In today’s edition, we highlight the latest numbers for trailer orders, an investigative piece about a driver blowing the whistle on illegal activities, increased driver pay and more.

The email came in stating we were under attack. All 30 servers were taken down and encrypted. Admin lost access to their Microsoft 365 accounts.

Lane Acuity Plus is a new addition to SONAR SCI, making it even more useful to shippers.

In today’s edition, we highlight the Postal Service’s reaction to increased package delivery demands, a conversation with Nikola’s CEO and more.

The freight markets have reentered “chaos is business as usual” territory. All the major indices have been eerily calm since the winter storm disruption. Yearly comps are becoming more difficult given the panic buying that shot volumes and rejections up this time last year. Don’t let the weakening comps distract you, this market can’t get much better.

Retailers are stuck between playing the waiting game and risking delays that wreck quarterly results or ponying up and taking to the skies. The goods will arrive quickly, but at what cost?

In today’s edition, we highlight a high-level viewpoint concerning automated trucks, FedEx completing its integration of last-mile delivery operations, and more.

The effort to stop the COVID-19 pandemic is generating a lot of waste. Now, health care providers have to dispose of those materials.

A third-generation driver from Tennessee becomes trucking’s latest instant millionaire.

In today’s edition, we highlight a potential shift in focus among SPACs, the House passing a pro-union piece of legislation and more.

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois recently denied class certification to a group of bus drivers who claimed they faced stiffer penalties because of their race, finding that the group did not have enough in common to certify them as a class.

Oil developers can reduce exploration risk with new modeling software.

Oil developers can reduce exploration risk with new modeling software.

FreightWaves’ John Kingston outlines how the rising price of crude flows through to cargo shippers and how it changes the trucking-versus-rail equation.

Robust liability insurance is one of the keys for increased safety in commercial trucking, according to findings by U.S. Xpress.

It can be confusing for shippers to identify high-impact technology investments.

By some accounts, Instacart owns 50% of the online grocery market. With an IPO upcoming, I wanted to look back at how Instacart has gone from niche to necessity and question whether it can maintain this dominant position in a highly competitive, highly sought-after market post-COVID.

In today’s edition, we highlight Canada’s fast-approaching ELD mandate; next step for Workhorse; states with the most structurally deficient bridges; and more.

Companies in a wide variety of industries are starting to offer vaccines to their employees at work. That protects employees’ health and the company’s bottom line.

Einride conducted a survey to explore women’s views on a career in the trucking industry and how interest was impacted by environmental factors and technological factors such as autonomous trucking and artificial intelligence.

There are a couple of trends shaking up the automotive industry in the years ahead. Outside of digitization and electrification, one trend often gets left out: the growing reliance on Mexico and cross-border trade. As OEMs relocate manufacturing down in the South, suppliers are starting to follow in their footsteps.

In today’s edition, we highlight legislation that could impact thousands in the industry; a chat with Daimler Trucks’ outgoing CEO; and vaccinations for drivers.

In today’s edition, we highlight some bad news on the February job front but some good news regarding new hires, as well as the latest on infrastructure investment.

The United States’ infrastructure was put to the test recently when Winter Storm Uri passed through the lower half of the country. As a result, production at petrochemical plants shut down and the industry is now on the brink of a potential seat shortage.

This week, President Biden announced we will have enough vaccinations for every American by the end of May. For the American people, this is fantastic news. For apparel retailers, it’s euphoric news that complicates an already extremely uncertain environment. In this edition of Point of Sale, we’ll take a look at apparel inventory management through the lens of Nordstrom’s recent woes.

In today’s edition, we highlight fresh FMCSA data regarding drivers and drug violations; Workhorse’s next move after its failed bid; and U.S. Xpress’ Variant initiative.

The FDA failed to conduct 1,000 inspections last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That backlog could clog the pharmaceutical supply chain.

In today’s edition, we highlight a Department of Labor move, a logistics executives survey and another acquisition for PS Logistics.

Jefferies senior analyst Randy Giveans outlines why it is now a particularly good time to buy container-shipping stocks.

In today’s edition, we highlight a B2B exception in California, a dispute with the NTSB and good news for some newly hired drivers.

The recent stimulus bill would funnel billions to the health care supply chain quickly. Recent executive orders indicate the feds aim to focus on health care supply chain long term.

At this point, the vaccine has rolled out to nearly 24.8 million Americans and counting. The vaccination story is just getting started for the automotive industry, with Stellantis becoming the first automaker to administer vaccines to its workforce.

BIMCO’s Peter Sand discusses whether container shipping’s ‘new normal’ has legs and what’s next for the sector.

In today’s edition, we highlight Navistar’s trucks recall; strong comments from a former U.S. senator; and hope for a productive 2021 in Mexico.

The story last week was the huge rebound in tender volumes against a very depressed weather-influenced comparison from a snowstorm blanketing most of the U.S.

Surging container imports have heightened freight-forwarding demand. Talent scouts like Logitalent help forwarders staff up.

Globalization isn’t just driven by comparative advantage. It is skewed by subsidies and mispricing of risk, according to author Marc Levinson.

