Warehouse

Rising tariffs spur look at geographic shifts in supply chains.

Lineage Cool Port Oakland is a collaboration between Lineage Logistics and Dreisbach Enterprises.

The freight market is showing the first signs of turning in over a month. Is this the start of retail season?

Will fundamental policy changes happen over the next two years leading up to the general election regardless of which party wins out?

There were nine challenges to the results in the first contested election in 18 years.

Drivers at XPO Logistics, Inc.’s (NYSE:XPO) facility in Cinnaminson, N.J., an eastern suburb of Philadelphia, have agreed to join Teamsters union Local 107, the Teamsters said.

FreightWaves adds agricultural commodity and warehouse data to SONAR.

The logistics software solutions provider expects sharp increases in earnings and revenue.

East coast bound containers from China are getting a pre-holiday discount as shippers increase volume to North America in front of tariff increases.

When you consider all the implications of the service, it may be one of the biggest deals happening in the industry that you haven’t heard about.

Assets to be acquired are still unclear, but deal could expand Ceva’s North American and Asian presence.

UPS Inc. will expand its “My Choice” customized delivery program to the business-to-business segment during the first quarter of next year.

Capacity constraints, strong demand, and chaotic tariff-related traffic pushed transpacific containers rates to new heights, but the current inbound container surge, unrelated to consumer demand, will create a steeper drop off in Q1 2019.

Also in the pickup: IMO meets with 2020 on the horizon; Rhine levels are causing plants to shut down; C.R. England and its charitable cause

The plant at the heart of the story was acquired by XPO a few years ago. The company reportedly was stunned by the allegations in the article.

West Coast ports post strongest volumes ever; Norfolk Southern is moving to Atlanta; flatbed tender rejections stay down; expect electric trucks in 2020; pregnant XPO Logistics warehouse workers suffer miscarriages; E2open buys Inttra; Iraq produces more oil but can’t rebuild.

SONAR’s Headhaul Index map and the HAUL.JOT Index are both showing that the return to growth in inbound loaded container flow first seen in the Long Beach/LA port is continuing and gathering momentum.

The freight brokerage company, which just completed the acquisition of AFN, is looking at four more opportunities.

XPO Logistics was named to the Fortune Future 50 list of U.S. public companies while KeepTruckin and Transfix were both honored by Forbes as two companies likely to achieve unicorn status.

Trump government looks to phase out IMO2020 sulfur cap regulations; Shanghai Composite Index crashes by 3%; Amazon revisting cities for finalizing HQ2.

User trials are under way as the Chinese retailer opens its logistics network to consumers.

FreightWaves is excited to announce that Mark Solomon, formerly the executive editor at DC Velocity, has joined our editorial team as Managing Editor of freight markets.

American Chemistry Council says retaliatory duties have erected a huge barrier to China’s growing markets.

Load consolidation expertise, U.S. offshore markets coverage and Asia Pacific import business will “markedly enhance” networks.

In Partnership with Arrive Logistics… we talk freight market data with executives from Arrive Logistics and ask them how they’re preparing to handle surging volumes in Q4 and beyond.

Parcel and LTL shipping software provider SmartFreight is added to the growing portfolio.

35 companies are being spotlighted in Venture Atlanta 2018, double the number of last year. These companies are already successful and making strides in a variety of venture and tech-related firms. Here’s a brief look at 10 of these companies, each of whom had a mere 5 minutes to pitch.

Industrial output continued to push ahead in September, signaling that one of the key drivers of freight demand remained solid at the end of the 3rd quarter. Production was restrained slightly by the impact from Hurricane Florence, but not enough to prevent growth in the sector from reaching a near 8-year high.

Electric bikes and scooters are dominating the transit scene in U.S. metropolitan areas, and residents are beginning to see them as less of a solution and more of nuisance. Groups representing livestock, bee and fish haulers have petitioned DOT to allow them to drive up to 15 hours each day.

U.K. company’s customers will gain access to the CargoWise One integrated global logistics platform.

Arkansas-based motor carrier sees driver wages up 18%, but it aims to recoup those costs through new shipper contracts.

The city hopes to use its role as a landlord to help move truck traffic on to barges and to trains.

