National Logistics Day in the United States Date in the current year: June 28, 2024

In a broad sense, the term “logistics” refers to the detailed organization and implementation of a complex operation. The logistics industry can be defined as the management of the delivery of various items (goods, supplies, equipment, etc.) from their point of origin to the point of consumption.

Although a lot of people primarily associate logistics with transportation, it involves so much more than the simple act of transporting goods from one point to another. Logistics also includes procurement, storage, distribution, order processing and fulfillment, and other operations and aspects. Logistics management is an important part of supply chain management (SCM) and supply chain engineering.

The development of the modern logistics industry in the United States began in the late 19th century following the invention of the “horseless carriage” semi-truck that made it much easier to transport goods across the country. The first cargo flight in the US took place in 1910, transporting goods from Dayton to Columbus. Finally, the first container ship sailed from New Jersey in 1956 to transport cargo to Texas. Today, the US logistics industry helps to move more than 13 billion tons of freight within the country and accounts for about 8% of the nominal GDP of the United States.

National Logistics Day was launched in 2019 by Logistics Plus, a US-based company that provides global logistics, transportation, fulfillment, warehousing and supply chain solutions. Its main goal is to highlight the crucial but often underestimated role of the logistics industry within the greater ecosystem of global transportation services.

Since its inception, the holiday has secured the support of the Transport Intermediaries Association (TIA), which represents the third-party logistics industry, as well as the U. S. House of Representatives and the Houses of Representatives of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and South Carolina.

The date of National Logistics Day, June 28, was chosen to commemorate the day in 1271 when Marco Polo allegedly set off on his journey along the Silk Road. He kept detailed records of his travels, paving the way for future travelers and merchants and laying the foundation for the logistics industry. Although the date is unconfirmed, it has been widely accepted by the professional community.

National Logistics Day is the professional holiday of all people working in the logistics industry. It is celebrated by numerous logistics and transportation companies of all sizes that organize various professional events and social media campaigns aiming to raise the profile of logistics and highlight the importance of the industry. You can participate in the celebration by learning more about the logistics industry and spreading the word on social media with the hashtag #NationalLogisticsDay.