Apps Pressure Delivery Riders Into Courting Danger – Here’s What Needs to Change
A new study of Sydney food‑delivery riders reveals that platform design forces couriers to check their phones while cycling, creating dangerous “time‑trial” conditions. Serious injuries rose from two in 2017 to 75 in 2020, and at least 18 riders have died in Australia by 2024. Six platform‑related mechanisms—multiple simultaneous orders, opaque restaurant timing, fierce competition, gamified bonuses, punitive star ratings, and pre‑ordered deliveries—systematically generate time pressure and incentivise risky riding. Researchers suggest banning on‑road order pushes, increasing transparency, redesigning incentives and rating systems, and imposing speed caps, though they note safety improvements could cut platform profits and raise consumer prices.
ACCC Changes Rules on Supplier Disclosures for Coles, Woolworths, Aldi
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has amended the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, effective April 1, 2026, targeting the nation’s three largest supermarket chains—Coles, Woolworths and Aldi. The revisions require suppliers to receive written disclosures about any contract...
India's Telecom Imports From China Rise to $6.37 Billion in 2023-24: Pemmasani
India’s telecom imports from China climbed to $6.37 billion in the 2023‑24 fiscal year, up from $5.55 billion in 2019‑20. Total telecom‑equipment imports rose to $17.01 billion, reflecting a broader expansion in the sector. To curb dependence, the government introduced a public procurement...
SEMI Forecasts Chip Equipment Investments to Reach Beyond $150B in 2027
SEMI projects worldwide 300mm fab equipment spending to rise 18% to $133 billion in 2026 and surpass $150 billion in 2027, reaching $172 billion by 2029. The surge is driven by exploding AI chip demand for data‑center and edge workloads and by regional...
WA Strengthens Fuel Supply Transparency to Boost Mining Productivity
The Western Australian government is moving to compel fuel suppliers to share detailed operational data under the Fuel, Energy and Power Resources Act, aiming to increase transparency across the state’s fuel supply chain. If the order is approved, regulators can...
Tariff Refunds and Tariff Investigations
Customs and Border Protection is finalizing an automated tariff‑refund portal, now 65‑85% complete, with payouts expected by late April and a total refund pool of roughly $166 billion after the Supreme Court deemed the IEEPA tariffs unconstitutional. At the same time,...
ACCC Decides MicroStar’s Acquisition of Konvoy Requires Phase 2 Review
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has moved MicroStar Logistics’ purchase of Konvoy Holdings’ keg‑pooling assets into a Phase 2 review, citing a risk of substantially lessening competition. MicroStar, operating as Kegstar, and Konvoy are the only two providers of...
From World War Trade to Domino Regionalism: The Emergent Global Trading Order
In April 2025 the United States unleashed sweeping tariffs and China responded with export controls, creating a “World War Trade” that shattered the post‑World‑II rules‑based system. While the US‑China clash intensified, the other 75 % of global trade—countries responsible for three‑quarters of...
Jordan’s Regional Connectivity Begins in Riyadh
Jordan is positioning itself as a regional trade hub by leveraging deepening Saudi investment, which now exceeds $15 billion, and a series of bilateral agreements signed in Riyadh. Trade between the two countries grew 19% in the first half of 2025,...
Canals Expands Operating AI to Close the Execution Gap in Wholesale Distribution
Canals has broadened its Operating AI platform to automate key wholesale distribution workflows, including purchase‑order tracking, accounts‑receivable matching, and customer‑inquiry handling. The AI layer acts as a real‑time execution engine, turning ERP data into actionable actions without manual intervention. Early...
Some French Gas Stations Run Dry
Hundreds of French gas stations ran out of fuel after the government imposed price caps to curb soaring costs caused by Middle East supply disruptions. TotalEnergies accounts for about 700 of the 900 stations that reported shortages, a logistical bottleneck...
Tower Semiconductor Announces Plans to Expand 300mm Capacity in Japan
Tower Semiconductor announced it will acquire full ownership of its 300mm Fab 7 in Uozu, Japan, while Nuvoton will take complete control of the 200mm Fab 5. The restructuring includes long‑term supply agreements to avoid any disruption for existing customers...
