Today's Supply Chain Pulse
Logistics volatility declared permanent in 2026 State of Logistics Report
The report finds supply‑chain volatility now a permanent condition, with U.S. logistics costs falling to $2.4 trillion, or 7.8% of GDP, down from $2.6 trillion in 2025. Five structural forces—uneven global growth, tighter financial conditions, geoeconomic realignment, labor constraints, and energy price swings—drive the new normal, while AI and automation reshape operations.
Also developing:
By the numbers: US IDFC partners with Chubb on $20B maritime reinsurance plan
Fleet Buying Stays Hot as Class 8 Recovery Gains Momentum
Class 8 truck orders in North America reached 38,200 units in March, a 19% month‑over‑month dip but a 137% year‑over‑year surge, according to FTR and ACT Research. The slowdown follows February’s record‑breaking month, yet analysts see the underlying demand as robust, buoyed by stronger freight fundamentals. Higher freight volumes, better asset utilization and clearer regulatory expectations are prompting fleets to replace aging equipment. However, analysts caution that financing costs and supply‑chain constraints could temper the recovery pace.
Nike and the Converse Question: Operate or Orchestrate the Asset
Nike is weighing whether to keep Converse under its own operating model or sell the brand to Authentic Brands Group, a move that mirrors a larger shift from owning assets to orchestrating networks. Converse has suffered declining sales and a...
Truck Transportation Jobs Running at an 8-Year Low: BLS
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that truck‑transportation employment fell to 1,464,100 jobs in March, the lowest level since December 2017. The three‑month series—January 1,465,600, February 1,464,900, March 1,464,100—shows a steady decline, erasing pandemic‑era gains. This figure is down 27,300 jobs...
French Container Ship Reportedly Passes Through Strait of Hormuz
The episode reports that a French-owned CMA CGM cargo ship successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first Western European vessel to do so since the Middle East war began. It highlights the broader shipping challenges, including thousands of...
Custom Utility Trailers Enhance City of Lethbridge’s Fleet Efficiency
The City of Lethbridge commissioned two custom FT‑24‑3 utility pole trailers from Felling, facilitated by dealer NCCHD, to replace aging equipment that could not handle long poles or heavy loads. The trailers feature a 27,600 lb GVWR, a telescopic tongue extending...
Explainer: Behind China’s Detention Doctrine Against Panama
China’s “detention doctrine” is not a direct pressure campaign against Panama, but a broader strategy that underwrites its worldwide port portfolio. By leveraging legal claims and financial stakes in key terminals such as Panama’s Port of Balboa, Beijing can detain...
No Jet Fuel Shortage for '4 to 6 Weeks' - Airline
Aurigny, the Guernsey‑based airline, reports a 120% rise in jet‑fuel costs since the Iran war began but expects no fuel shortages for the next four to six weeks. The carrier introduced a temporary $2.50 surcharge on new bookings and has...
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...
Kenya Petroleum Chiefs Arrested over Fuel Imports, Shortage Claims
Kenya’s top petroleum officials – the Petroleum Principal Secretary, KPC Managing Director, Epra Director‑General and a Petroleum Director – were arrested in a late‑night DCI operation linked to alleged illegal fuel imports and quality breaches. The probe focuses on a...
How Can Predictive Analytics Transform the Pharma Supply Chain?
Cardinal Health’s senior vice president Emily Gallo says predictive analytics is reshaping the pharmaceutical supply chain by turning massive data streams into actionable decisions. The industry now faces a data‑to‑decision gap that threatens shipment timing, clinical trial progress, and product...
MODEX 2026: Cimcorp to Showcase Dreamfield for Seamless Grocery Distribution
Cimcorp will unveil its Dreamfield automation platform at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, demonstrating how modular robotics, intelligent software, and lifecycle support can modernize grocery distribution. Dreamfield is engineered for ambient, refrigerated, and frozen environments, offering scalable, phased upgrades and standardized...
