UPS may be known for their fleet of brown trucks but make no mistake – those trucks cover the last mile in a huge global logistics network. With 50 years of freight forwarding experience and service in over 1,600 countries, UPS is a formidable player in the global ocean freight landscape. As conditions change daily, shippers are weighing their options and re-examining the relative advantages of air and ocean freight.

Steve McMichael is the Vice President of UPS Ocean freight. Even though he’s been in the field for his entire career and has been based all over the world, economically speaking, he has never seen anything like the ocean freight conditions we are observing right now. Ports are congested, rail is congested, and driver shortages persist. How should shippers and consumers adjust their plans?

In this conversation, Scott and Greg get the latest observations and recommendations from Steve based on his unique perspective:

• How companies can work with their suppliers to manage purchase orders so that products and materials arrive on time, no matter how far they have to travel

• How the rate of returning containers to China is causing backups in distribution and potentially even affecting the holiday shopping season

• The critical need for ocean carriers to get better at forecasting minimum quantity commitments and lead times so shippers can make more informed decisions about freight

Additional Links & Resources:

Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now

Subscribe to Supply Chain Now and all other Supply Chain Now programs: https://supplychainnow.com/subscribe

UPS Supply Chain Solutions Virtual Connect: https://hopin.com/events/supply-chain-virtual-connect-2?ref=b748cd994367#sponsors

Register for the 2021 Supply Chain Insights Global Summit: https://lnkd.in/dMYq3Rv

Register for the OMNIA Partners Connections Conference: https://bit.ly/3jHlwdv

WEBINAR- What You Can Learn From a Digital-First DTC Brand: Quip’s Omnichannel Evolution: https://bit.ly/2TFPS5j

2021 Supply Chain and Procurement Awards: https://lnkd.in/gxp7bQy

Download the 2021 Q2 U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index: https://bit.ly/3f1LO6S

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Greg White. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/supply-chain-now-ups-ocean-freight-703