MODEX 2026: Festo, CODI Manufacturing Showcase FlexStack Pro Palletizing Offering
Festo and CODI Manufacturing are debuting FlexStack Pro, a gantry‑style palletizing system, at MODEX 2026. The solution lifts 44‑ to 110‑lb boxes at 4‑10 per minute while occupying minimal floor space. It leverages Festo’s pre‑configured FPaKit “palletizer in a box”...
FAA Fines Companies $430K for Sending Unsafe Hazmat Shipments to Airlines
The Federal Aviation Administration announced civil penalties totaling nearly $430,000 against three shippers for violating hazardous‑material rules on air cargo. Verizon faces a $70,500 fine for shipping lithium‑ion batteries to FedEx without proper classification, packaging, labeling, or emergency‑response data. World...
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KEITH Manufacturing Co. will showcase its Freight Runner® Dock‑to‑Trailer system at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. The automated conveyor replaces traditional dock plates, moving pallets without personnel or forklifts entering the trailer. It can load or unload a trailer in as...
Tekpak Automation to Showcase Pick-and-Place Robotic Cell at Interpack 2026
Tekpak Automation will demonstrate its TD3/R Series pick‑and‑place robotic cell at interpack 2026 in Düsseldorf, offering a compact, three‑axis solution for food, beverage and pharmaceutical packaging. The system integrates with existing lines, fits tight spaces, and provides tool‑less changeovers for...
NS, Jaguar Team for Growth in Northeast Metro Atlanta
Norfolk Southern (NS) has leased its Doraville rail corridor and transload terminal in northeast metro Atlanta to Jaguar Transport Holdings. Jaguar will assume local switching duties and invest in yard expansions to boost capacity. The partnership is designed to improve...
Walmart to Close Massachusetts Fulfillment Center
Walmart announced the closure of its Worcester, Massachusetts fulfillment center, affecting 90 employees with layoffs slated to start on May 29. Affected associates can transfer to other Walmart sites nationwide and may receive a $7,500 relocation bonus along with training....
Montreal Shippers Get New North-South Service From CMA CGM
Canadian shippers will gain a new north‑south maritime link as CMA CGM adds the Port of Montreal to its Homere service, scheduled to call the Cast Terminal on April 5. The 1,713‑TEU vessel joins the carrier’s Cagema rotation, linking Montreal with Caribbean...
Intermodal Rail Edges Ahead of Carloads in Flat Week
Intermodal traffic edged ahead in a flat week for U.S. railroads, with total weekly volume reaching 515,921 units, a 0.5% year‑over‑year increase. While carload freight slipped 0.8% to 233,833 units, intermodal containers and trailers rose 1.6% to 282,088. Petroleum shipments...
Trucking Capacity Crunch Draws Shippers to Intermodal
Shippers are increasingly turning to intermodal transport as over‑the‑road trucking faces a capacity crunch driven by stricter federal oversight and soaring diesel prices. Uber Freight reports spot OTR rates up 25% year‑over‑year and predicts intermodal rates will rise 3‑5% by...
Russian Seaborne Diesel Exports Fall 3% Between February and March
Russia’s seaborne diesel and gasoil shipments slipped 3% in March, falling to roughly 3.06 million metric tons. The decline was driven by repeated Ukrainian drone strikes that disrupted loading at the key Baltic hub of Primorsk and the southern port of...
US Gulf Coast Tanker Availability Drops as Asia, Europe Seek to Replace Middle East Supply
U.S. Gulf Coast oil tanker availability has plunged, falling 41% in the past month as Asian and European refiners replace Middle Eastern supply disrupted by the Iran‑related war in the Strait of Hormuz. Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) numbers have...
The Power of Predictability: Scale Demands Consistency, Not Speed
PrePass unveiled its Mile Marker 2026 Impact Index, a national benchmark that quantifies how weigh‑station bypass improves fleet efficiency. The study, based on 1.6 billion bypass events, shows an average 7‑minute time saving, half‑gallon fuel reduction and $10.65 operational cost cut...
