Modern Shipper

Warehouse robotics firm Locus Robotics announced a major automation solution for AMR fleets, LocusOne.

“We have been here over a decade and have deployed thousands of systems using this technology. We are bringing this level of experience with robotics that is just unmatched in this market,” said Mujin Director of Sales Josh Cloer.

Supply chain and logistics firms are making their solutions known at the industry’s largest event. Here’s the most notable news.

Making its U.S. debut at ProMat in Chicago, CoEvolution is seeking new partners to get its technology into U.S. warehouses.

App-based companies fighting AB5 in California got a second court win last week as a three-judge panel cited statements by AB5’s author in its ruling.

Yale Lift Truck Technologies, formerly Yale, showed off its latest tech at the 2023 ProMat supply chain conference in Chicago.

The Ultra5 machine has a right-sized design that eliminates the need for corrugated boxes, according to Packsize.

San Francisco Bay Area-based Nimble Robotics has now raised a total of $115 million to help reduce warehouse size by up to 75%.

FedEx Express is aggressively scaling back air operations to save money as shipping demand crumbles.

Volume weakness persists at FedEx, but cost reductions are acting as strong offsets.

The investment firm Hestia is seeking major changes in Pitney Bowes’ global e-commerce strategy.

The Mountain View, California-based drone delivery firm announced an array of new software and hardware updates.

Gatik will move grocery loads autonomously from Kroger’s Dallas distribution center to its area grocery stores, starting with safety drivers.

The U.S. arm of Just Eat Takeaway will have a new CEO following current chief executive Adam DeWitt’s resignation.

A three-judge panel has reversed a lower court ruling that California’s Proposition 22 was unconstitutional.

Well-known shippers like Gap, Williams-Sonoma, Sephora and Nordstrom have returned to the big carriers after stints at regional carriers, a high-level regional source says.

German giant Deutsche Post DHL posted outsized gains in full-year operating income and said that performance will not repeat in 2023.

Outlining the next phase of its development, Wing revealed its new approach to fully autonomous urban drone delivery networks.

The startup, led by veterans of last-mile delivery platform AxleHire, rolled out a new solution for perishable shippers.

Amazon Air is growing and refining its air cargo network, but at a more gradual pace because of the slowdown in online shopping.

E-commerce SaaS platform BigCommerce added flexibility for sellers with a buy-online, pick-up-in-store offering.

Cargojet is scrambling to balance its cost structure as the air cargo market softens by hitting the brakes on the acquisition of 777 freighters.

Shyft Group’s Blue Arc electric delivery vehicle set a new benchmark for fuel efficiency, per the EPA.

What if the English trucker who made off with 200,000 Cadbury Creme Eggs was trying to spare innocent taste buds?

The long-planned acquisition of a bigger stake in Pilot by Berkshire Hathaway has been completed, and new data is expected to emerge as a result.

High-powered executive championed a growth strategy for the regional parcel delivery carrier that has since been tempered.

The U.S. Postal Service has enlisted Ford as part of a push to add more than 66,000 electric delivery vehicles to its fleet by 2028.

Combined company will boast 81 fulfillment centers in the U.S., U.K. and continental Europe.

PalletTrader is bringing a user-friendly, online intelligence and transaction platform to all things pallets; a new collaborative information “warehouse” for logistics and transportation operators.

In a pair of announcements, Amazon committed to improving the delivery experience for both customers and drivers.

Air Transport Services Group says its leasing business is insulating it from a market downturn that is impacting its cargo airlines.

Qantas wants to capitalize on Australia’s e-commerce boom by increasing the number of freighters used to quickly haul packages around the country.

Target plans to add a half-dozen sortation centers to its U.S. network by 2026, bolstering its last-mile capabilities.

HelloFresh executive Matt Cicinelli discusses how the pandemic shifted the company’s supply chain strategy during FreightWaves’ Global Supply Chain Week.

Shippo launches Shipping Elements, a suite of embeddable shipping components for e-commerce platforms.

Who are the key players in the rapidly growing last-mile delivery space? Coresight Research highlighted 10 companies.

Ameriflight is tentatively betting on two futuristic cargo aircraft from startup manufacturers to augment its feeder service for integrated express carriers.

Listed in the Top 20 Best Fleets to Drive for 2023, ACT is constantly evolving to create a better environment for its current and prospective drivers.

With the launch of The Brake Room, could Chick-fil-A influence Uber, DoorDash and others to emphasize driver experience?

Per The Information, Instacart is looking to deliver items like office and cleaning supplies to small businesses.

Booster CEO Frank Mycroft explains how reimagining fueling can lead to more sustainable delivery.

The e-commerce shipping platform granted its customers access to the last-mile parcel delivery service’s network of logistics assets.

Flexport and Shopify are partnering on a new app designed to reduce the complexity of managing ocean shipments for small businesses.

Growing big and bulky delivery provider Bungii wants to pay its drivers more quickly and conveniently.

Air Transport Services Group will see its Amazon business dip this year as the retailer decreases freighter utilization to match slower retail sales.

Maintenance downtime at Sun Country cut into cargo revenue and growth was limited by slower Amazon e-commerce business.

Amazon may face an Federal Trade Commission antitrust lawsuit in the coming months, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Tracking and acting on sustainability metrics, as well as implementing small and large-scale sustainable last-mile goals are vital steps toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Merchants on the Shippo platform can now access FedEx services like Ground Economy without creating a FedEx account.

Startup electric last-mile van developer Arrival cut 50% of its workforce as it tries to reduce cash burn and make it to production.

Having obtained a milestone Standard Part 135 Air Carrier Certification, Flytrex is ready for takeoff.

