10 Supply Chain Trends to Watch in 2026
A new MHI‑Deloitte report released at MODEX outlines the ten biggest supply‑chain trends for 2026, from lingering economic uncertainty to rapid AI adoption. Executives from Disney, Gallo, Carvana and academia discussed how these forces are manifesting in real‑world operations. While AI and automation promise efficiency gains, panelists warned that poor processes, scaling challenges and workforce skill gaps can undermine results. The report also highlights rising capital costs, cybersecurity threats and a shift toward customer‑centric supply‑chain design.
How Home Depot Turned Its Supply Chain Into a “Strategic Weapon”
Home Depot has transformed its logistics from a cost center into a strategic weapon, investing for two decades in a nationwide network of rapid‑deployment, flat‑bed, and fulfillment centers. By shifting product flow away from vendor‑direct shipments, the retailer now leverages...
What Is Warehouse Collaboration? How Human-Robot Automation Improves Efficiency, Safety & Scalability
Warehouse collaboration pairs human workers, robots, and AI‑driven systems to meet soaring e‑commerce demand, fluctuating order volumes, and tighter service‑level agreements. The article argues that the next wave of automation must be adaptable, focusing on cooperative designs rather than isolated...
What Is Carrier Costing and Why It Now Powers Pricing, Sustainability, and Logistics Strategy
Carrier costing has moved from a back‑office accounting task to a strategic engine that drives pricing, operational decisions, and sustainability reporting. Shippers and regulators now demand granular, transparent cost data, prompting carriers to embed costing into bid management, yield optimization,...
How to Choose the Right Laptop Computer Cart Complete Facility Checklist for Power, Mobility & Ergonomics
Laptop computer carts transform stationary workstations into mobile workstations, letting employees bring computing power directly to the point of work in warehouses, manufacturing floors, and healthcare supply chains. Selecting the right cart requires matching the device to specific workflows, ensuring...
Las Vegas to Host New MODEX West Trade Show in October 2028
MHI announced the launch of MODEX West, a three‑day supply‑chain trade show slated for October 18‑20, 2028 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The new event adds a West Coast foothold to MHI’s portfolio, which already includes MODEX in Atlanta and ProMat in...
Why Extreme Heat Is Now a Real Risk for Apparel Supply Chains
Extreme heat is emerging as a critical supply‑chain risk for apparel makers, especially in heat‑prone regions such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Türkiye. Sedex CEO Jon Hancock notes that more than 70% of the global workforce is exposed to severe...
75% of Supply Chain Failures Happen on Factory Floor, Study Finds
A LeanDNA study reveals that three‑quarters of supply‑plan failures originate on the factory floor, not in demand forecasting. Nearly half of manufacturers say these execution gaps threaten at least 10% of annual revenue. While 74% of firms prioritize forecasting, 80%...
How Automation Is Helping Grocers Improve Fresh Food Logistics
Grocers are deploying integrated automation that combines storage, handling, sequencing, and picking into a continuous flow, dramatically speeding fresh‑food distribution. The systems enforce FIFO and FEFO rules, cutting spoilage while boosting storage density up to 50 percent to accommodate expanding...
Top 50 Trucking Companies in the U.S. for 2025
Logistics Management’s 2025 Top 50 Trucking Companies ranking shows the U.S. less‑than‑truckload (LTL) market contracting 1.9% to $51.8 bn and the full‑truckload (TL) market slipping 0.2% to $281 bn. FedEx Freight remains the LTL leader with $8.78 bn revenue, while Knight‑Swift Transportation tops the...
What Is the Best Way to Improve Inventory Accuracy in a 3PL Warehouse?
PSS Distribution Services, a 3PL with 1.8 million square feet of FDA‑registered, food‑grade space, adopted Softeon's Warehouse Management System to tackle inventory inaccuracies. The modern WMS delivered real‑time visibility, tighter lot control, and faster onboarding for new customers. As a result,...
FTL or LTL? How to Choose the Right Shipping Mode
Choosing between Full Truckload (FTL) and Less‑Than‑Truckload (LTL) hinges on shipment size, delivery speed, and product sensitivity. FTL becomes cost‑effective when a load fills most of a trailer—typically 10 to 12 pallets—or when handling oversized or high‑value items that require...
