Truck Talk: Autonomous patent edition
Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter offering perspective and context on happenings in the heavy-duty and commercial trucking sector.
Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter offering perspective and context on happenings in the heavy-duty and commercial trucking sector.
The agency used regulatory flexibility and expedited reviews extensively to prevent drug shortages in 2020.
A Seattle-based startup aiming to give health care providers an easier way to get medical supplies recently raised $1.5 million in seed funding to expand its business.
Device makers ask the federal government for help getting shipments through crowded ports, but it’s not clear how that would work.
Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter that adds perspective and context to issues affecting the trucking industry.
An increase in elective surgeries and accidents is increasing demand for blood in the U.S., leading to severe shortages, according to a Red Cross report.
A new tech transfer hub in South Africa aims to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines in countries that have struggled to get shots.
Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter from FreightWaves that adds perspective and context to happenings in the trucking industry.
A problematic Emergent vaccine plant in Maryland still lacks approval, even after FDA declared some doses produced there are safe to use.
Incentives for manufacturers and more supply chain visibility could help reduce shortages, according to a new White House report.
Offering speed enables retailers to build scale and density, but only if expectations are appropriately set and delivered on as promised.
Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter that looks under the hood of the trucking industry to add perspective and context to what’s happening.
The details are murky, but the decision to remove priority ratings under the Defense Production Act may not change much about the vaccines supply chain.
Trips that once took three to four weeks are often taking three to four months, and shipments will undoubtedly miss their season for some retailers.
A group of private equity firms signed a deal, reportedly worth $30 billion, for a majority stake in the private medical distributor Medline.
Petco leverages its stores to fulfill 83% of online sales. That’s much higher than Target’s %, which has the best omnichannel operation in retail.
Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter that brings perspective and context to trends and issues in the trucking industry.
The Strategic National Stockpile is asking Congress for more money to build back its inventory following the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s already starting to make improvements to day-to-day operations.
FedEx remains inundated with elevated parcel volume stemming from continued online shopping resulting in longer delivery times, service blunders and upset customers.
The FDA is asking Congress to fund new programs focused on regulating the health care supply chain and mitigating shortages.
Ralph Lauren, with this offering, won’t generate the scale needed to make the model work at this price.
It seems that centralized buying and local product discovery are polar opposites. How can Whole Foods centralize buying and get better at the local level?
Amazon’s yearslong foray into health care still hasn’t upended the industry, and it’s unclear if the recent steps will change that pattern.
Experts told lawmakers in a hearing last week that adding geographic diversity and careful planning could strengthen the health care supply chain.
Amazon confirmed its annual Prime Day event will be held in Q2 (likely June), as it seeks to improve on a record Q2 2020, when revenue grew 40%. But there’s also major supply chain reasoning behind the decision.
The headlines are touting Target’s store fulfillment numbers, but Home Depot’s right behind, fulfilling 55% of online orders from stores. This is particularly advantageous for Home Depot, which sells goods that are more often heavier and bulkier than its retail counterparts.
The best-in-class retailers navigated well, and managed to grow inventory considerably in the first months of the year.
Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter from FreightWaves that adds perspective and context to happenings in the trucking world.
The chip shortage has been going on long enough to generate some survey data, and there are some positive things to be found there, but overall the picture is bleak. […]
This is an excerpt from Monday’s (5/13) Point of Sale retail supply chain newsletter sponsored by ArcBest. There’s a startup that was first created to deliver essentials to college kids but is quietly […]
With most CPG companies already having reported first-quarter earnings, the CPG-related news this week centered around descriptions of consumer strength from their retail partners. In addition, the largest CPG companies, […]
Logistics is the name of the game when it comes to getting health care supplies to patients in disaster zones or places experiencing disease outbreaks.
Consumers reversion to services has not come at the detriment of durable goods spending. Over the past four weeks, the mix of durable goods-to-services spending has remained stable.
In addition to improving margins and boosting brand image, cutting ties with retailers simplifies Under Armour’s supply chain at a time when its needed most.
Companies in the health care supply chain are preparing to change gears as COVID-19 cases fall and health care utilization returns to normal levels.
On the Transmission show this week, we speak with Dan Hearsch, managing director at AlixPartners, about the difference between a shortage and a crisis. In the auto supply chain world, […]
The semiconductor chip shortage continues to be the dominant news item in the automotive supply chain world. Not that anyone is surprised by this anymore. The NTEA, the association for […]
The evolving automotive supply chain — and it is evolving, perhaps more than casual observers are aware — is forcing companies to rethink best practices when it comes to getting […]
Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter offering perspective and context on happenings in the industry.