This Carrier Rate Report – presented in partnership with SkyBitz – is the first installment of a quarterly publication. This report provides a look back at 2020 and a forecast […]

In today’s edition, we highlight the upcoming public listing for a self-driving truck startup; the market’s impact after the winter storms; and a startup’s earnings reports.

There are many variables converging that will keep upward pressure on spot rates and tender rejections for the coming weeks. Carriers will be able to squeeze extra cents per mile over the next couple of weeks. Assets will come back online sooner rather than later, but volumes are beginning to pick up both seasonally and due to a whipsaw effect from the storm.

TMSforce executives Tim Sensenig and Rick Gonzalez explain the differences between a 3PL and a 4PL.

In the oil patch, a significant share of logistics activity is highly repetitive. Blockchain can automate the payment processes.

Tesla has shut down production of its California assembly plant for two weeks due to a variety of supply chain problems. Should there be concerns over the true demand for Tesla vehicles?

Penn State professor Justin Goldston explains how technology such as blockchain can be used to create an ethical international supply chain.

There is no definitive end for this freight bull market in sight. Consumers continue to spend on goods, driving freight and diminishing already depleted inventories. Even if consumer spending diverged from its current trajectory (which I see as unlikely, especially given the additional stimulus, accelerating vaccine rollout and strong consumer balance sheet), the mass inventory restocking ahead will be sufficient to keep freight flowing from a consumer perspective.

Delaying second doses would change the distribution pattern for vaccines and reshape the supply chain. Also, vaccine manufacturers say supply is about to dramatically increase.

Berkshire Grey, which provides AI-enabled integrated robotic solutions for the supply chain, will get $413 million in cash.

MOBI CEO Chris Ballinger highlights the vast potential to be derived from vehicle information on distributed ledgers under shared standards.

In today’s edition, we highlight the next-generation vehicle builder for the Postal Service and a unique trucking proposal from a consumer goods group.

Gary Berger and Patrick Jones speak with Fab Brasca regarding the hurdles and essential elements of successful digital transformations.

A court case that could have implications for trucking has been decided in the Ninth Circuit. In it, the court ruled that employers could pay employees per diem in their regular pay.

John Hoffman, senior research fellow, Food Protection & Defense Institute, discusses ways to successfully navigate the complex food and agriculture supply chain.

AgTC’s Peter Freidmann highlights the hurdles U.S. food exporters confront as they vie for containers to transport their goods.

In today’s edition, we highlight a big announcement by Daimler, significant money raised by an insurtech startup and another encouraging sign for the future.

Americans of color are receiving the vaccine at far lower rates than white Americans. Doctors and ethicists say prioritizing essential workers and more proactive outreach would create a more equitable supply chain.

Cooper Tire sold to Goodyear Tires in a deal worth about $2.8 billion. What effects does this have on Goodyear’s supply chain?

Alejandro Del Toro of GE Lighting discusses the challenges of measuring demand during the pandemic and how 3PLs are essential partners.

There has been a consumer flight to reliability throughout COVID, and Walmart benefited from this shift as much as any retailer. But with the end of the pandemic now in sight and Americans poised for the reopening of services, Walmart is expecting growth to moderate considerably. Walmart announced plans to invest heavily in its supply chain, namely fulfillment capacity and automation, to front-run the deceleration and claw toward e-commerce profitability.

Jeffrey Curtis, the vice president of defense and supply chain at Simba Chain, discusses the importance of auditability of defense supply chains.

Bloomberg opinion columnist Brooke Sutherland discusses how the private sector can help with COVID vaccinations.

The insights within this paper are curated by the market experts and backed by data from FreightWaves’ SONAR platform.

We believe the winter storms tip the scales in carriers’ favor ever so slightly. Freight markets were already imbalanced with seemingly insatiable demand overwhelming already strained carriers, and it’s only February.

Winter storm Uri was brutal for a lot of people, specifically in the Southeast and Southwest. With that being said, the auto industry experienced some repercussions from the storm worth noting.

A former Jet.com co-founder is rethinking the way e-commerce orders are delivered — specifically, when orders are delivered and in what vessel they arrive at their destination. Nate Faust believes after 25 years of e-commerce, it’s time for a new way of imagining delivery.

A winter storm delayed shipments of COVID-19 vaccine doses across the U.S. The Biden administration expects delayed doses to arrive soon.

Star Bulk and Golden Ocean have recently acquired almost $1 billion in ships between them as they seek more exposure to the dry bulk market.

The Container Store’s (NYSE: TCS) most recent earnings call details the reality of shifting to a greater mix of e-commerce sales at a time when transportation capacity is extremely tight.

Peloton is riding a wave for the history books right now. It has grown revenues by triple digits year-over-year for three consecutive quarters while building one of the most recognizable brands in not just fitness, but all consumer segments. If it should continue this meteoric rise, it must sort its supply chain issues before either the vaccines or competition prematurely puts out its flame.

Amazon so often does everything seemingly right, so it’s important to talk about its shortfalls. I’m confident Amazon will right the Whole Foods ship, but it’s clear the boat has been sailing against the wind since COVID hit.

