Dry Van and Reefer Spot Rates Slip as Flatbed Spot Rates Climb
Dry van and refrigerated spot rates slipped week‑over‑week, with dry van down about 6 cents and reefer down roughly 17 cents, yet both remain 22‑33% above last year. Flatbed spot rates, by contrast, posted modest gains of just over 4 cents and are up about 9% year‑over‑year, accompanied by a 4.7% rise in volumes. The data, sourced from FTR and DAT, highlights diverging equipment trends amid typical seasonal softness for van and reefer segments. Overall, the market retains strong YoY pricing across all three modes.
I’ve Got This Bridge to Sell You…
The Gordie Howe Bridge, a Canada‑financed toll crossing linking Detroit and Ontario, is slated to open this year as an alternative to the congested Ambassador Bridge. President Trump has threatened to block the launch unless the U.S. federal government acquires...
The Career Accelerator: Why Leaders Choose TMSA with Jennifer Karpus-Romain
The Transportation Marketing & Sales Association (TMSA) is positioning itself as the premier career accelerator for logistics sales and marketing professionals. It has introduced a five‑track, "track‑based" education model that matches learning to specific roles, from company leaders to practitioners....
John Crane Supports NASA’s Artemis II Lunar Mission
John Crane announced its support for NASA’s Artemis II lunar mission, slated for launch no earlier than February 2026. The company will supply specialized filtration sieves for the Orion spacecraft’s propellant‑management devices, critical for separating liquid and gas phases in micro‑gravity. This...
ABB Automation Extended
ABB announced its Automation Extended program, a strategic evolution of its distributed control systems that lets customers modernize without interrupting operations. The initiative builds on the long‑standing ABB Ability System 800xA platform, now released as version 7.0 with a separation‑of‑concerns...
India Takes on the Shadow Fleet (Bonus Video)
India's navy has begun seizing shadow‑fleet oil tankers within its exclusive economic zone, capturing three vessels since early February. The shadow fleet, a network of roughly 1,000 de‑commissioned tankers, moves 3‑4 million barrels of sanctioned crude daily from Russia, Iran...
Digitalising the Supply Chain Starts Earlier Than You Think
Logistics leaders argue that digitalising supply chains must begin with clear business questions, not a rush to buy sensors or trackers. The article stresses building a digital overlay that standardises labels, IDs and data formats before any hardware is deployed....
Chicago Freight Bottleneck Named Worst in Nation, ATRI Reports
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has named the I‑294/I‑290/I‑88 interchange in Chicago the most congested truck bottleneck in the United States, overtaking Fort Lee, New Jersey. The 15th annual Top Truck Bottleneck List, based on 2025 GPS‑based truck data, shows...
NEW WEBINAR: From Systems of Engagement to Systems of Action: The Agentic CPO
On February 26, a one‑hour webcast titled “From Systems of Engagement to Systems of Action: The Agentic CPO” will explore how Agentic AI is reshaping procurement. Speakers Andrew Bartolini of Ardent Partners and Saquib Jawed of Zycus will explain the...
AGX Freight Goes Bust, Stiffs Carriers, Starts New MC
AGX Freight abruptly shut down after a dispute with Huntington Bank, leaving an estimated hundreds to a thousand carrier partners unpaid. The broker pledged its receivables to the lender, effectively giving the bank first claim on any incoming payments. Within...
Japan Sees the Writing on the Wall
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party captured a two‑thirds majority in the lower house, giving Prime Minister Fumio Takahashi a strong personal mandate and near‑total legislative control. The win enables swift policy action, including the start of constitutional amendment proceedings to...
Analyst Insight – Generation Next: SAP Ariba’s AI Rebuild (I)
SAP Ariba announced a next‑gen, AI‑native Source‑to‑Pay suite slated for launch in February 2026. The platform is being rebuilt on SAP Business Technology Platform with open APIs, introducing Joule agents that automate bid analysis, RFI summarization, and contract insight. A unified...
How Do We Test Our Winning Logic?
The article introduces the "Value Stick" as a pragmatic framework for testing a company’s winning logic, blending operational excellence (OpEx/Lean) with digital growth methods. It focuses on four levers—Willingness to Pay, Price, Cost, and Quantity—to assess whether a strategy can...
Shippers Wary of Rising Transportation Costs
The 2026 State of Transportation Report shows shippers overwhelmingly expect tariffs to lift transportation costs, with 97% flagging price pressure and nearly half foreseeing higher contract rates. Carriers are curbing capital spending, as 64% postponed equipment upgrades and 47% plan...
From Warehouses to Low-Earth Orbit: The Next Logistics Frontier
Inversion has unveiled Arc, a low‑Earth‑orbit delivery vehicle that can drop cargo anywhere on Earth in under an hour, bypassing traditional ground and air infrastructure. The system pre‑positions payloads in orbit and triggers on‑demand deliveries, promising minute‑scale lead times. Arc...
Key Trucking Acquired by Division of Estes Express Lines
Estes Logistics, a division of privately held freight giant Estes Express Lines, has acquired Washington‑based Key Trucking, adding the regional carrier’s 21 trucks and established Pacific Northwest network to its portfolio. The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, preserves...
Simplifying Complex Systems
Two major automation vendors, ABB and Schneider Electric’s Foxboro unit, announced distinct strategies for upgrading existing process control systems. ABB leverages its extensive installed base to offer a comprehensive modernization pathway, while Schneider emphasizes a modular, open architecture aimed at...
Supply Chain and Logistics Conferences to Attend in Europe in 2026
Martijn Graat’s 2026 European supply chain and logistics conference guide lists more than twenty events across the continent. The calendar covers major shows in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, and beyond, spanning topics from automation to...
Procurement News — February 11, 2026
Several major organizations announced new chief procurement officers in February 2026, including Volvo Group, PowerCo SE, UC Riverside, and Duke Energy. Volvo named Michael Lovati to steer purchasing amid industry disruption, while PowerCo appointed Alexander Schmitt to oversee raw‑materials sourcing...
Is Your Fleet Ready to Grow? 5 Key Considerations for Carriers
Carriers eye fleet expansion when freight volume steadies, but adding trucks reshapes risk, costs, and operational complexity. Insurance premiums rise with each new vehicle, and driver retention becomes a critical factor as industry turnover climbs. Adequate cash flow and maintenance...