In this exciting new reference report, we take a broad look at the business of transportation, including supply chain management, logistics and procurement. The Internet and advanced information technology systems have made radical improvements throughout the supply chain, much of it linked with the trends towards outsourcing and offshoring. Many manufacturers and retailers have found that they can use state of the art supply chain management to reduce inventory and warehousing costs while speeding up delivery to the end customer.

Meanwhile, the booming growth in shipments to and from China is creating both bottlenecks and opportunities. Many major corporations have invested in significant buying offices in China, India and elsewhere. But, China’s hot economy has created a severe shortage of ship bottoms in many categories as transportation to and from China is booming. The largest plans for port expansion are in Asia. Two rival ports (in Shanghai, the main northern port for China, and in Pusan, South Korea’s largest port) are launching construction projects to expand each twofold. Both budgets will most likely exceed $50 billion.

Meanwhile, Boeing and Airbus are battling for market share with their latest airliners, the A380 and the 787 Dreamliner. Airports are struggling to modify their facilities to handle the giant new A380, which can hold up to 800 passengers.

Technologies of many types are creating a revolution in tracking goods and components from the source to the shipper to the distribution system to the end user. RFID (radio frequency ID tags) will further evolve this part of the business in short order.

This carefully-researched book (which includes a database of leading companies on CD-ROM) is a complete transportation, supply chain management and logistics market research and business intelligence tool-- everything you need to know about the business of transportation, shipping and distribution, as well as logistics including:

1. RFID (radio frequency ID tags) and the affect of new technology on businesses of all types.
2. Air transportation and air cargo.
3. Ocean shipping and ports.
4. Rail transportation.
5. Logistics services and outsourcing.
6. Supply chain management trends, technologies and software.
7. Trucking, including less than truckload (LTL).
8. Courier and overnight delivery, services and systems, including international expansion by Fedex, DHL and UPS.
9. Globalization, offshoring and outsourcing and their effects on the transportation industry.
10. Changes in retail store chains’ logistics and direct-to-store inventory methods.
11. The latest in passenger aircraft design at Boeing and Airbus.
12. Challenges faced by major airports.
13. Challenges in security at ports, airports and railways.

You'll find a complete overview, industry analysis and market research report in one superb, value-priced package. It contains thousands of contacts for business and industry leaders, industry associations, Internet sites and other resources. This book also includes statistical tables, an industry glossary and thorough indexes. The corporate profiles section of the book includes our proprietary, in-depth profiles of the 500 leading companies in all facets of the business of transportation, shipping, supply chain management, distribution, warehousing, logistics and information systems. Here you'll find complete profiles of the hot companies that are making news today, the largest, most successful corporations in the business. Purchasers of either the book or PDF version can receive a free copy of the company profiles database on CD-ROM, enabling key word search and export of key information, addresses, phone numbers and executive names with titles for every company profiled.