Intel Reportedly Planning Another CPU Price Increase in May Amid Massive Demand
Intel is preparing a third CPU price increase in May, following 10‑15% hikes in February and a further 15% rise in March. The cumulative adjustment aims for roughly a 30% premium over 2025 pricing and will affect both Core Ultra...
This Is Ascent Health Services – the Secretive Swiss Company at the Heart of the Express Scripts Scandal
Ascent Health Services, a Swiss‑registered group purchasing organization created by Cigna’s Express Scripts in 2019, channels billions of dollars in manufacturer‑paid fees that should be passed through as rebates. The GPO’s offshore structure lets Cigna and its partners keep these...
Why a War in the Middle East Is Hitting Australians at the Petrol Pump
Escalating tensions between Iran and regional rivals are reverberating in Australia as oil markets tighten. Treasury modelling predicts the conflict could lift inflation by about 1.25 percentage points and shave roughly 0.6% off medium‑term GDP growth. Fuel prices may spike...
The New Global Challenges Facing Made in Italy
The latest Mimit report, released ahead of National Made in Italy Day, highlights Italy’s ability to thrive in a post‑pandemic world despite heightened geopolitical tensions and supply‑chain fragility. Export diversification and market breadth have kept Italy among the top exporters,...
TSMC’s Kumamoto Fab Upgrade: A Security-Driven Reconfiguration of Indo-Pacific Chip Competition
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) will upgrade its Kumamoto, Japan fab to a 3‑nanometer process, targeting 15,000 12‑inch wafers per month and mass production by 2028. The $20 billion investment, backed by $4.62 billion in Japanese subsidies and equity from Sony, Denso...
The USMCA Review Is Shaping up to Be a Grind, Not a Grand Bargain
The six‑year USMCA review, due July 1, is shaping up to be a protracted negotiation likely spilling into 2027. Mexico is leaning into deeper U.S. integration while Canada hedges by diversifying trade partners, creating divergent bargaining positions. Washington is pressing for...
When the Safety Net Becomes the Risk
A new investigation uncovers how risk‑retention groups (RRGs) dominate insurance for small trucking carriers, operating with minimal regulatory oversight and no state guaranty fund backstop. Cross‑referencing FMCSA safety data with UCC filings shows 37% of 4,561 carriers score "CRITICAL," exposing...
Basmati Exporters Seek Relief as Shipping Lines Levy Charges Amid Disruption Due to War
Indian basmati rice exporters, represented by the Basmati Rice Farmers and Exporters Development Forum, have asked the government to intervene as shipping lines levy detention, demurrage and war‑risk surcharges on containers stranded due to the West Asian conflict. The forum...
One Year After ‘Liberation Day,’ Tariffs Reshape Global Trade Landscape
April 2, 2025 marked "Liberation Day," when the U.S. invoked the International Economic Emergency Powers Act to impose sweeping tariffs on most trading partners. The tariffs aimed to shrink the trade deficit, curb fentanyl inflows, and boost domestic manufacturing, but...
West Asia Conflict Hits Surat Textile Hub Hard as Input Costs Rise; Operational Days Cut Down
The ongoing West Asia conflict has driven raw material and coal prices up 30‑35%, forcing Surat’s man‑made fabric sector to slash output and limit operations to five days a week. Industry leaders report daily losses of roughly Rs 100 crore (≈ $12 million), with...
Are Oil Tankers Moving Through Hormuz Again?
The Strait of Hormuz, once handling roughly 100 east‑to‑west crude tankers daily, saw traffic collapse amid the Iran conflict, prompting concerns about global oil supply. Analysts now question whether tanker movements have resumed, as the region remains a critical chokepoint...
Sagarmala Boost: Govt Clears Key Connectivity Project at Deendayal Port
The Indian government has approved a Rs 132.51 crore (approximately $16 million) Road Over Bridge at Deendayal Port, a key node in the Sagarmala programme. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted that the bridge will remove rail‑crossing bottlenecks and speed up cargo movement. Construction will...