Lawyer Carlos Rodriguez offers insight on Federal Maritime Commission and hours-of-service regulations and opportunities in e-commerce.

Michigan-based asset-light logistics provider aims to boost western U.S. presence with latest acquisition.

The service is being operated by Atlas Air Worldwide with Boeing 767-300F aircraft.

The president has 60 days to review the determination of intellectual property infringement.

Shippers should recognize annual patterns to move goods more efficiently.

“Best-in-class shipping experience” will include visibility during the entire freight journey.

Two high school friends, one from Access America and one from JB Hunt, founded a successful brokerage in Knoxville full of supply chain management grads. And they love SONAR.

Differences remain in what is best path for drivers to follow, but all agree that port congestion is a problem that needs fixing.

Indices are clearly signaling that the container volume coming in through the Long Beach/LA port is surging and bodes well for the holiday shopping season.

Saudi Arabia and Russia are looking to contain crude oil prices by increasing production by nearly half a million barrels per day; China’s U.S. oil exports have dried up completely; Amazon warehouse workers lose their bonus over the company’s minimum pay rise pledge.

Additional robotic deployment comes as XPO readies for seasonal rush.

BNSF announced that former chief executive Matthew Rose will retire from a his role as executive chairman of the largest freight railroad in the U.S. effective next April, and more in Today’s Pickup.

Logistics company argues that it has improved conditions at warehouse one year after its purchase.

Intelligent automation is designed to make logistics operations safer and more productive.

Former senior vice president likes to “push the limits of the logistics and supply chain management industry.”

Expanded network will enable two-day delivery to 98 percent of the United States.

Industry veteran Jeffery Barrie has been named CEO of DB Schenker USA, effective Nov. 1, 2018. Barrie will lead all operations in the U.S. and report directly to Philippe Gilbert, Region Americas CEO.

In a time when consumers are opting to spend less time in the kitchen, restaurants and grocery stores, convenience is king and grocery delivery services are popping up everywhere.

In a message to customers, FreshDirect CEO McInerney apologized for the rocky segue. The transition to the new Bronx facility “has not been as smooth as we planned,” McInerney told customers in the Friday morning email.

The annual report by Infosys and others reflects an industry that is largely satisfied with the work that is being done, but with a recognition of areas that need improvement.

Action targets XPO Logistics and NFI Industries operations over a wide area of Southern California.

Update: Latest labor action brings attention to drayage drivers as NFI says union is trying to “force” representation on drivers.

U.S. Wheat Associates did charge that practices in “clear violation” of a WTO agreement helped establish Turkey as the world’s leading flour exporter.

Both new home sales and home starts showed some improvement in August, ending months of disappointing activity. Existing home sales failed to expand for the fifth straight month however, and housing in general remains a weak area for freight demand.

Prologis is making further investments in the communities it has developed by launching an internship program for high schoolers from under-served areas to enter the logistics industry.

$200B of tariffs imposed on Chinese imports today; the 4PL era is here; China cancels further trade talks; Germany’s maritime fleet shrinks by 1/3; air cargo not yet feeling tariff pain; oil rallies.

The two Koreas consider historic trade agreements in the middle of ‘Autumn Eve’, their peak shipping season.

ZF, the German automaker has released innovative trucks that can load and unload at the warehouse and last-mile electric delivery vans with level 4 autonomy.

FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller, Chief Economist Ibrahiim Bayaan, and Senior Meteorologist Nick Austin discussed Hurricane Florence’s impact on freight, the general macroeconomic situation, and the upcoming IMO 2020 regulations on maritime fuel.

The challengers have the enormous advantages of brand identity and manufacturing infrastructure. 

Companies are deploying contingency plans and building inventories to avoid the full impact of higher duties coming in January.

Artificial intelligence is a buzzword that has created a lot of hype in the transportation industry. But understanding the technology’s commercial utility is the need of the day.

Ports see toppled containers and damaged warehouses, but gantry cranes still functioning.

Speakers at IANA Expo warn next year may not be as strong.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation says not to travel in or to the state; Walmart grabs a 200K square foot foothold in NYC; the IMF says British economy will contract if no deal on Brexit; Freightos raises $45M; global seaborne coal trade grows 4%; Tesla’s having a hard time delivering cars.

