News

Sometimes the transportation industry can feel a little impersonal. A people-first mindset can help combat that.

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.

Prices continued to rise into Friday on the news that threw conventional wisdom aside.

February generally shows an increase in the number of trucking jobs, but not in 2021

U.S. weekly intermodal volumes moved higher last week amid support from retail and e-commerce, while carloads slumped as some U.S. Gulf Coast facilities seek to fully return to normal following February’s winter storm.

Truckers will have to chain up frequently as more snow piles up in the Northwest mountains (with forecast video).

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.

Perks, not just higher wages, may be the price for retaining qualified and high-demand warehouse labor.

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

Air cargo is a good news, bad news story this year. Shipment volumes are at pre-crisis levels. But cargo is joined at the hip with passenger airlines, which are cutting more flights and struggling to survive.

The trucking community grapples with the city of Palmview, Texas’ ordinance restricting parking as well as access to city streets.

Republican lawmakers push back on Biden’s ‘big, bold vision’ ahead of infrastructure talks.

How do you differentiate yourself from your competitors? Standing out in sales is important and on this episode of Put That Coffee Down, Kevin Hill talks about ways to position yourself better.

Old Dominion Freight Line said Thursday it would add 800 drivers and more than 400 dockworkers and clerical personnel to meet “robust freight demand.”

On this episode of Midday Market Update, Kevin Hill and Michael Vincent discuss lingering port congestion and how delays are driving a hot air cargo market.

Craig Fuller reasons that if “project44 is the Visa of the industrial world, then having the greatest acceptance and connectivity will be a major differentiating factor.”

New Class 8 truck orders are piling up, leading fleets to turn to used equipment to add capacity in a consumer-driven freight market.

In light of recent wind-related accidents, Reliance Partners’ Brian Runnels advises truckers to check their weight, slow down and monitor weather reports before hitting the road.

Alan Adler joins Dooner on the show to talk about Workhorse’s woes, can Tesla hit a trillion dollar market cap, Nikola’s troubles and more

Schneider’s corporate sustainability goals include plans to reduce per-mile carbon emissions 60% by 2035 and focus on fleet electrification.

On this episode of #WithSONAR, Luke Falasca and Kyle Taylor explore the SONAR tools that provide visibility to the ocean shipping market.

The size of the Variant fleet reached 900 this week, ahead of schedule. CEO Fuller is touting improvement in OR of 2,000 bps when fully implemented.

PowerFleet’s LV-400 allows users to remotely monitor and make changes to the reefer trailer from their PC.

Three investigators will try to determine what caused the death of a BNSF worker on Wednesday at a rail yard near Los Angeles.

Amazon-backed Deliveroo announces plans to go public less than a year after British regulators questioned the viability of the business.

National Transportation Institute CEO Leah Shaver says drivers “will feel disrespected if they see that their time is not valued as it pertains to their paycheck.”

J.B. Hunt believes recent winter storms will negatively impact first-quarter operating income by $15 million to $20 million. The company said it had been successful advancing its intermodal service initiatives prior to the storms.

Vaccine distribution is an inherently complex process. The process is further complicated by this specific vaccine’s short shelf life.

As Amazon continues to dominate e-commerce, major retailers are stepping up their investments hoping to benefit from shifting consumer demands.

Workhorse expects a “prolonged process” in trying to wrest mail truck business from the U.S. Postal Service that contracted with defense contractor Oshkosh.

“Ocean Insights has dominated the container-tracking space, and we look forward to providing the industry not only the best ocean capabilities but also the most comprehensive end-to-end visibility platform,” says project44 CEO Jett McCandless.

Drayage trucking and logistics company ContainerPort sold its container yard and depot division to ITS ConGlobal, a company with intermodal, finished vehicle and depot service terminals.

We are on the cusp of a golden age of technology-led innovation in supply chain.

Truckers will have to chain up as a series of snowstorms comes back to the Northwest (with forecast video).

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

Several of the nation’s largest retailers say inventory positions are improving. However, retail sales continue to outpace efforts to stock up, suggesting trucking demand could stay elevated well into 2021.

