Global Supply Chain

Goodyear is buying Cooper Tire in a $2.5 billion “transformational” deal.

Jennifer Bisceglie discusses how Interos ingests over 100,000 different types of data feeds to map out a company’s extended supply chain and monitors weather and world events to prepare companies for any ripple effects in the defense supply chain.

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

A ransomware gang has leaked data related to Hyundai Motor America’s logistics operations after an apparent ransomware attack on the automaker and subsidiary Kia Motors America.

Jason Coker, vice director of the Arnold Engineering Development Complex, chats with FreightWaves President George Abernathy about the efforts made to meet the growing demand for weapons systems technology and testing and the challenges space commercialization have presented.

Texas weather calamity shows how underinvestment is putting the nation at risk of future disasters, says Alliance for American Manufacturing president.

After a successful pilot program, Walmart associate groups are funding an MIT course on supply chain management.

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.

“Constantly shifting consumer demand and supply shocks that are felt worldwide regularly throw supply chains out of balance.”

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.

Cold storage operator Americold saw occupancy dip year-over-year during the fourth quarter as food manufacturers struggled to keep proteins in stock.

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.

Ascend focuses on smaller carriers and shippers, which now will have greater visibility into what Uber Freight has to offer.

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.

Amazon is an e-commerce rocket ship. Making those deliveries possible is Amazon Air, which is growing so fast it could make it possible for more people to receive orders within a day.

The Open Visibility Network partnership will combine FourKites’ and Tive’s data and capabilities to give mutual customers more supply chain visibility.

General Motors is extending temporary shutdowns at three assembly plants, including one in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

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?

Leaf Logistics CEO Anshu Prasad believes manufacturers of food and consumer packaged goods could be in jeopardy of missing earnings expectations as transportation rates remained elevated throughout the quarter.

Smart loading dock startup Kargo announced the close of its $6 million seed round on Thursday. The company eyes further expansion and product development.

Day Three of Global Supply Chain Week will cover topics related to food and CPG supply chains. Tyson Foods Chief Sustainability Officer John Tyson is set to start the day off with global sustainability in mind.

Thanks to COVID, there are no seasonal highs and lows for international shipping. There is so much demand for goods that the peak season never seems to end — and ports, railroads, truckers and warehouses are reaching the breaking point.

While optimism is returning to the economy, 83% of manufacturers expect their company to take up to a year to recover, according to a survey from BDO.

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

The Biden administration review of critical supply chains is aimed at reducing reliance on China for equipment.

Supply chain software provider E2Open is now trading on the NYSE under a new symbol.

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.

Rents on U.S. logistics real estate advance amid pandemic-related headwinds during 2020. The annual Prologis Logistics Rent Index puts a bow on the year and takes a look at what 2021 has in store.

Supply chain technology provider Manhattan Associates bests fourth-quarter forecast and raises 2021 guidance. Management sees “robust” global demand for cloud solutions.

Call Cainiao the Amazon Logistics of China. When most of China normally takes a break for the Lunar New Year, Cainiao will still be delivering packages to Hong Kong this year.

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.

After a difficult 2020, optimism about the supply chain is running high this year — and 11 industry leaders have identified several opportunities for growth with their predictions for the rest of 2021.

Ryder will provide three hours of paid time off for each of the two COVID-19 vaccinations.

Supply chain visibility companies Tive and project44 have joined forces to launch the Open Visibility Network in an effort to encourage collaboration and improve end-to-end shipment visibility.

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:

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.

Could DB Schenker be the next TFI International? TFI just agreed to buy UPS Freight. DB Schenker is ready to become a pure play trucker in the U.S. and will be looking for sellers.

Nominate industry-leading shippers for FreightWaves’ annual Shipper of Choice award.

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.

Oracle’s cloud-based solutions help shippers weather disruptions and give customers a seamless buying experience.

Logistics real estate operator Prologis reports better-than-expected fourth-quarter results as the “pandemic has pushed global supply chains to their limits.”

Gina Raimondo will be the anti-Wilbur Ross as secretary of commerce, with less focus on protectionism.

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.

There’s a steep learning curve for importers and exporters now that the U.K. is no longer part of the European Union. Botched customs forms are leading to freight backlogs.

Walmart’s U.S. e-commerce chief, Marc Lore, departs with the company well positioned, but with a mixed bag of results.

Biden’s executive orders address the COVID-19 supply chain and mask mandates among transportation modes.

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.

Supply chain-focused private equity firm Red Arts Capital acquires Canadian third-party logistics provider Radius Logistics.

CSCMP President and CEO Rick D. Blasgen will step down March 5 after more than 15 years at the helm.

Reshoring had been in a slump the past decade, but 2020 saw it increase by more than 45%. As companies look to bring home operations, nearshoring will be on the rise.

The Trump Administration announced an import ban on all cotton and tomato products originating in China’s Xinjiang region citing evidence of forced labor. This ban is much bigger than just cotton and tomatoes. It is a call to action for all retailers to better understand their sourcing practices.

OEMs will be able to close the gap that Tesla created with the help of energy policies from the White House and infrastructure already set in place.

Amazon is the first e-commerce company to offer end-to-end logistics.

Recent analysis from Gartner shows retailers with more than 50% of revenue from the online channel have logistics costs as a percentage of sales that are almost double those of their store-focused counterparts.

Also on the podcast: The 10-week run of higher DOE diesel prices and whether they’ll continue

French company Shippeo, a supply chain visibility platform, has secured $32 million to continue product innovation and market expansion. The round, announced on Thursday, was co-led by Battery Ventures, along […]

During a CES2021 keynote, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon talked about the retail giant’s technology transformation, and the evolution of its equity and sustainability initiatives.

