The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, in conjunction with consulting firm A.T. Kearney and Penske Logistics, released its 27th Annual State of Logistics Report during a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

“This highly anticipated report contains the statistics and industry insights that will not only help our members do their jobs better, but also better prepare them for the business demands ahead,” said Rick Blasgen, president and CEO of CSCMP.

The report includes: a focused narrative on the economic environment impacting logistics, insights from interviews with industry leaders, a spotlight on relevant trends and a strategic point of view on the state of the industry.

“It is a dynamic time for the logistics sector – macro economy, new business models, technology – we are pleased to support CSCMP in the development of this report,” said Sean Monahan, A.T. Kearney partner and co-author of the 2016 State of Logistics Report.

The report reveals total U.S. business logistics costs rose to $1.48 trillion in 2015, a 2.6% increase from the previous year, which represents a considerable slowdown from previous years.

“Supply chain transparency continues to grow in importance for shippers and third-party logistics providers,” said Marc Althen, president of Penske Logistics. “This is driving significant technological change for 3PLs and shippers alike as they collaborate and share more real-time information to enable data-driven business decisions and meet the growing needs of consumers.”

Other key observations from the report include:

• Logistics Industry is Entering a New Era. Over the next decade, the logistics industry will enter a new era. Disruptive forces, including technology and operational constraints, threaten to fundamentally change the rules of the game.
• Motor Carriers Are Experiencing Rate Weakness. Rates and demand for transportation are soft, and continue to fall.
• Truck Driver Shortage Continues. Despite softening demand and slower rates, competition for drivers remains intense.
• Parcel and Express Is Being Fueled by B2C. Parcel and express continues to grow, with the main drivers being the explosion of B2C e-commerce and omni-channel retail.
• Water Shipping Is In Flux. Containerized shipping is experiencing significant overcapacity, creating a favorable rate environment for U.S. shippers.
• Airfreight Experiencing Overcapacity and Falling Rates. Demand for airfreight services remains sluggish due to economic uncertainty, while overcapacity is being exacerbated by a shift to wide-body aircrafts.
• Pipelines Are Catching Up with Demand. U.S. oil and gas production has surged over the past decade. U.S. pipeline investment will account for three-quarters of all planned capital investment in transportation modes.
• Rail Volume Reduction. A steep decline in coal traffic and crude by rail, macroeconomic weakness, and a pause in the growth of intermodal traffic resulted in overall rail volume reduction.
• Technology is Driving 3PLs. Technology continues to play a key role in the evolution of the 3PL market.