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Purpose – This paper aims to measure the comparative managerial efficiency of 24 leading third-party logistics providers (3PLs) in North America and identify best-practice firms among these 3PLs. Design/methodology/approach – This paper proposes data envelopment analysis to measure the slack-based efficiency, pure technical efficiency, and mixed efficiency of 24 leading 3PLs in North America, relative to their rivals in world-wide 3PL markets. In particular, this paper develops both the Charnes, Cooper and Rhodes (CCR) model under constant returns to scale and the Banker, Charnes, and Cooper (BCC) model under varying returns to scale that are designed to derive weights without being fixed in advance. Findings – With respect to managerial efficiency, this study did not find any significant performance differences between asset based 3PLs and non-asset based 3PLs. Defying the common sense, relatively small but niche-oriented 3PLs with limited service offerings tended to perform better than their larger counterparts with a wide variety of service offerings to customers all across the world. A majority of leading 3PLs in North America suffer from overcapacity and the subsequent underutilization of their physical and human resources. Practical implications – This paper provides practical guidelines as to how 3PLs can find right niche markets, manage slack/idle resources, and cope with increasing competition. Originality/value – This paper is one of the first to develop a variety of efficiency measures for 3PL operational performances including pure technical (managerial) efficiency, slack-based efficiency, scale efficiency, and mix efficiency under both constant and varying returns to scale. This paper also considers the much larger number of 3PLs than those considered by prior benchmarking studies for performance evaluation; thus, it captures the "true" managerial efficiency of 3PLs relative to their competitors in the more crowded North American 3PL industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The location of logistics facilities significantly affects not only the activities of urban goods movement, but also the urban environment as these facilities represent major originators and receivers of freight. Recently, the phenomenon of logistics sprawl, i.e. the relocation of logistics facilities away from inner urban areas to suburban areas has received an increasing level of attention from both academics and policy makers. In this paper, a literature review of the various impacts of logistics sprawl is provided with a detailed taxonomy of the impacts. It has been observed that logistics sprawl contributed changes in geography of urban freight, increasing trucks' travelled distance and consequent emissions and impacting the commuting of logistics employment. The paper presents a summary of the empirical findings illustrating the additional distance trucks travel due to logistics sprawl in several European and North American cities. Furthermore, the paper provides an overview of the measures and policies implemented in various metropolitan areas to reintegrate small-scale logistics facilities within inner urban areas to act as consolidation centres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The emergence of inland ports took place in several regions around the world, notably where the growth of inland freight distribution required a massification of flows. Yet, there is no definitive consensus about how such inland facilities should be labeled, with terms such as dry ports being advocated. It is suggested in the paper that the term inland port is a more appropriate construct since it considers terminal activities as well as the crucial logistics activities taking place in co-location or in proximity of inland terminals. This perspective requires the investigation of how transport and supply chain functions and the various actors involved in their setting and operations are taking shape in inland ports. Case studies pertaining to European and North American inland ports are presented. Although inland ports are planned, set and operated by a wide variety of actors, ranging from public to private interests, transport and supply chain functions tend to label them as satellite terminals, load centers or transmodal centers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The global freight distribution system has been impacted by convergence in terms of technology, infrastructure, modes and terminals. Still, in spite of strong converging forces, it can be argued that logistical practices are far from being uniform. This paper analyses the regionalism in freight transport systems by providing a comparative analysis of gateway logistics practices in North America and Europe. It is demonstrated that Europe and North America are not walking the same paths when it comes to the configuration of transport and logistics networks, via operational decisions and the setting of a regulatory framework. The attributes of gateways, corridors, hinterlands, regulation, governance, value chains and labor provide an analytical framework to understand the regionalism of freight distribution in the North American and European contexts, as well as anywhere else. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In modern warfare at and from the sea, logistics are crucially important to the implementation of strategy and conduct of operational campaigns. Between August 1943 and March 1944, a British joint service mission led by Major-General John Lethbridge travelled to North America, the Pacific, and India to study the organisation, equipment, and methods necessary for coming offensive operations against Japan. The British obtained valuable information from the Americans and connected with those countries of the British Empire most directly involved. The Lethbridge Mission's progress and findings informed evolving Admiralty planning for supporting naval forces to be sent to the Indian and Pacific Oceans in pursuance of British wartime strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When attempting to confront hostile Apache guerrillas in New Mexico between 1879 and 1881, the US Army encountered a style of warfare which took merciless advantage of its weaknesses. However, the failure of the army to defeat its enemies can be only partially ascribed to this factor. Its efforts were further hampered by the political context within which it had to operate. Nevertheless, these factors occasionally worked in the army’s favour. When these political constraints did undermine efforts to defeat the Apaches, the US Army demonstrated that it was sometimes capable of turning this political context to its advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]