Surging activity around logistics properties dominated the headlines in a fourth-quarter industrial real estate report. The strong trends are expected to advance into 2021 with some moderation seen as more supply comes online.

DHL Supply Chain experts share how the company has adapted its sustainability efforts due to the COVID-19 pandemic and offer sustainability tips for businesses.

Dealerships across the nation are already feeling the pressure of low inventory levels. A chip shortage is turning up the heat even more.

A TMS catering to everyone is simply landing somewhere in the middle, and very likely a better solution exists for any of those given parties.

This is an excerpt from Monday’s Point of Sale retail supply chain newsletter. The UK grocery supermarket sector was once highly oligopolistic, but in recent years, European brands have expanded […]

Cawston, Chowdhury are tapped for top positions at the new company.

“FreightWaves has developed this incredible media company” around its SONAR platform, says Matt Waller, dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

The Swiss logistics giant Kuehne + Nagel has extensive pharmaceutical experience and will handle the storage and transportation of COVID-19 vaccines for Moderna around the world.

With 2020 in the rearview, there are promising signs that point towards industry growth if one crucial thing takes place: tight inventory levels need to be replenished.

COVID induced demand for goods and spending in the home. How will spending behavior change when vaccines are widespread? Retail Analyst Andrew Cox believes consumer spending will be “A Tale of Two Halves”. See what he means:

Emerge founder Andrew Leto and content marketing expert and best-selling author Joe Pulizzi will keynote FreightWaves’ upcoming virtual Sales & Marketing Summit.

Ladingo’s growth suggests a segment of the market is not being adequately served by existing solutions.

Reflecting on how consumer behaviors influenced changes in sourcing and shipping.

As e-commerce continues to surge, consumers are demanding more sustainable practices throughout the supply chain. Reusable packaging solutions and strategic container designs are emerging.

Experts share how DHL Supply Chain’s GoGreen and GoHelp initiatives are paving the way for sustainable progress.

Retail analyst Andrew Cox makes five predictions for retail supply chains in 2021. First and foremost: An inventory correction.

XPO gets most of K + N’s U.K. contract logistics business.

Automakers have put a high priority on EVs as the world shifts to cleaner modes of transportation. With demand for EVs forecasted to rise, the demand for rare earth metals used in both EV drivetrains and batteries will definitely be on the rise as well.

There’s so much change happening around the world as society advocates for sustainable and clean transportation. Although a lot of the hype generated from EV development is deserved, some people believe EVs are overhyped, including Toyota President Akio Toyoda.

Americold announced that it has closed on a 46-facility deal valued at $1.74 billion.

New and existing companies are ramping up GPS and temperature-tracking technologies to deploy in vaccine transport and beyond.

Ocean carrier Maersk says it is “working closely with the Agriculture Transportation Coalition and local trucking associations to address their concerns of equipment availability and detention and demurrage issues.”

“Shipamax delivers data entry automation across entire logistics organizations,” says CEO and co-founder Jenna Brown.

KeepTruckin landed on FreightWaves’ 2021 FreightTech 25 list for the third time by developing new technology to help alleviate COVID-19 supply chain challenges.

Feeding America’s supply chain chief discusses a year like no other and how the group pivoted to get food to needy Americans.

Disruptions in one corner of the world can impact operations at home. With the turbulence of 2020 hopefully behind us, Global Supply Chain Week will examine where the dust has settled and share lessons on reacting to the enormous disruptions of the previous year.

Coronavirus vaccines require extreme levels of protection from organized crime organizations, nation states and others looking to steal shipments or valuable data. The U.S. government is stepping in with extra help for industry, including escorts by U.S. marshals.

The company is not commenting yet on signs the ransomware attack may be over.

J.B. Hunt is providing funding to the Walton College of Business to increase awareness for sustainability and inclusivity in supply chains. “The amount of research and collaboration that can go on with this gift is immeasurable,” Matt Waller, dean of Walton College, said.

CSCMP will host next year’s global event in Atlanta in mid-September.

Forward Air is the victim of a ransomware attack. Freight is still moving through its network, but it’s become a paper-and-phone process to locate and tender freight and deal with back-office documentation.

After months of anticipation, COVID vaccines are finally rolling out across the country. However, both GM and Ford have decided against a mandatory vaccination policy.

Using artificial intelligence to cull insights from freight transportation’s massive amounts of data can not only encourage safe environments, It also has the potential to improve productivity and efficiency, as well as provide supply chain visibility that benefits all stakeholders, says a tech executive.

Rapid platform developer Vantiq has partnered with Infosys to launch an accelerator to speed development of supply chain digitization solutions.

The Girl Scouts move 200 million boxes of cookies nationwide every year. Ryder System felt It made sense they should be able to earn a merit badge for such tasty supply chain skills.

Army Gen. Gus Perna, who is in charge of the COVID vaccine distribution in the U.S., is showing FedEx and UPS some love.

Passport, a startup that helps brands with all aspects of cross-border shipping, has raised $12 million in Series A funding.

Also on the podcast, a discussion of the red-hot diesel market

Operation Warp Speed and the delivery of the Pfizer COVID vaccine are clicking on all cylinders, but that doesn’t mean production and distribution are going perfectly.

With all the uncertainty the COVID pandemic has brought to the freight markets, deploying the right technology provides the clarity shippers need to maximize supply chain efficiency.