1. You are the outbound transportation manager for a consumer packaged goods manufacturer. Your firm's products have a relatively high density value and include products that are perishable (i.e., short shelf life). The vast majority of your shipments are truckload volumes going to the distribution centers of your customers. You generally deal directly with the carriers you use when you purchase transportation services.

Like nearly everyone today, you have been struggling to find TL carriers due to the very tight capacity situation challenging the industry. Even the carriers you usually use have been turning down some of your tenders.

The Senior VP of Supply Chain has charged you with:

(1) developing a short-term (i.e., immediate) strategy for finding capacity (25 points), and

(2) recommending a long-term strategy to reduce the likelihood of finding yourself in this position again (65 points). You need to consider all facets of securing carrier service and capacity in developing your long-term strategy recommendation.

The SVP of Supply Chain expects you to investigate this thoroughly and cite information sources, case studies, research, etc. that supports your strategic approaches.

2. You are the VP of Marketing for a mid-sized truckload carrier.Your company has traditionally pursued an "asset lean" or low-cost strategy in serving the market. However, recently, a handful of your larger shipper accounts have been pressing you to increase your service levels to them in a way that would require you to acquire more equipment (i.e., trailers) and thus maintain some slack resources.

You remember the research articles you read in SCM 462 that said following a "pure" strategy generally offers greater likelihood of better financial performance. Yet, you fear that you could lose these important shippers if you do not comply with their request. You cannot delay responding to them much longer. Are you going to increase your service levels to them? If yes, explain why and also explain how you would implement this new service. If no, explain why and also describe how you will attempt to retain their business.

3. The new VP of Logistics for your company, a manufacturer and distributor of consumer packaged goods, has not been totally satisfied with the performance of the trucking companies you have been using and believes that improving your company's approach to carrier selection, vetting, and evaluation (CSVE) would go a long way toward resolving the service issues you've been experiencing.

You, as Director of Transportation, have been given the assignment of developing what an ideal, comprehensive approach to (CSVE) would entail.In your report to the VP you should be as specific as you can on the various components and actions of the approach you develop, and explain why you have included them.

Please write as your opinion