USPS Preps Phased Approach for New Package Dimension Reporting Rules
The U.S. Postal Service will expand its package dimension reporting to all shipments on July 12, 2026, but will postpone non‑compliance fees until a second phase early next year. Currently, only parcels over 1 cubic foot or 22 inches require dimensions, with a $3 fee for missing data. Phase one will focus on data evaluation and system testing, while phase two will automate detection and begin assessing fees on smaller parcels. The phased rollout follows stakeholder feedback concerned about cost impacts and competitive pressure.
Dollar General Names VP of Supply Chain Optimization
Dollar General announced Matt Lucas as vice president of supply chain optimization and promoted Kyle Gorman to vice president of distribution. Lucas, a 2013 hire, will apply data analytics and financial modeling to redesign the retailer’s network, technology and product...
FedEx, UPS and DHL Detail Tariff Refund Approach for Customers
FedEx, UPS and DHL Express announced they will pursue refunds for duties paid under the now‑defunct International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs and return the money to the original payors. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) launched a...
4 Tech Tools Food Brands Are Using to Enhance Inventory, Demand Planning
At the Food Manufacturing Summit, experts highlighted four tech tools reshaping inventory and demand planning for food brands: digital twins, RFID, cold‑chain solutions, and advanced planning systems. They stressed that data quality is the single biggest lever for supply‑chain performance,...
Pandora Upgrades WMS as Part of Supply Chain Tech Overhaul
Pandora is upgrading its warehouse management system (WMS) with Hardis software across North America, Europe and Thailand as part of a broader supply‑chain overhaul. The new WMS will integrate with Pandora’s SAP S/4HANA Cloud ERP and a transportation management system,...
One Year In: How Medtech Companies Are Coping with Tariff Challenges
One year after President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs on China, Mexico, Canada, the EU and other partners, medtech firms are still feeling the financial sting. Unlike pharma, device makers have not reshored at scale, opting instead to absorb costs and...
AI in Parcel Shipping: How to Cut Through the Noise and Find Tools that Actually Work
The article warns logistics firms to evaluate AI tools for parcel shipping based on problem relevance, domain specificity, data security, and integration. It stresses that AI should reduce cost per package, prevent lost shipments, and improve carrier management. Vendors must...
Spiking FedEx, UPS Fuel Fees Are Grabbing Shippers’ Attention
FedEx and UPS have driven a record‑high quarter for ground delivery costs as fuel surcharges surged. The TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index shows Q1 per‑package rates were 39.3% above the January 2018 baseline and are projected to reach 42% in Q2. Fuel surcharges...
Home Depot Eyes Same-Day, Next-Day Delivery Site in New York
Home Depot has filed an application to build a 414,000‑square‑foot distribution center in Yaphank, New York, designed for same‑day and next‑day delivery of bulky building materials. The project would cost about $157 million to construct, with an additional $11 million for site improvements,...
Hershey Leans on Cocoa Sourcing Resilience to Blunt Price Shocks
Hershey is bolstering its cocoa supply chain by diversifying origins beyond the Ivory Coast and Ghana to include Ecuador and Brazil, while using sophisticated hedging tools to lock in prices. The company couples these financial safeguards with farmer‑focused programs like...
Home Depot Acquires Warehouse Tech Firm to Boost Fulfillment Strategy
Home Depot announced the acquisition of warehouse‑technology firm Simpl Automation, though financial terms were not disclosed. Simpl’s automated storage and retrieval systems, already piloted at the retailer’s Locust Grove, Georgia distribution center, delivered faster pick speeds, shorter cycle times and...
Hershey Projects $100M Inventory Cut From Supply Chain Tech
Hershey announced at its 2026 Investor Day that its decision‑intelligence platform will drive a $50 million productivity lift and trim inventory by $100 million over the next two years. The initiative builds on a $250 million supply‑chain and manufacturing digitization program launched in...
Ocean Freight Contracts: How Data Steers One Shipper’s Approach
Shippers are turning to data analytics to reshape ocean‑freight contracts amid heightened market volatility. Bluspark’s consulting platform helps Emser Tile integrate multi‑dimensional metrics—rates, carrier performance, vessel routes, and port efficiency—into procurement decisions. By visualizing these data points, Emser Tile can...
How AI Is Changing Food Supply Chains
The pandemic disrupted food supply chains, making logistics resilience critical. Because food is perishable, companies like CookUnity must guarantee precise, temperature‑controlled deliveries. AI platforms such as Blue Yonder now act as a “copilot,” boosting demand forecasts from 50‑60% to 80‑90%...
WD-40 Braces for Iran War Impact on Supply Costs
WD‑40 warned that the Iran‑driven oil shock is raising the price of petroleum‑based specialty chemicals used in its formulas. The company said the cost increase will take 90‑120 days to filter through inventory and affect gross margins, with the first...