Supply chain experts say a national IT system for vaccine distribution could speed things up.

It’s a difficult task selling new vehicles when lot inventories are thin. However, with the right strategy, dealers can overcome disruptions in the automotive supply chain.

Some supply chain experts believe a nationwide IT system for managing COVID-19 vaccine distribution would be more efficient, but it’s been difficult to create one.

This white paper, brought to you by FreightWaves and Uptake, explores ways that data and technology can revolutionize your maintenance processes. Saving you time, money and protecting your drivers from harm.

A coalition of Port of Oakland tenants continues to fight after losing its latest legal battle to slow the process of building a new baseball park at Howard Terminal.

On Wednesday, the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled against SK Innovation Co. Ltd. for stealing battery trade secrets from LG Chem. What implications does this have for OEMs that rely on SK?

We’ve long touted retail inventory restocking as a primary growth driver for the freight bull run, but apparel brands aren’t aligning with this thesis. Rather than reverting back to habitual overordering and year-end discounting, retailers are sticking with the conservative ordering tactics that helped them win the holiday season.

While an Executive Order requiring federal contractors comply with diversity training compliance has been rescinded, employers should stay aware of potential upcoming changes under the Biden administration.

A streamlined, automated and transparent approach has taken Airspace to the next level of modern shipping.

Thanks to the congestion in Los Angeles, container rates and volumes in Savannah are both hitting highs. When will volumes stabilize?

Join FreightWaves for a virtual event with experts from the air cargo and manufacturing sectors. Learn how their companies are adapting to the new business landscape caused by the coronavirus.

Shippers spent 12% more per mile for dry van truckloads on average through most of the fourth quarter of 2020 than they did in 2019.

Without much volatility in volumes and rejections over the past three weeks, freight markets have seemingly found their groove. The tune is akin to Berlin techno. To some, its pace is smooth and machine like. To others, its pure chaos.

The global chip shortage has been running rampant for more than three months now. U.S. senators urged President Biden this week to work with Congress to address this threatening problem.

What suggestions would you give new Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg? Our reporters share theirs in this FreightWaves roundtable.

2020 brought disruption and volatility. But dealers, against all odds, actually performed much better than expected.

SONAR is the leading freight forecasting platform. Two recently added SONAR indices are proving very useful to SONAR subscribers. Learn more.

The West Coast port markets that drove much of the freight volumes in the back half of 2020 heated up again this week, and that led to the Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI) rising 2.7% this week to 14,051.

According to recent survey data from Bringg, same-day delivery will become a status quo offering from retailers in 2021. But is it the right move? Not for the vast majority of retailers. Here’s why:

This week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 70 (Carriers) Last week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 65 (Carriers) Three-month DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 75 (Carriers) […]

Automakers called on the Taiwanese government Tuesday to persuade Taiwan chip manufacturers to reallocate production capacity for the auto industry. It looks like those pleas for help were heard.

Walmart and Kroger are taking differing approaches to online grocery fulfillment. While fully-automated warehouses are more efficient, they are much more expensive and inflexible. Local-fulfillment centers may not be as efficient, but they are much more cost effective. Read the detailed trade-offs here:

You can find highlights from each session of the FreightWaves Sales & Marketing Summit right here.  This summit features discussions from the industry’s leaders in freight sales and marketing techniques […]

If an employer chooses to mandate that their employees get vaccinated, a carefully written COVID-19 vaccination policy should describe the process for requesting accommodations, so employees know how to make such a request.

Grocery is the only retail segment that has maintained (and even grown) its e-commerce penetration since peak levels in March, indicating the new normal is already here. The new normal is a much higher level of online demand, and grocers are getting wise about their fulfillment methods.

Lean inventory doesn’t sit well with supply volatility. The chip shortage, as well as the pandemic, have been a wake-up call for supply chain managers.

We may be seeing signs of a traditional January lull, but at a much higher level than years past. On a rejection-adjusted basis, tender volumes are running up 23% yoy versus 20% last week. Tender rejections continue to decline modestly, but carriers are still rejecting more than 1-in-5 contracted tenders. Stimulus can only carry the freight markets so long. Fortunately, the industrial economy is revving up and retailers have significant restocking ahead.

There’s a push for more digitization and a growing need for more software as more EVs emerge and more self-driving capabilities are added to cars. Automakers are finding themselves without the expertise to fulfill the need for connected services and AI insights.

Retailers with physical footprints have been able to leverage new modes of fulfillment to pass increased costs associated with online delivery to consumers and their suppliers. But for digitally-native brands without access to physical stores, this could be painful should it become the new normal. If you ask FedEx, it already has.

This white paper, brought to you by MeMD, explores how COVID-19 changed the healthcare landscape for good and which options trucking companies now have.

The past 12 to 18 months have been nothing short of spectacular for Peloton. It has cemented itself as a prominent fitness brand with a base of fiercely loyal customers while growing revenues 233% yoy in Q3. But the company has outkicked its coverage and capped potential growth due to its supply chain constraints and lack of visibility.