockpile of inventory carried into 2023. Growth in capacity can be predicted accurately with an increase in fleet growth by ship builders to the tune of 7% in each of 2023 and 2024; however, it could in fact be as high as 10% if projected vol of fleet scrapping doesn’t take place as expected. On-time performance, which has shown improvement in late 2022 due to a clearing of the port and rail congestion, will continue improvement only hampered by the increase in blank sailings again adding some level of schedule unpredictability although at a much lower level than 2022. Pricing should remain near current levels with some industry experts even predicting a rate war between carriers sometime in 2023.

Air Freight:
For air cargo, the first part 2023 continues with decreased demand due to the economy and increasing supply with the resurgence of passenger travel. Normally, one would expect rates to decline under these conditions however, fuel and inflation are expected to push back resulting in a slow stabilization and the return of near pre-pandemic pricing.

Rail:
There are many challenges facing the rail industry in 2023. One of the biggest is how to improve service and address labor issues. Both shippers and unions are pressing Congress to pass legislation that would give the Surface Transportation board more regulatory authority.

Economy:
Although predictions by financial institutions vary greatly, most have agreed that some degree of recession is on the horizon. Global growth in 2023 is expected to be below 2% which would result in one of the weakest years in nearly four decades. Experts disagree on the severity of the recession and the timeframe for recovery; however, many US companies are now announcing mass lay-offs as a precautionary cost saving measure driven by the weakening economic forecasts.

Labor Strikes:
There were 374 worker strikes started in 2022, representing a 39% increase over 2021. To name only a few there were actual or potential strikes by US Longshoreman, Portuguese rail workers, Airport Workers in the UK, and lockout of tugboat crews in Australia. Fueled by anger over working conditions and high inflation, the low employment rate and worker shortages gave workers more leverage, but this isn’t the whole story. One of the biggest factors was led by wins of other labor unions. The belief being that conditions were right and if your labor union doesn’t secure its biggest raises now, they are leaving money on the table.

Global Conflict:
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has affected the global logistics market on every level. The war has impeded the flow of goods, fueled cost increases and product shortages, and created catastrophic food shortages around the globe. Russia has been destroying Ukraine’s agricultural infrastructure, thereby disrupting the entire supply chain. The Black Sea and Azov Sea had been blocked by Russia, and the Ukrainian grain shipments were hijacked in the early months of the attack. In July, Russia and Ukraine signed a United Nations (UN) deal to unblock Ukrainian grain exports from three Black Sea ports to ease shortages. Despite the deal, Russia attacked Odesa’s seaport with cruise missiles hours after signing the deal. The uncertainty has had a snowball effect on supply chains across the globe.

China Covid Lockdown Policies:
China has reversed its pandemic policies. Even with a 30-40% decline in orders, logistics managers are still having to warn clients of delays in their factories being able to complete orders. This is because with the reversal of these policies, there is now a massive wave of infections impacting the labor force there. Some projections have this as high as 75% of labor being impacted and unable to work. As we enter Lunar New Year celebrations where migrant workers return to their hometowns, the further spread to more rural areas seems imminent. This is already impacting the major Chinese ports. Continued disruption after the Lunar New Year holidays are expected but should gradually improve as China’s population develops some immunity to the virus.

Global Protectionist Strategies:
More and more countries are implementing, or considering implementing, protectionist strategies to stem exports and protect domestic needs. The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) says the trend is one of global concern. It has identified food and oil as common targets for protectionist schemes, but that the range of product categories affected is expanding. These schemes are intended to offer protection during a crisis, but the continuing rise in their adoption can have a huge impact on the freight forwarding industry.

Nearshoring:
The wave of crises that arose over the last five years –from COVID and the China-US trade conflict, to high inflation and the Russian invasion of Ukraine– gave pause to developed economies in the West who have for long been overly dependent on Asia as a source of raw materials and cheap, manufacturing power. Consequently, the terms “nearshoring” and “friendshoring” gained prominence. A recent survey conducted by Capterra which surveyed 300 Small to Medium sized businesses show that 88% plan to or are currently switching at least some of their suppliers closer to the US in 2023. The big lesson for manufacturers in 2022 was: to not put all of their eggs in one basket. Many are considering a “China +1” policy meaning to continue sourcing from China but to also have other suppliers in other countries to diversify risks.
In conclusion: We view 2023 as not the end of the pandemic era, but perhaps the beginning of the end and a return to something resembling a new normal. However, we should remain diligent in remembering lessons learned with one key takeaway: “Always expect the unexpected”. PGL will do our part to keep you updated. As always, my colleagues and I remain available to discuss your particular needs or concerns at any time. We are here for you, please let us know how we can help.