Blackstone Funds $851 Million Refinance of 17‑Asset U.S. Industrial Portfolio
Blackstone has supplied an $851 million refinancing package for a 17‑asset, 9.1 million‑square‑foot industrial portfolio spanning nine U.S. logistics markets. The loan, arranged by CBRE Investment Management’s debt team, highlights persistent investor appetite for leveraged financing in the logistics sector.
TSMC Confronts Supply Constraints and Geopolitical Risk, Shifting Market Dynamics
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, which produces more than 90% of the world’s most advanced chips, is now wrestling with supply bottlenecks and heightened geopolitical risk. A naphtha shortage in Asia and the ongoing Iran‑related conflict in the Strait of Hormuz...
SeaLead Warns of Network Disruptions in Persian Gulf War Zone
Singapore‑based carrier SeaLead announced that its services to ports in the Persian Gulf war zone are facing operational challenges, prompting the company to assess contingency measures for cargo on affected vessels. The liner is also restructuring its network, cutting coverage...
Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare
Episode 151 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast unpacks how the United States wields economic power—through the dollar, sanctions, export controls and supply‑chain leverage—as a core element of great‑power competition. The discussion is anchored in Eddie Fishman’s book *Chokepoints* and features...
Niantic Turns Pokémon GO Data Into AI Gold
The guys behind Pokémon GO just pulled off the greatest pivot in tech. Shaan and I chatted about this on the pod recently. For years, millions of players walked around cities capturing street-level video data. Now the game's hype is gone. But Niantic is...
Wars Boost US Freight Demand and Economy
Unpopular opinion. Wars are good for the American economy. Freight demand across all modes is ripping and firming up in recent weeks. https://t.co/RUvpTXWcFl
Inside Modex 2026: Learning, Networking and the Show Floor
Modex 2026 brings together supply‑chain and logistics professionals for a comprehensive mix of education, networking, and product showcases. The event features keynote sessions and seminars on robotics, artificial intelligence, workforce strategy, and sustainability, delivering actionable insights. New social hubs—the Modex...
Rail Carloads Jump 4.2% Amid Broad Freight Surge
Freight volume surge is not just a trucking story. Industrials are ripping across traffic modes Rail carload traffic +4.2% YoY The recent traffic strength has caught rail execs off guard which expected a down to flat year. https://t.co/a6UpG8CwWp
NATO Invokes Article 5, Launches Operation Noble Eagle
On September 12th the North Atlantic Council declared that the attacks satisfied Article 5 and established Operation Noble Eagle to coordinate support including NATO AWACS and Canadian CF-18s for air policing. ISAF was established as an Article 4 mission.
EVST Expands Industrial Automation Delivery with Engineer Dispatch and AI Workflow Support
China‑based industrial robotics firm EVST announced an expanded delivery model that includes engineer dispatch services and selected AI workflow support for global manufacturing projects. The new offering bundles on‑site and remote technical personnel—ranging from PLC and mechanical engineers to algorithm...
US Data Center Buildout Fueled by Imported Components, Ignoring Tariffs
Pretty good Bloomberg look at the imports powering (pun intended) the US data center buildout, but it omits mention of US tariffs (AD/CVD, 232s, etc) - some dating back more than a decade - on large power transformers, electrical steel,...
Supply Chain
Above the Fold: Supply Chain Logistics News (April 3, 2026) - https://t.co/5y0jrTSpVW @MagayaSoftware #TrumpTariffs #IranWar #autonomoustrucks @Amazon #fuelsurcharges #supplychain #logistics
Why Sysco Could Ultimately Regret the Restaurant Depot Deal
Sysco announced the purchase of Restaurant Depot, a cash‑and‑carry wholesaler, aiming to broaden its service model beyond traditional food‑service distribution. The deal mirrors US Foods' 2020 foray into cash‑and‑carry, which it now plans to sell after four years. Analysts warn...
