Maersk Adds New Asia-U.S. Shipping Route Ahead of Peak Season
Maersk announced a seasonal transpacific service linking Vietnam and South Korea with the U.S. West Coast, launching on June 9 and running through the third quarter. The route will call at Vung Tau, Shanghai and the Port of Long Beach before returning via South Korea. The carrier also introduced peak‑season surcharges of $1,000‑$1,800 per container on several Asia‑to‑America lanes. The moves aim to capture heightened demand during the peak shipping season while offsetting rising cost pressures.
Supply Chains Don’t Need More Visibility. They Need Faster Decisions
At the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium, leaders from Penske Logistics, Wawa and Cardinal Health argued that visibility alone no longer solves supply‑chain challenges. They emphasized the need to turn fragmented data into rapid, actionable decisions, especially during disruptions like hurricanes....
Basic Business Supplies Are Emerging as a Supply Chain Risk
Jeff Golfman, founder of Send123, warns that everyday business supplies—packaging, office tech, breakroom items—are becoming a hidden supply‑chain risk. Shortages in these non‑strategic categories can halt production and inflate costs, as seen during the pandemic. He urges firms to replace...
DoorDash Spending $50 Million to Help Drivers With Gas Costs
DoorDash announced a $50 million fuel‑relief program to offset rising gasoline costs for its gig drivers. The initiative was disclosed during the company’s latest earnings call, where executives said delivery demand remains robust despite higher transportation expenses. DoorDash’s CFO noted that...
Gartner Warns AI-Driven Hiring Freeze Could Backfire by 2030
At the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium in Orlando, analysts warned that pausing entry‑level hiring to accommodate AI could create talent shortages by 2030. Gartner's data shows 75% of supply‑chain firms that halted early‑career recruitment in 2026 will incur more than...
Why the R&D Tax Credit Could Bring Back Made in the USA
The Section 41 research and development tax credit, recently streamlined by new legislation, is emerging as a catalyst for reshoring U.S. manufacturing. By delivering six‑figure cash refunds, the credit helps firms offset higher domestic labor costs, upgrade equipment, and buffer against...
What Causes Warehouse Performance Breakdowns? A Checklist for Modern Fulfillment Teams
The article introduces a practical checklist for modern fulfillment teams to diagnose warehouse performance breakdowns. It highlights common stressors such as mid‑shift volume spikes, labor shortages, and mismatched order mixes that turn stable operations into reactive ones. The checklist walks...
Finance Leaders Struggle to Keep Up With Tax Rules as AI Use Grows
A Sovos survey reveals that finance leaders are overwhelmed by rapidly changing global tax regulations, with 58% labeling compliance complex and 44% citing rule velocity as a major issue. The complexity is hindering strategic decisions, as 75% say tax‑compliance limits...
Why the Strait of Hormuz Crisis Is Exposing Hidden Weaknesses in Supply Chains
Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are destabilizing tanker traffic, causing ripples across raw‑material supplies for fertilizers, polymers and packaging. While companies now have dashboards that flag these delays, the lack of coordinated response across procurement, operations and commercial teams...
Supply Chain Leaders Are Being Asked to Do Two Jobs at Once
Supply chain leaders are juggling today’s cost and service pressures while preparing for an AI‑driven future, a dilemma highlighted at Gartner’s Orlando symposium. In 2025, organizations collectively spent about $24 million on AI, yet many initiatives are over budget and won’t...
5 Proven Warehouse Automation Strategies From MODEX 2026 Leaders
At MODEX 2026, warehouse leaders stopped debating whether to automate and instead focused on keeping picks and packs moving amid fluctuating demand and labor. AI‑driven systems are now expected to reprioritize orders, reroute aisles, and adjust labor plans in real time,...
Locus Array: The AI-Powered Warehouse Robot System Transforming Fulfillment
Locus Robotics unveiled Locus Array, an AI‑driven warehouse robot system that delivers fully autonomous, end‑to‑end fulfillment workflows. The solution shifts the industry from traditional goods‑to‑person and AS/RS models to a robots‑to‑goods architecture, eliminating over 90% of manual labor while improving...