Follow us on social media at @ShipPGL

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China’s “New Normal”: Managing Manufacturing & Supply Chain Expectations for 2023

 

China’s “New Normal”: Managing Manufacturing & Supply Chain Expectations for 2023

January 2023

On the heels of China abandoning their “Zero Covid” policy, businesses and investors are expecting a surge of Covid cases that will likely cause manufacturing and supply chain disruptions in the first half of the year, if not longer. Savvy businesses will make moves to mitigate the impact of these issues, but it’s not all bad news, as we will explore here.

The two major factors that will have the greatest impact are labor shortages and disruption in logistics.

For the workforce, the challenges come in the form of a spike in Covid cases leading to lost hours availability and technology implementation which could be more difficult to institute with skilled workers to install and maintain this technology being in shorter supply.

When it comes to logistics, trans-pacific trade has evolved to address the impact of Covid in general. The global supply chain shifted from “just in time” logistics and instead implemented “just in case” logistics. This has lead to an industry-wide scramble to obtain warehousing stateside, thereby adding cost. In addition to this, we can expect higher freight pricing and extended timeframes.

To stay ahead of potential supply chain disruptions, companies should explore these three options:

  1. Inventory materials and plan ahead. Whether that’s stockpiling raw materials or key components, having greater-than-usual stock on-hand can make the difference when it comes to keeping manufacturing online.
  2. Identify alternative suppliers. Doing this work in advance and having “Plan B” conversations can help grease the skids if your primary supplier hits a roadblock.
  3. Invest in technology. Simply put, automation, while not an antidote, can have a significant impact on mitigating the effects of the unknown.

Is China’s delayed pandemic too hot to handle for your business? If so, relocating some or all of your production to Vietnam can be a viable alternative. Due to their proximity to China, affordable workforce and well-developed trade agreements, many are finding this option attractive.

So what is the good news, you ask? There are reasons for optimism in the future, taking the form of relaxed travel and quarantine restrictions, allowing for the exploration of new partners that has been limited since the Pandemic began, and, perhaps best of all, lower cost of doing business with expected moves such as tax breaks, government incentives, and free trade agreements.

Though the situation isn’t without its challenges, if the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that business keeps moving, and PGL is here to keep your business moving. Visit ShipPGL.com, and let us help you find peace of mind with your logistics and supply chain concerns.

Follow us on social media at @ShipPGL

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Merry Christmas 2022 from PGL

Merry Christmas 2022 from PGL

When you’ve had enough of the old standards, give this one a spin. Here at PGL, we’ve got the spirit year-round!

 

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Industry Insights – December 2022

 

Supply Chain Industry Insights

December 2022

By Tim Gundlach

In the United States the biggest concern for November was the possibility of a rail strike on the West Coast. As a result, most ocean cargo was diverted to the Gulf and East Coasts. This shift helped clear the port & rail congestion issues for the West Coast ports and inland rail yards, but shifted those issues to the Gulf and East Coasts. To add to challenges on the East Coast, on November 10th, a late-season tropical storm increased in strength and became Hurricane Nicole. The hurricane made landfall near Vero Beach, Florida then made its way up the East Coast impacting the ports of Miami, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Savannah, and Charleston before weakening into a tropical storm and heading back into the Atlantic Ocean.

Simultaneously, the world’s economy continued to slow with steamship lines & airlines pulling capacity from Transpacific routes. The reduction in demand outpaced the reduction in capacity which resulted in a continuous drop in rates for both air and ocean transportation. The increase in blank sailings then began to manifest itself in other ways, like ports becoming clogged with empty shipping containers. The Port of New York and New Jersey were forced to threaten ocean carriers with potential penalties to accelerate the removal of the empty containers which numbered as high as 200,000 in July of 2022.

On November 14th, the Australian supply chain became an area of focus as the nation’s largest tug-boat operator planned a crew lockout over a bitter 3 year pay dispute. This planned lockout would have prevented harbor-towage employees from working, and would result in disruption of operations at 17 ports across Australia. On November 17th, Australia’s Fair Work Commission announced that the lockout would not proceed as planned.

In northwest China, a deadly fire led to the death of 10 people due to “zero-Covid” lockdown measures. Protests spread to major metropolises across China. On Dec 3, it was announced that there would be an easing of testing and quarantine rules.

In Korea, On November 23rd trucker unions began a nationwide walkout causing estimated daily losses of about $224 million USD. This is the second major strike in less than 6 months by thousands of truckers demanding better pay & improved working conditions. On November 29th, the South Korean Govt took the unprecedented step of involving tough strike-busting laws after failing to reach a deal with unions. This marks the first time that a South Korean administration issued an order to force transport workers back to their jobs. As of December 5th, the strike organizers said that they would defy the order.