Health care distributors ramped up distribution of PPE and vaccines during the pandemic but normal health care usage fell.
Drug manufacturers say contingency plans have helped avoid major disruptions to production, but hospitals still face shortages.
As the equity indexes declined on Tuesday, two freight indexes contained in SONAR were up sharply after incorporating data from the past week: the national dry van and reefer spot […]
Peloton stated it expects to incur $50 million in refund expenses from its treadmill recall. What will the logistics costs be?
Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter providing background, context and perspective to the trucking industry.
As the economy surges, inflation pressures are becoming more widespread. Everywhere you look, there are headline-grabbing reports of rising prices. Some areas where inflation is acute are in industrial commodities […]
How would intellectual property waivers affect the vaccine supply chain? Supporters say sharing IP will boost production. Others say a lack of workers, production facilities and supplies means sharing IP won’t help.
Next week on the Transmission podcast and FreightWavesTV show, I’ll be speaking with Dionis Teshler, the CTO and co-founder of GuardKnox. There are two things we recommend doing in preparation […]
As the number of COVID-19 cases decreases, some manufacturers and suppliers of personal protective equipment are predicting demand will start to drop over the coming months.
Wall Street didn’t like Clorox’s earnings report late last week. There were analyst downgrades and shares are down from where they were a week ago and down 10% from their […]
The biggest changes Bed Bath & Beyond must make are in the supply chain, which has been referred to as “noncompetitive” by management.
Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter from FreightWaves that adds context and perspective to happenings in the trucking industry.
When it comes to making the switch to an electric vehicle, public recharging can be a hurdle for drivers. General Motors made the hurdle a bit lower this week, announcing […]
The use of telehealth surged during the pandemic, and some experts expect it will remain elevated. Treating more patients at home could mean suppliers will have to shift how they get medical products to patients or health care providers.
India is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases. The U.S. is sending supplies to help overwhelmed hospitals and speed up vaccine manufacturing.
In past editions of The Stockout, I’ve discussed cost inflation trends, which I believe is the industry’s largest issue currently aside from pandemic-related structural changes in demand. In recent days, […]
The fallout from the semiconductor chip shortage continues, and since it’s affecting the production of vehicles across the globe, it should be no surprise that automakers will be making fewer […]
The best-in-class retailers are aggressively pursuing logistical control over their products while trying to avoid patchwork responses to final-mile delivery.
Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter with perspective and context on the trucking industry, alternative transportation, powertrains and autonomy.
Anyone who’s been tracking electric vehicle sales for the past decade, like yours truly, knows that progress has been slow but steady. It looks like 2021 might be a year […]
Many companies sought out supply chain visibility during the pandemic. Now, they’re unlikely to go back.
In 2020, Amazon nearly doubled: its workforce, its number of facilities and its logistics square footage. In 2021, it plans to double its truckload fleet.
After problems with the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines, Europe plots a new course. Also, Johnson & Johnson leaders are optimistic about vaccine despite setbacks.
Tuesday morning there was big news out of the rail industry: Canadian National Railway (CN) made a stronger offer to acquire the Kansas City Southern (KCS) Railway than what Canadian […]
Electric vehicles are being manufactured around the globe, but automakers are making moves that will mean production is a bit more localized in the future. GM’s big battery plant announcement […]
Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter from FreightWaves that adds perspective and context to happenings in the trucking industry.
In today’s The Stockout, I discuss first-quarter earnings reports from Pepsi and L’Oreal. L’Oreal, in particular, has a lot of momentum of late with shares reaching all-time highs as investors […]
J&J’s shot makes up a small portion of the vaccine campaign in the U.S., so the impact should be small.
It’s a good day to breathe a bit easier. The number of all-electric trucks headed out to make local deliveries is growing. Whether you’re in Southern California or a major […]
The number of biologic drugs and gene therapies is growing, and logistics companies are increasing their capacity for temperature-controlled transportation to support them.
Most public CPG companies are in their quiet periods ahead of earnings. But there were still significant developments with the CPG companies that are not (yet) public. There is a […]
We are learning a bit more about Monday’s meeting between the Biden administration and numerous companies, specifically the list of attendees. At least two large automakers — Ford and GM […]
Improvements will come in the form of more ship-from-store, but mainly more ship-from-dark-store as retailers realize the unnecessary complexity of the method and seek to transform more stores into localized fulfillment centers.
Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter where FreightWaves adds context, commentary and color to industry news and trends.
When we look back at the COVID era, we will remember stockouts of toilet paper, cleared-out grocery store shelves and the impossibility of getting the latest video game console because […]
Drug shortages have plagued the U.S. for years, but the scarcity of certain drugs during the pandemic energized some experts to renew efforts to address the problem.
You know that your corner of the automotive industry isn’t exactly niche anymore when mainstream media outlets start encroaching on the topic.
This clever twist on micro-fulfillment centers offers a futuristic model for urban retailing and fulfillment. And it comes as companies test out a bevy of automated, unmanned service models, from dark stores to drones and autonomous delivery fleets.
Armed with more data and real-world examples, some public health officials are renewing their calls to delay second doses
In today’s edition of The Stockout CPG-focused newsletter, I discuss a company that has been dealing with exactly that — stockouts. McCormick & Co., the world’s largest spice company, reported […]
There continue to be concerns about when these new orders will be prepared, as many truck manufacturers continue to deal with semiconductor shortages.
It’s not that companies can’t operate without China, it’s just that for now, said companies will not grow as fast as they could with it, and will likely do so with lower margins. In a retail world constantly balancing sales and profit, avoiding China is giving up both for many Western brands.
Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter where FreightWaves adds context, commentary and color to industry news and trends.
The battle between brands and retailers is not new, but it’s more acute than ever because of the options each side has. For brands, it’s never been easier to own and operate sales channels both online and IRL. For retailers, there’s never been more digitally native brands seeking out offline homes than there are right now. And giants like Target, Walmart and Amazon have proven that consumers are willing to purchase and even be very loyal to private label brands.
President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan is light on details, but it could affect the health care supply chain.
Tier 1 automotive supplier avoids line-down debacle via AIT Worldwide Logistics’ speedy transborder solution
This is an excerpt from Monday’s (3/29) Point of Sale retail supply chain newsletter sponsored by ArcBest. Yee-HAW, people. The third round of fiscal stimulus is causing an immediate and significant boost to […]
Drug manufacturers are trying to massively scale up production, which will require companies to share information and governments to make financial investments.
Last week Starbucks expanded upon its previously stated goal to be a “resource-positive company,” with specific goals related to sourcing coffee beans, land use and production. What’s striking is how […]
Volatility in trucking markets has prompted shippers to assess different ways of securing reliable capacity. For DG, that means more reliance on in-house transportation, but that’s certainly not the only option. Some retailers are looking to diversify their transportation partners to avoid delays and secure truck space. Others are debating streamlining their transportation needs by signing over their private fleets to logistics specialists.
Add Nike (NYSE: NKE) to the growing list of retailers being severely hampered by port congestion and supply chain bottlenecks. The congestion at West Coast ports in particular strained Nike’s supply chain and negatively impacted revenue, which declined 11% yoy in the quarter ending Feb. 28.
Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter where FreightWaves adds context, commentary and color to industry news and trends.
The pandemic slashed ride volumes for medical transportation providers that brought patients to appointments. Now, some want to bring drugs and supplies to patients.
Most CPG companies will report earnings next month, but with an off-cycle fiscal year ending May 31, General Mills reported its fiscal third quarter Wednesday morning for the December-February quarter. […]
COVID-19 forced dramatic change at the end of the supply chain seemingly overnight. Retailers had to adjust quickly to succeed, and those that did are looking at a recovering consumer economy with the best balance sheet in decades on top of a real estate market reeling from store closures. Pair this with an e-commerce acceleration of five years and a movement to DTC and you have a market ripe for innovative physical expansion.
Criminals are trying to sell fake COVID-19 vaccines to desperate governments and citizens, threatening trust in the real health care supply chain.
As the number of places where product flows increases, naturally, smaller, more frequent inventory replenishment runs are created. Whether it’s middle-mile solutions from DC to store or DC to DC or it’s home delivery, the location of endpoints is dispersing and the size of shipments is decreasing.
Earlier this week in The Stockout CPG-focused newsletter, I discussed the impact that China’s efforts to replenish its hog population was having on corn and soybean exports as well as […]
Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter where FreightWaves adds context, commentary and color to industry news and trends.
Security measures and remote locations complicate the last mile. But some correctional systems are vaccinating inmates quickly.
Companies that are normally competitors are making deals to share technology and manufacturing capacity to produce enough COVID-19 vaccines.