Supply chain software provider Descartes Systems Group has “sold more stuff than we’ve ever sold before” in recent quarters, its CEO says as revenue and profits soar.

If ocean freight rates have legs, analysts see much more room for the secondhand ship values to run — which should, in turn, boost stocks.

Northwest Seaport Alliance reports January exports dropped 13.4% year-over-year.

“Hannah grew up in this industry and she knows our product and the customer’s needs better than anyone. She’s already a tremendous leader within the organization, and now is her time,” said former CEO and father Yosie Lebovich.

The Home Depot, a current customer of Loadsmart, was happy to see the brokerage continue its commitment to bring freight optimization to its supply chain.

FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse data reveals 47,995 drivers are ineligible due to violations.

For the last day of Global Supply Chain Week, Dooner and The Dude are talking about the impact February’s winter storm had on Texas ports and how recovery is going with spring around the corner.

Class 8 truck orders have exceeded 30,000 a month for six consecutive months, more bookings than in the previous 18 months combined.

Tim Adams invented We Care Safety Flaps to reduce “collateral damage” from accidents involving tractor-trailers.

Boeing 767s are coveted by all-cargo carriers. LATAM Airlines is doing an in-house swap of passenger planes to its cargo division, which will send them to Boeing to convert into freighters.

As drone delivery tests ramp up, a patchwork of regulations make some states more friendly to the process than others.

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

Authorities are investigating whether human smuggling was involved in a crash Tuesday near Holtville, California, that killed more than a dozen people.

The Sustainable Shipping Initiative’s road map to sustainability includes financial, social and environmental sustainability factors.

Today’s container market chaos underscores the need for enforceable ocean contracts as opposed to loose agreements, argues consultant Tom Craig.

For the 12th consecutive month, CN hauled a record amount of Canadian grain.

The company sets ambitious fleet electrification goals and establishes a center at Yale University to research climate-capture techniques.

Flatbed transportation and logistics provider PS Logistics remains on the acquisition trail, purchasing the assets of Indiana carrier Jason Jones Trucking. The tuck-in deal allows JJT to keep operating under its own name.

The AAR released climate policy proposals encouraging partnerships and market solutions that promote competition and carbon capture, utilization and storage technology.

Ocean Audit’s Steve Ferreira and AutoZone’s Jack Conaghan discuss how beneficial cargo owners should strategize contracts and containers during 2021.

Less-than-truckload carrier Saia reported a small decline in volumes during February, reversing the more than 5% increase recorded in January. Excluding inclement weather, the carrier said trends remain consistent with January.

Lina Jasutiene, managing director and founder of Recoupex and a former lawyer for the shipping line MSC, explains what shippers can do to successfully pursue damage claims. She talks to Steve Ferreira, the CEO of Ocean Audit, during a fireside chat at FreightWaves’ Global Supply Chain Week.

Brian Whitley’s airfreight business has been growing rapidly, but the events of 2020 forced him to adapt to quickly changing conditions.

You need to put yourself out there, be realistic and be patient to build a niche audience, says Tom Augenthaler, founder of 551 Media. “It doesn’t happen overnight.”

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the nation’s infrastructure an overall grade of C-, up from a grade of D+ four years ago, the association revealed Wednesday in […]

Remember in your pitch that your customer — not you, the company or your solution — is the hero.

The asset-light warehouse startup will use the capital to expand its network, co-founder says.

HSBC global economist James Pomeroy says we won’t be buying all the one-off big-ticket items we did during the pandemic’s first year.

The Biden administration signaled on day one that it was going to roll back some late Trump administration rules; the independent contractor rule came out Jan. 7.

A recent survey conducted by Convoy highlights how truck drivers, dispatchers and owner-operators view different sustainable trucking issues and regulations.

Truckers may hit delays as a quick-hitting snowstorm heads toward the Rockies (with forecast video).

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

Adoption of technology has influenced U.S. Class I railroads’ staffing. Will additional technological innovation cut headcount even more, or will other factors have greater weight?