Back in the US, the rail strike was delayed by the Brotherhood of Maintenance Way, pushing it back to early December. Meanwhile, more than 400 business groups joined in pleading with Congressional leaders for quick action. Although President Biden and Democrats had been unwilling to block a strike in September, this time they felt that they had no choice but to act. As of December 5th, Congress is introducing legislation to keep workers on the job.

Here is what we can expect as we enter December:

  1. We expect continued slow demand to continue with flat or declining rates until early January when there may be slightly higher demand due to the Lunar New Year which will take place on January 22, 2023.
  2. Various labor issues are likely to continue in parts of the globe.
  3. In China, although there is some easing of the zero-Covid policy, the next few weeks could be difficult for the Chinese economy. With the significant risk during the winter months just prior to the Lunar New Year Holiday, further restrictions would probably be imposed nationwide again impacting manufacturing and cargo transportation.
  4. Transportation related issues due to the Ukraine conflict remain unchanged.

Follow us on social media at @ShipPGL

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PGL Video Newsletter – November 2022

PGL Video Newsletter – November 2022

Welcome to the PGL Video Newsletter, where we give you a brief recap of all of the activity from the prior month. November was full of activity, and here’s a peek at just some of the charitable events, big moves, process insights and more.​​​​​​​

  • Our resident expert, Tim Gundlach, has done the research. Here’s our look into the logistics industry for November.
  • Next, we hear from Sean Connolly of PGL Crating who gives us crating tips and talks about PGL’s unique capabilities.
  • Lastly, PGL attended I/ITSEC 2022 in Orlando FL, the world’s largest modeling, simulation and training event. We also celebrated Veterans Day and the Marine Corps’ 247th birthday during the month of November.

 

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Crating Tips from PGL

 

PGL Crating Tips with Sean Connolly

November 2022

Here’s a PGL Crating Tip: be as specific as possible!

Follow us on social media @shipPGL

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DHLE Video

 

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Industry Insights – November 2022

 

Supply Chain Industry Insights

November 2022

By Tim Gundlach

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic continue to be felt in the global supply chain. As a result of unpredictable sourcing and transit times, the reliability of traditional “Non-peak” and “Peak” seasons in logistics is no longer applied. The global supply chain shifted from “just in time” logistics and instead implemented “just in case” logistics. The end result is warehouses becoming choked with products in preparation of the upcoming holiday season.

Suddenly the world which could not move products fast enough just as quickly faces a dramatic drop off in global demand due to global inflation and recession concerns as well as concern of escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.

The most recent concern in the United States was the potential for longshoreman and rail strikes. This routed cargo away from the West Coast, sailing to alternative ports on the Gulf and East Coasts. This influx of containers created berthing delays and port congestion in those areas. As of this video, US rail and labor unions are threatening a strike as early as Nov 19th, 2022.

So what’s next?

The short answer is nobody knows for certain… and it depends on how issues shape up on topics like West Coast port labor fights, Gulf and East Coast port congestion and the geopolitical arena with regard to the world economy, energy shortages in Europe, and the state of conflict in Ukraine.

Overall, we are confident about a few things going into November: (1) Ocean and air rates should remain flat or decline in the next month (2) The US Govt cannot allow labor strikes to occur as it would be detrimental to the US Economy (3) Port congestion and chassis issues should improve in time. (fingers crossed)

As always, PGL remains available to discuss particular needs and-or concerns at any time, in our continuing effort to assist in mitigating risk to our partners.

Follow us on social media at @ShipPGL

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PGL Video Newsletter – October 2022

PGL Video Newsletter – October 2022

Welcome to the PGL Video Newsletter, where we give you a brief recap of all of the activity from the prior month. October was full of activity, and here’s a peek at just some of the charitable events, big moves, process insights and more.

  • First, we look back on the PGL sponsored AUSA Wounded Warrior Golf Classic in Farmers Branch, TX.
  • Next, we see some of the process involved in shipping an aircraft tail section for Safety Training Systems from the UK to Oklahoma.
  • Lastly, an informative view of our warehouse department, a few warehouse tips, and a little behind-the-scenes action.

 

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Incipio

How Outsourced Logistics Yielded Substantial Returns

Through our partnership with PGL, we found efficiency we could not have managed ourselves, maintained record margins with minimum retailer penalties, and I could watch it all happen with the convenience of the Connect App.

Jason Mooneyham
Sr Director of Operations, Incipio

 

Complex problems require custom solutions. After trying multiple shipping and logistics providers, the right partner makes all the difference. PGL Connect Technology coupled with decades of experience lead Incipio merchandise to be on time and became more profitable.

THE PROBLEM
Incipio had engaged with other outsourced Logistics Departments before, each failing to maximize the opportunity, leading to use of the wrong mode of transportation and lost profit due to penalties. Providing a valued product is only part of the equation. Keeping retailers supplied is crucial, and PGL knows how to get this done.