Amazon Opens Its Supply Chain Network to Outside Businesses
Amazon announced Amazon Supply Chain Services (ASCS), a new offering that lets any business tap into the same logistics network that powers Amazon’s own retail operations. Early adopters include Procter & Gamble, 3M, Lands’ End, and American Eagle Outfitters, which...
Shipping Delays Are Moving Downstream, Not at Ports
A new E2open report shows that while origin performance is improving, shipping delays are migrating downstream into booking, transit, and unloading stages. Global end‑to‑end shipment times rose to an average of 68 days in the first quarter, two days longer...
Rising Stars: Maddie Dorish, Asset Manager at Boeing
Maddie Dorish, a 24‑year‑old asset manager at Boeing, leveraged a childhood hair‑tie business and a college supply‑chain class into a coveted internship that turned into a full‑time role on the aircraft‑modifications team. In her position she coordinates parts sourcing for...
TIME Names 10 Most Influential Supply Chain Companies of 2026
TIME’s annual TIME100 Companies list identified the ten most influential supply‑chain firms of 2026, highlighting how AI, tariffs and automation are reshaping the industry. Notable deals include Corning’s $6 billion fiber‑optic contract with Meta and Emirates Global Aluminum’s $4 billion new plant...
Supply Chain Disruptions Cost Companies $16 Million a Year, Study Finds
A Coupa and Incisiv survey of 133 senior procurement leaders reveals that supply‑chain disruptions cost companies an average of $16 million annually. Every respondent reported at least one major disruption in the past 24 months, leading to expedited freight, production shutdowns,...
Averitt Plans $200 Million Logistics Campus In Charlotte Area
Averitt is investing over $200 million to build a 100‑acre logistics campus near Charlotte Douglas International Airport, slated for completion in 2028. The development will consolidate trucking, warehousing, and fulfillment services into a single site featuring a two‑story office, a large...
Most Firms Work With IT on AI, But Not on Governance
A ProcureAbility report finds that 96% of procurement and IT teams are collaborating on AI projects, yet 54% lack joint AI governance frameworks. The study highlights that 36% of respondents see absent data‑governance policies as the biggest hurdle, while 26%...
Target Builds Receive Center in Houston to Reduce Warehouse Congestion
Target has opened a 1.2 million‑square‑foot Receive Center in Houston, investing $265 million and creating 185 jobs. The facility acts as an upstream hub, holding merchandise from global vendors until demand signals trigger shipment to six regional distribution centers and a flow...
Half Of Supply Chain Leaders Lack Talent To Run AI Tools
A Gartner survey of 140 senior supply‑chain leaders reveals that 56% struggle to integrate AI with legacy systems and 50% lack the internal talent needed to run AI tools. The study, covering firms with at least $250 million in revenue, shows...
Skills Gap Grows as Companies Push Ahead With AI and Automation
A new Skill Dynamics 2026 report finds more than 90% of organizations face at least one critical skills gap, with AI and automation topping the list. While 83% of leaders feel prepared for AI, the talent shortfall is already hurting...
Five Hidden Time Thieves Lurking in the Warehouse and Logistics
At MODEX 2026 the spotlight was on robots, AI and advanced WMS platforms, yet the article stresses that basic operational habits still steal valuable time in warehouses. It outlines five hidden time thieves—outdated whiteboards, lack of short stand‑ups, bad inventory data,...
Top 30 U.S. Ports Ranked By Container Imports In 2025
The Descartes Datamyne report shows Los Angeles remaining the busiest U.S. port in 2025 with 5.3 million TEUs, while total container imports were essentially flat at 28.1 million TEUs, a 0.03% dip from 2024. Fourteen of the top‑30 ports posted gains, led by New York,...
Younger Shoppers Drive Summer Demand, And More Shortages
A new o9 Solutions survey shows Gen Z (62%) and Millennials (61%) plan to increase summer spending, outpacing older cohorts. The heightened demand is already causing product shortages, with 49% of Gen Z and 43% of Millennials reporting issues. Nearly...