SSA Containers president says these days container terminals are judged by how they handle trucks as well as ships.

XPO’s seasonal numbers are up 20% from last year. Those sorts of needs is why Amazon has a unique program for a unique group of people.

The worst flooding in North Carolina could be yet to come in the wake of Florence.

Average size of containerships transiting the Panama Canal is up 5.4 percent from last August.

Terminal will offer nighttime hours for cargo pickup and delivery four days a week.

Port of Wilmington is one of the smaller ports in Florence’s path.

Charlotte and Atlanta see outsized inbound volumes as carriers move relief suppies into staging areas

Hurricane Florence bears down on the Carolinas. Freight markets are reacting before the first rain drops have fallen.

It’s a good time for 3PLs when capacity is tight and supply chains are speeding up.

The votes are being counted in the first contested election in 18 years.

“It’s not just about cars and satellites and cereal,” says CEO Lou Rassey. “It’s about feeding and empowering the world with the things we make. That’s the heart of Fast Radius.”

Leadership of Canadian local recommends approval of five-year contract.

With peak season just around the corner, the LoadStar reports “turmoil” and “chaos” in all UK ports; A call with investors has revealed that investment in supply chain and rising transportation costs ate into Best Buy’s margins last quarter, but sales increased overall; and more in Today’s Pickup.

ITL, a Chicago-based company specializing in warehousing and logistics, recently became a member of the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA).

Drones may someday soon become a primary delivery method of last-mile, but they likely won’t be the only solution, as flexibility in methods will be key to successful delivery.

It appears we’ve upset the Journal of Commerce. Electric bike-sharing companies need to look at the Chinese bike debacle before aggressive expansion. Five years in, China’s Belt and Road looks like a giant debt trap. ATRI makes the case for more HOS flexibility. JP and Chad discuss all this and more on this week’s episode.

Consumer expectations with regard to last-mile delivery have been evolving rapidly, and businesses need to look towards technology to address those needs.

The early summer truck strike continues to impact Brazil, Narvar raises $30 million in funding, GreyOrange picks Atlanta for its US headquarters, and more in today’s pickup…

Ware2Go also provides inventory visibility and tracks orders.

The digital platform is designed to match warehouse space and fulfillment services with small and medium-sized companies working to get online orders out fast.

China is witnessing a lot of investment in the logistics facility space, as real-estate price surge and an ecommerce boom is heating up the market.

What is the correlation between freight costs and the loss of property value in coastal communities?

A package of weak data on both housing starts and home purchases indicates that housing and construction remains one of the few areas of weakness in the economy in the 3rd quarter. This has put some downward pressure on freight demand, as the movement of building materials, furniture, and appliances is influenced by the strength of the housing market.

Transpacific container rates post gains; United States and Mexico try to reach an agreement on the automotive trade; what Amazon did last week; Lloyd’s of London rethinks marine insurance; Mexico City’s new airport has uncertain future; tanker market faces added pressure from US-China spat.

Sponsored by LaunchIt Public Relations…Alan Amling, director of UPS’s Global On-Demand Manufacturing Initiative pursues the benefits of on-demand additive manufacturing.

A staid and technology-averse industry is in the process of changing thanks to new entrants.

Ports of LA and Long Beach have reduced emissions by replacing diesel-run equipments with zero-emission engines; oil prices rise over signs of U.S. sanctions on Iran; warehousing workers salaries have seen good increases over the last three years.

The Coast Guard is prepared to conduct port assessments as quickly as possible to restart cargo deliveries after the storm.

Tax and regulatory cuts boosted the return of manufacturing jobs to American shores, but a trade war could change that.

In partnership with Reliance Partners …A survey of nearly 16,000 warehouse workers uncovers three key factors to attracting and retaining supply chain talent in anticipation of holiday peak season and single-digit unemployment rate.

The Appalachian Regional Port provides an alternative to an all-truck dray to and from the Port of Savannah.

HCI Equity Partners says in amended filing it may enter transaction to help Roadrunner’s balance sheet.

Amazon has promised to name a location this year for the so-called HQ2 project, which it claims will ultimately employ 50,000 people. Using SONAR, from a freight perspective, we’re here to help.