Norfolk Southern, CMA CGM Partner on Intermodal Service
Norfolk Southern and global carrier CMA CGM have launched a new intermodal service linking the Midwest to the West Coast, using 40‑foot high‑cube containers and a door‑to‑door model. Managed by Norfolk Southern’s Triple Crown Services, the offering moves freight from Cleveland, Detroit and Columbus to Los Angeles and Seattle while keeping containers on the rail network for the full journey. Capacity and pricing are posted on the railroad’s Modal‑X platform, simplifying transactions for shippers and brokers. The launch comes as Norfolk Southern’s planned merger with Union Pacific faces regulatory delays, highlighting the railroad’s focus on organic service innovation.
Why Sourcing Shifts Are Easier Said than Done when Battling Tariffs
Tariff volatility under the Trump administration is forcing U.S. brands to rethink where they source products. Executives like Brooklinen's COO note that shifting production to a new country takes months, not weeks, and domestic cotton supplies are limited. Companies are...
3 Ways FedEx, UPS Competitors Are Leveling up in 2026
Alternative parcel carriers such as Veho, Gofo, UniUni and Maersk E‑Commerce are intensifying competition with FedEx and UPS in 2026. They are rolling out new tech‑driven features like real‑time performance portals, AI‑optimized FlexSave delivery windows, picture‑proof‑of‑delivery and weekend service. Coverage is...
Shipper Purchase Orders Hold Steady Despite Tariff Uncertainty
Shippers continue to place purchase orders with Asian factories despite ongoing tariff uncertainty, according to Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. January TEU volumes fell about 12% year‑over‑year, with imports down 13% and exports down 8%, while empty...
Applied Materials to Pay $252.5M to Settle Export Violations
Applied Materials agreed to pay a $252.5 million penalty to the U.S. Department of Commerce, settling 56 export‑control violations involving illegal shipments of ion‑implanting equipment to China’s SMIC. The settlement also requires two internal audits of the company’s compliance program, and...
USPS Tests Picture Proof of Delivery Capability
The U.S. Postal Service is field‑testing a new camera feature on its Mobile Delivery Device app that captures photos of delivered packages. The pilot runs in Phoenix, New York City, Dallas and Fargo, but images are not yet available to customers....
De Minimis Still Shelved After Supreme Court’s Tariff Ruling
The U.S. de minimis exemption, which let shipments under $800 enter duty‑free, remains suspended after President Trump’s executive order, despite a Supreme Court ruling that declared IEEPA‑based tariffs unconstitutional. The Court’s decision did not directly address the exemption, leaving its legal...
Supply Chain Visibility as a Strategic Advantage: Leveraging RFID to Navigate Tariffs and Compliance
Supply chain visibility has shifted from a nice‑to‑have to a competitive imperative, especially as global trade faces volatile tariffs and stricter compliance regimes. Radio‑frequency identification (RFID) offers item‑level, real‑time data that lets firms map goods across borders with unprecedented clarity....
Is Inventory Processing Time Slowing Your Brand’s Growth?
Small and mid‑size brands are losing cash flow when inventory induction time— the period between arrival at a fulfillment center and being sale‑ready—gets stretched. Delays lock capital, force costly expedited freight, and can miss seasonal demand, squeezing margins. A hybrid...
How AI Agents Are Solving Logistics’ Most Repetitive Task: Track and Trace
Logistics firms are turning to AI agents to automate the labor‑intensive track and trace function, which can cost up to $25 per shipment in manual effort. Shipwell’s Track & Trace AI Worker, embedded in a transportation management system, gave Airlite...
Southern Glazer’s Opens South Carolina Distribution Center
Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits inaugurated a 412,500‑square‑foot distribution center in West Columbia, South Carolina. The 85‑acre facility can store 1.39 million cases, with 13 receiving and 22 shipping docks, parking for 279 vehicles and capacity for 108 trailers. Equipped with...
FedEx Plans to Close over 475 Stations Due to Network 2.0
FedEx will shut more than 475 stations, roughly 30% of its U.S. and Canada footprint, as part of its Network 2.0 consolidation. The initiative merges Ground and Express operations, shifting focus to large metros such as San Francisco. Already, over 200 sites...
Tariffs, Supplier Fire Continue to Batter Ford
Ford Motor Co. reported a roughly $2 billion tariff hit in 2025, double the amount projected just months earlier, after a miscommunication about the effective date of auto‑part tariff offsets. A fire at Novelis’ Oswego aluminum plant added another $2 billion headwind,...
JM Smucker Overhauls Supply Chain Leadership
J.M. Smucker announced a sweeping overhaul of its supply‑chain leadership, eliminating the chief operating officer role and seeing the retirement of two senior vice presidents. The company created a new chief product supply officer position, promoting Rob Ferguson to oversee...