Maritime regulators warn the Houston port agency against restrictions that could hamper the Gulf Coast container trade.

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.

Kalitta Air pilots on Tuesday ratified a new collective bargaining agreement, which the Air Line Pilots Association says significantly improves retirement benefits and working conditions. The four-year labor contract covers […]

The bosses of public dry bulk shipping companies claim that recent market oddities point to good times ahead.

Spot rates hit record high; KeepTruckin caught up in crash fallout; Workhorse loses contract; Amazon vs Walmart

Growth in the supply chain came at a faster pace in February, with transportation capacity falling and prices climbing at accelerated rates.

The $3.7B merger of Navistar and TRATON Group drew nearer Tuesday when Navistar shareholders approved a $44.50-per-share buyout.

U.S. rail operator CSX says it is investigating a “data security incident” after a ransomware gang appears to have leaked personal information of employees and retirees.

“American customers will be able to choose to transport their goods using LNG, a new technology that helps to preserve air quality by eliminating almost all atmospheric pollutants,” said CMA CGM CEO Rodolphe Saadé.

On this episode of stackd, host Adam Robinson talks to Michael Southworth about how market volatility can be circumvented if you know the right tools to use.

California will boost testing procedures to enforce distillate fuel regulations.

New York-based Fillogic has secured a $2.5 million seed funding round to expand its e-commerce logistics platform.

The airline industry took a massive punch from the pandemic last year, but most carriers have stayed on their feet. Airlines and their employees say Congress should inject one more dose of aid for jobs so they can start flying more quickly once vaccinations increase and people are ready to travel.

A collision near Holtville, California, about 15 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, killed at least 13 people.

CBP seized the Hong Kong-bound corn flakes frosted with cocaine at an express consignment facility near Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Even though Britain is no longer a part of the European Union, it still does business with its neighboring countries. In this fireside chat, Richard Greening and Walter Van der Meiren discuss the work that needs to be done to keep trade seamless between the U.K. and the rest of Europe.

Evan Efstathiou discusses why VCs are looking to invest more in maritime just as shipowners are looking to partner more with startups.

Ocean Audit CEO Steve Ferreira chats with Vanguard Logistics Services Vice President Stephanie Loomis about what importers and beneficial cargo owners can expect as they undergo contract negotiations with the ocean carriers this year.

Uber is spinning off the robotic delivery division of Postmates into a new entity.

With no end in sight to the container crisis, Zach Strickland and Anthony Smith discuss how ocean shipping woes will continue to create ripple effects in the freight markets.

Verifai founder and CEO Jonathan Kempe chats with cybersecurity expert Rich Mason and supply chain expert Amy Broglin-Peterson on how and why companies should aim for data trustworthiness and become knowledgeable about the ethics guiding their supply chain partners.

Carrier Averitt Express said it was raising pay for its newly hired regional truckload and flatbed drivers. The company becomes the latest to increase driver pay as the industry struggles to seat tractors.

The Global Secure Shipping project began after 9/11 when the government sought increased security at ports. This fireside chat explores the customs, weight, six-sided security and visibility benefits of smart containers.

The mismatched timing of payments is always a challenge for freight forwarders and brokers. Trying to explain the process to outside auditors and financing firms is often even more difficult, but Kevin Hill and Amna Shah share the right way to handle this process.

“This is the greatest era to put out content on LinkedIn,” says Gary Vaynerchuk.

This fireside chat about logistical trends in artificial intelligence and automation highlights a variety of misconceptions. “Almost immediate ROI” might be enough to steer logistics companies toward AI, said Kate Curtin, head of marketing at Deep Cognition.

Federal Maritime Commissioner Carl Bentzel discusses the agency’s options in regulating rates and service amid the booming U.S. container supply chain.

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.

Commercial vehicle fuel cell maker Hyzon Motors is adding a fuel cell facility to make enough key components for 1,200 fuel cells a year.

The company’s 2020 sales gains were higher than in the past 11 years combined.

The commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Polar Star talks about the commercial challenges and opportunities in the Arctic.