Ameriflight, an air cargo contractor for big express companies, is considering a large purchase of uniquely designed, semi-autonomous freighters from Natilus.

Companies in need of supply chain visibility can now leverage FourKites data through their existing internal platforms.

Amazon is still investing in its air cargo network despite cost cuts elsewhere in the company. Next up: India.

For just $5 per month, Prime members can choose from 52 eligible medications and have them delivered to their doorstep, free of charge.

A new contract for pilots at Hawaiian Airlines is setting the bar for all-cargo carriers above traditional industry leaders even though the carrier has never flown freighters before.

As part of Amazon’s some 18,000 job cuts, a “significant number” of employees at several drone delivery facilities reportedly were laid off.

BoxC’s data-sharing initiative with the FDA showcases the growing need for government regulators to work with supply chains to fix operational inefficiencies.

Two Chinese logistics companies have started their own airlines and now have expanded their routes within China, and internationally.

In a blockbuster new partnership, Walmart will offer its GoLocal and Store Assist technologies through the Salesforce app.

Cargo drone manufacturer and delivery provider Elroy Air hit a new high after signing a deal with Dublin-based LCI.

Starting Jan. 31, more U.S. merchants, including those on the BigCommerce platform, can access Amazon Prime services like free and next-day delivery.

See how Walmart — quickly becoming one of the biggest names in drone delivery — and its network fared in 2022.

The number of truck transportation jobs rose in December, but following revisions of the earlier months, the fourth-quarter gain was minimal.

Electric vehicle fleet provider Lightning eMotors has introduced a new tool to help operators get the most out of their EV fleets.

Locus is expanding its workforce and solution offerings for Mexico’s booming e-commerce market.

E-commerce giant Amazon will lay off over 18,000 workers during its current round of job cuts, first reported in November.

Shopper engagement services provider Relationshop acquired grocery e-commerce firm Stor.ai for more than $50 million.

Food delivery app DoorDash gets into parcels with its new Package Pickup feature.

Cepton’s Vista-X120 Plus is billed as the world’s slimmest software definable, top-end automotive lidar solution.

Demand for 3PL services to handle last-mile shipments of heavy goods will grow by double digits annually through 2025, according to a report by Armstrong & Associates and the National Home Delivery Association.

Tesla, GM, Chevy and other EV makers may see early volume before revised tax credit provisions’ full criteria take effect.

Electric vehicle maker Workhorse announced that it escaped action from the Securities and Exchange Commission related to fraud accusations.

For the fourth time this year, grocery delivery platform Instacart has cut its valuation, despite hints of an IPO.

In yet another drone-related patent filing, Ford is looking at flying within aerial corridors above roads.

The e-commerce giant’s long-awaited drone delivery service finally got off the ground on Christmas Eve.

FedEx Express is looking to trim fat at the largest cargo airline in the world and lean on rental fleets to fill in needs.

A new survey of gig workers found that a majority have no plans to leave the industry, despite concerns of income stability and health benefits.

FedEx must convince stakeholders that it will stay the course on cost reductions.

The Warehouse Worker Protection Act is designed to provide transparency and worker protections to warehouse employees in the state of New York, which has seen several skirmishes over working conditions at Amazon facilities.

FedEx’s 2023 second-quarter results proved its ability to quickly slash costs but also showed the damage a demand slowdown is inflicting on its top line.

American Eagle’s logistics arm has partnered with JLL to open fulfillment centers with a rent-as-a-percentage-of-revenue payment model.

The Postal Service said it will double its EV investment from its July forecast.

An appellate court that will determine whether the Prop 22 gig worker vote in California is constitutional recently heard arguments.

Each carrier will come in below the other on certain services, but the net effect will be a wash, TransImpact says

Route-planning platform Circuit surveyed delivery drivers about their biggest pet peeves around the holidays.

Delivery management platform Locus has added a new option for retailers to better optimize last-mile delivery while optimizing capacity and business needs.

Walmart and DroneUp continued to expand their drone delivery footprint this week with launches in three new states.

Amazon has made the returns process easy and convenient for customers, but many retailers have yet to master the art of the return. Spencer Kieboom, founder of Pollen Returns, talks about the role technology can play in the process.

Amazon has shifted middle-mile parcel deliveries to UPS and last-mile deliveries to the U.S. Postal Service, Jindel says.

A tax code throat punch promises to make gig work and online selling as fun as a trip to the morgue and as profitable as the average Mega Millions ticket.

An analysis of supply chain job postings has found that, despite interest in automation technology, many companies are not seeking candidates with technological experience.

Building on partnerships with Motional, Serve Robotics and Nuro, Uber Eats announced a collaboration with self-driving vehicle maker Cartken.

The Government of Rwanda will enlist Zipline to be able to make autonomous deliveries to the nation’s entire population.

A Circuit survey shows that most delivery drivers are concerned about losing their jobs, but they are interested in working with driverless and drone deliveries.

Although retailers may be past the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, other headwinds persist, reminding storefronts the importance of having a resilient supply chain, according to National Retail Federation’s Jon Gold.

Jack Echeverria, senior manager of Wayfair’s global logistics arm, CastleGate Logistics, discusses how the online furniture retailer planned its peak season amid this year’s supply chain uncertainty and looks ahead to key factors that will affect market conditions in 2023.

Geodis is now offering U.S.-based e-commerce companies air zone skipping service to Canada.

DHL Express is responding to demand for e-commerce with the addition of a new cargo route — this time to the Dominican Republic.

Outrider continues transforming yard operations to autonomy, adding a robotic arm to connect and disconnect brake lines.