Manufacturing Demand Drives Flatbed Rates to Record High
Flatbeds surge to all time high of $3.95/mile as industrials rip. I would have never guessed this possible with a weak housing construction market, but here we are. Manufacturing pulling the freight market up. https://t.co/1ErbIQE0QL
Catch This Week’s Freight Forward Recap; New Issue
In case you missed this week's Freight Forward, here you go - https://t.co/qmzqgznuCG A new one goes out Monday morning. 🐰🐰🐰
Eurasian Cargo Hub Expands to Capture Europe-Asia Freight Flows
Navoi International Airport in Uzbekistan is adding a 16,000 m² cargo terminal, expanding fuel storage to 15,000 tonnes, and introducing a duty‑free porto‑franco customs regime. The upgrades aim to streamline Europe‑Asia freight by integrating air, rail, and road networks and offering specialized...
Automation Boosts Last‑Mile Efficiency, Says KEBA Experts
Listen to the Does Logistics Matter? Podcast wherever you get your podcast. In episode 52, Martijn talks to Robert Zehetner, VP Logistics Automation, and Cesar Lapuerta, Sales Director at KEBA, about unlocking last-mile efficiency with automation solutions #lastmile #logistics https://t.co/iLCm9VWC5R
US Plans to Reopen Strait of Hormuz, Timeline Unclear
Great. Trump. US will reopen Strait of Hormuz. How long is “a little more time”?
Cloned Fuel Card Leads to $1,400 Diesel Theft
$1400 worth of diesel stolen with cloned fuel card, authorities also found a credit card cloning device in the truck https://t.co/Utd6XdaBor
Xiaomi Hikes Phone Prices as Memory Costs Soar
Memory crunch bites: Xiaomi lifts handset prices amid supply chain squeeze Price rises of nearly US$30 reflect surging memory costs, with analysts pointing to AI-driven demand and tight supply across the chip sector. https://t.co/ruGtpcExSX via @scmpnews
Middle East Turmoil Threatens Global Industrial Supply Chains
The Narrowing Straits: Why the Middle East Crisis is a Fault Line for Global Industry https://t.co/q4PGQdnQp0
Small Colorado Shop Boosts Output with Linear Pallet System
Discover how one small Colorado machine shop achieved BIG success with a linear pallet system with 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫! Stream now: 🔗 https://t.co/SH156ufQC0 📽️ https://t.co/Vty5kHu7py 🔗 https://t.co/DmYp21NDA3 https://t.co/b1Cr0XV0xe
CMA‑CGM Ship Exits Strait Amid Lapsed Insurance, China Questioned
CMA-CGM container ship comes out of the Strait. How are ships that are moving out of the Strait when insurance coverage has stopped? Is Iran’s ally, China, helping here?
China Challenges Iran at UN over Hormuz Closure
China, Europe and why Beijing took a swing at Iran over the Strait of Hormuz Beijing takes a stand at the United Nations at the closure of shipping lanes Despite all the blather about how China benefits from the conflict... https://t.co/dhDbWjo4ip via...
Weekly Reverse News Launches with Hourly Supply Chain Updates
The weekly Reverse News is out - https://t.co/p3blA1VyyJ While you're on the LTI website, check out more supply chain news updated hourly by Google. If you dig what you're reading, a cup of coffee is always welcomed. 😉 https://t.co/LjdVovaCMg
Europe's Gas Price Surge Makes Hormuz Intervention Urgent
Whatever objections Europe has to helping open up the Strait of Hormuz, it's a matter of urgent self-interest to help sort this situation out. On a similar time scale to 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine, European natural gas prices are...
Hidden Costs Turn $100 iPhone Into $130
Understanding total landed costs is crucial for your supply chain and product pricing. For example, an iPhone costing $100 from China might actually be $130 after adding freight, customs, and international trade costs. #SupplyChain #Logistics https://t.co/2QyEIxMBmx