Supply Chain AI Spending To Surge From $2B To $53B By 2030
Gartner forecasts that spending on supply‑chain software powered by agentic AI will explode from under $2 billion in 2025 to $53 billion by 2030. The surge reflects a shift from isolated AI pilots to coordinated multi‑agent workflows that automate routine logistics tasks....
Sysco To Acquire Restaurant Depot In $29.1 Billion Deal
Sysco announced a $29.1 billion cash‑and‑stock acquisition of Jetro Restaurant Depot, creating a food‑service distribution platform with roughly $100 billion in annual revenue. Restaurant Depot adds 166 warehouses across 35 states and a cash‑and‑carry model that complements Sysco’s delivery network. Sysco plans...
Salary Survey: What Logistics and Supply Chain Jobs Pay in 2026
Logistics Management’s 2026 Salary and Compensation Study reveals a broad pay spectrum across the supply chain sector, with the average annual compensation reaching $126,400, a 5% rise from 2025. Executive‑level roles such as VP/General Manager command over $215,000, while warehouse...
How Procurement Teams Are Scaling Sourcing Without Hiring
Procurement leaders face rising spend volumes and tighter timelines, prompting a shift toward agentic AI that can initiate and drive sourcing events autonomously. Fairmarkit’s VP Erin McFarlane explains that automating repeatable tasks—such as intake classification, supplier matching, and bid analysis—allows teams...
5 Ways In-House Warehouse Expertise Improves Project Success
Storage Solutions highlights how its in‑house warehouse expertise drives project success across five core areas. By retaining design, engineering, and project management internally, the company tightens schedule control, anticipates hurdles, and delivers customized layouts that boost operational efficiency. Rapid response...
Maersk Adds Major New Jersey Hub Near Port Newark-Elizabeth
Maersk has signed a lease for a 233,000‑square‑foot ground‑freight hub in Linden, New Jersey, adjacent to the Port Newark‑Elizabeth complex. The facility will handle both full‑truck‑load and less‑than‑truck‑load shipments, linking warehouse operations to inland delivery networks across the United States. Its...
Labor Forecasting Guide: How to Reduce Costs and Improve Workforce Planning
Inaccurate labor forecasts are driving overtime, lower throughput, and higher per‑unit costs for manufacturers. Analysis of more than five million labor hours shows that peak weeks require 23% additional labor, productivity drops 9%, and unit labor costs climb 23% when...
Hasbro Opens Georgia Distribution Center Near Port of Savannah
Hasbro has opened a 600,000‑square‑foot distribution center in Midway, Georgia, less than an hour from the Port of Savannah. The facility, the company’s first fully owned U.S. warehouse, will process roughly 25% of its domestic volume and serve both retail...
Savannah Emerges as Top Port as Cargo Shifts to East Coast
The Port of Savannah handled about 5.7 million TEUs in 2025, a 2.6% increase over the prior year, positioning it as the fastest‑growing U.S. gateway. Growth stems from substantial infrastructure upgrades, including a new inland port in Gainesville that will provide...
Women in Supply Chain: Cyndi Brandt of Descartes Systems Group
Cyndi Brandt, VP of Fleet Solutions at Descartes Systems Group, leverages a diverse background in banking, technology and last‑mile logistics to shape go‑to‑market strategy and product innovation. She champions a culture of curiosity, resourcefulness and transparent leadership, even stepping away...
Report: Cold Storage Demand Shifts to Newer, High-Tech Facilities
The Newmark report shows U.S. cold‑storage recorded about 3.5 million sq ft of positive absorption in 2025 while vacancy rose to a 20‑year high. Tenants are gravitating toward newer, high‑throughput sites built for automation, energy efficiency and faster turnover, leaving older warehouses with...
How Companies Can Stay Ahead Of Tariffs That Keep Changing
Tariff volatility has shifted from occasional adjustments to continuous, rapid changes, forcing companies to abandon 12‑month planning cycles. John Burhans of Mercury emphasizes that speed and full‑chain visibility are essential to identify SKU‑level exposure within hours. Effective scenario planning now...