Why More Companies Are Hitting Pause on Global Expansion
A new Avalara report shows 83% of firms find cross‑border operations more complex, and 39% have delayed market entry due to regulatory uncertainty. Compliance now eats about 10% of cross‑border revenue, with tariffs cited by 52% as the biggest operational...
How Intelligent Data Transforms LTL Pricing: Cut Quote Time to 24 Hours and Boost Accuracy
Express Logistics, an award‑winning 3PL focused on LTL, truckload and intermodal brokerage, has deployed intelligent data and smart automation to overhaul its pricing process. The new system slashes quote turnaround from several days to a single 24‑hour cycle while delivering...
What Are Vertical Lift Modules? Benefits, Uses, and Industry Applications Explained
Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs) are automated, vertically oriented storage and retrieval systems that maximize floor space by storing slow‑ and medium‑moving SKUs in compact towers. They enable faster batch picking, tool‑crib, line‑side, work‑cell, point‑of‑use, e‑commerce, spare‑parts, kitting, and retail back‑room...
2026 Salary Survey: The Gender Pay Gap in Logistics Hasn’t Closed
Logistics Management’s 2026 Salary and Compensation Study reveals a persistent gender pay gap in the supply‑chain sector. Male respondents report an average salary of $130,890 versus $119,680 for women, an $11,000 difference, while the median gap widens to $27,000. Women...
Brownfield Warehouse Automation: How to Modernize Existing Facilities Without Rebuilding
Brownfield warehouses—long‑standing logistics hubs—are turning to automation to stay competitive without costly rebuilds. Solutions such as vertical lift modules, VNA trucks, and advanced conveyor systems boost productivity, accuracy, and space utilization. Providers emphasize seamless integration with legacy warehouse management systems...
The Real Cost of the Strait of Hormuz Goes Beyond Oil Prices
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed diesel prices higher, triggering roughly a 50% rise in less‑than‑truckload (LTL) surcharges for U.S. shippers. The cost spike is forcing companies to reroute freight away from fuel‑intensive lanes and to rethink inventory...
Tariff Costs Are Forcing Tough Choices for Auto Suppliers
A Dykema survey shows 79% of auto industry leaders cite tariff‑driven cost pressures as their top concern, up from last year. Fixed‑price contracts signed before recent tariff volatility force suppliers to absorb higher costs, sparking disputes over pricing and cost...
Warehouse Design Layout: Key Elements for Efficient Storage & Workflow Optimization
The article outlines six core elements for designing an efficient warehouse: scalability, operational flow, space utilization, technology integration, ergonomics, and safety. It stresses that a flexible layout accommodates growth and new product lines while minimizing costly retrofits. Optimizing the movement...
4 Ways Automation Boosts Labor Efficiency in Warehousing (And Why It Matters)
Warehouses can boost labor efficiency by adding modest automation tools rather than overhauling entire facilities. Simple conveyor belts speed product movement, while pick‑to‑light and automated labeling cut picking errors. Intelligent storage options such as vertical lift modules and pallet shuttles...
How Warehouse Automation Solves Peak Season Challenges (Fast, Scalable, Accurate)
Peak season drives a surge in retail and e‑commerce orders, with Q4 accounting for over 40% of annual volume and holiday sales hitting $1.05 trillion, $380 billion of which online. Traditional reliance on temporary labor is increasingly untenable due to shortages, rising...
What Are Pallet Shuttle Systems? Key Applications, Benefits, and Use Cases Explained
Pallet shuttle systems are semi‑automated, rail‑mounted devices that move pallets within high‑density racking, eliminating the need for forklifts inside the rack. By placing pallets at an entry point, the battery‑powered shuttle transports them to storage locations and retrieves them on...
The Hidden Cost of AI in Warehouses Is Training Workers
Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering logistics and warehousing, but workforce readiness is lagging. A Resume Now analysis using Lightcast data ranks the sector fourth among industries with the biggest gap between AI adoption and employee skill levels. The report highlights rising...
