By land, air or sea, the transportation services that you need or provide can benefit from your greater knowledge of logistics management information. Whether you are looking for a transporter or you are a supply chain middleman, staying up-to-date on the latest logistics information technology and fuel saving technology will help keep you in business.

Logistics research can involve greater fuel efficiency, a supply chain reference model, supply chain research or more. Knowing how to delve deeper into the topic that most pertains to your business is the key, though, and finding the right resources to back that up can be a challenge.

To manage the right logistics information resources for you:

1. Begin with a general scope of the industry. Look for logistics management information that helps you understand the field and where your business lies in it (or where you want your business to lie in it).

2. Move on to resource logistics from publications or group affiliations.

3. Round out your logistics research by speaking with industry professionals to answer the questions that you can't find the appropriate logistics management information online.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start with general logistics management information

Find the latest news, find supplier information or learn about logistics all from the logistics information technology sites available.

I recommend: Register to use SupplyChainDaily. Look at the wealth of information from the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense's Logistics and Material Readiness page. Locate a wide variety of information in logistics from Logistics Online. Read up on the latest news from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

Conduct your logistics research in publications

Stick your nose into one of the latest industry magazines to find the latest logistics information. Keep informed as to the work of your competitors and see what the most up-to-date information is in the industry.

I recommend: Sign up for a free subscription to Logistics Management. Look into the webcasts available through Modern Materials Handling magazine. Not only subscribe to Supply Chain Management magazine, but sign up for their free newsletters as well. Check out the articles from Inbound Logistics.

Find even more logistics information from affiliations

Join a group or association to broaden your networking contacts and to give you additional logistics information.

I recommend: Consider joining the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), an affiliation in the third-party logistics industry that offers a wide variety of logistics info. Look at the logistic research, news and events from the National Transportation & Logistics Association. See how government and industry work together on logistic information in the National Defense Transportation Logistics Association.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider education or continuing education to keep you up-to-date on the latest logistics research and logistics information technology. From the addition to GPS technology to the high price of gas, see what factors are influencing the industry.