US Tariff Fight Shifts to Heavy Machinery Imported From Mexico
Two bipartisan U.S. senators have asked the Commerce Department to launch a Section 232 national‑security investigation into heavy‑equipment imports from Mexico, arguing that offshoring erodes American manufacturing jobs. They cite recent plant closures and layoffs at Deere, Caterpillar and CNH...
Allied Vision Launches allPIXA Pro 6000px: The High-Speed Color Linescan Camera for Zero-Defect Industrial Inspection
Allied Vision introduced the allPIXA pro 6000px, a Camera Link® color linescan camera featuring a 6000‑pixel CCD RGB sensor and a 34 kHz line rate. The device spans a 400‑nm to 1000‑nm spectral range, enabling detection of sub‑millimeter defects and invisible material variations....
Fleets Are Considering New Fuel Purchasing Strategies
Fleet executives are re‑evaluating fuel purchasing tactics as diesel prices hit record highs. A recent FleetOwner survey of 23 readers shows only about one‑third currently buy fuel in bulk, while nearly half have contractual agreements. Among those without bulk or...
Dematic to Debut New Command Center Analytics Platform at MODEX 2026
Dematic will unveil its new Command Center analytics platform at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, showcasing real‑time visibility and advanced warehouse insights. The vendor‑agnostic solution centralizes operational data, enabling faster, data‑driven decisions across supply‑chain networks. Alongside the platform launch, Dematic will...
A Moldovan Broker, Romanian Carrier, Temporary CDL Driver and Another Fatal Truck Crash
ArcherHub, a Colorado‑incorporated digital freight broker run from a 200‑person office in Chisinau, Moldova, dispatched a Gold Coast Logistics truck that crashed in Beaumont, Texas, killing driver Brandon Rogers. The carrier, operating under DOT 2190975, had a history of 150...
White Paper: State of the Industry – April 2026
The April 2026 State of the Industry Report, produced with Ryder, details current trends across trucking, maritime and intermodal sectors. Diesel prices spiked by more than $1 per gallon in early March, tightening carrier margins, especially on contract freight. Tender...
AP International
AP International, a Canadian logistics firm founded in 1996, has transitioned from a regional freight broker to a full‑service global freight forwarder. The company now provides end‑to‑end supply‑chain solutions that span North America and international markets. Its business model centers...
March ISM Report: Manufacturing PMI Reaches Highest Level Since August 2022
The Institute for Supply Management’s March 2026 Manufacturing PMI rose to 52.7, the strongest reading since August 2022 and a modest gain over February. New orders slowed while production stayed robust, and the employment index remained in contraction territory. The...
Libya Abandons ‘Arctic Metagaz’ Salvage At Edge of Malta SAR Zone
Libyan authorities towed the damaged LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz 105 nautical miles north‑northeast of Misrata and then cut the towline, leaving the vessel adrift near the edge of Malta’s search‑and‑rescue zone. The Russian‑linked tanker, crippled by explosions and fire on March 3,...
MC Tech Days: Materials and Processes for High-Rate Aerospace Manufacturing
The MC Tech Days virtual workshop on April 22 will showcase high‑rate aerospace manufacturing tools and processes, featuring sponsors Toray Group and Composites One and presenters from leading material and aerospace firms. Meanwhile, Avel Robotics of France signed a development contract...
Weyerhaeuser Distribution Expands Southeast Presence with New Center in Tennessee
Weyerhaeuser Distribution announced its 22nd distribution center, the company’s first in Tennessee, located in Gallatin. The 96,250‑square‑foot facility sits on 13.83 acres with six acres of yard space and will be operational by late 2026. Positioned within 15 miles of...
A Different Supply-Side Shock
President Trump’s potential decision to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed would trigger the largest energy‑supply shock on record, cutting roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows. The disruption also threatens 30% of the world’s seaborne fertilizer,...
Lucid Motors Recalls over 4,000 Gravity SUVs over Seat Belt Defect
Lucid Motors announced a recall of over 4,000 Gravity SUVs after discovering that second‑row seat‑belt anchors were not welded correctly. The defect stems from a seat‑belt supplier altering its manufacturing process without Lucid’s approval, prompting the automaker to revert to...