Costs Have Shifted Across the Supply Chain, And They’re Not Going Back
Supply chain costs are rising on multiple fronts, with parcel carriers like UPS and FedEx applying 22‑27% fuel surcharges and additional fees that can add $20‑$100 per package. Freight rates in trucking and ocean shipping remain volatile, as diesel prices...
What Is Voice of the Customer in TMS? How It Improves Visibility, Cost Control, and Logistics Performance
Infios embeds Voice of the Customer (VOC) into its Transportation Management System, turning client feedback into a continuous product‑development engine. By using a dedicated portal, voting mechanisms, and Customer Success teams, the company translates real‑world operational challenges into roadmap priorities....
The Real Bottleneck Inside Warehouse and Logistics Operations
Warehouse and logistics managers are losing productivity to manual follow‑ups, status checks, and unclear ownership of tasks rather than a lack of data. Executives at a Trimble roundtable highlighted that the real bottleneck is fragmented information and slow adoption of...
Why East and Gulf Coast Ports Are Gaining Ground on the West Coast
A Colliers report shows cargo shifting toward East and Gulf Coast ports as U.S. shippers diversify routes. Los Angeles and Long Beach still handled a combined 20.1 million TEUs in 2025, but volumes were uneven due to tariff uncertainty. The Port...
4 KPIs Supply Chain Leaders Should Prioritize as Tariff Pressures Persist
Tariff volatility remains a daily reality for supply‑chain leaders in 2026, forcing a rethink of traditional performance dashboards. Operators are shifting to decision‑oriented metrics that expose cost exposure and enable proactive action. Amy Dean highlights four priority KPIs: inventory levels...
New York Loses $73 Million in Federal Funds After CDL Audit
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is withholding $73.5 million in federal highway funding from New York after a audit revealed that more than half of the state’s reviewed commercial driver licenses violated federal residency requirements. The audit examined 200 records and...
How RFID and AI Are Improving Delivery Reliability Across Logistics
Zebra Technologies highlights how logistics firms are layering RFID onto barcode systems and deploying on‑device AI to improve package visibility and proof of delivery. RFID tags broadcast location data, creating billions of real‑time points that cut manual scanning and boost...
Supply Chain Visibility Still Fades Quickly Beyond Tier 1 Suppliers
The EcoVadis Sustainable Procurement Barometer 2026 reveals that supply‑chain visibility drops sharply after Tier 1, with only 12% of firms seeing beyond half of Tier 2 suppliers and Tier 3 largely invisible. While 68% of procurement teams now use AI for analytics and...
How the Savannah Bananas Built a Traveling Retail Supply Chain
Warehouse director Tucker Robinson oversees a 100,000‑sq‑ft hub that supplies the Savannah Bananas’ e‑commerce store, home stadium shop, and a traveling “World Tour” that delivers up to four semi‑trucks of merchandise to venues nationwide. The team keeps inventory synchronized across...
Honda Launches Electric Cargo Vehicle for Urban Delivery
Honda’s Fastport division has launched the eQuad, a four‑wheel electric cargo vehicle aimed at dense urban last‑mile delivery. The rollout begins with micromobility operators Bird and Spin, which will use the eQuad for battery swapping, scooter maintenance and repositioning on...
Why Supply Chains Struggle With Decisions, Not Data
Supply‑chain leaders now have more data than ever, yet many firms still falter during disruptions because the real obstacle is decision‑making, not visibility. Conflicting signals and unclear ownership turn abundant information into inertia, especially when routing, inventory and service‑level trade‑offs...
Smarter Warehouse Operations for Greater Efficiency and Control
Infios Warehouse Management (WM) launches a cloud‑native solution that unifies inventory data, workflows, and real‑time analytics. The platform promises out‑of‑the‑box visibility into stock levels, automated picking and shipping, and scalable support for omnichannel fulfillment. A downloadable whitepaper details how the...
AI Expectations Are Rising Fast, But Results Aren’t There Yet
A Schneider Electric survey of 1,400 manufacturing leaders shows AI expectations soaring while actual returns lag, with 70% reporting less than 20% ROI. By 2030, over a third anticipate AI fully embedded and delivering 50%+ returns. The gap stems from...