LGMT636 All Modules Discussions (January 2019)

LGMT 636 Transportation Management

Module 1 Discussion

Reply substantively to only one of the topics below. Begin your reply by copying and pasting the topic in the first line of your reply. Refer to the Modules –> Course Specific Information –> Discussions section for substantive participation requirements.

1. Assume you work for a manufacturing firm in the US that needs to routinely ship high value, time sensitive goods weighing up to 150 pounds to both domestic and international markets. Your boss has asked you to evaluate the following three websites.

FedEx Services (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

UPS Supply Chain Solutions (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

DHL Logistics (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Based on what you find on their websites, which firm would you choose and why?

2. Rising fuel prices have had an enormous impact on domestic and global transportation as well as the US and global economy. Using the Internet, please find and describe at least one example that illustrates what firms are doing to control transportation costs given the increasing demand for fuel and limited supply. Be sure to include links to your sources.

3. Based on information located on the US Department of Transportation website at http://www.dot.gov/dot-strategic-plan (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. select and discuss one of the Strategic Goals for the Department of Transportation described in their current Strategic Plan to date. Describe at least one strategy and performance measure being used by the DOT to assess its performance against that goal.

4. Using the Internet or any other resource, identify and describe at least two actions that are being taken by the Transportation Security Administration to improve the security of passengers traveling by air or the security of air cargo shipments. Be sure to include links to your sources.

5. What is the mission of the FAA? Describe at least one of their key initiatives and how it relates to the FAA’s mission. Be sure to cite or include links to your sources.

LGMT 636 Transportation Management

Module 2 Discussion

Reply substantively to only one of the topics below. Begin your reply by copying and pasting the topic in the first line of your reply. Refer to the Modules –> Course Specific Information –> Discussions section for substantive participation requirements.

Based on the trend toward higher fuel prices for the foreseeable future, what trade offs do you anticipate between the use of trucking versus rail and intermodal transportation for domestic shipments? Are there any constraints or limits to what you envision? Be sure to cite or include links to your sources.

What is the primary advantage of motor carriers versus other modes of transportation? Be sure to cite or include links to your sources.

Using the Internet or any other resource, research one of the largest truck carriers in the US and describe their services. Be sure to include links to your sources.

Using the Internet or any other resource, research one of the largest railroads carriers in the US and describe their services. Be sure to include links to your sources.

LGMT 636 Transportation Management

Module 3 Discussion

Reply substantively to only one of the topics below. Begin your reply by copying and pasting the topic in the first line of your reply. Refer to the Modules –> Course Specific Information –> Discussions section for substantive participation requirements and grading criteria rubric.

Using the following link, http://www.transtats.bts.gov/freight.asp (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., did air freight increase or decrease for US carriers as shown from the last two most recent years completed in the Air Cargo Summary Data table? Do you expect that trend to continue? Why or why not?

Using the Internet or any other resource, research and describe at least one recent incident involving damage to a shipment of marine cargo. If you were a shipper, what would you do to protect yourself against such a loss? Be sure to include links to your sources.

Although most people do not think about it, our networks of oil and natural pipelines represent an important national asset. As such, they are also vulnerable to threats from natural and man-made causes. Based on what you are able to find from reliable sources, what can or should the government or private enterprise do to protect these assets? Be sure to cite or include links to your sources.

LGMT 636 Transportation Management

Module 4 Discussion

Reply substantively to only one of the topics below. Begin your reply by copying and pasting the topic in the first line of your reply. Refer to the Modules –> Course Specific Information –> Discussions section for substantive participation requirements.

Discuss the advantages of using a “RoadRailer”. Provide relevant examples to support your discussion. Be sure to cite or include links to your sources.

Using the Internet or any other resource, identify and describe the services of major intermodal marketing company. Be sure to include links to your sources.

What is Worldport, where is it located, and what is the average number of aircraft and packages serviced per day? Discuss the reasons why the facility is located in its current site and whether you think this decision was a wise investment with supported arguments.

LGMT 636 Transportation Management

Module 5 Discussion

Reply substantively to only one of the topics below. Begin your reply by copying and pasting the topic in the first line of your reply. Refer to the Modules –> Course Specific Information –> Discussions section for substantive participation requirements.

Using the Internet or any other resource, research C-TPAT and list some of the accomplishments of C-TPAT to date. Do you think this program is effective? Why or why not? What is the status of this program? Be sure to cite or include links to your sources.

What is the relationship between Transportation Resource Planning solutions and ERP solutions? Be sure to cite or include links to your sources.

Using the Internet or any other resource, research one of the Supply Chain Management Process Standards (Plan, Source, Make, Deliver, Return and Enable) and then identify and describe one commercial software product that was designed support that process. Be sure to cite or include links to your sources.

Using the Internet or any other resource, research and describe the concept and potential benefits of Collaborative Transportation Management (CTM). Based on what you find, do you think that this concept will continue to grow? Why or why not? Be sure to cite or include links to your sources.

As part of a rapidly growing firm located in the US, your CEO has asked you to find out more about US requirements for exporting. Using the following link, Export.Gov (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., describe what you find about common export documentation. Select at least one of the documents and describe its purpose in greater detail.

LGMT 636 Transportation Management

Module 6 Discussion

Reply substantively to only one of the topics below. Begin your reply by copying and pasting the topic in the first line of your reply. Refer to the Modules –> Course Specific Information –> Discussions section for substantive participation requirements.

Using the Internet or any other resource, research one of the US Open Sky agreements and describe who the agreement was with, when it went into force, the rights of each party, how disputes are settled, and any other information that you think is important.

Why would an ocean carrier choose to fly a flag of convenience? What are the disadvantages? Substantiate your answer with examples. Be sure to cite or include links to your sources.

Fuel prices are closely linked to transportation costs and specifically to the prices for air transportation. Find one or more current, relevant, and objective journal articles that discuss the issue of fuel costs as related to the costs of air transportation. Present your findings and discuss the implications for air carriers in the coming months and years. Indicate the source reference(s) in an APA formatted reference list.

LGMT 636 Transportation Management

Module 7 Discussion

Reply substantively to only one of the topics below. Begin your reply by copying and pasting the topic in the first line of your reply. Refer to the Modules –> Course Specific Information –> Discussions section for substantive participation requirements.

Using the Internet or any other resource, research and select a major ocean or air cargo carrier (COSCO, Hanjin, Maersk, UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.) and describe the services they offer to customers who need to ship internationally. Be sure to include links to your sources

The growth in the use of 3PLs has been steadily increasing over the past decade. As stated in the text, there are often good reasons to outsource all or part of the transportation function, but there are also downside risks. As the VP for Logistics in a Fortune 500 firm, discuss whether you would outsource the transportation function and explain why.

LGMT 636 Transportation Management

Module 8 Discussion

Reply substantively to only one of the topics below. Begin your reply by copying and pasting the topic in the first line of your reply. Refer to the Modules –> Course Specific Information –> Discussions section for substantive participation requirements.

Using the Internet or any other resource, research and describe at least one example of state-of-the- art technology-enabled shipment monitoring (tracing and tracking) capabilities. Be sure to include links to your sources.

In their discussion on the proactive role of transportation managers in today’s deregulated environment, the authors of your text refer to the important role of transportation in VMI. Explain what is VMI and describe why transportation is so important in this concept. Support your comments with at least one example to illustrate. Be sure to cite or include links to your sources.

Identify and describe one example of vertical integration in logistics (or in the transportation function). Include in your discussion, the firms involved, the rationale for integration, and actual results (if available). Be sure to cite or include links to your sources.