Third-party logistics may not be a typical subject for academic research, but it's one that has garnered a lot of attention over the years—so much so that presentations on two longstanding research projects on logistics outsourcing routinely play to a packed house at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals' (CSCMP) Annual Global Conference.
These annual studies, led by Dr. Robert C. Lieb of Northeastern University and Dr. John Langley of Penn State, track current practices and emerging trends in third-party logistics. Both offer insights into the health of this global industry and into the complex relationship between shippers and third-party logistics service providers (3PLs).
What follows is a look at just some of these in-depth studies' findings, with an emphasis on practical takeaways for both shippers and service providers.