India Delays Cabotage Rewind Plan Amid Carrier Pressure, Middle East Reroutings
India’s Ministry of Ports & Shipping announced a six‑month postponement of the cabotage policy that would have ended foreign‑flag vessels’ right to operate coastal shipping routes. The original rule, introduced in 2018, aimed to force domestic operators to handle intra‑country...
Canadian Helium Company Wants Ottawa's Help to Build Country's First Liquefaction Facility
North American Helium, a Calgary‑based producer accounting for about 3% of global helium, is seeking federal financial assistance to fund a $100 million CAD (≈ $74 million USD) liquefaction plant in southwest Saskatchewan. The company currently ships raw helium to the United States...
How Supply Chain Disruptions Are Reshaping The Future Of Startups
The Iran‑Russia conflict has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, forcing startups and SMEs to reroute cargo through longer, costlier paths such as Jeddah. Freight rates have jumped $1,000‑$1,200 per container and lead times have stretched by three to four...
ChannelEngine Announces New Partnership with Monta
ChannelEngine announced an expanded partnership with Monta, adding a fully integrated fulfillment layer to its marketplace integration platform. The collaboration lets brands connect to over 1,300 marketplaces while accessing local storage, picking, packing, and shipping across the Netherlands, Germany, France,...
US Secures Rare Earths Supply as Part of $565mn Loan to Brazil Mining Group
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) approved a $565 million loan to Brazil’s Serra Verde, granting the United States off‑take rights to rare earths from the company’s Pela Ema mine. The agreement ensures that heavy rare earths, critical for magnets...
Iraqi Civilians Are Paying the Price of the Iran War
The U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran is spilling into Iraq, where rockets and drones have struck near Baghdad and Erbil, disrupting daily life. Oil exports are faltering after Iranian attacks on tankers and a force‑majeure declaration on foreign‑operated fields, threatening the...
The CPA’s Guide to Spend Control Advisory
Mid‑market clients often approve invoices via email, purchase without purchase orders, and close books manually, creating significant audit risks. A new white paper provides CPA firms with a practical framework to pinpoint spend‑control gaps, initiate procurement advisory discussions, and develop...
Shoreline Freezers Announces Cold Storage Expansion in South Jersey
The company is adding 128,000 square feet of temperature-controlled warehouse space.
Frontrunner Emerges for Safaniya Field Expansion Tenders
Saudi Aramco is close to awarding two major offshore tenders, CRPO 154 and 155, for the Safaniya field expansion, with a combined value of about $600 million. Italian contractor Saipem has emerged as the frontrunner for these contracts and already secured CRPO 156,...
AD Ports Earmarks $667m for Port Infrastructure in 2026
AD Ports Group announced a $667 million investment in port‑infrastructure projects for 2026, alongside a $345 million allocation for new LPG and LNG storage terminals through 2028. The company reported record 2025 results, with revenue of roughly $5.7 billion and net profit of...
SEC Develops Inline X-Ray Inspection Tool for HBM Production
SEC Co. has completed development of the Semi‑Scan‑SW, an automated inline X‑ray inspection system for high‑bandwidth memory (HBM) production. The tool detects internal defects as small as 3‑5 µm across HBM stacking, through‑glass‑via (TGV) and wafer‑level packaging (WLP) processes. SEC will...
BF Global Logistics Selects IFS Softeon WMS to Modernise European Warehouse Operations
BF Global Logistics has chosen IFS Softeon’s warehouse management system as its core platform for European facilities, partnering with Lanark for implementation. The advanced WMS offers integrated billing, labour management, and AI‑driven visibility, aiming to boost performance, scalability, and customer...
TraceGains Adds Deeper Level of ESG Intelligence Into Food & Beverage Supply Chain Operations to Automate and Ensure Compliance for...
TraceGains launched Carbon Insights, a new capability that embeds ingredient‑level carbon intelligence into its compliance platform for food and beverage brands. Powered by emissions data from DitchCarbon and Sustained, the tool automates Scope 3 carbon tracking and links sourcing decisions with...