THE SOLUTION
Beginning in 2017, PGL was able to augment Incipio infrastructure as well as find new efficiencies. Investigation into their processes revealed that their internal warehousing in Corona California was more a hindrance than help, and the move to use the PGL facility allowed both added capacity as needed, and faster Cross Dock Labeling, an important factor when dealing with retailers. Additionally, this allowed PGL to provide additional value and savings with an Duty
Draw Back program.

PGL SERVICES UTILIZED:

  • West Coast Distribution domestically
  • Daily stop for all domestic freight out of California
  • Weekly Big Box Retailers DC Shipments
  • 1 stop shop solution for the customer
  • Imported product from Hong Kong via Air Freight

SHIPMENT MODES:

THE BENEFIT
Incipio was able to realize tangible benefit by reducing penalties from retailers, delivering on time according to their schedules with complete product inventory (On Time In Full) with a monthly savings of $20,000 per month. Making sure that Incipio was in-store on time for their peak season was the highest priority, leading to an astounding 96.5% improvement in OTIF from 28%.

VISIBILITY:

  • Created specific custom labels for each retailers specs
  • Created the delivery appointments to the retailers

PEAK SEASON:

  • 20k Kilos of air freight with 97% on-time
  • 1000+ sku’s
  • Shipment Counts:
    • 120 Shipments a week
    • 42 pallets out every week
  • End Customers delivered to:
    • 30-40 Clients delivered to on a weekly basis
    • Verizon, CVS, Walmart, Best Buy,
    • Telsa, Apple, Voice Com

The Difference Makers:
What factors made the biggest impact for Incipio?

  • PGL Connect app and Control Tower: Full visibility of everything they needed to know in one place
  • Level of service: Dedicated PGL team with single point of contact
  • Industry Expertise: Having intimate knowledge of retailer scheduling and requirements

 

 

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Pier 1

How Outsourced Logistics Yielded Substantial Returns

It has been a truly phenomenal experience to work with PGL as our preferred logistics provider from the very beginning. They have been able to signicantly reduce cost, cut numerous ineciencies out of our processes and raise the quality of our supply chain performance at the same time

A net savings of over $20,000 in the last 25 weeks of implementation. Average trans-load freight costs have been cut in half with PGL’s facility. PGL has moved over 27,000 CBMs year-to-date for Pier 1.

THE OPPORTUNITY
With their shipping costs expected to rise within the next year, retail home furnishings giant Pier 1 imports reached out to PGL to start a dialogue about creating a cost-containment strategy for both short and mid-term fluctuations in the market. Pier 1 identified financial advantages to outsourcing the bulk of the supply chain responsibilities to a logistics service provider and confirmed the efficiencies a strategic logistics partnership could create.

In the modern world of retail, efficiencies are everything. Flubbed product releases can create a lack of trust between store locations and the corporate office. Furthermore, without the staff and software to coordinate arrivals and breakdowns at their distribution centers, local freight carriers continued to fall behind, creating long wait times and additional container storage charges. Pier 1 imports needed a dedicated transportation specialist to alleviate the confusion and get their products to the shelves — on time, and in one piece.

THE EXECUTION
To gain a better picture of Pier 1’s transportation and logistics needs, PGL implemented a software and reporting protocol to survey the effectiveness of their current operations. What PGL found was that Pier 1 had been using a number of LTL (less than truckload) carriers as a preferred method of transportation. While this method works for individual pallets, it is often cost-prohibitive when moving large quantities of goods.

In the spirit of the partnership, PGL placed a highly experienced employee on-site at Pier 1, who understood their needs and could simultaneously match those needs with the core competencies of PGL. PGL saw the need for their own distribution center to aid Pier 1 in overflow issues within their DC network. To relieve inventory congestion, a 90,000 sq ft. warehouse was added under PGL to support the expanded footprint. Finally, all warehouse management and billing were consolidated under PGL’s supervision for greater transparency and more consistent Oversight.

THE OUTCOME
The fully integrated software led to substantial ease-of-use when planning Pier 1’s future inventory needs. Face-to-face interaction with PGL’s in-house logistics expert contributed to more immediate problem-solving. The separation of 27,000 CBMs from Pier 1 to a PGL distribution center relaxed that troublesome backup that accounted for late product releases in their previous mode of operation. The disconnect accounted for a significant number of detention charges. PGL created efficiencies for Pier 1’s operational network while also cutting their average transload freight costs in half!

PGL reduced Pier 1’s spend drastically in year 1 and has significantly improved in this performance since. Pier 1’s objective of reducing the bottleneck at their distribution facilities and creating overall efficiencies, while reducing spend, was achieved. The partnership between Pier 1 and PGL created a synergy where PGL has become part of Pier 1’s DNA and is viewed as Pier 1’s go-to for all their logistics needs.

 

 

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