White House Eases Shipping Rules, Labor Groups Push Back
The White House announced a 60‑day temporary waiver of the Jones Act, allowing non‑U.S.‑built and crewed vessels to transport oil, natural gas, and other energy commodities between domestic ports. The move responds to soaring diesel prices, which have topped $5...
Survey: 61% of Manufacturing Workers Are Thinking About Leaving
Manufacturers are confronting a new talent crisis as 61 % of current workers say they are contemplating leaving the industry, according to a Criteria survey of over 2,500 respondents. The sentiment mirrors a broader labor trend, with more than half of...
Supply Chain 101: What’s Really Happening Between Amazon and USPS?
Amazon announced it will keep its partnership with the U.S. Postal Service but is accelerating the shift of parcels to its own delivery network. ShipMatrix data shows Amazon now handles roughly the same volume as USPS, and the retailer could...
AI Is Making Supply Chain Decisions, But It’s Flying Blind
AI is proliferating across supply‑chain functions, but many firms misuse it by treating algorithms as autonomous decision‑makers rather than advisory tools. Executives often deploy AI on legacy, checkpoint‑based data that is stale and incomplete, leading to confident yet inaccurate recommendations....
Caution Creeps In, But Automation Spending Holds Strong
The 2026 Peerless Research Group Industry Outlook shows companies adopting a more cautious stance on capital spending, yet automation investments remain robust. About 24% of respondents are postponing projects and 42% are adopting a wait‑and‑see approach, but interest in autonomous...
5 Ways In-House Warehouse Solutions Improve Efficiency & Reduce Costs
Storage Solutions highlights five ways its in‑house warehouse capabilities drive efficiency and cut costs. By keeping design, engineering, and project management internal, the firm can tightly control schedules, anticipate hurdles, and deliver customized layouts with integrated automation. Rapid response teams...
Why Warehouse Consultations Matter for Efficient Operations
Warehouse consultations are emerging as a strategic tool for companies seeking to future‑proof their distribution centers. By conducting thorough facility walkthroughs, workflow analyses, and data‑driven assessments, consultants pinpoint inefficiencies and recommend scalable storage and automation solutions. The process not only...
5 Key Benefits of Mobile ASRS Systems for Modern Warehouses
Mobile Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) are gaining traction as warehouses seek higher efficiency and space utilization. Unlike fixed‑aisle solutions, mobile ASRS deploys roaming robots that can access any rack, delivering redundancy and continuous throughput even during maintenance. The...
AI Could Handle 60% of Supply Chain Disruptions by 2031
Gartner predicts that by 2031, AI will autonomously resolve 60% of supply‑chain disruptions, reducing the need for human intervention. The forecast responds to mounting trade, geopolitical, and climate‑driven interruptions that strain traditional response methods. Companies are urged to begin with...
How Dole Is Repositioning Its Supply Chain as a Growth Strategy
Dole is shifting its supply chain from a pure execution function to a strategic growth engine, according to VP of Supply Chain Todd Stillwell. The company has created a dedicated supply‑chain general‑manager role embedded within business teams to influence product...
Körber Teams With NVIDIA to Bring AI Simulations to Warehouses
German automation leader Körber has partnered with NVIDIA to embed AI‑driven simulation tools into warehouse operations. Using NVIDIA’s Omniverse platform, the two companies will create digital twins that let users model layouts, workflows, and new automation before physical changes. The...
Seven Ways the Iran War Could Disrupt Global Tech Supply Chains
The ongoing Iran war is creating hidden infrastructure risks that could ripple through the global technology supply chain. Gartner analyst Cori Masters identifies seven disruption pathways, from data‑center workload relocations to delayed semiconductor fab equipment deliveries. Rising petrochemical‑based material costs...
AI Is the Future. But Frontline Training Is Stuck in the Past
AI will reshape frontline work, with up to 40% of skills becoming obsolete by 2030 and 60% of logistics roles transformed. Yet only 28% of logistics employees currently have access to AI training, and many managers do not support learning....
$2.03 an Hour: Labor Dept. Finds Major Wage Violations at Warehouse
The U.S. Department of Labor recovered $1.08 million for 24 warehouse workers at Expresso Forwarding Inc. and its affiliate after uncovering pay rates as low as $2.03 per hour in Mexican pesos, breaching federal minimum‑wage and overtime rules. The settlement mandates...